Don't Sell Yourself Short - MS Camp 2021

Freedom Exchange Gideon / Middle school Legacy Camp June 2021 Small thing make a big impact.... * Throw a rock in the lake, how much of the lake moves? * Butterfly effect - not really a 'thing', but principle is a good example - small things we do in our life can make a big impact in our future. * What I eat now, can have an impact Reality - doesn't matter how small, the impact someone can make is huge. I count tonight as one of the most important nights of the year for me and for the church because in this room - YOU - have a bright future. The God of the universe that created the earth, the sun, the moon....that created you, knows you, understands you.... We get to share tonight with YOU. It's a privilege... - there are people in here that could leave a legacy.... as a worship leader, a teacher, a pastor.... A legacy starts with small choices that have a big impact later. Tonight I want to share something from the OT that highlights a few things that will help us live in a way that helps us live a legacy - help us to make good decisions now that will bring more God and his promises into our lives. Context - we are going back to a time where the people were not following God's instructions and they were essentially leaderless. They were worshipping other Gods, they were living in an ungodly way and it was a bit of a mess. Things would get so bad for them that they would cry out to God, and God would send them a "Judge" to rule over them, get things back in line but when that judge, or ruler, died... back to the slop they would run. We are going to pick up the historical record at a time when the Israelites were back in the mess - they were again leaderless and Judges 6:6 - Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. Judges 6:11-22 11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." 13 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." 14 The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" 15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." 16 The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive." 17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the Lord said, "I will wait until you return." Just a note, not to entirely spoil the end of the story - but this story ends where There is an incredible account of Gideon winning a battle and he doesn't even raise a sword, and for 40 years the Israelites had peace. That's a refreshingly free season! That's the type of thing we are shooting for in your life. To not only survive the battles of life, but also live free and in the things that god would have for us There are a few things in this text that I want to unpack that will help us do that so lets pray... [PRAY] A legacy requires believing : 1) I am not alone Gideon, a young man who we don't know a lot about before this account takes place is threshing wheat in a winepress, potentially by himself when the angel of the Lord appears and shares this.... When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." The angel of the Lord.... HOW ENCOURAGING WOULD THAT BE! Keep in mind that Gideon and the Israelites have been persecuted and people are terrorizing them and they were crying out for the Lord to rescue them - and the answer to their prayers just showed up with the answer they were looking for.... And his response? 13 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." Really? The angel of the Lord is there, yet Gideon is still stuck believing he's on his own? Believing that his other people who are around him are the problem - Gideon is more focused on and how alone he is. His focus is on his belief that the Lord has abandoned them. Have you felt alone? Even if you have people, friends, family around - when issues come up you can still feel alone.... I have! Challenges creep in, a problem comes up - we start to think, and maybe even say, "Nobody will understand", "I'm in this all by myself", "no one else is going to believe me .... I have to figure this out on my own".... and you know what... That's just not the truth..... Here's the truth It's what the Lord says - The Lord is with you Gideon.... But for some of you, you are still stuck - feeling alone and abandoned - here is the truth... Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Hebrews 13:5-6 "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Matthew 28:20 - And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Here's the truth - when we believe in Jesus, when we t for our sins and draw close to us he NEVER leaves us and NEVER abandons us - we are not alone! Some of you need to hear that tonight - that the Lord is with you - through the challenges, through the mess, through all of the questions. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! If we want live a life as a legacy we need to believe we aren't alone. When we become followers of Jesus, He is with us, just as the lord promised Gideon. Next thing I notice A legacy requires believing 2. My true identity The angel of the Lord also stated that not only is the Lord with Gideon, but also gave him an identity.... he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Mighty warrior. Doesn't call him by his name - doesn't reference the problems he's faced at all in the past. Just give him an identity - gave him a TITLE - and with a title you have a purpose. When God gives you a title - when He calls your name you are THAT - you are not what other people call you, you are not what your family calls you - you are what the LORD SAYS YOU ARE. That's the identity we need to believe. That's powerful when the Lord gives you an identity - a calling - a purpose... it calls us out of our problems and into something higher! 1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." We have an identity beyond our circumstances... the Lord continues with Gideon... calls him Mighty Warrior.... 14 The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" And Gideon's response... 15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." Goes on to share not only about his shortcomings, but also about everyone else - But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian. O Gideon...his focus is on his what he didn't have and struggles...other people His family is the weakest and he is the least in the family. He's arguing with God all of the reasons that he just can't how he views himself and how he views others and how he feels alone. [pause] honest... I've done that! Recall not attending considering a mission trip in Africa because - too busy - not sure I wanted to deal with my fears. Wonder how many times I've said "no" to God because of something I thought about the circumstances, or something I thought about myself. I have cared about the things I was afraid of of doubt more than what God thinks of me, or what my identity is in him 2010 - God prompting our family to serve the homeless. NOPE - we weren't homeless experts, they can be scary - there are other agencies that can help.... For six months ran from the opportunity, but finally ended up spending seven years helping with the homeless in South Bend. The truth is when God gives you an identity, when he calls you, and you understand your purpose, and start to walk in that identity to fulfill that purpose, God will show up - that's the freedom I want to walk in! Gideon's discussion with the Lord continues.... The Angel of the Lord ends his discussion with Gideon with a powerful promise in response to Gideon's view of himself and the challenges before him 16 The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive." Notice he didn't say to Gideon - watch what I will do, he said Gideon - you're going to strike down the Midianites.... This isn't going to be a spectator event for Gideon - it's full contact... which is what following Christ is as well - it's not a spectator sport, we've got to get our hands dirty... too often we find ourselves telling God what we think he should do and he's waiting on us to do the work and trust that he will show up along the way. Six months told God what he should do to help the homeless....it took us actually doing something. Sitting on the sidelines telling God what he should and shouldn't be doing is likely not what He is looking for. We will not move from where we are to freedom - away from brokenness to being unashamed - until we take action. Ephesians 2:10 - 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations John 14:12-14 - 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. So what's Gideon's response to this plan? If I can sum it up... If you are real... I'm going to go get some things as an offering and bring them to you to really see if you are real. His response is "hold on, let's see if this is all real".... It's delay.... It's.... I'm not quite sure yet.... I've done that!!! Homeless stuff for six months. That exact momentum killer move kept me from the depth of relationship with Jesus early in my Christian journey. For too long in my journey I've had doubts, I've not walked in the will of God because I just wasn't sure yet.... Gideon says - wait here....And the Lord's response.....and lets not rush past this.... V18 - And the Lord said, "I will wait until you return." Gideon's the least in his family of the weakest clan - he's at the winepress, threshing wheat in secret - he's broken, he's ashamed, feeling like no one understands and he's all alone. But the Lord is waiting.... The Lord is waiting - All the hope and power in the universe, the answer to every one of Gideon's prayers is waiting for Gideon's yes. The Lord is waiting for Gideon's yes.... DO you want to know how the story ends... (read it yourself...) just some highlights... * Gideon destroys the idols that have been prepared for other Gods * Gideon prepares to defeat the Midianties with 32,000 men but God says... no no Gideon that's too many people And so he prepares 300 men for battle against 135,000 midianites and without raising a sword God orchestrates something crazy and Gideon ends up winning the battle. * 40 years of peace in the land until Gideon dies * Because the Lord waited and Gideon stepped into his identity, stopped looking at his past and his shortcomings and stepped into action Here's the bottom line... A legacy requires believing 3. That God is waiting for my yes The Lord waited for the yes, and the greatest battle of Gideon's life was won and freedom came for 40 years..... And likely the lord has been waiting for some of you for your yes. 1) Yes for Jesus - really 2) Yes for my identity 3) Yes for a friend in Jesus 1