JUDGES

Today is Sunday!  I'm looking forward to being with God's people and enjoying the day hearing the Word of God preached.  We have evangelist Bob Homes with us today and I'm sure God will use him to bring conviction and challenge to us.  We are always in need of being spoken to by God's Word, God's Spirit, and God's servant.  I hope you have a great day where you worship today.  Be sure to be in church if at all possible.  Let the LORD know whose side you are on.  I read today that we have fewer people going to church than in 1900, and Christians give less to God now than they did in the Great Depression!  Wow!  I'm glad I'm NOT in that crowd!  I've had a cup of coffee, and I'm in Judges, and here are a few thoughts to share with you: 1) ANOTHER GENERATION- What America is experiencing is not unique.  In Judges 2:10, it reads:  "And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers:  and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor ye the works which he had done for Israel."  There is always that ebb and flow throughout the generations where nations are close to God and nations stray from God.  We feel that ebb and flow in our own lives. (sadly) We also see the ebb in our own great nation.  It is just sad to be in this great nation when we see the ebb of Christianity and it's influence being felt all around us.  Let us do our part to keep the flow going till Jesus comes!! 2) THE LORD IS WITH THEE- In Judges 6: 12, an angel of the LORD says to Gideon:  "The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."  Now we know Gideon was shy, timid, and a faithless leader, but God saw what God could make him into.  Do you see yourself as you see yourself, or do you see yourself as God sees yourself?  You are a child of the King.  You have been born again into royalty!  You are the object of the LORD's affection!  You are going to spend eternity with the creator of the ends of the earth!  Wow!  We are something when seen through God's eyes.  The LORD is with us and we are by His strength, a mighty man of valour!  Praises! 3) CIRCUMSTANTIAL- In Judges 9:53 it reads: "And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull."  Abimelech had rebelled against God and so God's judgment fell upon him.  It came from a woman throwing down a piece of pottery from the wall.  The Bible says "a certain woman".  God uses unknown people and unknown circumstances to bring about His known will for our lives.  (For good and bad; For blessings and judgment)  With God, there are no such things as happenstance.  God has a plan and a purpose, but behind the scenes, He is working out His will for our lives.  It looks circumstantial.... but it's not! Hope you have a wonderful day my friend!  Pastor Mike Mutchler