https://youtu.be/gv_rfn_INc8

Are you all in? Deuteronomy 20:2-4

(CSB)When you are about to engage in battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army. He is to say to them, ‘Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be cowardly. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.’

This is the theme for us this year and more so now – When you are “about” to engage Preparation matters – Let’s look at two stories in the bible. 

Two stories in the Bible 

The story of the 300 men – Judges 6&7

Israelites are given over to their sin and are oppressed by Medians for 7 yearsThey cry out to God and God sends an angel to Gideon and assures him of victoryHe tore the Baal altar and the Asherah pole – And he built an altar and offered a sacrifice to GodThe people want to kill him but Gideon’s dad convinced them that they should let baal handle his businessAll this happening as the Medianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east assemble to fight the Israelites Gideon asks for confirmation that God is going with them by putting out the fleece – which God doesGideon gets up early and assembles his team (32,000 men) – only to have God tell him that they are too many menGod cuts the number down to 300. This is the number that he uses to win. 

The fighting last night...

Judges 6:25- 27 (ampc)– That night the Lord said to Gideon, Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; And build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold with stones laid in proper order. Then take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him, but because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.This Battle didn’t start when Gideon went to fight with 300 men- It started when he RESOLVED that even though afraid that he was going to do the will of God This battle has to start from your bedrooms- Our most private room in your lives It starts with us– We can’t lead an arm or be part of one unless you work on US firstBoldness – If it is of the Lord, if it should be complicated – because you are just following directionsAll in – He tore down the altar and burnt the Asherah pole and build a new altar and sacrificed- and used the pole as firewood!He didn’t just wound – A wounded enemy is dangerous – (Wildlife stories) Yet, in our prayer life, we are quitting after only scratching the enemy Boxing – Gloves go down with every hit. We have to keep up our hands until we win Let us not let Lack of Cardio, Lack of building muscles (Strength) & Laziness – Keep us away from being ready for battle The battle starts before we get to the battle ground – Prepare 

Get rid of excuses 

Judges 6:31-32(Ampc) - But Joash said to all who stood against him, Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for Baal, let him be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself because one has pulled down his altar. Therefore, on that day he called Gideon Jerubbaal, meaning, Let Baal contend against him, because he had pulled down his altar.

-His name is changed to reflect death by baal – A curse 

Judges 7: 1 (Ampc)- Then Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon,