Overcoming Doubt

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Have you ever noticed that some of the most notarized people of faith are the least likely, that God chooses the least for the best?

It is so crazy when we read the historical stories within the pages of the Bible, that God consistently uses the people we would classify as the least likely to succeed.

It goes against everything we imagine doesn’t it. I know many of you play a variety of sports, or are involved in academic clubs. The coaches and mentors for those programs spend a lot of time and energy selecting the best person to fill the lead roles.

I played football my freshman year of high school. It was the first time I played organized football - mainly because my parents didn’t have to figure out the practice schedule.

1st year player - skinny as a rail - yup I was not going to be selected to be the starting quarterback for the freshman team let alone JV or Varsity. As a matter of fact I was not going to play on the starting team - why? I was just learning the game, and I had a long way to go to get stronger.

The coach was not going to put me in any critical role - I would have to earn that by showing up and working hard.

That is how all of us think about building a winning team - regardless of what it is. I would have had a better chance of starting on the debate team because I was a world class arguer - or an opinionated jerk depending on your perspective.

However, God looks at us completely different.

In the book of Judges there is this guy named Gideon. Judges is a book in the Old Testament - the before Jesus was a baby side of the Bible.

The people of God were a mess, and they continually decided to do whatever they thought was best and not what God knew was best.

Over and over again they just decide to live in the way they feel like living - like those who do not know God, and then when their lives fall into troubles - like serious troubles - they start crying our to God to save them.

Because He is an amazing God he continues to step into their lives and save them giving them peace of a time only to watch them fall away form him again.

This is what was happening when we read about Gideon.

Judges 6:1 CSB

The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years,

Do you know what happens when we forget who God is, or when we start to just follow our personal desires or feelings, we forget who we are, and the purpose God has for us.

Judg 6:1

You and I are not exception by the way! You will start to believe you are what the world tells you, and what you think about yourself.

That is what has happened to Gideon, he has no idea who he really is because he does not know whose he is. He does not realize he is part of God’s people, he believes he is a nobody because that is what the world says he is.

When a supernatural event happens to him, he is does not recognize it.

check this out:

Gideon is hiding in a wine press separating the harvested wheat from the stalks. He is afraid the Midanites - an occupying nation - will see him and steal all his food.

He

Judges 6:12 CSB

Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”

Normally, when the Angel of the Lord shows up people are afraid and He tells them not to be afraid.

Gideon is so lost, so far removed from God, he does not even recognize he is in the presence of the Angel of the Lord.

Instead of freaking out, he starts whining to the Angel. He is like, if God is with us why are we struggling? Why don’t we see miracles anymore? God has abandoned us...

The Angel tries to cheer him up - or at least inspire him and says this:

Judges 6:14 CSB

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!”

Judg 6:

Gideon quickly shows that he doubts - He not only doubts himself but he also doubts God. First he admits there is nothing about him - to include his place in the family - that gives him any power or authority to deliver Israel.

The Angel tells him, but I am with you.

This is what happens when we forget who God is, what he does for us, and who he is calling us to be. We are blinded to the supernatural encounters with God.

Doubt Blinds

We are blinded by our insecurities, or circumstances, and our place in the world around us.

Every week I am telling you that God is giving you the strength to speak into the lives of your friend groups.

You are not alone by the way. All of your leaders in this room had to overcome their doubts about being able to lead.

This is not just a student things.

I remember the first time I was compelled to lead a Bible study. I was still a cop and for whatever reason I could not help but feel like I needed to not only be a part of a Bible study but lead one.

I told my wife, there is no way I should lead a bible study, I have never even been a part of a bible study. Seriously, the first Bible study I was a took part in, I had to ask people to join it.

Talk about facing the fear of rejection.

Gideon doubted the legitimacy of the one telling him to lead the people. After the angel would not let him self-disqualify.

That is, come up with a bunch of reasons not to do it or why he wasn’t qualified to do it. He brought food to eat with the Angel - he wanted to express his appreciation for the encouragement and kind words.

When he came back with the food - something crazy happened.

The angel told him to put the food on a rock and then:

Judges 6:21–22 CSB

The angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. When Gideon realized that he was the angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

Judges 6:21–23 CSB

The angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. When Gideon realized that he was the angel of the Lord, he said, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.”

Judges 6:21 CSB

The angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.

Judg 6:21-

Judges 6:

Can you imagine being in his shoes. You totally blow off this guy as a crazy person, but you feel like the least you could do is eat with them before you send them away.

Then all of a sudden you realize you were just sitting with the Angel of God.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you didn’t realize who you were talking to.

I have had so many moments where I have put my foot in my mouth. Imagine walking into school and being approached by someone. They ask you a couple questions and you basically blow them off.

You walk into your first class and realize they are the teacher!

That is kind of what happened to Gideon, only on a much larger scale.

Judges 6:23 CSB

But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.”

He realizes he is in the presence of God and now he is panicking! It is in this moment we see the all to familiar “don’t be afraid moment” when people recognize they are in the presence of God.

It is in this moment Gideon was given Sight, better than sight Gideon was given the Spirit of the Lord

Judges 6:34 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord enveloped Gideon, and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.

What is your biggest obstacle to believe?

What is your biggest obstacle to believe God gave you a purpose?

What do you think you are not ready for yet?

Faith Sees

When we are given a glimpse into what God is asking us to do, faith allows us to know He is with us and we can accomplish the task by His strength.

Judges 6:34 CSB

The Spirit of the Lord enveloped Gideon, and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.

Gideon was not alone he was covered in the Spirit of the Lord.

Everyone has faith, faith in something. Some place their faith in humanity, governments, themselves, or in a religion. Not all faith is equal - it does mater what you have faith in.

Everyone has faith, but not everyone’s faith has power, has life, has truth!

God showed up, and revealed himself to Gideon. The faith he was given allowed him to take the next step.

Some of you are in the beginning stages of that step. You finally realize there is more to Jesus than what you thought or where told by your nonbelieving friends or family.

Like we said last week, you cannot go back to the way it was. The blinders have come off, you still have blurry vision, but you cannot go back to unbelief.

This is where Gideon found himself. The Lord told him what to do next, and he did it. He tore down the altars to other God’s and sacrificed from his father’s animals to God.

But he did it at night, trying not to make it obvious, trying to avoid confrontation.

That didn’t work - we cannot hide who we are in Christ or what we believe for long. Eventually the things we put our faith in and our trust in are made known - they show up.

Some of you are just starting to learn how to trust the God you have placed your faith in. You are starting to move...

Do you remember when you started to believe what you have been taught about Jesus is actually true? What happened (overtime or immediately)

What have you seen God do around you or in you?

Trust Moves

Once we realize our Faith in Jesus saves us from Death - that what He did on the cross Saves us we move the way he asks us to move.

We will even do things out of faith that others will think is foolish.

God told Gideon that he was going to command the army that would defeat the people oppressing the Israelites, the ones who were making life impossible for them.

The people finally realized - again - they need God everyday and they were crying out in prayer that he would save them.

Gideon was the chosen one of God to drive out the Midianites. Gideon was able to gather up an army of approximately 32,000 men.

The more the better right? Well, not the way God saw it.

Judges 7:2 CSB

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘My own strength saved me.’

Gideon had

Through the Lord’s instruction Gideon sent away all but 300.

There is not a military commander on the planet that would agree this was a good idea. Imagine showing up to your next basketball, hockey, volley ball, soccer, or whatever game with only two players, and the other team has a completely filled roster.

Gideon was not taking three hundred men to battle 500, 1000, or even 10,000.

Judges 7:

Judges 7:12 CSB

Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.

The 300 men that Gideon brought with came to the camp of this huge army and lit torches, shouted

A Sword for the LORD and a sword for Gideon!

and broke some pots and blew the trumpets.

Wait…Actually? Yes, that is exactly what they were told to do and they did it.

God sent the army into a tizzy and they started attacking each other and running for their lives.

Once they started to flee the Israelite army’s pursued and Gideon and the 300 chosen warriors went after the kings.

Why is this story in the Bible?

There are a bunch of reasons but one is for you to know the strength of the Lord your God.

Do not doubt the ability God has given you to glorify His name - the name of Jesus.

Stop doubting that God is asking you to share Jesus with your friends.

Stop doubting they will reject you and you will be left alone.

Stop doubting you do not have the answers to help people.

There is only one answer - his name is Jesus. You - those of you who have said yes to Jesus - can impact the lives of others.

Your impact - yes you - goes beyond helping them to live a decent life now - your impact in the name of Jesus is for their eternity.

Stop telling yourself your not worthy, your broken, your too weak, scared, or messed up. Knock it off. The God of the universe is asking you to proclaim the good news of Jesus!

So act already! If you have been - don’t stop now the stakes are too high!

you are loved, redeemed, and given a purpose!

What do you think God is equipping you for?

What can you do tomorrow that shows you believe God has got this?

What will it take for you to believe