Click Above to Listen!
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
**WELCOME:
**SCRIPTURE: “Psalm 85”
**HYMN: “Faith is the Victory”
**PASTORAL PRAYER:
**HYMN: “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”
**SPECIAL MUSIC: “I’d Rather Have Jesus”
**MESSAGE: GIDEON, LITTLE FAITH, WEAK FAITH
We all know the “big names” of Hebrews 11, the “Faith Chapter”. But this is first message of lesser-known people who teach us important lessons about having faith in very difficult time.
Heb 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put enemy armies to flight.
I. GIDEON: LITTLE FAITH
A. LOCKED IN THE SIN CYCLE
>>1. TYPICAL PATTERN AFTER JOSHUA DIED
Jdg 2:11-19
>>2. STILL EVIDENT IN OUR LIVES TODAY
B. TIME FOR A JUDGE – WHERE’S GIDEON?
>>1. What God saw of Gideon:
Jdg 6:12 “O mighty man of valor.”
Jdg 6:14 “Go . . . do not I send you?”
Jdg 6:16 “I will be with you.”
Jdg 6:23 “Be at peace. Do not fear. You shall not die.”
>>2. What Gideon saw of Gideon
Jdg 6:11 Faith hiding
Jdg 6:13a Faith questioning
Jdg 6:13b Faith despairing
Jdg 6:15 Faith doubting
Jdg 6:17 Faith conniving
Jdg 6:21 Faith panicking
II. GIDEON: WEAK FAITH
A. GIDEON’S FAITH BEGINNING TO GROW (kinda)
>>1. SEEING GOD WORK LED TO OBEDIENCE
Jdg 6:24 Step 1 – Recognized God’s hand thru miracle of fire
Jdg 6:25-26 Step 2 – Listen to God’s Word
Jdg 6:27 Step 3 – Obey God’s Word
>>2. FEAR OF MAN STILL STYMIED WEAK FAITH
Jdg 6:33-35 Enemy invasion
Jdg 6:36-38. Another test for God
Jdg 6:39-40 Trusted in coincidence and luck more than God
B. EVEN LITTLE, WEAK FAITH TOOK COURAGE
>>1. IT TAKES FAITH TO HEAR/OBEY GOD’S CALL
>>2. IT TAKES FAITH TO DESTORY ALTARS OF BAAL
>>3. IT TAKES FAITH TO BUILD ALTARS FOR GOD
>>4. IT TAKES FAITH TO ASK GOD FOR A MIRACLE
It may have been little, it may have been weak, but Gideon’s faith was growing and God was about to use him in a big way
** CLOSING HYMN: “In Christ Alone”
~~~RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP~~~
“Faith is the Victory”
Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers, rise
And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.
[refrain]
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
On every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, and echo with our shout.
To him that overcomes the foe white raiment shall be given;
Before the angels he shall know his name confessed in heaven.
Then onward from the hills of light, our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night, in Jesus’ conquering name.
“I Will Sing of My Redeemer”
I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me.
On the cruel cross he suffered, from the curse to set me free.
[refrain]
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer! With His blood He purchased me;
on the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free.
I will tell the wondrous story, how my lost estate to save,
in His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.
I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant power I’ll tell:
how the victory he gives me over sin and death and hell.
I will sing of my Redeemer and his heavenly love for me;
He from death to life has brought me, Son of God, with Him to be.
“In Christ Alone”
In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease,
My Comforter, my All in All – Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied,
For every sin on Him was laid – Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home – Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.