God doesn't need your Help

Gideon Prepares to do battle against the Midianites and the Amalekites

God called Gideon while he was hiding from the Midianites.

Gideon was not very impressive by the worlds standards.

Gideon questioned God’s choice and methods.

Gideon gained strength through repeated tests to encourage and strengthen Gideon’s call. The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon.

33 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. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35 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.

ILLUSTRATION

PBS’ “The Great American Read” is an eight-part series that explores America’s 100 best-loved novels. This episode highlights books that feature heroic characters and explores why we love them. Books such as 1984, Charlotte’s Web, Don Quixote, The Hunger Games, and The Invisible Man are examined. Literary experts, authors and everyday book lovers discuss why our favorite heroes are complex and relatable, from the everyday hero to the tragic and unlikely or anti-hero:

-“A hero is who we all wish we were if we didn’t have our own personal limitations.”

-“I think when we hear heroes or see them or read about them, we think about qualities we wish we had. Courage, strength, fortitude, bravery.”

-“Reading about everyday heroes gives us hope and lets you know that you’re not alone in the good fight.”

-“I think we aspire to everyday heroes because we wish to be them… In moments of great tragedy we see people drawn to firefighters or emergency workers or the people who went beyond their job. They rushed in where angels fear to tread.”

-“The hero lifts us. It redeems what we try to do. The hero provides us an archetype that gives us a direction. ‘Let’s go this way. And we’ll be okay.’”

-“We’d like to believe there’s like a hero gene in all of us.”

Note: Maybe that’s our problem, maybe we each have a hero syndrome inside of all of us, we think God needs us to be the hero of our story and forget who the real hero of the story is.

Example: I fell 20 feet off a ladder this week doing something that I thought I was capable of doing, however, just seconds latter I found myself sprawled out on the floor. Why? I was trying to be the hero at the end of my story.

Who or what is the Hero at the end of your Story?

BIG IDEA: “God doesn’t need our help.”

“He doesn’t need you, he doesn’t need me, he doesn’t need anything this world has to offer.”

God is not a needy God, setting up in heaven twiddling his thumbs worried about whether we are going come in line with his plans so it will all work out.

There is a fundamental difference between the Creature and the creator. We are born in this world totally dependent finite in every way. Our existence is derived by our Mother and Father. If we are to continue living, the God of the universe must sustain us. We are dependent on not only our earthly father but our heavenly Father too. Our nature, our very existence, is contingent in every way.

God’s nature is not at all like our nature. He is incapable of being measured by the same standards as the human experience. Unlike everything else in this world, His existence is not contingent on something or someone else to continue being. He did not depend upon some preexisting matter to create the universe, but he created ex nihilo, out of nothing.

Cultural Context: God wants us to worship Him. He doesn't need us to, for He couldn't be a self-sufficient God and need anything or anybody, but He wants us. When Adam sinned it was not he who cried, "God, where art Thou?" It was God who cried, "Adam, where art thou?

Judges 7:1-8

1.God doesn’t need us to accomplish his Mission.

When do we trust in God and not in the numbers? God chooses to use us to accomplish His work. We don’t choose Him.

GOD DOESN’T NEED AN ARMY TO WIN THE VICTORY

We become aware of how depend we are and how independent God is.

a. Too many men for God’s plan.

b. Purpose of army’s reduction

i. So Israel does not boast in their own strength to save

People will either bring praise to God orthemselves

Revelation 4:11

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

What happens when we set ourselves up as our own alternative God?

How many people give Christianity a try to appease some loyalty to parents, a friend, a pastor, but, if it doesn’t work out the way we think it should we fall back on our default plan, us!

With God there was no plan “B” for our Salvation.

THE GOSPEL DEPENDS ON A GOD WHO DOES NOT DEPEND ON YOU! (we cannot be saved if we think we are good or able enough.)

God does not share His glory with anyone.

But God knew that unless it was patently obvious that he had delivered them the Israelites would take the credit themselves for the victory. And he was not going to share his glory with anyone, so the army had to be reduced.

Deuteronomy 8:17-20

17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

The correct response to God’s sovereign plan is worship.

The Midianites already outnumbered them, and that was without taking into account the enormous military advantages they had in terms of equipment and experience. But God knew that unless it was patently obvious that he had delivered them the Israelites would take the credit themselves for the victory.

NOTE: Look at the way in which God uses the dream he gives to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel. What does this tell us about the way in which God works out his purposes even through unbelievers?

*Think of the way in which God may wean us from depending on things other than himself, particularly strength of numbers or finances.

Proverbs 21:1 says that ‘the king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD: he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases’. Consider the way in which God has used people who are not Christians to bring you to where he wants you to be. Can he use people who are hostile towards God.

Cultural Note: How have we become a happy meal culture? Basically the idea that God exist to make me happy. Moral therapeutic deism. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair; the central idea of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself; God does not need to be particularly involved in your life except when He is needed; good people go to heaven when they die.

2.God doesn’t save us through expected means and strength.

There will often be times when God strips away the things or the people we lean on and brings us into situations in which we become very aware of our weaknesses. This makes us more dependent upon him and provides greater potential to glorify him.

Illustration

My Granddads watch that I acquired. He could have gotten a new watch, but the watch still worked even though the band was broken. My Granddad came from a generation who learned to be satisfied with what they had been given. The underlying story of Gideon, his 300 men wielding trumpets, torches, and clay jars is that God is in the business of using the unexpected means to teach us to learn to be satisfied that He is enough.

WHEN DO WE TRUST GOD AND NOT THE NUMBERS?

Hebrews 11:32-34

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 11:32–34). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Healing in Weakness

N.T. Wright in For All God's Worth. Christianity Today, Vol. 41, no. 12.

We live in a world full of people struggling to be, or at least to appear, strong in order not to be weak; and we follow a gospel which says that when I am weak, then I am strong. And this gospel is the only thing that brings healing

We learn that we are weak when we remember that He is strong.

God does not work simply in spite of our weakness, but because of it.

How does this work practically speaking?

1) This principle is the basis for Salvation itself.

2) This principle explains how repentance works.

3) This principle explains how we almost always grow as Christians.

HERE is the PARADOX of God: He takes away almost everything that they would conceivably think we need to succeed in battle.

He took away their numbers. He took away their weapons

How will they go into battle? Only if they know that they are weak, and yet that God is stronger than the largest army.

God Reveals the army of the Lord

2 Kings 6:16-20

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

We cannot be saved if we think we are good or able enough

Not until we fully understand our human condition—that of total depravity—can we fully appreciate what God did for us through Christ's death and resurrection.

Romans 5:1-11

Justified by faith - we have peace with God - broken Shema restored not because we are good enough or able enough -

Through Him we have gained access - into His grace

We rejoice in our sufferings - knowing it produces endurance - Character - and Hope

Hope does not put us to shame - because of God’s love - poured out through the spirit

God shows His love for us - How? While we were still sinners, enemies of Christ - He died for us.

We Rejoice - Why? Because through Christ we have now been reconciled to God.

The Shema, broken relationship with God has now been restored through Jesus Sacrifice. We cannot come to Christ if we believe we are basically good people who somewhere down the line chose to become sinners.

Judges 7:9-18

3.God goes out of His way to assure His people. (7:9-15)

After reducing the ranks of his army, God sent Gideon to the enemy’s camp and told him to listen to what they were saying. As a result he gained encouragement from the lips of on of the Midianites who was telling his friend about a dream he had: ‘A round loaf of barely bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed’ (v.13).

A barely loaf was associated with people who were poor and oppressed, and the Midianites friend was in no doubt as to the significance of the dream: “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon...God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.

Charles Spurgeon -

“God holds the brain of the sleeping Arab in his hand and impresses it as he pleases.” It had the desired effect; Gideon worshipped the Lord and returned to base ready to face his enemy in God’s strength.

“The whole book of 1 John is written to assure us that we know that we have come to know Him”

1 John 2:3

“ And by this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments.”

Romans 8:16

“The spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

God may ask us to take risks on our way to assurance.

Example:

A good husband loves his wife and reminds her of his love for her particularly in difficult times of life. “I told you that I love you and was committed to you on our wedding day. If you love someone you assure them constantly of that love. This is the same with God and His love and mercy towards us.

God often gives us what we need when we do what He asks.

We like Gideon are in repeated need of assurance.

NOTE: The impression we get is that Gideon is weak. He needed the angel to burn up the offering on the alter, he needed two miraculous fleece episodes, and this Midianite dream and it’s interpretation. But if you think of our spiritual history we see the same thing played out. We often think: I will never forget or doubt God again.

How many resolutions and promises have we made to God that we have not kept. We need God’s constant reassurance and reminders.

HOW DOES GOD REASSURE US OF HIS PRESENCE?

1) He assures us through His direct word in our lives. (we are strengthened when we read His words of encouragement and promise)

2) God assures us through other people. (everyone needs people who are close to them and who will speak words of truth and encouragement into your lives.)

3) God assures us through circumstances of life. (Gideon just happens to be at the right place, at the right time, to hear the conversation about the dream.)

How do we know when we have been reassured by God: When it brings us to heartfelt praise and worship of God.

4. The enemies of God’s people are not as strong they appear.

We Know the Enemy's Plans

Mark Galli, managing editor of Christianity Today; source: Thomas Bailey and David Kennedy, The American Pageant, ninth edition

The Battle of Antietam in 1862 lasted for 12 hours and ranks as the bloodiest day of the Civil War, with 10,000 Confederate casualties and even more on the Union side.

Though militarily a draw, the mediocre Union General George McClellan was able to end the brilliant Robert E. Lee's thrust into Maryland, forcing him to retire across the Potomoc.

How was this possible? Two Union soldiers had found a copy of Lee's battle plans and had delivered them to McClellan before the engagement.

In some respects, we are no match for our adversary, Satan, whose wiles we are told to be wary of.

But as with General McClellan, our enemy's plans have fallen into our hands. We know his usual strategies—to entice us with lies, lust, greed, and the like. With such knowledge, given us by God's Word, and God's Spirit within, we too can resist the enemy's advances.

Zechariah 4:5-7

5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

BATTLE PLAN

He divides the army into three groups

He tells them to only take a clay pot, trumpet, and torch.

First, it does away with the difference in strength.

Second, it does away with the difference in strength.

Third, it takes into consideration the time that the armies are at their weakest. (at the changing of the guard one third of the army would be on their way back to their tents. So when those who heard the noise rushed out of their tents , they would have discovered their camp full of armed men walking toward them. In the dark the truth that it was their fellow soldiers that they were running into in the dark.

Even in our success we should praise God for giving us the means and opportunity.

NOTE: Here is the twist in the whole story.

We first met Gideon sheltering from the Midianites in a wine press. The first reassurance of God’s presence with him took place at a rock, when the angel of the Lord burned up his offering. Now, the kings of the enemies God used Gideon to defeat are killed at a rock and at a winepress.

The enemies of God’s people are truly not as strong as they may appear!

None could return home singing of what they had done, since not a blade was raised in battle.

How are you encouraged when things that oppose your faith and obedience may be stronger than you, but they are not stronger than God?

What do you value above all else?

If we value ourselves above all else we see our difficult situation as beyond hope, bleak, and impossible. If we value God above all else, we see our situation as filled with hope, promise, and victory.

CLOSING:

John Owen on the Inner Life

John Owen, Sin and Temptation (Bethany House, 1996); submitted by Bill White, Paramount, California

However strong a castle may be, if a treacherous party resides inside (ready to betray at the first opportunity possible), the castle cannot be kept safe from the enemy. Traitors occupy our own hearts, ready to side with every temptation and to surrender to them all.

In the Thick of Foes

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Christian History, no. 32.

Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. Jesus was crucified between two thieves, one hurling insults at Jesus, the other begging for mercy and forgiveness.

Just like Gideon, we do not fight alone.

Write this word down...............................

Control

What are you currently trying to Control?

What are you currently trying to Control, your family, job, relationship, current situation. What would have happened if Gideon had taken control of the situations and decided against God’s unorthodox battle plan. What happens when we don’t trust in God’s perfect plan and try to control the narrative of our lives.

WHILE GOD DOES NOT NEED OUR HELP, but the good news is that he still desires to have a relationship with you. He comes looking for us, and pursues us with an everlasting love.