The Trumpet Blower — August 9, 2020: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:08 Good morning and welcome it’s good to have everybody in the room it’s good to have everybody online thank you for joining us God bless you we’ve got some people back from north carolina. Right yeah. Kansas. Travel all over we’ve got about 100 people in the room. Uh thank you for wearing your mask today that’s great to have everyone we’re going to get started here worshiping God Bible says in two or three two or three are gathered in my name not for somebody’s birthday party. Not for something else in his name and we are gathered here today took time out our day to come and worship and exalt Jesus and why don’t you join us stand with us and do worship let’s stand be the gospel.

▶ 1:10 Hey. Um. Is. Is.

▶ 2:34 Is. From. I.

▶ 3:30 Believe. Is all. Right. Take it. Away.

▶ 4:40 Is. Uh. Is. Right.

▶ 6:18 So. Uh. Uh. Ah.

▶ 7:56 Gloria. Is. Is. Is.

▶ 9:06 Us. Is. You. Are. Oh. Is.

▶ 10:30 Is. Uh. Oh.

▶ 11:40 Me. Um. Bye. Um.

▶ 12:50 Cheese. Oh. Is. Is.

▶ 14:00 Jesus. Oh. Oh.

▶ 15:24 Jesus. Oh. Foreign.

▶ 16:34 Jesus. I. Am. Oh. Praise the Father we just Lord thank you for this opportunity that can come you have to come be a symbol here in this place as brothers and sisters in your name this morning to come and give you praise and glory and to lift you up in this place and even though we live in the midst of turmoil in this world there are things going on that are worse elsewhere.

▶ 17:39 We thank you because we know you are in charge and we know that you are in control of everything and that we as your servants only need to be concerned with one thing and that’s doing your will pleasing you we thank you for this chance to come together again this. Morning. As the speaker comes forth this morning and Lord we pray again that you will use that for to speak to our hearts and our minds in this place this. Morning. This morning we’re going to be talking about the trumpet blower. Blowing the trumpet. Being the trumpet blower. And we’re going to look at Gideon chapter judges the story of Gideon Gideon in judges chapter 6.

▶ 18:33 It starts out in the beginning of the chapter saying that Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and that’s how a lot of it starts out evil we’re doing bad things we’re disobeying God just like in America today and all over the world people are sinning. And God punished Israel so the Lord delivered them to midian for seven years God brings punishment from other nations he brings pestilence war pestilences disease war and what’s the last one famine thank you. And these are the things that God brings on a nation for doing evil and sinning. The Midianites and amalekites would come up against them and this is what was happening in the days of Israel they would destroy the produce of the earth and leave no sustenance for Israel they had nothing to eat they had.

▶ 19:33 They had very little to eat right. They were scraping by they would enter the land to destroy it they’d bring their cattle an ox they just come through trample over everything trample right through the vineyards trample all. And just mess everything up. And Israel was greatly impoverished. So they cried out to the Lord the Bible says in second Chronicles 7 14 if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray so Israel had something right here they cried out to God but it also says and turn from their wicked ways see Israel has to turn from their wicked ways very simple. I said to you I am the Lord your God do not fear the gods of the amorites and whose land you dwell but you did not obey my voice we don’t obey God.

▶ 20:31 Very important here the statement that God makes to. Gideon or whoever he’s talking to he says I am the Lord your God he hasn’t given up on his people and God hasn’t given up on his people today he hasn’t given up given up on you he hasn’t thrown you out he’s still our God. He’s still your God he’s still a God of the Christians in America he’s still our God he’s still God over everything and over everyone. He hasn’t given up he hasn’t thrown us out. But we have to make it a choice and a response to him. And what God is doing he’s trying to correct them and wake them up get them to open their eyes so that they follow him see this picture here we got the guy with the Bible forget it but there’s a clip there so that’s that’s what happens.

▶ 21:32 The caption says don’t blame God when your life falls apart it was your choice to reject his words that’s. Good. So Gideon asks some questions Judges 6:13 he says o my Lord if the Lord is with me. If the Lord is with us why has all this happened. Where are all his miracles. Which our father told us about saying did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt. But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of the media Midianites. And he’s like you know he’s distressed. Why is this happen. You see a picture of a boat here a sailboat and a boat on top of that boat.

▶ 22:27 And the person there how could this happen why did this happen well I’ll tell you what happened the boat was riding along and didn’t stop. And it ended up on the other boat. When you look at the picture it’s obvious what happened. And it’s the same way with us it’s obvious what happened. Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord we said why is this happen well we’re not listening. When people have punishments that come in their life. They’ve done evil. The question is why didn’t this happen it’s what can we do about it. Repeating that scripture you have not obeyed my voice God is telling them directly you’ve not obeyed my voice Proverbs 14:34 our famous scripture.

▶ 23:23 Righteousness exalts a nation but sin brings correction it’s obvious what is wrong. Why this has happened because you reject God’s word you reject truth righteousness exalts a nation I would go on to say I would further claim righteousness exalts a person. If a nation isn’t following God like our nation’s not following God you still have a choice to make in your life in your home your family you and your decisions. You can still make right choices. But sin is an approach to any people sin is going to be a reproach to any person. And it’s going to bring correction in your life. But if we can get more than just us and more than just you then that’s that’s what God is saying in the scripture it exalts it will bless a nation.

▶ 24:24 Judges 6:13 where are all his miracles. Where is all your miracles God. Which our fathers told did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt. But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the minions you see how we turn it all around and we put it on God you’ve forsaken us. In Judges 10 he answers this question he says you have forsaken me you have forsaken me. Don’t give in to these lies you hear these lies people put out God’s forsaken God’s this God’s that no you. Have forsaken God we have forsaken God God’s not in our country we are not with him.

▶ 25:22 I was reminded of George Washington’s statement. How he said I I’m more concerned about whether or not we are with God not about with if God is with us but if we are with God. And it’s very true we sing our song God bless America but is America blessing God are we returning the favor it’s love it’s basic you have a relationship husband and wife you can’t just be one-sided. The husband’s always loving or the wife’s always loving the husband’s a jerk. You’ve got to love each other. It’s the same way with God that relationship with God you’ve got to love him back you cannot forsake. Him. And he says go cry out to the gods that you have chosen you made a choice.

▶ 26:16 Let them deliver you in your time of distress. People we make. Gods out of people famous people athletes. Government. Money heroes pastors or the good old-fashioned yourself. I’m in charge I trust myself. And you know there’s nothing wrong with be all you can be or you know study show yourself approve do the best you can that’s not what I’m talking about it’s when you think that you are the authority on truth and right and morality you’re not. Who is the authority. God Jesus Christ this is all basic stuff. I’m talking to people that are heard this. Before.

▶ 27:21 Oh Judges 6 chapter 15 he says how can I save Israel. How can I this is Gideon talking Gideon comes back with these questions in these statements how can I I’m the weakest and we’ve all heard this before we know this story my clan is the weakest my family is the weakest in manasseh uh I am the least in my father’s I’m the smallest. And my point today is God doesn’t need some billionaire God doesn’t need some fantastic person he just needs somebody who is willing to respond and listen to him and you’ll see that as we move along. And first Samuel 16 he answers that question the Lord said to Samuel do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature because I have refused him Lord does not see as man sees.

▶ 28:13 He look he does not look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart God is looking at your heart he doesn’t care if you’re super strong tall powerful muscular he’s not looking at how wonderful and beautiful you are he is looking at your heart are you willing to respond to him listen to him and follow him. I have a picture up here I love this picture. If you don’t know this is a grandma an old lady. And she was down in portland at the riots going on and she was standing up to these riders and they poured pain on her face. And they were yelling at her cursing at her and she was standing there at the wall this little grandma.

▶ 29:08 And some people posted how it’s shameful that a grandma has to stand up. When our police won’t or you know their hands are tied or whatever but you look at this. Lady not a billionaire. She’s not big strong and muscular she doesn’t got a gun but she’s standing up to these people saying you guys need to stop. There’s another old lady who was trying to put a fire out that they had started she’s trying to put a fire out with the fire extinguisher and she’s in a walker. And she’s trying to put I mean come on. That’s amazing. These women these these old ladies would not give in. And you see that heart is the kind of heart we need in God.

▶ 30:02 Where we don’t care how old we are anymore how great we are how weak we feel no it’s not about that. God can use whoever whenever however. Judges 6:12. And this is what he says to get in the Lord is with you you mighty men of valor God this is the way God looks at you and me and this is how he sees us right where you all are sitting right where you’re sitting online wherever you’re at this is the way God sees you. You may you see yourself different that that’s not how God sees you he’s looking at your heart if you have a heart that is willing to respond that’s what God wants. He doesn’t need your muscles.

▶ 30:57 The Lord is with you you mighty man of valor this is what the angel says to Gideon and that is what the one of the most important things right there the Lord is with you people. Christians people online is God with. You. To better more explain it. In acts chapter 4 verse 13 when they saw the boldness of Peter and John this is the New Testament we’re talking about and perceive that they were uneducated. Untrained. They marveled. They realized that they had been with Jesus and this is God’s question to us today have we been with Jesus when’s the last time you’ve been with Jesus. If it was today hallelujah if it was yesterday hallelujah if it was last year you better get on your knees and be with Jesus.

▶ 31:58 When is the last time you’ve been with Jesus. Well I don’t know where he’s not coming you better figure out something to do to find him and remember God says the kingdom of God is like a treasure a treasure is not easy to find sometimes. God’s not always easy to find and maybe yes like we learned there are seasons and he’s backing off but that doesn’t mean we don’t pursue him. Even if you get a little bit. That’s that’s being with Jesus. You know if the roots go down and they only get a little bit of water that’s still. Something. Judges 6:16 Lord said to him surely I will be with you and you shall defeat the Midianites and see that is the key when you’re blowing that trumpet when you are the one that has to say something when God is with you that is what makes the difference that is the key ingredient that is the key aspect of this whole thing.

▶ 33:07 Is God with us. There are many intelligent people in the world some people have the biggest iq or the the highest iq and they have no idea about Jesus Christ it astonishes me these wonderful smart people I mean I mean and they are intelligent you hear them rattle off and calculate and all but they can’t tell you beings. Nothing about Jesus about God about truth. Because that takes a different kind of smarts. That takes some experience that takes you getting on your knees you humbling yourself. You know a high iq person has to humble them humble myself.

▶ 34:08 You have to humble yourself. You have to seek God. Psalms 147 this is a very powerful scripture I mean all these scriptures are powerful he does not delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. He takes pleasure in those who fear him. And that is so encouraging no matter where I’m at no matter what I look like no matter what my status is maybe I’m poor maybe I’m edgy uneducated I’m not the smartest tool in the shed that doesn’t matter God takes pleasure in those who fear him and I want to make that priority in my life do I fear God do I serve him do I am I the one bowing the need in him am I exalting him I’m humbling myself before him do I fear him what he says do I pass that on to others no you can’t be doing that that goes against what God says.

▶ 35:14 You know somebody knows whether you fear God or not because when you pass along that information is it real to you. And and those who hope in his mercy you see we als we fear him but we hope in his mercy there is a lot of hope in Jesus he’s got a lot of love he’s got more love than all of us put. Together. But we can’t sit there in mercy and say oh just have mercy on me. We can’t sit in mercy land okay we got to have fear of God too fear of God means departing from sin as we know in the Proverbs Psalms 33 goes on to say no king is saved by the multitude of an army a mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

▶ 36:09 The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him. And I encourage you and I am encouraged with these scriptures with everything going on today in our world. If you’ve got the eye of the Lord on you because you’re fearing him that’s all we need. If you’ve got the Lord with you no matter what happens that’s all we need I mean the world can come crashing down. But if the eye of the Lord is on us that. Is more important than anything. And as I will be honest if we fear him. To deliver their soul from death to keep them alive in famine or in pestilence disease or in war.

▶ 37:06 Amen. Judges 6:14. He goes on to say to Gideon his message the angels keep he keeps going here the Lord turned to him and said go in this might of yours. And you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites have I not sent you. And Jesus Christ has sent us. Go into all the world wait I don’t want to get ahead of myself here John 20:21 peace be to you as the father has sent me I send you speaking to his disciples who became apostles but he’s also speaking to who us. You and me this morning you out there he’s speaking to you. Matthew 28:19 go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them teaching them to observe all the things.

▶ 38:08 I have commanded you and lo I am with you here he repeats it in Matthew he’s repeating this I am with you. Always see when we do this operation we’re sent by God we’re teaching making disciples God is with us. Well I don’t feel him with us he’s with you. That’s his promise. And we can see it today even in 2020. God has blessed this church brought us through many things even today. Even in our current situation God is really taking care of us. And we owe him a lot of praise and glory. So Gideon responds to the message he tears down his local alternative bale to that is a altar to another God.

▶ 39:06 His dad stood up for him the Midianites entered the land I’m summing up the story here and the spirit Lord came upon Gideon and he blew the trumpet he started out with just a few people. Do we have a few yes. He blew the trumpet. And the abilities rights. Abbies rights I don’t know gathered behind him he started with a small group he started with just his family then it grew to another clan. You see it things start out small that doesn’t bother God. That doesn’t bother God. He sent messengers throughout all manasseh who also gathered behind him you know when I think about the churches right now gathering together and uniting for a cause you think it you’re just thinking it’s not it’s not gonna happen.

▶ 40:06 But you know what when the spirit of the Lord comes upon whoever and the spirit is working with this whole thing it’s going to happen. You just have a job and that’s to blow the trumpet. Judges 6:35 he sent messengers to asher zebulun naftali so the group keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger and you know what. Happens. So now he comes to this decision time Gideon he says okay I’m getting a little scared. I’m getting a little scared he gets the fleeces out and he does the test with the fleeces he says okay you know you guys know that story if you don’t know it go read it.

▶ 41:00 And then he starts he’s got 32 000 soldiers he’s got this big group and I mean we love big groups right oh we see the videos of people yo worshiping God oh look praising God and we love when we oh thousands are coming but all of a sudden he brings them back down to 300 what. Wait a second we were all united what did you do. It’s funny when you think about this. And you think about being a small group or or being you know feeling a certain way because your church isn’t big or whatever God’s been. Making big groups and bringing them down for a long time. Because he’s got a plan he’s got a purpose you we may not see it but he’s got a plan. And we know in the end that there’s going to be a great multitude of people in heaven we know in the end that God’s going to do a mighty work we don’t need to be concerned about all this stuff.

▶ 42:03 You know oh we’re small oh this or that no we just blow the trumpet. Amen. So he goes down to the Midianite camp. And he’s afraid and you know God says go down to the mid-night camp and hear what they’re saying he says okay you know he’s got the fleece going on he’s he’s dropping his soldiers down to 300 he’s just he’s concerned. I’m not just going to go down there. So he goes down there he hears about the dream. And the interpretation. And then he gets he says all right we’re ready to go. And you guys uh it it takes time.

▶ 42:56 We can’t expect God to do things bing bang boom. You know all of a sudden it’s going to turn around and make everything different. It takes time. Now the Midianites and the amalekites all the people of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts and their camels were without number as the sand by the sea shore and multitude my goodness the enemy was big the enemy was large the enemy was vast. And today we kind of have that situation. Where it seems like the enemy is too big. The corporations have too much money. Uh that are supporting the wrong message. The media I mean you can tell who’s you can tell whose side who is on right by what they’re saying.

▶ 43:53 The media is not hiding anything anymore. They’re supporting what’s wrong hollywood’s supporting what’s wrong they’ve been for years I mean it just seems like they got too much money. Government is also suppressing Christians they’ll sue and and you’ve got groups like the aclu they’ll come after churches for doing this or that you know. You kind of feel like. That’s a big enemy out there wanting to suppress the gospel and Jesus in the church. But the size doesn’t matter. God matters. I am with you it doesn’t matter if it’s two people if God is with them they’re gonna win.

▶ 44:45 It doesn’t matter if there’s two three hundred hundred fifty five thousand. Uh Jonathan said a powerful statement nothing restrains the Lord he can save by many or by few. And God is powerful. This morning don’t go away thinking that you’re anything less that the church is. Not going to make no. God is so he’s got so much power just potential ready to. Rock. Judges 7:15. So it was when Gideon heard the telling of this dream had he worshipped God and he returned he says arise for the Lord has delivered them and delivered the camp of midian into our hand.

▶ 45:48 Decision time was up time to go. And they attacked. In Judges 7:18 the Lord said every man’s sword against his companion they had 300 people against a multitude that was countless. And they were defeated we know this story. But it’s a reminder today in America or worldwide where wherever the church is at. Doesn’t matter. We can overcome. We can overcome the enemy going on in America today we can overcome the spiritual enemy. People need to hear the gospel. In other countries they can’t even preach. That doesn’t bother God God’s going to make a way I mean if you read the heavenly man he made a way in china for it to happen.

▶ 46:44 Nothing will stop God. But we have a responsibility. Joel chapter 2 verse 1 that’s to blow the trumpet in Zion blow the trumpet in the church blow the trumpet outside blow the trumpet for the unbelievers to hear blow the trumpet. And the trumpet is a warning. An enemy is coming the trumpet is a rallying cry to to to unite to fight. And we’ve got to blow that trumpet in the church we’ve got to warn. People outside people inside that are sinning and doing what’s wrong that that is bad behavior you’re going to get punished for that. And if God will whittles it down to 300 people because people won’t respond or they won’t follow what’s right that’s that’s their problem.

▶ 47:40 Right. Sound the alarm on my holy mountain. Holy mountain let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming. And that’s what we got to remember the day of the Lord is coming. You know whether it’s many years from now whether you die the day of the Lord is coming. And you’re going to reach it by either dying or being there when it happens. And that. That should compel us to warn people sound the alarm blow the trumpet in Zion blow the trumpet out there for the people to hear amen. So those.

▶ 48:33 Who do not know God if you’re living a life of evil God is going to bring judgment you’re going to experience judgment from your evil behavior. What can you do you can humble yourself and cry out you can repent like the children of Israel did. Gideon he tore down the altar of baal that is repentance call walking away from that stuff. Crying out to the God that is humbling yourself those are the steps you’ve got to take. Is God with you have you been with Jesus are you with Jesus that question is so important are you taking time in your life to be with Jesus Christ as Christians. That is very important in imperative. The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him I want the eye of the Lord on me.

▶ 49:31 No matter what’s going on around. When I’m older and 80 years old I want the eye of the Lord on me right you guys want the eye of the Lord on you. We got to fear him depart from evil be an example. I love that picture of that old lady. I watched the video of it I mean I it’s not love I feel bad but it’s it. It’s astonishing seeing this woman willing to stand up to these. People. And all the things that I’m not willing to do. Amen it challenges you when you see someone doing that it challenges your thinking in your Christian walk and even in your daily walk in your in your natural life.

▶ 50:32 So I encourage you people outside everywhere. We want the eye of the Lord on us. But we’ve got to fear him. We cannot forsake him. As a worship team comes as we get ready to take time for Jesus this morning. We want to be reminded. Of these things. So let’s bow our heads and pray this morning. And ask God to make this so real in our lives today. Lord Jesus we come before you this morning God. God we want the eye of the Lord on us Lord we want your protection we want to be with you God we want you with us Lord like you were with Gideon God Lord it didn’t matter how many the enemy was it didn’t matter how big God you were with him and that’s all that mattered.

▶ 51:31 Jesus God we want that kind of power with you no matter what’s going on in the world no matter if we see the victory or not Lord that we could have that victory in our own lives. Jesus Jesus we come before you this morning God we pray. God you do not look on the power of men or the strength of an army or a military God you look at our hearts. Jesus God we pray right now Lord that you convict the hearts of America. You convict the hearts of our city. God you remind us of the sin that we need to change and turn and repent from. Jesus Jesus please this morning we call on you.

▶ 52:25 We need you this morning Jesus. This morning. However you receive that message we’re going to sing bring it be it unto me according to your word. In response to this message this morning where we stand would you stand with me and let’s sing this unto. Him. Is. Response.

▶ 53:26 To. Was. Let’s take volunteers praying to God this morning. And he would deal with us. If we haven’t been with Jesus that we can be with him right now and we need to take time with them let’s take time with him let’s just see him right now as they continue to. Play.

▶ 54:50 Jesus. Is. Foreign.

▶ 56:28 Um. Um. Oh.

▶ 57:38 Is. Don’t touch each other reach every hand one another and to pray for one. Another. So let’s pray for one. Another no matter what comes our way and that the church is united as well let’s pray for us. Lord Jesus come before this morning I pray God Lord that I would be like one of those 300 our Lord who had the courage God and the bravery to stand with the other three 299. And Lord stand before a countless multitude evil God Lord let’s not just Gideon but the Lord was those other soldiers also God Lord that you were united in the Lord and they stood for what was right he stood for what you wanted God prayed Lord today united God and Lord Jesus unbreakable God Lord Jesus bonded God Lord Jesus is not able to be taken apart God Jesus please don’t want to be like those men those warriors.

▶ 59:07 No matter what was going on around they would not back down God they were not afraid Jesus we pray for that kind of spirit in us Jesus please. Um. Is.

▶ 1:00:12 Is. Prayers. Lord. There’s Jesus much that is at your right hand to do whatever it is more in heaven to accomplish it in the earth and I reminded Lord you listened to a man and the sun was was still until the battle was won for all the elements and everything in earth Lord is at your disposal and Lord there is nothing that you cannot do Lord for people that love you and trust you and fear you Lord Lord even creation is at your beginning the oceans Lord God in the trees.

▶ 1:01:26 Lord you can do amazing things that we can’t even comprehend and we will just give people that say here I. Yes I am willing Lord let your spirit rise up within us Lord because it’s the spirit that makes us different Lord and you said he would give us the Holy Spirit to comfort us to strengthen us to give us wisdom counsel light for this time and season that we live in so we put our trust in you and we go our way blowing the trumpet in Zion setting the and to be that glorious church that will shape the earth.

▶ 1:02:32 Just go ahead and fill it out and drop it in the dropbox open this door right here and if you’d like to give online you’re welcome to do that go to nonstop.com. And with that we’re going to sing some trust and chariots. So let’s stand and sing this. Together. Oh.

▶ 1:03:56 Is. We will. Oh. Amen.

▶ 1:04:52 Amen. Smiling is nicely. Talking God bless you thank you for joining us amen.