FACING LIONS WITHOUT FEAR

 

Satan is pictured as a roaring lion seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). We may be sure that his offspring—lions and lionesses, often in the church—will lurk, ready to pounce. Paul spoke of such here, and God’s servants will face them. You may hear their roar, smell the stench of their breath, and even feel the pain of their fangs clamping down on you and claws leaving you bleeding. Yet, Paul tells us that we can face these lions without fear.

We can STAND for the Lord stands with us. Get your eyes off the lion and look to the Lord.  Ravenous beasts are no match for Jesus Christ!  He is the Creator and Conqueror and since He is with us, we don’t have to flee in fear. He will never leave us nor forsake us.  Nehemiah was threatened and answered, “Should such a man as I flee?”  Stand your ground.

We are STRONG for our strength is from the Omnipotent. The power of the Spirit indwells us.  While in myself, I am weak—in His strength I am more than sufficient to overcome my adversaries.  They whimper and slink into the shadows when the Lion of Judah, King of the jungle of this world roars!

We are SECURE since none can truly harm us.  What is the worst an enemy might do—kill us?  But, our times are in God’s hands. He numbers our days and when He is through with us, by whatever means He sovereignty selects, He will take us home. Paul was spared from the lion before, but soon would lose his head!  Yet, He was secure in knowing that would only deliver him to glory and the greatest gain of all!  As Luther sang, “the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever!”

You can face the lion without fear!

THE PROBLEM WITH SUCCESS

 

Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah.  And all Israel played the harlot with it there.  It became a snare to Gideon and to his house. (Judges 8:27)

Success is difficult to attain, but it is even more difficult to maintain.  That’s the problem with success.  You will find that one of the most perilous times in your life is in a period of prosperity.  We tend to become casual and then careless after a conquest and that leads to catastrophe.  Gideon had experienced a great victory.  The Lord had enabled him to lead 300 men to triumph over a horde of Midianite marauders.  He, then, was overcome by the problem of success.

It all began when he faced criticism (Judges 8:1-3).  The tribe of Ephraim had not participated in the initial combat—being summoned at the end to help “mop up.”  They let pride lead them to criticize Gideon for not inviting them to the battle earlier.  One of the problems with success is that you will find others envious of you.  They will seek to bring you down with a barrage of criticism.  The question is not whether you will be criticized for your work for the Lord—the only question is how you will respond to it.  In this case, Gideon responded with a soft answer that turns away wrath (Prov.15:1).  The wrong response is one of bitterness or anger—that is always a danger.

Then there was the problem of conflict (Judges 8:4-21).  Gideon and his soldiers were weary of their warfare.  They had not finished off the enemy, however.  There is always the danger in our spiritual warfare of resting after the initial successes, and not finishing the task.  When Gideon asks the citizens of Succoth and Penuel for provisions, they refused, thinking that Gideon’s small force could not finish the job.  These dwelt on the border with Midian and were fearful of retaliation should Gideon fail.  Gideon did finish the job, but also retaliated against those who did not help them.  It is possible that Gideon was too harsh—took it too personally.  Conflict seems to rise after success.  In the midst of battle, there is no time for fighting one another for we are too busy fighting the enemy.

Gideon would further face the problem of conceit (Judges 8:22-23).  There is always the peril of pride when the spotlight of success shines upon us.  Gideon refuses the accolades and offer for him to become their king.  There is always the danger of accepting the glory that belongs to God alone.  Difficulty has a way of driving us in desperation to God.  Prosperity presents the peril of pride that divides us from God. 

Gideon is at last overcome by the problem of complacency.  With the victory in hand, Gideon is ready to take a break, which will lead him to take a tumble.  He rejects the adoring masses adulation—at least, outwardly—but, inwardly he seems to think, “I should get something out of this.”  The more he has time to think about it, the stronger the temptation grows.  The complacent soul lets down his or her guard—then the enemy strikes!  He took their gold and fashioned an ephod which the priests wore and this became an idol.  Though Gideon would not take the title of king, he began to behave like he was one.  This man of faith fell—and so may we if we let down our guard.  This is the problem with success.