Victory is Assured

Welcome Global fam, it's a joy to have you here again, make this place your house, if you are new welcome from every part of the world.

We have been blessed with overflowing love. I want you to use some few seconds to thank the Lord for all He has done.

Let's pray:

Father we thank you for your word, our bread, you've blessed us with, open our eyes of understanding and silence every distraction. Breathe your strength into us, we love you, Amen.

Our word today is about a man named Gideon. His story is told in the book of Judges chapter 6-8 and points to the Lord as our strength and highlights some of the unusual battle strategies of God.

Gideon is a man who has the courage to hide and survive in oppressive environments. He is the son of Joash from the clan of Abiezer.

He is visited by an angel with good news and an identity introduction he isn't familiar with. The angel calls him a "Mighty hero" and says "the Lord is with you!" (Judges 6:12).

He questions those words and puts all his weaknesses and feelings of abandonment across. He is not condemned but encouraged.

Judges 6:14(NLT)

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!

The words I've underlined is for all of us, sometimes we feel unprepared, not equipped, no resources or connections and become overwhelmed.

Today you and I have a command: Go with the strength you have, I am sending you!

•The phrase "I am sending you has two meanings:

1. God is the one sending you - holding your hand walking with you and guiding you.

2. He is sending you - that is he is calling you out to fulfill an assignment - a call to war - to purpose - to destiny - to create - and to be.

Let's talk about unusual strategy, Gideon gathered 32,000 men for war, but God reduced the numbers to 300 men (Judges 7:1-8 has more details on how God did His selection you should read it).

This was intentional, not only that, they had unusual weapons. Each man was given a ram's horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.

All this was to prevent the Israelites from boasting that they saved themselves but also a display of the might of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the Lord our God.

Gideon was still afraid, God tells him to go down to the enemies camp and he will hear something that would encourage him, the enemies where as many as the sand on a seashore, they were like a swarm of locusts in the valley.

Judges 7:13-15(NLT)

13 Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, "I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat."

14 His companion answered, "Your dream can mean only one thing - God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!"

15 When Gideon heard the dream and it's interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, "Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianites hordes!"

The rest of the victory story and the unusual battle is found in Judges 7:16-22, don't forget to read it.

Let's pray:

Father we thank you for your love, we thank you for hearing the secret thoughts in our hearts and addressing our fears. We will go in your strength, following your steps into greatness, Amen.

Do you want to know Jesus, say with me:

Dear Jesus, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Saviour, I repent of my sins, I believe you died on the cross to reconcile me back to God, I receive your love and new life, Amen.

Victory is Assured!!