Follow Up with Clay - 08.21.24

We live in a world that wants to beat men up…. 

We want to build men up… to bless women and children.

1st Corinthians 16:13-14, Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Rule to live by: Remember that before she was your wife / fiancée’ / girlfriend….

She was / is His daughter…. Joint heir in the Kingdom of God.

Gideon: (Judges 6-8)

The Book of Judges is a great lesson on leadership….

God used Moses to lead out of Egypt….

God used Joshua to lead into the Promised Land….

Eventually God will use Kings / Prophets…. (Not His original plan)

But there is this period between…. History of the Judges…. 1383-1052 B.C.

After the death of Joshua… Israel returned to worshiping false gods….

God allowed them to suffer consequences….

God would remove His blessing / protection….

They would be attacked / oppressed….

They would repent / cry out to God….

God would send a Judge to deliver them.

(Cycle continued over / over…)

Judge: Refers to an office / leader / one who settles disputes…. Also: Deliverer.

2nd Timothy 2:13, …if we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself.

1st John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That’s pretty Good News….

No matter what cycle we find ourselves in / stuck in….

God is faithful…. He is willing to forgive….

You see…. God isn’t stuck….

He just patiently waits for us to confess sin / deal with it.

Background:

Israel doing evil…. Oppressed by Midian for 7 years….

Like a horrible swarm of locusts…. Devouring everything…. Food / livestock….

People were terrified…. Living in caves….

They cried out to God…. And once again, God listened….

We meet our hero: Threshing wheat in a wine press…. Hiding / scared….

The Angel of the Lord appears…. Jesus….

(God is with you Mighty Warrior)…. What about that seems confusing?

It’ll make sense later…. (Victory belongs to God)

Jesus: Go…. Save Israel from Midian.

(Me…. I’m the runt of the litter / from the weakest clan.)

Gideon: Asks for a sign…. God patiently provides…. Then again….

Gideon realizes he was face to face with God…. Reason to be scared….

Following God’s instructions….

Gideon rallied Israel / got them ready for war….

Too large an army…. Why would that matter?

First: Anyone afraid to fight can go home…. 22 companies went home…. 10 remain.

Next:  Drank from a stream…. Face to water…. Went home…. 300 remain.

He went down to the enemy camp at night…. (God confirmed again)

Divided into 3 companies….

Each man given a trumpet / torch / jar.

Upon signal…. Blew trumpet / broke jar / exposed torch / shouted….

In the dark chaos…. Midian army turned on each other….

Those that didn’t die…. Chased down / killed.

There was no doubt that the victory belonged to God….

His purpose was to take these desperate / repentant people…. Draw them closer.

Gideon goes on to father a bunch of children / lead people / make some mistakes….

But something really significant happened before all this….

Judges 6:25-27, That night the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baalthat your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.”

So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.

Next morning…. Men of the town came out / saw / became angry….

Wanted to kill whoever it was….

Why would this be the first thing God would have Gideon do?

Lesson: Sometimes we are called to pick a fight.  (Force a choice.)

Sometimes we need to burn the bridge / ships / plow….

Stop dwelling on past….

Leave nothing behind / press on….

And sometimes that comes in the form of picking a fight.

Don’t be a bully / jerk…. Stay humble / righteous….

But don’t back away from the battles that are coming for your….

Holiness / family / sanity….

As men…. Those who lead / provide / protect….

We may be called to pick a fight….

On behalf of those we care for…. We lead them into battle…. (Spiritually)

But first on behalf of ourselves….

We can’t lead anyone to a place we aren’t going ourselves.

Jesus: Sermon on the Mount…. Covers a lot of topics about everyday life….

Matthew 7:3-5, Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Misused to say we have no right to judge….

He’s actually telling us how to judge properly / rightly / effectively.

Next Week: Samson (Judges 13-16)

Questions:

How might God be telling you to pick a fight? (Self first)

How can we pray for you?

Who do you know that needs this group?