Gideon's Test

Judges 6:11-24 & Ch.7 Gideon's Test 1. THE PLACE. 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. I. A PLACE OF CONSTERNATION!

A. Where Gideon Was Found

B. What Gideon Was Feeling

II. A PLACE OF REVELATION! 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour

A. The Angel Of The Lord Standing

B. The Angel Of The Lord Speaking

III. A PLACE OF TRANSFORMATION! 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

A. What God Can Do For Us 13 why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of B. What God Can Do In Us 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

C. What God Can Do Through Us 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 2. THE PERPLEXITY. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? 'The Midianite is in the land, Bleak devastation reigns.

Charred fields and looted granaries, Give witness to their gains. A lonely figure threshes there, 'Neath Ophrah's grizzled tree,

Then stunned, he looks, To find himself in regal company. The Angel of the Lord, no less, Now graces Gideon’s view.

'I've come to vanquish all your foes, My weapon will be you!' My Lord, what instruments have I, To drive the tyrant hence?

Just two, but all sufficient they - FAITH and OBEDIENCE'. They were (a) Many (b) Mighty (c) Malicious 3. THE PROTEST. 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

“GIDEON’S GOD” Judges 6.11-7.18 Gideon was: 1. A MAN WITH LITTLE COURAGE (6.11-14) 2. A MAN WITH LITTLE STATUS (6.15-16) 3. A MAN WITH LITTLE FAITH (6.36-40) 4. A MAN WITH A LITTLE ARMY (7.1-8) 5. A MAN WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD 6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. Zechariah 4.6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 1 Cor 1:29, That no flesh should glory in his presence. 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 4. THE PROMISE. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. (a) The PROMISE of the God’s PRESENCE v.16 Surely I will be with thee

(b) The PROCLAMATION of God’s PEACE v. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom:

(c) The PERFORMANCE of God’s PLAN v. 25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place,

(d) The PROVISION of God’s POWER v. 33-34 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

(e) The PROOF of God’s POSSIBILITIES v. 7:1-8 (a) GOD TOOK AWAY FORCES FROM ISRAEL: (b) GOD TOOK AWAY FEAR FROM GIDEON: v.13&14 (c) GOD TOOK AWAY FORTITUDE FROM MIDIAN: Gideon's Trust Judges 7 I. THE REALITIES OF GOD’S PLAN A. God’s Plan Is A Different Plan - V. 2-7 Gideon planned to march into battle with 32,000 soldiers, but God had a different plan! (Ill. David was just a shepherd, but God had a different plan. Job was a wealthy man who just wanted to worship his God, love his family and enjoy his wealth, but God had a different plan. Saul of Tarsus just wanted to destroy Christianity, but God had a different plan!)