A Reluctant Warrior

INTRODUCTION

82 years ago today, U.S. armed forces showed, what many would consider, one of—if not—the greatest act of courage and bravery in our nation’s history. Over 150,000 Allied troops crossed the English channel and stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.

Before D-Day began, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of the greatest leaders in American history made the most important military decision of his life. If the invasion failed, tens of thousands could die, and the war could be prolonged for years.

What many people don't know is that before the invasion even started, Eisenhower wrote a short statement accepting full responsibility if the operation failed. It read:

"If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

He folded the note and kept it in his pocket.

As we come to the story of Gideon, this morning, we see a man called to lead the army of Israel into battle against allied enemy forces. Unlike Eisenhower…Gideon was guaranteed success but the victory would not be his. It would be God’s. And, yet, he is filled with fear, doubt, insecurities, anxiety, and excuses.

LAST WEEK, WE WERE INTRODUCED, IN CHAPTER 6, TO GIDEON. ISRAEL HAS, AGAIN, DONE EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD BY TURNING AWAY FROM HIM AND TO SERVING FALSE GODS. SO, GOD HAS TURNED THE PEOPLE OVER TO THE MIDIANITES WHO ARE DESTROYING EVERYTHING AND STARVING THE PEOPLE.

So, God has called this guy named Gideon—a guy who is hiding out of fear and who has every excuse in the book—to lead the people of Israel into battle against Midian and their allies.

Some of you are wrestling with the call of God on your life. God has chosen you and called you to do something in obedience to Him. What step of obedience is God leading you to? You’re running from it.

Examples

Maybe it’s a mission trip.

Serving in youth ministry, children’s ministry, as a Life Group leader

Maybe God is calling you into ministry/into missions.

Maybe He’s calling you across the street. Start a bible study with co-workers or at school.

I don’t know…but you do.

God empowers, confirms, and refines those whom He calls.

Judges 6:33–35 “Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. And he sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.”

1. God empowers the called.

Verse 34, alone, gives us the key to understanding Gideon’s story.

vs. 34—the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon. Now, this is a different way of describing the Spirit’s empowering of other leaders in the book of Judges. It actually goes a little harder. In fact, it communicates the idea of being possessed. Clothed—overcame/overpowered

Dwight L. Moody—the world is yet to see what God can do through a person fully surrendered to Him.

There’s nothing special about Gideon. This is a man who, at this point in his story, would only be characterized by INSECURITY.

You see, what set Gideon apart wasn’t what he thought…his social/familial identity. You’re right, you are the smallest. You are the weakest. You’re not “qualified.” You haven’t been to military training…let’s make this a little more personal…you didn’t grow up in church…you haven’t been to seminary…you aren’t an eloquent speaker…

The only thing that set Gideon apart was the Spirit of God. God accomplishes His purposes and His plans through His power. Without the Spirit of God, Gideon would fail. He would be doing it in his own strength with his own resources.

The same is true for every believer and every church. Our church can have the coolest sound system. The coolest lights. A church can have great coffee, a great band, a smooth, charismatic preacher/teacher, the greatest/latest up-to-date facilities. But, without the Spirit of God it’s just a show.

Our staff—every week praying for the power of the Spirit of God.

Prayer Guides for the Summer—VBS (prayer walk this Wednesday) // much prayer, much power…little prayer…little power.

Do you want to see revival/awakening? The greatest moves of God throughout history weren’t “planned” or strategized. They were the unrestricted/unquenched overtakings of lives and churches by the Holy Spirit.

What about you? Are you clothed by the Spirit? Are you living the overcome and empowered life? Do you want God to use you? Do you want to live the victorious Christian life?

Kristy Atkins needs a husband who is overcome by the Spirit of God. My kids need a dad overcome by the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 5:18—“be filled with the Spirit”

Judges 6:36–40 “Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.”

2. God confirms the called.

“as you have said” (2x)

Gideon isn’t sure he can believe that God always fulfills His word. This is not a sign of faith but of unbelief.

Despite being clothed by the Spirit of God, he is still trying to find any way he can out of this calling.

Again think about all of the excuses Gideon has already made. Now, he’s not doubting himself. He’s doubting God.

THE ROOT OF DISOBEDIENCE IS UNBELIEF.

God has confirmed the calling by the Spirit, he has confirmed it in the overwhelming support and response from the people—mind you, people that wanted to kill him—and, now, even in his doubting God’s faithfulness, God mercifully answers Gideon with this sign.

But here’s the thing…God has called him. God has chosen him. The call of God is inescapable. The best place for you to be is in the center of God’s will.

You may be thinking, “I mean…isn’t all Gideon is trying to do is just get confirmation from God? Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do when discerning God’s will?”

Listen…too many times, we’re trying to get a “yes” from God and don’t realize He’s just wanting a “yes” from us. Getting a “green light” or “confirmation” from the Lord for something He’s commanded us to do isn’t about discerning God’s will it’s about justifying our disobedience. Gideon is looking for any and every way he can get out of this.

Judges 7:1–8 “Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 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.’ 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. And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he 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.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.”

3. God refines the called.

So God says to Gideon, “Hey, there’s a problem.” But, it’s the problem is opposite of what we would expect. Your army’s too big. Can you imagine Gideon’s anxiety at this point? “Wait. What?”

WALK THROUGH…

He takes away the fearful

He takes away the careless

I want you to see what God has done in Gideon’s life—Before God will use Gideon, He has to 1) purge out the idolatry, 2) He takes away Gideon’s excuses; 2) He is taking away what would be a hindrance; 2) He takes away anything in Gideon’s “arsenal” that would give him any reason to take the credit (pride).

When you live a life of surrender to the Lord Jesus, you’re saying, “use me.” Strip away anything in my life that would be a hindrance and that would create pride. This is what God does with His servants. If there are things/activities in your life that are a barrier/hindrance to you serving Him, He will take it away.

As we come to the end of this passage, I want you to see that Gideon is not ultimately the hero of this story.

In fact, Gideon is remarkably weak.

He is fearful. He is hesitant. He doubts God's promises. He repeatedly asks for confirmation. He struggles to trust.

Yet God uses him anyway. And that's exactly why Gideon's story points us to Jesus. You see, Gideon was a deliverer, but he was an imperfect deliverer. Gideon needed the Spirit to empower him because he was weak. Gideon needed signs because he doubted. Gideon needed constant reassurance because he feared.

Jesus is the greater Gideon.

Where Gideon doubted the Father's word, Jesus perfectly trusted the Father's will.

Where Gideon asked for signs, Jesus obeyed without hesitation.

Where Gideon needed to be clothed with power from above, Jesus possessed all authority in heaven and on earth.

Where Gideon led 300 men into battle against Israel's enemies, Jesus stood alone against sin, death, and hell itself.

And unlike Gideon, Jesus didn't just risk His life to save His people—He willingly gave His life to save His people.

Two thousand years ago, the Son of God left the glory of heaven and entered enemy territory. He came into a world enslaved by sin. He lived the life we could never live. He died the death we deserved to die. And on the third day, He rose again in victory over sin, Satan, and death.

At the cross, Jesus took full responsibility for our failure.

Though He was completely innocent, He took our blame. He took our guilt. He took our judgment. He took our punishment.

And when He rose from the grave, He secured a victory we could never achieve for ourselves.

The message of Gideon's story is not, "Be brave like Gideon."

The message is, "Trust the God who saves weak people through a mighty Savior."

Maybe today you feel weak. Maybe you feel unqualified. Maybe you know you've failed. Maybe you've been running from God's call on your life.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to save people exactly like that.

The question is not whether you're strong enough.

The question is whether you will surrender to the One who is.

If you've never trusted Christ, today you can repent of your sin and place your faith in Jesus. Turn from your sin and trust in the One who died for you and rose again.

CONCLUSION

You aren’t the hero of the story, either. You need the work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit just as much as Gideon.

Fear, Pride, Hindrances, Excuses—Identify & Purge

Unbelief—Repent

“I believe, help my unbelief”

Are you surrendered to the Holy Spirit? Living daily under the possession of the Spirit?

Sing “Spirit of the Living God”