Fear to Faith – Lessons from Gideon: Judges Chapter 6
His fears- He feared that he would die . Judges 6 v 22
The Bible describes healthy fear. Hebrews 12 v 28
Feared his father’s household. Judges 6 v 27
He hid when they came to kill him/father defended him Judges 6 v 30
He was still doubtful/ if thou wilt save Israel. Judges 6 v 36
Fear was endemic. Chapt 7
Whoever is fearful let him return – 22,000 did. Judges 7 v 3
He was told to go- But God knew -But if thou fear” Judges 7 v 10
He gets the message-Worships and declares God’s Word. Judges 7 v 15
“Arise for the Lord hath delivered into your hands the host of Midian”
There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4 v 18..
Fear of God- Fear of man-The difference!!!
Fear of God
When Annanias and Saphira died “Great Fear came on the church” Acts 5 v 11-14.
Demonized man overthrew seven sons of Servia
Fear fell upon them and the Lord was magnified . Acts 19 v17
Fear of man
Fear of man is a snare. Proverbs 29 v 25
Fear = a blessing. Psalm 121 v 8
Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord. Psalm 112 v 1
Thou mighty man of valour. Judges 6 v 12
Three mighty men
First the shepherd boy David. I have seen the son of Jesse the Bethlemite, that is cunning in playing and a mighty valiant man – and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. 1 Samuel 16 v 18
Jashobeam. 1 Chron 11 V 11
Eliazor 1 Chron 11 v 12
Abishie 1 Chron 11 v 20
Eliazor did not make it v 22/ 25
Read:Jeroboam 1 Kings 11 v 28 and 2 Samuel 23 v 8
Not many mighty are called-
God uses weak flesh-Earthen vessels. 1 Corinthians 1 v 26
How are we to judge others? Are their shoes clean? Do they clean behind their cooker? Are their clothes clean?
The height of their stature – 1 Sam 16 v 6/7
I the Lord search the heart… Jeremiah 17 v 10
What does God do?
Search me O God and see if there be any wicked way in me? Psalm 139 v 23/24
Cursed is man that trusts in man that makes the flesh his arm, who departs from the Lord.. Jeremiah 17 v 5
Great Faith . Little Faith
Jesus commended the Roman Centurion “So great a faith in all Israel” Matthew 8 v 10
Jesus rebuked his own Disciples; “Oh ye of little faith” Matthew 8 v 26
Stephen full of faith
To whom who knows to do good and does it not to him it is sin…
All that is not of faith is sin… Romans 14 v 23
When the Son of man comes will he find faith upon the earth… Luke 18 v 8
Hast thou considered my servant JOB Job 2 v 3
Though He slay me yet will I trust him. Job 13 v 15
I know that my redeemer liveth. Job 19 v 25
I know that if worms eat Yet in my flesh Shall I see God. Job 19 v 26
Elijah Prophesies: I hear the sound of Abundance of Rain….Yet there was no rain
He send his servant No rain.. Go again.. Go again Faith says go again.1 Kings 18 v 41..
Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen… Hebrews 11 v 1.
Jesus came to the village and could do no mighty works because of unbelief! Mark 6 v 5
Staggering.
He upbraided the disciples with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. Mark 16 v 14
Take heed brethren
lest the be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3 v 12
So many lack faith . They are always grounded
A rocket need power to lift off. No power no lift off.
Those that wait upon the Lord shall rise up with wings as eagles. Isaiah 40 v 29.
Have you been on the mountain top ?
Do you ever see an eagle in the gutter?
New York skyscrapers are so high
What floor are you going to choose?
Faith for healing
The Woman who pressed through to touch Jesus. And they besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.
And as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matthew 14 v 36
The man at the pool. The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.
John 5 v 7
And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. John 9 v 7
The two blind men. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Matthew 20 v 30
The lepers. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off. Luke 17 v 12
The raising of Lazarus. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. John 11 v 11
The healing of the widow of Nairn’s Son And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
Luke 7 v 14
The man with the withered hand. Mark 3 v 3
The maid who had faith
Would to God that my master was with the prophet that was in Israel. 2 Kings 5 v 3
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; Romans 5 v 1.
But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from [thy] works, and I by my works will show thee [my] faith. James 2 v 18
Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
James 2 v 24-25.
Abraham
Abraham, against all hope, believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So shall thy seed be.”
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, nor yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded. Romans 4 v 16 -21