WHEN LESS IS MORE Judges 6-7 AFTER JOSHUA The people served the L - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

WHEN LESS 
 IS MORE

Judges 6-7

AFTER JOSHUA

The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua… after that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around

• them. They aroused the LORD’s anger because

they forsook him and served Baal and the

• Ashtoreths. Judges 2.7, 10-13

AFTER JOSHUA

Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them

• ut of the hands of their enemies as long as

the judge lived; for the LORD relented because

• f their groaning under those who oppressed

and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. Judges 2.18-19

GOD CALLS GIDEON

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6.12

GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE

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?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites.” Judges 6.14-16

GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were

• f noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the

world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things

• f the world to shame the strong. God 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. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1.26-31

You are never too small for God to use you, but you may be too big.

GOD USES CLEANSED PEOPLE

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. Judges 6.25-26 _-_

An idol is anything we love more, fear more, serve more or value more than God.

GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE

The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. Judges 7.2-3

32,000

• 22,000

10,000

GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you… Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid

• r fainthearted? Let him go home so that his

fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.” Deuteronomy 20.1, 8

▪Courage is contagious. When a

brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often

• stiffened. Billy Graham

▪He who loses wealth loses much;

he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all. Miguel de Cervantes

▪It is courage, courage, courage,

that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity. - Horace

Courage is not simply

• ne of the

virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.

C.S. Lewis

GOD USES CAUTIOUS PEOPLE

But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there… So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the

• thers go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the

Israelites home but kept the three hundred. Judges 7.4-8

GOD USES CAUTIOUS PEOPLE

▪Be always on the watch, and

pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21.36

▪Be alert and of sober

• mind. Your enemy the devil

prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to

• devour. 1 Peter 5.8

32,000

• 22,000

10,000

• 9,700

300

GOD USES A CONFIDENT PEOPLE

If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp… Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” Judges 7.10-14

GOD USES A CONFIDENT PEOPLE

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and

• worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel

and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Judges 7.15