Gideon, Hero of Faith

The Making of a Hero; nv 7/29/07 am (Gideon – Judges 6-8)

OS: 1 VBS – Heroes of Faith –

·        Hero: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

·        TV – Hero vs. Villain

·        We all have moments or occasions when we are called to be heroic. (Marriage / Family / workplace / health / Problems (we get in a pit that takes heroic actions to climb out.)

·        Hero today journeys from the pit – begins with the discovery that God was much closer than he thought.

·        2 Gideon journeyed from questioning the presence of God to being the hero who saved the day.

US: Intro / 3 4 6:11-16 / sign / 5 6:22-24 The making of a hero…Gideon…

I.      6 Discovers His Presence (reality of God in YOUR life)

A.   Before life will be worth fighting for we must come to terms with the existence of God.

B.    Gideon had heard, but he had not seen. He discovered…

                 1.     Questioned God’s existence.

                 2.     :“The sight of God is not death, but life and peace.”

C.   When we have God we become more than just ordinary.

TS] : “The peace of God is the best preparation for strife.” – the army, signs, / 7 7:15 US: The making of a hero…Gideon…

II.   8 Demonstrates his Faith. (Takes action to step out)

A.   Process of thought

                 1.     First you discover – then act.

                 2.     Gideon’s example – (what about the signs?)

B.    The nature of faith is simple yet perplexing.

                 1.     Faith is mental agreement – “I believe”

                 2.     Faith is physical action – “I act upon belief”

                 3.     That is why Jesus called it a “work” :John 6:29, Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

                 4.     That is why we find the discussion in James - : James 2:17, In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

C.   Question: (Doctrine / Life)

                 1.     REALLY believe? / life? / church? (notice / not believe about what you can do / or we are capable of)

                 2.     Answers are revealed by actions

TS] “The peace of God is the best preparation for strife.” – Gideon acts on his faith / victory / 9 8:22-23

US: The making of a hero…Gideon…

III.            10 Defers the Glory. (Never loose connection with God)

A.   The glory of God must be the goal! (mission statement)

                 1.     Jesus in :John 17:4, I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

                 2.     We want a thousand worshiping in this place on Sunday – why? Glory to God!

IV.             11 Questions / Applications?

A.   Are we in the wine press quietly threshing the wheat?

                 1.     Are we quiet about God and all He has done as if we fear loosing what we have if we share it?

                 2.     Or we have forgotten that God delights in doing extra ordinary things with ordinary people like us?

B.    God is so much closer than you think.