2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My weakness gives God an opportunity to prove himself. The power of the Lord won't only visit you; it will rest on you. It's OK to be weak - sometimes we feel bad about being weak; but you're not going to feel strong all of the time. You've got to identify and understand when it's OK to be weak.
Judges 6:1 shows us why the Israelites were dealing with oppression and hardship. The text shows us that they dealt so because of their disobedience. But not everyone was acting up. We find a man by the name of Gideon that God comes to and speaks directly to. Despite the warriors that are around you, God doesn't just see you as a warrior - He identifies you as a MIGHTY WARRIOR. The Mighty Warrior is the King David who fought the giant when everyone else was afraid! The Mighty Warrior is what distinguishes you from everyone else. Can we be Mighty without Him? If you want to be Mighty every day, you've got to get the Lord with you! How do we become Mighty? We invite His Spirit to live on the inside of us.
My weakness gives God an opportunity to prove himself. The power of the Lord won't only visit you; it will rest on you. It's OK to be weak - sometimes we feel bad about being weak; but you're not going to feel strong all of the time. You've got to identify and understand when it's OK to be weak.
Judges 6:1 shows us why the Israelites were dealing with oppression and hardship. The text shows us that they dealt so because of their disobedience. But not everyone was acting up. We find a man by the name of Gideon that God comes to and speaks directly to. Despite the warriors that are around you, God doesn't just see you as a warrior - He identifies you as a MIGHTY WARRIOR. The Mighty Warrior is the King David who fought the giant when everyone else was afraid! The Mighty Warrior is what distinguishes you from everyone else. Can we be Mighty without Him? If you want to be Mighty every day, you've got to get the Lord with you! How do we become Mighty? We invite His Spirit to live on the inside of us.
​Judges 6:12-16 | Focus on VS 13
God is not absent. He is still present.
You have to be a Mighty Warrior even when other people don't want to be. Don't lump yourself in a category with everyone else. God showed up talking specifically to Gideon. Don't worry about everyone else. What is God saying to you? Because the message that He shares with you may just be the message that is used to deliver everyone else.
VS 14 - Go in the strength that you have. God says, "I'm sending you! I am not sending anyone else. This is your assignment." Why is it that we give our assignment to other warriors? Can you imagine if David had tried to give his assignment to someone else? Would Goliath have fallen? David came to Goliath in the Name of the Lord! You may not be able to tackle a giant on your own, but with the power and the Name of the Lord you will conquer!
The end is almost here, and God says that you have to tighten up! Time is winding up, and you need to tighten up.
VS 15 - Gideon is not focusing on who gave him this assignment. Notice, he says that he is the weakest in his family. But God classified him as a Mighty Warrior. It doesn't matter how someone else sees you. How does God see you?
What I know about God is that He will take you out of one place and put you in another. God doesn't care if you are the least - He knows you as a Mighty Warrior. Pursue your dreams, visions, aspirations - be all that God has created you to be, in the Name of Jesus! Cast out doubt, depression and all those things that try to keep you bound. Don't delay! If God is telling you to do something, TRUST HIM. Stop worrying about this, that and the other.
When God makes a promise to you that "I'm going to be with you," then take that as a guarantee (Cross-Reference: I will always be with you, even to the end of the world - Matthew 28:20b).
What a Mighty Warrior has to be able to do (because if you don't, you will lose yourself) Ephesians 6:10-17:
Be deeper than only seeing what's going on with the people. Put on the full armor of God! There are some things coming that you cannot even see - but you're covered. You are protected, because God sees it all. Everything that the devil tries to throw at you, God is going to knock it down. (Cross-References: No weapon formed against you shall prosper - Isaiah 54:17 & The gates of hell will not prevail - Matthew 16:18). So it doesn't matter how evil the forces are - you're still going to make it. Hang in there; don't give up; don't quit; don't throw in the towel. Don't tell the Lord or begin to think, "Lord, take my life now!" No, No, NO! I shall live and not die (Psalm 118:17)!
Evil days are going to come, and you're going to need the Armor of God. And after you've done everything you can, Stand Firm in the Truth (Ephesians 6:13). Let it be buckled around your waist!
Every arrow that the devil shoots at you, if you take up the shield of faith, you'll be able to deal with it. How can I be in battle without sword? How can a soldier fight battle? Before David even threw the stone, he declared the Name of the Lord. I am coming at you, satan, in the Name of Jesus!
Why do I need a Word from God? Because I need things to happen. And God will prove Himself to you and will equip you to succeed.
Despite what you feel like, you are a Mighty Warrior. Trust God. Keep going. He is with you, has never left you and won't abandon you. And He has a special plan for you. Being "the least" is the old category that you were once in. God has taken you out of that category and has put you in a different category. Walk in that category, talk in that category, be all that God has called you to be. You are qualified, you are equipped because God is with you. You got that?
QUESTIONS AND REFLECTIONS
Question: How are we strong?
Answer: A Mighty Warrior is strong in the Lord and in His Mighty Power.
Question: What does our weakness give God an opportunity to do?
Answer: Prove Himself. When we identify that we have weaknesses, we can allow the power of the Lord to not just visit us, but to rest on us. This means that He is always with us, readying us for battle!
Question: Who does God say we are?
Answer: We are a Mighty Warrior. Focus on who God has said we are rather than our own view of ourselves or what people think and say of us.