Stand- Pt. 4
Pastor Ryan
5 minute read
I’ve seen too many people walk away from their faith when times get rough. I don’t want that to be you.
Gideon’s story is a powerful reminder that you can stand strong in our faith, even when your resources are limited and the odds seem insurmountable. Through Gideon’s example, you’ll learn how to stand strong in our faith, even when your resources are limited and our enemies seem unbeatable. There are three key truths I want you to focus on today, so let’s dive into the story of Gideon and discover what it means to take a stand.
1) Stand Strong in the Faith You Have
Throughout His word, we see that God will take what you have and do something incredible with it. We are usually looking at our natural resources to see if we can accomplish what we need to do with what we have at our disposal. In Judges 7:2, Gideon is instructed to reduce his army:
“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.”
Judges 7:2 NLT
The power of God makes the power of numbers insignificant!
2) Stand Strong Even When Your Resources Get Smaller
As someone with a background in running a large business, I know that it can be difficult to stay strong when resources are scarce. I don’t know a single business owner who feels more confident with less support. But Gideon’s story shows us that faith overcomes even the greatest obstacles. When you stay strong in the revelation that God gives you, we can move forward with BOLDNESS!
“Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’ So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.”
Judges 7:3 NLT
God’s command caused Israel’s troops to be outnumbered 13.5 to 1. But small resources doesn’t mean a small God.
3) Stand Strong in the Revelation and Confirmation that God Gives You
God doesn’t just give us dreams and revelations for ourselves. He can also use them to impact our enemies. In Judges 7:13-14, God sends a dream to one of Gideon’s enemies.
“And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.” Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.’ And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, ‘Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.’”
Judges 7:13-15 NKJV
This incredible story of Gideon taking a stand reminds us that it is not by our own might or power, but by the Spirit of God, that we can achieve great things. As Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”