The Sword of Gideon

TEXT:  Judges. 6:11-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.  Heb. 11:32-34.  A GENUINE HERO OF FAITH.

B.  GIDEON EXCHANGED HIS FEARFUL HEART FOR TRUST IN GOD’S POWER.

C.  SOME VALUABLE LESSONS FOR US.

I.  Judges 6:1-6 GOD USES TRIAL TO GET OUR ATTENTION

       (Prov. 3:11-12;  Jas. 1:1-2).

II.  Judges 6:11-12. GOD ALWAYS SEES MORE THAN WE DO

        – “thou mighty man of valor”

A.  WE ALL HAVE VALUE (1 Tim. 1:15-16;  Luke 8:9-14;  Matt. 8:10-13).

B.  GOD FINDS US USEFUL (Phil. 2:12-13; 4:13)  GIVES US STRENGTH(1 Cor. 15:58).

C.  JESUS IS WITH US WHEN WE DO RIGHT (Matt. 18:20;  Phil. 4:4-5).

D.  THE UNSEEN DANGER (1 Pet. 5:8:  2 Cor. 11:14-15;  2:11).

E.   THE UNSEEN REWARD (Col. 3:1-2;  2 Cor. 5:1;  Heb. 11:8-10).

III. Judges 6:25-32.  INTEGRITY IS VITAL (Psa. 26:1; Matt. 6:1).

IV.  Judges 6:33-40.  GOD’S LOVE BRINGS US PATIENCE

       (Phil. 3:12, 13-14) FOR OUR GROWTH (2 Pet. 3:9, 15) & SIN.

V.  Judges 7:1-8.  ANY NUMBER + GOD = SUCCESS

       (Luke 18:27;  2 Cor. 12:9).

VI.  Judges 7:9-25. GOD GIVES ASSURANCE.

        (1 John 5:11-12;  1 Cor. 10:13;  1 John 1:9;  5:4).

VII.  Judges 8:1.  EXPECT CRITICISM, DEAL WITH IT GRACEFULLY

       (Prov. 15:1).

VIII.  Judges 8:4-21.  FINISH STRONG

       (Gal. 6:9;  2 Cor. 1:1, 16;  Heb. 4:13;  12:1-3).

VII.  Judges 8:22-23.  ALWAYS GIVE GOD THE CREDIT.

CONCLUSION:  Judges 8:24-35.

A.  THE END OF GIDEON’S LIFE SERVES AS A WARNING.

B.  WE CAN BE OF GOOD USE TO GOD IF WE LEARN TO TRUST HIM