The Hero We Deserve

Lead Vocalist (Kelly)

Welcome & Announcements (Hopson)

Good morning family!

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4 announcements:

1) Happy Mother’s Day

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2) Memorial Day Luncheon

May 26 immediately after the service

Hospitality team providing meats

Please bring a side and/or dessert to share

3) Members Meeting

Listen carefully, a few updates here

Regularly scheduled meeting on May 19 at 6 PM (no potluck due to memorial day luncheon)

ALSO, the elders need to report on a serious matter to the church that will require a vote on May 19. To give the congregation time to think, pray, and ask questions we are having a special informational members meeting on Wednesday, May 15 at 6PM.

4) Ladies Bible Study on 1, 2, and 3 John

Wednesday nights at 6:30, beginning May 29

For more details and to register scan the QR code on the screen or in your bulletin

Now please take a moment of silence to prepare your heart for worship.

Call to Worship (Romans 8:37-39)

Prayer of Praise (Kayla Fox)

More Than Conquerors

How Great is Our God

Prayer of Confession (Jim Lewis), Fear

Assurance of Pardon (Psalm 103:8-13)

Now Why This Fear

I Need thee Every Hour

Scripture Reading (Judges 7:1-22a)

You can find it on page 244 in the black Bibles

Pastoral Prayer (Hopson)

Prayer for PBC—Moms

Single moms — provide for their needs; encourage them; give us opportunities to serve them

Moms of young children -- help them to see their children as primary disciples; help them to sense your presence in the mundane

Moms of teenagers -- help them to persevere; help them to not abdicate their roles to lead, but to intentionally shepherd their teenagers towards greater knowledge of and love for God's Word

Moms of adult children -- help them to recognize and respect the differences of conviction and opinion they may have with their adult children; give them courage to their wisdom and insight without being critical

Moms of unsaved children -- help them to persevere in prayer and not lose heart; give them opportunity to share the gospel, wisdom to see the opportunity, and courage to take it

Grandmas and great-grandmas -- help them to treasure their unique role without neglecting their responsibility to teach them the ways of God

Moms who have lost children — comfort them; help them to see and savor Your love, in the midst of their pain

Ladies unable to have children -- comfort them; help them to see the beauty of adoption; help them to find their ultimate satisfaction in you

Ladies who have had abortions -- lead them to repentance; if repentant, remind them that their sin was nailed to the cross;

Spiritual moms-- SS teachers, discipleship group leaders, ladies encouraging younger ladies in the faith, etc--help them to see the inestimable value in spiritual mothering; help them not to grow weary

Prayer for kingdom partner—Luke & Emily (Reaching & Teaching)

Grant them peace and joy as they are once again in a season of waiting

Protect Luke as he travels home from Dubai, and grant he and Emily wisdom as they consider an opportunity to do ministry there

Whatever you have for them, help them to be faithful and help us to love and support them well

Prayer for US—Foster children

We pray against that brokenness and sin that creates the need for foster children

We pray for social workers who work to care for these children. Give them wisdom and discernment.

We pray for more foster families, especially within the church

We pray for the children in the foster care system

Prayer for the world—St. Martin

Leader—Governor Eugene Holiday --> justice for vulnerable, protection for the unborn, human flourishing for all

Social issue(s)—Thank you for their many material blessings, but help them not to love the gifts more than the giver

Spiritual issue(s)—Over 85% of the population on this tiny Caribbean island identify as Christians, but nominalism is rampant

Local churches—faithful to resist the allure of pleasure and possessions and love God above all else

Pray for the sermon

SERMON

START TIMER!!!

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” [1]

Those words, spoken by Harvey Dent in one of the greatest films of all time, are more true than most of us would care to admit.

They are a painful reminder that people who start well are a dime a dozen.

What’s truly unique is the man or woman who finishes well.

Imagine telling the story of Richard Nixon—his lengthy political career and great diplomatic accomplishments—but omitting the Watergate Scandal.

Imagine talking about Lance Armstrong—the cancer survivor who won the Tour de France a record seven straight times—but saying nothing about the doping scandal that led to his colossal fall from grace.

Imagine introducing Harvey Weinstein as a wealthy and influential Hollywood producer and mogul, while saying nothing about the accusations of sexual misconduct from no less than 80 women spanning multiple decades.

Or imagine recommending the teaching of someone like Josh Harris—former evangelical pastor, conference speaker, and author of multiple best-selling Christian books—while saying nothing of his “deconversion” experience in 2019 and the fact that he rejects nearly everything he once taught and no longer considers himself a Christian.

It would be a travesty to highlight the great beginnings of these men, while saying nothing about their horrible endings.

And yet well-meaning Bible teachers have repeatedly done the same thing with the story of a man named Gideon.

Turn to Judges 6:11

We are now on the fifth judge in the book of Judges, and FINALLY we’ve arrived at the story of a judge that most of us know!

But I suspect most of us know the story of Gideon far less than we actually think.

Most of us know the story I read a few moments ago about Gideon’s faith to attack a massive enemy with only three hundred men.

Some of us know the story about Gideon’s fear recorded in chapter 6.

But very few have heard the full story about Gideon’s fall in chapter 8.

With God’s help we’re going to look at the full story of Gideon this morning.

The Big idea I hope we learn from the story of Gideon is that The greatest threat to finishing well isn’t failure, it’s success.

We’ll learn this lesson by examining Three Scenes from the life of Gideon:

In 6:11-40 we’ll see a fearful hero,

In chapter 7 we’ll see a frail hero,

And in chapter 8 we’ll see a fallen hero.

Let’s dive right into chapter 6 with...

1) A FEARFUL Hero (6:11-40)

If all you know about Gideon comes from his highlight reel in chapter 7, you might not realize just how fearful this hero really was.

From the very beginning, Gideon looks very, very afraid.

We meet him in verse 11 as he’s beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

In those days you would thresh wheat by throwing it into the air. The wind would blow away the chaff while the heavier grain would fall to the ground.

Nobody would thresh wheat in a winepress unless they were afraid a hungry horde of soldiers would come and steal it.

But that’s where we first meet the fearful Gideon.

In verse 12 Gideon is greeted by the Angel of the Lord—an appearance by God Himself in bodily form—and Gideon is called a “mighty man of valor.”

Perhaps God is greeting Gideon sarcastically. Or perhaps God is looking beyond Gideon’s present fears to the faith he will soon have. Or perhaps it’s a little bit of both.

Look at how Gideon replies...

Judges 6:13—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.”

This certainly doesn’t look like a brave man, does it?

Not only is he hiding in fear, he’s complaining that God has forsaken His people.

And yet, if we’re honest, we often do the same thing don’t we? When life hurts, we assume God has forsaken us. We often fail to consider how God might be using this painful circumstance for our good.

Aren’t you glad God is patient with fearful people? Look at...

Judges 6:14—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?”

Once again, it kind of looks like God is joking here doesn’t it?

Go in this might of yours?!? What might are you talking about Lord?

All the might we really need is the Lord’s hand upon us. And that’s exactly what Gideon has.

But Gideon is afraid. He wants some level of assurance.

So fearful Gideon asks God for a sign.

Moms, what would the story of Gideon be like if God responded to him the way you sometimes respond to your little ones?

“You better GO and do what I said Gideon BECAUSE I SAID SO!!!”

Or, if you’re into the gentle parenting thing, you might have said “Wow, those are some BIG FEELINGS Gideon! I see you’re feeling afraid. Can you tell me more about it?”

God does neither. He doesn’t berate Gideon and He doesn’t affirm his feelings.

As we said when we began the book of Judges a few months ago, God doesn’t give up ON His people or give in TO His people.

So He gives Gideon the sign he asks for in Verse 21. And finally, Gideon seems ready to bravely obey.

So God gives Gideon his first set of instructions...

Judges 6:25–26—That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.”

This seems like a strange way to deliver God’s people from the Midianites, doesn’t it?

Remember, the greatest enemy in the book of Judges is NOT the villains that oppress them, but the idolatry that consumes them.

Tim Keller—Before they can throw off the enemies around them (the Midianites), they have to throw off the enemies among them (the false idols of Canaan). This is always the main way that we get renewal in our lives. [2]

Our greatest battle isn’t physical, it’s spiritual.

How does Gideon respond?

Judges 6:27—So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.

Did you catch that? Gideon obeyed, but his obedience was mingled with fear.

The following morning, the townspeople are ready to kill Gideon for destroying their idols.

We catch here a glimpse of how far the people of God have fallen.

According to the law of God, Baal worship is a sin that warrants the death penalty. But here God’s people are threatening to kill a man, not for worshiping Baal, but for destroying Baal.

God’s people are condemning what they should be celebrating, and celebrating what they should be condemning.

We saw a version of this just a few weeks ago when the United Methodist Church voted to publicly celebrate sexual sin that the Bible clearly and repeatedly condemns.

Christian, are you prepared to stand by the truth of the Word of God, even if the entire world stands against you? Are you the kind of woman or man who can stand against the gods of this age, even if you’re standing alone?

Surprisingly, the fearful Gideon appears to be growing into that sort of man. Or at least, sort of.

In verses 28-32, Gideon appears to be turning into a new man.

He gets a cool new nickname, “Jerubbaal”, meaning he is the one who grapples with Baal.

The Holy Spirit comes upon him, empowering him for ministry.

And then an army of 32,000 soldiers rallies to his side!!!

You would think that now, finally, Gideon would lay his fear aside and become a man of faith.

If you think that, you would be wrong.

In Judges 6:36-40 Gideon’s fear lingers and he puts God to the test again.

Once again, Gideon asks God for a sign.

You may remember it: Gideon lays a woolen fleece on the ground and asks God to make the fleece wet and the ground dry. The next morning God complies.

But the fearful Gideon isn’t satisfied, so he asks God to do the same trick, but this time in reverse.

And the next morning the fleece was dry and the ground was wet.

What are we to make of Gideon’s fleece?

Some Christians use Gideon as a model here.

They see Gideon as a faithful man, using what he had available to him to discern God’s will.

Some have advocated for Christians to literally “lay out a fleece” in the same way that Gideon did.

Others interpret the story symbolically. So you might “lay out a fleece” something like this: “God, if you want me to tell someone about Jesus today let me see someone wearing green cowboy boots and a MAGA hat.”

Here’s four reasons we should not attempt to fleece God like Gideon did...

1) There’s a difference between what the Bible reports and what the Bible recommends.

The Bible reports a LOT of details in Judges that we shouldn’t apply to our lives.

Add Gideon’s fleece to the list!

2) Gideon is not presented positively in these verses.

The problem wasn’t that Gideon didn’t know God’s will. In chapters 6-7 God repeats his promise to Gideon five times.

Gideon’s problem is that he didn’t believe, not that he didn’t know.

3) We have three things that Gideon did not have.

We have the completed Word of God.

We have the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We belong to a redeemed community, the local church.

So if you don’t know God’s will, don’t lay out a fleece. Read your Bible. Ask the Spirit for wisdom. And talk to people in your local church.

4) Jesus repeatedly condemns people for insisting on signs.

We are fools if we promote what Jesus prohibited.

Judges 6 is not given to us so we might follow after fearful Gideon. But it IS given to us that we might trust our faithful God.

God repeatedly, patiently, gently responds to Gideon.

Doesn’t that encourage you, Christian?

If you belong to Him, He loves you with an everlasting love!

Yes, He may sometimes discipline you as we saw last week, but He is not short-fused. He is longsuffering with you.

He will often patiently tolerate your fear and doubts, all the while shaping and molding you into the man or woman He wants you to be.

That seems to be what has happened with Gideon heading into chapter 7, where we see Gideon as...

2) A FRAIL Hero (7:1-25)

This is the part of Gideon’s story that most of us know.

This is Gideon’s highlight reel.

Finally, Gideon lays his fear aside and faithfully marches into war.

But there’s just one problem. Gideon’s army is… too big?!?

Judges 7:2—The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”

God is jealous for His own glory!

As He said through the prophet Isaiah...

Isaiah 42:8—I am the Lord; that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols.

Gideon has been too successful as a military recruiter.

So God gives Gideon instructions to decrease his army...

Judges 7:3—Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’ ” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

I think it’s a bit ironic that God tells Gideon to send the fearful people home. Technically Gideon should join them, shouldn’t he?

In verse 10 we learn that Gideon is still afraid! So ONE MORE TIME God gives Gideon a sign to help reassure this fearful hero.

This is a good reminder that God doesn’t demand perfection from those who lead His people. But He does expect faithfulness.

So Gideon dismisses 22,000 soldiers, but God says there’s still too many!

This is what Sally Lloyd-Jones calls “God Math.” With God Math five loaves plus two fish equals enough to feed thousands of people plus leftovers. One lost sheep equals as valuable as ninety-nine. Or 300 men is greater than 32,000. Jesus plus nothing equals everything, and everything minus Jesus equals nothing. [3]

The way that God makes Gideon’s army small enough to win has been the subject of much debate.

Judges 7:5–7—So [Gideon] brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 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.”

I still remember as a young boy hearing the wonderfully sweet saints at Logan Elm Baptist Church in Circleville, Ohio explain this story to me in Bible club.

Perhaps you've heard a similar explanation: 300 men were alert, drinking carefully with their eyes ahead. They were prepared to defend themselves against a Midianite onslaught. But the rest of the 10,000 men were careless and unprepared.

So Gideon is left with an elite fighting force of 300 trained, vigilant soldiers.

But the only problem with that interpretation is that the text doesn’t say that!

While working on my doctoral studies I heard a sermon on this text by a preacher named Bryan Chapell. In that sermon he told the story of a visit to this very spring in Israel. And his tour guide asked this:

Which would be the better soldiers, the ones who have been working so hard, training so well, setting up camp, getting their weapons ready, they just got to have water they’re falling on their faces? Or those who’ve been taking it easy all day that they hardly need any water at all?

His point was that, just maybe, Gideon didn’t get the best soldiers, maybe he got the worst soldiers! [4]

Once again, I think the context may help us a bit here.

If Gideon’s 300 men are an elite fighting force they sure have a strange choice in weapons, don’t they?

In John Bunyan’s masterpiece The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian is given a glimpse of heaven’s armory. And in that armory he sees the weapons that God uses to defeat His enemies. Included with those weapons were pitchers, trumpets, and lamps.

Now those are strange weapons for any army, let alone an elite force of soldiers. But those are the weapons that defeated the Midianites.

Because it wasn’t Gideon, or his men that really won the victory.

Judges 7:22a—When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army.

Who wins the victory? Who sets the Midianites’ swords against their comrades? The LORD!

As David said a few hundred years later, “the battle belongs to the Lord.”

That doesn’t mean that Gideon’s role isn’t important.

Imagine the faith it would take for Gideon to sit idly by while God reduces his army by over 99%.

Imagine the faith it would take to plan a sneak attack against a massive army when you’re outnumbered 450 to 1.

And by the way, your weapons are basically a bunch of flashlights and air horns.

Brothers and sisters, we can find incredible encouragement from Gideon’s faith if we pay attention.

God’s people do not need to worry when the odds are stacked against us. Jesus plus nothing equals everything!

If you feel weak, Christian, you are in very good company. You can be too strong for God to use you, but you cannot be too weak for God to use you.

Since it’s Mother’s Day, let me say a word to the moms.

I don’t know many moms who are overflowing with confidence about motherhood.

There’s something about being a parent that spotlights your weaknesses.

I remember our first night home from the hospital after our oldest was born. I was determined that from the beginning our kids would sleep in their own beds in their own rooms. But when I laid Jonah down in his crib that night almost fourteen years ago, I was overcome with fear about how powerless I was. There was nothing I could do to keep this kid alive.

A lot of parenting feels like that. You feel powerless, unable to do much of anything.

Most of you moms feel that weakness even more intensely, based on the fact that most of you spend more time with your kids than we dads do.

Listen to me, ladies: You will not thrive as a mom by becoming strong. You will thrive as a mom when you recognize that you are weak, provided that you then look to Christ for strength.

As Paul writes in...

2 Corinthians 12:9–10—But [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

But far too often we’re like Gideon. We see God’s power manifest in our weakness, but then it goes to our heads. And we begin to think that we’re strong.

That’s exactly what happens in chapter 8, where we see Gideon as...

3) A FALLEN Hero (8:1-32)

Just like most Bible storybooks end the story of Jonah at chapter 3, most Bible storybooks end the story of Gideon at chapter 7.

We want the story to have a happy ending. We don’t want our heroes to become villains.

But the Bible is not interested in our feelings and opinions about what makes a good story. The Bible is interested in the truth.

And the truth is, like Humpty Dumpty, Gideon had a great fall.

That fall actually began in chapter 7, although you’ve got to look carefully to see it.

Notice what Gideon instructs his 300 men to say when they begin the surprise attack...

Judges 7:18—When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, “For the Lord...”

Now there’s nothing wrong with any of that. But Gideon doesn’t stop there. He adds...

“… and for Gideon.”

Gideon appears to be claiming at least some of the glory for himself!

Now that might not seem to be such a big fall if the story of Gideon ends in chapter 7.

In fact, one commentator says that if the story of Gideon ended in chapter 7, he would be considered one of the greatest judges in Israel’s history. [5]

But the story continues. And Gideon grows progressively worse.

If we could put Gideon’s great fall in slow-motion, we would see it happens through four fatal errors...

First, Gideon attacks his own people.

In verses 1-3, Gideon is confronted by men from the tribe of Ephraim. They’re frustrated they weren’t included in the battle against the Midianites.

At first, Gideon is willing to sweet-talk his way out of a conflict.

But like many of us, his patience runs out.

In verses 4-12, he has altercations with the townspeople in Succoth and Penuel.

He asks for help pursuing the kings of Midian, but they refuse.

So Gideon punishes them for their mistreatment in...

Judges 8:16–17—And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. And he broke down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

Notice how Gideon’s actions are the opposite of God’s patience towards him in chapter 6. When Gideon was afraid and doubtful, God showed him mercy and patience. But when the people in these towns expressed similar doubts, Gideon tortures and kills them!

How often do we do the same thing? We receive grace beyond measure through Jesus, then struggle to extend that same grace to others.

We’ve seen a lot of evil in the book of Judges so far, but this is a first.

For the first time in the book, one of these heroes is killing the people he’s supposed to be rescuing.

But Gideon’s fall doesn’t stop there...

Second, Gideon is motivated by revenge.

Notice what happens once he finally catches up to the kings of Midian...

Judges 8:18–19—Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?” They answered, “As you are, so were they. Every one of them resembled the son of a king.” And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.”

Apparently at some point these Midianite kings had killed Gideon’s own brothers.

Now we see why Gideon has been so bloodthirsty in chapter 8. He is motivated, not by obedience, but by revenge.

Vengeance is like a cancer. It’s deadly and it always spreads.

Perhaps Gideon thought he could control his anger. Perhaps, like some of us, he thought he could manage his sin.

But revenge has poisoned his heart and now Gideon is out of control.

He’s killed his own countrymen, and in verse 20 he drags his own young son—probably just a boy of ten or eleven years old—into his plot for revenge.

And unfortunately, as we’ll learn next week, the vengeance that consumed Gideon would spread to one of his sons as well.

You cannot control your sin.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

Repent before it destroys you!!!

Gideon does not repent, and his fall continues...

Third, Gideon is a hypocrite.

After personally killing the Midianite kings, Gideon is approached by the people with a special request.

Judges 8:22—Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.

Notice two very important things in verse 22.

First, notice what the Israelites say to Gideon: you have saved us from Midian.

Gideon knows it is the Lord who has delivered them. But he says nothing to correct the people.

Oh how easy it is to take credit for what only God can do!

Second, notice carefully what the Israelites ask from Gideon.

What kind of ruler leads his people, and is followed by his son and then his grandson?

They’re asking for a dynasty, they’re asking Gideon to be their king!

On this point, Gideon’s response seems really good...

Judges 8:23—Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.

That’s a great answer!

But it’s one thing to say you’re not going to be a king. It’s another thing to live like it.

Unfortunately Gideon does not practice what he preaches.

Like a king he demands plunder from the battle.

Like a king he accumulates a massive harem, and fathers seventy sons.

And to top things off, he names one of his sons Abimelech, which means “My father is king.”

SHOW ABIMELECH SLIDE

Once again, Gideon’s life is a warning to us. It’s relatively easy to know what it right and say what is right. It’s infinitely harder to do what is right.

At this point Gideon’s theology is pretty good. But his life is not.

And unfortunately, Gideon’s greatest error is still to come...

Finally, Gideon is an idolater.

Like Moses’ brother Aaron, Gideon asks the people to give them all their gold. In the book of Exodus, Aaron made a golden calf that the people worshiped.

Gideon knew better than to make a calf. He makes something that was actually used in Israelite worship. He makes an ephod, which was a garment worn by the priest.

But just like at the base of Mount Sinai, God’s people are led into idolatry by one of their leaders.

Judges 8:27—And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

Once again, we have another first in the book of Judges.

Up to this point the idolatry in Israel always followed the death of the judge. But not with Gideon.

Gideon—this judge who began his career by hacking away at the altar to Baal—is now leading God’s people into idolatry himself.

It is so hard to finish well.

And the greatest threat to finishing well isn’t failure, it’s success.

How are we supposed to respond to such a tragic story?

We remember that this isn’t the end of the story.

In many ways, Gideon will die a villain.

And as we’ll see next week, Gideon’s villainy will live on after his death through his son, Abimelech.

But Gideon’s legacy isn’t his fear, his vengeance, his hypocrisy, his idolatry, or even his murderous son.

Gideon’s legacy is his faith.

Hebrews 11:32–34—And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

How in the world can the New Testament can celebrate Gideon as a man of faith?!?

There are only three options:

Option 1 is that the Bible is inconsistent.

We reject that because we believe the Bible is the Word of God and it is without error.

Option 2 is that God has changed.

Perhaps he’s lightened up a bit since His Old Testament days.

But again, we reject that because we believe God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Option 3 is the Gospel.

The bad news, according to Harvey Dent, is that “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus—the only true hero—died as a villain so that all His people could be counted as heroes.

Like Gideon, Jesus knew what it was like to be afraid.

But unlike Gideon, Jesus never sinned in His fear. He said, “Father, not my will but your’s be done.”

Like Gideon, Jesus knew what it was like to face down an enemy against impossible odds.

But unlike Gideon, Jesus didn’t flinch. He gladly endured the cross to redeem His people.

Like Gideon, Jesus was mistreated by His own people.

But unlike Gideon, Jesus never acted in vengeance towards them. Instead He prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Like Gideon, the people wanted to make Jesus their king.

But unlike Gideon, Jesus refused to wear the crown until after He bore the cross.

Like Gideon, Jesus died.

But unlike Gideon, Jesus rose from the dead and will return to rescue His people and give them a rest that lasts.

Do you believe this Gospel? We invite you to believe it today!

If you have believed this Gospel, listen clearly.

All your failures—every sinful fear, every vengeful thought, every hypocritical word or deed, every idolatrous decision—all of them were paid for at the cross of Christ.

That’s why the New Testament can celebrate Gideon’s faith! Because his failures were paid for at the cross!

So we respond, not by trying harder to make sure we don’t mess this up.

But by looking to the God who cried out “It is finished!” and following Him until the day He returns and we see Him face to face.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Almost Home

Benediction (Eph 3:16, 19)

According to the riches of the Father’s glory, may you be strengthened with power through His Spirit and know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God.