1 00:00:01,666 --> 00:00:03,966 Hey, listen, let's get into judges six. 2 00:00:03,966 --> 00:00:06,966 That's the chapter in in our city, through the book of judges. 3 00:00:07,766 --> 00:00:10,100 Here's the tendency when you look at the Bible, 4 00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:15,866 especially the Old Testament, is to try to see yourself in the pages of Scripture. 5 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:17,666 That's a dangerous road. 6 00:00:17,666 --> 00:00:21,300 Because when we look for ourselves, primarily 7 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:25,033 in the pages of Scripture, we miss Jesus and we miss God. 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,066 And so as we go through judges six, I want us to keep an eye out for 9 00:00:30,066 --> 00:00:34,466 who God is and how God responds, what he asks, 10 00:00:34,466 --> 00:00:37,466 how he interacts with his people. 11 00:00:37,833 --> 00:00:39,866 Because when we understand who God is 12 00:00:39,866 --> 00:00:43,800 and we understand his heart and how he interacts with his people, 13 00:00:43,966 --> 00:00:48,533 then we can better know how we are called and called to respond. 14 00:00:49,166 --> 00:00:51,133 So let's start. 15 00:00:51,133 --> 00:00:54,100 Rather than looking for self in Scripture. 16 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:55,500 Let's look. This sounds weird. 17 00:00:55,500 --> 00:00:57,633 Let's try to find God in Scripture. 18 00:00:57,633 --> 00:00:58,766 That should be pretty easy. 19 00:00:59,766 --> 00:01:02,700 But when we start from the starting block of self, 20 00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:05,833 we miss God and we think it's about us. 21 00:01:06,566 --> 00:01:09,800 And it really is about Jesus and the kingdom of God. 22 00:01:11,566 --> 00:01:14,633 One of the things that I've realized throughout the years in my own life, 23 00:01:14,633 --> 00:01:18,400 and in doing church ministry for decades, 24 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,300 is that when people feel nudged by God, 25 00:01:23,900 --> 00:01:27,166 called by God, encouraged by God. 26 00:01:27,733 --> 00:01:32,500 Well, when we feel that we typically respond 27 00:01:32,500 --> 00:01:35,500 with an initial sense of reluctance. 28 00:01:36,166 --> 00:01:38,900 In other words, I feel like I might 29 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:41,900 I feel like I might need to, God. 30 00:01:44,533 --> 00:01:46,366 Is is that right? 31 00:01:46,366 --> 00:01:48,700 Is that real? Do you really want me to? 32 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:52,500 Another way we try to we we try to make God 33 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:55,500 prove himself to us. 34 00:01:56,433 --> 00:01:57,366 We we say, God, 35 00:01:57,366 --> 00:02:01,033 I feel like maybe this is what you're where you're leading. But. 36 00:02:02,766 --> 00:02:03,933 But I'm not sure. 37 00:02:03,933 --> 00:02:06,933 So I'm a little reluctant to say yes. 38 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,200 Prove yourself to me a little bit. 39 00:02:11,233 --> 00:02:14,233 Right. 40 00:02:15,166 --> 00:02:18,166 Right, right. 41 00:02:18,933 --> 00:02:20,266 We see in this church all the time. 42 00:02:20,266 --> 00:02:22,800 Let's say yes to God on the front end. 43 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:27,800 And then as we move through, we'll figure out what we said yes to. 44 00:02:27,833 --> 00:02:30,833 But we don't know exactly what we said yesterday on the front end. 45 00:02:30,900 --> 00:02:33,833 It's called faith. 46 00:02:33,833 --> 00:02:35,933 And we want God to give all this confirmation 47 00:02:35,933 --> 00:02:38,866 so we don't have to move in faith. 48 00:02:38,866 --> 00:02:40,500 And this is what we see in the Bible. 49 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:42,033 We see it in our lives, you see in Scripture. 50 00:02:42,033 --> 00:02:45,033 And we're going to see it in this, this guy named Gideon's life. 51 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,300 And in judges six, I want to introduce you to my friend named Gideon. 52 00:02:50,533 --> 00:02:51,266 Gideon. 53 00:02:51,266 --> 00:02:54,033 judges six one through two. 54 00:02:54,033 --> 00:02:56,600 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 55 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,433 After seven years, he God gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 56 00:03:00,900 --> 00:03:05,766 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared 57 00:03:05,766 --> 00:03:10,200 shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds. 58 00:03:12,033 --> 00:03:15,133 The Bible says in judges six one again 59 00:03:15,266 --> 00:03:18,266 the Israelites did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. 60 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,000 This is the cycle we see in judges over and over and over. 61 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,133 They do what's right in their own eyes, which means they don't do what's right 62 00:03:26,133 --> 00:03:27,333 in God's eyes. 63 00:03:27,333 --> 00:03:29,800 It leads him into trouble and pain and defeat. 64 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,766 In despair, they cry out to God, and God in his mercy and grace, delivers them. 65 00:03:34,733 --> 00:03:35,666 And they're appreciative. 66 00:03:35,666 --> 00:03:37,200 They love him. They're fantastic. 67 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,766 They're walking with Jesus until they're not. 68 00:03:39,766 --> 00:03:41,533 and then they 69 00:03:41,533 --> 00:03:44,533 do what's right in their own eyes rather than what's right in God's eyes. 70 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:46,966 And they fall into sin again. 71 00:03:46,966 --> 00:03:48,966 Despair, defeat, destruction. 72 00:03:48,966 --> 00:03:52,500 And they cry out to God, and God in his mercy and grace delivers them again. 73 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:54,033 It's over and over and over. 74 00:03:54,033 --> 00:03:57,300 I was talking to Michael, our youth pastor, and he said this morning, 75 00:03:57,666 --> 00:04:01,366 he reminded me of this quote that God's capacity to forgive is greater 76 00:04:01,366 --> 00:04:03,100 than our capacity to sin, which I appreciate. 77 00:04:04,966 --> 00:04:06,566 It's Second Timothy 78 00:04:06,566 --> 00:04:09,600 213 that says, while we are faithless, he remains faithful. 79 00:04:09,733 --> 00:04:12,933 And this is why God continues to rescue us when we cry out to him, 80 00:04:14,133 --> 00:04:16,433 though in judges we see it over and over, 81 00:04:16,433 --> 00:04:19,433 and if we're honest with ourselves, we see it in our lives as well. 82 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,800 That we start living in ways that are right in our eyes. 83 00:04:23,566 --> 00:04:25,833 And the culture we're in right now has a lot to say 84 00:04:25,833 --> 00:04:28,833 about what is right in our eyes. 85 00:04:29,466 --> 00:04:33,566 And most of what the culture says is right and okay in our eyes is not right. 86 00:04:33,566 --> 00:04:35,733 UN okay in God's eyes. 87 00:04:35,733 --> 00:04:38,333 And when we live in ways that are right in our own eyes, 88 00:04:38,333 --> 00:04:42,666 but not in the eyes of God, that leads us into captivity, despair and destruction. 89 00:04:42,966 --> 00:04:46,866 And when we get in enough pain, we cry out to God and ask him to deliver. 90 00:04:46,866 --> 00:04:49,500 And because God is merciful and gracious, he does. 91 00:04:50,766 --> 00:04:53,700 this is what we see in judges, and this is what we see in me, 92 00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:56,700 and this is what we see in you, and this is what we see in us. 93 00:04:58,700 --> 00:05:00,066 So again, they did evil. 94 00:05:00,066 --> 00:05:03,000 And when the eyes of the Lord 95 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,333 and God allowed them to experience 96 00:05:05,333 --> 00:05:08,333 pain, God allowed them to experience suffering. 97 00:05:08,333 --> 00:05:10,466 God allowed them to experience defeat. 98 00:05:10,466 --> 00:05:13,466 God allowed them to experience bondage 99 00:05:14,300 --> 00:05:17,300 because he wanted them to come back to him. 100 00:05:20,866 --> 00:05:24,033 This is the way God's economy works. 101 00:05:25,966 --> 00:05:28,633 Oftentimes, we have 102 00:05:28,633 --> 00:05:31,633 difficulty and pain in the physical 103 00:05:32,266 --> 00:05:35,266 because of a spiritual failure. 104 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,000 in other words, oftentimes 105 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,166 when life gets really, really, really difficult and painful, oftentimes 106 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:47,500 and sometimes it's because though we experience it 107 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:51,700 in the physical world, it's related to a spiritual failure. 108 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,133 So why Ephesians six 212 is so important? 109 00:05:55,133 --> 00:05:58,433 We don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers 110 00:05:58,466 --> 00:06:01,466 and authorities of powers. 111 00:06:02,833 --> 00:06:03,300 And evil. 112 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:07,800 But this is it's not primarily a physical all the time. 113 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,600 A physical issue. 114 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:12,633 There's a spiritual reality behind it. 115 00:06:12,633 --> 00:06:16,966 And these, the people of God, were walking away 116 00:06:16,966 --> 00:06:20,266 from God spiritually, so they were suffering physical defeat. 117 00:06:20,266 --> 00:06:23,266 You follow me. 118 00:06:24,066 --> 00:06:27,800 So when we have these same issues in our lives, 119 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,000 we often want God to fix our physical without repenting 120 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,000 of the spiritual. 121 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,066 We do this all the time. 122 00:06:37,066 --> 00:06:39,600 We want God to fix my situation, 123 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,600 but I don't want to repent in my heart. 124 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:47,000 God fix my finances, but I don't want to do anything different to 125 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:49,133 fix my marriage. 126 00:06:49,133 --> 00:06:51,233 But I'm still going to be bitter and angry, 127 00:06:52,366 --> 00:06:52,933 fix my 128 00:06:52,933 --> 00:06:55,933 kids, but I'm still not going to lead them biblically. 129 00:06:56,866 --> 00:06:58,066 Fix my temptation. 130 00:06:58,066 --> 00:07:01,200 But I'm still not going to read the Bible, memorize it, pray and have a heart. 131 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,433 Be a part of a huddle 132 00:07:03,433 --> 00:07:05,633 right? 133 00:07:05,633 --> 00:07:08,633 Right. 134 00:07:09,633 --> 00:07:10,533 Right. 135 00:07:10,533 --> 00:07:13,533 And Amen. 136 00:07:15,533 --> 00:07:17,366 As my daddy used to tell me when I was little, 137 00:07:17,366 --> 00:07:19,700 driving down the road, I'm not afraid to pull this car over. 138 00:07:19,700 --> 00:07:22,700 And you know. 139 00:07:28,766 --> 00:07:29,266 Whenever 140 00:07:29,266 --> 00:07:32,266 the Israelites planted their crops, that's how bad it got. 141 00:07:32,300 --> 00:07:34,800 Whenever there's lights play on their crops, the Midianites, 142 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,233 Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 143 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:43,600 They camped on the land, and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza. 144 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:45,700 You've heard of that place? 145 00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:47,966 did not spare a living thing for Israel. 146 00:07:47,966 --> 00:07:50,033 Neither sheet nor cattle, nor donkeys. 147 00:07:50,033 --> 00:07:54,433 They came up with their livestock and their tents like a swarm of locusts. 148 00:07:55,366 --> 00:07:58,366 It was impossible to count them or their camels. 149 00:07:58,466 --> 00:08:00,766 They invaded the land to ravage it. 150 00:08:01,866 --> 00:08:04,633 The Israelites did all the work. 151 00:08:04,633 --> 00:08:09,766 They labored, they they they stressed, and they produced a crop. 152 00:08:10,433 --> 00:08:13,266 And then this entity came in and took it all over. 153 00:08:13,266 --> 00:08:16,600 It sounds like our government that's story. 154 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:20,200 They did all the work. 155 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,166 They land and the land produced a crop. 156 00:08:22,166 --> 00:08:24,166 And then the Midianites and the Amalekites came in 157 00:08:24,166 --> 00:08:26,100 and they just ravaged everything. 158 00:08:26,100 --> 00:08:28,900 So the Israelites, though they should be enjoying 159 00:08:28,900 --> 00:08:32,133 the promise of God and the blessing of God and the favor of God 160 00:08:32,366 --> 00:08:35,366 in the land that they gained by faith. 161 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:41,333 They were unfaithful in the land, and because they were unfaithful, 162 00:08:41,333 --> 00:08:45,566 though they were given the promise of God by faith, they were not faithful. 163 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,000 And as long as they were faithless, 164 00:08:49,366 --> 00:08:52,766 they were subjected to living in caves and holes in the ground of heaven. 165 00:08:52,766 --> 00:08:56,400 All of the produce that they should have enjoyed taken away from them and stolen. 166 00:08:59,333 --> 00:09:02,333 We could say that about our lives. 167 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,600 The innocent, these Midianites and Amalekites, 168 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:10,100 you know the Midianites were. 169 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,233 You've heard of Abraham, father Abraham have many sons. 170 00:09:13,666 --> 00:09:15,533 Many sons, father them. 171 00:09:15,533 --> 00:09:17,133 You know that old song? 172 00:09:17,133 --> 00:09:17,833 Yeah. Okay. 173 00:09:17,833 --> 00:09:20,766 So Abraham was married to a lady named Sarah. 174 00:09:20,766 --> 00:09:24,000 She died, and he made her married to another lady named Keturah. 175 00:09:24,466 --> 00:09:28,666 And from Abraham, a good Torah was this son named Midian. 176 00:09:29,533 --> 00:09:33,366 So the Midianites are part of the family tree of Abraham, 177 00:09:33,433 --> 00:09:36,966 part of the Hebrew people's family tree. 178 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:40,300 When Moses came and led the people out of captivity, 179 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:44,033 he married a gal and his her or his father. 180 00:09:44,033 --> 00:09:47,033 Last name was Jethro, who was the priest of Midian. 181 00:09:48,266 --> 00:09:50,600 So the Midianites have this history 182 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,633 with God's people, though they're not walking with God, obviously. 183 00:09:53,833 --> 00:09:56,200 And so they're fighting against the work of God. 184 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,933 The Amalekites come from the line of Esau. 185 00:10:00,933 --> 00:10:03,000 There was Jacob and Esau. 186 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,100 Jacob was the chosen one of God. 187 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:06,300 Esau was his brother. 188 00:10:06,300 --> 00:10:06,966 Esau cared 189 00:10:06,966 --> 00:10:11,300 not of the things of God, sold his spiritual birthright for a pot of stew 190 00:10:12,366 --> 00:10:13,966 from from Esau. 191 00:10:13,966 --> 00:10:18,200 Esau had a grandson whose name was Amel, from the Amalekites. 192 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,166 That's where the Amalekites came from. 193 00:10:20,166 --> 00:10:23,766 Generations later, King Saul, God raises up 194 00:10:23,766 --> 00:10:27,166 King Saul to be the king of his people, the king of the, of Israel. 195 00:10:27,733 --> 00:10:31,400 God tells King Saul to destroy all of the Amalekite army 196 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:32,700 because they're the enemies of God. 197 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:35,400 They're they make all of God's work in the world. 198 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,300 Saul goes out to war, destroys 199 00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:41,933 most of the Amalekites, but leaves the king of the Amalekites. 200 00:10:41,933 --> 00:10:43,866 His name is a guy. Got a life, 201 00:10:45,866 --> 00:10:47,333 was unfaithful. 202 00:10:47,333 --> 00:10:49,133 Saul was 203 00:10:49,133 --> 00:10:51,566 because he kept Agag alive. 204 00:10:51,566 --> 00:10:55,333 Generations later, we read of an aggregate 205 00:10:56,166 --> 00:10:58,900 from the line of our God, who was an amalekite 206 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:03,800 who should have been destroyed really, or in a governmental position in Persia, 207 00:11:04,333 --> 00:11:06,900 who set in course the 208 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:09,766 the edict to exterminate all the Jews. 209 00:11:09,766 --> 00:11:11,966 His name was Heyman 210 00:11:11,966 --> 00:11:14,966 from the Book of Esther. 211 00:11:16,766 --> 00:11:17,800 Every problem 212 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,766 that God's people are, have gone through and are going through come from 213 00:11:21,766 --> 00:11:25,200 people who used to be a part of the line of God's people 214 00:11:26,100 --> 00:11:28,500 still to this day, 215 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:31,500 and it all stems from unfaithfulness, 216 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:33,433 and it all stems from sin. 217 00:11:33,433 --> 00:11:37,100 And here's what I know unrepentant disobedience 218 00:11:37,166 --> 00:11:40,900 breeds difficulty and defeat it did in their lives. 219 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:43,766 It doesn't. Ours. 220 00:11:43,766 --> 00:11:47,700 Unrepentant disobedience breeds difficulty and defeat. 221 00:11:47,766 --> 00:11:50,266 And this is what the people of God were experiencing. 222 00:11:55,433 --> 00:11:57,400 Midian so impoverished the 223 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,400 Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. 224 00:12:01,166 --> 00:12:02,766 This is a cycle over and over. 225 00:12:02,766 --> 00:12:05,466 Now, how long did it take them to cry out to God? 226 00:12:05,466 --> 00:12:07,666 They remember 227 00:12:07,666 --> 00:12:10,500 seven years took him seven years. 228 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:12,400 We see this over and over and judges. 229 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,333 It takes a year and after year, year after year to year, year before. 230 00:12:16,433 --> 00:12:19,433 Why did it take him so long? 231 00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:27,533 Nobody. 232 00:12:27,533 --> 00:12:29,600 Well, before you answer, let me suggest this. 233 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,200 That's the wrong question. 234 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:32,133 The right question is this. 235 00:12:32,133 --> 00:12:35,133 Why does it take us so long? 236 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:38,233 Right. 237 00:12:38,233 --> 00:12:40,200 Because some of us have been 238 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,266 living in defeat year after year after year 239 00:12:43,933 --> 00:12:46,700 in struggle, year after year after year in oppression, 240 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:49,700 year after year after year 241 00:12:50,033 --> 00:12:52,733 with the same sins, year after year after year. 242 00:12:52,733 --> 00:12:54,333 Why does it take us so long 243 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,000 to bend the knee and cry out to God? 244 00:13:00,933 --> 00:13:03,933 And so they cry out to God and. 245 00:13:04,966 --> 00:13:08,300 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 246 00:13:08,433 --> 00:13:12,900 he sent them a prophet who said, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. 247 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:14,300 So this prophet comes and says, 248 00:13:14,300 --> 00:13:18,333 this is what God says, I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 249 00:13:18,433 --> 00:13:21,000 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians, 250 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,000 and I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors. 251 00:13:24,433 --> 00:13:27,900 I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 252 00:13:28,033 --> 00:13:30,800 I said to you, I am the Lord your God. 253 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,500 Do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live. 254 00:13:34,533 --> 00:13:38,366 But you have not listened to me. 255 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:40,566 They cried out to God. 256 00:13:40,566 --> 00:13:42,466 They said, God, we need you. 257 00:13:42,466 --> 00:13:43,966 And God doesn't send them. 258 00:13:43,966 --> 00:13:47,300 Initially a deliverer, he does not rescue them initially. 259 00:13:47,300 --> 00:13:51,900 The Bible says rather than sending them a deliverer, he sends them a prophet. 260 00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:56,733 A prophet simply says, this is what I have heard from God. 261 00:13:56,866 --> 00:13:59,800 And so I'm going to tell you what I've heard, and what I've heard God 262 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,000 say is this 263 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,000 look at all God has done for you. 264 00:14:05,666 --> 00:14:07,933 And even in light of all he's done, 265 00:14:07,933 --> 00:14:10,933 you have not listened. 266 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,833 The message of the prophet 267 00:14:14,833 --> 00:14:16,300 I brought you out. 268 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:17,800 I rescued you from. 269 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,500 I drove the enemies out. 270 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:21,466 I am your God. 271 00:14:21,466 --> 00:14:23,600 And it was all I've done for you. 272 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,566 You have turned a deaf ear and you do what is right 273 00:14:26,566 --> 00:14:29,566 in your own eyes, not mine. 274 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,400 Not an encouraging message, 275 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:34,733 right? 276 00:14:34,733 --> 00:14:37,733 It's a message of conviction. 277 00:14:40,133 --> 00:14:41,133 It's the same message. 278 00:14:41,133 --> 00:14:44,133 I wonder if God would say to us today, 279 00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:46,133 I know that you want my help. 280 00:14:46,133 --> 00:14:49,633 However, though I have brought you out, 281 00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:53,400 though I have delivered you from though I have rescued you out of. 282 00:14:53,433 --> 00:14:58,000 Though I am supposed to be your God, you're not listening to me. 283 00:15:04,966 --> 00:15:07,966 The question we would ask ourselves is this 284 00:15:08,733 --> 00:15:10,100 what are all the good things 285 00:15:10,100 --> 00:15:13,100 that God has done for us in the past? 286 00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:16,866 We could say the same God, you have brought me out, 287 00:15:17,866 --> 00:15:20,866 God, you have rescued me from God. 288 00:15:20,866 --> 00:15:23,866 You have not allowed me to receive all that I've showed. 289 00:15:24,533 --> 00:15:27,066 God, you have defeated my God. 290 00:15:27,066 --> 00:15:30,066 You are my God. 291 00:15:30,133 --> 00:15:32,833 Think for a moment. 292 00:15:32,833 --> 00:15:35,833 From where has he brought you? 293 00:15:37,433 --> 00:15:40,466 What devouring thing has he withheld from your life 294 00:15:40,466 --> 00:15:43,466 that it hasn't devoured you when it should have? 295 00:15:44,333 --> 00:15:47,333 What has he rescued you from? 296 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:50,533 What has he defeated 297 00:15:50,533 --> 00:15:53,533 that used to be conquering you? 298 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,000 Is he your God? 299 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:58,000 Has he done those things? 300 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,000 If so, are you listening? 301 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:03,533 Are you doing what is right in his eyes, 302 00:16:04,500 --> 00:16:07,500 not your own? 303 00:16:10,533 --> 00:16:13,366 The angel of the Lord came and sat down 304 00:16:13,366 --> 00:16:16,366 under the oak of okra that belong to Joash. 305 00:16:16,366 --> 00:16:19,366 That is right where he said Gideon 306 00:16:19,966 --> 00:16:23,566 was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 307 00:16:23,566 --> 00:16:26,066 There's a lot going on here. I'm going to talk about it in just a minute. 308 00:16:26,066 --> 00:16:29,200 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 309 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,600 the Lord is with you, mighty warrior. 310 00:16:34,066 --> 00:16:37,066 When the Bible in those doesn't use this phrase, the angel of the Lord, 311 00:16:37,533 --> 00:16:40,066 we understand that to be what we call 312 00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:43,533 the pre incarnate appearance of Jesus, 313 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,333 the second person of the Trinity, God the Father, God 314 00:16:47,333 --> 00:16:51,266 the son, God the Spirit, Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. 315 00:16:51,266 --> 00:16:53,333 This is what we understand biblically. 316 00:16:53,333 --> 00:16:58,600 The angel of the Lord is the pre incarnate before he takes on human form. 317 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,300 In Bethlehem on December 25th. 318 00:17:03,233 --> 00:17:05,700 This is Jesus. 319 00:17:05,700 --> 00:17:08,700 And so he shows up. 320 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:12,033 and what I love about that is what it tells me about, 321 00:17:12,033 --> 00:17:15,033 my God that that Jesus shows up to where I am. 322 00:17:17,233 --> 00:17:19,800 He is so good 323 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,800 that he comes to where I am. 324 00:17:23,066 --> 00:17:25,500 This is what is so unique about Christianity. 325 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:26,733 Every other world. 326 00:17:26,733 --> 00:17:29,866 Religion is about man somehow trying to get to God. 327 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,000 Christianity is the only one where God comes to man. 328 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:36,500 Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. 329 00:17:38,366 --> 00:17:41,666 You don't have to look for him, for he is near. 330 00:17:41,666 --> 00:17:43,666 The Bible says 331 00:17:43,666 --> 00:17:47,833 an easy to find because he has come here. 332 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:53,100 And Gideon is doing what do you remember? 333 00:17:53,933 --> 00:17:56,933 Threshing wheat where? 334 00:17:57,066 --> 00:17:58,300 The wine press, I mean. 335 00:17:58,300 --> 00:18:00,266 Now, some of you Bible students understand this already, 336 00:18:00,266 --> 00:18:03,266 but let me explain it to those of you who for whom this is new. 337 00:18:03,566 --> 00:18:06,033 Threshing wheat looked like this. 338 00:18:06,033 --> 00:18:07,966 The one, this the one who was threshing. 339 00:18:07,966 --> 00:18:11,733 We would get a like a big basket or something, and have all the wheat 340 00:18:11,733 --> 00:18:15,300 and the kernels and the chaff and the and the dust and the dirt and the stars. 341 00:18:15,300 --> 00:18:19,233 I mean, in this big, this big basket. 342 00:18:19,333 --> 00:18:23,466 And they would throw it up in the air and as the wind blew, it would blow away 343 00:18:23,466 --> 00:18:27,400 all the chaff and all the dirt and all the nasty and the grain being heavier, 344 00:18:27,566 --> 00:18:28,366 fall back down. 345 00:18:28,366 --> 00:18:31,933 And it was this constant process of doing this as the wind would blow, 346 00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:35,100 to constantly blow all the chaff and all the nasty away, 347 00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:37,200 so that you're left with all the good grain. 348 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,200 And they did this at the top of the crust of a hill, 349 00:18:40,433 --> 00:18:44,700 because we all know that the wind is stronger up at the top of a hill. 350 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:45,166 Right? 351 00:18:45,166 --> 00:18:48,066 And so they'd be at the top of the hill threshing wheat. 352 00:18:48,066 --> 00:18:50,266 But where does it say Gideon is threshing wheat 353 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:52,633 at the winepress. 354 00:18:52,633 --> 00:18:55,633 The winepress was at the lowest part of the valley. 355 00:18:56,133 --> 00:18:58,966 That's where the wine, that's where the grapes grew. 356 00:18:58,966 --> 00:19:02,433 So they would process the wine by the by the vineyards 357 00:19:02,433 --> 00:19:05,433 down in the, in the valley. 358 00:19:06,733 --> 00:19:09,900 When the wind is strong at the hilltop, 359 00:19:10,966 --> 00:19:14,866 it is not strong in the valley. 360 00:19:15,033 --> 00:19:17,700 And so here is Gideon. 361 00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:19,866 No wind 362 00:19:19,866 --> 00:19:24,133 throwing all this nasty up, and it comes right back down and up 363 00:19:24,133 --> 00:19:27,433 and right back down it up and right back down it up and right back down. 364 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,633 And he's just absolutely covered in all this itchy, scratchy dirt 365 00:19:32,733 --> 00:19:36,400 and chaff and all the work he does is useless. 366 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,766 And all the work he does is exhausting. 367 00:19:38,766 --> 00:19:42,133 And all the work he does produces no benefit whatsoever. 368 00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:47,300 You're been there. 369 00:19:50,066 --> 00:19:53,400 He's threshing wheat at the winepress. Why? 370 00:19:54,833 --> 00:19:57,833 Why isn't he up on the hill? 371 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:01,100 Out of fear, the Midianites? 372 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:03,433 Because he's afraid. 373 00:20:03,433 --> 00:20:06,433 And so he's working his tail off. 374 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,600 And it is to no avail. 375 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:17,100 And Jesus calls to him 376 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:18,500 and says, the Lord is with you. 377 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,500 What do you call him? 378 00:20:22,233 --> 00:20:24,566 Mighty warrior. 379 00:20:24,566 --> 00:20:27,566 He's threshing wheat in a winepress because he's scared to death. 380 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:30,933 Why does Jesus call him mighty warrior? 381 00:20:30,933 --> 00:20:31,433 What? 382 00:20:31,433 --> 00:20:34,433 I think because God has a sense of humor. 383 00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:37,566 I think he's like mighty warrior and get. 384 00:20:37,566 --> 00:20:40,366 It's like, oh God, that one hurt. 385 00:20:40,366 --> 00:20:43,366 But here's why else I think God tells a mighty warrior. 386 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:46,833 Because God doesn't see us 387 00:20:46,833 --> 00:20:49,833 as who we are, nor who we've been. 388 00:20:50,066 --> 00:20:53,000 He calls us according to the greatness of his mission. 389 00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:55,433 I want 390 00:20:55,433 --> 00:20:59,800 you understand this God doesn't call us or name us according to who we were. 391 00:21:00,333 --> 00:21:03,333 God doesn't call us or name us according to who we are. 392 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,900 God doesn't cast or name us according to our potential. 393 00:21:06,966 --> 00:21:08,866 God doesn't care about our potential. 394 00:21:08,866 --> 00:21:11,800 The only real potential we have is to failure. 395 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:16,600 What God does is call us and name us according to his mission for us 396 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:17,766 in the world. 397 00:21:17,766 --> 00:21:21,900 And his mission for Gideon was not a thresher at the wine press. 398 00:21:21,966 --> 00:21:25,266 His mission for Gideon was as a warrior of his people, 399 00:21:27,266 --> 00:21:29,200 had nothing to do with Gideon's 400 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,200 potential, had nothing to do with Gideon's ability. 401 00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:33,966 And we'll see that in just a moment. 402 00:21:33,966 --> 00:21:37,166 It had everything to do with God's mission for them in the world. 403 00:21:40,533 --> 00:21:42,366 And he still sees us. 404 00:21:42,366 --> 00:21:46,200 Ephesians five seven God says he sees us as his people, 405 00:21:46,266 --> 00:21:50,700 wholly without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish. 406 00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:51,633 Can you believe 407 00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:54,633 if you have a relationship with Jesus, that that's how God sees you? 408 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,900 That is not how other people see you, I guarantee you, right? 409 00:22:00,533 --> 00:22:03,533 And some of you have been so beaten down 410 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:08,700 by the monikers and names and vision of how other people have seen you. 411 00:22:08,733 --> 00:22:12,300 You don't believe that about yourself, about how God sees you. 412 00:22:14,833 --> 00:22:17,833 This is what the Apostle Paul said 413 00:22:18,233 --> 00:22:19,633 in second Corinthians 516. 414 00:22:19,633 --> 00:22:23,100 He says, I desire I will know no man according to his flesh. 415 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:27,500 What he is saying is, I will know nobody according to who they used to be. 416 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:31,300 I will only know them according to who God sees them to be. 417 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:33,033 Wouldn't that be amazing? 418 00:22:34,966 --> 00:22:37,266 I don't want to know any of you. 419 00:22:37,266 --> 00:22:40,266 According to who you who you were. 420 00:22:40,900 --> 00:22:43,900 I don't want you to know me according to who I was. 421 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:48,100 I will know no man according to the flesh. 422 00:22:48,433 --> 00:22:51,266 I think about the how that would change 423 00:22:51,266 --> 00:22:54,266 relationships. 424 00:22:57,666 --> 00:22:59,633 So our problem 425 00:22:59,633 --> 00:23:02,633 is we oftentimes still see people 426 00:23:03,033 --> 00:23:06,033 according to their worst moments. 427 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,366 Right? 428 00:23:09,366 --> 00:23:12,366 Right. 429 00:23:14,233 --> 00:23:16,266 God sees us 430 00:23:16,266 --> 00:23:19,266 according to our highest call. 431 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:24,700 So mighty warrior. 432 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:29,366 Well, pardon me, my Lord. 433 00:23:29,366 --> 00:23:31,933 Gideon says to Jesus. 434 00:23:31,933 --> 00:23:35,566 But if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? 435 00:23:35,566 --> 00:23:38,566 You've been there. 436 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,366 We're all his wonders that our ancestors told us about 437 00:23:41,366 --> 00:23:43,166 when they said, didn't the Lord bring us up? 438 00:23:43,166 --> 00:23:45,400 Honor, you just. 439 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:49,300 But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hands of Midian. 440 00:23:49,933 --> 00:23:52,933 The Lord turned to him and said, go in the strength you have, 441 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,400 and save Israel out of the Midianites hand. 442 00:23:56,433 --> 00:23:57,600 Am I not sending you? 443 00:23:59,100 --> 00:23:59,833 I love 444 00:23:59,833 --> 00:24:02,833 this Gideon starts with, okay, let me hold on. 445 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:05,900 If you are with us, why has this happened? 446 00:24:06,766 --> 00:24:09,133 All of us has been there. 447 00:24:09,133 --> 00:24:12,800 God, if you're mighty, if I'm yours, why didn't you allow this? 448 00:24:13,833 --> 00:24:16,800 If you are with me, why is this happening? 449 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,633 Why that diagnosis? Why this failure? 450 00:24:19,633 --> 00:24:20,800 Why this defeat? 451 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:22,266 Why did the marriage fall? 452 00:24:22,266 --> 00:24:24,566 Well, if you're with me, why? 453 00:24:24,566 --> 00:24:26,033 Right? 454 00:24:26,033 --> 00:24:29,033 Every one of us. 455 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:31,000 I heard the stories of the past. 456 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:32,466 And you were great for my grandma. 457 00:24:32,466 --> 00:24:34,500 But where are you now? 458 00:24:34,500 --> 00:24:36,900 I read all the stuff in here, and that would have been great 459 00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:37,766 if I was back there. 460 00:24:37,766 --> 00:24:39,533 But I'm not back there. I'm here. 461 00:24:39,533 --> 00:24:40,933 So where are you now? 462 00:24:40,933 --> 00:24:43,933 Right. 463 00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:47,533 Look at Gideon statements 464 00:24:47,533 --> 00:24:48,533 there. If statements. 465 00:24:48,533 --> 00:24:50,666 Why statements and where statements? 466 00:24:50,666 --> 00:24:52,800 God if God, why God? Where? 467 00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:56,733 Here's what I know. 468 00:24:56,733 --> 00:24:58,066 If God why God and where? 469 00:24:58,066 --> 00:25:01,066 God always leads us to fear and why and presses. 470 00:25:03,366 --> 00:25:06,333 To understand. 471 00:25:06,333 --> 00:25:09,333 And this is where most of us live. 472 00:25:10,266 --> 00:25:12,800 We live in the land of if God. 473 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:15,800 Why God where God? 474 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,933 And as a result, where he lived defeated, 475 00:25:18,933 --> 00:25:22,366 destructive, oppressed lives of fear 476 00:25:22,366 --> 00:25:27,400 and the low wine places of life and all the work we do 477 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,866 and all the struggle we do, it results in nothing 478 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,100 but exhaustion, 479 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:37,100 feeling filthy, worn out and defeated. 480 00:25:41,100 --> 00:25:42,400 She knows what Gideon said. 481 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,400 He said, the Lord, you've abandoned us. 482 00:25:47,700 --> 00:25:49,100 If you and I ever feel 483 00:25:49,100 --> 00:25:52,100 as if the Lord has abandoned us, we have the wrong perspective. 484 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:55,866 Because if you go back to verse one, verse one tells us 485 00:25:56,466 --> 00:25:59,400 that they walked away from God for seven years. 486 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,933 They did what was right in their own eyes for seven years. 487 00:26:01,933 --> 00:26:03,066 Who abandoned whom? 488 00:26:05,100 --> 00:26:06,366 Right? 489 00:26:06,366 --> 00:26:09,366 Were. 490 00:26:11,533 --> 00:26:12,333 The Lord turned to him 491 00:26:12,333 --> 00:26:16,366 and said, go in the strength you have, and saved Israel out of Gideon's hand. 492 00:26:16,366 --> 00:26:17,300 Have I not commanded you? 493 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:18,700 Have I not sinned? 494 00:26:18,700 --> 00:26:21,433 I'm the one sending you. 495 00:26:21,433 --> 00:26:21,800 Let's go. 496 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,000 Do it. 497 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,300 I love the fact that God didn't respond to the whys. 498 00:26:27,300 --> 00:26:29,033 And where's 499 00:26:29,033 --> 00:26:31,733 did you notice that? 500 00:26:31,733 --> 00:26:33,233 If God. Why God? We're God. 501 00:26:33,233 --> 00:26:35,633 God never response to is if why somewheres? 502 00:26:35,633 --> 00:26:37,633 Guess what? 503 00:26:37,633 --> 00:26:40,633 God isn't going to respond to our if what is and where's either 504 00:26:41,766 --> 00:26:44,100 we going cry out all day long? Yes, God. 505 00:26:44,100 --> 00:26:45,333 Why God where God? 506 00:26:45,333 --> 00:26:48,333 God is not going to answer those. 507 00:26:50,766 --> 00:26:53,900 How different would it be if we focus left on the if? 508 00:26:53,900 --> 00:26:58,000 Why isn't where's and rather focus on the what God in this moment? 509 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,533 What would you have me do? 510 00:27:02,533 --> 00:27:04,333 Rather than the if God why God? 511 00:27:04,333 --> 00:27:04,900 We're God. 512 00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:06,333 See God in this moment. 513 00:27:06,333 --> 00:27:09,333 What would you have me do? 514 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:12,700 I'm at a complete loss and I got no answers. 515 00:27:13,100 --> 00:27:15,666 Rather than if God. Why God? Where God? 516 00:27:15,666 --> 00:27:16,733 I'm at a complete loss. 517 00:27:16,733 --> 00:27:17,566 I got no answers. 518 00:27:17,566 --> 00:27:20,566 God, what would you have me do? 519 00:27:21,833 --> 00:27:22,100 That's sorry. 520 00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:25,866 Just get in. On I. 521 00:27:25,966 --> 00:27:28,500 And you just go 522 00:27:28,500 --> 00:27:30,833 look at get his response 523 00:27:30,833 --> 00:27:32,133 again. Pardon me, my lord. 524 00:27:32,133 --> 00:27:35,133 He's like, excuse me, one more thing. 525 00:27:35,933 --> 00:27:37,700 How can I save Israel? 526 00:27:37,700 --> 00:27:41,500 My clan is the weakest man and I'm the least in my family 527 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:44,100 here. 528 00:27:44,100 --> 00:27:47,533 This is such a significant statement from Gideon, 529 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:50,700 because I think it's I think it's our statement as well. 530 00:27:51,933 --> 00:27:52,733 Here's what he's saying. 531 00:27:52,733 --> 00:27:54,033 There's a lot of excuses 532 00:27:55,900 --> 00:27:57,300 when he says, 533 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:00,466 when he says, my clan is the weakest. 534 00:28:00,466 --> 00:28:01,300 And Manasseh. 535 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:04,233 Manasseh, according to the numbers of fighting men, 536 00:28:04,233 --> 00:28:06,300 Manasseh was the smallest tribe. 537 00:28:06,300 --> 00:28:07,833 There's 12 of them. 538 00:28:07,833 --> 00:28:11,366 And according to the numbers of fighting men, Manasseh was the smallest tribe. 539 00:28:11,500 --> 00:28:12,300 Here's what he's saying. 540 00:28:12,300 --> 00:28:14,366 My family is the smallest family. 541 00:28:14,366 --> 00:28:16,166 In the smallest tribe. 542 00:28:16,166 --> 00:28:19,300 Not only that, I'm the smallest man. 543 00:28:19,300 --> 00:28:21,866 In the smallest family in the smallest tribe. 544 00:28:21,866 --> 00:28:23,866 Do you see the excuses? 545 00:28:23,866 --> 00:28:26,600 God, you got the wrong person. 546 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:31,133 I am, I can't, I'm the smallest person in the smallest family. 547 00:28:31,133 --> 00:28:33,000 In the smallest tribe. 548 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:36,000 You got. 549 00:28:36,933 --> 00:28:39,933 Excuse after excuse after excuse. 550 00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:43,100 But listen, all of what Gideon said was true. 551 00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:46,100 It was just inconsequential. 552 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:48,200 He was right. 553 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,700 He was the smallest man in the smallest family. 554 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:52,066 In the smallest tribe. Didn't matter. 555 00:28:54,066 --> 00:28:56,300 All of our excuses might be true. 556 00:28:56,300 --> 00:28:57,566 Statements. 557 00:28:57,566 --> 00:29:00,566 They're just completely inconsequential. 558 00:29:01,333 --> 00:29:05,400 So, my dear friends, when God calls us, when he asks of us, 559 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:08,700 when he presumes to us, well, you know what? 560 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:11,066 That you know what that feeling. You felt it hearing. 561 00:29:11,066 --> 00:29:13,700 You've known it. You you've heard it here. You've seen it here. 562 00:29:13,700 --> 00:29:15,000 You know what God is asking? 563 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,000 You know what God's requiring. 564 00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:19,733 And all of us have excuses. 565 00:29:19,733 --> 00:29:22,266 Why not? Why not now? It's not the right time. 566 00:29:22,266 --> 00:29:24,600 I don't have the right, I can't do it, blah blah blah. 567 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,733 All those all might be true excuses. 568 00:29:26,733 --> 00:29:29,733 Just they're just inconsequential. 569 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,800 You understand? 570 00:29:34,633 --> 00:29:37,466 Do you really understand? 571 00:29:37,466 --> 00:29:41,000 Oh, you can if you understand. 572 00:29:43,300 --> 00:29:45,766 All those things 573 00:29:45,766 --> 00:29:48,733 that you know, you have felt from God. 574 00:29:51,266 --> 00:29:52,266 About doing. 575 00:29:52,266 --> 00:29:53,266 About changing. 576 00:29:53,266 --> 00:29:56,366 About committing to about invest all those things, 577 00:29:58,100 --> 00:30:01,266 about giving, about serving all those things, 578 00:30:02,366 --> 00:30:05,466 all those excuses you've offered in the past, all those things 579 00:30:05,466 --> 00:30:07,233 I've offered in the past. 580 00:30:07,233 --> 00:30:09,900 They might be true reasons why you haven't. 581 00:30:09,900 --> 00:30:11,800 They are just inconsequential. 582 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:14,800 Do you understand? 583 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,800 Have you ever heard that that statement 584 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,800 that God gives his toughest assignments to his strongest soldiers? 585 00:30:26,533 --> 00:30:28,200 You're heard that 586 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,200 that's the stupidest thing you could ever say. 587 00:30:31,433 --> 00:30:32,200 Don't believe it. 588 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:33,433 Don't say it. Don't repeat it. 589 00:30:33,433 --> 00:30:35,033 Don't give it any mind whatsoever. 590 00:30:35,033 --> 00:30:36,666 It's that it's the most idiotic thing. 591 00:30:36,666 --> 00:30:38,666 It's not biblical, it's heresy. 592 00:30:38,666 --> 00:30:41,666 And it is so incredibly arrogant. 593 00:30:42,833 --> 00:30:45,833 Let me tell you why. 594 00:30:46,466 --> 00:30:48,000 Because that puts all of the 595 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,500 focus on you, not on him. 596 00:30:54,166 --> 00:30:55,000 God does 597 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,366 not try to make Gideon feel better about himself. 598 00:30:59,066 --> 00:31:02,000 God does not try to puff up, Gideon. 599 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:03,866 God does not try to convince Gideon. 600 00:31:03,866 --> 00:31:06,300 Uno. Gideon. You're capable. You're worthy. 601 00:31:06,300 --> 00:31:08,833 You can do it. You're strong. You're. You are. 602 00:31:08,833 --> 00:31:10,333 He doesn't do any of that. 603 00:31:10,333 --> 00:31:13,333 He says you're right. You're nothing. 604 00:31:13,566 --> 00:31:16,566 But I'm sending you, and I'm with you. 605 00:31:18,100 --> 00:31:21,266 God doesn't need to give Gideon a pump up. 606 00:31:21,500 --> 00:31:23,466 God needs to help Gideon. 607 00:31:23,466 --> 00:31:26,466 No. He is with him. 608 00:31:27,300 --> 00:31:30,300 To understand that. 609 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,166 We have to shift our focus from how can I to God? 610 00:31:38,166 --> 00:31:41,166 How will you? 611 00:31:41,300 --> 00:31:44,100 See, first Corinthians 127 tells us, 612 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:46,933 But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the life. 613 00:31:46,933 --> 00:31:48,766 He chose the weak things. 614 00:31:48,766 --> 00:31:50,633 So the world to shame is strong. 615 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:54,866 And that's why Paul can say, 616 00:31:54,866 --> 00:31:57,600 My God can say to Paul and Paul, us 617 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,600 migration is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 618 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,633 Therefore, Paul says, I will boast all the more gladly 619 00:32:04,633 --> 00:32:08,400 about my weaknesses, so that Christ power may rest on me. 620 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:10,100 I don't have to act like I got to. 621 00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:11,400 I got to act like I'm capable. 622 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,400 I got to act like I'm strong and I'm the God's strongest warrior. 623 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:18,133 So I get the tough assignments that is so arrogant and so non-biblical. 624 00:32:19,133 --> 00:32:21,800 God, I am so weak 625 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:25,166 and I will glory in my weakness, and I will proclaim my weakness 626 00:32:25,166 --> 00:32:27,133 because I want your power to rest on me. 627 00:32:27,133 --> 00:32:27,900 You're strong. 628 00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:30,900 I'm not. 629 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,900 I think it's so refreshing that God doesn't ask us to be strong. 630 00:32:38,300 --> 00:32:41,300 He just says, rest in my strength 631 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,600 and rest. 632 00:32:46,433 --> 00:32:48,266 I'll be with you 633 00:32:48,266 --> 00:32:49,033 all straight down. 634 00:32:49,033 --> 00:32:51,600 The Midianites. 635 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:52,200 You don't have to. 636 00:32:52,200 --> 00:32:55,000 I'll do it. 637 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:57,333 He just wants to get into realize 638 00:32:57,333 --> 00:33:00,266 God's presence with him. 639 00:33:00,266 --> 00:33:02,566 And so then watch what happens. 640 00:33:02,566 --> 00:33:05,300 Get. He replied, if now I've found favor in your eyes, 641 00:33:05,300 --> 00:33:07,500 give me a sign that this is really you talking to me, 642 00:33:07,500 --> 00:33:10,000 please don't go away until I bring back my offering 643 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,233 and said it before you and the Lord said, I'll wait here till you return. 644 00:33:13,233 --> 00:33:15,533 Gideon went inside, preparing a young goat, 645 00:33:15,533 --> 00:33:18,733 and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. 646 00:33:18,733 --> 00:33:19,800 Pay attention to that. 647 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:21,733 Putting the meat in the basket. 648 00:33:21,733 --> 00:33:22,700 And it's a broth. 649 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:24,100 Pay attention that in a pot 650 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:27,666 he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 651 00:33:28,466 --> 00:33:31,533 Angela, God said, take the meat and the unleavened bread. 652 00:33:32,166 --> 00:33:35,166 Place it on this rock, and pour out the broth. 653 00:33:35,333 --> 00:33:36,300 Gideon did so. 654 00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:39,433 Then the angel of the Lord, which is Jesus, touched the meat and the 655 00:33:39,433 --> 00:33:43,433 unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. 656 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:45,000 Fire flared from the rock, 657 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,666 consuming the meat and the bread, and the angel of the Lord disappeared. 658 00:33:48,766 --> 00:33:50,000 When get realized 659 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,633 that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, alas, sovereign Lord, 660 00:33:53,766 --> 00:33:56,166 I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face. 661 00:33:56,166 --> 00:33:57,300 Let me tell you what's going on. 662 00:33:58,600 --> 00:34:00,300 Gideon is fearful. 663 00:34:00,300 --> 00:34:02,566 He's timid, he's unsure. 664 00:34:02,566 --> 00:34:06,100 He doesn't know, and he meets with Jesus 665 00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:09,100 at the table. 666 00:34:09,166 --> 00:34:12,166 Jesus, prepare unleavened bread. 667 00:34:12,966 --> 00:34:16,033 Prepare a liquid offering 668 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,800 because there is flesh that's being offered 669 00:34:21,033 --> 00:34:21,600 you. Why? 670 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,933 We do communion every week? 671 00:34:23,933 --> 00:34:28,466 Because it's at the table of the Lord that we share the bread of the Lord, 672 00:34:29,233 --> 00:34:31,966 the drink, the liquid that's poured out. 673 00:34:31,966 --> 00:34:34,966 And we remember the body that's been offered. 674 00:34:35,700 --> 00:34:38,266 It's at the table of the Lord, or Gideon 675 00:34:38,266 --> 00:34:42,166 changed from fearful to faithful. 676 00:34:43,433 --> 00:34:44,933 It's at the table of the Lord. 677 00:34:44,933 --> 00:34:47,933 Every week when we remember the body of Christ 678 00:34:48,633 --> 00:34:51,066 through the bread and the liquid 679 00:34:51,066 --> 00:34:54,066 that's poured out. 680 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:57,600 Do you see this? 681 00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:06,100 And so here's Gideon. 682 00:35:06,266 --> 00:35:08,466 That same night, the Lord said to him, 683 00:35:08,466 --> 00:35:11,466 take the second bull from your father's herd, the 70. 684 00:35:11,466 --> 00:35:13,533 That is the one that seven years old 685 00:35:13,533 --> 00:35:17,566 and tear down your father's altar to bail and tear down the Asherah pole beside it. 686 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,233 Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord 687 00:35:21,233 --> 00:35:24,433 your God on the top of the height, using the wood from the ashes 688 00:35:24,433 --> 00:35:28,200 of all that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering. 689 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:32,600 So Gideon took ten of his servants, and did as the Lord told him. 690 00:35:32,733 --> 00:35:37,500 But because he was again what afraid of his family now not just me, 691 00:35:37,633 --> 00:35:38,700 but I was family. 692 00:35:38,700 --> 00:35:39,800 And the townspeople. 693 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,066 He did it at night rather than the daytime. 694 00:35:42,066 --> 00:35:45,066 Almighty warrior. 695 00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:49,366 Listen, 696 00:35:49,366 --> 00:35:51,666 Gideon is obedient, 697 00:35:51,666 --> 00:35:54,666 but imperfectly obedient. 698 00:35:55,033 --> 00:35:56,666 And that's what I love about my Jesus. 699 00:35:56,666 --> 00:35:58,666 That's what I love about my God. 700 00:35:58,666 --> 00:36:01,666 Imperfect obedience is still pretty good. 701 00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:06,133 Gideon's family worship 702 00:36:06,133 --> 00:36:08,966 the God of income, the God of increase, and the God of pleasure. 703 00:36:08,966 --> 00:36:10,033 Sounds like our culture. 704 00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:14,200 And God says, destroy your 705 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:17,200 father's idols and sacrifice the bull. 706 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:20,600 In other words, what he says is deal with sin 707 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:23,600 in your own house before you try to lead other people. 708 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:27,166 You deal with sin at home before 709 00:36:27,166 --> 00:36:30,166 you try to lead outside the home. 710 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:33,033 We say this all the time in my men's ministry. 711 00:36:33,033 --> 00:36:36,666 These guys I meet with every month and and in our larger men's ministry associate 712 00:36:36,666 --> 00:36:37,133 all the time. 713 00:36:37,133 --> 00:36:39,133 You cannot lead others until you lead yourself, 714 00:36:39,133 --> 00:36:42,133 and you cannot lead yourself until you know yourself. 715 00:36:44,300 --> 00:36:47,300 Men hear me. 716 00:36:47,666 --> 00:36:49,766 You cannot lead others until you lead yourself. 717 00:36:49,766 --> 00:36:52,766 And you cannot lead yourself until you know yourself. 718 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,633 And so the question we have to ask ourselves is this do 719 00:36:58,633 --> 00:37:01,900 you know your own life well enough to know what needs to be repented of? 720 00:37:06,733 --> 00:37:09,233 Men and women like children a little to like. 721 00:37:09,233 --> 00:37:12,233 Do you know your own life well enough to know what you need to repent of? 722 00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:16,133 You cannot lead others, so you lead yourself. 723 00:37:16,133 --> 00:37:19,133 And you got to know yourself, to lead yourself. 724 00:37:19,466 --> 00:37:22,400 How old was the bull they sacrificed? 725 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,166 Why? Seven year old bull? 726 00:37:25,166 --> 00:37:28,066 How long did they walk away from God? 727 00:37:28,066 --> 00:37:31,066 God says you got to come all the way back. 728 00:37:31,733 --> 00:37:33,900 This ain't no half hearted thing. 729 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:35,366 You walked away from me seven years. 730 00:37:35,366 --> 00:37:36,266 Get a bull at several. 731 00:37:36,266 --> 00:37:39,266 This bull has been alive since you turned away. 732 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:39,933 Sacrifice. 733 00:37:39,933 --> 00:37:42,300 And I put it on the altar, 734 00:37:42,300 --> 00:37:45,300 symbolizing the full way of combat, full repentance. 735 00:37:46,133 --> 00:37:47,566 The Bible says run was off your bodies. 736 00:37:47,566 --> 00:37:49,766 Now is living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. 737 00:37:50,866 --> 00:37:53,866 Your whole self? 738 00:37:54,566 --> 00:37:56,366 I don't think any of the Israelites at this point 739 00:37:56,366 --> 00:37:58,300 would have said, it's not that I'm not worshiping God. 740 00:37:58,300 --> 00:38:00,533 Like, why are you so upset? 741 00:38:00,533 --> 00:38:02,666 Just like many of us would say, it's not like I don't believe 742 00:38:02,666 --> 00:38:05,666 in Jesus. 743 00:38:06,133 --> 00:38:06,766 I'm not. I'm a Christian. 744 00:38:06,766 --> 00:38:08,900 I'm going to heaven. It's just 745 00:38:08,900 --> 00:38:09,833 they would say the same thing. 746 00:38:09,833 --> 00:38:12,833 So I'm not believing God. 747 00:38:13,300 --> 00:38:16,300 He just add a lot of other stuff that's right in their own eyes to it. 748 00:38:16,900 --> 00:38:19,900 It's called syncretism. 749 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,400 And rather than being God and His way alone, 750 00:38:23,933 --> 00:38:28,500 it's God his way, my way, their way a little bit. 751 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:31,500 Everything. 752 00:38:35,700 --> 00:38:36,666 I'm a wrap up with this. 753 00:38:36,666 --> 00:38:41,066 I know, I get it in the morning when the people of the town got up, 754 00:38:41,066 --> 00:38:44,933 there was build bills, altar demolished and with ashes pulled beside 755 00:38:44,933 --> 00:38:48,533 it, cut down and the sacrificed on the newly built altar. 756 00:38:49,133 --> 00:38:51,066 They asked who did this? 757 00:38:53,233 --> 00:38:54,400 Like we went to bed. 758 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,033 It was okay. We woke up and all changed. Like the election last year. 759 00:38:57,033 --> 00:39:00,033 Like what happened? 760 00:39:02,333 --> 00:39:04,000 When they carefully investigated, 761 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:06,800 they were told Gideon, the son of Joash, did it. 762 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:10,533 Then the people of town demanded that Joash bring out your son. 763 00:39:10,533 --> 00:39:14,300 He must die because he's broken down Bill's altar and cut down the Asherah pole 764 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:14,933 beside it. 765 00:39:14,933 --> 00:39:19,100 But Joash finally grew up and became a dad. 766 00:39:21,233 --> 00:39:23,766 He displayed a hostile crowd. 767 00:39:23,766 --> 00:39:27,500 You got to care cause you're trying to save him. 768 00:39:28,066 --> 00:39:30,533 Her fight for him shall be put to death by morning. 769 00:39:30,533 --> 00:39:33,500 He finally stands up for his son. 770 00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:36,500 If Bill really is a god, he can defend himself 771 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:38,333 when someone breaks down his altar. 772 00:39:38,333 --> 00:39:40,500 Let's take care of it. He's. If he's really a god 773 00:39:41,666 --> 00:39:43,966 says, back off from my son. 774 00:39:43,966 --> 00:39:45,800 He did what's right. 775 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,733 So because Gideon broke down the altar, they gave him the name. 776 00:39:48,733 --> 00:39:51,733 Gerald Bell was one of the one who contends with Bell, 777 00:39:51,833 --> 00:39:54,833 saying, let him continue with him. 778 00:39:55,866 --> 00:39:58,866 His daddy finally becomes a daddy. 779 00:39:59,266 --> 00:40:03,000 But listen, his daddy finally started acting like a father 780 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,000 because the faith of his son 781 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,000 isn't that beautiful. 782 00:40:09,866 --> 00:40:11,700 Dad, sometimes 783 00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:14,700 it may take the faith of your children to bring you back to him. 784 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:19,533 Moms, sometimes 785 00:40:19,533 --> 00:40:21,933 that will be the faith of your children 786 00:40:21,933 --> 00:40:24,933 that bring you back to Christ. 787 00:40:25,233 --> 00:40:28,100 It's not supposed to be that way. 788 00:40:28,100 --> 00:40:29,766 Fathers mothers are supposed to lead 789 00:40:29,766 --> 00:40:32,766 their children to Jesus, but sometimes 790 00:40:33,133 --> 00:40:35,666 when parents don't get it right, 791 00:40:35,666 --> 00:40:37,766 because God's mercy and grace, the kids do. 792 00:40:40,033 --> 00:40:40,900 And sometimes it's 793 00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:43,900 the kids that bring the parents back. 794 00:40:44,666 --> 00:40:47,666 And I am so thankful, 795 00:40:47,700 --> 00:40:52,733 not just from my mom and dad who raised me in the ways of the Lord, but for three 796 00:40:52,733 --> 00:40:55,733 sons, Joe and Caleb and Wyatt, 797 00:40:56,500 --> 00:40:58,933 who are pictures of faithful men. 798 00:40:58,933 --> 00:41:00,966 For me 799 00:41:00,966 --> 00:41:03,966 who are godly Jesus followers. 800 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:07,600 Because of the impact my sons have on my life. 801 00:41:09,066 --> 00:41:12,066 It's beautiful. 802 00:41:14,333 --> 00:41:15,900 Gideon's dad knew his life. 803 00:41:15,900 --> 00:41:18,133 Need a purifying 804 00:41:18,133 --> 00:41:19,933 and that's why he finally did what he did. 805 00:41:19,933 --> 00:41:22,933 Stood up because he knew. 806 00:41:26,233 --> 00:41:30,066 Then the spirit of Lord came upon Gideon. 807 00:41:30,900 --> 00:41:34,000 He blew his trumpet, summoning the abuser I to follow him. 808 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:35,800 Then. 809 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:37,833 Then means after. 810 00:41:37,833 --> 00:41:40,100 After what? 811 00:41:40,100 --> 00:41:43,100 After getting knowledge, his fear and doubt. 812 00:41:43,166 --> 00:41:44,100 After what? 813 00:41:44,100 --> 00:41:46,066 After he dealt with sin in his own life. 814 00:41:46,066 --> 00:41:48,500 In his own family. After what? 815 00:41:48,500 --> 00:41:50,533 After he met with Jesus at the table. 816 00:41:50,533 --> 00:41:51,833 Then the Spirit of God. 817 00:41:53,700 --> 00:41:55,966 After we acknowledge our sin and our doubt 818 00:41:55,966 --> 00:41:59,733 and our fear, after we meet with Jesus at the table, after we deal with sin 819 00:41:59,733 --> 00:42:02,900 in our own life, in our own family, then the Spirit of God, 820 00:42:04,233 --> 00:42:07,233 not before and not until 821 00:42:07,666 --> 00:42:08,933 after you and I deal 822 00:42:08,933 --> 00:42:12,733 with our own doubt and our own fear and our own disobedience. 823 00:42:12,733 --> 00:42:17,400 After we meet with Jesus and understand the price he paid on the cross for us, 824 00:42:17,633 --> 00:42:21,666 after we deal with that sin and repent, then the Spirit of God, 825 00:42:23,133 --> 00:42:26,533 then we step into what God sees us as according to his mission, 826 00:42:26,533 --> 00:42:28,033 the world Almighty warrior. 827 00:42:28,033 --> 00:42:31,033 Not before. 828 00:42:31,333 --> 00:42:34,333 And that is the clarion call for all of us 829 00:42:35,466 --> 00:42:39,300 to acknowledge your fear and doubt and disobedience. 830 00:42:40,266 --> 00:42:42,666 Meet with Jesus personally 831 00:42:43,766 --> 00:42:45,400 and deal with sin 832 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:48,400 in your life, in your family, and repent. 833 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:52,600 Then the spirit of the Lord will come. 834 00:42:56,233 --> 00:42:59,233 This is why we start a flip side. 835 00:42:59,300 --> 00:43:01,366 This is why me and Shelly 836 00:43:01,366 --> 00:43:04,366 and Joe and Caleb and Wyatt 837 00:43:04,566 --> 00:43:07,566 20 years ago moved here. 838 00:43:08,433 --> 00:43:11,566 For something that I did not know was going to happen 839 00:43:11,566 --> 00:43:14,566 in a way that God was going to do it very differently than what we planned, 840 00:43:15,633 --> 00:43:18,900 but so that we and so that you 841 00:43:20,466 --> 00:43:23,466 could meet with Jesus personally, 842 00:43:24,366 --> 00:43:27,366 could live a life of repentance. 843 00:43:28,100 --> 00:43:29,766 And live with the spirit 844 00:43:29,766 --> 00:43:32,766 of the Lord upon us, 845 00:43:33,166 --> 00:43:34,833 so that his kingdom will come 846 00:43:34,833 --> 00:43:37,833 and his will will be done in this place 847 00:43:38,900 --> 00:43:41,900 as it is in heaven. 848 00:43:42,933 --> 00:43:45,933 So mighty warrior. 849 00:43:47,733 --> 00:43:50,733 Ready? 850 00:43:50,933 --> 00:43:51,900 Let's pray together, father. 851 00:43:51,900 --> 00:43:52,400 Thank you, 852 00:43:53,900 --> 00:43:56,900 thank you, thank you for your word. 853 00:43:58,366 --> 00:43:59,500 Thank you for your heart. 854 00:43:59,500 --> 00:44:00,666 Thank you for your love. 855 00:44:00,666 --> 00:44:03,133 Thank you for your call. 856 00:44:03,133 --> 00:44:04,433 Thank you for your forgiveness. 857 00:44:04,433 --> 00:44:05,700 Thank you for your mercy. 858 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:08,700 Thank you for your grace. 859 00:44:09,333 --> 00:44:10,433 Thank you that when we are 860 00:44:10,433 --> 00:44:13,433 faithless, you are faithful. 861 00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:14,133 Thank you. 862 00:44:14,133 --> 00:44:17,800 That's your capacity to forgive far exceeds our capacity to sin. 863 00:44:20,066 --> 00:44:23,066 Thank you for your son. 864 00:44:23,933 --> 00:44:26,733 Thank you that you don't treat us according to what our sins deserve. 865 00:44:26,733 --> 00:44:28,866 But you respond to us with mercy and grace. 866 00:44:28,866 --> 00:44:30,533 You are a good God. 867 00:44:30,533 --> 00:44:32,800 You're a God. 868 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:35,100 There are some of us in this place. 869 00:44:35,100 --> 00:44:40,500 There are some of us who hear my voice that truly do desire your spirit. 870 00:44:40,500 --> 00:44:43,500 Lord, to fall and be on us. 871 00:44:49,366 --> 00:44:52,500 And according to that desire, father, we confess to you, and I encourage you 872 00:44:52,500 --> 00:44:54,333 to walk through this process in your own life, 873 00:44:54,333 --> 00:44:56,266 in your own mind, in your own heart, right now. 874 00:44:56,266 --> 00:44:58,800 God, this is what I'm afraid of. 875 00:44:58,800 --> 00:45:00,166 This is what I doubt. 876 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:03,266 This is my concern. 877 00:45:03,266 --> 00:45:06,266 This is my hesitation. 878 00:45:11,233 --> 00:45:14,233 Jesus, I come before you today. 879 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:17,833 And I acknowledge 880 00:45:17,833 --> 00:45:22,500 and I admit that you are my Savior. 881 00:45:23,266 --> 00:45:26,266 And through you is my forgiveness. 882 00:45:28,500 --> 00:45:31,933 And I confess my sin to you. 883 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:36,000 And I repent. 884 00:45:38,366 --> 00:45:41,366 I turn around. 885 00:45:43,966 --> 00:45:45,733 I feel the need right now, 886 00:45:45,733 --> 00:45:49,466 just simply to invite you to ask the Holy Spirit to convict you. 887 00:45:49,500 --> 00:45:52,500 Sounds odd. 888 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,266 But I would encourage you right now just to say, Holy Spirit, 889 00:45:55,266 --> 00:45:58,266 I give you permission to convict me of my sin. 890 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:03,833 Convict me of how I have lived 891 00:46:03,833 --> 00:46:07,166 in ways that are right in my eyes, but not yours, 892 00:46:08,333 --> 00:46:13,100 to convict me of my selfishness, convict me of my apathy, 893 00:46:13,666 --> 00:46:17,900 convict me of my lethargy, convict me of my excuses, 894 00:46:18,466 --> 00:46:22,800 convict me of how common my life is like the rest of this culture. 895 00:46:26,200 --> 00:46:28,800 Holy spirit, for all of those of us who desire that, 896 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:32,933 I pray that you would convict us not for our shame or destruction, 897 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,000 but rather for our repentance 898 00:46:37,233 --> 00:46:38,500 and in repentance. 899 00:46:38,500 --> 00:46:41,500 Give us all that your grace will allow us. 900 00:46:44,500 --> 00:46:47,500 To give us all that your grace will allow. 901 00:46:49,833 --> 00:46:52,266 Jesus, thank you. 902 00:46:52,266 --> 00:46:55,300 Thank you, God, for keeping me in this game for 19 years 903 00:46:55,300 --> 00:46:59,100 here with this church, for keeping us in the Ranchos for 20. 904 00:47:00,700 --> 00:47:03,366 Thank you for keeping flip side open. 905 00:47:03,366 --> 00:47:06,266 The 19 years of ministry. 906 00:47:06,266 --> 00:47:07,166 God, you could have. 907 00:47:07,166 --> 00:47:10,066 I probably should have chosen someone else many, many, many times over. 908 00:47:10,066 --> 00:47:13,066 But I thank you that you chose me. 909 00:47:13,300 --> 00:47:14,500 You could have given this church 910 00:47:14,500 --> 00:47:18,000 a lot of different people that you, you gave us us, and I thank you for that. 911 00:47:21,133 --> 00:47:21,333 Prayer. 912 00:47:21,333 --> 00:47:24,333 You keep us in it for another 20. 913 00:47:25,233 --> 00:47:26,433 You're a good God and we love you. 914 00:47:26,433 --> 00:47:28,800 In your name I pray. Amen. 915 00:47:28,800 --> 00:47:31,833 Listen, if any of you made some decision to follow Jesus or to take some steps 916 00:47:31,833 --> 00:47:32,500 to get right with him, 917 00:47:32,500 --> 00:47:35,500 I want to know about it so that we can walk with you and help you. 918 00:47:35,666 --> 00:47:38,400 You're right on the car. Do it on our app. 919 00:47:38,400 --> 00:47:40,200 Drop in the box there. The start here. Boo. 920 00:47:40,200 --> 00:47:42,266 See? David? He's in the back there. David, they're back there. 921 00:47:42,266 --> 00:47:45,266 They'd love to walk with you through that. 922 00:47:45,400 --> 00:47:48,200 Next week we're going to finish chapter six 923 00:47:48,200 --> 00:47:51,200 and look at Gideon and his fleeces. 924 00:47:51,700 --> 00:47:54,433 That's probably the most common story of Gideon's life. 925 00:47:54,433 --> 00:47:55,633 We'll finish it out next week. 926 00:47:55,633 --> 00:48:00,933 And look at chapter seven and see how patient God is with him and with us. 927 00:48:00,966 --> 00:48:01,733 He's a good God. 928 00:48:02,700 --> 00:48:04,933 So this week, 929 00:48:04,933 --> 00:48:07,933 read chapter six again and see how stuff pops. 930 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:10,666 And read chapter seven and get ready for the next Sunday. 931 00:48:10,666 --> 00:48:13,600 You understand this and I love you. 932 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:15,033 I'm proud of you. 933 00:48:15,033 --> 00:48:18,600 It's good to go through the Bible together, And let's think.