Kings Avenue Baptist Church
Gideon
Sunday Worship Service
Locations & Times
Kings Avenue Baptist Church
2602 S Kings Ave, Brandon, FL 33511, USA
Sunday 8:15 AM
God used Gideon to defeat the Midianite army.
Gideon asked God for multiple signs, so why is he included as a hero of the faith?
Judges 6
Israel did evil in God’s eyes, so He handed them into the hands of the Midianites
Midian’s oppression was so severe, Israel hid in the mountain clefts and caves.
When the Angel of the Lord went to Gideon – he was threshing wheat in a winepress.
Gideon is an example of all of us. Not FOR all of us – but OF all of us.
Our fear and selfishness can get in the way of our faith.
Gideon doesn’t realize who he is talking to. He continues challenge the Lord.
If I really have found favor in your eyes – give me a sign
Gideon didn’t realize He was taking to the Lord until He consumed the offering with fire.
God reassures Gideon: Peace – do not be afraid! You are not going to die.
Gideon calls the place he met the Lord – the Lord is Peace.
This is one of the names attributed to God – Yahweh Shalom.
When we feel like Gideon did, let’s remember that God is the God of peace!
Before attacking Midian, God had Gideon tear down his father’s altar to Baal and Asherah pole and rebuild a proper altar to the Lord and offer a burnt offering on it.
Quite often the difficulties we walk through are the direct consequence of our sin.
Rather than questioning where God’s blessings are – let’s first ask God where our sin is – so that we can confess it and be forgiven
Before Gideon could fulfill God’s purpose, he had to tear down the elements of idol worship.
We won’t walk in God’s purpose until we tear down the idols in our lives.
Things you pursue ahead of or even alongside God are taking up space in your heart that belongs to God. Give that space back to Him!
Gideon finally went on to fight Midian. But not before asking for two more signs from God.
Despite all God had shown him, Gideon still wanted more signs.
Interestingly, God doesn’t get angry with Gideon. God meets Gideon where he was.
God understands that we are human.
He remembers that we are dust –that we are weak. And God has compassion on us.
We can be encouraged by the story of Gideon because God is incredibly gracious and patient with us, especially when our faith is weak.
But we can be challenged by the story of Gideon because God’s desire would be that we have faith without asking for a sign.
Jesus highlighted God’s feelings about those who would ask for a sign.
Those asking for signs often won’t be convinced by the signs when they’re given.
Gideon had received more than enough information without the sign of the fleeces.
God had told him he would have victory (Judges 6:14).
He had responded to a previous request for a sign with a miraculous display of power in fire (Judges 6:16).
Still, Gideon asked for two more signs because of his own insecurity.
Right before attacking Midian, God provided Gideon even another sign.
When God does provide the sign, it doesn’t suffice because our wavering faith still doubts. The problem isn’t with God’s power; it’s with our own perception of it.
We have two powerful tools that Gideon lacked.
We have the complete Word of God which thoroughly equips us (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit. We have God Himself, residing in our hearts to guide, direct, and encourage us.
Doubt is real. God graciously met Gideon in his doubt.
God does not want us to just sit back and accept our doubt. He wants us to overcome it.
Our first step in dealing with doubt is telling God about it in PRAYER!
Instead of worrying – PRAY.
Acknowledge your doubt, and unload your worry at the cross.
God knows our doubts and worries – but when we acknowledge them, we are actually acknowledging that we need HIM!
We can also overcome doubt through God’s Word.
Faith for salvation comes through hearing God’s word, so does faith in the trial
How does what you normally listen to compare to the power of God’s word?
We don’t just listen to God’s Word or read it. We must apply it.
As we put God’s Word into action, we grow closer to Him which increases our faith.
God has given us the body of Christ to deal with doubt
When the Body of Christ lifts each other up, it is more than emotional encouragement – it is a spiritual. It builds our faith.
We are not meant to have casual connection in the church. We are called to be the definition of community.
We are to be one with each other as we are one together with Jesus.
Worship is a powerful weapon against doubt
Philippians 4 told us to let petitions and praises shape those worries into prayers.
When we worship God for what He has done in the past, it reassures us that He will continue to take care of us in the present and future.
Worship combats the doubt by reassuring us of God’s faithfulness.
Jesus proceeds to give the Great Commission.
Who was most effective in fulfilling this commission – those who worshiped or those who doubted?
If you want to be effective in the call that Christ has given you, counter your doubt with worship.
When we do this, what God promised in Philippians will happen.
Praises will shape our our doubts into prayers and God will comfort us with His peace.
We can then proclaim exactly what Gideon did – Yahweh Shalom – the Lord is Peace.
Be the King’s Avenue
~Seeking the Savior: Spend dedicated time worshiping Jesus every day.
~Saturated with Scripture: Hebrews 11-12, Judges 6-7, Esther 4, Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, James 1
~Serving the City: Join a Saturate team!
~Sending to the Nations: Share the gospel with someone from a different culture.
~Seeking the Savior: Spend dedicated time worshiping Jesus every day.
~Saturated with Scripture: Hebrews 11-12, Judges 6-7, Esther 4, Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, James 1
~Serving the City: Join a Saturate team!
~Sending to the Nations: Share the gospel with someone from a different culture.
Worship Through Giving
Scripture tells us that the things we spend our money on reveal what is in our heart (Matthew 6:21). We believe that cheerful and sacrificial giving of our finances to the work of the local church is one of the deepest expressions of worship that we can offer and shows that we truly want to love as Jesus loved. If you would like to support the King's work at KABC you can use the link below or text your contribution amount to 84321
https://kabc.churchcenter.com/giving1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012&version=NIV