Uncommon Courage

Judges 6:11–16 (NIV84)

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

13 “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

14 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?”

15 “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

Today's sermon is based on Judges 6:11-16, where we see how Gideon, an ordinary man, was called by God to be a mighty warrior and how he displayed uncommon courage.

1. God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes

Gideon was an ordinary man from an ordinary family, yet God chose him to be a leader and a warrior

We often think that God only uses extraordinary people for His work, but the truth is that He can use anyone who is willing to obey His call

We should never underestimate ourselves or others because God can use anyone for His glory

Sub Point 1: God sees beyond our limitations

Gideon was from the weakest clan in Manasseh, and he considered himself the least in his family

Yet God saw something in him that he did not see in himself

God sees beyond our limitations and weaknesses and sees our potential

We should always trust in God's vision of us and not our own limited perspective

Sub Point 2: God equips us for the task

Go in the strength you have

When God called Gideon, he was afraid and felt inadequate for the task ahead

But God promised to be with him and to equip him for the battle

God does not call us to do something without giving us the tools and resources we need to accomplish it

We should trust in God's provision and not rely on our own strength

2. Courage comes from faith in God

Gideon displayed uncommon courage when he destroyed his father's altar to Baal and led the Israelites into battle against the Midianites

His courage came from his faith in God and his trust in His promises

We too can display uncommon courage when we put our faith in God and His promises

Sub Point 1: Courage is not the absence of fear

Gideon was afraid when God called him, and he was afraid when he faced the Midianites

But he did not let his fear paralyze him

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite our fear

We should not let fear stop us from doing what God has called us to do

Sub Point 2: Courage comes from knowing who God is

Gideon's courage came from his knowledge of God's character and His faithfulness to His people

We too can find courage in knowing who God is and what He has done for us

We should spend time getting to know God through His Word and prayer to strengthen our faith and courage

3. Uncommon courage inspires others

Gideon's courage inspired the Israelites to join him in battle against the Midianites

When we display uncommon courage, it can inspire others to join us in doing God's work

We should strive to be an inspiration to others by displaying courage in our daily lives

Sub Point 1: Courage is contagious

When one person displays courage, it can inspire others to do the same

We should strive to be a catalyst for courage in our families, workplaces, and communities

Sub Point 2: Courage brings unity

Gideon's courage brought unity among the Israelites, and they were able to defeat the Midianites together

Courage can bring unity among people and break down barriers

We should strive to bring unity through our courage and inspire others to do the same.

4. Courage leads to victory

Gideon's courage led to victory over the Midianites, and the Israelites had peace for forty years

When we display uncommon courage, it can lead to victory in our own lives and in the lives of others

We should strive to be courageous and trust in God's victory

Sub Point 1: Victory comes from God

Gideon's victory was not his own, but it was God's victory

When we trust in God and display courage, our victory is also God's victory

We should always give glory to God for our victories

Sub Point 2: Courage brings blessings

Gideon's victory brought blessings to the Israelites, and they had peace for forty years

When we display courage and trust in God, it can bring blessings to our lives and the lives of others

We should strive to be courageous and trust in God's blessings

God can use anyone for His purposes, and courage comes from our faith in Him