FEARLESS
Wednesday, September 26th, 2018
Message By: Pastor Jonathan Lord
Series: PRIMED FOR TOMORROW
"Fearless"
GIDEON’S FIRST DOUBT:
Gideon doubts God’s word is alive, active, and true
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” Judges 6:13 (NIV)
GIDEON’S SECOND DOUBT (and 1st test of God):
Gideon doubts God is who He says He is
Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.” Judges 6:17 (NIV)
GIDEON’S THIRD DOUBT:
Gideon doubts he (Gideon) is who God says he is
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:15 (NIV)
GIDEON’S FOURTH DOUBT (and 2nd and 3rd tests of God):
Gideon doubts God will do what He says He will do
"Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” Judges 6:36-37 (NIV)
GIDEON’S FIFTH DOUBT:
Gideon doubts he (Gideon) can do all things with God
"During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah . . . “ Judges 7:9 (NIV)
OUR DECLARATION OF FAITH
God is who He says He is
God can do what He says He can do
I am who God says I am
I can do all things through Christ
And, God’s Word is alive and active in me. Amen.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway. - John Wayne
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way. - Babe Ruth
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. - Mark Twain
Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall. - Ray Bradbury
Life Group Discussion:
What are your “default” or “Auto-pilot” settings when you’re in a stressful position?Do you automatically trust God?Do you give into fear?
What are you doing, or what have you done, to change your old auto-pilot settings to new auto-pilot settings?
Have you ever tested God like Gideon did?How did God respond?