2025-06-15 Father's Day - Men of Valor

Sermon Title: The Mighty Men of Valor — Would God Put Your Name on the List?

Main Text: Judges 6:12

“The Lord is with you, mighty man of valor!” — Spoken to Gideon, a man who didn’t feel mighty, but whom God chose anyway.

I. What Is a Man of Valor?

Definition: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.

Hebrew Root: Chayil — meaning strength, might, ability, or wealth; often used for warriors or capable leaders.

Key Point: God sees potential where the world sees weakness.

We all face battles in life—some are physical, like serving in war or protecting our families, and others are spiritual, waged in our hearts and minds. But men, God has called each of us to rise up as men of valor—to courageously stand for what is right and to defend what He has entrusted to us. Whether it’s our families, our friendships, our nation, God’s Word, or the truth itself—we are called to fight for it with faith and conviction.

The first step of courage isn’t taken in the midst of a battle; it’s taken when you’re willing to walk onto the battlefield and face the unknown.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Lets look at some Biblical examples of some of these types of men:

✅ Men Explicitly Called “Men of Valor”

Gideon Judges 6:12 “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (NKJV)

Jephthah Judges 11:1 “Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor…”

David’s Mighty Men 2 Samuel 23:8–39; 1 Chronicles 11 Referred to as “mighty men,” often understood as warriors of valor.

Jeroboam’s army 1 Kings 11:28 Jeroboam was "a mighty man of valor."

Naaman 2 Kings 5:1 Called “a mighty man of valor,” though also a leper.

Boaz Ruth 2:1 Called “a mighty man of wealth” (same Hebrew as "valor")—contextually noble/strong.

Kish (King Saul’s Dad) 1 Samuel 9:1 His father Kish is called "a mighty man of power" (same Hebrew root).

II. Biblical Examples of Men of Valor

1. Gideon (Judges 6–8)

The New King James Version Chapter 6

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.”

We see here that Gideon:

Hiding in fear, threshing wheat in a winepress.

Gives God an offering to God

Recognizes the Angel of The Lord is sent of God.

BUT NOET: God calls him mighty man of valor before he ever acts brave.

Lesson: Valor starts with obedience, not reputation.

Gideon went on to be used greatly by God.

2. David and His Mighty Men Hall of Fame (2 Samuel 23:18-39)

There were 37 in this list, just to name a few

Vs. 8 Josheb-basshebeth killed 800 men in one encounter.

Vs. 9 Eleazar stood his ground when others fled.

Vs. 11-12 Shammah defended a field of lentils.

Lesson: Valor is doing the right thing even if you're the only one standing.

Men not called Men of Valor specifically but, they were Men of Valor:

3. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 3)

Refused to bow to the golden image.

Faced the furnace rather than compromise their faith.

Lesson: Valor chooses faith over fear, even when death is on the line.

4. Joseph (Genesis 39)

Fled from temptation when pursued by Potiphar’s wife.

Endured unjust imprisonment without bitterness.

Lesson: Valor isn’t just in battle—it’s in purity, endurance, and forgiveness.

III. What Does a Man of Valor Look Like Today?

Biblical Traits Applied to Modern Life

Stands for Truth even when culture shifts.

Leads His Family with humility and strength.

Protects the Vulnerable, speaks up for the voiceless.

Lives with Integrity even when no one is watching.

Endures Hardship and keeps trusting God.

Modern-Day Examples (Feel free to personalize)

A father staying faithful and engaged in his family.

A teen resisting peer pressure.

A veteran battling PTSD with God’s strength.

A man serving faithfully in a quiet, behind-the-scenes ministry.

IV. A Challenge to the Men: Would God Put Your Name on the List?

Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valor, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage.

Charles Spurgeon

Ask:

Would God look at your life and call you a mighty man of valor?

Are you hiding in the winepress like Gideon, or are you stepping into your calling?

Are you willing to be counted among God’s faithful warriors?

Application Points

Identify an area where fear is keeping you from obedience.

Take one bold step this week—whether in family, workplace, community, or faith.

Be a spiritual warrior—praying, leading, standing firm.

Conclusion:

God is still raising up mighty men of valor—men who may feel weak but are willing to trust Him. The world needs them. The church needs them. Your family needs you. Will you be one of them?

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13