Faith for This Hour: Gideon (part 2)
Click Above to Listen!
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
**WELCOME
**SCRIPTURE: “Psalm 46”
**HYMN: “Holy, Holy, Holy”
**PASTORAL PRAYER:
Pause
Rejoice
Ask
Yield
**HYMN: “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place”
**SPECIAL MUSIC: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
**MESSAGE:
I. GIDEON: GROWING FAITH
A. FAITH TO TRUST GOD NO MATTER WHAT
>>1. STEPS OF GROWING FAITH (Heb 11:32; Jdg 7:1-8; Zech 4:6)
Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.
>>2. FAITH NEEDS NO MORE “SIGNS” (Jdg 7:9-15)
Another ‘fleece’ without Gideon even asking for assurance. Having received encouragement, he couldn’t help but spread that encouragement to others.
B. FAITH TO TAKE THE BATTLE TO THE ENEMY
>>1. SAY WHAT? DIVIDE 300 AGAIN! (Jdg 7:16-23)
Fear loves to make things seem bigger than they are.
>>2. SEEKING COMPLETE VICTORY (Jdg 7:24-25)
When we are weak in faith, we often make our enemies stronger than they really are.
II. GIDEON: SETTLED (MATURE) FAITH
A. FAITH TRANSFORMED BY GOD
>>1. DEMANDING FAITH IN OTHERS (Jdg 8:1-2,4-6,9)
The Christian life is at the command and timing of God. It is not when WE want to pray or witness or serve.
>>2. CONTINUING TO LIVE BY FAITH (Jdg 8:10-12)
Seeing the previous provision of God should encourage us to trust Him for more.
B. IMPERFECT FAITH
>>1. ROUTING LIVING BY FAITH WAS HARD (Jdg 8:22-23)
“I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you. The Lord shall rule over you.”
>>2. LEADER OF FAITH BROUGHT PEACE (Jdg 8:28, 33; John 3:16; 14:1-6; 20:31)
New-found security led the nation to complacency and /spiritual failure.
**CLOSING HYMN: “Day by Day”
**BENEDICTION: “I Peter 5:10-11 (KJV)”
~~~RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP~~~
“Holy, Holy, Holy”
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
“My Faith Has Found a Resting Place”
My faith has found a resting place, not in device or creed;
I trust the ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead.
[refrain]
I need no other argument, I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.
Enough for me that Jesus saves, this ends my fear and doubt;
a sinful soul, I come to Him, He’ll never cast me out.
My heart is leaning on the Word, the written Word of God,
salvation by my Savior’s name, salvation thro’ His blood.
My great Physician heals the sick, the lost He came to save;
for me His precious blood He shed, for me His life he gave.
“Day by Day”
Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me, He Whose Name is Counselor and Power.
The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,” this the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation so to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land.
“The Upward Road”
Doubt sees the obstacles, Faith sees the open way,
Doubt sees the darkest night, Faith sees the sunlit day.
Doubt dreads to take the step, Faith sings and soars on high,
Doubt questions, “Who believes?” Faith answers, “Even I”.
I’m on the upward way, for that still holds the sun.
I climb through the night pastures, where starry rivers run.
And if you seek me in my old and dark abode –
‘Tis written o’er the door – I’m on the Upward Road.