 Enemies –  Error –  Temptations –  Sin –  Trials –  Death – Four Principles of Victory

 Israel did evil, and the Lord delivered them into the hands of Midian – 6:1  Israel was greatly impoverished by the Midianites – 6:6  Because they had not obeyed God – 6:10  God used Gideon and his army to deliver Israel – 6:11- 7:25 Four Principles of Victory

 Israel’s cry – 6:7  Gideon’s vision – 6:11,12  Gideon’s doubt – 6:13-15  God’s assurance – 6:  Gideon’s destruction of his father’s altar to Baal and his image – 6:25-32  Gideon’s signs – 6:33-40

 Abraham – Genesis 22:8; Romans 4:20,21  David – 1 Samuel 17  Joshua and Caleb – Numbers 13:30; 14:8,9  Hezekiah – 2 Chronicles 32:20-22  Paul – Romans 8:31, ; Philippians 4:13

 Gideon called a mighty man of valor – (6:12)  The Lord promised to be with Gideon – (6:16)  The Lord tells Gideon - “do not fear” – (6:16,23)  The Lord tells Gideon to send away those who are afraid – (7:3)

 It takes courage to serve the Lord – ( 365 times told not to fear) - ( Joshua 1:6,7; 1 Cor. 6:13 )  Fear sets you up for failure – (Matthew 25:25)  Fear holds you back from serving God – (teaching, praying, giving, singing, loving, etc. – ( Luke 12:4 )  Fear keeps people in their sins – (Genesis 3:8-10)

Psalm 27:1 “ A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

2 Timothy 1:7 “ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

 10,000 men were left, but that was still too many – (7:4)  God administered a test to reduce the number even further, dividing them into two categories – ( 7:4-6)  God chose the 300 who lapped water putting their hands to their mouths – ( their heads were still up ) – ( 7:6)

 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” – (1 Peter 5:8)  God still uses the courageous and wise – (Ephesians 6:10-18) –  You may not know when you are being tested – (Job 1:12)  God sees the small stuff – (Luke 16:10)

 God told Gideon to go down against the camp of the Midianites – (7:9)  God gave Gideon what he needed to be confident in His instructions – (7:10-15)  Gideon’s army followed the instructions given to them – every man stood in his place – (7:16-21)  They were victorious – (7:21)

 God has revealed to us what He wants – (2 Timothy 3:16,17)  God has given everything we need to have complete confidence – (John 20:30,31; Romans 10:17; 1 Cor. 10:13)  We need “every man” to stand in his place, humbly serving God – (Ephesians 4:16)  Victory – (2 Cor. 10:3-6; 1 Cor. 15:58; Revelation 2:10)

 Look to God –  Take Courage–  Be Vigilant –  Be Obedient -