Sermon Series: Preparing for Revival
Sermon Title: We Over Me
Speaker: Brian Winburn
Judges 8:1

“Some congregations touch the world, others touch the Church, and a few touch the Lord. Which one are you and your people going to be?” – Steve Gray

Prayer #1 – Reveal yourself to us through your Word, Father God. We need Revival. We are sinful, our community, and nation is sinful. Help us, O God to be tools of righteousness.

This is the time of year, that we reflect back on the past year and then look forward to the new year. What do we want to become? It is a necessary question, but deeply flawed if it is not adjusted. Look

Jeremiah 9:14 – they have stubbornly followed their own hearts.

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

If we are looking to ourselves to decide what we should become, we are in deep trouble. An inward focused or selfish, prideful spirit leads to ruin. An example is Judges 8. I’ve referenced this several times recently, because while saddening, it is true.

Gideon a new believer, is only allowed by God to have 300 men in his army. Others may join the fight to capture those running, but God has put a limit on the number in the army. They have just wiped out a large and oppressing group and here is the response.

Judges 8:1 Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.

Jeremiah 7:18-19 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 19 Is it I whom they provoke? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves, to their own shame?

In Jeremiah, they have perfected their false worship throughout the entire family. Thinking that this harms God, but God does not need us. Our false worship provokes each other. Always striving to do more, be more, and be better than others.

When we lift ourselves up above others, it creates arrogance throughout the body of Christ. What type of seed are you sowing in the body?

Is your jealousy for the Glory of God or for your own glory?

At the heart of sin is the stealing of God’s glory. We are unwilling to glorify Him and are unthankful.

Isaiah 48:11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Prayer #2 – Shine your light into our darkness. Reveal our lack of gratitude. Show us how we are stealing your glory. Lead us to repentance, Holy Spirit. Wash over us with your Word, O Lord, that we might be cleansed.

How should this have gone?

We heard you were serving the Lord, How can we help?

Gideon – God will not allow more to join me, but you can… wait on the fringes and capture those that are fleeing, feed us, water us, and encourage us.

The problem with the book of Judges is that they do not know God. Jeremiah 10 describes Shepherds that are unwilling to ask God. They are not praying, are not seeking God. So the flock is scattered.

Let us now, ask God, seek God, and plead that He brings us together.

Is there any sin in your life that is helping scatter the Church rather than gather it?

Romans 15:1-3 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

Prayer #3 – Help us to see where you are at work and join you. Help us to be encouragers, evangelizers, and declarers of your Glory.

Leaders, it is easy to see this as a reason to not serve. There is a social media challenge to say something that people may not like you for, but is true.

God doesn’t owe you anything. That includes people that will follow or encourage you.

Gideon must trust in the Lord, not for what He has done, but for Who He IS.

The WE starts with Christ. Church we can easily touch the world, even transform the Church, but we want to be One with Christ.

Like Christ we want to obey the Father, pray to the Father, and seek the Father’s will.