JUDGES Triumph in Weakness
Series: The Flawed and the Flawless
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 9th September 2018
Passage: Judges 7:1-25
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 cavalry commander in the American Civil Wars and the Indian Wars. Today he is remembered for the
00:00:09 --> 00:00:19 disastrous military engagement known as the Battle of the Little Bighorn on the 25th of June 1876,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:25 where he died along with 260 soldiers, all of them, the whole company was wiped out,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 included Custer, his two brothers, a nephew, so a bunch of his family members were killed there as
00:00:31 --> 00:00:42 well. This is a man who had quite humble origins. He was born into a poor and obscure family somewhere
00:00:42 --> 00:00:51 in the Midwest. Throughout his life, Custer was known as someone to test the boundaries
00:00:51 --> 00:01:01 and the rules consistently. In his four years as a West Point cadet, he amassed a record.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:09 This day, it's a record to this day. It's a record of 726 demerit points.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:20 The worst conduct recorded in the history of the academy. And during his rocky tenure at the academy,
00:01:20 --> 00:01:29 Custer came close to expulsion on every single year he was there due to the excessive amounts of his
00:01:29 --> 00:01:36 demerits. There were 34 cadets in his year at West Point and at graduation, he ranked number 34.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:44 This is a man who had origins, both humble origins, both in life and in his career.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:53 During the American Civil War, he was regarded by soldiers as a great leader, always willing to do
00:01:53 --> 00:02:01 the toughest jobs. His reputation spread at the age of 23. He became the youngest major general in
00:02:01 --> 00:02:10 American military history. And it was during his rise to fame as a leader that he fell in love with
00:02:10 --> 00:02:19 publicity of himself, about himself. For those who knew him, those who served under him or with him,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:27 particularly in his latter years, he became known for his vanity and his desire for personal glory.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:37 Some historians even suggest that it's because of his pride and his vanity and his desire for personal
00:02:37 --> 00:02:48 glory that 260 men died with him at the little bighorn. All too often, this is the case, is it not,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:54 where success leads to pride, leads to boasting, it leads to conceit, it leads to downfall.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:01 Boasting, encouraging others, and in fact, even our own hearts, to give us glory,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:12 is opposed to, and even saps life out of true faith. Conceit, being hungry for honour and glory,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:18 is the cousin of boasting. So there's three things I want us to see today in this text. I want to see,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:24 first of all, the strength in weakness. I want to see, secondly, triumphant weakness. And thirdly,
00:03:24 --> 00:03:33 how to finish with triumphant weakness. So firstly, strength in weakness. Judges 6, as we saw last week,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:40 Gideon is chosen by God to save Israel from the Midianites, who have been oppressing them for seven
00:03:40 --> 00:03:47 years. At the beginning of chapter 7, we now get battle time, and two armies are facing each other off.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:55 Before he goes into battle, God wants to teach Gideon and the rest of his people,
00:03:56 --> 00:04:02 who actually deserves glory for the salvation that they're about to receive.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:11 And it starts with advice that Gideon gets in verse 2, and you won't find this advice in any
00:04:11 --> 00:04:37 military manual. Now, this is the verse that interprets the rest of chapter 7 and into chapter 8.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:48 God's people will either praise God for their victory, or they will praise, they will boast in
00:04:48 --> 00:04:56 themselves. Gideon will either give the honour to his Lord, or he will seek it for himself.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:10 Human nature is such that if there is the tiniest opportunity for us to boast in our own work,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:21 we will. Notice that God says in verse 2, that any such boasting is against me.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:29 As soon as we begin to believe that we deserve the credit for rescuing or for delivering ourselves,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:39 what we do in that moment is we take glory from God for delivering us, a glory that he deserves
00:05:39 --> 00:05:43 alone. And as soon as we rob glory from God, it's called idolatry.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:57 And we set ourselves up as alternative saviors. And this has to be the greatest spiritual danger
00:05:57 --> 00:06:06 there is, that we should believe that we can save ourselves or have saved ourselves in any way.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:11 And Christianity is so clear on this. Salvation is by God's gracious action.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:18 We don't earn it with our own actions at all. And so what God does here is he reduces the number of
00:06:18 --> 00:06:28 soldiers because he knows that the men are too many. There's too many for Israel to see clearly
00:06:28 --> 00:06:34 where the praise and the glory is going to go for the victory that's about to come.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:40 And so God decreases their numbers in two ways. Firstly, Gideon says that anyone here
00:06:40 --> 00:06:50 anyone here at all who's too scared to fight, you can go home. And that shaves his army by two thirds.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 22 go home.
00:06:55 --> 00:07:00 You know, imagine being the first person. That's me, guys. I'm out of here.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:08 Imagine being the one, you know, walking home to your family, to your community, and they're thinking,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:14 what, it's over already? Nah, it's not over yet. I was just too scared. So I've just come home.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:20 And imagine being there when the rest who do fight the battle come home.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:24 Like, you know, pin a yellow ribbon on them all.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:29 These guys publicly admit that they have no heart for the battle.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:34 But 10 who were either too scared to go home or too scared to stay.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 The 10 stayed anyway.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 And in verse 4, that's still too many.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:48 And so the second group were sent home after, well, for obscure reasons.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 The way that they drank water.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:57 Now, the text does not say why God picked the drinking test.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 It isn't about the quality of the fighting men.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:08 The first test potentially was, if you're too scared, go home because you're useless to us anyway.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 But the second test was not about the quality of the fighting men.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:22 And they separate out 9 who knelt down and put their mouths to the water to drink.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:28 The 300 who cut the water into their hands, these are the ones chosen for the battle.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 And if you're one of the 300, you have to go, oh my goodness.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:38 We start the day with 32 men.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:44 And now we've got 300, a reduction of over 99% of our numbers.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:53 And the reduction in numbers, as verse 2 says, is that they will not boast about the victory.
00:08:53 --> 00:09:02 Gideon and the army with him should look back and say, oh, this is clear.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:08 This victory is clearly God's, not mine.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:12 My only part in this was to trust and obey.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 The glory is God's.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 The privilege is mine.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 God has allowed me, allowed us to be part of what he's doing.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 It's our privilege, but the glory is his.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:31 And the rest of Israel, including the 31 who went home, should praise God.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 We weren't even there.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:40 God rescued us without us even doing anything.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 Praise God.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 We see this principle of salvation right through the book of Judges,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 and we see it in the rest of the Bible.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:55 God's power is most clearly displayed through weakness.
00:09:56 --> 00:10:07 In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul has been privileged with a vision of heaven.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:12 And yet he suffers from what he calls a thorn in the flesh,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 a messenger of Satan that was sent to torment me.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:21 And Paul pleads with God several times to take it away, but God doesn't do it.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 And he doesn't do it.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 And Paul says, this is the reason why he didn't do it.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:32 In order to keep me from becoming conceited because of the vision of greatness and splendor that I saw.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:38 In other words, God is keeping Paul from being hungry for his own honor,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:43 hungry for his own glory, boasting about his own strength, his own experiences.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 And so therefore he has this thorn.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:54 And Paul learns here in 2 Corinthians what God wants Gideon to learn,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:58 what he wants his 300 to learn, what he wants Israel to learn,
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 what he wants us to learn.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:04 It's in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 9.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:18 God's power is most clearly displayed in our weakness, our frailty.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 And Paul went on to write this,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly because of my weaknesses,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 so that Christ's power may rest on me.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:33 That is why for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:37 in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 For when I am weak, then I am strong.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:50 God does not work despite our weaknesses, but because of our weaknesses.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:58 He says that his saving power does not work when we are strong or when we think we're strong,
00:11:58 --> 00:12:04 but rather when we are weak and when we know that we are weak.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:08 So let me just push that point a little bit further and tease out some principles.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:14 This is so important because we exist in a culture which is hungry for power.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 It's a success-driven culture that is hungry for power.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:24 Firstly, this principle is the basis of salvation in the Christian faith.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:29 We cannot be saved if we think that we are good and we are able.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:35 God's saving power only works on us when we admit that we are not worthy.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 We have got no goodness in ourselves.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:44 It also explains how repentance works in the Christian life.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:51 It is only as we repent and express sorrow over sin and failures before God
00:12:51 --> 00:12:56 that his love and his grace become so much more precious to us,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 so much more real for us.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:04 If someone says to you, or says to me,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 Hey Steve, I've paid a debt for you.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:14 I don't know how overjoyed I should be in that moment
00:13:14 --> 00:13:18 until I understand which debt it is and how big it is.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:27 You see, jumping up at a cafe and paying for my coffee
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 and coming back and say I've just paid for everything,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 well, that's fantastic.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:36 That does not compare to the hugs from me
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 and the kisses you'll receive from me
00:13:38 --> 00:13:41 if you've just paid out my entire mortgage.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:46 There's a different level of gratitude at that point.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 Always grateful for you to buy me a coffee,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:56 but the bigger we understand our debt to be,
00:13:56 --> 00:14:02 the greater the joy in its payment will be.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:07 It is only as we see our weakness and our frailty
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 and our failure and our sin
00:14:09 --> 00:14:13 that the strength of knowing God's grace and his love comes to us.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 Jesus made the same point, Luke 7 verse 47,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:21 where someone who thinks there is little in them that needs forgiving
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 will in fact love little.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:32 And this is the principle on display here in Judges 7.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 Gideon and Israel with him were going to be tempted
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 to put their confidence in their fighting men,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 but God removes virtually all of them
00:14:41 --> 00:14:45 so that they will trust in God in new ways.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:51 As they prepare to fight the Midianite army
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 and look around at the 300,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 just a few extra than what's sitting in this room,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 they should feel weak.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:08 They should feel extremely weak.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 In the same way we should feel weak
00:15:11 --> 00:15:17 when we look at the mission field that God has given us
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 and the many number of people that are yet to know Christ.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 They will only go into battle if they know
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 that while they are weak,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:35 so is the strongest army against their God.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 So secondly, triumphant weakness.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 It's at this point,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:47 as Gideon is grappling with his weakness,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 that God gives Gideon assurance of victory.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 It's such wonderful thoughtfulness at this point
00:15:54 --> 00:15:59 that the sovereign God here says to Gideon in verse 10,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 if you are afraid to attack,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 which I'd imagined you would be in this moment,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 go down to the camp with your servant,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 servant Pera,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:12 and listen to what they are saying,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16 and afterwards you'll be encouraged to attack the camp.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 So he heads down to the camp
00:16:18 --> 00:16:23 and the first sight of this camp
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 must have been terrifying.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Verse 12,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 the Midianites,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 the Amalekites,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 and all their mates from the eastern peoples
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 have settled in the valley
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 and thick as locusts,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:41 their camels could no more be counted
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 than the sand on the seashore.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 He's like,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 well, that's good.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 We've got 300.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 And it's of no coincidence at all
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 that he sets up,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 you know,
00:16:57 --> 00:17:01 in the darkness beside the tent of a Midianite
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 who's just woken up from a nightmare.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 A loaf of bread
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 has just rolled through the camp
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 and flattened the tents.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Nightmare stuff.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Like,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 can you just imagine it?
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 No kid of mine
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 has ever run into my bedroom
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 crying with tears.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 I've just been attacked
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 by a loaf of bread.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 I mean,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 this guy's
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 just so scared
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 of a loaf of bread
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 on a rampage
00:17:34 --> 00:17:37 and he's woken his mate up
00:17:37 --> 00:17:40 and his mate wakes up
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 and goes,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 oh my goodness,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 that must be Gideon.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 Gideon.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 The loaf of bread
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 must be Gideon.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 What?
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 How did you make that connection?
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 Should be his next question.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:59 the Midianites
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 would have been
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 no more concerned
00:18:03 --> 00:18:06 of 32 men
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 than they would be
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 of a loaf of bread.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 These are the 32 men
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 who they've oppressed
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 beautifully for seven years.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 Why would they be scared of them?
00:18:18 --> 00:18:22 unless God has put fear
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 in their hearts.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 God's working on them as well.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:38 It reveals something
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 very significant.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 Underneath
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 underneath
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 the armor
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 of this vast army
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 are trembling hearts
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 fearful hearts
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 weak hearts
00:18:54 --> 00:18:57 and Gideon
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 has heard
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 the assurance
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 of God
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 through the
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 oddest of channels
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 and now we see
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 Gideon
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 in his
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 finest moment.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 This is him
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 in his finest moment
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 in all three chapters
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 of Judges.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 He's on his knees
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 in worship.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 This is
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 his
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 Gethsemane moment.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 He's now
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 surrendered
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 to the will of God.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 He goes back
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 to his men
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 with this message
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 in verse 15.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Get up.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 The Lord
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 has given
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 the Midianite camp
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 into your hands.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Notice two things
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 about that statement.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 Notice he doesn't say
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 my hand
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 God promised him
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 I'm going to give
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 the Midianite army
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 into your hand
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 and now he says
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 it's not my hand
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 it's your hands.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 He wants
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 his men
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 these 300
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 to have
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 the same confidence
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 that he has
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 in this God.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 And secondly
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 that confidence
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 is in the fact
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 that God
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 has given
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 them into his hands.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 It's past tense.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 The battle
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 has been won
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 even though
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 the fight
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 has yet to begin.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:16 the plan
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 is executed.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 The chosen
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 weapons
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 are
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 torches
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 in
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 jars
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 of clay
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and horns.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 That's it.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 Jar of clay
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 throw a torch
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 in there
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 put a light
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 in the jar
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 of clay
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 and a horn
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 to make a racket.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:43 they surrounded
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 the camp
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and the 300
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 blew their horns
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 they smashed
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 their jars
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 of clay
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 the lamps
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 illuminated
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 and the
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Midians
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 ran
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 out
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 crying out
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 in fear
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 and it says
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 in verse 22
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 that the Lord
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 caused
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 there to be
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 such a panic
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 in the darkness
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 that they
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 were killing
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 each other.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 How many
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 men
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 did the 300
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 kill?
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Not a single
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 one.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 Not a single
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 one.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 None of them
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 could return
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 home and say
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 hey did you
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 see me
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 you know
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 with my sword
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 and how
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 skilled I was
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 with it.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 None of them
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 could go home
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 and cry about
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 what they've done
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 but only
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 what they had
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 watched God
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 do in that
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 moment
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 with this
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 vast army.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 This is God's
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 battle
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 and he alone
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 claimed the
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 victory.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 Gideon is
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 mentioned
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 in Hebrews
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 chapter 11
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 verses 32
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 to 34
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 as a man
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 of faith.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 That's what he's
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 known for
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 as a man
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 of faith
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and this
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 is the most
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 impressive
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 thing about
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 Gideon.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 When Gideon
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 rises from
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 his knees
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 after hearing
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 the dream
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 that the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 enemy
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 of his
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 enemy
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 hasn't
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 he hasn't
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 seen
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 God do
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 anything at
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 this point.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 He hasn't
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 seen a
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 Midianite
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 die.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 He has
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 however seen
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 the awesome
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 power of
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 God
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 and he
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 isn't afraid
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 anymore
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 in that
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 moment.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 and he
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 is set
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 free
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 to attempt
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 impossible
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 relying
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 on the
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 promise
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 of God
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 alone.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 As
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 Hebrews
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 11 says
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 of Gideon
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 weakness
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 was turned
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 to strength
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 who became
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 powerful in
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 battle
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 and routed
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 foreign
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 armies.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 His
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 weakness
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 was turned
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 to strength
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 by faith
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 in the
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 sovereign
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 saving
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 God.
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 Now this
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 whole
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 passage in
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Judges 7
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 has so
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 many arms
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 into the
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 New Testament
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 but it
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 does recall
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 to me
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 one
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 to mind
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 one passage
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 that's in
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 fact encouraging
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 Christians
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 to not
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 lose heart
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 when they
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 see their
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 weakness
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 Corinthians
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 4
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 for what
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 we preach
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 is not
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 ourselves
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 but Jesus
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 Christ
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 as Lord
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 and
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 ourselves
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 as your
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 servants
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 for Jesus
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 sake
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 for God
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 who said
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 let light
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 shine out of
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 darkness
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 made his
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 light shine
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 in our
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 hearts
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 to give
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 us the
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 light of
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the knowledge
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 of God's
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 glory
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 displayed in
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 the face
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 of Christ
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 God's
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 but we
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 have this
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 treasure
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 in
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 jars
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 of clay
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 to show
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 that this
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 all
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 surpassing
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 power
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 is from
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 God
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 and not
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 of
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 ourselves
00:23:58 --> 00:24:01 now I
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 don't know
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 whether
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 Paul had
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Judges 7
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 in mind
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 when he
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 wrote
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 but
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 it
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 resonates
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 with it
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 these
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 verses
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 are about
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the fight
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 that the
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 Christian
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 is involved
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 in
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 one that
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 we will
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 lose
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 heart
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 if we
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 rely upon
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 our own
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 power
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 and our
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 own
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 strength
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 and our
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 own
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 enabling
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 instead of
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 God's
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 enabling
00:24:21 --> 00:24:23 and God
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 uses the
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 same
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 strategy
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 here
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 strength
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 in
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 weakness
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 we
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 are
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 according
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 to 2
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 Corinthians
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 the
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 breakable
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 jar
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 clays
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 with
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 something
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 precious
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 on the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 inside
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 it's
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 light
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 that
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 shines
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 in
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 the
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 darkness
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 that
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 expels
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 the
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 darkness
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 it's
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 the
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 light
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 of
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 the
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 knowledge
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 of
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 God's
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 glory
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 displayed
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 in
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 the
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 face
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 of
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 Christ
00:24:48 --> 00:24:51 the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 magnificence
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 of
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 God's
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 glory
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 is
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 displayed
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 in
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 the
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 face
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 of
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 Christ
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 and
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 that
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 glory
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 is
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 displayed
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 in
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 all
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 its
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 brilliance
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 when
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 Jesus
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 is
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 on
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 the
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 cross
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 in
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 all
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 his
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 weakness
00:25:05 --> 00:25:08 there's
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 nothing
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 impressive
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 about
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 the
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 Lord
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Jesus
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 as
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 Isaiah
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 tells
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 us
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 he
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 came
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 into
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 this
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 world
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 in
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 obscurity
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 he
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 was
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 rejected
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 and
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 maligned
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 by
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 virtually
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 everyone
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 accused
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 of
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 wrongdoing
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 died
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 the
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 death
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 of
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 a
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 hardened
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 criminal
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 he
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 who
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 as
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 we
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 seen
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 often
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 around
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 Christmas
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 time
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 he
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 who
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 hung
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 starry
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 skies
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 surrendered
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 his
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 hands
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 to
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 cruel
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 nails
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 he
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 who
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 wore
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 crown
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 as
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 creator
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 and ruler
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 of all
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 allowed
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 a
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 crude
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 crown
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 of
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 thorns
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 to be
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 twisted
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 and
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 placed
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 on
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 his
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 head
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 mocked
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 with
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 the
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 words
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 you
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 who
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 saved
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 others
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 save
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 yourself
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 in
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 other
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 words
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 display
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 your
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 strength
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 and
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 save
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 yourself
00:25:56 --> 00:25:59 and
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 the
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 great
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 irony
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 is
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 that
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 if
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 he
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 had
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 chosen
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 strength
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 over
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 weakness
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 in
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 that
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 moment
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 we
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 would
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 be
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 the
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 ones
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 who
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 would
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 be
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 crushed
00:26:04 --> 00:26:07 placed
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 in a
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 tomb
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 but on
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 the
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 third
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 day
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 rose
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 triumphant
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 and he
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 now
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 has
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 the
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 name
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 as
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 Philippians
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 2
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 says
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 it
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 is
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 above
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 every
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 name
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 every
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 name
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 and
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 everyone
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 will
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 one
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 day
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 surrender
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 to
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 this
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 lamb
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 who
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 sits
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 on
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 throne
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 of
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 the
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 universe
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 as
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 2
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 corinthians
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 13
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 3
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 and 4
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 say
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 jesus
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 was
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 crucified
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 in
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 weakness
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 but he
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 lives
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 by the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 power
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 of
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 god
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 now
00:26:35 --> 00:26:39 strength
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 in
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 weakness
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 is the
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 gospel
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 the
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 son
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 of
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 god
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 who
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 laid
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 aside
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 all
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 of
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 his
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 glory
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 surrendered
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 himself
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 to
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 death
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 for
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 our
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 sakes
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 displays
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 the
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 magnificent
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 glory
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 of god
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 to
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 this
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 world
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 the
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 great
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 encouragement
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 of these
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 verses
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 in 2
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 corinthians
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 4
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 is that
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 this
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 god
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 uses
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 weakness
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 he
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 uses
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 weary
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 people
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 he
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 uses
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 ordinary
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 jars
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 of clay
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 to
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 display
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 to
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 this
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 world
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 the
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 light
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 of the
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 glory
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 of god
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 in the
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 face
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 of christ
00:27:14 --> 00:27:17 our
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 weakness
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 is not
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 a
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 hindrance
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 weakness
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 is the
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 way of
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 the
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 gospel
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 and
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 2
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 corinthians
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 calls
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 christians
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 in the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 midst
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 of
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 a
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 world
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 where
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 they're
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 seeing
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 the
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 gospel
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 rejected
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 do
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 not
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 lose
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 heart
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 do
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 not
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 lose
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 heart
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 in the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 vision
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 in the
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 mission
00:27:38 --> 00:27:43 let us
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 press
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 on in
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 task
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 of
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 proclaiming
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 christ
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 as
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 lord
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 out
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 of
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 hearts
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 of
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 love
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 and
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 lives
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 of
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 service
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 while
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 looking
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 to
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 god
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 to
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 push
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 out
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 darkness
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 with
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00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 light
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00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 glory
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00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 hearts
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00:27:59 --> 00:28:02 losing
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 heart
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00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 weak
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 and
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 unimpressive
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 and
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00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 real
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 treasure
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00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 lord
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 jesus
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 christ
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 losing
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 heart
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 is
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 starting
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 to
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 think
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 more
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 of
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 ourselves
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 and
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 less
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 of
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00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 gospel
00:28:26 --> 00:28:29 starting
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 to claim
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 victory
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 for
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 ourselves
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 starting
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 to be
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 impressed
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00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 ourselves
00:28:34 --> 00:28:38 and
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 so
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 thirdly
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 finishing
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 in
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 triumphant
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 weakness
00:28:40 --> 00:28:44 it's
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 calling
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 us
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 to
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00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 our
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 course
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 in
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 triumphant
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 weakness
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 and
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 it's
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 tragic
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 to
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 see
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 how
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 gideon
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 finished
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 there
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00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 unusual
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 in
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00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 judges
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 cycle
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 with
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 gideon
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 in
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 the
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 previous
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 cycles
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 if you
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 remember
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 the
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 only
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 details
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 that are
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 given
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 after
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 the
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 battle
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 after
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 victory
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 is
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 length
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00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 peace
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00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 was
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 under
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00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 judge's
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 rule
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 and
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00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 the
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 judge
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 dies
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 and
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00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 we
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00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 all
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 happens
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 again
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 new
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 cycle
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 starts
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00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 that
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 the
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 people
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 start
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 to
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 back
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 slide
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 under
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 the
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 judge's
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 rule
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 not
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 after
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 it
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00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 is
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 still
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 alive
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 and
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 we
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 start
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 to
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00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 some
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 deep
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 flaws
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 in
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 gideon's
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 rule
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 and
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 the
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 writer
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 here
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 dedicates
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 two
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 chapters
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 to
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 it
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 in
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 chapter
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 eight
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 we
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 see
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 gideon's
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 need
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 for
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00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 and
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 honour
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 his
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 violent
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 bitter
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 rage
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 when
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 he
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 fails
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 to be
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 given
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 the
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 honour
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 that
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 he
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00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 he
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 deserves
00:29:58 --> 00:30:01 success
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 against
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 the
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 midianites
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 was
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 the
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 worst
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 thing
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 for
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 gideon
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 there
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 is
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 a
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 terrible
00:30:09 --> 00:30:11 spiritual
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 danger
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 receiving
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 any
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 blessing
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 success
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 can
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 easily
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 cause
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 us
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 to
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 forget
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 god's
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 good
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 grace
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 because
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 our
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 hearts
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 are
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 so
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 desperate
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 to
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 believe
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 that
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 we
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 can
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 save
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 ourselves
00:30:27 --> 00:30:30 failure
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 causes
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 us
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 to
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 evaluate
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 our
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 hearts
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 and
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 our
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 priorities
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 success
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 just
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 affirms
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 what we
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 already
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 thought
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 was
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 true
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 of
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 ourselves
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 that
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 we
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 can
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 fulfill
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 and
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 we
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 can
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 control
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 ourselves
00:30:42 --> 00:30:45 and
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 in
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 chapter
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 eight
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 gideon
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 has
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 forgotten
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 who
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 called
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 him
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00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 equipped
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 him
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 who
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 reassured
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 him
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 and won
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 the
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 battle
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 for
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 him
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 and
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 gideon's
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 ego
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 is
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 stroked
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 when
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 israel
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 asked
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 him
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 to
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 be
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 their
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 king
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 in
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 verse
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 22
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 rule
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 over
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 us
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 you
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 your
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 son
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 and
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 your
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 grandson
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 because
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 you
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 have
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 saved
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 us
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 from
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 the
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 hand
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 of
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 midian
00:31:11 --> 00:31:15 and
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 the
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 very
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 next
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 verse
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 is
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 the
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 last
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 time
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 gideon
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 remembers
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 gracious
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 actions
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 of
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 god
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 on
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 his
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 behalf
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 it's
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 the
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 last
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 time
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 he
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 mentions
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 god
00:31:28 --> 00:31:30 but
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 gideon
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 told
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 them
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 i
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 will
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 not
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 rule
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 over
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 you
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 nor
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 will
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 your
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 son
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 my
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 son
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 rule
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 over
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 you
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 the
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 lord
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 will
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 rule
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 over
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 you
00:31:38 --> 00:31:41 now
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 ironically
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 and
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 tragically
00:31:43 --> 00:31:45 he
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 almost
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 immediately
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 contradicts
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 himself
00:31:47 --> 00:31:50 when
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 he
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 starts
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 acting
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 like
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 a
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 king
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54 he
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 asks
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 for
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 financial
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 reward
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 for
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 delivering
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 them
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 in
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 verse
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 24
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 in
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 the
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 very
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 next
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 verse
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 and
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 he
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 becomes
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 a
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 very
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 rich
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 man
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 through
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 it
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 he
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 takes
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 riches
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 he
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 makes
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 an
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 ephod
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 like
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 the
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 ones
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 worn
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 by
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 the
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 high
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 priest
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 and
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 in
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 doing
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 so
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 what
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 he
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 does
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 is
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 he
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 creates
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 an
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 alternative
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 option
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 for
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 worship
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 for
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 Israel
00:32:22 --> 00:32:26 he
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 creates
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 a new
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 option
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 for
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 worship
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 creates
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 a new
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 center
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 for
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 worship
00:32:31 --> 00:32:36 Gideon
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 has
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 used
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 God
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 in
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 this
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 moment
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 to
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 consolidate
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 his
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 own
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 position
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 instead
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 of
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 using
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 his
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 position
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 to
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 be
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 served
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 and
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 to
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 be
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 used
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 of
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 God
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 in
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 order
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 that
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 he
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 might
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 serve
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 and
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 be
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 used
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 of
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 God
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 the
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 judge
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 is
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 meant
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 to
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 turn
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 people
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 from
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 false
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 worship
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 to
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 true
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 worship
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 and
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 here
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 Gideon
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 leads
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 them
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 in
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 a
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 totally
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 different
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 direction
00:32:58 --> 00:33:00 he
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 even
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 calls
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 his
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 illegitimate
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 son
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 Abilamech
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 which
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 means
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 my
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 father
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 is
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 the
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 king
00:33:08 --> 00:33:12 what
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 Gideon
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 has
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 rejected
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 out
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 of
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 his
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 mouth
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 he
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 harbors
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 in
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 his
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 heart
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 he
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 knew
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 a
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 true
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 he
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 knew
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 the
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 truth
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 intellectually
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 but
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 it
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 had
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 not
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 gripped
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 his
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 heart
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 he
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 had
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 a
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 mental
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 grasp
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 of
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 the
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 doctrine
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 of
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 God's
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 grace
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 and
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 his
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 rule
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 and
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 he
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 could
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 give
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 the
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 right
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 answer
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 at
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 the
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 right
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 time
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 but
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 his
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 heart
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 hadn't
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 been
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 broken
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00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 so
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 essential
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 that
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 we
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 keep
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 remembering
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 the
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 gospel
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 and
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 allowing
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00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 to
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 humble
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 our
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 hearts
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 that
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00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 pattern
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 of
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00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 Christian
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 walk
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 is
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00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 constant
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 repentance
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 that
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00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 why
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 we
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 have
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 this
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 cultural
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 value
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 at
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 St.
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 Paul's
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 called
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 humble
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 authenticity
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 it
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 states
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 that
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 as a
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 church
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 here
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 at
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 St.
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 Paul's
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 we
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 seek
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 to
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 declare
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 war
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 on
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 the
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 daily
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 tendency
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 towards
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 self-sufficiency
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 and the
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 desire to
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 live
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 independently
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 of
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 God
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 the
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 promise
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 of
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 James
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 4
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 6
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 is
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 that
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 he
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 gives
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 grace
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 to
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 humble
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 we
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 are
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 convinced
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 that
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 no
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 effective
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 growth
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 in
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 ministry
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 or
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 mission
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 happens
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 without
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 the
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 cultivation
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 humility
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 in
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 the
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 heart
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 and
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 the
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 weakening
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 of
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 pride
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 in
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 the
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 life
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 we
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 therefore
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 seek
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 our
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 words
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 and
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 our
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 actions
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 to
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 be
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 what
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 we
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 believe
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 and
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 teach
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 from
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 God's
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 word
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 we
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 are
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 committed
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 to
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 being
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 vulnerable
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 with
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 our
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 imperfections
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 in
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 such
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 a
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 way
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 that
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 candor
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 is
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 encouraged
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 rather
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 than
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 concealment
00:34:39 --> 00:34:42 how
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 wonderful
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 it
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 is
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 for
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 us
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 to
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 gather
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 week
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 after
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 week
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 in
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 corporate
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 worship
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 and
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 be
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 reminded
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 of
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 our
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 imperfections
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 and our
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 frailty
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 and
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 Jesus
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 purity
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 and
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 strength
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 that's
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 that's
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 one of
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 the
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 goals
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 of
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 corporate
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 worship
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 is
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 the
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 breaking
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 of
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 our
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 hearts
00:34:59 --> 00:35:03 as
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 we
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 look
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 to
00:35:04 --> 00:35:04 the
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 magnificence
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 and
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 strength
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 of
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 God
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 in
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 Christ
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 how
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 wonderful
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 it
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 is
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 to
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 look
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 again
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 today
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 to
00:35:12 --> 00:35:12 the
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 one
00:35:13 --> 00:35:15 to
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 the
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 one
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 each
00:35:16 --> 00:35:18 of
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 the
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 judges
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 is
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 just
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 a
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 mere
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 shadow
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 of
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 Gideon
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 is
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 just
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 a
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 mere
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 shadow
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 of
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 let
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 us
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 not
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 forget
00:35:25 --> 00:35:25 the
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 God
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 who
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 saves
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 us
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 how
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 wonderful
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 it
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 is
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 to
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 see
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 again
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 how
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 he
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 used
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 his
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 position
00:35:32 --> 00:35:34 he
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 had
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 every
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 single
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 right
00:35:36 --> 00:35:38 to
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 demand
00:35:38 --> 00:35:39 service
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 as
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 the
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 king
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 of
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 kings
00:35:41 --> 00:35:44 his
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 father
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 is
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 the
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 king
00:35:45 --> 00:35:50 and
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 yet
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 in
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 Luke
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 4
00:35:51 --> 00:35:53 verses
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 5
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 and
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 8
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 Jesus
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 resisted
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 the
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 temptation
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 to
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 rule
00:35:56 --> 00:35:56 in
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 power
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 over
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 the
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 nations
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 because
00:35:59 --> 00:36:01 he
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 came
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 not
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 to
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 be
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 served
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 but
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 to
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 serve
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 and
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 to
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 give
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 his
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 life
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 as
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 a
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 ransom
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 for
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 many
00:36:05 --> 00:36:08 he
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 has
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 ransomed
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 us
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 from
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 our
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 self
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 honoring
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 reactions
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 to
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 success
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 and
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 our
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 self
00:36:14 --> 00:36:14 hating
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 responses
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 to
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 failure
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 he
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 used
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 his
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 position
00:36:18 --> 00:36:18 as
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 the
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 son
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 of
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 God
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 to
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 give
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 us
00:36:20 --> 00:36:20 freedom
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 from
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 needing
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 respect
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 or
00:36:22 --> 00:36:22 being
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 crushed
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 by
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 lack
00:36:23 --> 00:36:23 of
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 it
00:36:24 --> 00:36:26 we
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 must
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 keep
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 looking
00:36:27 --> 00:36:29 keep
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 looking
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 to
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 the
00:36:30 --> 00:36:30 author
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 and
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 the
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 perfecter
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 of
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 Gideon's
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 faith
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 and
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 our
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 faith
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 if we
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 are to
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 finish
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 with
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 triumphant
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 weakness
00:36:37 --> 00:36:39 in
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 spiritual
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 matters
00:36:40 --> 00:36:42 we
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 are all
00:36:43 --> 00:36:43 weak
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 and
00:36:44 --> 00:36:44 we
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 are all
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 inadequate
00:36:45 --> 00:36:47 and
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 we
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 need
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 to
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 face
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 it
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 and
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 corporate
00:36:49 --> 00:36:49 worship
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 helps
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 us
00:36:50 --> 00:36:50 do
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 that
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 week
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 in
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 and
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 week
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 out
00:36:52 --> 00:36:54 sin
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 has
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 disabled
00:36:56 --> 00:36:56 us
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 right
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 across
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 the
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 board
00:36:58 --> 00:37:00 we
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 need
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 to
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 understand
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 our
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 limitations
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 and
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 let
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 this
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 awareness
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 work
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 in
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 us
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 humility
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 and
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 self
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 distrust
00:37:11 --> 00:37:15 and
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 in
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 this
00:37:16 --> 00:37:16 we
00:37:16 --> 00:37:16 may
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 learn
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 to
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 depend
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 on
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 Jesus
00:37:18 --> 00:37:20 our
00:37:20 --> 00:37:20 Savior
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 our
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 Lord
00:37:22 --> 00:37:23 and
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 practice
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 that
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 dependence
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 as
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 one of
00:37:26 --> 00:37:26 the
00:37:26 --> 00:37:27 habits
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 of
00:37:27 --> 00:37:27 our
00:37:27 --> 00:37:28 hearts
00:37:28 --> 00:37:29 every
00:37:29 --> 00:37:29 single
00:37:29 --> 00:37:30 day
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 and
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 therefore
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 discover
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 what
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 the
00:37:32 --> 00:37:32 apostle
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 Paul
00:37:33 --> 00:37:33 discovered
00:37:33 --> 00:37:35 when
00:37:35 --> 00:37:35 I
00:37:35 --> 00:37:36 am
00:37:36 --> 00:37:36 weak
00:37:36 --> 00:37:37 then
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 I
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 am
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 strong
00:37:38 --> 00:37:44 God
00:37:44 --> 00:37:52 of
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 you