Where are the Miracles - Part 2

In part one we saw that an Angel of the Lord met with Gideon and Gideon blamed God for something that He did not do. Israel was under the oppression of an enemy, but God did not do this to them. The fact that Israel was under the oppression of their enemy came about through their choice to "do evil in the sight of the Lord" (Judges 6:1) which took them out from under God's protection and provision and opened the door to enemy oppression, the very thing that God said would happen if they were to reject Him. This also is one of the ways that the believers enemy, Satan, can get place in their life and cause all manner of havoc, that is, sickness, disease, etc. However, in the same way that Israel would be received back into God's provision and protection, the believer can also be restored to fellowship with God if they have permitted darkness into their life. It is through repentance.  (1 John 1:5-9)

The Angel of the Lord proceeds to tell Gideon, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14) Also remember the Angel of the Lord had said, “...The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” However, look at Gideon's response, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15) Gideon's statement reveals another area in which many believers find themselves. Many either feel or have been taught that they are nothing more than sinners saved by grace. That they must muddle through life weak and beggarly because they will never be worthy before the Lord until they leave this life. That once born again, they just walk through life and no matter if things are good or bad, it is their lot in life. That they cannot expect any blessings or miracles to happen in their life unless God shows them some special, mysterious mercy. That all they can do is have hope for heaven where they can finally find relief from this cruel miserable life here on planet earth. This was pretty much the same sentiment that Gideon had.

The problem lies in the fact that Gideon as well as many believers do not see themselves the way God sees them. We know that God is incapable of lying, so when He said to Gideon, “...The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! and "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” He meant exactly what He said. The unfortunate reality for most believers today, is, although the Bible gives almost countless references to who they are in Christ; their position in Christ; their rights and privileges that the Father has given them through Christ; and how the Father truly sees them, they do not believe it. In many sectors of the church, in order to teach righteousness, they have majored in teaching sin which has left many believers with a sin consciousness which promotes, guilt, shame, condemnation and inferiority. This in turn causes believers to live a life of faithlessness which has also opened the door to the devil who ravages them with his deception and lies.

For Gideon to be convinced that the Lord was with Him and that the things He has spoken were true  the Lord provided a sign. (Judges 6:17-22) God will not ask us to do something that his grace cannot give us the ability to accomplish. Honestly, His grace is in abundance and it gives us the power and ability to do His will. However, this was not enough for Gideon. He also asks God for another sign. The sign of "putting out the fleece." (Judges 6:36-40) Although Gideon may have lacked in faith in the Word of the Lord, God still proved Himself through a sign. For the believer, the Apostle Paul records, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17) and the Apostle James tells us, "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21) It is God's Word that builds our faith. God Word is like a seed that is to take root in our lives. When this occurs it saves, (satisfies, cures, make well, preserves, protects) the soul, (mind, will and emotions).

Finally, Gideon gathers an army of thirty two thousand men, but for the Lord to do a miracle and for man not to claim that is was through their abilities, the Lord reduces the army to three hundred men. (Judges 7: 1-7) The army that far outnumbered Israel was now defeated by the Lord and fled. Although it took some time for Gideon to muster the faith in a miracle working God to set Israel free from the enemies oppression, he still went forward and witnessed the strong and mighty arm of the miracle working God.

God has not changed! (Malachi 3:6) His Word has not changed (Hebrews 13:8) God has not stop performing miracles. But like Gideon at first, many in the church do not believe that God still performs miracles through His church. They also struggle to believe what the Bible says concerning who they are in Christ; their position in Christ; their rights and privileges that the Father has given them through Christ; and how the Father truly sees them. The good news is, this can all be changed. Gideon had to seek for a sign, he did not have the Bible, he was he filled with the Holy Spirit nor did he have the use of the Name of Jesus, but believers have all of these things. Instead of being like the Apostle Thomas, have such great doubt that we have to see to believe (John 20:25)  we simply need to believe God at His Word and act upon it. We simply need to, "...hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) and our God, the miracle working God will once again work many miracles, even unusual miracles through His Children. Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) PTL...