Go In This Might of Yours

SERIES INTRODUCTION

Last Saturday the world watched as Donald Trump was nearly assassinated in Butler, Pennsylvania. He turned his head at just the right moment in the right direction and the bullet grazed his ear instead of hitting him in the head. This was nothing short of a miracle. Trump said, “I’m supposed to be dead. I’m not supposed to be here. By luck or by God, many are saying it’s by God, I’m still here.” This was not the result of luck. God had his hand on Donald Trump that day and miraculously preserved his life.

Secret Service immediately took him to the ground and for a few minutes we didn’t know what had happened or the extent of his injuries, if any. But miraculously, after they had taken out the would-be assassin, Donald Trump, of course in Donald Trump fashion, bloodied, but ok, with Secret Service all around him, stood up, looked toward the crowd, pumped his fist in the air, and said, “fight, fight, fight!”

Speaking about this moment on this past Monday night at the Republican National Convention, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott said, “If you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now.” He added, “Our God still saves. He still delivers, and He still sets free. Because on Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle, but an American lion got back up on his feet, and he roared."

God obviously still has a plan for Donald Trump. He has raised Donald Trump up “for such a time as this” to stand up against the demon-cratic ideologies that are trying to destroy our nation and our children’s future.

But, you know, God also still has a plan for you as well. And God has raised you up in His Kingdom “for such a time as this.” And I believe God is up to something. I believe God is wanting to move in a greater way among His people. It feels like a wind of change is coming. A wind of the Holy Spirit that wants to blow in our churches and across this nation. It just feels like something good is about to happen. There is a movement that is beginning. I can feel it stirring in my soul. And I feel like what God is staying right now is that it is time for His people to be BOLD AS A LION! We need some men and women and young people in the church to stand up with the heart of a lion in the strength, and the authority, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to stand unashamed to be a Christian. We need to stand firm in our beliefs. We need to stand and fight against the advancement of the kingdom of darkness that is trying to take over our society. But it is going to take those who are willing to be BOLD AS A LION!

In Proverbs 28:1, the Bible says:

Proverbs 28:1 NKJV

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

The wicked retreat and run away because they fear the consequences of their wickedness. The righteous are bold because they fear God and their conscience is clear. The righteous are BOLD AS A LION because we serve the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. We serve the King of kings. We serve the Lord of lords. We serve the Alpha and the Omega. We serve the Beginning and the End. We serve the First and the Last. We serve the One Who Was, and Who Is, and Who Is to Come, the Almighty! We serve the One who is described as Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace! We serve the Lion, the Lamb, and the King: Jesus Christ! And it is time for the followers of Jesus Christ to be BOLD AS A LION and allow the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to roar through us!

SERMON INTRODUCTION

This morning, we are going to begin a study of the life of Gideon in the book of Judges. God had a great plan for Gideon’s life. But Gideon had to overcome some challenges in order to be BOLD AS A LION and become the mighty man of valor, the mighty warrior, that God knew he was capable of being. Gideon had to overcome fear, worry, and doubt; among other things. But ultimately Gideon became the vessel that God could work through in order to bring deliverance to the people of God. Maybe there are some things in our lives that we need to overcome as well in order for us to become the vessel that God can use to work through to bring deliverance through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this dark world.

Maybe there are some of us, like Gideon, that struggle with fear, worry, or doubt. Maybe there are some of us today that could use a dose of some Holy Ghost boldness. Look with me in Judges Chapter 6.

SCRIPTURE

Judges 6:11–16 NKJV

11 Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order 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, you mighty man of valor!” 13 Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” 15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon didn’t feel worthy or capable of delivering God’s people from the bondage of the Midianites. But God saw something in Gideon that he didn’t see in himself. And God declared to Gideon, “GO IN THIS MIGHT OF YOURS!” What was this might? It was the might that God Himself was going to give him. Gideon had to learn that he didn’t have to rely on his own strength and power. He just had to rely on God’s strength and power. You see, if God sends you, He’ll equip you. If you have the Holy Spirit, you have everything you need. Right now you may not feel worthy or capable of your calling, but I want to encourage you this morning with the same words that God told Gideon: “GO IN THIS MIGHT OF YOURS!”

MESSAGE

The Lord is With You

There is just something about being in the presence of God.

The Lord will show up when you need Him most.

Things change when the Lord shows up!

Lord, show me Your glory!

The Lord knew that Gideon didn’t need more self-confidence; he needed more God-confidence.

Being in the presence of the Lord and knowing we are in His will gives us God-confidence.

We cannot depend on our own strength.

We must depend on His strength.

Ephesians 6:10 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

GO IN THIS MIGHT OF YOURS KNOWING THAT THE LORD IS WITH YOU!

The Lord Sees Your Faithfulness

The Lord may call you during a season that doesn’t make sense.

Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress.

Just be faithful where you are right now. Bloom where God plants you.

The Lord often calls those who are already busy.

Examples: Moses, David, Elisha, the disciples fishing

Satan often attacks those who are idle.

GO IN THIS MIGHT OF YOURS KNOWING THAT THE LORD SEES YOUR FAITHFULNESS!

The Lord has a Plan for You

The Lord sees you not just for who you are, but for who you will become.

The Lord is calling you to something greater.

God is sending you out.

Go in this might of yours.

The Lord will sometimes ask you to do something you’ve tried before and failed. (i.e. disciples fishing).

Do it without the Lord and you will pull up empty nets.

Do it with the Lord and the nets will be full of blessings.

GO IN THIS MIGHT OF YOURS KNOWING THAT GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!

CLOSING

1 Chronicles 12:8 NKJV

8 Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains: