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We are focusing on the Lord's gracious dealings with Gideon. Every Christian should be inspired by the way in which the Lord worked with Gideon.

The Lord is so very good to His people. It was in the most patient grace and persevering love that He worked with Gideon. Seeking to do everything He could to both encourage and strengthen His servant.

In a most unexpected and amazing move the Lord took Gideon right into the very heart of Midianites camp. There Gideon was subjected to the overwhelming impact of the vast extent of the enemy forces and their resources.

It was there, totally surrounded by the enemy, that the Lord gave His servant the assurance: the victory was absolutely sure!

That inspiration shattered and scattered all of his doubts and uncertainties. He was inspired to respond in rejoicing. In praise. In enthusiastic worship!

The Lord could act as He did because Gideon was proving to be totally loyal to the Lord. He gave clear evidence that it was his first priority to glorify the Lord in everything.

God - and - Gideon! Walking together! Facing the challenge of the enemy together!

Gideon, content to let God be: GOD! God, able to effectively mold Gideon into the kind of man whom He could use powerfully and victoriously.

Everything that the Lord wanted for Gideon, He wants for each one of us today. That is His "good, and acceptable, and perfect, will!"(Rom. 12: 2).

How can we personally enter into the fullness of all that the Lord wills for our lives and for our service?

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12: 1 - 2).

This works! It worked for Gideon. It will work for us. God guarantees it!

The Lord walked with Gideon. Gideon was learning to walk with the Lord. The Lord talked with Gideon. Gideon was learning to listen to the Lord and respond to His Word.

This was the method which the Lord used to draw His servant into a closer deeper fellowship with Himself. In that fellowship He inspired, nourished, and developed the faith of His servant.

"And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian!"

The Lord so convincingly confirmed His Word to Gideon. Thus that Word was able to take root in his heart and mind. The result is unmistakable: it became the dynamic expression of both his life and his service.

Gideon knew! He knew because the Lord had so effectively focused his faith on the Lord Himself. On His involvement. His will.

The Lord's sovereign and almighty involvement guaranteed to Gideon: Victory! His Word of promise was elevated to the place of first priority. The one central and essential circumstances was: THE LORD!

It should surprise no one that in that humble yet dynamic faith Gideon worshipped! That faith which was so alive with this new found enthusiasm must rejoice!

With his focus right: on the Lord! Gideon experienced his heart overflowing with joy and thanksgiving.

Responding to the amazing and glorious assurance which the Lord had given, now nothing else could satisfy the demands of his revitalized faith. Nothing, but to express himself openly and fully in praise and thanksgiving.

That was, is, the "Joy unspeakable and full of glory" which Peter writes about (1 Peter 1: 8). That thrilling joy which flows from faith which has been tested and refined! Yet it is the joy which is so very rare today.

That joy will be ours, when we permit the Lord to lead us into the arena He chooses. There, where our faith is subjected to the fiery trial and testing. Where, as we endure the furnace with our eyes on Him, our confidence in His faithfulness, He can enable us to see His promise as we could not see it before.

The Lord's Word of assurance is seen in an exciting new light. As we launch out into that light, by faith, the effect will be to experience that very same indescribable joy. The result will be a heart which worships. Rejoicing to honor and glorify the Lord.

Gideon's faith and his response were both focused where they must always be focused. Fully and exclusively on the Lord! His emphasis is quite unmistakable. His one thought was the glory and the greatness of the Lord who had called him.

Are we responding to the Lord in genuine faith? When we do, we will be able to identify with both Gideon's experience and his compelling desire to glorify the Lord.

The confidence of such faith is never: self-confidence. It is God-confidence! It never even thinks of suggesting: Look at what I am doing. But always: Look at what the Lord is doing!

That faith constantly and joyfully proclaims, All of the praise and all of the glory belong to the Lord and to Him alone!

"He worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian."

Gideon's faith was so vitally alive and strong. Pulsating with confident and excited expectation. Enthused by the glory of the Lord's assurance.

There was nothing tentative in his attitude or expression as he shared his conviction, "The Lord has given to us the victory!" All of the uncertainty was gone. All apprehension completely eradicated.

For such genuine faith, such living dynamic faith, the outcome is absolutely guaranteed. God Himself accepted the responsibility to make it so!

The Lord has given us the victory! Faith fully expects the victory! Claims the victory! Appropriates the victory!

Such faith fully expects to personally experience exactly all that the Lord has promised. Such faith boldly takes hold of the clear commitment which God has made in His Word. Rejoicing to proclaim: This is the reality! The reality for us, now!

Gideon had humbly listened to the Word of God. He faithfully obeyed the instructions which the Lord gave to him. In the devoted obedience of faith he continued to walk with the Lord. The result: there could be no question about the reliability of the promise.

Everything which the Lord did for Gideon, He is still seeking to do for all of His people today. He wants us to give Him the opportunity to so work in and through us so that we will share this experience.

When we do, the result will be so exciting! Our daily walk with Him will become ever more real and vital. The inspiration of His involvement so personal that His promises will be received and appropriated in joyful faith.

Faith ever rests in the unchangeable assurance that the Lord never changes. His Word of promise is the expression of His unchanging integrity. "For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven!"(Psalm 119: 89).

There is an aspect of this vital principle which many Christians have difficulty with. That is, actually grasping all that is at stake in this issue.

On one hand, there is our attitude to the Word of God. On the other, there is our understanding of God's attitude to His Word.

How little we appear to understand where God is coming from in His promises.

Do we really understand that every promise God gives, He gives to us quite freely? He does not have to be coerced. He really does want us to have the promises. He wants us to experience the fullest possible benefit which comes from every promise.

He continually encourages us to personally appropriate His promises. He says, "Prove me!" "Put My promises to the test!" He goes to the most amazing lengths to convince us to live by His promises.

Too often our attitude in response is negative. Perhaps God did make this promise, but probably not to me. It is not for us today. Or, if I do attempt to claim this promise, how do I know that I will not be made to look foolish. It appears that there are some things which God has for special people which I cannot share.

All such attitudes and reasoning are totally dishonoring to the Lord. In fact, that response is of the devil! Reject it!

We must flatly refuse to give any place to such thoughts or suggestions. We need to realize that those ideas can only find lodging in our minds if our fellowship with the Lord has become weak!

Those who consistently maintain a close personal walk with the Lord know better. They know that the Lord wants them to come humbly yet boldly into His presence. There to bring His promises to His throne and claim His faithfulness to His Word.

God Himself inspires us, requires us, to plead His promises. We honor the Lord when we humbly hold Him to His Word! We glorify Him, His integrity, and His holiness when we refuse to accept anything less than the fullness of His promise.

That is the faith which actually does take God seriously in the place of prayer.

When we are genuine in our commitment to walk with the Lord. Faithful in our desire to do His will. We will make it our response to pray the prayer of faith with our confidence strong in Him!

"And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers."

"And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do."

Gideon spoke to the three hundred men with obvious confidence. Such confidence is so very significant, especially as he tells them: "Follow my example!"

That is a dramatic expression of vital faith. "Follow my example!" Why? Because Gideon was following the directions of the Word of the Lord in every detail!

There we see an essential attribute of true spiritual leadership. The spiritual leadership which the Lord recognizes has heard His Word. Therefore, knows what He requires. Is fully committed to faithfully carry out His will. Thus, will not lead those who follow down the wrong path.

"Follow me as I follow Christ!" How desperately we need that kind of leadership today.

That is the leadership which gives every evidence of knowing the Lord. Walking with the Lord. Spending quality time with the Lord. Listens more carefully to His Word. Demonstrates the will to faithfully obey Him at all times.

Such leadership can command genuine respect while saying, Follow my example!

"When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp."

Gideon knew that they had to be totally united at this crucial time. They had to act as a true team. Expressing their unified faith in the Lord, His Word, and His will.

Today so many profess to be committed to be a part of His team. Yet far too often they will only be loyal to spiritual leadership when it suits them. More often than not their real loyalty is to their own agenda. The Word and the will of the Lord are not high in their priorities.

Often the problem is that those who are looking for true spiritual leadership cannot find it. Too many want to profess to lead who do not walk with the Lord. They will not humbly submit to His Word. Such "leaders" have no right to expect anyone to follow them.

There is so very little true spiritual unity of purpose and commitment. Genuine faith is so very rare. So few are personally committed to humbly walk with the Lord. Or listen attentively to His Word.

Gideon did humbly walk with the Lord. He listened to and obeyed His Word. Thus his leadership was genuine spiritual leadership. Uniting the people of God to move out in faith and claim the victory!

Here again we see the most exciting proof of genuine spiritual leadership! There is a most significant change in the words which Gideon instructed his men to shout.

When Gideon was down in the camp of the enemy he heard the explanation of the dream. As he listened, he heard the Midianite soldier say, "This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon."

Gideon demonstrates the character of a true spiritual leader. He reveals the true priorities of the effective servant of the Lord.

He knew that, from the human point of view, he was the leader. Yet he was in no doubt as to who this One was who was actually leading. Thus, he knew where all of the glory actually belonged.

The focus must be on: The Lord! The priority must always be given to: The Lord! The glory so rightfully belonged to: The Lord!

Gideon was secondary! He knew that. He willingly acknowledged it. He sought to faithfully honor the Lord in all things.

True faith and true faithfulness can never be separated. One is the tree while the other is the fruit.

There cannot be true faithfulness unless there is first of all: true faith!

True faith will always and inevitably be lived out in true faithfulness. As James so pertinently reminds us: "Faith without works is dead!" (James 2: 20).

"So Gideon, and the three hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands."

"And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon."

Gideon led the men out. They willingly responded as one man. There was a vital unity of spirit and purpose in that small army. There was unquestioning loyalty to the leadership of Gideon. Even as there was complete faithfulness to the Word of the Lord.

His instruction were simple and clear. You watch what I do and do it with me!

They faithfully followed his example. They knew that they were totally dependent on the Lord. Under the leadership of Gideon they were learning to rely on His faithfulness. To believe His Word and act on it.

The faithful response of Gideon's men is a challenge to Christians today. Do we listen to all that the Lord is saying to us, and then faithfully carry out His instructions? Is our loyalty to Him demonstrated in unquestioning obedience?

Mary said to the servants in Cana, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it!" (John 2: 5).

It has become so common for people not to "do" but to debate the Word. Especially if it conflicts in any way with our personal agendas.

The Lord required obedience from Gideon and his men. Personal obedience. Immediate obedience. Total obedience. Unquestioning obedience.

The Lord is still saying to those who are listening to Him, The key to the effective and victorious Christian life is still: DO IT! OBEY!

The Lord Jesus lived by that vital principle. He could claim in total honesty and integrity, "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me!" (John 6: 38).

As we walk with Him, we will follow His example. We will resolve, Not to do my will, but to do His will! To see what He requires, and then DO IT! Do so with a strong note of genuine thanksgiving. As a vital expression of our sincere praise to Him.

It is His team. His work. His Will. Those who walk with Him will stand out. Obvious because of the evidence that we are willing to always be in the place He appoints for us. Faithfully doing the work His Word requires of us. Giving our best as the expression of our deep devotion to Him.

Loyalty in obedience inevitably experiences His joy in both our service and the resulting effectiveness.

"And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The Sword of the LORD, and of Gideon."

In every specific detail they faithfully followed through on all of the instructions given to them.

"And they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon!" "They cried!" Everyone of the three hundred. Together they gave that confident shout of faith!

The worldly wise of their day may have dismissed them as utterly foolish and futile. Sword! What sword? They had no sword in their hands!

Their confidence was in "The sword" which could only be seen with the eyes of faith. The sword wielded by the power and authority of the Lord. The sword of: Victory!

They did it! They faithfully honored the Lord. They glorified Him. Let foolish men say what they will, the Lord honored their confident faith. They actually brought joy to the heart of God. They pleased Him.

This is the acid test of true loyalty. Not the ignorant evaluation of man. But the fact that God is glorified, and He is pleased by the response which effectively glorifies Him.

They included Gideon. They knew that he filled a most significant role, to which he had been called by God. They honored him as their God-appointed leader! That it was through his faithful leadership that the Lord had brought them to this vital moment.

Many today are slow to acknowledge that the Lord calls and appoints His leaders. That is true, no matter what the level of leadership.

Many want to take positions of leadership to themselves without any reference to the will and plan of God. Such leadership always and inevitable leads those who follow away from God.

There are others who just want to go their own way. Do their own thing. Thus they give no real evidence that they respect the leaders who are called and appointed by God.

Still others question, challenge, and criticize. They talk and act as though that is their life's sole purpose: to put down those whom God calls.

Is it any wonder that we see Churches being torn to pieces. The true work of the Lord ignored and left to wither. While the world and the devil mock and ridicule.

Gideon and his three hundred were a team. They acted as a true team. Together they shouted, "The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon."

There was total loyalty in operation. Complete loyalty to the Lord. To His Plan and purpose. To the leadership which He had appointed.

That attitude fully honored the Lord. The Lord honored such genuine and faithful loyalty.

Loyalty in obedience. Loyalty in operation. Loyalty in obligation. These three cannot be separated. Any one of the three inevitably and always involves the other two.

The Lord had accomplished much in Gideon's life. He knew that He could count of Gideon.

Gideon's experience of the leadership and working of the Lord had a significant impact on him. This was true in his relationship with the three hundred men. He knew that he could count on them.

They were there. Where he needed them. They were there. When he needed them to be in their appointed places.

"They stood every man in his place!" Each man faithfully held to his position. It is that type of loyalty and devotion to spiritual obligations which is so urgently needed in these days.

Too often leaders look for people to be in their appointed place, only to be met by unfaithfulness. By flimsy excuses. By self-serving self-justification.

Can we really be counted on to be "in our place"? Faithfully holding our position and carrying out our responsibilities? Reliable? Dependable?

Or, as has become common practice, are we "in our place" when it is convenient for us? If it just happens to fit in with all of our other plans? Or, if it does not demand any real sacrifice of us?

Some want to argue, If we are in our place sometimes, surely no one could ask anything more than that!

Is it any wonder that so many who really do want to give their best for the Lord sometimes get so very discouraged? When they see that others so obviously really do not care! If others do not care, why should they?

We should always be loyal in our obligations, no matter what others do. Why? Because God is God! He loves us and we love Him. In our devotion to Him He inspires us to be totally loyal in all of our obligations to Him and to His work.

It is only that kind of genuine loyalty which does honor Him. Anything less than that inevitably dishonors Him. Nothing could be more dishonoring to Him than making our loyalty to our obligations to Him a matter of our personal convenience.

The victorious focus of faith is clearly revealed. It is: the Lord! His Word! His will! His glory!

The victorious focus of faith will always be marked by true loyalty to all of our obligations to Him. By this fact: "They stood every man in his place!"

"And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host."

The focus of their faith was: The Lord! Their faith gave to the Lord the opportunity to be fully involved. The end result was fully guaranteed.

Notice the emphasis. When the three hundred faithfully did as they were instructed: "AND THE LORD!"

The Lord made this His battle! Gideon and his men had the exciting experience of personally witnessing this most dramatic development. They stood in their places and saw with their eyes all that the Lord did.

In Exodus 6: 1 we read, "Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do!"

Everyone, including Moses, was convinced that Pharaoh had the upper hand. In fact, Moses had complained, "Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy Name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all" (Exodus 5: 23).

They did see what the Lord could do. Moses. Pharaoh. The Israelites. The Egyptians. All of them saw that no man gets the upper hand. When God makes the battle His battle He wins the victory. Always!

Gideon and his three hundred men stood in their places as they too saw what the Lord could do.

This is the unchangeable spiritual reality. The Lord is looking for us to give Him the opportunity to demonstrate today all that He can do. Faithful loyalty to Him and His Word give Him that opportunity.

Whenever we are committed in faith to meet His conditions, He will not fail. We will experience in the most wonderful way His personal involvement with us. His powerful participation in our battles.

To attempt to go any other way but His way in so futile. When we attempt to go our own way and do our own thing, He leaves us to our own resources. Rightly so! That is the way of inevitable defeat and total failure.

He inspires us to press on with our faith fully in Him. Enabling Him to step in and make the total difference. We give Him the opportunity to bring His infinite resources to bear on our situation.

When we permit Him to guarantee to us His active involvement, we hear Him saying to us, "I am making your battle My battle. I guarantee the victory!"

"The host fled!" "And the men of Israel gathered themselves together..., and pursued after the Midianites."

Gideon and those faithful three hundred received everything that the Lord had promised to them. The Midianites who had invaded Israel were totally routed, along with all of their allies.

The terrible oppression of the people was completely broken. The enemy fled in complete panic.

Whenever we allow the Lord to make our battles His battles, the enemy is always routed. Always!

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us!" (Romans 8: 37).

Israel was saved! The people were set free from enemy occupation and oppression.

In His call to Gideon, the Lord had given him the command, "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?"(Judges 6: 14).

It actually happened. Exactly as the Lord promised it would! In every detail!

Joshua writes, "And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein."

"And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand."

"There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass" (Joshua 21: 43 - 45).

That was Gideon's experience. Not a single thing which the Lord promised in His Word which He spoke to Gideon, not a single thing failed! It all came to pass in every detail. Exactly as the Lord had promised him.

The Lord has not changed. It is His will, His desire, that we discover how true all this is for us today.

The key to open this door is: Faith. Faith which focuses always and only on the Lord and His Word. When the focus of our faith is genuinely on the Lord, we will experience this same glorious reality in our lives.

Not one single aspect of His promise fails, when the central principle by which we live is faithfulness to Him. All come to pass. He assures that reality.

There will be many battles. Some of them will appear to be extremely difficult battles. Yet if we will continue to apply the Word of the Lord we will be able to face every battle in true fellowship with Him!

In walking with Him, we enable Him to inspire our confidence. We have His unfailing assurance. We know that we are never alone.

Focus your faith on the Lord. Always. He will lead. He will bring you through so that you can share in His glorious victory.