We are in a series of sermons on can God use me.
That is, some of us for various reasons don't think that either God will use us or can use us
or that we have anything to give or that we are insignificant or whatever.
And we are trying to look at various people that God has used in the past to enable us to see what kind of people he uses.
And so we have been looking at the book of Judges because the book of Judges probably has the largest accumulation of different kinds of people that God has used.
There is a common theme in the book of Judges.
Israel turns away from God.
God punishes her.
They cry out for help.
So he sends them a savior and everything is fine as long as that savior is alive.
And then he dies.
And then Israel backslides again.
And God punishes her.
And they cry out for help.
And he sends them a redeemer.
And this goes on cycle after cycle after cycle.
We have looked at two persons.
One of them is Ehud.
The left-handed judge.
And he is in some ways a misfit because he is left-handed in a society that is basically right-handed.
And then Deborah who is a woman in a society dominated by men.
So Ehud really doesn't fit very well with society.
And Deborah doesn't fit very well in society.
But God decides to use those people of all the different people that he could have used.
And this morning I want us to look at the book of Judges chapter 6.
The judge Gideon.
So we're going to look at Gideon.
The amount of space that is given to Gideon is a lot more than any of the judges up to this point.
So he receives a lot of space.
And Gideon is very fascinating.
In some ways he picks up themes that we have already encountered.
But then explores other misfittings if you please.
Israel again backslides.
And God oppresses her with the Midianites.
When they are oppressed by the Midianites they cry to the Lord.
So look at Judges chapter 6 verse 7.
When Israel cried to the Lord because of Midian.
He sent them a prophet.
Now this is rather interesting.
Because all the other times he sent them a deliverer.
Deborah was a prophetess.
And maybe he is connecting this theme here.
That God is going to send them a prophet.
Who is able to explain things.
Rather than just to lead armies.
And so God sends them a prophet.
This prophet is not the one who is going to lead them to war.
This is not the deliverer.
But he is a prophet.
And he has a word from God.
I happen to teach at a Christian liberal arts university.
And at seminary.
A very essential part of my job is to train future pastors.
And to be a mentor.
And to guide.
And to help with their faith.
And as well as with academics.
And because my job is not biology or physics or literature or music.
Because it is biblical studies.
And to be a Christian liberal arts.
With special interest in preparing future pastors.
We watch constantly what's happening with Christianity.
We want to understand how Christianity is now.
As opposed to how it was at the time of Martin Luther and the Great Reformation.
Not in any way to belittle Martin Luther and the Reformation.
But we're not living then.
We're living here.
We're living in 2015.
We want to understand global Christianity in 2015.
And so.
When you ask.
Outsiders.
Or even insiders.
What is the kind of Christianity that we have inherited?
In 2015.
What kind of Christianity do we experience?
And the answer is.
Christianity has gone through two stages.
And these two stages have affected.
What our Christianity looks like now.
The first stage is in the 1900s.
In effect what happened in America.
Is that Christianity split into two branches.
Not Catholic and Protestant.
Or Presbyterians and Methodists.
Not that kind of split.
But you ended up with Christianity in New England.
And Christianity out west.
And so.
In New England.
You have Christianity associated with intellectualism.
With studies.
With academics.
With intellectual pursuit.
Christianity.
And Christianity.
Christianity.
Christianity was dominated by Princeton University.
And the theologians at Princeton University.
And if you talked to that group of Christians.
And you asked them.
What do I need to do?
How do I know that I'm a Christian?
The answer would be.
Can you write.
A valid statement of faith?
So the evidence.
That I'm a Christian.
Is my ability to write.
A valid.
Biblical.
Genuine.
Appropriate.
Statement of faith.
On the other hand.
In the west.
We had more Christianity.
Of the feelings.
The campfire Christianity.
The.
Give me that old time religion.
Kind of Christianity.
Christianity.
Christianity of feelings.
And experience.
So you can say.
I.
You know.
I.
The Lord said to me.
Or you can give your testimony.
As opposed to a statement of faith.
So you had the intellectual Christianity.
Headed by Princeton.
And.
Experiential.
Christianity.
Well.
Which is correct?
Well.
That's a.
Interesting question to ask.
But last time I read Deuteronomy.
It is.
Hear.
O Israel.
The Lord.
Our God.
The Lord is one.
You shall love the Lord.
Your God.
With.
And.
Several things are mentioned there.
Your heart.
Your mind.
Your work.
So it's not.
Either or.
But.
That.
In effect.
Is what has happened.
In.
Christianity.
In America.
You still have.
Intellectual.
Christianity.
And then you still have.
Experiential.
Christianity.
The other thing that is.
True about.
American Christianity.
Is that when you ask.
Outsiders.
How would you describe.
Christianity.
In America.
The answer is.
It is.
Sweden.
On top.
Of India.
Now.
Let me see.
Does anybody know.
Anything about.
What I just finished saying.
Does anybody have.
The slightest idea.
What Sweden.
On top.
Of India.
Mean.
The United Nations.
Did a major.
Research.
And.
As a result.
Of this research.
It found out.
That the most.
Religious.
Country.
In the world.
Is India.
Now.
That doesn't mean.
That.
They worship.
The living God.
Some worship.
One God.
Some worship.
Three God.
Some worship.
Three million gods.
There are all kinds.
Of religions.
Hinduism is.
As broad.
As it can come.
There is no Hinduism.
There is about like.
Twelve.
Hinduisms.
And so.
Practically.
Everyone.
In India.
As high as.
Ninety five percent.
Or maybe even higher.
Believe.
In some kind.
Of a God.
The least.
Religious country.
In the world.
Is Sweden.
Sweden.
So.
When you take.
Surveys.
Of do you believe.
In God.
In Sweden.
You get the lowest.
Score.
Possible.
So.
Sweden.
On top of India.
Means.
That in America.
We.
Our Christianity.
In some.
Our society.
In some ways.
Looks like.
India.
In some ways.
It also looks like.
Sweden.
How is that?
We have far more.
Evangelicals.
Percentage wise.
In America.
Than.
Surely.
In France.
Or in England.
Or in Australia.
We have more people.
Who say they believe in God.
More people.
Who go to churches.
Etc.
Over country.
After country.
And after country.
And God raised.
Elijah.
And Elisha.
To stop it.
From spreading.
So the worship of Baal.
Never became the official.
Religion.
Of Israel.
But in practice.
Practice is always different.
Not always.
But often.
Different.
From regular worship.
So Gideon is saying.
I don't see any miracles.
Therefore.
God is not with us.
In a second.
We'll have to think.
About that.
From a Christian perspective.
So.
God must have abandoned us.
Even though.
The angel.
Is telling him.
The Lord.
Is with you.
I think.
I'd be hesitant.
To disagree.
With the.
Angel of the Lord.
I'd be happy.
I wouldn't be.
Brave enough.
To say.
You're wrong.
You know.
I don't care.
What university.
I graduated from.
I wouldn't tell him.
You're wrong.
I don't care.
But he is struggling.
With two things.
That he is a mighty warrior.
And that the Lord is with him.
So.
In response to the Lord is with you.
He says.
No.
He's not.
But now we've got the other problem.
The Lord is with you.
Mighty warrior.
So.
The Lord turned to him.
Verse 14.
The Lord turned to him.
And said.
Go in the strength.
You have.
And save Israel.
Out of Midianite's hand.
Am I not sending you?
Go.
Deliver.
And look at his response.
Verse 15.
But Lord.
Gideon asked.
How can I save Israel?
My clan is the weakest in Manasseh.
And I am the least in my family.
In Greek philosophy.
When the Greeks wanted to.
Find a word from the gods.
They went to a place called.
Well.
It was at Delphi.
Where you received an oracle.
From the gods.
The oracle usually was basically.
A kind of a standard answer.
Which is know yourself.
And you can interpret that.
In a variety of ways.
You know.
Maybe I need to know my.
Strengths.
Maybe I need to know my weaknesses.
Maybe I need to know what I'm good at.
What I'm bad at.
What I'm clever at.
What I'm dumb at.
So.
Know yourself.
The more you know yourself.
The better off you are.
That's not what the oracle meant.
To convey.
What it meant to convey.
Is that you're human.
And you're not a god.
So.
Live with that limitations.
It looks like.
Gideon.
Knows himself.
So he says.
How can I save Israel.
My clan.
Is the weakest.
In Manasseh.
And I am the least.
In my family.
Weak.
And strong.
Is relative.
It depends on.
Whom you're comparing with.
My daughter.
Graduated.
Topps.
In her high school.
So.
She went to University of California.
Where I went.
And she joined the honors program.
And she was very frustrated.
And.
She wrote me.
She said.
Dad.
There is nothing that I can do.
To get an A in this class.
So I said.
Talk to the teacher.
So she went to the professor.
And said.
What do I have to do.
To get an A in this class.
I've always gotten A's.
I've never gotten.
Anything other than A's.
You know.
I graduated.
Topps.
In high school.
And he said.
Oh.
If you want to.
Get A's.
Go to an easier university.
She said to me.
She talked to the other students.
She said.
Valdetorian.
Was.
Average.
Valetorian.
Is.
Average.
In that program.
We have.
In America.
Approximately 5,000 universities.
About.
150.
Produce.
Excellent.
Athletes.
That we watch.
On.
TV.
In basketball.
And.
And volleyball.
And.
Football.
And.
Soccer.
And things like that.
If you take.
The best.
Player.
From.
Every one.
Of those.
120.
Universities.
These are the MVPs.
In their conferences.
If you take.
These.
Players.
And.
When it comes.
To bidding.
And to recruiting.
Do you know.
How many make it.
In professional.
Sports.
You will be surprised.
You are.
MVP.
In your conference.
And you recruit.
And you are.
Drafted by the.
L.A.
Lakers.
And you think.
You're going to be the next.
You know.
Will Chamberlain.
Or whoever.
And guess what you do.
At the end.
You sit there.
Number 12.
They're lucky.
If anybody knows.
You exist.
To be strong.
Or to be weak.
Depends on who you're.
Competing with.
If you lower standards.
You know.
If you lower standards.
Low enough.
Jack the Ripper.
Could be a saint.
You know.
I mean.
You just have to.
Lower.
So he.
He says.
I am.
The least.
In my family.
Okay.
So you are.
The least.
In that family.
It is one thing.
To know yourself.
It is something else.
To use that.
Knowledge.
As an excuse.
Not to minister.
It is okay.
To say.
I am not good at it.
There are lots of things.
I am not good at.
If anything happens.
To your car.
For heaven's sake.
Don't come to me.
I don't know anything.
About cars.
I know.
Close to zero.
About biology.
But it is one thing.
To say.
I am weak.
It is something.
To say.
Consequently.
Because of my weakness.
I refuse to witness.
We'll get back to this point.
We're not.
We're not away from it.
We'll get back to it.
So.
Verse 16.
The Lord answered.
I will be with you.
And you will strike down.
All the Midianites.
Together.
He said.
I'll be with you.
Three times already.
In one paragraph.
He will win.
Because God is with him.
The Lord is with you.
Oh mighty warrior.
Both statements are true.
What happens sometimes.
Is that.
God sees us.
In the way.
He sees us.
But we.
Refuse to accept it.
We want to keep seeing.
Ourselves.
In the way that.
We want to see ourselves.
We're not willing.
To let.
God.
We resist God.
When he tries.
To bring out the potential.
And so he has to.
Play hard ball.
In some cases.
So.
I will be with you.
Verse 16.
Gideon replied.
If now.
I have found favor.
In your eyes.
Give me a sign.
Barak.
Give me a sign.
If you go.
I'll go.
If you don't go.
I don't go.
So it doesn't matter.
That God is speaking to him.
He wants a sign.
God.
It shows.
How bad things are.
The Midianites.
Are.
Defeating.
Israel.
When.
Israel.
Is ten times.
Stronger than the Midianites.
But that is because.
Israel.
Has turned away from God.
And God is punishing them.
the fact that it is the Midianites
not the Egyptians, not the Assyrians, not the Babylonians
not some great world power
the fact that it's the Midianites who are defeating the Israelites
is embarrassing
try to imagine this
that Bradford High School invites
the basketball team invites the Chicago Bulls
to a game and Bradford wins
you could ask what does that tell you about Bradford
I'd like to ask a different question
what does it tell you about the Chicago Bulls
where are the glory days
there are no glory days if Bradford can beat them
the Midianites are beating up on us
what could be more insulting
it's like if you race a two year old
50 yards and the two year old beats you in the race
so
God performs a sign
and he is convinced it is God
and now
to this delightful portion of scriptures
God says
you know in your village
you're supposed to be worshipping me
and look what we have here
we have an altar for Baal
and a pole
a wooden pole for Asherah's
Baal's consort
so he says
chop it down
and build me an altar
using that wood
well
the verb to hack something down
is the word for Gideon
a person
pun intended
in case
I'm warning you ahead of time
so you'll catch the pun
a person
whose name is Hacker
is supposed to hack
the pole
at least I can tell
at least three people
sitting in front got it
so
he wants to obey God
God has talked to him
you're a mighty man
go do it
but look at this wonderful delight
look at verse 27
in chapter
6
627
so Gideon
took
ten of his servants
and did
as the Lord
told him
but because
he was afraid
of his family
and the men
of the town
he did it
at night
rather than
in the daytime
God is with him
he doesn't know
how to overcome
his cowardice
he does it
at night
I would have said
come on
be brave
but at least
he obeys God
it's better
to obey God
cowardly
than not to obey
God
cowardly
but at least
he does it
at night
and then there's
the argument
the next day
who did it
this
at least
he has shown
himself
to be faithful
on small things
it's only
an altar
it's only
a pole
but he has
shown himself
faithful
he's getting
somewhere
he is willing
to obey
God
he is willing
to be used
on a small
scale
and if God
trusts us
on small things
he will make us
responsible
for bigger things
but there is
a battle
to be
fought
and so
he calls
the people
from
Israel
and
he
has a
great
army
so
look at
chapter 7
verse 2
the Lord
said to
Gideon
you have
too many
men
for me
to deliver
Midian
into
their
hands
in order
that Israel
may not
boast
against me
that her
own strength
has saved
her
announce
now
to the
people
anyone
who
trembles
with fear
may turn
back
and leave
Mount
Gilead
so
22,000
men
left
while
10,000
remained
he has
just
reduced
his
army
by
two
thirds
I
think
to
myself
where
was
that
verse
why
didn't
they
tell
us
that
before
they
sent
us
off
to
Vietnam
I
wouldn't
have
gone
if I
had
that
option
but
the
army
is
now
down
to
10,000
you
don't
win
by
reducing
the
size
of
the
army
you
win
by
doubling
the
army
for
every
soldier
they
have
you
have
three
and
then
you
can
win
so
22,000
men
left
while
10,000
remained
verse 4
but the
Lord
said to
Gideon
there
are
still
too
many
men
and
so
do
this
test
and
they're
down
to
300
people
you
start
with
about
32,000
soldiers
you're
down
to
300
what
is
God
thinking
God
is
thinking
that
he
knows
how
to
win
and
he
does
not
want
us
to
think
stupidly
that
the
victory
is
ours
the
power
comes
from
God
and
when
we
are
the
weakest
God
is
the
strongest
that's
a
basic
lesson
we have
to
learn
and
if
you're
strong
I
feel
bad
for
you
because
God
is
going
to
have
to
play
tough
with
you
to
make
you
feel
weak
so
God
sends
them
they
don't
even
fight
it's
dark
and the
army
is
confused
and
the
army
defeats
itself
what
is
going
on
what
is
going
on
is
a
lesson
that
we
all
know
first
of
all
if
I
said
like
Gideon
the
Lord
has
abandoned
us
I
would
know
I
was
wrong
because
I've
heard
Jesus
say
wherever
two
or
three
are
gathered
together
in
my
name
there
I
am
in
their
midst
I
know
Jesus
has
said
I
would
be
with
you
always
even
to
the
end
of
the
age
I
know
I've
heard
Jesus
say
I
will
never
leave
you
nor
forsake
you
so
Midian
might
think
he
would
be
able
to
get
away
with
it
we
can't
we
cannot
say
God
has
abandoned
us
God
has
said
instead
nothing
can
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God
and
to
conclude
please
turn
to
2nd
Corinthians
please
turn
to
this
wonderful
passage
by
Paul
who
experienced
this
whole
issue
how do
we
understand
strength
how do
we
understand
weakness
look at
2nd
Corinthians
chapter
12
verse 7
2nd
Corinthians
chapter
12
verse 7
to keep
me from
becoming
conceited
because of
these
surpassingly
great
revelations
there was
given me
a thorn
in my
flesh
a messenger
of Satan
to torment
me
three times
I pleaded
with the
Lord to
take it
away from
me
but he
said
my grace
is sufficient
for you
my power
is made
perfect
in weakness
therefore
I will
boast
all the
more
gladly
about
my
weaknesses
so that
Christ's
power
may rest
on me
that is
why
for
Christ's
sake
I delight
in weaknesses
in insults
in hardships
in persecutions
in difficulties
for when
I am
weak
then
I am
strong
that is
true
of us
individually
that is
true
of our
church
the power
comes
from God
the power
comes
from God
and we
are not
abandoned
let's have
a word of
prayer
thank you
father for
using weak
afraid
unsure
people
thank you
for working
in their
lives
and in
our
lives
so that
they learn
to obey
even when
they're
afraid
they
accept
their mission
even when
they're
hesitant
father
I suspect
there are
far more
cowards
than there
are
heroes
in
normal
churches
that some
of us
are
hesitant
and are
afraid
to be
used
but you
want to
use us
I pray
that we
would have
confidence
in you
not in
ourselves
that we
will rely
on you
not on
ourselves
and we
thank you
father
that you
are always
with us
we give
you much
thanks and
gratitude
and appreciation
in Jesus
name
amen