WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.519 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:12.880 ! Good morning. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:20.100 For those of you who are visiting or watching online, I just want to remind you my name is Bill Herrett. 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:26.260 I'm the associate pastor here. I work with youth and families, and I'm grateful to be able to share God's word with you today. 00:00:26.260 --> 00:00:32.439 I'm excited for what God's doing in the life of our people, and I'm grateful that I get the chance to be a part of it. 00:00:32.900 --> 00:00:35.460 So that being said, let me pray for us as we get started this morning. 00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:45.799 Father, we're thankful for your word. We're thankful that it's timeless, that it teaches us, it transforms us, it sanctifies us. 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:56.500 Lord, would you use your word today to help us to draw closer to Jesus, draw closer to the God of the universe in all of our lives. 00:00:57.099 --> 00:01:03.979 Help us to never forget our great weakness found in our sin, found in our brokenness, 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:10.019 is redeemed and made whole again and healed through the power of the cross through Jesus himself, 00:01:10.539 --> 00:01:11.679 through his death and resurrection. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:19.220 Lord, we thank you that we can know this today. We love you. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:32.880 I want to make sure that this morning we remember that we are in a larger series about how God is at work 00:01:32.880 --> 00:01:39.719 redeeming and renewing things, and his grace is poured out throughout not just the New Testament, 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:43.159 but we see God's grace in his work in the Old Testament as well. 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:47.780 And so we're looking through various stories as we see God's grace at work. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:53.840 And I want to take a moment to just say before we step into the book of Judges, 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.039 is that there's an element that I want to make sure that we remember, 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:04.500 and somehow we need to be more acquainted with normalizing our spiritual weakness. 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:11.360 We need to be more acquainted with that, and we need to make it more of a regular kind of understanding of who we are 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:13.280 so that we can glorify God rightly. 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:21.139 And I think a lot of times we can buy into our culture and the myths that make us feel good about ourselves in a lot of ways. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:25.699 So, because I think our culture really loves underdog stories, right? 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:28.579 We really love a good underdog story, right? 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:34.299 For those of us who are older, and as my kids say, you were born in the 1900s. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:43.000 I was born before the same year of the story of, let's say, the USA hockey team in 1980, 00:02:43.739 --> 00:02:45.539 where they were these massive underdogs. 00:02:45.839 --> 00:02:50.239 And I didn't really know about it because I was 23 when the movie Miracle came out. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:51.899 I didn't really know about it. 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:56.879 The internet had not brought me to that place where I could know about the Olympic hockey team 00:02:56.879 --> 00:03:01.020 that defeats Russia and goes on to win gold, right? 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:08.560 And so this epic story of these ragtag American hockey players coming on to win, right? 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:13.180 America loves, we love an underdog story, right? 00:03:14.140 --> 00:03:18.759 Maybe this one, this one I thought was funny when I was just kind of doing some research about underdog stories. 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:22.060 Did you know Colonel Sanders, right? 00:03:22.299 --> 00:03:23.239 Let's start there. 00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:24.219 Kentucky Fried Chicken. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:25.899 Did you know he was rejected? 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:28.560 I wrote it down to make sure I remembered. 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:34.620 He was rejected 1,009 times before he got his restaurant started. 00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:36.280 He's an underdog. 00:03:36.359 --> 00:03:40.919 Now, if you think about the millions of dollars, the millions of chickens that have been served, 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:44.079 he's doing all right. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:53.120 His company did okay, rejected over 1,000 times and is now one of the most iconic restaurants in the world. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:00.840 But I want to make sure we remember that those things can often remind us that we can do all things through ourselves. 00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:02.480 We can do it all. 00:04:02.540 --> 00:04:03.380 I can make it happen. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:04.220 It's about me. 00:04:04.219 --> 00:04:12.719 And I want to make sure we remember that the scriptures point us to the God of the universe who is strong. 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:23.819 And we can look at today's story as an underdog story, but we need to remember that the point of the scriptures is to remember to point ourselves back to God and see his strength. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:26.699 See, the Bible's not a book about me. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.560 It's a book about God himself and how he's at work. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:35.600 And so as we dive into Judges, let's remind ourselves kind of where we are and what God's doing. 00:04:35.780 --> 00:04:40.939 We were talking about this time after the death of Joshua, God's people delivered to the promised land. 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:43.160 Joshua has passed away. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:48.360 And yet, but also before the kings of Israel are established. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:57.620 And so we need to remember that there's this time where these 12 leaders, these judges, were called to lead God's people. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:04.620 And in chapter 17 and chapter 21, there's this verse that gets repeated. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:09.519 It says, in those days, Israel had no king and everyone did as they saw fit. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:16.280 And in a sense, this is reminding us that God's people were turning from himself, turning from God and turning to idolatry. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:18.160 And so we get to do this. 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:20.360 So what we're going to do today is we're going to zoom in. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:23.740 If you have like a camera, you're, you know, you know, you got the wide shot. 00:05:23.740 --> 00:05:26.860 And then we're going to zoom in on the story of Gideon today. 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:32.319 And Gideon is one of those 12 judges whom God calls to lead Israel. 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:36.680 And so I want to make sure we say this just bluntly as possible. 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:39.460 What is God doing in the story of Gideon? 00:05:40.220 --> 00:05:43.420 He's bringing to the forefront Gideon's weakness. 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:53.540 And he's highlighting his own strength as he works through Gideon to restore Israel, to right worship, to right relationship. 00:05:54.819 --> 00:06:01.560 And so what is God doing in this story is he's calling Gideon to a work. 00:06:02.520 --> 00:06:09.600 And so in chapter 6, so this is the hard part of this story, is I'm going to try and do some summarizing. 00:06:09.840 --> 00:06:11.819 And I'm also going to try and read from Scripture. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:16.699 So if you would try and follow along, I'll try and give you good summaries. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:23.180 But what I want to make sure we hear first is that in this story, we see that God calls the weak. 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:23.879 Okay. 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:27.500 So in Judges chapter 6, verses 1 and 2, 00:06:28.219 --> 00:06:31.500 the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:06:31.539 --> 00:06:37.560 And the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian, an enemy of God, an enemy nation for seven years. 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.980 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel. 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:45.700 And because of Midian, the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:45.900 Okay. 00:06:46.080 --> 00:06:55.879 So we've got in this time of Israel's disobedience to God, they turned away and they have given themselves over to idol worship. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:07:01.620 There's this judgment against Israel for what they've done. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:06.719 There's this judgment against Israel for their disobedience and idolatry. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:11.440 And then we move to chapter 6, verses 7 through 10. 00:07:12.440 --> 00:07:16.380 What we have is God's people crying out to God. 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:19.680 And here in 7 through 10, it says, 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.199 When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of Midianites. 00:07:23.900 --> 00:07:25.900 And the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:26.540 He said to them, 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:32.240 Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. 00:07:32.280 --> 00:07:36.660 And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you. 00:07:37.460 --> 00:07:40.720 And drove them out before you and gave them their land. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:43.760 And I said to you, I am the Lord your God. 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:47.020 You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.100 But you have not obeyed my voice. 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:56.520 So what happens is we have Yahweh, the God of the universe, sending a prophet to Israel. 00:07:57.100 --> 00:08:03.860 He sends this prophet to speak the truth of their disobedience for their lack of faith and trust in the God of the universe. 00:08:05.700 --> 00:08:09.860 And then, and he sends the angel of the Lord to Gideon. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.800 Okay, so this, we're going to look at verses 11 through 16. 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.660 So we're going to start with 11 through 13, then we'll read all the way to 16. 00:08:18.700 --> 00:08:23.020 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth of, which, pause real quick. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:28.420 I never become a worse reader of the Bible than when I have to read names. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:33.620 I've never felt, feel more insecure about reading the Bible than when I have to read it up front. 00:08:33.920 --> 00:08:36.139 And have to say all these Old Testament names and places. 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:39.279 So if I stumble a little bit, please forgive me. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:46.319 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Uphrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:50.319 While his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:54.699 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, the Lord is with you, a mighty man of valor. 00:08:55.199 --> 00:09:01.459 And Gideon said to him, please, my Lord, if the Lord is with us, and then, why then has all this happened to us? 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:04.740 And where are all of his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us? 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.879 Saying, did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:11.700 But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us to the hand of Midian. 00:09:12.540 --> 00:09:18.300 And the Lord turned to him and said, go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:20.040 Do not I send you? 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:22.879 And he said to him, please, Lord, how can I save Israel? 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:25.740 Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh. 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:28.220 And I am the least in my father's house. 00:09:28.539 --> 00:09:31.639 And the Lord said to him, but I will be with you. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:34.659 And you shall strike the Midianites as one man. 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:46.560 And so we see in this early part of the story of Gideon, we see God has been placing Israel under judgment. 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:48.779 The people cry out. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:52.940 A prophet calls them back to obedience, to faith in Yahweh. 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:57.420 And then he sends an angel of the Lord to Gideon. 00:09:58.420 --> 00:10:05.480 And what we see in this passage, we see Gideon being called by God to himself. 00:10:05.660 --> 00:10:14.500 Called by God to do the work of setting Israel free from the plague, from the Midianites. 00:10:15.780 --> 00:10:21.180 And in this, we see this rebuttal from Gideon. 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:22.579 No, no, no, no, no. 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:25.539 I'm the least of my family. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:29.179 And I'm the least, we're from the least of our tribes. 00:10:29.459 --> 00:10:31.120 I could never do this. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:35.199 And I want to make sure we take this for what it is. 00:10:35.359 --> 00:10:42.279 Because to be the smallest of your clan and to be the smallest in your family means that you're admitting you're the weakest of the weak. 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:52.539 And what God is doing is to come and call Gideon to do this work and serve the God of the universe and to bring Israel out from under this judgment from the Midianites. 00:10:52.980 --> 00:11:00.620 He's doing a crazy countercultural reality check to Israel. 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:12.120 He's giving them this point of saying, hey, I could pick the biggest, the strongest, but I'm going to work through the smallest, the littlest, the least. 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:19.139 See, we know that the most powerful, the biggest, the strongest, they're the ones that could do the most damage. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:20.360 They're the ones who can handle it. 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:22.200 The one with the most power. 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:25.840 And God says, no, no, no. 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:28.120 I'm calling you. 00:11:29.180 --> 00:11:34.140 God is calling the weakest, the youngest, the least of his family. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:39.440 Not the firstborn, but the littlest, the youngest. 00:11:40.660 --> 00:11:46.759 And I want to make sure you see that God is here calling Gideon. 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:53.460 But we listen to his credentials and we're like, yeah, no, maybe somebody else would be better. 00:11:56.059 --> 00:12:04.340 How often do we look at our credentials and our abilities and our gifts and we misplace our trust? 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.500 We misplace our trust in what the world tells us is good, what is right. 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:12.240 We misplace our trust and say, no, I'm not big enough, strong enough. 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.200 I couldn't do it. 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:13.639 I'm the youngest. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.340 I'm the worst. 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:21.740 First, God is calling out from his people a leader who will not be supported by his credentials. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:26.840 He's calling out a leader who will be supported by his God. 00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:39.139 He's calling out a leader who will be held up by Yahweh, by the creator of the world, by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:43.440 by the very God who brought them out of the land, brought them into the land of promise, 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:49.220 by the very God who remembered his covenant with them, by the very God who brought them out of the house of slavery. 00:12:49.220 --> 00:13:04.019 And so God is calling Gideon against Midian by his power, not by Gideon's power. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.399 And let's think about the realities of the whole Bible, right? 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:14.299 And if we remember oral traditions in the Old Testament and thinking about how we would hear stories and write, 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:18.799 like you could even hear it in Gideon, the way he's like, well, you recounted to us how we were brought out of Egypt. 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:20.220 What's happening, God? 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:31.460 Think about it and think about God's response and how it echoes Exodus and how God speaks to Moses. 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:37.580 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:42.340 But Moses said to God, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:46.040 And he said, but I will be with you. 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:50.000 I will be with you. 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:54.960 This is the same language that God uses to speak to Gideon. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.800 I will be with you. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:02.539 And this is an incredible reminder to us that in our weakness, God will equip us. 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:08.359 I can't help, there was a sign in one of the churches I've worked at after seminary right outside in our hallway. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:13.319 And it says that God equips the called. 00:14:15.339 --> 00:14:17.759 God doesn't necessarily call the equipped. 00:14:18.099 --> 00:14:20.319 He equips the called. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:33.100 And so this is a reminder that Gideon goes forward in his calling, not on his own strength, but the strength of God who calls him. 00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:38.580 Not on his own strength, but on the strength of the God who calls him. 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:40.560 So what does that mean for us? 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:51.559 Here we are, New Testament believers looking backwards through all of biblical history, understanding where we stand with the cross between us and Gideon's story. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.779 We know that we are weak ourselves. 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:58.539 We know our state. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:00.399 We know we are sinners. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:05.239 See, this thing is something that I've personally had to wrestle with over and over and over again in my life. 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:07.860 Because I really like this verse out of 1 Timothy. 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:19.879 And I try and remind myself regularly, I try and remember to teach it when we talk about sin and the reality of Christ's death and resurrection. 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:23.100 And what faith looks like and what we believe. 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.600 And in 1 Timothy it says, 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:27.820 Here's a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:33.940 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:35.019 This is the Apostle Paul. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:38.360 Telling his disciple Timothy, of whom I am the worst. 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:40.919 Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:56.220 For that reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Jesus Christ might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:00.820 Jesus came for sinners. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.940 He tells us he came for the sick. 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.180 Not the well. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:09.539 He tells us he came for the unrighteous. 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.279 Not the righteous. 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.919 And so we see this picture of God's grace. 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:19.080 By just simply calling out the weak. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:22.100 To do the work for God's people. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:24.740 We see this picture of grace. 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:28.340 That little old Gideon would be called by God. 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:30.820 And it provides us with a picture of hope. 00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:33.560 That God had not given up on Israel. 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:35.560 That his covenant would be maintained. 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.940 That he would keep his promises. 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:39.759 It gives us a picture of God's heart. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.740 And that he is faithful. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.899 And that he loves his people. 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.700 And he is a promise keeping God. 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:49.040 And above all, this is the God we need. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.019 We felt. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:55.199 We know that Jesus has come to save sinners. 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:59.039 We have to admit before God himself that we are sinners. 00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.179 That we are unrighteous. 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.399 There's this weakness that we have in ourselves. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:04.460 In our very state as human beings. 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.460 Fallen people. 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:09.600 We have to admit our weakness. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.079 In order to know the salvation. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.220 And the greatness. 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:16.779 And the beauty of God's saving work in Jesus. 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:20.519 And so some of you, maybe you're sitting in the pews today. 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:22.120 And you feel little. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.259 You feel weak. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.559 You feel defeated. 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.900 Maybe you feel overwhelmed or beat down. 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.860 And you've lost yourselves. 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:34.400 Maybe you are feeling this sense of need even now. 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:39.160 And what we see in this story is that God shows up. 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:43.120 And he calls Gideon to himself. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:47.340 For the sake of all of his people to be called to him. 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:50.680 God continues to show up. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:55.140 He's calling you to himself as well. 00:17:56.539 --> 00:18:00.019 Because in Christ we find great healing. 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:02.700 We find the real righteousness we need. 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.620 We find the real truth we need. 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:08.859 We find God at work calling sinners to life. 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:14.359 Sinners to righteousness through the work of Jesus. 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.859 So we must admit we are sinners. 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.419 We must admit we are weak. 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:21.299 In order to understand God's good grace. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:25.059 More than just calling us though. 00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:29.719 We see what Gideon does is that God in this story. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:31.559 He doesn't just call him and say, well that's nice. 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.939 We got you over here. 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.019 You understand who I am. 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:36.940 But he actually uses Gideon. 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:40.180 He actually uses him for his kingdom work. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:49.100 See, you have Gideon being commanded by God to destroy the altar of Baal. 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:57.559 And he uses God in this story to destroy these false idols that have been set up in the promised land. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:03.899 And God's heart is as we see him restoring Gideon and drawing Gideon to himself. 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:08.779 His heart is to use Gideon so that he might restore Israel to his people. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:11.519 To write worship and to turn back to the God. 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:13.619 Not just defeat Midian and his armies. 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:16.319 But to turn Israel back to him. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:21.000 And so in Judges chapter 6 verses 25 to 27. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:50.980 We see this. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:58.079 So what we see is that God is using Gideon. 00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:59.079 He's not just calling himself. 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:03.619 You see God is using him to destroy this altar. 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:09.379 And so you think that Gideon isn't just someone who sits idly by. 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:11.259 But that God uses him and puts him. 00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:15.159 And even more so, right, we've got this story that goes on, right. 00:20:15.219 --> 00:20:17.179 And a lot of us know this part of the story. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.819 This is the most well-known part. 00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:21.899 It's where Gideon calls an army to himself, right. 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:23.420 Gideon has this. 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:28.500 He basically is knocked down the altar of Baal at night. 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:30.200 And they come to him. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.019 And he is dealt with. 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:36.780 And they go to Gideon's dad, Joash. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:41.500 And they say to him, you know, you've got to give us Gideon. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:46.319 And they say, well, why don't we let Baal contend with him? 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:50.099 And the Midianites, the story turns. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.859 And the Midianites and the Amalekites come together. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.440 And they come down. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:58.799 And we're going to gloss over, unfortunately, the story of the fleece a little bit. 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.919 Not because of anything. 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:06.899 But other than if you're trying to preach the whole story of Gideon, I promise you we can be here till three if you'd like. 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.899 But I don't want to be here till three. 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:13.980 But I want to make sure that you know that all of this is valuable and important. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:18.740 But what we see is God is using Gideon. 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:23.500 And we see it in how he calls this army to himself. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.559 And it starts with the 22,000. 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.579 Gideon amasses his army. 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.700 And he asks, who's afraid, basically. 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.960 And 12,000 people leave. 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:34.419 So Gideon's army is now down to 10,000. 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:41.440 And then he goes, okay, well, now God says, well, now we can't let you get all the glory. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:45.000 It's got to be about the God of the universe getting glory. 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:50.299 It's got to be about the perfect and holy and righteous God getting glory. 00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:53.680 So you don't think Israel has done this on their own. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:59.580 And he sets before them this plan to say, okay, go. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.840 And whoever drinks with their head, like lapping like a dog, right? 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:09.960 And he whittles down the army from 10,000. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.120 I'm not going to go into too much detail more. 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:14.719 But he whittles down the army from 10,000 down to 300. 00:22:16.479 --> 00:22:19.359 And we see another picture of weakness. 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:24.439 Because we see we had 22,000. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.619 That seems like a good number. 00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:27.259 We should go fight a battle with 22,000. 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.719 That seems good. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.619 God's like, no. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:31.939 Okay, well, we whittled it down to 10,000. 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.779 Okay, 10,000. 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.579 Maybe we can do something. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:39.139 No, trust God's strength. 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:44.059 And he whittles it down to 300. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:58.379 And in the midst of this, you see, I can't imagine trying to even understand what kind of odds we face with the 300 versus Midian's armies. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:11.600 In this story, there must be fear and worry amongst the warriors, amongst Gideon's camp. 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:24.160 And yet, we see that if you fast forward to chapter 8, it talks about how there were 120,000 men fallen from the battle. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:29.820 And so, what happens is, is Gideon destroys the altar of Baal. 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:35.180 And then God calls him to go fight Midian's armies. 00:23:38.300 --> 00:23:39.860 And he defeats them. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:51.160 God is using Gideon in such a way, even though he is small, even though his forces are tiny, then the army is clearly bigger than 300. 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:51.640 300. 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:56.220 So, he goes on and he starts fighting these battles against the armies of Midian. 00:23:56.320 --> 00:24:00.019 And he fights first the princes of Midian and then the kings of Midian. 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:05.340 And his army is clearly smaller than Midian's forces. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:09.420 In Judges chapter 8, alone, now Zeba, which again, here we go. 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:14.259 Zeba and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about 15,000 men. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:20.080 All of who were left with the army of people of the east, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword. 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:29.560 God uses Gideon to defeat the armies of Midian. 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:35.740 God has given Gideon a purpose. 00:24:37.179 --> 00:24:42.500 He gives them a calling and he uses them as he calls them to this purpose. 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:46.899 And I know that war is a hard thing for us to just kind of nonchalantly discuss. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:52.940 This war between God's people and the Midianites. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:25:03.720 And yet, this is the enemy of God and God is at work through them to restore to Israel, not just their land, but to restore to them the right worship of God. 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:14.259 And I want to remind us that this is what actually happens, that God uses Gideon to accomplish his purposes. 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:21.339 To bring his kingdom to bear, to restore Israel to right worship, to right relationship with him. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:25.720 He is actually using Gideon to defeat the enemies of God. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:31.380 And so God is about using his people for his purposes. 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:36.339 Not just winning these battles, but for his purposes. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:39.740 God is using us. 00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.460 God is using you. 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.400 We don't sit idly by. 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:55.500 If you think back on the verse I shared from 1 Timothy, it's one thing for us to admit that God came into this world to save sinners. 00:25:55.620 --> 00:26:02.940 And we have to admit ourselves as sinners before we can see ourselves in this salvation that God graciously pours out and cares deeply for us. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:05.660 But for this reason, I was shown mercy. 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:07.500 In verse 16, it says, 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:15.319 So that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:22.299 That God might use us to display the beauty of the gospel. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:24.460 And we talk about this a lot. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:28.920 I feel like I hear Will and Derek and our elders talk about this. 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:33.339 It's this idea of God's grace to us and God's grace through us. 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:38.319 That God is not just calling us, but he's working through us. 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:40.959 And so we see a picture of that in the story of Gideon. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:44.220 That though he is weak, he is being used. 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:47.579 And God is accomplishing his goals. 00:26:47.959 --> 00:26:49.699 God is bringing his kingdom to bear. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:53.659 And God is continuing to do that in you and in me. 00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:54.740 And in his people. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.959 Not just the ones worshiping here at Southwood. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:59.159 But in his people all over. 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:05.060 So God is working through not just Gideon in this story. 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.640 He's working through all of us. 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:10.160 God is calling us to himself. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:14.200 To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:19.180 But to work through us to love our neighbors as we're called to love ourselves. 00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:21.720 And so I want to make sure you hear this. 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:26.680 That though Gideon admitted all this weakness that he had as the lowest of his family. 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:28.700 The youngest, the lowest of the clans. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:34.460 Weakness is not a barrier that God overcomes. 00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:39.200 But a way that God shows his grace to others. 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:41.700 Yes, God truly does overcome weakness. 00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:42.779 I understand that. 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.900 Our weakness against sin. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.560 I truly understand. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:48.680 But God shows his grace through weakness. 00:27:48.680 --> 00:28:00.000 And so when we as weak people admit and know our weaknesses and trust in the God who is stronger and bigger and more powerful. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.340 The God who can actually defeat death itself. 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:12.980 We can see that God is actually using our weakness and using his grace through us. 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:14.699 So that we might love our neighbor. 00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:16.539 So that we might serve others. 00:28:16.939 --> 00:28:20.959 So that we might care for our friends and our enemies. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:26.340 And I know some of you may think, this isn't me. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.799 I can't do this for God. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.960 God would never use me. 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:36.559 And yet we can fall into the sin of underestimating God's power. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:42.019 We can underestimate God's strength and what he can do and what he cannot do. 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:54.240 I can still hear myself as a young believer in college looking at people with disdain and anger and frustration. 00:28:55.579 --> 00:29:00.379 And then within months seeing their lives transformed. 00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:06.859 And at a time in my life when I say God would never do anything in so and so's life. 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:13.959 We see Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit transform sinners into saints. 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:25.679 God is using his people to accomplish his grace going forward into the world. 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:34.579 You yourself are important and valuable as people in God's kingdom. 00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:40.359 And I think a lot of times we forget that God has called us and he's using us. 00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:42.859 And that we have value for the work that he's doing. 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:47.179 I was thinking about, I know it doesn't look like it now. 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.119 But I used to have hair, a lot more hair. 00:29:50.439 --> 00:29:58.939 And if you're, I don't know, older than, let's just say, 25. 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:01.119 You may have known the 90s. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:05.000 And the 90s was a wild time for me because I was in 1990. 00:30:05.439 --> 00:30:06.379 I was 10 years old. 00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:09.939 And back in the day, my parents would hand me $9. 00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:18.439 And I would walk probably a mile and a half to the barbershop that was built onto the side of the garage 00:30:18.439 --> 00:30:24.099 at this like massively busy street in my little hometown in South Carolina. 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:31.879 And I share all that because there's something about that barbershop that I'll never be able to forget. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:38.879 And there's this picture that I had to stare at every time I got what used to be hair cut. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:45.480 And that is that I know I'm, there's this sign, it's a little boy praying. 00:30:45.780 --> 00:30:50.300 And it said, I know I'm somebody because God don't make no junk. 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.840 God don't make no junk. 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:57.160 And I used to, I used to, I remember looking at this and thinking about it over and over. 00:30:57.260 --> 00:31:00.820 And I mean, I used to, that's probably something I could have recited as a kid. 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:06.819 And I just remember this, this picture standing out of me and it reminds me of God's great value and love for his people 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:12.240 that he would be willingly and gladly able to, people that have turned to idolatry, 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.859 people who have turned away from God. 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:22.139 He stoops in and calls Gideon to restore his people to right relationship, to right worship. 00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:30.419 He stoops in and uses Gideon to give God's people opportunities to worship the true God of the universe. 00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:35.519 By his grace, he stoops down and cares for God's people. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:51.100 And uses a weak, the littlest, the last of the family to make God real to his people. 00:31:51.099 --> 00:32:02.319 And this little sign was a reminder to me as I thought about the value that you have in God's kingdom, 00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:04.199 that God has transformed you. 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:11.600 The gospel has given us a new identity that we've been made, new creations, new creatures in Christ. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:17.120 We have been given a new identity as sons and daughters of the living God, king over all the universe, 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:22.759 that we have been made a treasured possession, that we are as holy people, that we are a royal priesthood. 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:30.720 And so you have a value and a reality that you can reflect and shine forth to a watching world. 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:35.879 You are somebody called by God and used by God. 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:43.500 And God is not done using weakness for his glory and for his kingdom. 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:50.680 He's not done pouring out his grace so that we might shine forth his goodness. 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:57.680 He is continuing to use weakness this very day with those of you in this room. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:08.380 And ultimately we see as God both calls Gideon and he uses Gideon, there's something that happens 00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:13.039 and that is that God shows his own power on display, right? 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:24.539 We see that God is showing forth his ability, his power as he helps Gideon to walk through this plan 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:30.079 and bring God's people back to himself and defeat the enemies of God. 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:37.059 And in chapter 8, verses 22 through 23, we kind of see it kind of pointedly said by Gideon. 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:40.119 He says, the men of Israel said to Gideon, right? 00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:46.639 Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian, right? 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:49.960 Here's an opportunity for Gideon to say, yes, you're welcome. 00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:50.799 I did it all. 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:53.019 I'm great and I have made it happen. 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:58.759 And we see him say, I will not rule over you. 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:01.339 And my son will not rule over you. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:03.680 The Lord will rule over you. 00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:09.599 The same Lord who he has trusted in the midst of this entire story. 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:18.079 The same God who has carried him through by God's grace, he has brought him through from not just defeating the idols of Baal, 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:29.639 but to defeat the armies of Midian with just 300 people, to defeating the princes and kings and restoring back to Israel their land. 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:34.259 God will rule over you. 00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:37.759 Who does Gideon lift high when he says that? 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.219 Not my son. 00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:40.679 He says, no kingly lineage. 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.099 He lifts high God and says, this will be your ruler. 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:47.859 He's pointing back to everything God has done. 00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:50.739 Midian will not rule over you. 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:54.299 Baal will not rule over you. 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:57.319 Gideon will not rule over you. 00:34:57.320 --> 00:35:03.380 Gideon points to the God who will rule over you. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:08.220 He was the one who was with Gideon when he destroyed the altars of Baal. 00:35:08.660 --> 00:35:09.740 I will go with you. 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:13.880 He is the one who sends him to the camp of his enemies and brings him back safely. 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:19.720 He is the one who whittles down the army of Gideon to 300 and still defeats the armies of Midian. 00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:30.879 Then God gets the glory through Gideon and he points the people of Israel, not to himself, but the God who will rule over all of them. 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:40.879 And I wish with all my heart and soul that this was the end of the story and we could just stop there and be like, yay, God wins and Gideon's great. 00:35:40.939 --> 00:35:45.059 And we hold Gideon up as like a great picture of faith. 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:49.039 And he is in this sense, but there's a warning we want to make sure we finish with. 00:35:49.719 --> 00:36:03.339 There's a warning to all of us who are weak, all of us who are sinners in need of a Savior, all of us who are sinners who struggle as we see that Gideon doesn't finish perfectly. 00:36:04.939 --> 00:36:05.379 Right? 00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:17.980 In chapter 8, we see that Gideon goes on after defeating the enemies of God, after all that God has done, Gideon stumbles. 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.099 Gideon falls. 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:22.360 Gideon falls and turns away from God. 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:31.500 Gideon made an ephod of all these gold earrings and gold jewelry. 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:35.119 And he makes this priestly vest. 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:42.360 And it's described to us in Leviticus and the different ways that we can. 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:45.180 But it's a priestly vest and he makes this out of gold. 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:49.640 And it's meant to be a reminder of something that was used in worship. 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:55.140 And for some reason, maybe there's no real description of why he does it. 00:36:55.480 --> 00:37:00.400 But Gideon makes this ephod of gold. 00:37:01.180 --> 00:37:05.120 And perhaps it was to tell God's people that God was with him. 00:37:05.240 --> 00:37:08.220 Perhaps it was about to have more control over God's people. 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:10.519 We don't know the motivation. 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:16.019 And there's not a lot of clear direction in the commentaries and the different ways they talk about. 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:26.359 But whatever motivation, because we don't really know about the state of worship in Israel immediately following Gideon's victories. 00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:31.160 What we do know is that Gideon oversteps God's commands. 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:37.480 And it becomes a source of sin for Gideon and Israel. 00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:38.880 And it ruins their worship. 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:42.680 Gideon made an ephod over it and put it in his city in Ophrah. 00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:44.300 And all Israel hoored after it there. 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:46.920 And it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. 00:37:47.140 --> 00:37:49.160 So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel. 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:51.360 And they raised their hands there no more. 00:37:51.680 --> 00:37:54.620 And the land had rest for 40 years in the days of Gideon. 00:37:54.619 --> 00:38:00.719 That even in Gideon's victory and rest, we see Gideon stumbling and sin. 00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:03.539 And Israel was snared in it as well. 00:38:07.799 --> 00:38:15.000 Gideon's disobedience is before us as a warning. 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.159 He was called by God. 00:38:17.659 --> 00:38:19.099 He was used by God. 00:38:19.099 --> 00:38:22.199 He gave glory to God. 00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:24.420 And he still disobeys God. 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:30.139 Furthermore, if you read the story on, he goes on to have a son named Abimelech. 00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:34.579 Abimelech is a Hebrew word that tells us son of the king. 00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:39.519 So out of one side of his mouth, we hear him say, no, me and my son will not rule over you. 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:43.119 And then out of the other side of his mouth, he says, here's my son Abimelech. 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:44.639 I just mean son of the king. 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:55.819 And we see that in Gideon, though he's given this victory, though he proclaims God will rule, he turns to sin. 00:38:57.239 --> 00:39:01.000 And his son Abimelech is kind of a picture of that. 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:08.280 And then the verses here in chapter 8 says, it says, the minute that Gideon dies, right? 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:15.920 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and went after the Baals and the idols. 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:19.699 This is a warning against our sinful hearts. 00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:23.480 It's a reminder to take the words of the scripture seriously. 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:25.519 To fix our eyes on Christ. 00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:34.059 The only one who has been the king over all things for all time and is perfect and will never fail. 00:39:35.059 --> 00:39:39.939 It's a reminder to not fix our hearts on the affections of the things of this world. 00:39:40.419 --> 00:39:42.919 Fame, money, power, the idols of our age. 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:51.300 It's a reminder that we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, the God of the universe who defeated sin and death. 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:55.700 It's a reminder that we are not far from temptation. 00:39:57.700 --> 00:39:59.519 It's a reminder that we are weak. 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:01.900 And Jesus is strong. 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:11.940 There have been a lot of wonderful, amazing pictures of God's faithfulness to our weakness. 00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:15.280 Babies brought into the covenant family. 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:16.960 Beautiful. 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:17.860 A reminder. 00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:23.720 A reminder from DJ and Angela just about the early days of having kids. 00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:26.160 And I felt that same way. 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:29.839 And I was thinking on when we had our first child. 00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:34.960 And it was late at night when she was born. 00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:37.719 And it was a tough labor. 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:42.819 And I remember somewhat some complications. 00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:44.920 And it's late at night. 00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:47.859 And I'm, and Janet is my wife. 00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:50.500 And she is worn out and falls asleep. 00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:52.659 And I'm handed this brand new life. 00:40:54.739 --> 00:40:56.000 Terrified out of my mind. 00:40:57.159 --> 00:41:02.659 Just absolutely, like, I, and I, and I knew Janet was there. 00:41:02.739 --> 00:41:03.539 And Janet was fine. 00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:05.719 And it was, we were fine together. 00:41:05.839 --> 00:41:08.759 But at the end of the day, I also felt this incredible weakness. 00:41:08.759 --> 00:41:11.319 Like, I would never be able to do what I need to do. 00:41:12.299 --> 00:41:13.739 I've never felt more helpless. 00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:19.799 Never felt more scared in my life than sitting there alone in the quiet, like, 1 a.m. 00:41:19.800 --> 00:41:21.680 Holding this new baby. 00:41:22.560 --> 00:41:23.860 My wife's asleep. 00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:29.640 And looking into her face and saying, I do not have what it takes. 00:41:29.639 --> 00:41:33.579 I do not have what it takes to be a good dad. 00:41:35.699 --> 00:41:47.679 And I'm so grateful that our God looks to people like me and lets me be a dad and hold my child and love my child and walk with my child. 00:41:47.679 --> 00:41:50.199 Because he hasn't just called me to be a dad. 00:41:50.199 --> 00:41:55.279 He actually expects me to walk through all of life with her and my son. 00:41:55.280 --> 00:42:10.940 It's more than just, more than just a title that I'm in my weakness as I look to my children, as I look at them even now. 00:42:11.100 --> 00:42:13.540 I'm reminded that I am incapable. 00:42:13.820 --> 00:42:16.400 There are new problems every day in parenting. 00:42:16.580 --> 00:42:18.480 There are new problems every day in life. 00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:24.920 There are new things that remind me, not just in that moment, but every day of how weak I am. 00:42:25.880 --> 00:42:29.420 And how much I need the God of the universe to step in. 00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:33.119 And I'm tempted to run away. 00:42:33.460 --> 00:42:36.099 I'm tempted to let my fears win. 00:42:37.240 --> 00:42:42.639 But God, in his sovereignty, in his grace, is strong enough to carry us. 00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:55.920 That moment of weakness is a moment that I turn to God and remember that he is the one who is strong enough, not just to carry me, but to carry my wife, my children, and my life. 00:42:57.259 --> 00:43:04.859 The God of the universe, the God of Gideon, who uses weakness, who brings strength out of that weakness. 00:43:05.980 --> 00:43:07.159 He is with you. 00:43:07.739 --> 00:43:09.059 And he will be with you. 00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:12.279 He loves you. 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:19.400 And he will use your weakness for his glory, no matter what you feel, no matter what you do. 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:21.119 He will bring it to pass. 00:43:21.559 --> 00:43:22.239 Let's pray. 00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:27.360 Father, we're grateful for your word in this time together. 00:43:28.019 --> 00:43:29.920 Lord, would you use our worship? 00:43:30.799 --> 00:43:36.199 Would you use your word to change and transform us, to encourage us, to make us more and more like Jesus? 00:43:36.199 --> 00:43:42.799 And would you bless us today to remember your great strength despite our weaknesses? 00:43:43.059 --> 00:43:43.599 Lord, we love you. 00:43:43.659 --> 00:43:44.500 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:43:44.659 --> 00:43:44.819 Amen. 00:43:44.819 --> 00:43:44.879 Amen. 00:43:45.759 --> 00:43:49.239 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org.