Don't Fleece God

Mark 8:11-12 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from Heaven, tempting him.  And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

Luke 11:27-29 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

1Corinthians 1:22-25 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1. Don't fleece God
1. The practice of 'putting out a fleece' comes from Judges 6 where Gideon did it.
2. Earlier in Judges 6 Gideon had obeyed God at the risk of his life.  People who 'put out a fleece' don't do that.
3. Judges 6:35 says that other Jews had come to Gideon and he actually 'put out a fleece' to convince others.  People who 'put out a fleece' are looking for God to convince them.
4. Gideon was an Old Testament Jew who did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit.  At that time, the Bible was not complete and God used signs to show His people that the person spoke for God.  Saved people today have the indwelling Holy Spirit.  In addition, most are not Jews.  Our reference in 1Corinthians says But we preach Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  Christ gives personal instructions on spiritual growth, to the saved person, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  People who 'put out a fleece' are refusing to obey Christ and are refusing to grow up spiritually.
5. Our references in Mark and in Luke were statements made by Jesus after He stopped offering the kingdom to the Jews and started the 'Church Age'.  In Mark we see that it was the Pharisees who demanded a sign.  These were the people who refused to believe and obey Jesus no matter how many signs that He showed them.  People who 'put out a fleece' are identifying themselves as people who refuse to believe Jesus.  They will not receive the of God while they refuse to believe.
6. In Mark Jesus said There shall no sign be given unto this generation.  Even the Jews, during the 'Church Age' no longer get a sign.  People who 'put out a fleece' will not get further answers from God until they obey the prior command which led to them 'putting out a fleece'.
7. Our reference in Luke tells us that Jesus said This is an evil generation.  People who 'put out a fleece' are doing evil. 
8. Our reference in Luke tells us that Jesus said blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.  People who 'put out a fleece' are rejecting the blessings of God because they are refusing to obey the clear instruction on how to get the blessings of God. i. Our reference in Luke tells us that Jesus said there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.  The sign of Jonas the prophet  is a reference to the burial  that is part of the basic gospel.  That part of the gospel tells us that when someone is berried, they are separated from this world and the Gospel is to separate us from the sins of this world and the temptations of this world and the way of this world.  People who 'put out a fleece' are trying to use worldly ways to get the blessings of God and all throughout the New Testament we are told that that saved people who do that will receive the curse of God instead of the blessing from God.
2. Don't let a call cancel your command.
1. Many people who claim that they are 'called to preach' also claim that their call  gives them greater wisdom  than the average saved person.  This is a claim which comes from the wisdom of this world  and not the wisdom of God  which comes from Christ.  Our reference in 1Corinthians tells us to not seek the wisdom of this world  but, instead, seek the wisdom of God  which comes from Christ. 
2. In the 'Great Commission', we have a command to take the gospel to the entire world.  In America over 95% of the people who claim to be Christian never obey the command of the 'Great Commission' and a major reason for that disobedience is their belief that they don't have a call.  The preachers claim to have a call  and claim that non-preachers don't have a call  and therefore, the preachers can do more for God.  But the people take that claim as if they can't do as much for God and then refuse to do any of the 'Great Commission'.  This is evil.  It is following the wisdom of this world  while refusing the wisdom of God.
3. Romans 1:7 and 1Corinthians 1:2 all tell us that all saved are called to be saints.  That means that all saved have a call.  It also meant that God wants all saved to be fully mature, able to do the work of God any place that God sends them, have the character of God, be a disciple and display Christ  to this world.  NO other call  provides greater wisdom.  In fact, non-preachers corrected the doctrine of a preacher in Acts 18:26.
4. Ephesians 1:18-20 tells us that all of our blessings and eternal rewards are in our call  which is in Christ.  Refusal to answer your own personal call  to become a saint  is also refusing to accept the blessings and eternal rewards that God wants to give you.  This claim that preachers have a call  and that you don't is a doctrine from the devil designed to steal all of the blessings and eternal rewards that God wants to give you.
3. Do live by faith
1. When we seek a sign,  by 'putting out a fleece', we are looking to see  the sign from God. This is walking by sight.  When we understand something we say 'I see'.  This is walking by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7 says: For we walk by faith, not by sight.  Therefore, seeking a sign from God or seeking to understand  before we obey by faith is refusing to walk by faith.
2. Romans 1:16-17 says For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  We are commanded to obey the gospel of Christ  and trust in the power of God  in order to justify  God saving us.  We are to do this instead of looking for a sign from God or seeking to understand  before we obey.  We will not have God's righteousness  displayed in our life unless we live by faith. 
3. Galatians 3:10-12 says: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith.  People who seek a sign,  by 'putting out a fleece' are trying to live back under the Law, which was when Gideon lived.  Such people will receive a curse from God.
4. Hebrews 10:38-39 says Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.  Refusal to walk by faith  is a strong indicator that you are not really saved but made a false profession and are still heading to hell.
5. In order to live by faith  we must first walk by faith  and continue to walk by faith  for all of our life.  When we walk  we 'take small repeated steps'.  This is having a lifestyle of doing the things of faith  on a daily basis.
• The first thing to do in this lifestyle is to start every day with prayer and Bible reading.
• Before reading the Bible ask God to show you something in your reading that you can use that day and believe that God will answer that prayer.  Even if you read a fixed amount of the Bible every day, make sure that God brings out some passage and if God doesn't do that then continue until God does.
• During the day look for God to use that passage in your life and note how it affects your day.
• In the evening review your day and thank God for His help that day, especially for how God used your Bible reading to help you that day.
6. Jude 1:20-21 says: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
• Building up your most holy faith  is like building muscles.  It takes daily exercise and patience to wait for the results while maintaining belief that your faith will get stronger.
• Notice that Jude tells us to start with praying in the Holy Ghost,  which is how I said to start.
• Next Jude tells us to Keep yourselves in the love of God  which means to obey the instruction from God that you received in the morning Bible reading.
• Then Jude says looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ  which means that we are to expect God to withhold just punishment for sin but only while we are trying to serve Him.
• Finally, Jude says unto eternal life  which means that our daily focus is to be on the eternal instead of on this world.
• People who look for a sign or wait to understand before they obey are refusing to walk by faith  and are giving up God's blessings while motivating God to curse them.

• If you have been looking for a sign will you confess it as sin and obey what God told you to do?
• If you have been waiting to understand before you obey will you confess it as sin and obey what God told you to do?
• If you are not doing the daily things to walk by faith  will you start doing them?
• Will you believe God's word that the only way to live by faith  and to build up your most holy faith  is to do what God's word says to do in order to walk by faith  on a daily basis?

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