UNITY – Key to Victory (Part 3)

1 Corinthians 1:10; Matthew 18:18-20; Ephesians 4:13 – – – [I ask that you read these passages…]

Let us pick up where we left off yesterday and dig a little deeper into this subject, which I consider to be revolutionary in our spiritual walk, work, and warfare!  I want us to consider some of the things that Gideon did that will be of benefit to us today:

He Worshipped through Prayer.

I have always said, “Never pray just to pray.”  I believe that we should pray to be “heard of and hear God.”  It is both communion and communication not just a religious exercise to salve our consciences.

When you are not walking in the plan that God has designed for you, you are often and usually miserable!  No amount of money, recognition, or so-called success will satisfy that longing inside of you!  But, to know what His plan is you must “communicate” and “commune” with Hm. 

It is important to always remember that it is God’s Desire to talk to you!  We just need to remove the clutter of busyness.  I like what the prophet Jeremiah had to say: “Call unto Me and I WILL…” (33:3) First, He will answer, but it goes so much further than that because He is the I AM THAT I AM!

As Gideon prayed, God spoke a Rhema Word to him!  It was a specific, explicit word for a specific time in a specific situation. That is how God operates.  He is not vague or hard to understand.  He is crystal clear when we clear away the clutter of busyness and Listen! 

I am convinced that God has a word for each of us today in our present situation.  He does not want to go through somebody else to bring that word to you He wants to communicate directly and personally with you!  He will often confirm that word through others and events, but He desires to have your attention and speak to you!  If you go back to Genesis, you will find that God is a “speaking God” and as Jesus and Paul advised, we can come boldly before the Throne of Grace and ask…

Gideon Heard a Word from the Lord.

THE WORD TO GIDEON: “Arise, for the Lord has delivered into your hands the hosts of Midian.”  That is a Now Word for Gideon.  It was a direct word that inspired confidence and it was a promise made by God Himself to this man.  The word was “You Win!”  Gideon’s response was, “I receive that, and He acted upon the Word of God.”

I am convinced that one of the reasons that many do not make more progress as individuals and as corporate bodies is that they are not “hearing what God is saying right now” to them. 

Another possibility is they hear but either do not heed or hold on to that Word.  If God gives you a Word of guidance and direction, hold on to it and allow it to become the driving force in your life and vision.  It just could be that the reason that Matthew 18:19 is not working for you right now is that you need to “hear what God is saying right now” in your life and situation. 

Once you have that Word, find somebody to come into “agreement” with concerning what God is Now Saying in your life.  I am not talking about what you would like God to say, but what God actually says!  I am not talking about your desires, but God’s actual direction.  It may not be what you would have preferred but if God says it, you can take it to the bank!

Another caution: “We cannot speak the same thing (agree) unless we hear from God.”  It is imperative that we “only” speak what God is saying not what we want God to say!

Gideon spoke what he Heard God Said.

Gideon had a Word from the LORD and as a result, he went to the army and said: “When I say, the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, you say, the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”  In other words, “say the same thing.” 

That is one of the reasons that God had him send so many away!  The doubters and fearful would have polluted the Word with their interpretation of the situation and what should be done.  They would have prevented the miracle!  They would have not fully obeyed the Word!  That is why you do not need multitudes you need one or two who will agree to see the victory come! 

The strength of Gideon’s army was not in their numbers it was in their UNITY!  They were willing to “say the same thing.”

The questions for us today are:

1. What are we saying?
2. What is God saying?

We need to become totally aligned with what God is saying!  That is our strength!  That is our power!  That is our confidence!  We need to Hear God and then Speak what God Speaks!  I do not mean to go off on a tangent but that gets God’s attention!  It attracts the Presence of God, the Authority of God, and the Power of God!

The pattern is simple:  We pray.  We hear God.  We speak or agree with what God has said.  We align our hearts, our minds, and our actions with what God has said and refuse to deviate from it no matter how things look.

James 1:5-8 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” NKJV

What happens?  You pray, hear what God is saying, find someone to come into agreement (say the same thing), and having done all to stand, stand firm!  Refuse to be shaken from that promise of the LORD!

The problem is that too often we speak the same thing until difficulties or delay presents themselves.  Then we or they begin to speak doubts or fears and become double-minded and the door shuts!

I want you to carefully hear this:  The only thing that can shipwreck God’s Plan in your life is for you to start agreeing with the devil.  Follow the directive of Paul and “Be not weary in well doing, for…”   If you hold on to you will see the harvest.  The devil cannot win unless you quit!  Therefore, it is imperative that you remain in agreement with God and hold to His Promise!  It does not matter how large or how small that promise is, Stand On It!

I encourage you to “pray until” you Hear God and once you have Heard God stand on that word and refuse to be shaken.  It does not matter how long it takes to become reality.  Remember Moses spent 40 years training in Pharaoh’s house, 40 years getting Egypt out of him and emptying himself of self, then 40 years fulfilling the purposes of God.  God is not concerned with time for the most part.  He is concerned with the finished product not how quickly it comes to pass.  He is very very very patient contrary to what some have preached for generations!

Hopefully, this has inspired you to follow this prescription to victory and in doing so take the battle to the devil and reclaim territory and lives that have been stolen and deceived.  

May God bless you as you go through your day in Him!