Mighty Fall

James 2: 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. Genesis 12: 2 And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing;

Genesis 46: 27 nd the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy. Exodus 12: 37 Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.

Genesis 15: 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:

Deuteronomy 32: 51 because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.

Exodus 33: 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Deuteronomy 34:9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Joshua 1:1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, 2 "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.

Judges 2: 7 The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres,

Judges 2: 12 Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, 12 and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger.

Matthew 22: 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen." Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. James 2:20, 26 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? … 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Faith without works does not exist because faith produces action. Ephesians 2: 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Matthew 28: 18 – And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Mark 16: 15 – He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 " He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Words

What happens if someone refuses Luke 24: 45 He said to them, " Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. What happens if someone refuses God’s assignment ?

Isaiah 46: 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

YOU are God’s only ambassador to YOUR peer group. II Corinthians 5: 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

“Plan A” “Plan B” “Plan C” … “Z” Christians are God’s “Plan A” “Plan B” “Plan C” … “Z” Romans 6: 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

the diplomatic skill of a leader. I. Vs. 1-3 Gideon developed the diplomatic skill of a leader.

Judges 8: 2-3 But he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 "God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

the faith and confidence of a leader. II. Vs. 4-9 Gideon developed the faith and confidence of a leader.

Judges 8: 5 He said to the men of Succoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."

the “valiant warrior” that Jesus saw he could be. III. Vs. 10-12 Gideon became the “valiant warrior” that Jesus saw he could be.

Gideon used wise military tactics. Judges 8: 11 Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the camp when the camp was unsuspecting.

Imagine what HE can do with you !! God was able to use a cowardly idolator to accomplish a great victory to HIS glory. Imagine what HE can do with you !!

the himself as the judge of Israel. IV. Vs. 13-17 Gideon established the himself as the judge of Israel.

Judges 8:16 He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them. Judges 8: 17 He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

his attention back to his primary task at hand. V. Vs. 18-21 Then Gideon turned his attention back to his primary task at hand.

Gideon was both the judge of Israel and the avenger of blood for his own family. Judges 8: 21 So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments which were on their camels' necks.

Genesis 9: 6 Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, Joshua 20: 3 … of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.

but his actions accepted. VI. Vs. 22-27 Gideon’s words refused to be made king, but his actions accepted.

Gideon acted like a king, He immediately levied a tax. He tried to make his son his heir. He established a haram – 70 sons He named one son – Abimelech He made an ephod used by priests

What was Gideon’s legacy ? He left Israel as bad as he found it. He finished poorly.

What is important is not how we start, but how we finish. HOW WILL YOU FINISH ?

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. I Corinthians 11: 26

Living faith is the victory.