2. BY FAITH GIDEON

3. An angel of the Lord comes to him and makes two bold statements: The Lord is with you. mighty man of valor

4. “If the Lord is with us then why has all this happened and where are all the miracles our fathers told us about? And why has he deserted us into the hands of the Midianites?”

5. Have you ever felt this way? Do you feel this way today?

6. “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

7. “How can I save Israel? I am from the weakest tribe and I am the weakest in all my clan.”

8. “Surely I will be with you and you will defeat the Midianites.”

9. When God looked at Gideon he didn’t see him for who he was, but for the person he COULD be if he trusted God with the control of His life.

10. God then gave Gideon a small assignment to start growing his faith.

11. Then Gideon called all the people to do battle. What changed?

12. Judges 6:34 “But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon...”

13. God had already told Gideon that he would deliver his people, but Gideon wanted some more affirmation at this point.

14. 135,000 enemies 32,000 Israelites 10,000 300

15. Judges 7:2. The Lord reduced the numbers of the Israelite army so EVERYONE would know that HE brought the victory, not them!

16. In verse 7 God promises Gideon that with only 300 men he can deliver all the Midianites into his hand and save Gideon in battle. Then He offers Gideon another faith builder.

17. Gideon overheard the soldiers talking about a dream that foretold that Gideon was going to overcome them all! They were afraid of Gideon!

18. This reminded Gideon of how powerful and great His God was and he WORSHIPPED God.

19. LESSONS FOR US:

20. “If the Lord is with us then why has all this happened and where are all the miracles our fathers told us about?”

21. When God looks at us he doesn’t see us for who we are, but for whom we CAN be if we trust God with the control of our life.

22. God asks us to believe HUGE promises too.

23. God will go to great lengths to grow our faith too.

24. If we worship God, then it will change everything!

25. “The Sword of the Lord AND you!”

26. Special

27. Ephesians 2:10- “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”