Transformation
Judges 6:11-16; 7:15-22
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is...."
(ROMANS 12:2)
When the Lord appeared to Gideon, proclaiming him a "mighty warrior," the young man reacted with excuses. He lacked confidence, power, and status. The Lord told him to go save His people from the Midianites - didn't He see Gideon hiding in the winepress in fear?
Yet the Lord promised to be with him, and Gideon made up his mind to believe and obey. It became a step-by-step process of God speaking and Gideon questioningly obeying. By the time Gideon actually led his army against Midian, he was expecting and received a miracle. But when the dust of the battle settled, the most astonishing miracle was the change in Gideon. The Holy Spirit had re-created him into a confident and powerful military leader and commander, a resourceful diplomat (Judges 8:1-2), and a respected, yet humble servant of God (Judges 8:22-23).
What kind of transformation is God seeking to perform in you, through His Spirit and your obedience? He does His greatest transforming work right in our hearts when we know Jesus as our Savior.
INSIGHT
"HAS GOD ALTERED THE THING THAT MATTERS? THE SPIRIT OF GOD MAKES (IT) MANIFEST IN YOUR ACTUAL LIFE...THERE IS NO IMAGINING THAT YOU DID IT."
(OSWALD CHAMBERS)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Nehemiah 8-9
Psalm 35
Mark 14
Judges 6:11-16
New International Version (NIV)
11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. ”
13 “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.”
14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
15 “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. ”
16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you , and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
Judges 7:15-22
New International Version (NIV)
15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
MORE THAN GOLD
Throughout history gold has represented success, victory and wealth. Olympians dedicate years of their lives to win it. Yet the Bible says it will perish. Is there anything that truly lasts forever?
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