Series: Here comes the Judge!
Sermon: Gideon “Mighty Warrior” pt 2
Thesis: Gideon was a judge who learned to trust in the Lord and he became willing to depend on God’s power to deliver him and his nation against overwhelming odds. He put his faith into action and the Spirit of the Lord came on him and empowered Him into victory. He followed God’s leading even when it seemed ridiculous to do so!
Introduction:
The book of Judges aims to demonstrate that defection from Jehovah incurs severe punishment and servitude. Only by turning back to God can restoration be enjoyed. Thus the judges were charismatic leaders, raised up by God to deliver His theocratic people. Only by heeding their Spirit-directed message and following them in deliverance against their enemies could restoration be accomplished. The OT judges performed two functions. By divine power and Spirit-anointed leadership they delivered the people from enemy oppression. Having accomplished this, they ruled over them and administered government in the name of Israel’s God… Since the book reports seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations, and seven deliverances, it is evidently put in a symmetrical form (From: The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary).
The activity of the Spirit of the Lord in the book of Judges is clearly portrayed in the charismatic leadership of the period. The deeds of Othniel, Gideon, Jepthah and Samson are attributed to the Spirit of the Lord. This same Holy Spirit is available to us today to do extraordinary spirit empowered exploits for the Kingdom of God.
Gideon was an ordinary young man doing the work of farming when the Lord showed up and called him to face the enemy of God’s people. He told him two things in their first divine encounter:
a. “God is with you!”
b. “Mighty Warrior”
The Lord called him to “Go” he gave many excuse of why he could not but the Lord let him know that he would be able to do these extraordinary deliverances because the Spirit of the Lord was with him. Nothing would be impossible supernatural power would be a part of his deliverance of Israel. The Lord showed him his power by first letting fire come out of his staff and burning up the offering that Gideon presented to him and then by protecting him after his 1 mission was complete. Let’s know look into Scripture to see what happens in God’s call for Gideon to go do his 2nd mission.
Scripture Text:
Judges 6:33-40:
33Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
34Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.
35He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.
36Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—
37look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”
38And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.
39Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”
40That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.
Judges 7: 1-25:
1Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
2The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,
3announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
5So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.”
6Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.”
8So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.
9During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.
10If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah
11and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.
12The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”
14His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
15When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”
16Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
18When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’”
19Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.
20The three companies blew the trumpets 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!”
21While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
23Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.
24Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah.
25They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.
T.S. - Gideon was used by God because he trusted in God and obeyed the Lord in cleaning out the sin in his own household first. Then God called him to his 2nd mission.
I. Gideon reveals to us what it means to trust God completely.
a. The example of George Muller also teaches us how to completely trust in God.
i. His choice to decline a salary from pastoring - (Quotes from The autobiography of George Muller)
1. His faith – How he learned to live by faith pages 36-45
a. His diary states, “When we were down to our last few shillings, we told Him about our needs and depended on Him to provide. He never failed us” (Muller, page 37)
i. Read a few quotes from his diary in chapter 11 pages 100-105 called “Trusting God for every need.”
2. His commitment
a. They committed to not taking a salary from pastoring and decided to trust in the Lord 100%- they would not borrow money, or ask for money from others instead they put boxes out in the church for people to give to their financial support.
b. God never failed them.
i. Many said he was stupid or foolish but he said, “He was committed to live by faith in God on a daily basis.” “God was his provider.”
ii. He comments after his first year of doing this:
1. “At the end of the year, we looked back and realized that all our needs had been meet more abundantly than if I had received a salary” (Muller, page 43)
c. God’s not only provided for him and his family he also provided for the boys and girls homes he started supernaturally later in his ministry.
i. Listen to his diary and how God provided: Chapter 11 pages 100-105 (excerpts).
b. Trusting God:
i. The deepest most spiritual step we could ever take is to trust God in the times when everything seems stacked against us for victory.
ii. Quote: Why is it that we have more faith that the pieces of a puzzle made by a company in Taiwan will all fit together than we have that the pieces of our life that are presented to us by God will fit together? One person chooses to put like pieces together first, while another chooses to put the edges of the puzzle together first, but neither individual ever really doubts that the puzzle will somehow fit perfectly. The edges in and of themselves probably have little to do with the main image or idea of the puzzle, yet without it, the puzzle is incomplete. In fact, although these pieces appear to have little to do with the main idea or image, they are nonetheless as important to the puzzle’s completion. In the beginning some pieces, even when they fit perfectly together, might not help you to understand what the puzzle is about; only in its completion can you appreciate the parts that at first seemed insignificant and pointless. - James Blanchard Cisneros, You Have Chosen to Remember: A Journey From Perception to Knowledge, Peace of Mind and Joy, p. 55
iii. God was very patient with Gideon and walked with him through the process of building up his faith and trust in him.
1. The Lord confirmed his call to Gideon and helped him to be able to completely trust in doing things God’s way.
2. The Lord helped Gideon to mature!
a. Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity:
1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs)
2. A giving church (supporting the church and efforts financially)
3. A growing church (new people coming and staying)
4. A soul-winning church (leading unbelievers to faith and baptism)
5. A smooth-running church (efficient and orderly)
6. A missionary-minded church (supports missionaries around the world)
7. A Spirit-filled church (enthusiastic, emotional)
8. A big church (large attendance, with many programs) (from sermoncentral.com)
3. The truth: The Church is not obedient to a set of rules or to people’s decision making process. We are obedient to the Person of Jesus Christ through a trusting relationship and to the truths He has spoken. And our obedience is not just in our head, but in the way we live and serve God. A successful church or a mature church is one in which the entire church has a committed faith initiated and maintained relationship with Jesus Christ.
a. Maturity means we love the Lord with our whole heart –mind-soul and strength. It means we serve him and we have denied our selfish nature to have others serve us. Maturity is rooted in a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
c. Remember the tragedy of Judges: When the spiritual leaders fail to lead people toward God and teach the people His way then people will break the faith they have with God. Breaking the faith is common in a society when the leadership breaks down and fails to do its job. Breaking the faith means the people of God walk away from God and His ways and follow after false and deceptive ways that lead to their demise. Breaking the faith means people no longer trust God nor His way and, therefore they substitute the right way for the wrong way. When people break the faith and quit trusting and following God’s path then an impact is made on their personal lives which in turn affects their family’s lives. One main thing that happens to people who walk away from the faith is that divorce enters into their family unit. This breaking of faith leads to a breaking up of many marriages. It also leads to the breaking up of many churches.
d. What do you do when God asks you to do something that seems foolish or scary?
i. Gideon’s 2nd mission.
1. God’s directions for battle: “Go attack the Eastern armies with less than 1% of your army!”
a. That sounds logical right?
2. Gideon is told to get rid of 99% of his fighting force before the battle and they already have overwhelming odds against them? Does this sound logical, wise a good plan?
a. The raiders had 135,000 men against 32,000 men but God says cut it down to 300 hundred men. So that the odds are 135,000 to 300? Sounds crazy!
i. God used a little less than 1% of the resources Gideon had at his disposal to defeat the enemy.
1. Do you catch this: Be a person of faith and trust God with your whole heart and God can use less than 1% of your resources to bring a victory over the enemy in your life.
2. “Perhaps God brings us to the end of our resources so we can discover the vastness of His.” ~Neil Anderson Read more at Suite101: Great Quotes for Christians on Trusting God: Christian Quote Collection that Inspires Faith and Trust in Religion http://protestantism.suite101.com/article.cfm/great_quotes_for_christians_on_trusting_god#ixzz0uW8wFfna
ii. Why would he do this – to show that man is not bringing the victory here but God is!
1. With God all things are possible!
a. God does not let men take the credit for his supernatural interventions.
2. Remember - It’s all about The Lord being with us? Judges 6:12, 14, 16
a. Gideon was reminded of this in the beginning at his call – he learned the lesson well because he did what the Lord told him to do – widdle down the army and trust in God’s power to bring a victory not in the strategies of mean dna women.
iii. Proverbs 21:29-31: A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle but victory rest with the Lord.
1. This same premise works within the direction of a church.
2. When leadership trust completely in the Lord and does things His way then victory and success come to the church.
3. Another Proverb 16:6 states “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
a. Key is “commit to the Lord”
b. Give it all to Him!
c. Give Him the money, the building, the people, the programs the sacrifice!
3. I am sure this is why the Lord said to Gideon, “If you are afraid go down to camp…and listen to what they are saying.”
a. The camp was already in fear and telling each other that Gideon and God had already given them –their force of 135,000 people into the hands of Gideon – who now only has 300.
i. But God was in the midst of this whole situation moving Gideon and the nation of Israel to victory.
ii. Striking the enemy of the people of God in fear that they would turn on each other.
T.S. – When you learn to trust the Lord he will use you mightily like he did Gideon. We must remember that God is the one who empowers us to do the miraculous tasks.
II. Gideon was empowered for His second mission by the Spirit of the Lord.
a. The text Judges 6: 34 - Literally means Gideon was clothed in the Spirit of the Lord.
i. Can you imagine being clothed in the Holy Spirit?
1. It means that the Holy Spirit covers your arms, legs, chest, back, mouth, eyes, ears every part of you is clothed or covered by the tangible presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
a. He is all over you and others can see it.
i. Just like the raiders had heard about Gideon and were talking about among themselves – they knew he was a mighty warrior because the Spirit of the Lord was on Him, covering Him and protecting him and empowering him to victory.
ii. Maybe they heard how he tore down the altar of Baal and the Asherah poles – he took on the god of Baal and won!
2. Picture of gleaming person: See Power point picture.
a. This is how we as Christians should be saturated in the Spirit of the Lord.
i. Do you want this?
ii. Do you desire this?
iii. Are you hungry for this type of an experience with the Spirit of the Lord?
b. George Muller said this about flowing and anointing of the Holy Spirit:
i. Muller, “The anointing of the Holy Spirit helps me greatly when I preach. I would never attempt to teach the truth of God by my own power…I am glad that I learned the importance of ministering in God’s power alone. I can do all things through Christ, but without Him, I can accomplish nothing” (Muller, page 35).
1. He noted that he always prayed to the Lord for what to preach and then bathed his message in the discipline of prayer. Why? So that it would be in the power of the Holy Spirit and not from his own head or mind. It had to be God’s Spirit working and flowing through the Word to see the people set free.
c. Back to Gideon – Judges 6:34: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Him” Why? To accomplish the next task or mission from God. His empowerment set in motion the deliverance of the nation of Israel from these raiders and from sin.
i. Remember Jesus tells us to wait on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit – just like they did in Acts 2. Then the Holy Spirit filled them in the upper room with power from on high and these Christians went out and changed the face of the earth and transformed societies and government and people’s lives.
1. What is God calling you to do today?
2. Then call out to Him to cloth you in the Holy Spirit!
ii. Do you know what it says in 2 Corinthians 3:17? It says in the (NIV) “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (In the KJV freedom is interpreted as “Liberty”).”
1. Do you want to be free – to receive liberty?
2. Do you want to see others set free?
3. Muller said he specifically prayed for people to be saved through his messages and he prayed for miracles and he lived by faith and trusted in God and this lifestyle set him free from worry, fear and stress.
a. He was freed by the Spirit in his life!
i. Do you want to be free?
b. Israel was delivered and set free because of the Spirit of the Lord coming on the Judges on more than one occasion.
c. God desires to do the same today! Do you want to be clothed in the Holy Spirit?
Conclusion:
Song by Ashley and Stephanie. “Where the Spirit of the Lord” is by Chris Tomlin
As they sing this song open up your hearts to be filled, empowered by the Holy Spirit to do extraordinary deeds for the Kingdom of God today. To be instrumental in delivering people from the bondages of evil, to lead people out of the slavery from evil spirits and deliverance from the enemy of God’s people.
Let the Spirit of the Lord enter into your hearts and see what God can do with your life.
Altars opened up for prayer.
