PRAYER - "Praying Counsel from Hirelings"

One of the most pathetic stories in the Bible is about a vagabond Levite who hired out his priestly services to a man named Micah. Men from the tribe of Dan ignorantly prayed his counsel, and received phony blessings and fell into idolatrous deception. You will be duped if you trust phony ministries.

Judges 18:5-6 - "And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go."

PRINCIPALS - "How Gideon Became Jerubbaal"

Gideon's visitor instructed him to place the bread and meat he prepared for him on a rock. The angel touched it with his staff. Instantly, fire consumed it, and the angel vanished. God then commanded Gideon to destroy the local idols and altars to Baal, which he did. Never fear false gods. They are non- existent. Gideon built an altar to the LORD, calling it "Jehovah Shalom," meaning "God is Peace." The locals wanted to kill Gideon, but his father defended him. 

Judges 6:32 - "Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him..."


PRINCIPLES - "Supernatural Confirmations"

After Gideon destroyed Baal-worship, Midianites invaded Jezreel. Blowing a trumpet, Gideon called Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali to war. Laying down a woolen fleece, he prayed, "...if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand." Next morning, he wringed "a bowl full of water" from the fleece. Still, Gideon wanted ANOTHER sign.

Judges 6:39-40 - "...let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night."

PROPHECIES - "The Men Who Lapped"

God planned Gideon's success before He ever called him. He would not allow Gideon to have a large army, "...lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." First, God dismissed 22,000 recruits because they were fearful, then sent the remaining 10,000 to the river to drink. Those who knelt down to drink were eliminated. Only three hundred who lapped remained. But God still had plenty.

Judges 7:7 - "And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand."