WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.799 Now, I've had a great new idea for church. 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:12.160 I've not run this past eric yet, but I thought what we could do is have maybe a new way of 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:18.920 selecting people who come to church instead of just letting anyone in. 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:24.679 I think we should start letting people in who we say, who can benefit the church, who 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:30.439 say successful, people that we look at in the world and we think, yeah, they've made 00:00:30.439 --> 00:00:31.439 it. 00:00:31.439 --> 00:00:34.679 You think we could start off people with money, that would be good. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:36.679 They'd boost the church's finances. 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:40.960 Or people with loads of charisma, they'll draw a crowd. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:44.200 It's a great idea, powerful people. 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:45.519 It's a great vision. 00:00:45.519 --> 00:00:49.359 And what we could do is to make things more efficient. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:51.840 It'd be a great idea. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:56.560 What we'll do is, as people come to the door, instead of just welcoming everybody, we'll 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:58.560 just ask for CVs. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:03.359 When people come to the door, we'll say, can you just pass your CV to me? 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.640 I'll pass it on to Derek. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:05.640 And then we'll have a read. 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:11.560 We'll see if we could, should let you in, see if you get our stamp of approval. 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:17.280 I hope you realize now that if I'm being serious about this, then I should be stepped down 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:18.280 from the pulchipit. 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:20.359 Because it's a ridiculous idea. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:22.560 It's ridiculous, isn't it? 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.599 But that is the way the world works. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:29.120 That is the way the world works, everywhere. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:34.359 It is the idea of justification, to have the mark of approval. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:39.239 Justification, we think that it's a sort of a fancy Bible-sandish word. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:42.480 But it's not a foreign concept. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:43.799 Justification is everywhere. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:50.120 You think when you apply for a job, the application form normally has two categories, 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.840 potential and desirable criteria. 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:58.000 And at an interview, you give the employer the reasons as to why you're the right person, 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:03.120 whether you have the right standing before the employer. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:05.320 But it stretches further than that, doesn't it? 00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:08.360 You think joining a social group. 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:10.040 Do you dress right? 00:02:10.040 --> 00:02:11.040 Do you look right? 00:02:11.040 --> 00:02:14.960 Do we have the right, the same values for your children? 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:19.080 Are you with the right socioeconomic background? 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:22.240 It's not justification by faith. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:25.360 It's justification by what car you drive. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:29.160 It's justification by the area you live. 00:02:29.160 --> 00:02:34.400 It's justification by how much money you earn. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:39.280 And people look, including us, we're not on mute from this and we make assessments. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:42.600 Do they match up to my approval standing? 00:02:42.600 --> 00:02:44.920 Have they got a right standing before me? 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:50.319 Do I justify them in my side? 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.919 That is the world we live in. 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:56.439 That is the world we live in. 00:02:56.439 --> 00:03:02.319 Humanly speaking, we saw this last week, Gideon doesn't have the right CV. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:07.759 He doesn't have the right approval rating and he knows it. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.079 He knows it. 00:03:10.079 --> 00:03:14.879 We saw that last week, but what he does have, he doesn't have the things that the world 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:18.519 would look desirable in the world. 00:03:18.519 --> 00:03:22.560 But he does have the favor and peace with God. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:23.639 He's accepting. 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:28.799 He has a right standing, not with the world, but before the Lord. 00:03:28.799 --> 00:03:33.759 Although it might be pointing forward, Jesus came a long time after Gideon was alive. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:38.519 Ultimately, we know that Jesus finished work on the cross is for Gideon as well. 00:03:38.519 --> 00:03:43.079 He is justified, means that he has peace with God. 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:47.000 He's accepted. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:54.520 But despite all that, despite all of that, there's a question that nags him. 00:03:54.520 --> 00:04:01.400 He knows that he's accepted, but even in the knowledge of being accepted by God, he still 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:08.040 thinks in the heat, will he come through for me? 00:04:08.040 --> 00:04:09.520 Will he come through for me? 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:13.719 When the chips are down, will God come through for me? 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:15.800 I'm scared. 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:17.600 Will he come through for me? 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.639 That is a question we ask. 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:23.079 That is the way that we often think, I'm accepted by God. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:25.439 I know he's my father. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:30.720 I know that I believe, I know that I'm justified by faith, but will he come through for me 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:31.720 today? 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:40.560 And what we see in Gideon's life is we see these two big tests that sort of seem to help 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:44.960 us answer that question. 00:04:44.960 --> 00:04:50.440 And we see these two tests, and the real question as we look at these two tests is, who's really 00:04:50.440 --> 00:04:52.440 testing who? 00:04:52.440 --> 00:04:55.000 Who's really testing who? 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:57.560 And we're going to be looking at that in three points. 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:02.160 So we're going to look at Gideon tests the Lord, the Lord tests Gideon, and then the 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:03.920 Lord has the victory. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:09.000 Gideon tests the Lord, the Lord tests Gideon, and then the Lord has the victory. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.079 Quick reminder of where we are in the book of Judges. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:16.160 You might remember from last week, the book of Judges is sort of structured in these repeated 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:23.519 cycles where, number one, the people of Israel have not listened to the Lord's word, they've 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:28.199 disobeyed him, that's the first step, the second step is because they've disobeyed him, 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:33.719 the Lord sends a foreign conquering power to conquer the Israelites. 00:05:33.719 --> 00:05:37.479 Because they're being conquered and oppressed, they then call out to the Lord, they cry out 00:05:37.479 --> 00:05:43.519 to him, and then, fourthly, the Lord then sends a deliverer in response to their cries. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:51.319 There is a fifth step that I missed out last week is that normally then the deliverer defeats 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:53.639 the conquering army and they have a big period of rest. 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:58.040 But we're in the middle of one of those cycles and Gideon is one of those, as one of the 00:05:58.040 --> 00:06:01.560 judges is one of the deliverers that the Lord uses. 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:09.759 And so, last week we looked at Gideon's call, but in where he reads the Israel of spiritual 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:16.120 idolatry within his family, but in verse 33, there's almost a return to the presenting 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:20.039 issue that we start with at the beginning of chapter six. 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:23.360 It's the oppression from the Midianite people. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:28.240 Like I said, the real problem of spiritual idolatry within God's people has been dealt 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:34.640 with, they were worshiping Baal and Gideon came and rid them of that, but the Midianite 00:06:34.640 --> 00:06:38.200 oppression is still there. 00:06:38.200 --> 00:06:43.720 It's striking in the early verses how much things have changed for Gideon. 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:49.000 He's clothed with the spirit of the Lord we read in verse 34, and the family clan, the 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:52.199 bees' rights, they're now following him. 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:57.240 You remember they were just calling for his death, but now they follow him. 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:59.120 He's leading them. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:04.519 So that's where we're kind of, that's the story so far, that's where we're up to, which 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:07.279 makes what happens next come as a bit of a surprise. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:13.959 I must say, I think it does catch us by surprise as we look at our first point, Gideon tests 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:14.959 the Lord. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:21.519 In a theme that runs throughout Gideon's life, he struggles with doubt and his faith 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:22.799 wavers. 00:07:22.799 --> 00:07:26.279 He hesitates, he wants reassurance. 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:29.079 That's just like we saw last week when he questions his calling. 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:34.919 And we see it again in this famous episode with the fleece, and Gideon in a sense is 00:07:34.919 --> 00:07:37.719 seemingly testing God. 00:07:37.719 --> 00:07:41.679 Verse 36, Gideon speaks with God. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:49.079 If you look with me, he says, if you will save Israel by my hand as you have said, then 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:52.439 basically do the following, do this test. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:57.439 If you'll save Israel by my hand, as you've said, then basically do the following. 00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:04.360 And notice by testing God, Gideon's not trying to determine God's will. 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:08.240 God's will is clear in his mind, save Israel as you've said. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:13.000 He's not forgotten what the Lord said, what he promised back in verse 16, when he was 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:14.519 called in the previous chapter. 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:15.519 Just look with me. 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:21.400 The previous chapter, if you've got your Bibles, and the Lord said to him, I will be with you, 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:24.240 you shall strike the Midianites as one man. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:27.439 So he's not forgotten the promise. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:29.120 He's not determining God's will. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:35.360 He knows God's promise, but his faith in the promise is wavering. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:38.200 And he wants a sign. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.800 That will bolster his faith, that will strengthen him. 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:47.600 And so he says to God, I'm laying the flesh, I'm laying the fleece of wool on the threshing 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:48.600 floor. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:52.240 If there is dew on the fleece and the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.200 Israel by my hand. 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:58.280 In verse 38, we read, and it was so. 00:08:58.280 --> 00:09:00.920 That's not quite good enough for Gideon. 00:09:00.920 --> 00:09:06.680 And so we see the whole saga repeated, but in reverse, Gideon, as you read the sort of 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:11.399 second episode of this test, Gideon, he kind of knows that he's pushing his luck just a 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:12.399 little bit. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:17.479 You look at verse 39, he says, let not your anger burn against me. 00:09:17.479 --> 00:09:20.879 He kind of thinks, should I really try this one on? 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:22.599 Let not your anger burn against me. 00:09:22.599 --> 00:09:24.279 Let me speak just once more. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:27.399 Please let me test you, just once more with the fleece. 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:32.079 Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:40.160 It's reversed, and God does as Gideon asks. 00:09:40.160 --> 00:09:47.240 Just pause for a minute here, and I just want us to remind ourselves that Gideon's experience 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:52.360 with the Lord, with Yahweh, it is pretty limited. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.639 He hasn't had that much time to mature in his faith. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:59.440 I mean, like I said earlier, it wasn't that long ago he was bowing to Baal led by his 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.440 dad. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:06.880 And at this point, when we read in the Gideon story, a lot of people can be a little bit 00:10:06.880 --> 00:10:07.880 down on Gideon. 00:10:07.880 --> 00:10:10.320 What's wrong with him? 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:14.800 Why is he trying to manipulate God? 00:10:14.800 --> 00:10:18.240 After all that the Lord has done for him in the past. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:22.000 Why is he trying to test the Lord like that? 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.920 Maybe that might be a genuine question you're asking. 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:29.400 But there is another angle. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:34.600 I think it is, I think it's a better one than having a pop at Gideon. 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:39.079 Look at the kindness of the Lord. 00:10:39.079 --> 00:10:42.039 Look at the kindness of the Lord. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:49.079 He doesn't mind humbling himself to bolster Gideon's faith. 00:10:49.079 --> 00:10:53.759 He doesn't condemn Gideon or say that he's spoken out of turn. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:55.799 He's not harsh with him. 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:57.919 He humbles himself. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:03.839 You could almost say that he allows himself to be manipulated in a way. 00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:05.120 Strengthen Gideon's faith. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:12.759 He's more important to him than saving faith. 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:20.159 And don't we waver in our faith from time to time? 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:22.559 The Lord has done amazing things. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:23.559 He's rescued us. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:26.120 He's redeemed us. 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:31.840 We'll have our own, each of us will have our own personal testimonies across our life where 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:37.279 we'll remember moments where the Lord's done amazing things in my life, in your life, things 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:42.159 that we get so excited about and love to recall. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:48.960 And yet we still need reassurance that He loves us. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.440 That where is children? 00:11:51.440 --> 00:12:00.760 The living God is not ashamed to stoop down and reassure us in our lack of faith, in our 00:12:00.760 --> 00:12:02.000 wavering. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.920 If anything, it's totally the opposite. 00:12:03.920 --> 00:12:05.120 He wants to do that. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:13.680 He knows that our faith is fragile, flimsy, and we're often forgetful. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:19.720 My little lad Angus, he's three years old and just the other night about three in the 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:22.800 morning, he actually happened last night as well. 00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:28.680 But he had a nightmare and he came running out of his bedroom screaming, Daddy, Daddy, 00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:33.560 Daddy, tears coming down his eyes, help me. 00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:35.440 You know what I didn't do? 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:39.080 I didn't go out and yell at him, get back to bed. 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.200 Can't you tell it's the middle of the night? 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.960 I'm trying to sleep. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:47.000 No, I picked him up in my arms. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:48.399 I hugged him. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.519 I said, Angus, I love you. 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:52.799 You're safe now. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:57.559 I'm here with you. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:13:07.039 The Lord God stoops down to reassure us when we're afraid and when our faith wavers. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:11.559 Know the Father's loving embrace towards you. 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:17.840 You know His arms, they're always open wide. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:22.440 You can come to Him for guidance, for assurance, to know His Fatherly care. 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.519 That's all He's doing for Gideon. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:25.080 He's just like a little child. 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.360 I'm scared. 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:32.960 Can you show me you'll be there, Lord? 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:38.519 He comes to us, speaks to us in a way that we can understand. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:41.440 That's what we have in the Scriptures, isn't it? 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:47.800 It's a living word which the Holy Spirit infuses to our understanding, warms us, encourages 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:53.519 us, makes us tangibly aware that He's with us. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:55.120 And then He sends His own Son. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:14:01.039 His Son stoops down to our level, shows us what God is like, His character, His compassion, 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:06.639 His heart towards the needy, towards the Gideons. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:09.479 You feel needy? 00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:13.000 Stay that way. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:17.439 Stay needy for the Lord. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:25.760 And so it looks like Gideon's testing God, but really the test is kind of on Gideon. 00:14:25.760 --> 00:14:30.920 When he feels faithless, where will he go? 00:14:30.920 --> 00:14:35.800 Gideon chooses his Lord, and so should we. 00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:41.360 But if you thought the testing was done, it comes again as we look at our second point, 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.160 the Lord tests. 00:14:43.160 --> 00:14:45.000 Gideon. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:50.679 And so, bolstered by the Lord, Gideon prepares to attack the Midian Isles. 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:53.679 There's an interesting detail in the text. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:56.399 You might see the place Harrod where they camp. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:01.600 It literally means the spring of trembling, and that's exactly what we're going to see. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:04.679 They tremble at the spring of trembling. 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:10.279 After assuring Gideon, another test comes. 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:14.799 This time the test is not to reassure Him, but to weaken Him. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:21.839 The Lord purposefully weakens Gideon to demonstrate His own power. 00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:24.399 Just look with me in verse 2 of chapter 7. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:30.399 He tells Gideon, the people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.399 hand. 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:36.839 The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. 00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:43.919 Lest Israel boast over me saying, my own hand has saved me. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.479 The Lord is rightly concerned for His own glory. 00:15:48.479 --> 00:15:55.839 And He knows that if Israel were left to themselves to win the battle, if they were left as they 00:15:55.839 --> 00:16:01.360 were with the men that they have, they would attribute the success to themselves. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:05.679 They would praise themselves, be proud of their achievements, ascribing it to their 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.839 own strength. 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:14.080 And so what we see is this, it is a pretty brutal call of Gideon's army. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:18.800 What we see is it comes in two rounds, and so we've got round one and round two. 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:25.080 I don't know if you saw the boxing last night, I think it went to round 11, but we've just 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:27.160 got two rounds here. 00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:31.600 And so round one, the Lord speaks to Gideon. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:39.080 Verse verse three, he says, whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hear 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:41.720 it away from Mount Gilead. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:46.279 Then 22,000 of the people returned and 10,000 remain. 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:52.240 So we know that the army started 32,000 in total if we had those two together. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.480 It's a decent size, 32,000 people. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:58.160 It sounds like a pretty big army to me. 00:16:58.160 --> 00:17:00.240 But 22,000 leave. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.320 That's two thirds of the army. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:06.880 Straight up, round one, 22,000 are on their way home. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:12.480 Now you think of Gideon here, I think his knees started to tremble a wee bit. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:19.920 I think as he saw 10,000 left, that means 10,000, it's not nothing, but that's 22,000 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.920 walking away. 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:23.440 I think his knees started to tremble. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:27.759 But then we get round two, verse four. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.440 The people are still too many. 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:34.200 Take them down to the water and I'll test them for you there. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:38.119 And anyone of whom I say to you, this one shall go with you, shall go with you. 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:43.559 And anyone who ever might say to you, this one shall not go with you, shall not go. 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:48.440 The way it's worded, it is actually slightly confusing as to who stays and who goes. 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:51.400 And there's different opinions on this. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:57.440 But for my money, it's those who lap the water stay and those who kneel go home. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:01.720 You see that the word for lapping, which is used for lapping, it's used about those who 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:03.519 stay in verse five. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.559 It says everyone who laps with his tongue as a dog lap should be set by himself. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.960 That seems to be a group. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:13.559 And then verse six, it says, the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.759 mouths was 300 men. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:20.600 It looks like two different descriptions, but the word for lap is used for twice. 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:24.240 So actually these two are the same groups in verse five and six. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:33.000 And then comes the shocker, which is verse seven, with the 300 men who lapped, I will 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.400 save you, with the 300 men. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:43.599 So started off 32,000 men, then goes to 10,000 men, and then goes to 300. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:47.960 That's quite a sizable reduction by anyone's standards. 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:54.840 And we're at Harrod, the spring of trembling, and I think Gideon's definitely trembling now. 00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:57.279 His knees have gone. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.880 He's quaking in his boots. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:03.200 I just, I don't know if you can picture it, but in my head I've got a picture of, you 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.160 know, Gideon's face. 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:13.720 You can imagine the color draining out of it as he watches 31,700 men walk away. 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:17.400 And he's left with 300. 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:23.640 We read they leave their kit and their provisions, but what's going through his mind? 00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:28.720 What's going through his mind? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:36.720 If we read on later, we know that God has an inkling that he's afraid. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.880 God has an inclination that he's afraid. 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:43.640 So here's a guess. 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:51.040 He's thinking, how on earth am I going to defeat the Midianites? 00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:57.480 Who, I might add, have been joined by more men, the Amalekites and all the people from 00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:03.240 the East, and we read verse 12, lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:08.960 their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:11.520 Their camels were as many as the sand. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:14.799 That's a lot of camels. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:19.319 That many camels is, I mean, I won't fancy my chances against that many camels. 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:21.639 Never mind the people riding them. 00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:25.039 What is going on? 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.039 How? 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.039 Why? 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.759 How am I going to defeat the army with this many people? 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:33.960 You've got to be joking. 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:35.240 What is going on, Lord? 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:41.200 What are you doing? 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:45.840 Before being in that place, you've been in the same place as Gideon. 00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:50.000 What is going on? 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.480 How am I going to get through this? 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:57.519 Does it have to be this way? 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.720 You felt like that? 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:04.360 During the pandemic, we had it. 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:09.080 I just want to see my family. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:11.240 Why, Lord? 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:13.359 How can I face this? 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:15.079 How are we going to get through this? 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:16.159 It's impossible. 00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:26.159 We know the promises of God, but we lack faith. 00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:27.639 It wavers. 00:21:27.639 --> 00:21:33.679 And there's other times, isn't there? 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:47.880 Family loss, job loss, that dreaded diagnosis we all fear from the doctor, family divorce. 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:51.720 How are we going to get through this? 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.920 What are they doing? 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.320 How? 00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:56.640 Why? 00:21:56.640 --> 00:22:02.400 That's what's going through Gideon's mind. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.920 He knows the Lord's within. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.920 He knows his promise. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:13.240 He's been reassured just a minute ago, but once again, he's in that place. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:19.160 The encouragement from Gideon, I think in some ways, is that it's not wrong to be in 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:21.320 that place. 00:22:21.320 --> 00:22:25.840 It might be difficult, but it's not wrong. 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:28.000 It's not because you've done anything wrong. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:31.000 Gideon's not being punished or disciplined. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:39.680 But he's accepted, he's got favor and peace with God, and so have we. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.680 It's an encouragement. 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:45.960 It's not always because he's done anything wrong. 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:50.240 It's a similar reminder of what Paul experienced with his thorn in the flesh. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:54.880 2 Corinthians 12, three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:55.880 me. 00:22:55.880 --> 00:23:02.120 He said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:07.520 Therefore, I will boast all the more gladdened of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ 00:23:07.520 --> 00:23:10.040 may rest upon me. 00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:12.520 Paul wasn't being punished. 00:23:12.520 --> 00:23:17.920 God was using his affliction, his difficulty, to demonstrate his own power through Paul's 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.520 weakness. 00:23:19.520 --> 00:23:24.560 Now, that doesn't mean a fatalistic approach to life. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.799 Paul still pleaded. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:34.399 He still asked the Lord three times to take it away, but God used it to magnify himself. 00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:38.480 Do you see how this works? 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:45.159 How powerful must the Lord be if he can bring victory in these circumstances? 00:23:45.159 --> 00:23:52.839 How powerful must the Spirit of the Lord be in each of us if despite the difficulty, maybe 00:23:52.839 --> 00:24:01.079 even sometimes because of the difficulty, we don't turn on him, but we turn to him. 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:07.279 Only the Spirit of the Lord causes anyone to react in trial like that. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:12.639 How powerful must the Spirit of the Lord be? 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:28.240 It is a distinctive way to live. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:35.840 Next comes the Lord's victory as we turn to our third point, victory for the Lord. 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:40.759 What's amazing, as I've mentioned, is that the Lord anticipates what Gideon's been thinking. 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:43.319 He knows he's quaking in his boots. 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:47.079 Gideon lacks faith again, but it's already taken care of. 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:52.759 Verse nine, that same night the Lord said to him, arise, go down against the camp for 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:55.039 I've given it into your hand. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:59.879 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Pury, your servant, and you 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:01.960 should hear what they say. 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:05.279 And afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:10.879 Then he went down with Pury, his servant, to the outposts of the armed men who were in 00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:11.879 the camp. 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:16.399 When he gets there, he hears two of the enemy, the Midianites, they're talking. 00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:18.480 They're just having a chat, two of them. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:21.599 And one of the soldiers has had a dream. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:25.319 And let's be honest, the dream is slightly off the wall. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:30.200 A big barley cake rolls down the hill and crushes one of the Midianite tents. 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:34.879 And his pal, one of the Midianites, interprets the dream. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:41.320 He says this, and he means the big barley cake, he's basically saying, the big barley 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:47.080 cake is no other than the sword of Gideon, the son of Joach, a man of Israel. 00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:50.840 God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp. 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:55.680 I don't know, we're not privy as to how he interprets that dream or how he even knows 00:25:55.680 --> 00:26:02.560 what Gideon is, but nevertheless, Gideon over hears the conversation. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:09.279 And he falls to his knees in worship because he knows. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.599 This wasn't a coincidence. 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:18.039 We have that funny phrase, it was a God incidence, placed there specifically to give Gideon 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:19.039 confidence. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:24.960 It's a reassurance again to Bostra's faith again. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:30.679 Once again, it demonstrates. 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:35.759 The Lord's stooping down to reassure him. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:39.920 He stoopes down again, again and again and again. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:45.440 The Lord's stoopes down to his people to reassure them in their faith. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:49.039 He's, I've got this, Gideon. 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.840 I've got it. 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:53.640 I've got this. 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:57.160 I'm going to have my victory. 00:26:57.160 --> 00:27:02.360 So the story continues, they split into three groups of a hundred. 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:07.920 We read they make a load of, basically the short version is they make a load of clamour 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:15.120 blowing trumpet smashing glass and they shout for the Lord and for Gideon. 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:19.800 What do we, the Lord confuses the Midian army, they flee, they run away and they turn their 00:27:19.800 --> 00:27:21.480 swords on each other. 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:25.800 It is an amazing victory. 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:33.039 And there's just a note in there, just in case we forgot, just a fine detail, small 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.039 point. 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:40.480 If we thought, because it's, let's be fair, it is a pretty unconventional method of fighting. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:45.799 But if we thought this unconventional method of warfare lay behind the success, it's verse 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:51.200 22 that shows, demonstrates it was the Lord. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:57.039 When they blew the 300 trumpets, verse 22, the Lord set every man's sword against his 00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:00.120 comrade and against all the army. 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:06.519 They set their swords against themselves, at hearing trumpets. 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:09.920 Yet again, it is all because of the Lord. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.920 It is all because of the Lord. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:15.840 The victory is the Lord's, it belongs to the Lord, it's his. 00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:19.960 That was the whole purpose behind using a small army. 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:24.799 Before he uses people, make no mistake about that, he used Gisgidian and the 300 men. 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:31.559 But because of the way it's done, the victory can only be ascribed to the Lord. 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:34.200 Only be ascribed to the Lord. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:40.319 It is completely down to him. 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:46.319 And in the same way that the victory over the Midianites can only be ascribed to the 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.319 Lord. 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:56.079 It's the same with maybe the many victories that we experience in our own life. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:29:02.319 Sometimes we might think that maybe when we battle against sin, the victory, when we battle 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:06.879 against those sins and we realize that they're not the same fight as they used to be, the 00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:10.639 victory is the Lord's. 00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:16.879 When we go through these struggles that I've mentioned and our faith remains and it is 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:21.600 a battle to get through it, the victory is the Lord's. 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:27.680 Yes, he has worked through us, but ultimately it's because of his spirit at work, he knows 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:29.360 that the victory is the Lord's. 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:35.360 Any battle that we face, it is the Lord that we give all the praise to, the adulation, 00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:40.080 because he's the one who empowers us to get through it by the power of his spirit. 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:46.320 The victory is the Lord's. 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:51.359 And ultimately this victory and all the little victories that we will experience in life. 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:55.759 And as I said, as we look back at the history of our faith and we remember the ways that 00:29:55.759 --> 00:30:00.679 the Lord's worked in our life and the little, many victories that we have, all the victories 00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:08.159 that we experience, they all point to the ultimate victory that we know is completely 00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:13.480 down to him, not over a physical army, but the biggest enemies that we face over sin, 00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:17.160 over death, against the devil, over spiritual evil. 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:23.360 Our salvation is the greatest victory that all the other victories point to. 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:28.920 That's why all the praise, the adulation, the glory, the honor, the splendor, the majesty 00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:39.519 is due to him because it's his victory. 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:43.960 And what about the nature of the victory? 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:51.000 We've touched on how the Lord uses our weakness and uses the makeschidium weak to magnify 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:59.279 his own glory, but really isn't that the pattern of the cross? 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:05.639 That God the Son came down and was made man from equality with God to death on a cross. 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:10.160 Do you think of Jesus the night before he died? 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:19.840 He's weak, frail, anxious to the point where he sweat his own blood, tears streaming down 00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:25.680 his face, not quite sure how he's going to get through the next day, and not only the 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:33.120 physical suffering, but being separated from his father's embrace. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:41.279 When Jesus looked towards his father on the cross, he wasn't going to be there. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:45.000 He wouldn't be able to give him a big hug. 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:49.839 No Jesus would be totally alone, weak. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:58.079 He became totally alone for the only time in his life, alone and separated so that his 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:06.839 people never will be again. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:12.439 So for death so that we will live, our punishment on him, that's the gospel. 00:32:12.439 --> 00:32:15.119 That's the good news. 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:17.599 That's his victory. 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:21.039 Victory and power through weakness. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:28.680 The cross looks weak, but it's the power of God for salvation. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:34.440 So as we draw to a close, just a reminder of what we've looked at. 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:37.639 The Lord tests Gideon twice actually. 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:42.319 It looks like Gideon's testing the Lord, but both times it's the Lord. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:48.559 There's times that in our own lives like Gideon when we're scared, when our faith wavers, 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:56.039 when God our Father loves us, he delights to stoop down and reassure us in our fears. 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:59.359 But then he uses Gideon in his weakness. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:03.159 My grace is sufficient for you. 00:33:03.159 --> 00:33:07.399 For my power is made perfect in weakness. 00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:10.399 The victory, the power comes from the Lord. 00:33:10.399 --> 00:33:13.919 He uses us in our frailty, in our doubt and fears. 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:16.879 We don't turn away from him but to him. 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:21.560 It shows just how powerful his spirit is. 00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:25.000 We come with nothing. 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:34.560 We leave with everything. 00:33:34.560 --> 00:33:40.360 The church is indeed open to all. 00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:43.440 It's the free offer of the gospel. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:49.120 Not because of our CV, not because of anything that we can offer, but because of everything 00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:52.200 that he has done for us. 00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:58.360 We have a right standing before the living God because his right standing has been transferred 00:33:58.360 --> 00:34:01.799 to us and all our sin transferred to him. 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:05.480 It's on the basis of his work. 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:14.639 So we do have reason to boast, but only in Christ alone in his victory. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:23.679 Let's pray together. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:32.199 Almighty and everlasting God, we just praise you for all that you've done. 00:34:32.199 --> 00:34:40.039 We are so weak, so fragile, our faith wavers, but yet you know us and despite all that, 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:42.359 you give us everything that we need. 00:34:42.359 --> 00:34:44.039 You've rescued us. 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:46.879 You've put your Holy Spirit in us. 00:34:46.879 --> 00:34:49.480 You strengthen us. 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:51.639 And the victory is all yours. 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:54.759 It all belongs to you. 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:57.399 And we thank you so much. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:35:05.200 We pray that you'd help us to, that you'd reassure us in our faith today, this week, 00:35:05.200 --> 00:35:11.000 that you'd strengthen us in the ups and downs and that you'd help us to encourage one another, 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:15.760 that we would go in peace to love and serve you in every way. 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:18.920 So have mercy upon us, we pray, in Jesus' name. 00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:28.920 Amen.