2ND Level Christianity

The Plain of Decision - From Judges 6-7

The 2nd level in our Christian walk is the plain of decision. This is a different type of decision that we had to exercise in our initial calling. The first level was a decision level as well but it was a decision to join the army of believers.

In the 1st level we accepted that there was an enemy against us who have stolen everything that God has rightfully given to us. The enemy has stolen our strength! The enemy has stolen our blessing - every time there was harvest, the Amorites took it from the children of Israel. The enemy has stolen our self respect - since the enemy was stealing the harvest, the Israelites had to gather food, prepare it, cook it, and eat it at night. The enemy stole our joy - for seven years the Midianites had enslaved the Children of Israel - therefore Israel was greatly impoverished and desperate.

In the 1st level we accepted that we will be at war. Being part of the army let's us know that we are in a fight for our freedom and our nation - our lives and our family depends on the outcome of our war against the enemy. We must take on the posture of conflict. We were not called to just feel the goodness of God, but we were called to do the work for God and to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, as freely as we have received so we should give.

In the first level we accepted a new family. We heard the rams horn and responded to the call of war. When we got the well or the base, everyone was there and we forgot where we came from and who we left and enjoyed the company of fellow soldier-believers. 32,000 men answered the call for battle. Firstly, not every will respond to the call even though all are welcome, but they will be affected by our response. Secondly, when we answer the call - we become part of the called out ones - those that are separated for the work of God. We have to accept that we have a new family, a new place of gathering - those who accepted the call left their homes and gathered at the well.

So the first level is a level of decision that takes courage, and will - without necessarily having an understanding of what we're about to undertake.

The 2nd level as the first is a level of decision - but with one caveat - this is a time of decision where we go from just answering the call to getting involved in the fight.

At the second level 32,000 men decreased to 10,000 men. This means that 22,000 wanted to be part of the army, the family, the called out ones but they did not want to do too much outside of answering the initial calling. They wanted to be part of the army without taking part in the battle. Why was that?

The bible says that God told Gideon to tell those that were fearful and afraid to go home. What this tells me is that God wants to work with those that are not thinking about the casualties but the victories. To God, at least from my point of view, it is not just the response of the man that is important rather it is his action! Are you willing to look at what you can win instead of what you may lose?

Let's think about it for a minute: Are you willing to look at how many souls can be won if you put in an hour a week or would you rather look at how many TV shows you'd miss while you spend that hour. Are you willing to trust in the promise of God for a return blessing when you bring your tithes and give your offering or are you too concern about losing the 10th part of your income because you may use that $200 for something else like buying the next new thing. Are you willing to spend half-an-hour in prayer in the morning before work or are you too concern about how your hair looks so you spend that 30 minutes making sure your hair is set in place! Think about it: In our Christianity we should spend our time thinking about what God will reward us with rather than what we will lose when we give of ourselves.

What am I saying? The Word said that those that were afraid or are fearful should go home - meaning those that find a reason to not fight should go home cause they're as good as someone not responding to the call of duty. The first level is a call of war this second level is a call of duty or of battle; from being enlisted to being active. It's easy in the 1st level - running around the base in your uniform performing drills and practicing our weapons - but it gets down right scary being called out of the base into the drenches where the battle is fought. Who wouldn't fear that?

The words: Fear and afraid are synonymous to reverential fear and trembling. To me it means that something is more revered than the victory at hand or the objective. There's a higher, reverential regard for something else than fighting a battle against the enemy. Most people that are afraid of war and battle are normally afraid of dying. The reality is - the fear of dying is human - it is wrapped around the concept of self- preservation - a shadow of self-centeredness. It's normal. And there is nothing that I can think of that is spiritually wrong with self-preservation - even Jesus walked away from a crowd that wanted to stone Him. What's wrong with self-preservation is when the calling of God is placed second so to accommodate our own desires instead of God's. When we'd rather sleep than pray, buy a blouse or shirt than pay our tithes, go out to dinner than get involved in extra church affair, obey our hunger instead of fast, spend time in leisure than do something extra in the church - then this fear is not of God. See, the Lord Jesus walked away from being stoned because His time to die was not yet at hand - but when His time to die came calling, He said - nevertheless Thine will be done! Meaning - let's go and do what must be done. When your time comes you must be ready, willing, and able.

Here's the meat and potatoes. Here's what I'm trying to convey - it's not enough to be part of the called. It's not enough to show up on Sundays. It's not enough to respond to an altar call. It's not enough to make your church your new family. It's not enough to enjoy the singing and the fellowship. It's not enough to drink from the well of the Spirit when you need to. It's not enough to be part of the Body! All of it is fine and good - nothing wrong with it. In fact we must strive to do that. But what the work of God truly needs are people who did not just come to belong or to be saved but came to do some work; to put God first in their lives AFTER they've decided to deny the world and live for Jesus! Meaning after the music is done, the preaching over, the tears rolled; are you ready to do the necessary things to see a new generation of believers come to know Jesus and to go deeper in relationship with God! Are you ready to have an experience with God outside of the campsite?

Sometimes we think that showing up means we got involved! No! Just the thoughts does not count! After our initial decision - we must decide again how involved do we want to become! Not just enrollment but involvement!

God is bringing some of us into the Plain of Decision and asking us, "Do you fear or reverence something else more than my desired outcome?" "Is there something that you feel is more important that this?" I feel that if there is something more important than: a deeper walk with Jesus; bringing as many souls to Jesus as you can; creating an atmosphere of praise and worship for someone; ultimately, creating an atmosphere for someone to win - then we might us well be a cheerleader or worse yet - a bench player - someone who rejoices at a victory and claims it for themselves even though they did nothing to earn it.

I know, I know, this is heavy. But, realize that if we don't make the decision to get involved, make the work of God our inspiration of reverence, and own up to our responsibility as soldiers for Jesus; then our families will continue to be under the bondage of the enemy and suffer his merciless reign in their lives.

Listen, not everyone is going to respond to this message the way we should. I know this because out of 32,000 only 10,000 stayed to fight. I mean - we asked for help to clean the church and only one showed up even though all of us would benefit. So I know that not everyone will respond. But let's take a cue from God's Word: God was saying - too many Gideon, too, too many. I don't want anyone saying that "Mine own hand had saved me." So God is not looking for the conceited and the proud. God is looking for the humble and the lowly who just wants to be used in any way shape or form. God is looking for that one or two who will be willing to lay down earthly fears and decide to step out of self-preservation into God's glorious will.

In Chapter 8 of Judges we'll read that 120,000 soldiers of the enemy were slain during the fight. You know how many God needed to destroy 120,000 of the enemy? 300! Only 3o0! God does not need 32,000. God doesn't even need 3! It took one Moses to bring God's people, Israel, out of Egypt. It took one 17 year old young man to slay one huge Giant and defeat the nation of Philistine. It took one Elijah to call fire from heaven and defeat 850 followers of Baal. It took one Elijah to stop the sky from raining for 3 1/2 years and just one Elijah to get the rain pouring again. It took one Noah to save 7 of his relatives from the flood along with hundreds and thousands of paired animals. It took one Daniel to shut the mouths of the lions, change the degree of a pagan king, and to get the king of Babylon to repent. It took one Deborah to rally the armies of Israel and bring the nation back to God. It took one cross, one grave, and one resurrection to reconcile billions of people throughout the ages back to God. God does not need many He just needs a few to make a decision about moving beyond enrollment into involvement. There are 2 other steps we have to pass in order for us to get the victory that we are believing God for, but before you can get to the third level - a level of consecration - you must step up and not be afraid of a little action!