sf801 - VICTORIOUS FAITH 13 OF 15 DEVELOPING A FAITH THAT LASTS (Hebrews 11 32-34)
Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 7
Introduction
The life and times of Gideon…
Gideon lived in a challenging day.
Ø The Israelites were being oppressed by the Midianites.
Ø God’s people had cried out for deliverance.
Gideon faced a major change.
Ø Gideon was an ordinary man, a farmer.
Judges 6:15 NIV 15“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Ø Gideon was chosen by God to bring deliverance to God's people.
Judges 6:16 NIV 6The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
Ø Greatest five words we can ever hear, “I will be with you.”
The life and times of you and I…
We live in challenging days.
Ø We face a real enemy today; we are called to a battlefield.
Ø Have you come to the place that you have called out to God for help in your situation?
We all face change.
Ø The longer I live the more certain I am that nothing ever remains the same. The longer I live the less I want to change.
Ø God calls us to make a difference in our world.
Ø The question is will we follow God and experience the victory that our faith can bring.
Four Keys to a Victorious Faith…
1A. We must Conquer Our Fears (Judges 7:1-3)
1B. Three types of fears we face…
Fear of the Father
Ø Sin makes us afraid of God. (Adam)
1 John 4:18 NCV 18Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear…
Fear of failure
Fear of the future
Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV 4Whoever watches the wind will not plant….
2B. The danger our fears present…
Fear will keep us from trusting the Lord.
Ø The grasshopper complex
Numbers 13:33 NIV. 33We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
Fear will keep us from enjoying the blessings of the Lord.
Ø The scarecrow principle - whenever you see a scarecrow that means there is something good. Satan puts up his scarecrows to scare us away from God's blessings.
Our fear may cause others to falter.
Deuteronomy 20:8 NIV 8 … “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.”
3B. The cure for our fear is Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Judges 6:10 NKJV 10Also I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; do not fear …”
Ø 365 times in the Bible God says "fear not"
2A. We Must Die to Self (Judges 7:4-8)
1B. We must have a convinced mind.
Ø Only 300 brought the water to their mouths they meant business they drank and watched.
Ø They were convinced that there was a battle to be fought and won.
Ø Are you convinced that serving Jesus is worth your best?
2B. We must have a clean heart.
Psalms 24:3-4 NIV 3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
Ø These 300 held on to nothing in their past they had given themselves completely to the cause.
Ø Have you broken ties with your old way of life?
3B. We must have a committed life.
The others were interested not in the battle but in having their own needs met.
Ø These were putting their needs first.
Ø God knows you have needs. However, your needs cannot come first.
The 300 understood that God had called them to be soldiers.
Ø God has called us to be soldiers…
2 Timothy 2:3 NIV 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Ø If you are not committed to put Jesus Christ and the battle first you will be defeated God cannot use you.
3A. We Must Obey His Command (Judges 7:9-22)
1B. We must be attentive to God’s voice. (9-14)
Gideon had to move to a place where God could speak to Him. (9-10)
Gideon had to listen to hear what God wanted to say to him. (11-14)
Ø An unlikely messenger (11-12)
Ø An unlikely message (13-14)
Barley bread was the poorest, cheapest of all bread. It was lowly. This pictured Gideon. Gideon had told God I am the bottom of the barrel.
It is not your ability it is your availability.
God delights in using the ordinary to accomplish the extra-ordinary.
God desires to speak to us today through His Word.
Do not insult God by telling Him he cannot use you.
The kingdom of darkness is afraid that we are going to awaken to the power and authority that God has given us.
2B. We must trust God’s Word (15-18)
Gideon and his army did not discuss whether or not to follow God’s plan.
Ø Gideon had 300 they did not question God they believed God.
Victory comes when we believe God.
Ø Just because it does not make sense to us does not mean it does not make sense.
Ø If you want God to be real to you get the Bible and obey it.
John 14:15 NIV 15“If you love me, you will obey what I command.
4A. We Must Proclaim His Truth (18-22)
Why did God tell them to do it this way? Because of what it symbolized…
1B. A sure testimony (19)
The trumpets is a picture of what we say
1 Corinthians 14:8 NIV 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
The light is a picture of what we do!
2B. A sacrificial testimony (20)
The light would not shine until the pitchers were broken.
The pitcher represents our lives
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Ø The light of the world is Jesus he lives in me but you will never see this light until this vessel is broken.
Ø We must be broken before Christ will be seen.
3B. Steadfast testimony (21)
They stood regardless of what the enemy would do.
Application
Some of you are thinking about quitting…
Your job, school, your marriage, your ministry, your church
You will never be victorious if you quit.
Some of you are afraid…
1 John 4:18 NCV 18Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear…
Some of you are worried about having your needs met.
Matthew 6:31-33 NIV 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Some of you are resisting God’s Word because it involves a change in your life..
Mark 1:17 NIV 17“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
The real question is, are you willing to be broken so God can shine through you to a sin darkened world?
That is victory!
VICTORIOUS FAITH
Developing a Faith That Lasts 13 of 15
December 6, 1998 - Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 7
1A. We must Conquer Our __________ (Judges 7:1-3)
1B. Three types of __________ we face…
Fear of the ___________________
1 John 4:18 NCV 18Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear…
Fear of __________
Fear of the ___________________
2B. The danger our _____________ present…
Fear will keep us from ________________ the Lord.
Numbers 13:33 NIV. 33We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
Fear will keep us from enjoying the ____________ of the Lord.
Our fear may cause others to ________________.
Deuteronomy 20:8 NIV 8 … “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.”
3B. The cure for our ______________ is Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Judges 6:10 NKJV 10Also I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; do not fear …”
2A. We Must Die to ________________ (Judges 7:4-8)
1B. We must have a _________________ mind.
2B. We must have a _________________ heart.
Psalms 24:3-4 NIV 3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
3B. We must have a __________________ life.
2 Timothy 2:3 NIV 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
3A. We Must Obey His _____________ (Judges 7:9-22)
1B. We must be attentive to God’s ________. (9-14)
Gideon had to ________ to a place where God could speak to Him. (9-10)
Gideon had to ___________ to hear what God wanted to say to him. (11-14)
God desires to ______ to us today through His Word.
2B. We must __________ God’s Word (15-18)
John 14:15 NIV 15“If you love me, you will obey what I command.
4A. We Must Proclaim His ______________ (18-22)
1B. A _____________ testimony (1 Corinthians 14:8)
2B. A ___________________ testimony
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
3B. ____________________ testimony (21)