WEBVTT

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 Well, if you haven't been around for a couple of weeks, we have reached the Gideon cycle of the book of Judges.

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 And the amount of detail included by the author at this point really gives us a fantastic opportunity to slow our pace a bit from what we had done in the first few chapters.

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 It allows us to really examine more thoroughly each individual scene.

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 And I actually have found that to be quite helpful in my own study, and I hope you find that to be helpful as well as we study these passages together.

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 Now, we need to recognize that this does pose a particular danger for us to miss the forest for the tree, so to speak.

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 You ever find yourself doing that in your Bible study?

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 You get so caught up in the minutia of a particular verse or a particular passage that you end up misinterpreting it because you've lost sight of the bigger picture of what's actually happening and why God has put it there.

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 So there is a bit of a danger in this.

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 As we slow down our pace and we look at each individual section here, there is a bit of a danger that we'll lose the big picture and then maybe misinterpret or misapply.

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 So what we want to do then, as I mentioned to you last week, we want to keep one eye on the big picture of what God is doing in and through Israel,

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 while we're keeping the other eye on the finer details of what God is doing in and through this man, Gideon.

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 And as far as Israel is concerned, at this point in the book, they were facing a really quite severe season of oppression from this coalition led by the Midianites.

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 And we found at the beginning of the chapter that it was because of their idolatry.

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 God had given them into the hand of Midian, and God was using this disciplinary action as a means to lead his people to repentance.

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 And we talked about that. We talked about the difference between God's punitive action against unbelievers, those who are outside of the covenant.

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 And we contrasted that with God's disciplinary corrective action with those who are inside the covenant.

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 Midian is outside the covenant.

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 They're going to ultimately be completely decimated by the time we get to the end of this section.

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 Israel, however, though guilty of the same sin, though just as wicked as Midian themselves,

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 happen to be inside the covenant, and they receive a different form of judgment from God.

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 They are not completely destroyed.

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 Rather, God is disciplining them, and he's using Midian to do it.

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 And then in his intent to deliver them from their oppression, God has chosen and raised up and is in the process of raising up this man, Gideon,

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 whom he will use to save his people.

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 But as we study through this text, we find out very quickly that great men and women of God are not made in a moment.

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 You don't come to Christ in a moment, and then all of a sudden, you're just as mature and seasoned as any believer who has been saved for a number of years.

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 That doesn't happen in any of our lives.

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 It didn't happen in Gideon's life either.

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 And this section is a helpful reminder of that.

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 As sinful creatures, God graciously, patiently molds and shapes us into vessels fit for his use.

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 And that's exactly what we see happening step by step in the life of Gideon.

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 Now, last week, I likened the verses, verses 11 through 24, to something of a conversion experience for Gideon.

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 And again, I recognize that we need to be careful when assigning New Testament realities to Old Testament narratives,

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 using gospel language in places where the gospel has not yet been presented, at least in its fullest form.

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 Jesus has not yet come at this point.

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 We need to recognize that.

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 Gideon himself would have no possible concept of the cross or of the resurrection.

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 So, when I talk about a conversion experience, I'm not saying that what Gideon experienced in this moment looks exactly as what you and I might experience.

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 But, what we do find in those verses is all of the components of biblical conversion being presented.

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 You remember back to what we studied last week.

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 He was confronted by the Word of God through the messenger of God.

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 Paul tells us that same thing happens with us.

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 In Romans chapter 10, he says,

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 Faith comes by hearing.

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 Hearing comes by the Word of God.

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 In other words, if you are to be saved, you're going to be saved through the preaching of God's Word,

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 the preaching of God's truth, and the confrontation of God's Word through God's messenger.

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 Whether that be a preacher on a Sunday morning,

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 whether it be a co-worker who has courage to share the gospel with you.

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 We see that happening in Gideon's life.

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 He understood the reality of his sinfulness in light of the holiness of God.

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 When he finally comes to terms with the fact that he's before the messenger of God,

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 remember what he says,

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 Alas, O Lord!

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 He thinks he's going to die because he's seen God's angel face to face.

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 He recognizes his sinfulness.

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 He cries out for mercy.

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 And then he experiences the incomprehensible grace of God.

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 As the Lord says,

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 Peace be to you, Gideon.

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 You shall not die.

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 Remember what he said.

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 And that immediately results in genuine worship.

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 And all of these things are part and parcel of what it means to be converted.

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 It's biblical conversion.

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 Gideon's, the work of God's grace happening prior to the coming of Christ.

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 And then for us, of course,

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 these components take the shape of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.

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 And so we're going to continue on with that thought.

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 If verses 11 through 24 give us something of a parallel of biblical conversion,

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 what we find happening in the text that I just read

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 Gideon parallels what we might call the first steps of life for a new believer.

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 Just think about what we just read.

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 After his transformative moment with God in verse 23 and 24,

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 Gideon was quickly thrust into this daunting situation, wasn't he?

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 His commitment to the Lord set him against the traditions and beliefs of his own family and community.

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 And it becomes immediately relevant.

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 What God commanded him to do not only tested his faith,

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 it was actually an essential move in declaring the message of repentance and salvation

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 that God intended for his people to hear and understand.

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 And so what I want to do this morning is just walk you through this text,

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 and we want to note what is revealed for us about God and salvation,

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 and then, of course, also the progressive work of sanctification for those of us

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 who do experience the grace of God and salvation.

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 Okay, so that's kind of the roadmap that we're following.

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 First thing I want you to notice is an initial task.

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 An initial task.

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 Look at verse 25.

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 That night the Lord said to him,

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 Take your father's bull and the second bull, seven years old,

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 pull down the altar of Baal that your father has,

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 cut down the asherah that's beside it,

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 and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here,

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 with stones laid in due order.

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 Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering

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 with the wood of the asherah that you shall cut down.

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 So what we find here with Gideon is that the Lord wastes no time

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 in activating him in his plan and in his purposes.

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 On the very night that he experiences God's peace

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 and enjoyed this moment of genuine worship,

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 God gave him a task that would send an unmistakable message

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 to his family and his community.

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 It's an immediate task that God lays on him.

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 We're reminded with this that the call to trust and obey God

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 demands immediate engagement.

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 Engagement for God and against his enemies.

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 There's really no buffer.

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 Sometimes we expect that that would happen,

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 that when someone comes to Christ,

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 they kind of get a few moments to collect their breath,

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 and they can just kind of go into the backside of the desert somewhere

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 as we see some biblical characters and kind of be trained up.

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 And then once they're ready, God calls them into making their faith.

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 But that's not how actually it works.

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 It didn't happen for Gideon that way.

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 It doesn't happen for us that way.

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 And if you're only now coming to Christ in genuine faith,

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 it's not going to happen for you that way either.

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 God requires immediate engagement,

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 like a pebble in a slingshot.

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 Conversion instantly catapults us into a life that is decidedly

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 and dynamically different than what we've ever experienced before.

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 It takes no time at all for our commitment to Christ to be tested

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 and for God to put us in a position that demands we make our faith known.

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 Perhaps you can even recall back to your own conversion,

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 maybe the excitement of that,

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 and then immediately getting into a place with your friends

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 or your family or your coworkers

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 where it's going to be necessary for you to make that known,

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 whether it's through an explanation of why you won't do the things

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 that you were doing just the day before or the week before,

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 or why you won't behave a particular way,

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 or maybe it's just the sharing of that gospel message,

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 and immediately you're thrust into this awkward and intimidating position

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 of standing for God and against those who are his enemies.

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 And that's what's happening with Gideon.

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 His initial task was to destroy the community shrine to Baal and Ashtaroth.

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 And what makes it even more complex for him

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 is the fact that this particular altar for Baal was his dad's.

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 His own father had sponsored and built it

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 and was probably, as we get a sense in this text,

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 was probably Joash was functioning as something of a priest to Baal

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 on behalf of the people of the town.

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 Then he was to build an altar in its place.

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 He was to sacrifice his father's bull as a burnt offering to Yahweh.

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 And in one sense, as we read through this,

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 what God asked for Gideon to do here

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 was more difficult than the large-scale war

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 against the Midianites that we're going to see in chapter 7.

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 It's one thing to work against a common enemy

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 for the people who are closest to you and your family and community,

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 for everybody to kind of, in unity together,

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 recognize Midian is bad.

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 Midian is hurting us.

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 Midian has to be dealt with.

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 That's one thing.

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 It's quite another thing

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 to set yourself against your own family and friends,

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 to perform some type of action

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 or to declare some kind of message

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 that actually says,

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 no, not only is Midian bad,

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 but you're bad.

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 You're the problem.

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 That's hard.

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 Sharing Romans chapter 3 with a stranger at Costco

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 is pretty easy to do.

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 Sharing Romans chapter 3 with your wife

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 or your husband or your parents

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 or your grown children

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 is not quite so easy to do.

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 That's what we find happening with Gideon.

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 This task was vitally important

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 to the work that God was doing,

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 not only in Israel,

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 but in Gideon himself.

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 It was a visual demonstration

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 of the sermon preached by the prophet

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 in verses 8 through 10.

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 Remember, that was from a couple of weeks ago

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 as God sends this prophet

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 before he sends a deliverer

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 and he declares a message of salvation

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 through repentance.

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 Well, what God is having Gideon to do

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 in this moment

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 is a visual demonstration

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 of that same message.

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 The people needed to understand

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 that the oppression from Midian

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 was only an indicator

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 of a much deeper problem.

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 Their circumstance was not the result

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 of Midian's power,

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 but their own idolatry.

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 And as long as they continued

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 in that idolatry,

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 their circumstances were only going to

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 worsen.

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 God might deliver them from Midian,

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 but there's just going to be another enemy

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 that comes along the way.

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 And that's exactly what happens

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 in this book.

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 Over and over and over,

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 God is gracious

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 and the people continue

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 and persist in their idolatry

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 and so their condition

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 never ultimately gets better.

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 They continue to struggle

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 beneath this oppression.

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 Why such a demand for Gideon,

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 asked Del Ralph Davis.

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 Because two altars cannot coexist

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 side by side.

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 You cannot have an altar to Yahweh

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 and an altar to Baal.

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 They're mutually exclusive,

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 he says.

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 And what we find is

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 this entire episode here

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 amounts to God's demand

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 for repentance.

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 The repentance without which

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 you cannot be saved.

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 That's the message here.

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 Not just to the people of Ophrah,

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 but to the entire nation of Israel.

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 Let's think about that

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 for just a moment,

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 this dynamic of repentance.

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 What does it actually mean?

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 Well, the word itself

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 means to make a turn, right?

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 It means to turn from one direction

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 and go in a different direction.

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 And repentance unto salvation

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 in the Bible

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 really has two parts

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 and we see them demonstrated here

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 in this story.

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 First, repentance requires

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 that you turn away

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 from sin and unbelief.

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 You turn away

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 from sin and unbelief.

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 It wasn't enough

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 for Gideon to simply

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 build an altar to God.

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 That wasn't enough.

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 Baal's altar, the Asherah,

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 which would have been

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 a wooden post next to Baal

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 that represented the worship

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 of Ashtaroth,

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 which was believed

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 to be Baal's female consort.

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 Okay, we talked about that

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 in another passage.

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 But basically,

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 the way this would have been set up

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 is an altar to Baal

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 and then right next to it

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 is this large wooden post

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 that represented

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 Baal's wife, essentially.

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 And both things

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 were involved

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 in the pagan worship of Baal.

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 Both Baal and the Asherah,

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 they both had to be destroyed.

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 It wouldn't be enough

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 for Gideon

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 just to build an altar

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 to God next to it

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 and sacrifice his bull.

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 He could do all

00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.259
 of those other things

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.440
 and it wouldn't have been

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:35.940
 the message

00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.800
 that God intended.

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.059
 It wouldn't have been

00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:39.039
 a message of repentance

00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:40.039
 unto salvation.

00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:42.259
 Baal had to be destroyed.

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.819
 The second requirement

00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:45.120
 of true repentance

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:47.599
 is a decisive turning

00:15:47.599 --> 00:15:50.539
 to the true God.

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:53.139
 So Gideon was not only

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:54.679
 to tear down the altar

00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.799
 to Baal,

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.019
 he was to build

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.099
 in its place

00:15:58.099 --> 00:16:00.859
 an altar to Yahweh,

00:16:01.219 --> 00:16:02.000
 the Lord God.

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.460
 And to obey God's command,

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.500
 Gideon had to perform

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.120
 both actions.

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:12.019
 Turning away from sin

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.720
 and unbelief,

00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:15.240
 not just to rid yourself

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.399
 of that particular thing,

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:19.139
 but to decisively turn

00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:21.419
 to the true worship

00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.120
 of Yahweh.

00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:23.460
 Yahwehism,

00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.779
 if we want to call it that

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.559
 in the Old Testament.

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.220
 In fact,

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:28.899
 to leave out

00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:30.379
 one of these facets

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.019
 of repentance

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.539
 would have completely

00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.779
 distorted the message

00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.500
 of salvation

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.699
 that God was sending

00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:36.259
 to Israel.

00:16:37.699 --> 00:16:38.899
 Their whole problem,

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.860
 the reason they were

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.860
 facing the judgment

00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.340
 of God

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.699
 was because of their sin.

00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:43.960
 So if Gideon had stood

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:44.600
 up as a leader

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.740
 and attempted to be

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.500
 a spiritual leader

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:46.899
 and said,

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.659
 you know what?

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.840
 We're going to worship

00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.799
 God on Sunday.

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.000
 And we're going to do

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.799
 the Sunday thing

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.199
 and we're going to go

00:16:52.199 --> 00:16:52.860
 to church and we're going

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.519
 to sing the songs

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.620
 and say the prayers

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.120
 and all that stuff.

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.019
 But he doesn't deal

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.879
 with all the bells

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.860
 that are in his house

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.319
 from Monday to Saturday.

00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:01.420
 Then it's not

00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:02.500
 the message of salvation.

00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.220
 It's not repentance.

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.160
 Because the altar

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.600
 to Baal

00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:07.140
 and the altar

00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:07.779
 to God

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:09.920
 cannot coexist together.

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:12.340
 You cannot claim

00:17:12.340 --> 00:17:12.840
 Christianity

00:17:12.840 --> 00:17:13.779
 on one hand

00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:15.180
 and bow to Baal

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:15.980
 on the other hand

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.140
 and expect that God

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:17.900
 will bless you

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:19.100
 with gracious salvation

00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:20.160
 in response to that.

00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:21.640
 He will not.

00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.600
 What Gideon does here

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.960
 is vastly important.

00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:29.120
 God also requires

00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:29.900
 this repentance

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:31.059
 for our salvation.

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.200
 It wasn't just for Israel.

00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:34.700
 In Luke chapter 13,

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.860
 Jesus himself says

00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.680
 to a group of Jews,

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.259
 unless you repent,

00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:41.660
 you will all perish,

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:42.720
 he says.

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:45.140
 Unless you do spiritually

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.640
 what Gideon does physically,

00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:48.819
 you will die.

00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.220
 Eternal hell,

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.400
 Jesus says.

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.059
 In Luke 24,

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.059
 after his resurrection,

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.379
 Jesus says this

00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.259
 to his disciples.

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.419
 Thus it is written

00:17:58.419 --> 00:17:59.259
 that the Christ

00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.259
 should suffer

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.759
 and on the third day

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.819
 rise from the dead

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:04.740
 and that repentance

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:06.559
 for the forgiveness

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.519
 of sins

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.819
 should be proclaimed

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.519
 in his name

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.440
 to all nations.

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.240
 In other words,

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.240
 with the gospel message,

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.159
 what's part and parcel

00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.500
 to that?

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.259
 How does somebody

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.200
 receive forgiveness

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.179
 of sins?

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.359
 Jesus says,

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.480
 preach the gospel

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.039
 of Jesus

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.159
 and repentance

00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:22.099
 for the forgiveness

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:22.779
 of sins.

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.799
 It's necessary.

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.139
 And then when it came

00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.079
 time for the apostles

00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:28.019
 to actually preach

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.599
 that message

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.500
 in Acts chapter 2,

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.480
 this is what we read.

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:31.919
 When they heard

00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:32.460
 the gospel,

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.079
 they were cut

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.740
 to the heart

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.099
 and they said

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.579
 to Peter

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.079
 and the rest

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.759
 of the apostles,

00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:37.679
 brothers,

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.759
 what shall we do?

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.519
 And Peter said

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:40.899
 to them,

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.159
 repent

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:44.159
 and be baptized

00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:45.440
 every one of you

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.339
 in the name of Jesus

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.139
 for the forgiveness

00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:48.039
 of your sins

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.659
 and you will receive

00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:50.579
 the gift of the Spirit.

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:52.599
 Repentance

00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:53.819
 is absolutely necessary

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.659
 for salvation.

00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.099
 Without it,

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.699
 you cannot be saved.

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.079
 And the repentance

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.139
 unto salvation,

00:19:01.399 --> 00:19:01.679
 genuine,

00:19:01.959 --> 00:19:02.559
 true repentance,

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.939
 requires the same

00:19:03.939 --> 00:19:04.579
 two elements

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:07.359
 represented by Gideon's task.

00:19:08.939 --> 00:19:09.939
 It is a turning away

00:19:09.939 --> 00:19:10.619
 from sin

00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.579
 and unbelief

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:13.559
 in order that you may

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.099
 genuinely turn to

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:16.519
 Christ,

00:19:17.199 --> 00:19:18.339
 Lord and Savior.

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:21.059
 without both features,

00:19:21.459 --> 00:19:23.419
 you have not truly

00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:24.799
 repented unto salvation.

00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:26.720
 And to leave

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.919
 one facet of it

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:28.939
 out of your gospel

00:19:28.939 --> 00:19:30.319
 preaching and evangelism

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.419
 is to distort

00:19:31.419 --> 00:19:32.480
 the gospel message.

00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.599
 It doesn't make sense

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:36.939
 without tearing down

00:19:36.939 --> 00:19:37.579
 Baal's altar

00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:39.419
 in order to build

00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:40.119
 the Lord's.

00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.119
 And it is worth

00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:43.119
 a note of clarification

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.980
 here of

00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:45.500
 what it actually means

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.419
 to repent of your sin.

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.480
 We are not talking

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.200
 about getting out

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.360
 a piece of notebook paper

00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:50.420
 and listing all the bad

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.920
 things you have ever

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.600
 done in your life.

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.660
 And then praying

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.300
 through that list

00:19:54.300 --> 00:19:54.620
 and saying,

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:54.860
 Lord,

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.960
 you know,

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.740
 when I was 16

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.600
 I did this really

00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:58.220
 stupid thing

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.840
 and I disobeyed

00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.240
 my parents

00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.700
 and I snuck out

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.140
 of my house.

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.340
 Lord,

00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.340
 forgive me for that,

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:01.580
 please.

00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:02.360
 I won't do that again.

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:02.940
 And you check that

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.440
 off the list.

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:03.940
 And then you move

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.500
 down to the next.

00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:04.720
 Well,

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.140
 Lord,

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.620
 there was also

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.140
 this time

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.400
 that I looked

00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:07.740
 at things

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.300
 on the computer

00:20:08.300 --> 00:20:08.700
 I shouldn't have

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.140
 looked at.

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.880
 I never told

00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.759
 my wife about it

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.560
 but it is on my mind

00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:11.820
 now.

00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.140
 And so,

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.060
 that's not repentance.

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.539
 That's not what

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.180
 we're talking about.

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:19.000
 That's remorse.

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:20.460
 That may be necessary

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.200
 to some extent

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.920
 but that's not

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.440
 what we're talking

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.160
 about with genuine

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.620
 repentance.

00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:25.340
 We're talking about

00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:26.500
 not a checklist.

00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:28.060
 We're talking about

00:20:28.060 --> 00:20:29.259
 a disposition of heart,

00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:30.160
 a change of heart.

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.700
 We're on one hand

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.759
 thinking more broadly.

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:35.259
 We are pursuing

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:35.820
 the world.

00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:38.100
 We're pursuing self.

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.860
 We're saying,

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.300
 I'm going to do

00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:41.100
 my thing

00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:41.740
 and I'm going to

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.800
 do it my way

00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:43.800
 and no one's going

00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:44.700
 to tell me any different

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.920
 and we're finally saying,

00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.600
 no, I'm surrendering

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.400
 all of that.

00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:49.500
 Everything that I am,

00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.620
 my identity,

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.800
 all of my desires,

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.840
 everything that I want

00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.560
 out of this life,

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.400
 everything that I want

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:56.680
 to do,

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.700
 I'm setting all

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.160
 of that aside.

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.779
 I'm turning away

00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.259
 from that

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.539
 in order that I might

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.900
 turn to Jesus Christ

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.860
 my Lord and Savior.

00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:04.560
 I'm going to trust Him

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:05.580
 as the propitiation

00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:06.360
 for those sins

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:07.480
 and now I'm going

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.240
 to follow Him

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.980
 as Lord

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:10.080
 which means

00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:11.000
 all of these desires

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.920
 that I had over here

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.660
 are now submitted

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.519
 to His Lordship.

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.380
 And that means

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:15.680
 one day

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:15.920
 you're going

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.420
 to sit down

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.299
 after you come

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:17.700
 to Christ

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:17.940
 you're going

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.620
 to open your Bible

00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.779
 maybe six,

00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:20.460
 twenty,

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.400
 thirty years later

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:21.960
 and you're going

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.600
 to read a passage

00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.000
 of Scripture

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.500
 and the Lord's

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.000
 going to bring up

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.940
 something in your life

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.600
 and He's going

00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:27.180
 to point on your heart

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.180
 and He's going

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.380
 to say,

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:28.900
 this is it,

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.680
 you're disobeying

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.480
 me in this way.

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.960
 Genuine repentance

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.980
 is the disposition

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.140
 of heart that says,

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.560
 this is hard for me

00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:37.220
 to read and it's hard

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.799
 for me to hear

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:39.279
 but the Lord Jesus,

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.100
 He's my Savior,

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.940
 He's my Lord.

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.940
 I surrender

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.820
 what I want to Him.

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.779
 That's what we're

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.359
 talking about

00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.359
 with genuine repentance

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:45.759
 here.

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:46.419
 We're not talking

00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:47.139
 about checklists.

00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:48.439
 We're talking

00:21:48.439 --> 00:21:48.839
 about something

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.500
 much deeper

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.059
 than that.

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.339
 A heart level

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.119
 transformation

00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.599
 that comes

00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:54.279
 as a result

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.619
 of the grace

00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:55.980
 of God

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.339
 at work

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:57.000
 in our lives.

00:21:57.939 --> 00:21:58.339
 Let's look

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.019
 at verse 27.

00:21:59.319 --> 00:21:59.679
 This kind of

00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:00.240
 concludes this

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.059
 particular portion

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.319
 of it,

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:01.919
 the task.

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:02.980
 Notice what

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.619
 Gideon did.

00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:05.699
 Gideon took

00:22:05.699 --> 00:22:06.219
 ten men

00:22:06.219 --> 00:22:06.899
 of his servants

00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:07.259
 and did

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.659
 as the Lord

00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.299
 had told him.

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.319
 But because

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.119
 he was too afraid

00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.759
 of his family

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.119
 and the men

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:12.579
 of the town

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.500
 to do it by day,

00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.039
 he did it by night.

00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.259
 A common

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:17.719
 misconception

00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:19.239
 of the Bible

00:22:19.239 --> 00:22:20.119
 is that it's

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:20.899
 a book of heroes.

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.599
 The Bible's

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.000
 not a book

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.539
 of heroes.

00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:24.619
 In fact,

00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.299
 there's only one

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.119
 hero in the Bible

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.199
 and that's

00:22:27.199 --> 00:22:27.799
 the Lord Jesus.

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.439
 No one else

00:22:29.439 --> 00:22:30.059
 qualifies.

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.579
 In fact,

00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:32.079
 if you pay

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.839
 attention as you

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.139
 read,

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.800
 you'll realize

00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:34.360
 very quickly

00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:35.180
 that all of

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.660
 these people

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.680
 are profoundly

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.420
 flawed

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.980
 and weak,

00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:40.500
 underwhelming

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.020
 even.

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.520
 And Gideon's

00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:43.120
 no exception

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.560
 to that,

00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:43.940
 is he?

00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.420
 This verse

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:46.880
 reveals,

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:47.440
 once again,

00:22:47.540 --> 00:22:48.440
 just how relatable

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.240
 he is

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.560
 to most people.

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.980
 He's prone

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.580
 to fear.

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.620
 He's in

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.540
 constant need

00:22:55.540 --> 00:22:56.660
 of reassurance.

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.720
 But then he

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.900
 also shows

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.700
 this tremendous

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.500
 faith in this

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:02.740
 moment,

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.259
 doesn't he?

00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:04.339
 How does

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.680
 he show

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.099
 faith?

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.339
 He's scared.

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.619
 He does it

00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:07.980
 at night.

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.420
 He's afraid

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:08.779
 for people

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.380
 to see him.

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.839
 He's afraid

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.579
 to be known.

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.019
 How does

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.339
 he actually

00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:12.940
 show faith?

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.660
 He obeys

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.019
 God in

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.460
 spite of

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:16.980
 that fear.

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.460
 That's the

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:18.920
 key here.

00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:20.940
 Only those

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.519
 of us with

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.079
 a perfect

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:23.119
 faith should

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.039
 feel comfortable

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.140
 coming down

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:25.640
 hard on

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.220
 Gideon for

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.640
 doing this

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.039
 at night.

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:29.500
 this is a

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.180
 cast the first

00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:30.639
 stone kind

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.279
 of situation

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.639
 where we

00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.139
 come to a

00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.740
 passage like

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.599
 this and

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.039
 we think,

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:34.500
 man,

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.180
 Gideon,

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.259
 come on,

00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:36.539
 man,

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.180
 pull yourself

00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:37.799
 up a little

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.139
 bit.

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.519
 He's so

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.039
 scared.

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.460
 You wouldn't

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.019
 be scared.

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.579
 Of course

00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.000
 you would.

00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:45.720
 You know

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.119
 what true

00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:46.779
 faith is?

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.680
 Obeying

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.960
 God when

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.579
 you're scared.

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.460
 Yes,

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:53.879
 he should

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.359
 have trusted

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.200
 more confidently

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.740
 in God's

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.160
 promises.

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.319
 But let's

00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:57.759
 not ignore

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.400
 the fact

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.519
 that he

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.360
 still performed

00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:00.980
 a task

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.660
 most of us

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:01.960
 would be

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.580
 unwilling to

00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:02.840
 do.

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.420
 Gideon

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:06.759
 knew his

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.259
 life was

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.720
 on the line

00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.200
 with this.

00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.220
 We often

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.000
 falter under

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.680
 the threat

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.660
 of far less

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.720
 severe consequences

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.660
 than what

00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.240
 Gideon was

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.700
 under here.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.220
 Let's give

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.580
 the man a

00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:18.920
 break for

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.519
 just a second

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.840
 and acknowledge

00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:21.440
 and rejoice

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:21.900
 in the fact

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.180
 that he

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.740
 obeyed the

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.019
 Lord.

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:25.400
 We should

00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:25.900
 be encouraged

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.460
 by that.

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.099
 Faith is

00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.440
 not the

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.000
 absence of

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.579
 fear as

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.579
 many have

00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.639
 defined it

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.759
 wrongly.

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.539
 Faith is

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.160
 trusting and

00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:36.879
 obeying God

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.440
 even when you

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.200
 are completely

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.960
 filled with

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:39.299
 fear.

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:41.980
 Fortunately

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.539
 for us

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.039
 and fortunately

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.599
 for Gideon,

00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.639
 God doesn't

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:46.299
 require heroism.

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.599
 He just

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.079
 requires

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.980
 obedience.

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.339
 And that's

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:50.779
 what we see

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.339
 in Gideon.

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.279
 We should

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.680
 read this

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.139
 text and

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.539
 remember

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.599
 again that

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.000
 it's not

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.559
 the strength

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:55.839
 of our

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.240
 faith that

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.579
 ultimately

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.039
 matters.

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.500
 It's the

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.119
 object of

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.680
 that faith.

00:24:59.539 --> 00:24:59.859
 And the

00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.359
 object of

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:00.819
 our faith

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:02.200
 will get

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.559
 the job

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:02.899
 done.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.180
 We should

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.720
 take comfort

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.319
 in the fact

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:09.039
 even that

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.599
 God is so

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.559
 patient and

00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:12.220
 merciful with

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.639
 Gideon's

00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.160
 weakness here,

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.500
 isn't it?

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:14.960
 It's funny,

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.420
 we come to

00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:15.799
 texts like

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.319
 this and we

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.240
 want to

00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:19.639
 condemn people

00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.240
 like Gideon

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.680
 when God

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.139
 doesn't even

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.539
 do that.

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:23.420
 There's no

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.019
 correction of

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.539
 Gideon here.

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.619
 Just a simple

00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:25.980
 statement.

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:26.779
 He does it

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.079
 at night.

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.660
 This was

00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.220
 tremendous

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.639
 faith.

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.399
 This is why

00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:30.139
 Hebrews 11

00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:30.920
 says Gideon

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.359
 is somebody

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:31.859
 we need to

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.299
 look to

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.960
 as an

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.519
 example of

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:33.759
 faith.

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.079
 That's the

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.839
 initial task.

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:36.740
 Second,

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.859
 let's see

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.819
 an incensed

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.740
 mob.

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.240
 An incensed

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.700
 mob.

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:42.740
 28,

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.720
 when the

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.079
 men of the

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.500
 town rose

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:45.960
 early in

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.319
 the morning,

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:46.759
 behold,

00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:47.240
 the altar

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.779
 of Baal

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.420
 was broken

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:48.940
 down.

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:49.940
 The

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.400
 Asherah

00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:50.960
 beside it

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.339
 was cut

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:51.660
 down.

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.160
 The second

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.660
 bull was

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.140
 offered on

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.539
 the altar

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:53.900
 that had

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.299
 been built.

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.579
 And they

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.059
 said one

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.579
 to another,

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.779
 who has

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.160
 done this

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.539
 thing?

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.019
 After they

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.500
 had searched

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.120
 and inquired,

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.539
 they said,

00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:01.920
 Gideon,

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.400
 the son of

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.779
 Joash,

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.140
 has done

00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.500
 this.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.579
 And the

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.000
 men of

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.400
 the town

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:05.839
 said to

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.279
 Joash,

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:06.779
 bring out

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.299
 your son

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.680
 that he

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.680
 may die,

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:10.580
 for he's

00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.140
 broken down

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:11.620
 the altar

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.100
 of Baal

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.460
 and cut

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.820
 down the

00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.259
 Asherah

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.840
 beside it.

00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.620
 They want

00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.120
 Gideon

00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:17.340
 dead.

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.620
 So then

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.299
 Gideon's

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.680
 fears are

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:22.360
 realized the

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.799
 very next

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.120
 morning.

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.779
 People of

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.080
 the town

00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:25.539
 wake up,

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.000
 they realize

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.279
 what's

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.660
 happened,

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.600
 they immediately

00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:29.120
 begin to

00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:29.900
 inquire as

00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.539
 to who is

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.080
 responsible,

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.480
 and when they

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.039
 find out that

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.480
 it's Gideon,

00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:32.920
 they stand

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.400
 outside of

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:33.740
 Gideon's

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.120
 father's

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:34.360
 house,

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.940
 and they

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.240
 say you

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.519
 need to

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:35.860
 send out

00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:36.480
 your son

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.400
 because it's

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.799
 time for

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.180
 him to

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.539
 die.

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:39.820
 Look at

00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:40.180
 what he

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.600
 did.

00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:43.500
 His faith

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:43.860
 in and

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.640
 obedience to

00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.279
 God set

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:45.519
 him at

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.060
 odds with

00:26:47.060 --> 00:26:47.660
 his family

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.400
 and community,

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:49.779
 and they

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.080
 were out

00:26:50.080 --> 00:26:50.600
 for blood.

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.480
 That's

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.019
 terrifying.

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.779
 Sometimes

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.480
 the gospel

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.220
 message is

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.100
 unhelpfully

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.880
 presented to

00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.620
 us in an

00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.460
 idealized

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:00.900
 form,

00:27:01.060 --> 00:27:01.700
 and people

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.160
 come and

00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.820
 they're told

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.180
 that if they

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.740
 just come to

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:03.980
 Christ,

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.279
 things are

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:04.420
 going to

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:04.940
 get better,

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:07.420
 and we

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.779
 convince

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.140
 ourselves

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.600
 sometimes

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:08.920
 that if

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.240
 we do

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.500
 what's

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:10.800
 right and

00:27:10.800 --> 00:27:11.160
 we say

00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:11.480
 what's

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:11.700
 right,

00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:12.020
 that the

00:27:12.020 --> 00:27:12.600
 people around

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:12.860
 us are

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.000
 going to

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.340
 be very

00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:14.020
 respectful of

00:27:14.020 --> 00:27:14.300
 that,

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.200
 and they're

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.560
 just going

00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.140
 to admire

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.900
 our

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.880
 conviction,

00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.560
 and that

00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:20.220
 is not at

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.540
 all what

00:27:20.540 --> 00:27:20.960
 happens.

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.460
 That's not at

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.759
 all what

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.080
 happens.

00:27:23.780 --> 00:27:24.300
 That's not

00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:24.680
 what happened

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.180
 for Gideon

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.480
 either.

00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:27.720
 That's why

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.460
 the first test

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.140
 of faith for

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.420
 a young

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:31.080
 believer is

00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:32.000
 often to deal

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.060
 with vehement

00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:34.840
 opposition from

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.899
 people that

00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:36.439
 we actually

00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:37.139
 care deeply

00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:37.740
 about being

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.539
 accepted by.

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.459
 Like mom

00:27:41.459 --> 00:27:41.919
 and dad,

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.959
 and the

00:27:42.959 --> 00:27:43.480
 family that's

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:43.939
 around us,

00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.179
 and the

00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:44.679
 community of

00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:45.039
 friends that

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.539
 we've developed

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.039
 over time,

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.259
 and our

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.899
 coworkers.

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.500
 We want to

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.319
 be accepted

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.759
 by these

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.000
 people.

00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:49.439
 We want to

00:27:49.439 --> 00:27:50.039
 be included

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.480
 by these

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.720
 people,

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.299
 and loved

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.740
 by these

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.139
 people.

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.559
 And yet

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.000
 our new

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.480
 faith in

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.099
 Jesus Christ

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.959
 often sets us

00:27:55.959 --> 00:27:56.439
 in opposition

00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.119
 to them.

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.240
 And those

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.899
 relationships,

00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.480
 and those

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.079
 blessings are

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.959
 then at

00:28:00.959 --> 00:28:01.419
 risk.

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:03.240
 the call

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.160
 to discipleship

00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.360
 is a public

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.080
 identification

00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:06.940
 with Jesus

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.980
 that will

00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.640
 always,

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.039
 always put

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.539
 us at odds

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:11.840
 with the

00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:12.140
 world.

00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:12.640
 That's the

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:12.880
 thing.

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.000
 And we

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.340
 know it

00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:14.759
 will always

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.220
 do that

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.960
 because that's

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.400
 what Jesus

00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.920
 said it

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.380
 would do.

00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.060
 Remember

00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:19.660
 his words

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:19.960
 in Luke

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.620
 chapter 9.

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.840
 Jesus says,

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.440
 if anyone

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:22.940
 would come

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.340
 after me,

00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:23.600
 in other

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:23.720
 words,

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.100
 if anyone

00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:24.580
 will follow

00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:24.740
 me,

00:28:24.800 --> 00:28:25.140
 be my

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.620
 disciple,

00:28:25.820 --> 00:28:26.160
 trusting

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:26.640
 me for

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.120
 salvation,

00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:28.000
 if anyone

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.539
 will come

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.060
 after me,

00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:29.680
 let him

00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.700
 deny himself,

00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.340
 repent,

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:34.160
 take up

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.720
 his cross

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.340
 daily,

00:28:36.080 --> 00:28:37.200
 follow me.

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.500
 What is

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:37.860
 that all

00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.140
 about?

00:28:39.080 --> 00:28:39.800
 The cross

00:28:39.800 --> 00:28:40.259
 for them

00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.720
 is a

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.200
 symbol of

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.539
 death.

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.180
 In other

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.320
 words,

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.200
 Jesus says,

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.140
 come prepared

00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:46.759
 to die.

00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:48.380
 Come prepared

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:48.860
 to die.

00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:51.880
 Identifying

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:53.039
 with my

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.420
 cross,

00:28:53.560 --> 00:28:54.100
 identifying

00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:54.980
 with me

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:56.140
 will bring

00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:56.680
 great

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.680
 hardship.

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.300
 And if

00:28:58.300 --> 00:28:58.500
 you're going

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:58.759
 to come

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.180
 after me,

00:28:59.200 --> 00:28:59.400
 you need

00:28:59.400 --> 00:28:59.640
 to be

00:28:59.640 --> 00:28:59.920
 prepared

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.440
 for that.

00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:00.820
 You need

00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:00.960
 to be

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.320
 prepared

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:01.700
 to do

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.079
 that.

00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:03.619
 Jesus

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.059
 also

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.379
 warned

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:04.639
 that

00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.379
 belief

00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:05.700
 in

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:05.879
 and

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.539
 faithfulness

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:06.679
 to

00:29:06.679 --> 00:29:06.859
 his

00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.259
 gospel

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.539
 runs

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:07.720
 the

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.119
 risk

00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:08.779
 of

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.000
 being

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.599
 persecuted

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.319
 even

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.859
 by one's

00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.399
 family.

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.480
 Matthew

00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.259
 chapter 10,

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.740
 brother will

00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.460
 deliver brother

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.939
 over to

00:29:17.939 --> 00:29:18.179
 death,

00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.919
 Jesus says,

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.539
 and the

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:19.960
 father,

00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.019
 his child,

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.039
 and children

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.859
 will rise

00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.659
 against parents

00:29:23.659 --> 00:29:24.000
 and have

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.339
 them put

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:24.819
 to death,

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.679
 and you

00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:26.119
 will be

00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:26.799
 hated by

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:27.419
 all

00:29:27.419 --> 00:29:28.559
 for my

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.059
 name's

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.419
 sake.

00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.039
 God

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.660
 will

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:33.560
 be

00:29:33.560 --> 00:29:34.000
 saved.

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.039
 This

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.420
 brings

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.279
 further

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.920
 light to

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.380
 Gideon's

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.019
 faithfulness

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.400
 in spite

00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.660
 of his

00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:39.960
 fear.

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.180
 A

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.680
 fundamental

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.380
 conviction

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.680
 of a

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:44.980
 true

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.700
 Christian

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:47.180
 is to

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.019
 fear God

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:49.160
 more than

00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:49.539
 man.

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.039
 It is to

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:53.120
 desire the

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.920
 pleasure and

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.539
 glory of

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.080
 God

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:56.920
 more than

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.640
 the acceptance

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.380
 of this

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.259
 world.

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.080
 It is to

00:30:00.080 --> 00:30:01.019
 lose one's

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:02.480
 life for

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.240
 the life

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.240
 that Christ

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.940
 offers.

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:08.180
 If following

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.320
 Jesus and

00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:09.920
 standing for

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.560
 his gospel

00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:11.800
 meant that

00:30:11.800 --> 00:30:12.360
 your family

00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.000
 would disown

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.279
 you,

00:30:13.820 --> 00:30:14.440
 would you

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.080
 still follow

00:30:15.080 --> 00:30:15.380
 him?

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:15.980
 What if

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.360
 that's what

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:16.680
 was at

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.080
 risk for

00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.259
 you?

00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.519
 Would you

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.940
 still do

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.120
 it?

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.680
 What if

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.019
 your kids

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.519
 decided,

00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:22.640
 as long as

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:22.840
 you're going

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:23.200
 to do this

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.660
 whole Christian

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.019
 thing,

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.019
 you're not

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.160
 going to

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.519
 have me,

00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:25.800
 I'm going

00:30:25.800 --> 00:30:25.940
 to have

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.400
 nothing to

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:26.640
 do with

00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.020
 you anymore?

00:30:30.080 --> 00:30:30.540
 What if

00:30:30.540 --> 00:30:30.720
 it was

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.380
 the vice

00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:31.960
 versa and

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.360
 your parents

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:32.500
 say,

00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:32.680
 you know

00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:32.820
 what,

00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.040
 if you're

00:30:33.040 --> 00:30:33.220
 going to

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.780
 continue on

00:30:33.780 --> 00:30:34.500
 this Christian

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.700
 thing,

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:34.920
 you're going

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.120
 to have to

00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.500
 find another

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:35.900
 place to

00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.200
 live because

00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:36.420
 I'm not

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:36.620
 going to

00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.140
 tolerate it

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.320
 in my

00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:37.600
 house.

00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.259
 Is

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.880
 Jesus still

00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:40.340
 worth it

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:40.860
 even then?

00:30:42.280 --> 00:30:42.660
 Is

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.360
 Jesus still

00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.040
 worth it

00:30:44.040 --> 00:30:45.660
 when it

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.100
 comes with

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.540
 the risk

00:30:46.540 --> 00:30:47.040
 of losing

00:30:47.040 --> 00:30:49.100
 really close

00:30:49.100 --> 00:30:49.480
 friendships?

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.520
 What about

00:30:51.520 --> 00:30:52.060
 your business

00:30:52.060 --> 00:30:52.540
 and your

00:30:52.540 --> 00:30:53.140
 work and

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:55.240
 your ability

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:55.940
 to climb the

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.120
 ladder in your

00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:57.000
 business?

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.799
 What if it

00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.199
 even means

00:30:59.199 --> 00:30:59.779
 your life?

00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.359
 Is Jesus

00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.099
 still worth

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.319
 it?

00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:02.859
 Jesus

00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:06.479
 continues in

00:31:06.479 --> 00:31:07.079
 Matthew 10,

00:31:07.439 --> 00:31:08.079
 whoever loves

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:08.739
 father and

00:31:08.739 --> 00:31:09.219
 mother more

00:31:09.219 --> 00:31:10.500
 than me is

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:10.959
 not worthy

00:31:10.959 --> 00:31:11.319
 of me.

00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:12.879
 Whoever

00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.779
 loves son or

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.299
 daughter more

00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.519
 than me is

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:15.979
 not worthy

00:31:15.979 --> 00:31:16.359
 of me.

00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:17.639
 Whoever

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.139
 does not

00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:18.659
 take up his

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.119
 cross and

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.239
 follow me is

00:31:20.239 --> 00:31:20.819
 not worthy

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.419
 of me.

00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.099
 Whoever

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:23.779
 finds his

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.479
 life will lose

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:24.839
 it, Jesus

00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:26.500
 said, and

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.200
 whoever loses

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.900
 his life for

00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:29.599
 my sake will

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.099
 find it.

00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.319
 Gideon was

00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:33.279
 faced immediately

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.940
 the very next

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.539
 day with that

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.500
 exact predicament

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.799
 and we don't

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.180
 need to be

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.400
 surprised when

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:38.680
 it's a

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.259
 predicament that

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.799
 we face as

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.059
 well.

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:43.980
 Why do you

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.559
 suppose the

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.039
 people had

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.579
 such a strong

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.140
 reaction?

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.400
 The Torah

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.900
 sentence, the

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.920
 law of Moses

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.599
 that is, the

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.140
 sentence for

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:53.980
 idolatry was

00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.440
 now being

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:56.200
 pronounced on

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.680
 the one who

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.340
 destroyed the

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:57.620
 idol.

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.920
 It's completely

00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.560
 reversed now,

00:31:59.600 --> 00:31:59.920
 isn't it?

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.680
 Shows just how

00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.460
 severe the

00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.280
 spiritual decline

00:32:04.280 --> 00:32:04.840
 in Israel had

00:32:04.840 --> 00:32:05.240
 become.

00:32:06.560 --> 00:32:07.080
 They were now

00:32:07.080 --> 00:32:07.860
 thoroughly

00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:10.400
 Canaanized and

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.240
 were sentencing

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:11.960
 the righteous

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:14.300
 one for his

00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:14.860
 righteousness.

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.039
 righteousness.

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.519
 How wonderfully

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:21.500
 amazing that

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.199
 God was still

00:32:22.199 --> 00:32:23.240
 interested and

00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.879
 intent on

00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:24.619
 delivering them.

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.419
 Isn't that

00:32:26.419 --> 00:32:26.899
 amazing?

00:32:30.479 --> 00:32:31.439
 The people in

00:32:31.439 --> 00:32:32.139
 Gideon's community

00:32:32.139 --> 00:32:32.959
 are not Gentile

00:32:32.959 --> 00:32:33.319
 people.

00:32:33.479 --> 00:32:33.819
 These aren't

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.459
 Canaanites.

00:32:35.459 --> 00:32:35.719
 These are

00:32:35.719 --> 00:32:36.379
 Israelites.

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:39.399
 The very people

00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:40.079
 that should have

00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.779
 been supporting

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.339
 him in this

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.279
 endeavor are the

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:42.679
 ones that are

00:32:42.679 --> 00:32:43.479
 now calling for

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.140
 his life.

00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.380
 Why?

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.779
 Because he was

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.519
 faithful to the

00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.420
 God that they

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.680
 supposedly belong

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:50.940
 to?

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.220
 And yet God

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:54.940
 still comes in

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.539
 and the whole

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.420
 time what he's

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.299
 doing is he's

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.200
 raising up Gideon

00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.960
 in order that he

00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.940
 might deliver the

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.539
 people that are

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.599
 calling for Gideon

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.940
 to be murdered.

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.960
 What love is

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.200
 that?

00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:09.900
 What grace is

00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.200
 that?

00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:10.200


00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:10.240
 that?

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:14.599
 If you want to

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.339
 see yourself in

00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:15.900
 any of the people

00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.660
 in this passage

00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.779
 probably best not

00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.579
 to look at Gideon.

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.839
 Probably best to

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.400
 look at the people

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:20.839
 of the town.

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:22.859
 You want to

00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.720
 understand God's

00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.380
 love for you in

00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:24.859
 salvation.

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.059
 Look at God's

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.880
 intent to save

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.740
 them despite their

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.640
 vehemence against

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.200
 his man.

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.120
 Isn't that the

00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:32.539
 picture of the

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.000
 cross that we

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.240
 see?

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.180
 We sing songs

00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:36.559
 about it.

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:36.940
 City of Light

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.720
 has a great song

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.299
 about this called

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.079
 Jerusalem where

00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:40.079
 it walks through

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.399
 the different

00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:42.259
 scenes of the

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.259
 crucifixion and

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.639
 it talks about

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.299
 Jesus being

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:45.919
 nailed to a

00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.500
 cross by the

00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.139
 very people that

00:33:47.139 --> 00:33:47.579
 he came to

00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:47.839
 save.

00:33:48.919 --> 00:33:50.059
 In that exact

00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.859
 moment of

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:52.440
 death and

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:54.119
 treachery the

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.639
 whole point of

00:33:54.639 --> 00:33:55.960
 it is to save

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.480
 the people who

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.079
 are doing it.

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:59.220
 What grace is

00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.579
 this?

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.259
 What love?

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.619
 It's possible

00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:04.180
 that the people

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:04.859
 are enraged

00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:05.359
 here because

00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:07.000
 they were

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.859
 fearful of being

00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:08.480
 under a curse

00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.079
 from Baal.

00:34:10.279 --> 00:34:10.719
 They are

00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:11.519
 Baalites for

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:11.819
 sure.

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.239
 And how ironic

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:13.819
 that they would

00:34:13.819 --> 00:34:14.579
 fear the wrath

00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.139
 of a God that

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:15.639
 doesn't even

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.940
 exist more than

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.579
 they feared the

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.179
 wrath of the

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:18.799
 true God who

00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:19.199
 had proven

00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:19.719
 himself to

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.319
 them time and

00:34:20.319 --> 00:34:20.839
 time again.

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.000
 But the

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.819
 vehemence against

00:34:23.819 --> 00:34:24.440
 Gideon really

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.440
 just reflects the

00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.880
 fact that we

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.739
 love our sin.

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.719
 We love our

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:31.659
 sin and we

00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:32.940
 hate anyone who

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.519
 would try to

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.380
 stand in the way

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.400
 of us getting

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.239
 what we want and

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:36.880
 living the way we

00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.359
 want to live.

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.640
 We hate those

00:34:38.640 --> 00:34:38.980
 people.

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.740
 John says it

00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.300
 this way in

00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.800
 John chapter

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.140
 3.

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.500
 He's interpreting

00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:47.440
 Jesus' exchange

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.440
 with Nicodemus in

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.480
 John 3 and he

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.260
 interprets it this

00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:50.420
 way.

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.740
 He says,

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:51.320
 This is the

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.640
 judgment.

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.120
 The light has

00:34:53.120 --> 00:34:53.660
 come into the

00:34:53.660 --> 00:34:55.420
 world and people

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.620
 loved darkness

00:34:56.620 --> 00:34:58.099
 rather than the

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.700
 light because their

00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:00.440
 works were evil.

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.340
 For everyone who

00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:03.200
 does wicked things

00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:04.380
 hates the light and

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.160
 does not come to

00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:06.300
 the light lest his

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:06.860
 work should be

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.360
 exposed.

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.260
 But whoever does

00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:10.180
 what is true comes

00:35:10.180 --> 00:35:11.140
 to the light so

00:35:11.140 --> 00:35:11.720
 that it may be

00:35:11.720 --> 00:35:12.680
 clearly seen that

00:35:12.680 --> 00:35:13.400
 his works have

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.140
 been carried out

00:35:14.140 --> 00:35:15.140
 in God.

00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:16.000
 Watch John

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.640
 getting on out

00:35:17.640 --> 00:35:18.519
 with that.

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:21.920
 What's your

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.840
 typical response

00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.360
 when somebody

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.059
 confronts you in

00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.440
 your sin?

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.880
 John says that

00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.519
 the wicked in

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.620
 heart despise

00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:31.380
 light because it

00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.460
 exposes that their

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.160
 works are evil.

00:35:33.240 --> 00:35:33.860
 They don't like to

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.660
 be told that

00:35:34.660 --> 00:35:35.840
 they're sinners.

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.440
 They don't like to

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.180
 be told that

00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:37.740
 their works are

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.280
 evil, that they're

00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:39.200
 set up against

00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:39.380
 God.

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:39.980
 People don't like

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.680
 to go to church.

00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:42.120
 You're unbelieving

00:35:42.120 --> 00:35:42.420
 friends.

00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.100
 Don't be surprised

00:35:43.100 --> 00:35:43.579
 when you invite

00:35:43.579 --> 00:35:44.140
 them to a service.

00:35:44.240 --> 00:35:44.760
 They don't want to

00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:45.120
 come here.

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:45.960
 They know when

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.600
 they come that the

00:35:47.600 --> 00:35:48.780
 light exposes the

00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:49.940
 darkness and we

00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.620
 love our sin.

00:35:51.100 --> 00:35:52.100
 We love the darkness

00:35:52.100 --> 00:35:52.800
 more than we love

00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.280
 the light.

00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:55.440
 But then John

00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.420
 continues on.

00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:58.340
 Those who care for

00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:59.680
 their lives to

00:35:59.680 --> 00:36:00.680
 reflect the glory of

00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:01.000
 God.

00:36:02.140 --> 00:36:03.320
 They love the light.

00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:05.000
 They love the light

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:05.640
 of God's truth

00:36:05.640 --> 00:36:06.880
 because they desire

00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:08.240
 to do what is true

00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:09.620
 and right.

00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:12.519
 It's painful, but

00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:13.180
 they're not afraid

00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:13.880
 for the light to

00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:14.600
 expose their

00:36:14.600 --> 00:36:15.260
 wickedness because

00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:16.039
 that means that

00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:16.380
 they're going to

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.519
 move forward in

00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:19.620
 glory, forward in

00:36:19.620 --> 00:36:20.480
 glorifying the

00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:20.820
 Lord.

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:23.220
 Just as Gideon's

00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:24.420
 actions expose the

00:36:24.420 --> 00:36:25.100
 wickedness of his

00:36:25.100 --> 00:36:27.400
 community, so does a

00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.620
 confrontation of God's

00:36:28.620 --> 00:36:29.600
 word expose what's

00:36:29.600 --> 00:36:30.600
 really in our hearts

00:36:30.600 --> 00:36:31.000
 as well.

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:33.000
 So that when we

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.780
 come to church Sunday

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.699
 by Sunday and we

00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:36.559
 see the passages that

00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:36.940
 are read and we

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.599
 read them or we hear

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.380
 their sermons, whoever

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:39.519
 it may be that's

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:41.059
 preaching, and we're

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.119
 confronted in our sin,

00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:43.039
 what's our response to

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.239
 that?

00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.719
 Do we want to run

00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:46.519
 away from the light?

00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:48.099
 That would be an

00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:48.860
 indicator that your

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.460
 heart is wicked.

00:36:50.699 --> 00:36:51.519
 There's wickedness

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:51.659
 there.

00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:52.159
 You don't actually

00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:53.440
 have a true desire to

00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.019
 please the Lord.

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:57.619
 Or do we love the

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:57.920
 pain?

00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.940
 Hurt so good,

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.199
 right?

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.780
 Because we know

00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:02.440
 what's happening

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:02.739
 there.

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.199
 The Lord is

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.139
 transforming us.

00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:07.119
 He's sanctifying us.

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.079
 He's exposing our

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.860
 sin in order that he

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.699
 may reveal more of

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.199
 his light.

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:14.159
 An incensed mob.

00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:15.579
 Thirdly and finally,

00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:17.440
 we see an illuminating

00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.139
 conclusion.

00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.320
 An illuminating or

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:22.300
 clarifying conclusion.

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.500
 Verse 31,

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:25.139
 Joash said to all who

00:37:25.139 --> 00:37:25.920
 stood against him,

00:37:26.739 --> 00:37:27.619
 will you contend for

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:27.900
 Baal?

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.440
 Will you save him?

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:31.539
 Whoever contends for

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.380
 him shall be put to

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.179
 death by morning.

00:37:33.700 --> 00:37:34.679
 If he's a god,

00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:35.599
 let him contend for

00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:37.440
 himself, because his

00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.220
 altar has been broken

00:37:38.220 --> 00:37:38.559
 down.

00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.460
 Therefore, on that day,

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.320
 Gideon was called

00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:42.039
 Jerob Baal.

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.800
 That is to say, let

00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.980
 Baal contend against

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:46.880
 him, because he broke

00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:48.280
 down his altar.

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:51.519
 In the end, it's Joash,

00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:53.320
 the idolater, the very

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:54.500
 one who built and

00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:56.119
 sponsored this altar to

00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.800
 Baal, who comes to

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:58.680
 Gideon's defense.

00:37:59.780 --> 00:38:01.000
 That's quite the twist in

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.760
 the story, isn't it?

00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:04.519
 When we're faithful to

00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.420
 stand for God's truth,

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.480
 most people will hate us

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:06.840
 for it.

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:08.519
 But then, God will also

00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:10.820
 use us to soften the

00:38:10.820 --> 00:38:11.660
 hearts of others.

00:38:12.160 --> 00:38:12.980
 I think that's what's

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:14.900
 happening with Joash

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.160
 here.

00:38:16.200 --> 00:38:17.340
 The text doesn't say

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:19.340
 that he fully turns to

00:38:19.340 --> 00:38:20.320
 God in this moment, but

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:21.940
 at the very least, he's

00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.920
 questioning the

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:24.480
 existence and power of

00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:24.820
 Baal.

00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:28.519
 This is an exchange

00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.640
 between him and the

00:38:29.640 --> 00:38:30.600
 people of the town that's

00:38:30.600 --> 00:38:32.720
 similar to what happens

00:38:32.720 --> 00:38:34.160
 with Elijah and the

00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:35.320
 prophets of Baal in 1

00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:35.920
 Kings 18.

00:38:36.080 --> 00:38:36.960
 You remember that great

00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:39.059
 war over whose God is

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:40.200
 real, and they build the

00:38:40.200 --> 00:38:41.039
 altars and they do the

00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:41.519
 thing there.

00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:42.740
 This is so similar to

00:38:42.740 --> 00:38:43.220
 that, isn't it?

00:38:43.220 --> 00:38:44.019
 The language of it.

00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:45.600
 Joash appears like

00:38:45.600 --> 00:38:48.660
 Elijah to be mocking

00:38:48.660 --> 00:38:51.740
 this supposed deity now.

00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:55.979
 Now, gods are supposed

00:38:55.979 --> 00:38:57.139
 to save their own

00:38:57.139 --> 00:38:59.559
 people, but Joash charged

00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:00.579
 the men with having to

00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:01.659
 save Baal instead.

00:39:03.279 --> 00:39:05.979
 If he is a god, let him

00:39:05.979 --> 00:39:07.399
 contend for himself, says

00:39:07.399 --> 00:39:08.079
 Joash.

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:11.719
 And then he gave Gideon a

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:14.079
 new name, Jerob Baal.

00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:17.759
 Means, let Baal contend

00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:18.279
 against him.

00:39:18.379 --> 00:39:19.859
 Let Baal contend.

00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:22.559
 Let Baal come to his own

00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:24.360
 defense, essentially.

00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:25.760
 It's meant to be a

00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:27.220
 mockery of Baal, I think.

00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:29.880
 And everywhere Gideon

00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:31.760
 went from then on, his

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:34.039
 very name would remind

00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:35.559
 people that the gods of

00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:37.740
 Canaan were powerless

00:39:37.740 --> 00:39:39.820
 against the God of Israel.

00:39:40.640 --> 00:39:42.579
 He's a marked man now in

00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:43.700
 the best of ways.

00:39:45.680 --> 00:39:47.240
 This conclusion, it

00:39:47.240 --> 00:39:49.200
 illuminates and clarifies

00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:50.339
 the real significance of

00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:50.799
 the story.

00:39:51.799 --> 00:39:53.699
 This was not ultimately a

00:39:53.699 --> 00:39:55.079
 war between Israel and

00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:56.619
 Midian, but between

00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:57.779
 Yahweh and Baal.

00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:01.179
 God was reminding his

00:40:01.179 --> 00:40:02.739
 people that he alone is

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:04.199
 God, that he would not

00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:05.799
 tolerate their idolatry,

00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:07.279
 and that their repentance

00:40:07.279 --> 00:40:09.559
 was necessary for their

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.159
 salvation.

00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:13.519
 Gideon becomes a marked

00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:13.919
 man.

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:16.019
 He gets this new name,

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.920
 man moving forward.

00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:18.440
 He would be known for his

00:40:18.440 --> 00:40:20.300
 faithfulness to God and his

00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:21.679
 stand against the worship

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.320
 of Baal.

00:40:23.179 --> 00:40:24.659
 And such is the case for

00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:25.759
 believers who stand for the

00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:26.059
 truth.

00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:28.460
 We become marked individuals

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:30.219
 in the best possible way.

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:33.340
 Coming to Christ, we

00:40:33.340 --> 00:40:35.920
 surrender our identities to

00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:39.059
 be identified with Jesus.

00:40:39.059 --> 00:40:42.299
 our faith and obedience

00:40:42.299 --> 00:40:44.900
 should then follow us as an

00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:47.519
 illuminating message that

00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:49.860
 declares the glory of the one

00:40:49.860 --> 00:40:50.420
 true God.

00:40:52.679 --> 00:40:54.599
 As we bring the study to a

00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:57.380
 close, I want to remind you of

00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:59.099
 something that I haven't

00:40:59.099 --> 00:41:00.400
 mentioned in a few weeks, and

00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:02.239
 we focused on it a little bit in

00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:03.480
 the introduction to this book,

00:41:03.579 --> 00:41:06.380
 but we need to remember that

00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:08.159
 Judges is not merely a history

00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:09.059
 of ancient Israel.

00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:13.619
 It's a prophetic message about

00:41:13.619 --> 00:41:15.199
 God and about salvation.

00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:17.779
 So when we come to each

00:41:17.779 --> 00:41:19.440
 section of the book like we

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.980
 have this morning, we aren't

00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:22.359
 simply looking to gain more

00:41:22.359 --> 00:41:24.199
 knowledge about the events

00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:26.599
 that took place, but we are to

00:41:26.599 --> 00:41:29.379
 hear and to respond to the

00:41:29.379 --> 00:41:30.699
 message that God has given.

00:41:32.219 --> 00:41:33.639
 And with that in mind, I think

00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:35.539
 there's two primary takeaways that

00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:37.000
 we need to consider in this text.

00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:40.559
 First, we need to examine our

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:42.199
 hearts to see what kind of

00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:45.340
 altars to bail might need to be

00:41:45.340 --> 00:41:45.739
 destroyed.

00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:50.000
 What kind of bells are you

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:53.280
 bowing to day by day in your

00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:53.619
 life?

00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:58.340
 A fundamental tenet of a covenant

00:41:58.340 --> 00:42:00.079
 relationship with God is found in

00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:00.880
 the first commandment.

00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:03.500
 You shall have no other gods

00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.219
 besides me.

00:42:04.219 --> 00:42:06.679
 I have no other gods before me.

00:42:08.259 --> 00:42:10.019
 And the chances are that you

00:42:10.019 --> 00:42:11.899
 don't have a shrine set up to a

00:42:11.899 --> 00:42:13.059
 false deity in your home.

00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:18.980
 But for us, bail is anything that

00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:21.339
 stands between us and faithfulness

00:42:21.339 --> 00:42:23.519
 wholeheartedly to God.

00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:28.000
 And bail takes many shapes.

00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:32.139
 Bail for you may be materialism.

00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:35.639
 Bail for you may be your work.

00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:39.500
 Bail for you may just be selfish

00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:40.880
 desires that you have.

00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:43.679
 Bail for you may be your family.

00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:47.300
 Bail for you may be all kinds of

00:42:47.300 --> 00:42:47.679
 things.

00:42:47.679 --> 00:42:51.139
 It will take many shapes, but it

00:42:51.139 --> 00:42:52.799
 ultimately comes back to the worship

00:42:52.799 --> 00:42:53.539
 of self.

00:42:54.839 --> 00:42:58.079
 We're chasing our own wills at the

00:42:58.079 --> 00:42:59.659
 expense of God's will.

00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:02.639
 And what we need to remember is that

00:43:02.639 --> 00:43:05.179
 you cannot expect God's blessing

00:43:05.179 --> 00:43:07.440
 while you're bowing to bail.

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:13.460
 You cannot expect salvation

00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:18.139
 while you persist in willful sin.

00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:23.760
 And what you need to do is repent.

00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:27.820
 Destroy the altar to bail in your life

00:43:27.820 --> 00:43:31.420
 and genuinely worship God in spirit

00:43:31.420 --> 00:43:32.000
 and in truth.

00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:34.720
 That's takeaway number one.

00:43:36.039 --> 00:43:37.320
 But then we also need to follow

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:39.420
 Gideon's example of faithfulness

00:43:39.420 --> 00:43:40.980
 in spite of his fear here.

00:43:42.440 --> 00:43:44.200
 So first application comes from the

00:43:44.200 --> 00:43:44.660
 big picture.

00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:46.120
 What's this message God is sending

00:43:46.120 --> 00:43:46.760
 to Israel?

00:43:47.360 --> 00:43:49.019
 Second one takes a little closer look

00:43:49.019 --> 00:43:50.300
 at Gideon and what did he do here.

00:43:50.340 --> 00:43:51.440
 And I think there's a lot for us to

00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:51.680
 learn.

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:55.280
 Following Christ is always going to

00:43:55.280 --> 00:43:56.500
 set us at odds with the world.

00:43:57.820 --> 00:43:59.260
 And we need to be willing to count

00:43:59.260 --> 00:44:00.700
 the cost of discipleship.

00:44:01.400 --> 00:44:05.280
 Trusting that Jesus is better than

00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:06.940
 anything we might experience in this

00:44:06.940 --> 00:44:07.240
 life.

00:44:09.559 --> 00:44:10.360
 He's better.

00:44:12.220 --> 00:44:13.200
 He said as much.

00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:15.240
 I love the parables that he said

00:44:15.240 --> 00:44:17.360
 when he talked about the gospel of

00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:19.640
 the kingdom being like the man who

00:44:19.640 --> 00:44:21.280
 stumbled upon the treasure in the

00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:21.559
 field.

00:44:21.660 --> 00:44:23.360
 You remember the parable Jesus told?

00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:25.120
 Is it Luke 15?

00:44:25.260 --> 00:44:25.900
 Something like that.

00:44:25.900 --> 00:44:28.880
 And he says that this man he stumbles

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:30.099
 over this treasure in the field and

00:44:30.099 --> 00:44:31.760
 what he does he he sees such tremendous

00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:33.400
 value in this treasure that he goes

00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:34.700
 and he sells everything that he has.

00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:36.099
 All of it.

00:44:36.599 --> 00:44:38.559
 In order that he could buy that field

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:39.980
 so that he could have that treasure.

00:44:40.840 --> 00:44:42.519
 That's a picture of repentance isn't it?

00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:43.920
 I don't need this life.

00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:45.880
 I don't need all the things that I'm

00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:47.660
 longing for and aching for now.

00:44:47.720 --> 00:44:48.660
 I don't need those things.

00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:51.019
 All those things can be realized in

00:44:51.019 --> 00:44:51.559
 Christ.

00:44:51.559 --> 00:44:54.460
 And then he says that he gives us a

00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:54.759
 second one.

00:44:54.820 --> 00:44:56.039
 If we didn't get that one he gives us a

00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:57.500
 second picture and he says it's it's

00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:58.460
 also like the merchant.

00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:02.279
 Who finds this pearl of just tremendous

00:45:02.279 --> 00:45:05.659
 value incalculable value and he goes

00:45:05.659 --> 00:45:07.159
 and he sells his whole business in order

00:45:07.159 --> 00:45:09.619
 that he could have this one pearl of

00:45:09.619 --> 00:45:11.980
 great price and Jesus Jesus says that's

00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:12.779
 what the gospel is.

00:45:12.860 --> 00:45:14.299
 That's what the kingdom is like.

00:45:15.019 --> 00:45:16.980
 It's people who have decided that this

00:45:16.980 --> 00:45:19.579
 life that I'm better than anything this

00:45:19.579 --> 00:45:20.259
 life offers.

00:45:20.840 --> 00:45:23.440
 That knowing me is better than the

00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:25.539
 closeness that you long for with your

00:45:25.539 --> 00:45:26.759
 family and your friends and your

00:45:26.759 --> 00:45:27.179
 community.

00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:31.619
 That pleasing me is better than pleasing

00:45:31.619 --> 00:45:32.099
 self.

00:45:32.699 --> 00:45:35.139
 That what I offer is better than anything

00:45:35.139 --> 00:45:36.440
 that this world can offer you.

00:45:38.019 --> 00:45:40.059
 And what we find in Gideon here is an

00:45:40.059 --> 00:45:41.840
 example of that kind of faithfulness.

00:45:42.059 --> 00:45:46.519
 That the weak certainly not perfect still

00:45:46.519 --> 00:45:50.739
 says I belong to God and I'm going to

00:45:50.739 --> 00:45:53.739
 trust God and I'm going to obey God even

00:45:53.739 --> 00:45:56.239
 when it costs me everything.

00:45:58.960 --> 00:46:00.759
 A stand for Christ might create a new

00:46:00.759 --> 00:46:01.940
 group of enemies in your life.

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:03.360
 It probably will.

00:46:05.019 --> 00:46:07.940
 But God might also use it to work on the

00:46:07.940 --> 00:46:11.239
 heart of a Joe Ash in your home or a Joe

00:46:11.239 --> 00:46:12.699
 Ash in your community.

00:46:14.839 --> 00:46:17.399
 And how exciting is it to think that God

00:46:17.399 --> 00:46:18.519
 would use us in that way.