Gideon was a man who was discouraged and defeated. His people had forgotten God, turned to worship idols, and God allowed the Midianites to ransack Israel for 7 years in a row. The people cried out to the Lord and this time, the Lord sent a prophet to speak to the leaders of Israel and the Angel of the Lord to visit Gideon. What was God’s message through the prophet and why did the Angel of the Lord appear to Gideon? Was there still hope for redemption for the children of Israel? Join Pastor Jim for this hope-filled study of Judges 6!
Sermon Notes
Repeating cycle of spiritual decline in Judges:
- Rebellion
- Retributive justice
- Regret/Repentance
- Rescue & Restoration
The repeated theme found in the book of Judges is:
“The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” occurs 7 times! (2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1)
To those who are defeated and discouraged…
1. God shows up and offers reassurance.
“Nothing is more assuring than God’s ‘I will be with you’; nothing is more overwhelming than the fact that it is God who says it.”
Dale Ralph Davis
Judges: Such a Great Salvation
To those who are defeated and discouraged…
2. God’s solution is not merely positive thinking but rather, the power and promise of His presence being with us.
“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God”
2 Corinthians 3:5
To those who are defeated and discouraged…
3. God calls us to give ourselves to Him, especially in our weakness.
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“One of the great truths of Scripture is that when God looks at us, He does not see us for what we are, but for what we can become, as He works in our lives. He is in the business of taking weak, insignificant people, and transforming them by His presence in their lives.”
Gary Inrig
Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay
To those who are defeated and discouraged…
4. The proper response to God is always worship.
“God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship.”
A. W. Tozer
That Incredible Christian