WEBVTT

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 All right, if you would open up your Bibles to the book of Judges, in your pew Bible,

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 it's page 242.

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 We got some real estate that we're going to cover this morning, but I got a question for

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 you.

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 For those of you who have driven, driven cars, do you know what happens when your alignment

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 is out of whack?

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 You're going to pull to the left or pull to the right.

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 Now, if your alignment to Christ is out of whack, if he's not the controlling center

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 of your life, do you know what happens?

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 You're going to pull one of two ways.

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 You're going to either pull towards a fullness of fear of others, or you're going to pull

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 towards being full of yourself.

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 And we're going to see that in our next judge this morning, Gideon.

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 Gideon embodies both a fullness of fear of other people, a ruling fear, and then we're

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 also going to see that he becomes full of himself.

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 But there's also a moment where we will see him full of faith.

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 He is the next imperfect Savior who accomplishes a temporary salvation.

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 And if you're just joining us this morning, as we've been making way through the book of

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 Judges, we are seeing judge after judge, imperfect after imperfect man being used by God to accomplish

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 a temporary salvation.

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 And with Gideon, we go from bad to worse.

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 This is a turning point in the book of Judges.

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 Judges, what follows is Abimelech, and then Jephthah, and then Samson, and these guys.

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 It's amazing that God works at all.

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 God's people are faithless, and yet God remains faithful.

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 In Judges 6 through 8, there are actually four acts, like a play, acts of a play.

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 And each act has a number of scenes.

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 So I'm going to walk us through at a brisk pace, but then we're going to get to a point

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 where I'm going to ask and answer this question, what does this mean for us today?

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 And there's going to be a warning, and there's going to be a wooing.

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 How do we keep ourselves from being ruled by fear?

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 How do we keep ourselves from being full of ourselves?

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 Full of faith in our perfect King and Savior, Jesus.

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 So let's look at Acts 1.

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 This is Judges 6, 1 through 10.

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 Act 1 has a couple scenes, and it sets the stage for the debut of Gideon.

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 But this is more of an introduction.

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 And scene 1 in verses 1 through 6 is something we've seen again and again.

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 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, verse 1.

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 We'll be told what that evil is in a second.

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 And then what God responds because of his jealous anger, he loves his people.

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 And so what he does is he gives them over to the hand of the Midianites.

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 And they are one of three people groups, a Canaanite coalition.

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 The Midianites, we're going to see also the Amalekites, the people from the east.

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 God hands them over to them, and this is what happens in verses 2 through 5.

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 Like a swarm of locusts, these peoples come at the harvest.

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 And what they do is they start eating up all the grain.

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 And it puts Israel into famine situation.

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 It's oppressive.

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 So they hide in the mountains.

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 After seven years of this oppression, verse 6, Israel cries out to God.

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 So that's kind of scene 1 of Act 1.

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 And then what we expect next because of the book of Judges is for God to raise up a deliverer.

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 But there's a new development here.

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 In verses 7 through 10, God sends an unnamed prophet.

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 And look what this unnamed prophet says.

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 Thus says the Lord.

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 This is verse 8.

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 The God of Israel, I led you from Egypt.

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 And I brought you out of the house of slavery.

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 And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians.

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 And from the hand of all who oppressed you.

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 And I drove them out before you.

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 And I gave you their land.

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 And I said to you, I am the Lord your God.

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 You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites and whose land you dwell.

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 Now, what the prophet is saying is reminding them on behalf of God of what God has done.

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 You're my people.

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 I have delivered you.

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 I'm your savior and king.

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 Again and again.

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 You see those eyes repeated.

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 And the new development is, but you have not obeyed my voice.

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 This is just getting at this spiraling down that we see through the book of Judges of the people of Israel.

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 I've done all this for you, but you continue to reject me.

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 And he points to the evil in his sight.

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 You've taken on these other gods.

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 The goddess of the Amorites.

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 Baal and Esherah.

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 So act one starts with the setting of a stage.

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 Israel is again disobedient.

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 What's going to happen?

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 Instead of standing out, they blend in to the Canaanites.

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 It's Canaanization.

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 Act two.

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 And this is in verses 11 through 32 of chapter six.

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 Gideon's debut.

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 And Gideon debuts to mixed reviews.

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 Scene one.

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 It takes place in the town of Ophrah.

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 Not to be confused with Oprah.

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 Ophrah.

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 In verses 11 through 18, the angel of the Lord comes to Ophrah to call Gideon to rescue Israel from the hand of Midian.

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 In verses 11 and 12, we see a little tongue-in-cheek from the angel of the Lord.

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 Because Gideon is beating out wheat.

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 Do you see where he's beating out wheat?

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 He's beating out in a wine press.

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 He should be beating it out in a threshing floor.

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 Do you know why it's in a wine press?

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 Because he's hiding.

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 So the angel of the Lord says, look how he addresses him.

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 The Lord is with you, almighty man of valor, who is beating out wheat in a wine press.

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 It's a little tongue-in-cheek.

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 Immediately, it starts making you wonder, who is this Gideon guy?

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 Gideon responds, a little sassy himself.

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 In verse 13.

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 And Gideon said to him, please my Lord, if the Lord is, quote-unquote, with us, why then has all this happened to us?

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 And where are all the, quote-unquote, wonderful deeds, quote-unquote, that our fathers recounted to us?

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 That generation of Joshua that has now passed away.

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 Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?

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 But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.

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 This isn't a strong start for Gideon.

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 He is questioning God's faithfulness.

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 He is seeing the circumstances that he's in.

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 And he doesn't seem to recognize that what the prophet has just said,

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 that this people has not been obeying the voice.

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 That's why they're there in this situation.

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 He's blaming God instead of taking responsibility for what he's contributed to them being in this situation.

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 God seems to ignore that in verse 14 and says,

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 Do I not send you?

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 And in verse 15, Gideon kind of flips the script a little bit and kind of goes,

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 Woe is me.

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 What?

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 Go?

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 Verse 15.

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 How can I save Israel?

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 Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I'm the least in my father's house.

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 I'm a nobody.

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 I am of a clan of nobodies in the tribe of Manasseh.

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 What can you possibly do with me?

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 This is fear.

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 This is unbelief.

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 This is not what one would expect.

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 This is not a flattering picture of Gideon.

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 So Gideon, God says to him,

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 But I will be with you.

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 God doesn't rub Gideon's back and say,

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 Oh, you have a low self-esteem.

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 You're so special.

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 He says,

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 I am with you.

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 And Gideon seems to have a little bit of a change of heart.

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 And then he puts God to the test.

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 We're going to see this again.

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 He says,

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 He says,

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 Show me a sign.

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 Show me a sign in verse 17 that it is you who speak with me.

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 And so then he prepares a meal in verses 18 through 24.

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 And he presents it to the angel of the Lord.

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 And the angel of the Lord touches it with his staff.

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 And it's consumed by fire.

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 And the angel of the Lord disappears.

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 And all of a sudden,

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 Gideon realizes he's been in the presence of God.

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 And he says,

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 Whoa, no!

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 I'm going to die!

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 I mean, this guy is on a roller coaster.

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 And God speaks to him.

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 Shalom.

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 Verse 23.

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 Peace be to you.

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 Do not fear.

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 Again, it's that fear that so characterizes Gideon.

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 You shall not die.

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 It's quite a scene, isn't it?

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 Scene 2 in verses 25 through 32 is just further development of the same.

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 God then calls Gideon to go destroy the altar of Baal and Asherah.

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 And what I want you to notice is whose altar it is.

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 In verse 25,

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

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 and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has.

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 And cut down the Asherah that is beside it.

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 These are the gods of the Amorites.

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 His father, Joash, is a Baal worshiper.

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 And God is telling him,

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 You tear that down, and then you build an altar to me,

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 and you present, you offer the bull to me.

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 I'm your God.

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 Gideon grabs some guys and does that.

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 But did you notice when?

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 Look at verse 27.

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 But because he was too afraid

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 of his family

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 and the men of the town to do it by day,

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 he did it by night.

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 Fear.

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 He's full of fear.

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 Fear.

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 This debut is a debut of a man full of fear.

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 The men want to know who did this.

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 It turns out it was Gideon.

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 And so the men go and say to Joash,

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 Hey, give us your son.

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 We're going to kill him.

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 Where's Gideon?

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 He's Amai.

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 Hey.

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 His dad defends him.

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 Hey, if Baal wants to pick a fight,

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 let him fight his fights,

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 his dad says.

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 Gideon picks up an interesting name,

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 Jeroboam,

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 which means the one who Baal fights against

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 at this point.

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 Both scenes,

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 they point to this man Gideon

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 as being full of fear.

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 Afraid.

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 Afraid what people will do.

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 Afraid how people will respond

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 if he is faithful to his God.

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 Now everyone in this room

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 understands what it means

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 to be afraid of other people.

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 Don't we?

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 Christians and non-Christians alike.

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 You see, here's what's going on.

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 When you get God amnesia,

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 when you forget

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 who your God is,

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 when Jesus ceases to be

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 the controlling center of your life,

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 you are going to pull.

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 You're out of alignment.

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 And so here we see a man being pulled

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 to being afraid of other people,

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 being a fearful man.

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 Now if you're in the room

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 and you're not a Christian,

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 here's what you need to know.

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 Maybe you're thinking about

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 becoming a Christian.

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 You're going to need to lay down

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 what other people think about you

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 in order to be a follower of Jesus.

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 You need to deny yourself,

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 take up your cross,

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 and follow him.

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 Act 2 here is the debut of Gideon

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 and he's full of fear.

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 So let's move to Act 3.

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 Gideon's divine transformation.

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 Because there's a divine intervention.

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 He goes from being full of fear

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 to being full of faith.

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 Just look at 7.15 real quick.

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 Two words.

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 He worshipped.

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 He worshipped.

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 Let's see what happens.

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 The first scene is in verses 33-35.

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 There's this drawing of the battle together.

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 We have the Canaanite coalition,

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 the Midianites, the Amalekites,

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 and the people of the east.

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 We know from chapter 8,

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 this is 135,000 men.

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 135.

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 Kenosha and some change.

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 And we also see that Gideon is there

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 and he has a group of

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 a partial coalition of Israel.

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 Not all of the tribes,

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 just part of them.

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 It just kind of goes to the

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 disunity happening among the nation.

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 Manasseh, verse 35,

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 Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali.

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 But the thing that you need to know,

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 the X factor.

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 Oh, by the way,

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 there's only 22,

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 no, 32,000 of the Israelite soldiers.

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 135,000.

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 32,000.

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 The X factor, of course,

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 is this spirit of the Lord

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 who clothes Gideon.

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 Scene 2, 36-40.

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 Gideon is very aware of the numbers.

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 And then he goes into

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 the whole fleecing incident.

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:25.259
 Do you remember this?

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:28.100
 God has told him,

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.700
 go, I'm sending you,

00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:31.420
 I'm with you.

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:33.580
 It's a command and a promise.

00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.180
 And Gideon,

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.620
 he balks.

00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:41.700
 Notice, it starts with an if.

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.420
 36,

00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:45.580
 If you will save Israel by my hand,

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.440
 as you have said.

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.220
 If, though,

00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:50.180
 I need more proof.

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:52.419
 This isn't obedience.

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.759
 This is balking.

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.799
 This is a waffling.

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:55.799
 This is a man,

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.439
 again,

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.579
 showing his fear.

00:15:58.459 --> 00:15:59.859
 He's not trusting the Lord,

00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:02.099
 but testing the Lord.

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.739
 And so he says,

00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:02.939
 hey,

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:03.939
 I'm going to lay out

00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.779
 a fleece of wool,

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.699
 and when I wake up,

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:06.879
 hey,

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.479
 if it's packed with water,

00:16:09.739 --> 00:16:10.799
 then I'll know it's you.

00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:13.000
 And God does it.

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.539
 Verse 38,

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.419
 it was so.

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.879
 And so you think

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.500
 he's going to go out

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.120
 in battle, right?

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:20.919
 No.

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:23.039
 Look what he does.

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.820
 He's like,

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.259
 then Gideon said to God,

00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:27.659
 let not your anger

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.399
 burn against me.

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.159
 Let me just speak

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.019
 one more thing.

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.539
 Could you just do it again?

00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.559
 Just this time,

00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:34.960
 keep the fleece dry

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:36.200
 and all the ground

00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.080
 wet around it.

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.919
 And God does it.

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.440
 It's so.

00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:42.039
 You know what this points to?

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.980
 If you are a Christian

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.919
 who are putting out

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.899
 fleeces to God,

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:49.139
 the intention's great.

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.019
 You see it in your Bible,

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.319
 right?

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:52.259
 But the actual thing

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.019
 going on here

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:54.000
 is unbelief.

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.860
 This is not an example

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.939
 to emulate.

00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:00.860
 This is Gideon

00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.579
 in fear

00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:02.299
 putting God

00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.059
 to the test.

00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.099
 And yet God,

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.579
 he's so merciful,

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.279
 he does it,

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.500
 but I've got to be honest

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:09.799
 with you.

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.599
 God's got something

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:13.059
 else rolling.

00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:17.500
 who's fleecing who?

00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:20.319
 Check out what happens next.

00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.419
 So you think coming out

00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:22.720
 of this,

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.480
 Gideon's like,

00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.159
 okay,

00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:26.779
 let's go to the battlefield.

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.919
 But we know that he's

00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:29.539
 a little iffy.

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.899
 And then,

00:17:32.179 --> 00:17:33.099
 this happens.

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.139
 Look at verse chapter 7.

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.960
 This is scene 3.

00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.879
 God exposes Gideon's fear.

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.760
 Just imagine

00:17:42.760 --> 00:17:43.540
 if you're Gideon.

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.540
 Knowing what you know

00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:46.120
 about his givenness

00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.680
 to fear,

00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:48.940
 check it out.

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.980
 The day arrives,

00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:51.640
 verse 1.

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.400
 They're getting ready

00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:53.880
 for battle.

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.640
 In verse 2,

00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:55.180
 God says,

00:17:55.280 --> 00:17:55.860
 wait, time out.

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.520
 You know what,

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.020
 Gideon?

00:17:58.600 --> 00:18:00.280
 They got 135,000.

00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:02.120
 We've got 32 grand.

00:18:02.260 --> 00:18:02.820
 I'll tell you what,

00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:03.920
 we just got too many.

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.680
 Too many.

00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.500
 If you're Gideon,

00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.400
 what's going on in you

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:08.920
 at this point?

00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.759
 You're having your fears

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.220
 exposed is what's going on.

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.279
 And so,

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.740
 God,

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.120
 he says,

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.120
 if anybody's afraid,

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.220
 let them go home.

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.560
 It's actually

00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:22.640
 out of Deuteronomy 20

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.980
 where God makes this provision

00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.660
 to all of Israel's armies

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.860
 that if there's any soldier,

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.519
 they're afraid they go home

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.240
 because they don't want

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.820
 fear spreading among the ranks.

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.120
 Do you know what the irony is?

00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:38.099
 Jeroboam is afraid.

00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.859
 Gideon is afraid.

00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:43.639
 So,

00:18:43.719 --> 00:18:44.939
 22,000 say,

00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:46.099
 I'm afraid.

00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:47.019
 I'm out of here.

00:18:47.699 --> 00:18:49.339
 Leaving 10 grand left.

00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:49.879
 And so,

00:18:49.959 --> 00:18:50.679
 now we've gone from

00:18:50.679 --> 00:18:51.979
 135k

00:18:51.979 --> 00:18:53.479
 against 10k.

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.539
 And then,

00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.439
 verses 4 through 8 happens.

00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:03.259
 the people are still

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.200
 too many.

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.240
 We got too many.

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.259
 And so,

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.340
 with a kind of a drinking

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.360
 of the water test,

00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.720
 God winnows his troops

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.000
 down from 10,000

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.200
 to 300.

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.080
 135,000

00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:23.080
 against 300.

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.440
 Now,

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.019
 the question is,

00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:27.320
 why?

00:19:27.320 --> 00:19:27.380
 Why?

00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:30.400
 What is going on here?

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:31.920
 Two reasons.

00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:33.299
 Look at verse 2.

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.960
 God says to Gideon,

00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:37.759
 that first drawdown,

00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.259
 the people with you

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.120
 are too many for me

00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:41.059
 to give the Midians

00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:41.840
 into their hand,

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.880
 lest Israel boast over me,

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.160
 saying,

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.640
 my own hand has saved me.

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.860
 See what's going on there?

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:47.740
 God's saying,

00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.259
 all glory goes to me.

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:52.220
 I'm winnowing the troops down,

00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:53.580
 so there's no question

00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:55.360
 who's going to win this victory.

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.440
 It's going to be me.

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.440
 Do you see it?

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.779
 The other reason why

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:04.299
 is to expose Gideon's fear.

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:08.080
 Gideon came out of the fleece incident

00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:08.620
 thinking,

00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:09.360
 okay,

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:12.080
 and now God just pulls the fleece

00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:13.220
 right out from underneath him.

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.940
 You're going to have to trust me, Gideon.

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:23.900
 In scene 4,

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.200
 in verses 9 through 18,

00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:30.980
 God not only addresses Gideon's fear,

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:34.259
 he encourages him.

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.519
 Verse 9, chapter 7,

00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.700
 that same night,

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.680
 the Lord said to him,

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:43.160
 arise, go down against the camp,

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:45.200
 for I have given them into your hand.

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.860
 Wait, but Gideon, 10.

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.080
 But,

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:50.819
 but if you're afraid

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.580
 to go down,

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.980
 God knows Gideon.

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.900
 God knows you.

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.279
 But if you're afraid,

00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:59.480
 you can take a buddy.

00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:02.380
 You can bring a friend,

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.500
 your servant, Purah,

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.559
 and when you go down there,

00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:07.259
 listen to what they say.

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:09.900
 And so they get down to the camp,

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.960
 and verse 13,

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:14.339
 there is this Midianite soldier on duty,

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.700
 and look what he says.

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:19.420
 He shares a dream that he has.

00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.200
 Behold, I dreamed a dream.

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.099
 And behold,

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.960
 a cake of barley bread,

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.500
 not,

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:28.879
 not the most imposing feature,

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.059
 a loaf of bread.

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:34.819
 A cake of barley bread

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:36.240
 tumbled into the camp of Midian,

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.480
 and came to the tent,

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.480
 and struck it so,

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.359
 that it fell,

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.799
 and turned it upside down,

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.359
 so that the tent lay flat.

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.240
 He's obviously

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:46.720
 kind of upset about this.

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.079
 And then this other

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.379
 Midianite soldier

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.960
 gives the interpretation

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.139
 of the dream,

00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:53.259
 to which he says,

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:55.500
 this is no other than

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.359
 the sword of Gideon,

00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.240
 the son of Joash,

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.099
 a man of Israel.

00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.899
 God has given into his hand

00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:01.199
 Midian and all the camp.

00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:06.219
 This is God encouraging Gideon.

00:22:08.199 --> 00:22:09.719
 You know what's amazing about this?

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.259
 God has personally spoken to Gideon.

00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:16.779
 God has used an angel of the Lord

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.899
 to speak to Gideon.

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.699
 God has sent a prophet

00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:24.039
 raising up issues.

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:27.319
 And it's only when it comes

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.319
 from the mouth

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:31.480
 of two Midianite soldiers

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:33.939
 that Gideon believes.

00:22:37.419 --> 00:22:38.599
 Verse 15,

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:40.439
 as soon as Gideon heard

00:22:40.439 --> 00:22:41.679
 the telling of the dream

00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:42.659
 in its interpretation,

00:22:43.939 --> 00:22:44.919
 he worshiped.

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.159
 Here's a man full of faith

00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:48.759
 all of a sudden.

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.279
 His fears have been transformed

00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.480
 into faith.

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.000
 God has intervened

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.019
 mercifully,

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:57.980
 graciously.

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.779
 He's exposed the fear

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:01.559
 and then encouraged him

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.480
 in the fear.

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:04.000
 He's come out of this thinking,

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.019
 God is at work.

00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.400
 And then when you look down

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.339
 at what happens next,

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.680
 he rallies his troops.

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.980
 He blows the shofar.

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:10.920
 He, troops,

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.680
 come on together.

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.380
 All 300 of you.

00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:15.279
 Breaks them into three divisions,

00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.819
 gives them some strange instructions,

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.759
 and then he's like,

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.700
 follow me.

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:21.000
 He's a man clothed by the Spirit.

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:27.859
 But what happens next,

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:36.059
 in verses 19 through 25,

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:39.500
 is actually the battle.

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.680
 Gideon's 300,

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.880
 this is nighttime,

00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:46.680
 they surround the Valley of Jezreel,

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:48.539
 they surround the camp

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.759
 of 135,000.

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:52.099
 And Gideon blows his shofar.

00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:54.240
 And everybody else.

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.480
 And then they smash the jars,

00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.779
 and there's a torch inside.

00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.539
 And so all of a sudden,

00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.559
 there's light shining.

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.039
 And so in the middle of the night,

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.339
 Gideon has surrounded

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:06.680
 this huge army,

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:09.339
 and now they are kind of

00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:11.200
 making this incredible sound.

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.819
 And all of a sudden,

00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.639
 there's these lights

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:13.440
 all around them,

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.620
 and God uses it

00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:16.200
 to set this

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:18.180
 Canaanite coalition

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.420
 into great confusion.

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.779
 They draw their swords,

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.160
 and they start killing each other.

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:27.019
 Do you know what's in the hands

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:29.299
 of Gideon's 300?

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.420
 Not swords.

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.759
 A shofar,

00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:34.580
 a trumpet,

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.799
 and a lamp.

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:39.839
 God routes

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:42.680
 this 135,000 people,

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.139
 and it doesn't look like

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:45.680
 this 300 draws a sword

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.419
 on the battlefield.

00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.759
 It's an incredible win

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:54.180
 for God.

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:59.700
 They put this army on the run.

00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:03.019
 They call in the other 10,000,

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:05.019
 Naphtali, Asher, Manasseh.

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.460
 They're like,

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:06.779
 hey, let's go get them.

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:08.139
 So they all go and get them.

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.440
 Gideon texts his friends

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.639
 in Ephraim and say,

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.900
 hey, we got them on the run.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.559
 Let's go.

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:18.339
 So the Ephraim army joins in.

00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.660
 The Ephraim army,

00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:23.859
 they track down two princes

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.900
 of Midian,

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.160
 Oreb and Zeb.

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.160
 They capture them,

00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.519
 kill them,

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.519
 bring their heads back

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.200
 to Gideon.

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.980
 It's gruesome.

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.440
 God's got the victory.

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:38.440
 Who's the hero?

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.420
 God's the hero.

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:45.279
 God has not just

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:47.420
 beaten 135,000

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:50.119
 with shofars and lamps.

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:53.519
 He has seemingly beaten

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:55.819
 Gideon's fearful heart.

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.859
 Which brings us into Act 4.

00:25:58.859 --> 00:26:01.939
 We've gone now from

00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:03.619
 Gideon's debut,

00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.519
 a mixed review,

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:07.699
 a man full of fear,

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.519
 to Gideon's transformation,

00:26:10.699 --> 00:26:11.359
 divine intervention.

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.500
 He's a man full of faith.

00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.399
 And now,

00:26:14.719 --> 00:26:15.679
 Gideon's demise.

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.279
 There's something new about him

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.339
 we're going to see.

00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.779
 He's full of something,

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.740
 for sure.

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:26.000
 Let's see what it is.

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.319
 Scene 1,

00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.180
 chapter 8,

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.299
 verses 1 through 3.

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.380
 The Ephraimites

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:35.160
 take issue with Gideon

00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.859
 and they're saying,

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.680
 hey man,

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.819
 what's your problem?

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.019
 Why didn't you call us in

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.559
 when you were getting

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.120
 in the battle?

00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.099
 And what Gideon does,

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:46.559
 it's not fear of people here.

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.859
 He does something else.

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.259
 Verse 2,

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:52.059
 what have I done now

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.440
 in comparison with you?

00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:56.700
 Look down at verse 3.

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.819
 What have I been able to do

00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:01.539
 in comparison with you,

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.079
 Ephraim?

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.539
 You know what that is?

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.279
 Flattery.

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.859
 He's manipulating them.

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.940
 He's not afraid,

00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.599
 he's flattering.

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:17.039
 The next scene is in verses,

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.619
 starts in verse 4.

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:22.140
 Gideon is now chasing

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.359
 two kings,

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.440
 not princes,

00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.480
 kings of Midian,

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:28.779
 Ziba and Zalmunna,

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:31.180
 and he's crossed the Jordan

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:33.160
 and he's got a tired

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:33.859
 bunch of dudes.

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.940
 And so he goes

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.980
 to the men of Succoth

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.240
 and then he's going to go

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.099
 to the men of Penuel

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:39.359
 and he's going to ask

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:41.420
 for some kind of refreshment

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.220
 for his guys.

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.299
 And the men of Succoth,

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:46.480
 in verse 5,

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.339
 they say to him,

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.159
 well he says to them,

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.339
 please give loaves of bread.

00:27:51.399 --> 00:27:52.419
 My dudes are exhausted.

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.899
 And the officials of Succoth

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.720
 in verse 6 say,

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:57.000
 are the hands of Ziba

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.659
 and Zalmunna

00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.659
 already in your hand

00:27:58.659 --> 00:28:00.019
 that we should give bread

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.579
 to your army?

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.419
 In other words,

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.819
 Gideon,

00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.879
 I think you're counting

00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:04.359
 your chickens

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.279
 before they're hatched.

00:28:06.679 --> 00:28:07.959
 I don't see any king

00:28:07.959 --> 00:28:08.339
 with you.

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.339
 They're intentionally

00:28:10.919 --> 00:28:11.339
 not participating.

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.779
 It would have made

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.379
 anybody mad.

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:16.520
 And then the people

00:28:16.520 --> 00:28:16.980
 of Penuel

00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:18.120
 do the same thing.

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.560
 He said to the men

00:28:19.560 --> 00:28:19.960
 of Penuel,

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.240
 well,

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.040
 verse 8,

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.760
 they answer to him

00:28:22.760 --> 00:28:23.440
 the same way

00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.340
 as the men of Succoth

00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:25.580
 and with both of them

00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:26.320
 he threatens them.

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.780
 There's going to be

00:28:27.780 --> 00:28:28.460
 some consequences

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.140
 to this, guys.

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.460
 I've got to go

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.140
 chase these kings.

00:28:32.320 --> 00:28:33.000
 And what we see

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:35.000
 is this threateningness

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.900
 happening.

00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:38.200
 He's not afraid of them.

00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:39.600
 Something's changed

00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:40.200
 in Gideon.

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:42.300
 He's full of something.

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:45.539
 It's going to become

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.659
 clearer as we go.

00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.460
 Scene 3,

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.000
 verses 10-12.

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.879
 Gideon and his boys

00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:54.980
 catch up to the kings,

00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.279
 Ziba and Zalmunna.

00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.259
 They capture them.

00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.960
 And then the next scene

00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.359
 is they bring them back.

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.419
 They bring them back

00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:06.019
 to the men of Succoth,

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:06.919
 the men of Penuel.

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:11.580
 And he says in verse 15,

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.900
 Behold Ziba and Zalmunna,

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.980
 men of Succoth,

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.779
 about whom you taunted me,

00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:17.060
 saying,

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.800
 Are the hands of Ziba and Zalmunna

00:29:18.800 --> 00:29:19.580
 already in your hand

00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:20.779
 that we should give bread

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.600
 to you men

00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.759
 who are exhausted?

00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.460
 And then he takes

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:26.320
 those 77 leaders

00:29:26.320 --> 00:29:26.920
 of Succoth

00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:29.420
 and he whips them publicly.

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.920
 It's vindictive.

00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:35.440
 It's really harsh.

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.519
 It's almost something

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.420
 a king would do.

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.120
 A Canaanite king.

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.660
 And then,

00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.059
 with the men of Penuel,

00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:47.500
 he breaks down the tower

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.320
 just like he said,

00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.720
 and he kills the men

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.259
 of the city.

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.759
 He kills,

00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.380
 by the way,

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.799
 these are other Israelites.

00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:58.000
 This is over the top.

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.500
 He's being harsh.

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.519
 And if that's not enough,

00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.240
 the next scene,

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:02.920
 scene 5,

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.240
 verses 18-21,

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.500
 now he's with

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.420
 these two kings.

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.680
 And he says,

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:13.680
 Hey,

00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.940
 where are these people?

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.740
 Where are the men

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.259
 that you killed

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.900
 at Mount Tabor?

00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:19.240
 And they're like,

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.420
 well,

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:19.819
 they're dead.

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.240
 In verse 19,

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.599
 he says,

00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.400
 They were my brothers,

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.420
 the sons of my mother,

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.500
 as the Lord lives.

00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.460
 He's swearing,

00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:26.440
 by God,

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:29.259
 if you didn't do that,

00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.259
 I would have let you live.

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.920
 And then he tells his son

00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.460
 to gut him.

00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:33.599
 His son doesn't.

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.579
 So he does.

00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.160
 Gideon kills them.

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.839
 And you're left saying,

00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:43.259
 this was personal.

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:47.180
 This was vengeance.

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:51.180
 This was Gideon taking vengeance

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.539
 for what these men did

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.339
 to his relatives.

00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:56.259
 This is not something

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:58.559
 this man should have done.

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.899
 Vengeance is mine,

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.779
 says the Lord.

00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:11.459
 But it gets worse.

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:15.220
 The next scene,

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:18.279
 in verses 22-28,

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:21.359
 the men of Israel

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.879
 said to Gideon,

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.539
 Rule over us.

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.700
 Be our king.

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:30.480
 You and your son

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.539
 and your grandson.

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:33.039
 Let's set up

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:35.160
 a dynasty.

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.079
 For you have saved us

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.019
 from the hand of Midian.

00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.700
 Be our king.

00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.039
 And then,

00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:45.240
 in verse 23,

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:48.019
 Gideon gives the right answer.

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.940
 I will not rule over you

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:51.119
 and my son will not

00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.759
 rule over you.

00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:53.460
 The Lord will rule over you.

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.019
 Sounds great.

00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.139
 But here's the thing.

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:59.099
 Gideon's actions

00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.599
 show otherwise.

00:32:01.379 --> 00:32:02.440
 Because what we see next

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:02.980
 is this.

00:32:03.379 --> 00:32:04.480
 And then Gideon said to them,

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:05.899
 Let me make a request

00:32:05.899 --> 00:32:06.299
 of you.

00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:07.119
 A request.

00:32:09.940 --> 00:32:11.440
 And then he has them all

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.960
 give one of the gold earrings

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:14.339
 of all of the men

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.440
 that they have killed.

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.759
 And what it amounts to

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:19.140
 is a huge amount of gold.

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.640
 43 pounds.

00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:23.299
 1.3 million dollars

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.099
 on today's market.

00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:27.039
 And with that,

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.420
 he makes an ephod.

00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.920
 It's probably an image.

00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:32.500
 Brings it back to

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:34.079
 his hometown.

00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:35.400
 Not Oprah.

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.339
 Ophrah.

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.839
 And look what happens

00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:41.859
 in verse 27.

00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:44.000
 All Israel whored

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.899
 after it there

00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:45.979
 and it became a snare

00:32:45.979 --> 00:32:46.439
 to Gideon

00:32:46.439 --> 00:32:46.979
 and to his family.

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.740
 Remember what happened

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.119
 in Ophrah to begin with?

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.059
 Baal.

00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.839
 False worship.

00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.919
 And now there's

00:32:55.919 --> 00:32:56.799
 false worship again.

00:32:58.679 --> 00:32:59.919
 Goes from bad to worse.

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:04.560
 There's one more thing

00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.259
 I want to point out

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.060
 and then we'll bring

00:33:06.060 --> 00:33:06.680
 this thing to bear.

00:33:09.080 --> 00:33:10.160
 It happens in verses

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:12.180
 29 through 32.

00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:15.820
 Gideon,

00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:17.900
 we're told in verse 30,

00:33:18.300 --> 00:33:19.259
 has 70 sons.

00:33:19.560 --> 00:33:21.140
 Seven zero sons.

00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:22.320
 I know what you're wondering.

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.800
 How can one woman

00:33:23.800 --> 00:33:26.100
 bear 70 sons?

00:33:27.059 --> 00:33:28.299
 That's impossible.

00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:30.899
 Yes, it is.

00:33:31.619 --> 00:33:32.679
 And the reason why

00:33:32.679 --> 00:33:34.199
 he's had 70 sons

00:33:34.199 --> 00:33:35.859
 is because

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:37.799
 he's had many wives.

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.019
 Verse 30.

00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:41.459
 This was forbidden

00:33:41.459 --> 00:33:42.679
 of the kings

00:33:42.679 --> 00:33:44.039
 just generally.

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.139
 One man,

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:45.699
 one woman

00:33:45.699 --> 00:33:46.659
 for life and marriage.

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:49.059
 But of the kings

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:50.399
 of Israel.

00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:52.179
 They weren't to have

00:33:52.179 --> 00:33:53.459
 multiple wives.

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:55.279
 Deuteronomy 17, 17.

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.519
 Lest one turns

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:58.059
 his heart from

00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.879
 the Lord.

00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.039
 And verse 31,

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:00.819
 his concubine

00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.980
 who was in Shechem,

00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:03.259
 she was a Canaanite.

00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:05.059
 She bears him a son

00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:06.480
 and calls his name

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.059
 Abimelech.

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.619
 Great name.

00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:10.779
 Until you know

00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.279
 what it means.

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.099
 You know what it means?

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:16.079
 My dad is king.

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:19.219
 My father is king.

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.019
 Gideon

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.599
 names his son

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.239
 my father is king.

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:25.679
 The same Gideon

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.319
 who says,

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.519
 I will not rule over you

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.119
 but the Lord

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.079
 will rule over you.

00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:31.139
 No.

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.880
 You know what he's full of?

00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.339
 He's not full of fear.

00:34:39.259 --> 00:34:41.079
 He's not full of faith.

00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:44.480
 He's full of himself.

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:44.559
 God,

00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:48.260
 this is pride.

00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.000
 All of this

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.559
 flattery,

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.659
 all of this

00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:55.019
 harshness,

00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:55.760
 all of this

00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:56.900
 vindictiveness,

00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:57.719
 all this

00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:59.240
 taxing

00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:00.159
 and creating

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:00.719
 an image

00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:02.039
 for people to worship,

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.679
 to think of yourself

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.380
 as a king

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.059
 when you're not.

00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:05.719
 He's pretending

00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:06.480
 to be a king.

00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:08.300
 It's all pride.

00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.940
 He's gone from

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:11.380
 being full of fear

00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.240
 to full of faith

00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:13.320
 to full of pride.

00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:15.519
 You know what I think

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:15.840
 happened?

00:35:16.100 --> 00:35:17.340
 This is speculation.

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.380
 Remember verse 22,

00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.200
 rule over us,

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:21.960
 you and your son

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:23.160
 and your grandson also

00:35:23.160 --> 00:35:25.320
 for you have saved us

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.340
 from the hand of Midian.

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.580
 I think he believed it.

00:35:32.080 --> 00:35:33.240
 I think he believed it.

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.300
 The very thing

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:36.000
 that God said

00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.660
 he's going to winnow

00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:39.200
 his army down

00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:40.420
 so that no one

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:41.500
 would question

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:43.340
 who saved Israel

00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:43.980
 from Midian.

00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.239
 Oh man.

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.900
 Gideon's demise

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:50.579
 is that he's

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.340
 full of himself.

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.280
 This is pride.

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.539
 In Gideon,

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.139
 we see the good,

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.460
 the bad,

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:57.880
 and the ugly.

00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:59.300
 The good.

00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:00.260
 He worshipped.

00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:01.920
 He obeyed

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.760
 at some point.

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:03.260
 I mean,

00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.480
 he is in Hebrews 11

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.139
 hall of faith.

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:07.340
 But we see the bad

00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:08.760
 not just

00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:10.900
 he's full of fear.

00:36:12.660 --> 00:36:13.660
 God repeatedly

00:36:13.660 --> 00:36:14.540
 speaks to him

00:36:14.540 --> 00:36:15.300
 in his fear

00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:17.160
 again and again.

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.760
 I'm with you.

00:36:20.120 --> 00:36:20.960
 I'm sending you.

00:36:21.060 --> 00:36:22.080
 The Lord is with you.

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.680
 The ugly is

00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:26.780
 he's full of himself.

00:36:27.620 --> 00:36:28.380
 You know what happens

00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.060
 in chapter 8?

00:36:29.680 --> 00:36:31.060
 God never speaks once.

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:34.279
 God's speaking

00:36:34.279 --> 00:36:35.039
 all over the place

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.799
 in 6 and 7

00:36:35.799 --> 00:36:37.400
 addressing his fear

00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:38.380
 but God doesn't speak

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:39.420
 once in his pride.

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.639
 God opposes the proud

00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:42.039
 but gives grace

00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.579
 to the humble.

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.119
 Gideon is an

00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:48.799
 imperfect

00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:49.599
 savior.

00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.679
 A pretend

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.299
 king.

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:53.440
 And God uses him

00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.500
 still to accomplish

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.639
 a temporary salvation.

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.799
 But you know

00:36:57.799 --> 00:36:58.920
 who the real hero is?

00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:01.360
 God.

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.559
 Yahweh.

00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:05.860
 The one who calls

00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:06.579
 Gideon.

00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:07.820
 The one who exposes

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.700
 Gideon's fear.

00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:10.159
 The one who encourages

00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:11.039
 Gideon.

00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:12.079
 The one who

00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:13.599
 miraculously delivers

00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:14.500
 Israel from

00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.559
 the Midianites

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.740
 with just 300

00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:17.860
 and no swords

00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:18.480
 drawn.

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:21.599
 This God

00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:23.159
 who delivered

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.820
 Israel from Midian

00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:28.900
 he took on flesh.

00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:31.579
 he became a man

00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:32.380
 and walked among us.

00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.360
 He lived a perfect life

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:33.980
 that none of us

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.619
 could ever live

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.460
 and then he died

00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:35.980
 on the cross

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.659
 in the place

00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:37.180
 of sinners

00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:39.079
 for our being held

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.760
 in the grip

00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:40.780
 of the fear of man

00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:41.619
 for being held

00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.920
 in the very hand

00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:43.760
 of being full

00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:44.240
 of ourselves.

00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.139
 He delivered us

00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:45.680
 from that.

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.800
 He's no other

00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:50.840
 than Jesus Christ.

00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:54.039
 The greatest

00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:55.159
 hero

00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:56.840
 of all.

00:37:56.840 --> 00:38:00.079
 Jesus is the perfect

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:00.519
 Savior

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.500
 who has accomplished

00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:02.620
 a permanent

00:38:02.620 --> 00:38:03.500
 salvation.

00:38:03.720 --> 00:38:04.160
 Just think

00:38:04.160 --> 00:38:05.500
 of Gideon.

00:38:06.700 --> 00:38:07.660
 Full of fear.

00:38:09.720 --> 00:38:10.820
 Folded like a cheap suit.

00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:11.860
 Did things in the dark.

00:38:13.220 --> 00:38:14.059
 Think about Jesus.

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.660
 Fearless.

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.019
 Matthew 4

00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.800
 standing before

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:21.519
 the devil himself

00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:23.440
 contending

00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:24.340
 resisting

00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:25.860
 not backing down

00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:27.139
 not shrinking back

00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:28.159
 pressing in.

00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:30.519
 Think of Jesus

00:38:30.519 --> 00:38:32.360
 before the Sanhedrin

00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:33.500
 and before Pilate.

00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:35.920
 He doesn't back down.

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.679
 He stands his ground.

00:38:39.720 --> 00:38:40.420
 Think of Jesus

00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.519
 Matthew 27

00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:42.800
 when he's nailed

00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:43.700
 to the cross

00:38:43.700 --> 00:38:45.519
 he does so willingly.

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:48.759
 not hiding

00:38:48.759 --> 00:38:50.219
 not asking

00:38:50.219 --> 00:38:51.039
 for signs

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:52.980
 fearlessly

00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:53.920
 doing

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.699
 the will

00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:55.719
 of his father

00:38:55.719 --> 00:38:57.139
 and he's doing

00:38:57.139 --> 00:38:57.800
 that today

00:38:57.800 --> 00:38:59.159
 and tomorrow

00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:00.300
 and forever.

00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:01.460
 He's totally

00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:01.900
 God

00:39:01.900 --> 00:39:03.019
 totally man

00:39:03.019 --> 00:39:04.280
 and he's alive

00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:04.719
 today.

00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:06.139
 The other thing

00:39:06.139 --> 00:39:06.519
 about

00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:08.659
 about Gideon

00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:09.179
 is that he was

00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:09.980
 full of himself.

00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:14.039
 Jesus was anything

00:39:14.039 --> 00:39:14.380
 but

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:17.119
 he humbled himself.

00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:19.119
 Listen to

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:20.119
 Philippians chapter 2.

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.019
 Have this mind

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.639
 among yourselves

00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.239
 which is yours

00:39:23.239 --> 00:39:24.079
 in Christ Jesus

00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:25.079
 who though

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:25.779
 he was born

00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:26.880
 what was in the

00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:27.400
 form of God

00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:28.019
 did not count

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.840
 equality with God

00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:29.679
 a thing to be grasped

00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:30.480
 but emptied himself

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.380
 by taking the form

00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:31.920
 of a servant

00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.159
 being born

00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:34.119
 in the likeness of man

00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:34.880
 and being found

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:35.619
 in human form

00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:36.699
 he humbled himself

00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:38.199
 by becoming obedient

00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:39.119
 to the point of death

00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:39.739
 even to death

00:39:39.739 --> 00:39:40.400
 on a cross.

00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:43.460
 He's the perfect king.

00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:46.300
 He wasn't full

00:39:46.300 --> 00:39:46.840
 of himself

00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:48.940
 he humbled himself

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:50.139
 to accomplish

00:39:50.139 --> 00:39:51.860
 a perfect salvation

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:53.400
 a forever salvation

00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.719
 not the

00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:56.159
 chapter 8

00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:57.480
 verse 28

00:39:57.480 --> 00:39:59.659
 for 40 years

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:01.779
 for forever years.

00:40:03.460 --> 00:40:04.779
 You know what that means?

00:40:05.779 --> 00:40:07.440
 Jesus is the

00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:08.739
 perfect savior

00:40:08.739 --> 00:40:10.259
 the true king

00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:11.500
 the rightful king

00:40:11.500 --> 00:40:13.239
 the forever king.

00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:14.679
 who accomplished

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:15.359
 our salvation

00:40:15.359 --> 00:40:15.819
 forever.

00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.839
 So we can say

00:40:17.839 --> 00:40:21.319
 by your hand

00:40:21.319 --> 00:40:23.059
 you have saved us

00:40:23.059 --> 00:40:24.500
 from ourselves.

00:40:26.979 --> 00:40:28.019
 What does this mean

00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:28.559
 for us?

00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:31.619
 The warning is this

00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:35.819
 for those of us

00:40:35.819 --> 00:40:36.259
 in the room

00:40:36.259 --> 00:40:37.159
 who are prone

00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:38.599
 to be full

00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:38.619
 to be full

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:39.099
 of fear

00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:43.279
 rules you

00:40:43.279 --> 00:40:43.960
 keeps you up

00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:44.399
 at night

00:40:44.399 --> 00:40:47.899
 it's a temptation

00:40:47.899 --> 00:40:48.779
 common to man

00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:49.059
 do you know

00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:49.500
 what you're being

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:50.259
 called to do?

00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:51.699
 Instead of hide

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.480
 and be silent

00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:53.440
 and exercise

00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:54.420
 false humility

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:55.679
 you're to confess

00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:56.159
 that

00:40:56.159 --> 00:40:57.599
 to the Lord

00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:59.359
 you're to repent

00:40:59.359 --> 00:41:00.039
 of that

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:02.039
 that has no place

00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:03.099
 in ruling your heart

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:04.779
 when Jesus

00:41:04.779 --> 00:41:05.480
 is the controlling

00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:05.880
 center

00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:06.400
 of your

00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:07.460
 heart

00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:08.519
 of your being

00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:09.779
 it's this

00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:10.699
 fear of others

00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:11.460
 that needs to be

00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:11.860
 confessed

00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:12.699
 and repented of.

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:15.819
 The other side

00:41:15.819 --> 00:41:16.059
 of this

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:16.539
 is being full

00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:17.039
 of yourself

00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:17.599
 pride

00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:20.719
 being a flatterer

00:41:20.719 --> 00:41:21.779
 being a manipulator

00:41:21.779 --> 00:41:22.960
 seeking vengeance

00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:23.699
 when that belongs

00:41:23.699 --> 00:41:24.319
 to the Lord

00:41:24.319 --> 00:41:26.440
 you need to

00:41:26.440 --> 00:41:27.460
 confess your pride

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.659
 you need to

00:41:28.659 --> 00:41:29.779
 repent of your pride

00:41:29.779 --> 00:41:30.739
 turn from it

00:41:30.739 --> 00:41:31.940
 Gideon didn't

00:41:31.940 --> 00:41:35.260
 when you forget

00:41:35.260 --> 00:41:35.619
 your God

00:41:35.619 --> 00:41:36.000
 when you have

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.720
 this God amnesia

00:41:36.720 --> 00:41:37.240
 when you forget

00:41:37.240 --> 00:41:37.679
 that Jesus

00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:38.380
 is the controlling

00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:39.300
 center of your life

00:41:39.300 --> 00:41:40.519
 you will either

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:42.059
 be a man fearer

00:41:42.059 --> 00:41:44.059
 or revere yourself

00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:47.139
 so how do we

00:41:47.139 --> 00:41:48.099
 keep from doing that?

00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:50.800
 Here's the wooing

00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:52.860
 Jesus is the

00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:54.059
 treasure of your heart

00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:59.220
 fullness of faith

00:41:59.220 --> 00:42:00.599
 in Jesus

00:42:00.599 --> 00:42:02.599
 and when you are

00:42:02.599 --> 00:42:04.619
 trusting in Jesus

00:42:04.619 --> 00:42:05.619
 and he's the controlling

00:42:05.619 --> 00:42:06.900
 center of your life

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:09.019
 these other things

00:42:09.019 --> 00:42:10.779
 get crowded out

00:42:10.779 --> 00:42:15.500
 daily remind yourself

00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:15.920
 of him

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:18.139
 daily thank him

00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:18.920
 for what he's done

00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:19.139
 in you

00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:19.839
 what he's doing

00:42:19.839 --> 00:42:22.279
 and when you do

00:42:22.279 --> 00:42:24.559
 these stir longings

00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.480
 in your heart

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:26.400
 for your king

00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.780
 and they put

00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:28.519
 to death

00:42:28.519 --> 00:42:30.619
 fear of man

00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:34.360
 fullness of yourself

00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:38.780
 there's a warning

00:42:38.780 --> 00:42:39.360
 and a wooing

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.059
 we must heed

00:42:40.059 --> 00:42:42.840
 which way do you pull?

00:42:42.840 --> 00:42:42.900
 do you pull?

00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:46.519
 do you pull

00:42:46.519 --> 00:42:47.740
 towards fearing

00:42:47.740 --> 00:42:48.440
 what people think

00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:48.900
 about you?

00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.579
 or do you pull

00:42:50.579 --> 00:42:51.680
 towards being

00:42:51.680 --> 00:42:52.639
 full of yourself?

00:42:53.519 --> 00:42:54.480
 we see both

00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:55.000
 in Gideon

00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:57.119
 and what we see

00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:57.800
 in Jesus

00:42:57.800 --> 00:43:00.960
 is the only way

00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:01.420
 forward

00:43:01.420 --> 00:43:04.960
 fullness of faith

00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:06.920
 in our perfect

00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:08.079
 savior and king

00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:09.340
 Jesus

00:43:09.340 --> 00:43:12.480
 the ultimate deliverer

00:43:13.019 --> 00:43:15.260
 let's pray together

00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:15.599
 God

00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:18.320
 we thank you

00:43:18.320 --> 00:43:18.940
 for the example

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.559
 of Gideon

00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:21.179
 we see

00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:22.199
 how he did

00:43:22.199 --> 00:43:23.500
 model faith

00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.380
 to some degree

00:43:24.380 --> 00:43:26.759
 but we also

00:43:26.759 --> 00:43:27.980
 heed his example

00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:30.719
 fearing man

00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:32.340
 being full of himself

00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:32.799
 and God

00:43:32.799 --> 00:43:33.639
 we turn from that

00:43:33.639 --> 00:43:35.980
 that is not

00:43:35.980 --> 00:43:36.900
 who we want to be

00:43:36.900 --> 00:43:37.519
 that's not who

00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:38.239
 you've

00:43:38.239 --> 00:43:39.579
 called us to be

00:43:39.579 --> 00:43:41.599
 God

00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:42.420
 would you fill us

00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:43.340
 clothe us

00:43:43.340 --> 00:43:44.679
 by your spirit

00:43:44.679 --> 00:43:47.000
 so that we would

00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:47.900
 walk in the victory

00:43:47.900 --> 00:43:48.559
 you have won

00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:50.219
 in Jesus name

00:43:50.219 --> 00:43:50.659
 we pray

00:43:50.659 --> 00:43:51.820
 amen

00:43:51.820 --> 00:43:53.820
 you