Greater is He that is in Me

Judges 6:11–16 (ESV)

11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Introduction

These were desperate and difficult days for God’s chosen people. Indeed, they were living in the Promised Land, but they had strayed from the Lord and forsaken Him. In an act of divine chastisement, God had allowed the Midianites to overtake Israel and the people were suffering under their heavy hand.

We find in scripture that often in times of difficulty God will raise up one to lead His people out of bondage and into victory. Gideon seems like an unlikely candidate, but God chose to use Gideon.

When I was in grade school, I was not a very athletic person. When recess came and it came time to pick teams for baseball or basketball, or whatever it may be, I was often chosen last or next to last. Gideon was the type of person that would have been chosen last.

Often the Lord uses the one who seems weak and inadequate to accomplish His will. Today we are living in a time similar to Gideon’s. The world has abandoned and forsaken God. People no longer value the scripture. Sunday has become just another weekend day to pursue our own interests.

And now, even the church is suffering the effects of an evil world’s influence. These are desperate days, but God is looking for those who will stand for Him in opposition to the wickedness of our day.

This will require a strong faith and sacrifice on our part, but it can be done. Gideon wouldn’t have been chosen by his peers to lead this charge, but they weren't the ones choosing, God was. When God chooses us, we may think that we are unable, but God can empower us for the task He has chosen for us.

I want to consider the credentials Gideon possessed as we think on:

Greater is He that is in Me.

I. The Presence of Gideon

Gideon was a person much like any of us. He didn’t immediately agree to what God had asked of him. He had some flaws that he felt hindered his work for the Lord. We must learn to overcome our fears and learn to rely on the Lord.

Many times, our lack of confidence is the greatest hindrance to fulfilling God’s will. We need to be cautious to not be arrogant, but we need to be confident in the Lord’s ability to work through our lives.

Notice first:

A. His Activity

Judges 6:11 (ESV)

11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

Typically in that day the wheat was thrashed on the threshing floor. The threshing floor would be placed on a hilltop where there was usually a prevailing wind to blow the chaff away as they winnowed the wheat.

The winepress would normally be at the bottom of the hill so that it would be an easier trip as you gathered grapes on the hillside to bring them to a place that was downhill. We have to give some credit to Gideon that he is working on the harvest at all, but the fact is, he is scared.

He doesn’t want the Midianites to see that is threshing wheat because they would ride in and take the harvest from him. Gideon is not using all the resources he has available to him to insure a good harvest. He take a small amount of wheat the wine press and is trying to process it there, working in secret, hiding from the Midianites.

Sadly, this is the case for much of the church today. We have abandoned the harvest, doing only a little work around the church, hidden from the world. After all, we have found that this is much easier. As long as the world isn’t aware of what we are doing, then we don’t have to take a stand for the Lord. We have grown complacent with the little that is being done. We may see a little grain brought into the storehouse, but much of the harvest remains in the field.

Gideon knew he would likely be attacked while working in the field, but we must be willing to work in the field if we are going to have a successful harvest. I’m so glad that someone endured the difficulties to labor for my soul.

Also notice:

B. His Attitude

Judges 6:13 (ESV)

13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

Upon hearing the call of God Gideon begins to question whether it is a worthy task. He complains about the situation that Israel is facing. If God hasn’t forsaken us, why has all of this come upon us? Why hasn’t God performed a mighty miracle and taken care of the Midianites?

Notice the Lord doesn't not say He is with Israel, He says He is with Gideon. God didn’t abandon Israel, Israel abandoned God.

Satan would have us to believe that God has abandoned us. He wants us to believe that our efforts will make no difference. God is sovereign and He can do all things, but He desires us to be workers in the harvest.

If you and I aren’t willing to stand for the Lord and try to make a difference, who will? I can tell you that it is not God’s will for men to die lost. He came for whosoever will. He wants none to perish. Man has brought much upon himself, but that is not what the Lord desires. There is hope as long as we live in the day of grace.

Let’s look now at:

C. His Assumption

Judges 6:15 (ESV)

15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

Gideon begins to question the choice that God has made. He begins to tell the Lord all about his inability in regard to his heritage. Gideon says surely the Lord has made a mistake. I think the truth is, Gideon is afraid to take on that kind of responsibility. He doesn’t want to be a leader.

Who is Gideon to question the authority of God? Who are we to questions the authority of God? God knew all there was to know about Gideon, just as He knows all about each of us. Gideon wasn’t called because of who he was and he wasn’t expected to stand in his own ability. This type of assumption is human nature. Surely there is someone else who could do that task better than me. Who am I that God would want me? Many times we miss out on God’s blessings because we doubt that God can really use us!

I. The Presence of Gideon

II. The Potential of Gideon

Gideon looked at himself from a human perspective. He was resting solely upon his own ability. Gideon didn’t even know what he was capable of. God knew much about Gideon that he had never seen before.

There isn’t a Christian here today who doesn’t have great potential through the Lord. He would not have called us if He was not able to equip us! Notice the potential of Gideon.

He was:

A. A Man of Undiscovered Courage

Judges 6:12 (ESV)

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

All that Gideon could see was a heart filled with fear, but God saw a mighty man of valor. This courage would not be found within himself but given of the Lord.

Adversity has a way of bringing out the best in people. It is amazing what we can accomplish when we are put to the test. I wonder what lies within us that is waiting to be discovered if we’ll only submit to God’s will for our lives. When I first set foot in this church some ten years ago, I never dreamed that I would one day be the pastor of this congregation. I would not be standing here today apart from God’s will and the strength that He provides. God sees more for our lives than we could ever possibly imagine.

God will never ask you to stand without first placing the courage and strength within your heart to do so. You may not even realize that it is there, but God does because He is the One who placed it there. Why not allow God to take His tender hand and remove the doubt to reveal what He has placed in our hearts?

B. A Man of Undeniable Ability

Judges 6:14 (ESV)

14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”

Gideon may not have fully understood or come to trust entirely in the Lord, but he was not asked to stand against the Midianites in his own ability. The Lord will never send us out to be devoured of our enemies. When we stand for the Lord, we stand in His strength. It may look as if the enemy will soon overtake us, but God is in control.

Psalm 73:26 (ESV)

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

God’s will shall never lead you where His grace cannot keep you! When we realize that we are not standing in our own ability, but in the Lord’s, we are well on our way to becoming victorious.

Romans 8:31 (ESV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

If God has sent us He will provide!

C. A Man of Unlimited Resources

Judges 6:16 (ESV)

16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon was a humble man of meager means. He wasn’t a man of military might or experience. He faced a host of valiant men who were seasoned in battle. They may have had the advantage of the best in modern weaponry, but Gideon had the Lord. He would provide the resources necessary to overcome the enemy.

There is much that we cannot handle on our own, but the battle isn’t ours; it belongs to God. We can’t begin to comprehend what the Lord is able to provide. He delivered the Israelites in the face of certain death at the Red Sea. He brought a great victory through a shepherd boy and five smooth stones. The Christian has at his disposal all that God can provide. What more could we possibly need?

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

The world would have us believe that we must accept defeat, but I have more than enough through Christ to overcome! He has already overcome all that Satan could muster. We are victorious in Him.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

10 fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I. The Presence of Gideon

II. The Potential of Gideon

III. The Performance of Gideon

Much could be said about Gideon’s fleece and seeking a sign, but in the end, he was obedient to the call of God. If we are to remain strong in the battle and continue in the harvest, we must learn the principles that Gideon realized.

There are some definite steps that we must practice to ensure the victory.

A. He Regarded the Lord (25-27a)

Gideon was surrounded by those who had rejected the Lord and turned to worship Baal, even his father. He had to reestablish the altar and worship of the Lord to be victorious.

We will never gain victory if God doesn’t have the preeminence in our lives. Far too often we try to secure the victory without Him. In every situation that we face we must seek the Lord and worship Him. It would’ve been a futile effort without submitting to the lordship of God.

If we are to overcome in our day, we must restore the altars in our lives. God has been given a back seat for far too long! It is time to remember who He is and our obligations to worship. A battle will never be won without worship. Gideon established the altar and worshipped God before he advanced against the enemy! Worship must come first, no exceptions.

Much of the ground that we’ve lost in recent years is due to a lack of worship. We no longer stand in awe of the God who is able to deliver! If you need His help, spend some time at His feet. Power will only be realized when praise has been offered! We seem to have gotten things out of order. We want God to show up in our time of need and then we will worship Him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

B. He Relied on Faith (7:7)

Judges 7:7 (ESV)

7 And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”

The mission that Gideon had been called to do was impossible with man. He started out with 32,000 men and God reduced that number to 300. God knew that if there was a large army, they would believe that they had overcome within themselves. These 300 men were no match for the Midianites,

Judges 7:12 (ESV)

12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance.

Gideon was going to have to rely on the Lord to defeat the enemy. This would require faith.

I suppose this is one area that we are all lacking in. Many times, we face situations that are beyond our control. We tend to worry ourselves to death about what the outcome will be. A lack of faith will hinder our progress in the work that God has called us to do.

The work that this church is responsible for is overwhelming. We will never accomplish it without the Lord’s help. We need to develop a faith like Gideon had, march confidently into battle, and trust the Lord to give the victory. Without faith we will accomplish very little, but through faith we can accomplish much! Adrian Rogers said, “Victory is not achieved by fighting. It is achieved by faith. Faith is not believing that God can do something. Faith is knowing that He will!” I want to get to the place that I can claim that I know God will.

Conclusion

Gideon’s life was filled with difficulties that seemed overwhelming, and they were, apart from God. We also face much that we simply cannot overcome, but we serve the same Lord that Gideon did. I trust you will not depend on your ability but learn to trust in what the Lord can do through you. We need some folks like Gideon in our day, those who will answer the call and trust in the Lord. We don’t have to accept what this world offers. The work of the Lord can continue and prosper in us if we will do it through God’s power and in His way!