Psalm 20:7
“Some boast in chariots [technology] and some in horses [power], But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”

When attempting great things for God it is important to realize that any thing of eternal value can only be obtained by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit of God. We are committed to brag about His power that energizes what we attempt in His name which will have eternal and lasting value as opposed to things we do without His power which may make us or others look good but in the end evaporate and prove to be without lasting eternal value
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Judges 7:1-7
“I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands.”

The Midianites, Amalekites and the sons of the east had assembled with an intent to destroy Gideon and Israel. Gideon ask God to make it very clear whether they should go to battle against Midian and their allies and if they did would God then give them the victory.  God assured Gideon He would give them victory. 32,000 gathered with Gideon but the Lord said that the number who had gathered were too many for the Lord to demonstrate what he wanted. God indicated that if He allowed the victory when they had 32,000, Israel would become boastful, saying, "My own power has delivered me."

God decided to thin the ranks of the army in two ways. The first dealt with the condition of their heart and the second with their alertness to the threat which they would encounter in battle. First God had Gideon tell the people the following. "Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead." So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained. They didn't have a heart for the battle!

The the Lord told Gideon there were still too many people so he had Gideon implement a second test to thin the ranks even more. He instructed Gideon to bring the remaining 10,000 down to the water and God said He would test them for Gideon there and let him know who should still be allowed to go into battle. At the water, those who got down on their hands and knees and stuck their face in the water like a dog in a manner that the enemy could have come up behind them with a sword and cut their head off while they were getting a drink were all sent home.

Those who knelt down keeping their heads up in an alert manner and drank by bringing the water to their mouths with their hand cupped were told to stay.  Only 300 of the original 32,000 were left. They represented those whose hearts were right and were alert for the battle!

We are challenging H.I.S. Core Team members to have hearts that are right before the Lord and to be alert in this battle where our enemy has been describe in scripture as a "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour".
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Zechariah 4:6
“This is the word of the Lord…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

We are attempting something at Big Valley that has never been seen before. We realize that what we are asking God to do here is beyond the ability of an individual, or group of individuals, to accomplish. We realize that the vision of seeing "Every Believer Engage in Service" resulting in Christ's image being clearly revealed will not come by our own strength, knowledge or wisdom. Nor will it come by us exercising or applying force or political power. It truly will only be accomplished by the Spirit of God. This is why we are asking God to accomplish all He desires and we are asking things that, we believe He has indicated in scripture, match His heart. As a result we have full confidence that He will answer our prayers. Why wouldn't He answer if we ask according to His will as long as we remember to give Him all the credit for what He can, and will do by His Holy Spirit?
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