"EAVESDROPPING IN THE DEVIL'S CAMP"

June 22 Eavesdropping in the Devil’s Camp  Judges 7:9-15

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina…  “And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. 13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.”  (Judges 7:9-15)  From the scripture, today, we are able to see the Men of Gideon eavesdropping in the enemy’s camp.  As they were listening they found that the enemy was commenting on their sure defeat.  God allowed Gideon’s men to eavesdrop to let them know that the enemy was expecting to be defeated.  It must have been a great encouragement for them to hear the enemy talking about defeat.  Folks, I believe that the Devil is highly organized.  I might even go so far as to believe that he holds sessions with his cohorts to plan and scheme against Christians.  Now, if we could do a little eavesdropping into his camp, I believe we would be like the Men of Gideon and leave that meeting of the enemy, greatly encouraged!  We often make the mistake of assuming that Satan is sure he is going to win out against God.  Well, I believe that he is worried because he is certain of his own defeat.  So, let’s eavesdrop!  I fully believe that he is saying to his minions, “If the Christians become like Christ, in word and deed, we have had it.  We have got to try to make sure that they do not become like Him!”  The biggest fear for Satan is of Christians becoming like Christ! 1 John 2:6 says, “He that saith he abideth in Him out himself also so to walk, even as He walked.”  We are to walk in newness of life, to walk honestly, to walk in the Spirit, to walk worthy of the vocation, to walk in love, to walk as children of light, to walk circumspectly, to walk worthy of the Lord, to walk to please God, and as 1 John says, to walk, even as He walked!  This is the command of God for us and He has laid out the pattern for our lives.  Can you imagine, if every person that claims to be a Christian; were to live like Christ, in word and deed, what would happen to Satan’s camp?  The Devil would not stand a chance if Christians were to become “Christ-like” in our speech and our actions!  Satan is fully aware that “TRUE CHRISTIANITY” is contagious.  The Devil knows that Christ had a magnetic power that drew men unto Him and he knows that if we become like Christ that we will be as contagious as a disease.  He knows that everyone that comes in contact with us will be exposed to it and stand a good chance of catching it!  So, what are Satan’s orders to his cohorts?  “We must stop Christians from demonstrating the Christian life and we must do whatever is required to stop it!”  I believe that he is truly afraid because he knows that if Christians were to actually become “Christ-like” and live their lives as a reflection of Christ, his job would become impossible.  Are you a threat to Satan?  Are you living your life so as to create fear in Satan’s camp?  I believe that we have eavesdropped in the Devil’s camp and we have heard the enemy say, “If those Christians live like Christ, we have had it!” In light of the evil that exists, in our country today, what are we to do and how are we to cope?  I believe that the answer is simple.  Like Gideon’s men, that heard the Midianites talk of their defeat, God told them, in verse 15, “Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.”  Folks, we need to live for Christ and we need to act like Christ and we need to talk like Christ…Even in the face of ignorance and confusion and lack of common sense, we are to be that “BRIGHT LIGHT” that shines brightly, through the darkness of our present day and to be the example of LOVE and PEACEMAKING!  To do this, we must be surrendered to God, consumed by His Son, Jesus, and lead by the Holy Spirit, so that we can, indeed, be “CHRISTLIKE!” What God does with you, depends upon what you do!  It Always has; It Always will!! Be sure, be productive and continue to share the Love of God with others!  To God Be the Glory!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!