Less So much more…

1) Limitless 2) Fearless

Powerless

Powerless is desirable

Powerless is truth

Perspective {What God sees}

+ = GIFT

The Judges

Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior” Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites

?

Where we see a powerless coward mighty warrior God sees a mighty warrior

God sees who we are now and who he created us to be

Does God wait until we become ? Before he calls and uses us

“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?

Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’

When he hears what he has heard Yet sees what he is seeing His only manner of reconciliation Between the two Is that the stories never happened

Or God is being mean

Do we do that?

But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian”

Gideon sees abandonment and doubts God

God sees corrective discipline

"My dad is being mean!"

Dodges: Blame-shift Justify Skip-over

Without personal responsibility Change is impossible

Without personal responsibility Change is impossible Repetition is inevitable

When what God sees And what we believe don't agree what needs to change?

"God, help me to see myself As you do"

"God, help me to see my situation As you do"

Spiritual Truth {What God does}

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family”

God never has an V8 moment

AGAIN Does God wait until we become ? Before he calls and uses us

God doesn't make a mistake So if I'm telling God "no" It's me who has made the mistake

Spiritual Truth God never calls people based on their power or abilities

God doesn't {usually} call powerful people. He calls powerless people and uses them powerfully

It's not about our {lack of} strength It's about God's call

The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together”

The sign of the Holy Burnt Toast

Sermon Intermission

Sermon Intermission: Is Gideon Brave or Fearful?

Sermon Intermission: Is Gideon Strong or Weak?

Sermon Intermission: Why is God bothering with him?

Sermon Intermission: Why does God bother with any of us?

Sermon Intermission: God can't do anything of significance through me

Says more about my faith Than about me or my God

Gideon gets homework

"Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it

Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the…bull as a burnt offering”

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime

Legit fear?

Do people mind when you mess with their religion?

Gideon is powerless

The men of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it”

But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him?

Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar”

So that day they called Gideon “Jerub-Baal,” saying, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he broke down Baal’s altar

3 Things: - Should have died

3 Things: - Should have died - God knew he wouldn't

3 Things: - Should have died - God knew he wouldn't - Only God is God  Baal is a sissy

So Far…  God has chosen a scared little man and called him a mighty warrior  God has called this powerless man to lead a {very} small army against an overwhelming and well-armed enemy

So Far…  God has given a sign to prove who he is  God has given Gideon a suicide mission, then protected him while exposing false gods to be what they are…false

So… Who's the driving force?

So… Spiritual Truth: God initiates… We respond

So… How much of it is dependent upon Gideon's power or bravery?

So… What does that tell us About God?

So… What does that tell us About us?

So… "What did God create me to be?"

So… What did God create me to be? "Is God limited by my limits?"

So… "What did God create me to be?" "Is God limited by my limits?" What am I waiting for?

So… The Lie: "Once I… Then I'll…"

Brainwrap God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him - 1 Cor. 1

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong - 2 Cor. 12

Pray…hard Seek God Submit to wisdom Trust God's direction Answer the Call