If I Could Learn Just One Thing from…

Gideon: I’m Never Too Small To Be Used By God!

Made Any Good Excuses?

Top excuses for not being at school. Top excuses for not going to work. Top excuse for not attending with the

church.

No excuse Sunday!

Have you ever made excuses to God?

Have you ever told Him that you can’t do something because you are too something else…› Too young?› Too old?› Too small?› Too big?› Too shy?

The Lord Has The Same Answer For All of Us:

Today, let’s learn one lesson from the story of Gideon.

Gideon had excuses for not doing what God wanted done.

Let’s see how God answers all his doubts and how He can answer all of ours.

The Fruit Of Wickedness…

Judges 6:1-10

Israel has turned again to wickedness and idolatry.

God allows them to be ravaged by Midian.

The Midianites and Amalekites destroy all their crops and livestock, bringing Israel to an impoverished level.

God sends a prophet:

oWhen the people cry out, God explains:

oThey were told not to practice idolatry.oThey refused to obey God.oGod turned them over to destruction until they learned repentance.

God Chooses A Deliverer

The Angel of the Lord descendsHow do we first see Gideon?Hiding in a winepress

Threshing grain to save it from Midian

Why did the Lord choose Gideon?

He appears to us as just an ordinary man.

He seems to have just ordinary abilities.

The Lord sees far more than we see.

A Conversation With The Lord:

The Greeting: “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.”

Gideon’s first response: (paraphrased) – “Are you sure? Why, then, are such bad things happening?

The commission of the Lord: GO! The Lord chooses to send Gideon to deliver Israel.

Gideon’s Second Response:

Who, me?

Weakest clan Smallest tribe Least in family

How low can you go?

The trouble with excuses:

Exodus 3:10-4:18 – Moses made excuses. What was God’s answer?

Jonah tried to flee and avoid God’s command. What was God’s answer?

Ezekiel 3:14 – Ezekiel dug in his heels and didn’t want to go. What was God’s answer?

Gideon underestimates himself:

What was God’s answer?

My Excuses Deny God’s Power: What is God’s answer to us today? Romans 8:31, 36-39: “What, then,

shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons…nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.

Colossians 2:6-7 -- So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

1 Peter 5:10-11

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

To HIM be the power – That’s the real point. It doesn’t matter what I think I can do. It only matters what God can do. And nothing is impossible for Him.