Gideon – Mighty HeroOvercoming your fears – Pray as you Go

Richard Brown

25th November 2018

Judges 6:12 “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you”

– Mighty warrior, mighty man of valour, courageous warrior, brave man…

Judges 6:14 “Go… and rescue Israel from the Midianites, I am sending you”.

We are all called to go and rescue. This is mission

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Judges 6:12 “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you”

– Mighty warrior, mighty man of valour, courageous warrior, brave man…

Judges 6:14 “Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites, I am sending you”.

We are all called to go and rescue. This is mission

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1. Overcoming the fear of the mind

2. Letting go of the security of the flesh

3. Stepping into faith in the spirit.

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Overcoming the fear of the mind

Judges 6:17 “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it really is the Lord speaking to me”.

• Am I really hearing God?

• Did God really say?

• Am I really hearing God or is it just me?

• What if I am wrong?

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Overcoming the fear of the mind

Judges 6:25-26 “Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherahpole standing beside it. Then build an altar to the LORD your God”

If you want to overcome the fear of the mind then make sure God is in charge.

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Overcoming the fear of the mind

Judges 6:34-35 says the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon who then pulls together his own army.

Gideon is ready at last! Or is he?

The Fleece Test. Judges 6:36 “If what you say is true then prove it”.

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Letting go of the security of the flesh

Judges 7:1 So Gideon and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod.

Gideon goes before he feels ready to fight.

If you wait until you feel ready you will probably never go

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Letting go of the security of the flesh

Gideon goes in the strength he has, plus some; plus a lot!

Judges 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength”.

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Letting go of the security of the flesh

God strips Gideon’s army down from 32,000 to 300 men.

The Midianites had 135,000 men so Israel was now outnumbered by 450:1.

Sometimes God has to strip us of self in order to make us more dependent on him.

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Stepping into faith in the spirit

Judges 7:10 the Lord says: “If you are afraid to attack, then…

– I will give you more men, stronger men?

– I will give you extra weapons?

– I will give you horses and chariots?

– …

…go down to the camp and listen… then your hands will be strengthened”

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Stepping into faith in the spirit

Something spiritual happens to Gideon. He comes to a genuine place of faith.

Judges 7:15 When Gideon heard… he bowed in worship before the Lord. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianites”

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Stepping into faith in the spirit

Belief has moved from Gideon’s head to his heart – this is faith.

An ordinary man in the hands of an extraordinary God with an extraordinary purpose.

With God – the strength you have.

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Summary

• Where are you in this journey that we’ve been on with Gideon? –Are you still saying “Not me”?

–Are you still casting fleeces before God trying to overcome the fears that linger in your mind?

–Are you still hanging on to all your props, supports and safety mechanisms?

–Are you feeling stripped and vulnerable?

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Summary

• Go and listen. He understands your fears but he doesn’t want you to remain there.

• There’s a world out there that needs rescuing, so go and listen.

• I can do all things with Christ.

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