1. Gideon: the fighter
Judges 7

2. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

3. Judges 6:16 (PROMISE)
16 But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.”
Heb 13:5-6; Deut 31:6, 8; Josh 1:5; Psa 118:6

4. Gideon is emptied (7:1-8) To rely on God To restrain from pride
“Keep the courageous, send home the fearful”
“Keep the lappers, send home the kneelers”

5. Gideon is encouraged (7:9-18)
To fight fear
To seek encouragement
To worship the Lord

6. Gideon is engaged (7:19-25) Positioned (cf. Eph 4:3; Phil 1:27)
Planned (cf. 2 Cor 12:9; Eph 6:17)
Pruned and Productive
Israel didn’t lift a sword until after the Lord won the battle (cf. Heb 2:10; 1 Cor 15:56-57)

7. Pruned and Productive
John 15:1-2
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

8. Emptied to Fill Broken to Shine
2 Cor 4:5-7; 1 Cor 1:26-31