It is 2:00am Wednesday, November 15, 2000. Earlier this afternoon, a judge in Florida ruled that the 5:00pm Nov.14 deadline for precincts to "certify" their total vote counts would be upheld. Both CNN and the Washington Post report that as of 5:00pm Nov. 14, George W. Bush has exactly a 300 vote lead in Florida.

As I was worshipping and watching tonight, I believe the Lord revealed a portion of His strategy for everything going on in Florida right now. This word should be taken in conjunction with other timely words that have been released.

"As I was worshipping and watching tonight, the number 300 jumped out as very significant. George W. Bush’s lead is exactly 300. Immediately, I thought of Gideon’s army in the book of Judges. Judges 7 gives the miraculous account of how God delivered Israel from its enemy.

Currently, God’s "battle plan" strongly parallels His battle plan for Gideon. In Judges 7:2-7 God says Israel has too many armed men for Him to deliver them from their enemy. Otherwise, Israel would boast that it was her own strength that saved her. He reduced the army from 32,000 down to 300. Toward the very end of election night, George W. Bush’s lead was reduced from somewhere between 30,000-50,000 votes down to about 2,000 votes. One week later, the lead has been reduced to 300 votes. People, this vote reduction is God's doing! Now He can deliver us without any doubt that it is His strength doing the delivering!

After having his army reduced to 300, Gideon was still fearful. Judges 8:10 indicates that the opposing army had 135,000 swordsmen! 300 against 135,000! So God told Gideon to go down to the enemy camp. There he overhears a dream and its interpretation (Judges 7:10-15), and that’s all it takes. Gideon’s faith is ignited, and the 300 go with him to engage the enemy.

Right now, the lead is 300. How many of us are still battling fear about the outcome? Take courage. Review the words released concerning this election. There is plenty of encouragement in these words!! Who will allow these words to activate their faith!?

God’s plan is far beyond just the election. However, the election in Florida is the catalyst around which He has mobilized us.

Gideon and the 300 then go around the enemy’s camp. This is where we are right now with the presidential election in Florida. Our next response is crucial. Gideon and the 300 did not draw a sword. This battle was won entirely supernaturally! So must ours.

"The three companies [of Gideon’s army] blew the trumpets [shofars] and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying as they fled." (Judges 7:20-21).

This is God’s strategy now. We are now spiritually "positioned" around the enemy. However, our battle plan is to shout the praises of God! To all the spiritually-broken vessels (broken jars) out there, lift up the standard of God’s holy fire (holiness) in one hand, and sound the "shofar" with the other, shouting "A sword for the Lord and for ‘Gideon’!" And remember to "hold" your places as you do this. Hold your places until the enemy flees.

Once Israel’s enemy fled, Gideon then summoned the rest of his army throughout the land to come and pursue the enemy with him (they had to fight for a while). The same is true in our case. Once the enemy turns against itself and flees, then each of us must pursue the enemy in our own families, churches, cities, counties and states. We must drive them out. The enemy will be fleeing to places in which the church is apathetic and complacent. From there they will regroup. This is not a short fight—it is a long-term war!

So, don’t fear. "300" is just where God wants us. Take encouragement from the words others have released. Stand poised at the enemy’s camp. Hold up the fire of God’s holiness (that has come from your brokenness) in one hand, sound the "shofar" with the other, and shout praises to the Lord! This is the time for militant praise! Stay humble! Be bold!

2 final things:

1. The youth are extremely important in all of this.
2. To confirm that God’s strategy for us is indeed found in the book of Judges (Gideon), look for some type of sign from some "judges" in our judicial system.

Rejoice. Deliverance is at hand!