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[0:00] We'll read verses 14 to 17. And the Lord looked at him, and said, Go, in this thy mind, and thou shalt save Israel from that end of the midnight.

[0:19] And the Lord said unto him, O my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel?

[0:32] Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

[0:55] And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me.

[1:11] It is perhaps wise to remark that we have become so used to a solitary verse or an off statement out of a verse, being taken as the basis of a sermon.

[1:34] The plural act that looks suspicious of the man he did, takes three or four or even more verses as the basis of his remarks.

[1:46] Well, please remember, that it's quite a recent, innovation, really, in the history of the church, for a man who takes an off verse as a text, somewhere about the 15th century.

[2:06] Up to obey, it was a custom, right from the apostolic days till then, for lengthy portions of the Old Testament, and later in the view, to be taken as the basis of the speaker's remarks.

[2:28] They were in the Puritan days called lectures. And I'm sure some of you must agree that often a man takes an art sentence and completely rests out of his connection, spoils the meaning of the Holy Ghost, profits nobody, and really insults God, the author of that book.

[3:01] Then again you should know that originally chapters and verses were not in this divine book. They are also, as we've had to be speaking, of modern inventions.

[3:18] But it's a very useful method to add chapters and verses, very useful indeed. Well now, having said that, it's my idea itself to carry on with last Sunday morning's remarks here about Gideon.

[3:38] When you remember that, yes, verses 11 to 13, Gideon is favoured with an appearance of an king of God, who in the history makes himself known as God himself.

[3:58] And to have God appear unto a man in those days was looked upon as a sure sign that he would die. He said, I've seen God's face to face.

[4:11] I cannot live, said one. Well, that was not so. They were those gracious intimations beforehand of the incarnation of the Son of God, which was to come.

[4:28] He has come. Well, he has come. And in the likeness of sinful flesh too, a remarkable extra contrast. Life is given here.

[4:41] So a man with human force and prepared meat and broth for it to eat or drink. The reality of the appearance of the spirit. The reality of the appearance, you see, was so absolutely human.

[4:55] We have, in the incarnation of God's dear Son, one who was a real man, like unto you and I, other than sin, of course.

[5:08] The reality of God's dear Son, one who was a real man, like unto you and the spirit.

[5:23] And he said, by thee I will deliver Israel from the Midianites.

[5:33] And thou art a mighty man as well. Gideon couldn't help responding, of course. And he said, if the Lord be with us, why then is all his before us?

[5:49] How often you will have to say the same spirit, really. You may be pretty assured that God is directing you in some of the people of the matter.

[5:59] A matter that has cost you much real, mental, and vocal prayer. Great exercise in the mind. I don't mean that cheap-driven expression, oh, I made it a matter of prayer.

[6:15] Well, if you made it a matter of prayer, it wouldn't work much. But if the Holy Ghost enables you to pray about the matter, then you have a lot to expect great things to follow.

[6:29] But they don't always follow. Instead of the pathway opening up, the difficulty is removing, and the pathway gets more blocked, and the difficulty gets greater.

[6:41] And you say, and very rightly so, I must remain and say. I did think God directed me and gave me an answer to those decisions, but really I must have blundered here and there.

[6:56] If the Lord be with us, why then is all this evil before us? Well, God will clear the way in his time as he did hear with Gideon.

[7:08] He heard Gideon groaning this. And my text begins with, The Lord looked upon him. Ah.

[7:21] I wish he'd look upon you, and me too, this morning. That would do us good, you know. It's no good you and I coming here or going anywhere else to worship.

[7:35] If God doesn't look upon us when we're there, now come. What good did you ever get? Or I either. In attending any place of worship, any religious service, however good, clear it may be.

[7:57] What good have you got for us out of this? If the Lord hasn't looked upon us therein and thereabas, you have to say, no good at all.

[8:10] Other than, of course, we could spend our time much worse than going to a place of worship. But for inward spiritual instruction, for the inward suppling of the joints of the heart, the outflowings of love and humility and worship in the soul, when apart from a look from God, you never did it, and you never will, nor I am.

[8:45] Then they look upon us. Some would say, that's a small matter for the Lord to look upon one.

[8:56] Some is it you don't know what you're talking about. The day may come, I hope it will, when you'll account it the greatest thing God can do to you.

[9:12] And look at you. You. Why? Well, it's the old story, but it's nonetheless true.

[9:24] For me, at home. What? Well, look what you and I are. As God sees us.

[9:36] You and I have never seen ourselves. As he sees us. We have towering imaginary thoughts about our goodness and capacitors, and the goodness and what's up to do this, that, and the other.

[9:50] Who is God that are we to be defending of the things? What does he want from me that I call on him? That when God looks in that gracious way that only he can look in to your heart, and opens your heart to you, not your words, not your deeds, but your heart.

[10:18] When all those words and deeds are sprung, God not be deceived by words, nor deeds, nor by the heart. When he turns that up to your gaze and mine, shot with the sun, we straight cry out, and never God.

[10:40] Well, he asked. If he would look upon you and me, then we should account it for great mercy under heaven.

[10:54] And so it was this. Said the psalmist, God, and it just suits the heart that is born again. Look upon me and forgive all my sins.

[11:16] Did you ever get a look from God in that respect? Now don't build on anything less than this, will you? You'll be building on a rotten straw if you do, friends.

[11:28] Don't you build eternity on anything less than God, looking in your heart with that fatherly forgiving mercy as the prodigal father did to the prodigal boy, and kissed him into reconciliation and peace and joy and banqueting.

[11:54] There's so much superficial religion. It lies on the top, and we're so easily beguiled by it, and willing to be beguiled by it, beware of it, friends.

[12:07] And you insist, by God's mercy, on a look from him, himself, so that you can say what David did, that his sins were forgiven.

[12:23] And they sometimes, after that, happy bed may have taken place, and you say in your heart, and you mean it, oh, I will be held now.

[12:37] I will mind my steps and my words now. Because the forgiving love of God in the heart makes a man tender, reverent, God, and he doesn't want to offend his God anymore, and he wouldn't if he could help it.

[13:01] So, he tries to set a watch on every movement of his, and he's resolved to do it. He's dead, but then, ah, the devil's not dead.

[13:17] He's taken a long holiday from modern religion, and modern preachers of religion too, but the devil's not dead. He's alive, and he knows every one of whom the Lord God has looked in mercy, and he's determined to give them a rough time, and he will do.

[13:39] If you don't know him, so much of your religion isn't worth having, friends. Throw it away. If you've got the right source, you will have the devil to upset you, and more.

[13:54] Remember, Peter, if ever there was a man of whom God in mercy looked and raised up to a high state of spirituality, it was Peter.

[14:08] When Peter said, when Christ was asking what men say he was, oh, he says, we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

[14:25] His dear own heart meant it. He felt it. He loved it. Ah, no, I don't know the man. I swear on you.

[14:37] Never see you. Know nothing about you. Peter, Peter, look at that man in the dark, and you say you don't know him?

[14:48] No, no, no, no, no, that man is all about. And to give it a kind of a force, he breaks out in those oaths and cursings, which I suppose were his natural language, before he was called by grace.

[15:05] Have you been as bad as that? Well, if you haven't, you may be. You may be a denier of that good God that forgave you, ah, when you said, ah, we never hope any more revival, and we've been to the poor, but you live to prove that Satan is a diabolical foe, and you are the grace in you, and he had to be his sin, and he pretty well sifted all the grace of God out of you, as you imagine.

[15:39] That's why he can't do that. But you felt that he has sifted all the grace of God out of your heart, and he left you groaning in the bondage, and the guilt, and the influence of being a denier of that one who profess love to and trust in.

[16:04] But the Lord, he looked for. So I ask you, what did Jesus think of that, you're in pain? In such a service, under such conditions, ah, men and women that profess Christianity will turn away from you right and left, in the hour of distress and trouble.

[16:28] You make a slip and fall and see where your professed Christian friends will be, so he's the first to hang pack you, slung to you, and run you down to hell.

[16:40] You say, I deserve it. Well, so you do. But not from them. But what will the Lord do? That's the point. Never mind about fellow men or even fellow professed Christians.

[16:54] Leave them all alone in this matter. What will the Lord do? Do you look on your face? Sir, he has a name and a heart of affection for sinners.

[17:07] Sinners can say, and none but they. In fact, if you're all too good, which you're religious, which you're holy. But sinners can say, and only they.

[17:21] How gracious is this. Lord, look on me. A poor, that's lying here. And bring me back.

[17:34] Without a wet fit. The best thing to do. Well, sometimes, you know, you may be situated in circumstances, just in part of the world, on that matter.

[17:53] Your circumstances may be similar to Israel's of old. When they were Egyptian bundled, you've got your taskmasters in circumstances. The fact is, you're all toxic dirty.

[18:07] You don't know where you are. You do not know what to do, and you do not know what to tell of you. And I'm not talking theoretically, friends.

[18:20] I'm not together that used to be. I'm old enough to rehearse certain things, many of which I always keep back. But fear I can talk about myself.

[18:31] But I know what it used to be in that condition, more than once in my life. I know what it used to be in my life. When you gave me all the woes, it would have helped.

[18:42] When there were such conditions that none but God could help, my staring at me... you get Mounted into the guarded... and I remember...

[18:56] You get into a muddle. You get mountains of things you did as it were in your forehead. No open door. No open door at all.

[19:09] What then? Well, God says, I will remember my covenant of Israel. And I will look good at Israel. Ah, man forgets.

[19:22] God, yes. You will have your supposed friends. Take the most solemn oath in the world. Never to leave you.

[19:33] Never to run you down. All is to stand by you. I've had them do that. And the first time to do it, it all will be so.

[19:45] That's why. Never will. That's why. And that's only what. A man or a woman that know what they're talking about in these things can be dogmatic.

[20:02] There's no interest to the plot and the third adventure about it. It's what he knows. It's what he's proved. And that's better than all the book learnings in the world.

[20:13] So that is useful to be explained. When you can say from your heart, man, this poor man cried unto the Lord.

[20:23] And the Lord heard him. And you say, I'm that man. Thank God you are on your feet. You know where you are and what you are.

[20:34] By the grace of the hand of whom God has looked. The Lord looked upon him and said, go in this thy might.

[20:50] The might of Gideon was not his own arm. But the might of the divine commission. God's sending him.

[21:00] That's to be his strength. And in addition to that, God would be with him constantly enabling him.

[21:11] And for 40 years, it won. He ruled Israel for 40 years. And then, ah.

[21:51] And then, are you an individual who God in spirit has about some matter or another said, go in this thy might.

[22:03] And you've been enabled, go. And he has through and by you, to your wonderful amazement, done the wondrous thing.

[22:16] What a dangerous spot to you, to your man, when he's done the wondrous thing. When, after a long series of difficultness, darkness, supplications, God has led you, turn your captivity as trees of the Sabbath.

[22:43] When, in the flush of that joy, like Israel said, there was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue was singing, and we said, the Lord has done great things for us.

[22:59] And the heathen heard it, and said, yes, the Lord has done great things for us. That's the danger. When, when I lifted up, I exulting in God's mercy, danger, Christians, tumble head first into the danger.

[23:26] Half is done by God's help, what he did. And, when I said, you be ruler over that city, and I will go. So, I tell you what, this video, each of you, you be able to go with an earring.

[23:44] And they did. And then, the poor man, made with those earrings, an ephod. And it was a snare to Gideon, and a snare to Israel.

[24:01] We read in the inspired words, they went up for him after that. Now, what is that? You may say, oh, he never thought.

[24:16] No, we wouldn't, would we? But if you ever come across the same thing, including your own life, you will understand this. You understand it.

[24:30] More the treacherous cow we dread than tempest bursting o'er our eggs. You were saved enough in trouble, and difficulty.

[24:42] You were called and got there. But it's when he turns your condition into that joy and compulsive peace, then beware.

[24:54] As God said, we betrayed him, oh, when thou art waxed, fat, and become rich, beware. Lest thou forget the Lord thy God.

[25:07] Who is not done? It's so easy, my dear friends, it's so easy. For you and I, for our soul, we're only flesh in blood.

[25:18] In our bestest days, we're only flesh in blood. God puts on your plate a wonderful provision of mercy. And then you will get the hand of his prosperity.

[25:34] God puts on your hands and turns your heart. And what, man? Well, Gideon pays a terrible price for that.

[25:49] He goes down to the clouds in darkness. Do not think that God is inherently weak. God is, we read in Hebrew, it would be that.

[26:00] He's among that beautiful catalog of heroes of faith. And he wouldn't be there if he were not in heaven. That is, if he were not a real child of God.

[26:12] No. God does not disinherit his people through these falls of theirs. But he does show you disapproval. David has a sword never to depart from his house the rest of his days.

[26:29] And you may be sure, dear old Peter, I am trending it up the rest of his days. It is saying, I don't know whether it's true or not, that Jewish tradition hands it down, that he never heard a cock crow after that, after his denial of what he used to be.

[26:48] Well, if it isn't true, it ought to be true. I believe it were true in Peter's heart. And when Peter is an old man, and on the verge of eternity to call, he says, I know the Lord has told me that I should soon be up in my cabinet.

[27:10] That is, I should soon be going. No, he says, beware. That's his last word in his second lap of the church. To the stranger scattered abroad, his last word.

[27:25] Beware. Lest you fall from your own specklessness in the faith, growing grave, that serenity against us.

[27:36] The point I want is this, that after the fall, the Lord will go down into a large measure of distress.

[27:47] We read expressly that the people forgot him. He retires to the old private house, we're told. And then in the next chapter, we're told, where his seven sons are slain by one blow.

[28:07] The whole household goes down in grief and shame and sorrow. So, do let us beware.

[28:20] If God directs to go, and that he will be with us in the going, and he accomplishes things through our instrumentality, do beware.

[28:31] The moment something is done by God, lest we get lifted up this far, and fall into some horrible snare of the devil, and pay the price to the heads around.

[28:49] Go to the grave with broken bones, as David did, yet not eternal darkness. Now, just a word on the next thought here, and that is, it gives you miracles.

[29:12] He said unto me, O my Lord, wherewith shall I stay in Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my Father's house.

[29:25] It is always thus. It's remark. God sends a man, and God gives him special and particular assurance in his sending, that man always falls down the block.

[29:44] Now, one of the most terrible sins anyone can commit is to get up into a book and preach without the incentive of God.

[29:56] I'm not far from the any burden of a brother ministry. I do not think that. But I am speaking what is true.

[30:08] I do not know how a man can do it without being pushed, shut, as well as attracted and allured by God.

[30:22] For the pulpit is a holy spot. And without God putting a man into it, the man will only be a curse to whosoever he may be preaching.

[30:36] But as sure as God sends a man to preach, that man is the first one not to want to go.

[30:53] No, he doesn't want to go. Where we should I stay in the trail? My family is poor in the desert.

[31:05] and I will meet in my father's house. Most you go. Thank you for that I will meet you.

[31:17] Alas, Lord, I am not an elephant man. I am a man of slow feet. Send thy rules over thou wilt, but not by me. For I know in what to go.

[31:29] Jeremiah, Jeremiah, I have ordained thee before you were born to be a cross. Oh, but I can't go, Lord, says Jeremiah.

[31:44] I am a child. I know not how to do this. Say not, I am a child. Have not I said thee?

[31:57] So, without any fraud and registration, fair enough, if God sends the man the man that wants to go. Before we walk, as a deep sense that he's only been sufficiently, inadequacy for the situation, but, at the same time, God is pleased with that humility, you know, we read expressed in the Lord and hear the desire of the hundreds.

[32:29] We really can never be too hundreds. By the by, and we will notice that the word of humility comes from humans, the earth, loathe, loathe.

[32:45] That's where we came from, by God's command, the power, of course, and mother of earth is that to which we belong, and that to which we return, even though in our dead.

[32:58] Oh, to think of that, to think presently that all I shall possess of this world will be five or six foot of earth, that's all.

[33:13] Then shall the spirit return unto God who gave it, while the body that returns unjust, whence you came.

[33:24] So, to be humble, really mean, keep looking at your knowledge, keep looking whence you came. Get not Nebuchadnezzar's nethered idea into your head, that can come without any death in time.

[33:40] Is not this great Sabbath, God's love, God's love, God's much reason out of him.

[33:53] Ah, brethren, we shall never be too well, but I'm in the real being. You really need one of those graces that I can't describe it, and I do not like to talk about it a lot either.

[34:09] I'll tell you why. Because even what you're talking about is really that damn evil things pride can come up in your own heart, that unfaithful you're uncapped now, when you are reekingly pride all the time.

[34:25] But still, we will have it, God knows. Oh, he's made a beautiful promise, I tell you, to the humble-minded man, poor woman, heaven's my throne, earth's my footstool.

[34:40] Isn't that enough? No. If this man would not good, and with this man would I wear, it is the humble and the colonized spirit has a tremendous admirable.

[34:57] Well, he was humble, and the Lord assured him of victory, and then he said, show me a star that thou courtest with.

[35:11] Now, really, it was a whole discourse on this matter of star. So only a word to now must suffice.

[35:23] Show me a star that thou talkest with me. There are ever so many people who could them know, give me a hand. I say, the man with a fool. God told him, I'll with you, I will be with you nice, by your hand.

[35:41] What more than any one? Ah, but you put yourself in Vidian's place, pray. That's the best way to get any subject.

[35:53] Put yourself in the other man's place. Now, Vidian had some idea of the life of the Vigilians. He tasted their prowess more than once.

[36:08] Just as the harvest was ready for the sickle, those Vidianites had come across the land of Canaan and lift that up and give them with the toughest and to be standing dead.

[36:25] He wasn't so sure. How should God hold him? I know God hold him. And he should have rested on that.

[36:36] Yet I agree. He should and so should you. But have you? Before you start Vidian with a stow you put yourself and then your stow will come out of your pocket bread.

[36:49] I am the stone that don't give. I'm sure he should have believed, he should have acted on the word of God without any sign.

[37:02] But he did. And that happened many times in one's life. When in certain cases we had reason to believe the Lord had given specific directions that we felt that he was so great and I was so small and if I may have blunder how enormously great it would be that I did want God to make it double so.

[37:32] If he would and give him a side at home for good of God. God scoops to the weaknesses of his people and he gave Gideon a sign.

[37:50] The sign of this is carry you here says Gideon till I come back. And Gideon went off killed the goat or a kid of the flock cooked it and came along with the basket and the broth in a pot which must have taken certainly out of time and the Lord is still there still waiting and of course he didn't expect that he would go to eat and eat and put the provision there pour the broth there and eat so and then the Lord that was talking to him touched the provision to start by the God always remember every word of God is to that word start indicates the manner in which God appeared to

[38:50] Gideon as a trap that may have something to do with Gideon asking him to wait to eat God's provision using hospitality of course to entertain and refresh this trap where he touched the flesh and abroad with his scar and immediately it was consumed he had his sign grant then and then would you believe it he went and said by that no there's a fleet of wood dry all around wet there is vice versa wet and dry and the Lord stood to that he did that too and did you know with what is now that matter of signs do be careful about I wouldn't condemn you friend if you ask the

[39:54] Lord for proof ato you not I but be careful if God gives you one specific word of his right into your heart you know what I mean not you opening the fire catching the word and run off with that well you might well have the old dice out and cast lots that irreverence to the word of God but God brings the word to you and put it in your heart I would say believe it but if you should have something tremendous in front of you as you judge it to be and you know that God knowing your heart that you would trust it but you don't want to make a mistake if it would be pleased to give you a confirmation I cannot say a word to you on that matter you do you will stoop to your weakness but remember what he said to your old

[41:01] Thomas won't you Thomas said when he was told of the resurrection of our Lord boys I don't believe oh we've seen him oh I don't believe unless I see the print of the nails and put my finger in the print of the nails I will not believe blessed Saturday evening he was there and now Thomas said my Lord and my God but the Lord sent to him and he says to you and me in this respect blessed are you Thomas but remember you believe because you see blessed are they who believe who have lost see this blessed are they that hang upon his word depend upon his word without the sign the Pharisee came to him to say show us a sign from heaven and we read these remarkable words and we bang his mind and our

[42:11]  Lord sigh deeply the world really he groan he groan in his very heart and said worry that this generation asked of me a sign there shall be no sign given you and he left there is a limit to that asking a sign see what I mean don't you there is a limit it is far better by the grace of God to hang on one word God and we have all signs in action for God loves and trust may that bless you