Way of The Warrior- A Daily Devotional

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. – Judges 7:19-22 BSB

Warrior;
It is GOD who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. (Phil 2:13, Jer 29:11, Eph 2:10, Romans 8:28-30) What I just shared was NOT feeling, nor opinion, it was The Word of God! God promises us that He has this covered! He just wants the willing! Are you WILLING? It has been rightfully said, that God doesn’t call the equipped, ABBA EQUIPS THE CALLED! In the original language the church are the, CALLED OUT ONES. In the original language the word APOSTLE, means SENT ONE! Do you see the ACTION in the etymology of those 2 main words; Apostle and Church? Those that are used BY GOD, are those who are willing to be USED BY GOD! We are nothing apart from God! God doesn’t need anybody, BUT will use anybody! Are you an anybody, who wants to be somebody, in the HANDS OF THE MIGHTY GOD? Have you told anybody?

Leader, it is God who is doing the work. It was Jesus who PAID IT ALL! Remember His final words on the cross, IT IS FINISHED! “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30) When Paul was working to settle a dispute in the early church about who gets credit for what- Paul reminded all who gets the GLORY! It is written: Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. (1 Cor 3:1-8) No shared Glory! It is one thing to steal God’s money and resources. When we misuse or misappropriate funds and resources it is considered by many to be stealing. Many steal God’s money and resources by improperly using them for their own glory, instead of God’s glory. However, God has all the cattle on all the hills. God doesn’t need your money; it is all His. However, God is all about Glory, and He is offended when we steal HIS GLORY. Yahweh, wants our praise, and His glory- It is written!

Conduit, Gideon, like you and I, was nobody apart from God. However, with God- we are more than overcomers, we are more than conquerors- we are mighty tools in the hands of the ALMIGHTY GOD! He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals! He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides! He is Jehovah Shammah, the God who is present! He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, the God who is my righteousness. He is Jehovah Shalom, the God of my Peace and He is JEHOVAH Geppetto, the MASTER MANIPULATOR of time, space and experience. The metaphors in the story of Gideon are endless. The scriptural shadows and signs in the story of this broken, weak, flawed man are eternally priceless! Just like the lanterns, we must be broken to shine brighter! The flesh, the innate sin that is the flesh, is keeping us from shining brighter. It is written: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) The LIGHT OF THE WORLD cannot be seen in us, until we are BROKEN! Are you willing to be BROKEN for THE LORD? Will you truly be blessed on this planet by the God of the universe, instead of the gods of this world? This is who Jesus said is BLESSED: “When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. Will you pray this prayer and hope for its completion? “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble”. Remember, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man\woman of valor.”