A Certain Woman – Just a Nobody

 

A Certain Woman – Just a Nobody

Today as we consider who God can use, please adapt this message to apply to yourself.

Early one day, an angel appeared to Gideon, as he was hiding and threshing wheat in secret. The angel greeted him with these words, “The Lord is with you, oh mighty man of valor!” Gideon's response was, why do you call me mighty, for I am nothing, and I am the least in my father's household. It took a process with two fleeces to satisfy Gideon that he was to obey God, and defeat the Midianites the oppressors of the people.

Gideon decided that in the dark of night, he would tear down his fathers idols and their alters, after doing this, his family were very angry, but his father spoke up for him. His father said, if Baal is god, then let Baal take his revenge. From that day on Gideon had a name change. His name had been weak, afraid, rejected, a nobody, but his name was now Jerubbaal, meaning one who tears down Baal, and one who destroys the enemy.

As Gideon followed God's instructions to the letter, there was a great victory and he was known after that time, by the name Jerubbaal; Conqueror not a victim.

After Jerubbaal's death, Abimelech one of his sons by a slave woman, decided to become leader and king over the people, so he and his men killed seventy (70) of Jerubbaal's sons, and Abimelech ruled for three years. Then because of unrest and jealousy, a conspiracy arose, but word came to Abimelech and he set up an ambush against the cities, killing the people in it..

Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard about that, so they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.  And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.  Then Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.” So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, putting the branches against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women— fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower. So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower. His plans were to burn the stronghold with fire.

But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull mortally wounding him.

 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. And all the evil of the men of Shechem; God returned on their own heads, because of their evil deeds.

Throughout the Bible, God used various individuals to change the culture and politics of the nation. Most were men, but there were also many women, some were named and others were just a nobody, called “a certain man or a certain woman.”

Today God is seeking for those He can trust to follow orders, and not become proud and haughty. Just exactly who is God looking for to use? God is looking for YOU and for ME. Yes, that is true.

Perhaps as long as in our own eyes, we realize that we are nothing – just a nobody of ourselves, but with Jesus in us, we can do exploits..

IF we will listen well, and obey the Holy Spirit's instructions, we become a mighty woman or man of valor and a person that God can and will use for His purpose.

We do have an enemy who seeks to set up ambushments, problems, trials, and discouragement in our pathway.

This is the importance of self examination often daily, to tear down any altars or situations in our lives that may hinder our trustworthiness to God's will.

All glory must be given to Jesus, and not kept for ourselves.

Samuel told King Saul, you were once “little in your own eyes,” but you became proud and rebellious which has caused the kingdom to be removed from you.

Our citizens are included as having the same enemy of their souls who is daily trying to prevent them from the safety of God's stronghold of salvation.

As we come to pray over our city, our State and our Nation, may we humbly yet boldly enter the throne room ready to make our petition, our proclamations, and our prophesies regarding God's will over our land.

How can we be both humble and bold at the same time?

The answer is simple and clear, we must recognize the source of our boldness and power and that it is from our Lord Jesus and by His Holy Spirit.

What ever we do, whether is a mighty prayer, or an act of speaking out, or reaching out, it must be Jesus in and through us at all times, for HE is the all-powerful one, and not we ourselves.

We are just a no-body, and Jesus is the Great “I AM” and He is all powerful to make us into a somebody. into a person of might and valor for His Glory.  .