When Will We Learn to Trust Judges 7

When Will We Learn to Trust  Judges 7:1-23

EBC   1/18/09

  Read James 4:13-17, in these verses we are cautioned against make plans and leaving God out of them. We can make all the plans that we want to make but keep in mind that God has the final say in all our plans.

  We love making our own plans and for the most part would like it if God would cooperate in those plans. Have you ever thought  Jesus might have a better plan.

  When Gideon and his army went into battle they probably had some type of plan. But, before victory was secured they found out that God had the best plan.

  Have you considered God’s plan for your life? Have you discussed this plan with Him?

  Let’s take a few minutes and see God’s plan for Gideon and what a good one it was.

I. The Realities of God’s Plan

  A. God’s plan is different (2-7)

    1. Gideon planned to march into battle with 32,000 men (we had saying in PD – get there first with the most)

    2. How many here have life figured out.

      a. David just wanted to be a Shepherd- God had another plan

      b. Job was a wealthy man who wanted to spend his time with his family and worship his God- God had another plan

      c. Mary and Joseph just wanted to get married and settle down- God had another plan

      d. Saul wanted to destroy Christianity- God had another plan.

    B. God’s plan is declared (9-14)

      1. God’s plan is never wishy-washy. It is always given in a way that we can surely understand it. We can know that god isn’t in confusion-

      2. How can God give His plan?

        a. Thru His word

        b. Thru His spirit

        c. Thru other believers

        d. Thru life’s circumstances

  C. God’s plan is distinct (15-23)

     1. God explained what they were to do and in doing this they would get the victory. Do you do it God’s way or veer off on your own way.

II. The Requirements of God’s Plan

  A. It requires surrender

    1. What Gideon learned in this battle was life was not about him- life was all about God and his will for Gideon’s life.

     a. Gideon had gone from being known as a great leader to being called a dog biscuit.

     b. Gideon had come to a place where he was willing to lay aside his plans and dreams and will in order to follow the leading of the Lord. Who has the answers to questions in your life- you or God.

       1. Jer. 29:11-

  B. It requires submission

    1. Not only does the success in battle require surrender to the plan it also requires submission to the requirements of the plan.

    2. Gideon watched as over 30,000 of his most trusted men went home with their weapons and their potential. 

    3. Gideon and the 300 that remained had to fight in complete obedience to the Lord

  C. It requires steadfastness

    1. If Gideon was to see victory they would have to humble themselves, surrender to his plan, obey his will and proceed in faith.

    2. It took great faith for 300 to go against 1000’s and to take no weapons. Sometimes God asks us to do the unreasonable in an unimagined way.

     a. God along the way will ask you to take some steps that are very difficult- he will ask you to go into uncharted waters. He might ask you to launch out into the deep (Luke 5:44).

III. The Results of God’s Plan

A. God’s enemies are destroyed (21-22)

   1. The enemy turned on one another and destroyed each other.

   2. As God has a plan for your life, Satan also has a plan for your life.  He wants you to be destroyed, unhappy and miserable. A miserable Christian is a very poor witness for Jesus Christ.

    a. Satan thrives on Christians who are down trodden and dejected.

  B. God’s people are delighted (23)

    1. Israel enjoyed a great victory because they chose to accept God’s plan.

     a. Rom. 8:37- “we are more than conquerors thru him”

     b. 1 Cor. 15:57-58-

   2. Gideon knew he saw walking to God’s plan and hard as it may be that’s where he would stay and that’s how he would lead the nation.

  C. God’s name is desired (15-23)

    1. Because he victory was won without a great Army and a great battle God got all the glory. Gideon and his men couldn’t go home and say look what we did – they had to go home and say- guess what the Lord did? That ought to be our goal- to be able to say look what the Lord did?

      2. Our lives ought to be lights that point to the Father- does your do that?