From Zero to Hero: The Myth of Human Choice

• Divine Sovereignty and Human Choice [00:31:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that while humans are free to choose obedience or idolatry, God honors those choices with corresponding consequences, linking national and personal freedom to spiritual fidelity.
• Divine Discipline [00:30:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The sermon posits that God disciplines His people for sin and disobedience, often using severe circumstances to drive them back to Him for help.
• The Unlikely Hero (Gideon) [00:25:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces Gideon as an ordinary, fearful man threshing wheat in a wine press, contrasting his insignificance with the greatness of the task God assigned him.
• Ordinary People in God's Service [00:34:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that God prefers to use ordinary people to demonstrate that His power, not human talent or pedigree, is the source of victory.
• God's Use of Ordinary People [00:34:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that God prefers ordinary people to ensure He receives the glory and to expand His options beyond just exceptional individuals.
• Identity and Potential in Christ [00:37:48 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor teaches that God sees believers not just for who they are currently, but for who they can become with His help, encouraging them not to shortchange themselves.
• Divine Presence and Empowerment [00:40:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor emphasizes that God does not expect believers to accomplish His tasks alone; His presence and power are the source of their ability to succeed.
• Ministry Recruitment (Kidsport) [00:38:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor applies the theological concept of God using ordinary people to a specific call for church members to serve in the children's ministry at Watermarks.
• Divine Reassurance and Presence [00:46:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that God reassures believers of His presence and work in their lives, similar to how He reassured Gideon, especially during health battles or caregiving.
• Faith and Doubt [00:47:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > Discussion of Gideon's struggle with doubt and his request for signs (the fleece), noting that God meets us in our weakness but does not leave us there, allowing faith to grow over time.
• Seeking God's Will [00:50:16 ▶️ 📄]
  > Distinction between testing God and asking for clarity; directives include praying, paying attention to where God is at, and seeking counsel from wise, godly followers rather than those who just tell you what you want to hear.
• God's Power in Weakness [00:52:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > Analysis of Gideon reducing his army from 32,000 to 300 to ensure God received the credit, illustrating that impossible odds become possible when God is glorified and His power is made perfect in human weakness.
• Repentance and Salvation [00:59:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Prayer for those who have strayed to repent and for first-time viewers to recognize their need for a Savior and surrender their lives to Jesus.
• Prayer for Repentance and Salvation [00:59:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor leads a corporate prayer addressing those who have strayed and sinned, asking for forgiveness and the power to repent, followed by a specific prayer for first-time believers recognizing their need for a Savior.

• Sermon Illustration [00:24:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor draws an analogy between George Washington leading the American colonists to freedom from Britain and God raising up Gideon to lead the Israelites to freedom from the Midianites.
• Sermon Illustration [00:34:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor describes Gideon's humble origins, noting he was threshing wheat in a wine press to hide from enemies, illustrating his fear and lack of traditional leadership qualities.
• Sermon Illustration [00:43:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about expecting his first child while in seminary with no maternity insurance. He worked a part-time job at an antique store to pay for his wife's doctor visits, and after their son Logan was born, they had to leave the hospital immediately because they couldn't afford to stay. He uses this to illustrate feeling ill-equipped and unprepared, comparing it to the feeling of new parenthood and trusting God's presence in such moments.
• Sermon Illustration [00:39:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a recent moment where a woman named Corrie held up a sign saying 'Serving Kidsport' as a 'sign' from God for those waiting for direction, using it to encourage members to serve in the children's ministry.
• Sermon Illustration [00:47:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical story of Gideon asking for signs via the fleece (wet fleece/dry ground and dry fleece/wet ground) to confirm God's call, and subsequently reducing his army of 32,000 to 300 men equipped only with trumpets and jars to defeat the Midianites, resulting in the enemy turning on themselves.
• Sermon Illustration [00:46:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a humorous analogy comparing the 'Mighty Midianites' to an opponent for the 'Savannah Bananas' (a baseball team known for entertainment), and compares the Israelites' overwhelming odds (4 to 1, then 300 to 135,000) to an impossible battle.
• Sermon Illustration [00:51:39 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a quote from pastor/author Henry Blackaby: 'Keep your eyes open for where God is at,' and cites 2 Corinthians 12:9 regarding God's power being made perfect in weakness.

• Pastoral Charge [00:24:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > Listen to the previous sermon
• Pastoral Charge [00:30:21 ▶️ 📄]
  > Write the lesson about God's discipline in the margin of their Bible
• Pastoral Charge [00:31:56 ▶️ 📄]
  > Write down the truth about free will and consequences
• Pastoral Charge [00:34:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > Note or write down the lesson that God uses ordinary people
• Pastoral Charge [00:39:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > Volunteer to serve in the Kidsport children's ministry, specifically by serving during one service while attending the other.
• Pastoral Charge [00:58:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stand up physically in the sanctuary
• Pastoral Charge [01:00:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > Profess faith in Jesus, surrender life to Him, and accept salvation
• Pastoral Charge [01:00:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > To give one's life to Jesus and surrender to His leadership.

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:00:01] How many times can you hear the same light before you start to believe it?
[00:00:08] The enemy keeps me, I swear these days are so long

[00:00:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:00:14] Let's stand and worship the risen Savior today. Yes, Lord.

[00:09:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:09:46] It's a pleasure to welcome all of you to this place today. We are glad you're here.
[00:09:51] I want to share a couple things coming up here at Watermark.
[00:09:54] We've got Christmas in July cranking up and going through August 2nd.
[00:09:59] As you guys are out doing your back-to-school shopping, if you could pick up an extra box of crayons, a toothbrush, hairbrush, things of that nature, we are going to use those as fillers for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
[00:10:11] So grab those, bring them, put them in the bins outside of the sanctuary.
[00:10:15] We would be very grateful for that.
[00:10:18] Then coming up on August 21st, if you are sponsoring a Compassion Child or are interested in learning more about that, we would love for you to join us for dinner that evening.
[00:10:27] Please scan that QR code in your bulletin to get registered for that.
[00:10:32] And with that, I'm going to turn it over to Ms. Corey.

[00:10:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:10:35] Hi, everybody.
[00:10:40] My name is Corey Van Dyke, and I'm the Children's Ministry Director here at Watermark.
[00:10:45] I'm so excited to be here with you all this morning to share about ways that you can make an impression and leave a mark for Jesus Christ with the next generation.
[00:10:56] Right now, we are so blessed in Kidsport to have growing numbers.
[00:11:00] But with that comes a need, a need for more volunteers on Sunday morning, as well as soon Wednesday evenings for Kidsport Plus starting in September.
[00:11:12] So we need you to step up and answer the call to love on these kids and show them Jesus, because that's the bottom line here.
[00:11:22] So maybe you're saying, Corey, I've never worked with children before or I'm not a teacher.
[00:11:29] that's okay in fact many of our volunteer roles do not require teaching experience at all the bottom line like i just said is that we need people to show young ones the love of jesus
[00:11:45] maybe you're waiting for a sign here it is so don't wait for the person next next to you or three rows back to don't think that they're going to be the one to fill the need. God could
[00:12:06] use you to be the person to teach kids about Jesus and just know that he will use you and equip you. So you can start by scanning the QR code in the bulletin insert and that will take
[00:12:21] you to a form that you can fill out or you can come talk to myself or Lori Settle after service.
[00:12:27] We'd be happy to answer questions and talk with you further about this.
[00:12:31] So remember, we need you.
[00:12:33] And together, we can make an eternal difference in the life of Watermark children.
[00:12:39] Thanks so much, you guys.
[00:12:40] Let's get back to worship.

[00:17:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:17:28] his life the darkest day in history there on across me for sinners for every curse his blood atone one final breath and it was finished but not the end we

[00:17:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:17:59] could have known for the earth began to shake us what sacrifice was made you are our savior

[00:21:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:21:27] this of how you defeated death and how amazing is it that we get to praise you the living god we thank you for this opportunity this morning for our soul for our spirit to rise up and to
[00:21:47] sing your praise, sing this history, to sing this truth. Oh God, you are so wonderful. May we exalt you and magnify you, not just in this building, not just in this room, but everywhere we go and
[00:22:04] all that we do. May we worship you. May we praise you. Thank you, God, for this opportunity.

[00:22:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:22:12] It's in your name we pray. Amen. That's on me. So good morning again. Good to see y'all. I'm so glad you're here, so grateful that you're in this house today. So, you know, we've been celebrating
[00:23:01] this whole month, right? Kind of celebrating our nation's independence, the 250th birthday of America, the freedoms that we enjoy in this great country. So I was thinking about that a little bit this week, and some people are still vacationing, celebrating that. My family, a lot of them,
[00:23:18] are at the beach this week, so they're having a good time continuing that celebration. But you know, that freedom that we enjoy in this country, that you and I enjoy, not the least of which,
[00:23:28] again, is to be here to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it was made possible by those early American colonists who were brave enough to declare it and then to fight for it, right?
[00:23:40] So we appreciate that and we're grateful for that.
[00:23:43] They were, of course, led in their battle during the Revolutionary War by a great general.
[00:23:48] Who was that general?
[00:23:50] George Washington.
[00:23:51] That's right.
[00:23:52] So to do that, to be able to claim this country, to declare our freedom, Washington, his army, they had to defeat the British army who occupied our lands.
[00:24:04] So we continue to celebrate that.
[00:24:06] In fact, last week we spent a lot of time talking about the celebration of our liberty in this country and especially the true freedom that we have in Jesus Christ.
[00:24:14] If you missed that, I encourage you to go back and listen.
[00:24:16] But you know, it's interesting that after the Israelites had claimed their promised land, and Joshua led them into that land.
[00:24:26] Of course, the Battle of Jericho was a part of that.
[00:24:28] Next week, you will hear a little bit more about what was involved with that and one of the heroes involved in leading up to that famous battle.
[00:24:36] But they would continue, the Israelites, to face a lot of battles over the next couple of centuries.
[00:24:43] And in fact, they would face some serious foes who wanted to occupy their lands, who came in, who tried to ravage them.
[00:24:51] And just as George Washington led the American forces to victory over Britain in the Revolutionary War, the Israelites needed their own George Washington of sorts to help lead them to victory over those who wanted to occupy their land.
[00:25:06] And they would need the Lord's help with that too.
[00:25:08] The question is, who would that leader be?
[00:25:12] Who did the Lord have in mind to lead them in those battles?
[00:25:17] The Israelites would need someone who could rise up, who could lead them, help free them from the oppression that they faced from the Midianites, from the Amalekites.
[00:25:27] And the man that God had in mind was a very unlikely hero.
[00:25:32] His name? Gideon.
[00:25:35] Gideon didn't come from much.
[00:25:37] In fact, he described himself as the least and the weakest clan when God called him to lead the Israelites to fight for their freedom against a much more powerful people, a more powerful army.
[00:25:50] Yet with God at work in his life, Gideon would move from a zero to a hero.
[00:25:58] And it's remarkable the faith journey that God took him on.
[00:26:02] And in fact, we can learn a lot from his remarkable faith journey.
[00:26:07] And I think the Lord has some powerful lessons for you and me today.
[00:26:10] So we'll make some observations.
[00:26:12] We'll learn some important lessons.
[00:26:14] Here's the truth.
[00:26:15] Some of you in this room today are watching today.
[00:26:18] You may be feeling overwhelmed, maybe overmatched today.
[00:26:23] Others of you feel ill-prepared for a vital task before you.
[00:26:27] You're wrestling with your own weaknesses, your own insecurities.
[00:26:31] Some of you are reluctant leaders.
[00:26:33] You're unwilling to answer God's call to serve in a particular area, maybe for a lack of confidence.
[00:26:40] Some of you, you have a critical decision to make.
[00:26:43] Others of you, you need guidance and a path forward.
[00:26:47] Some of you are struggling in life.
[00:26:49] You're facing the consequences of your own poor, your sinful choices.
[00:26:54] And you're here today to cry out to God.
[00:26:57] You're seeking help from God, maybe forgiveness.
[00:27:00] from God. Listen, I don't know where you are in life's journey. I don't know entirely where you are in your faith journey, but I do know this. You're not here today by accident. You're not
[00:27:10] tuned in today by accident. I think the Lord has led you here on purpose. I think he has you here for a purpose. I think he has much to teach you about moving in your life from where you may feel
[00:27:22] like a zero to a faith hero. And God did that in Gideon's life. And I think he can do it in your life too. But before we dig into God's word, let's pray. Lord, I thank you so much for the opportunity
[00:27:37] to be in your house. God, I'm always grateful to be able to gather with my friends, to be able to to lift you up, God, in the way that we do, to be able to sing these praises to you.
[00:27:47] My hope is that everything that we've sung to you in this hour so far has honored you. God, I pray now that as we continue our worship by opening your word, that you would speak to our hearts today.
[00:28:01] God, I pray that you would convict us and challenge us and encourage us, God, where we need that.
[00:28:07] You know exactly what we need.
[00:28:09] So I pray, God, you'll meet us right there, but you won't leave us there.
[00:28:13] God, help us to become more and better, fully devoted followers of Jesus.
[00:28:19] I pray it in his holy and precious name.
[00:28:22] Amen.
[00:28:23] You know, Gideon's faith story is captured for you.
[00:28:26] If you want to follow in your Bible, you're welcome to do that.
[00:28:28] It's found in Judges 6-8.
[00:28:32] We also have an outline that's printed in your bulletin.
[00:28:35] You can also access it online, and I hope you'll take some notes along the way.
[00:28:40] The interesting thing about Gideon is that he is mentioned.
[00:28:44] He is named in God's hall of faith, if you will, in Hebrews 11.
[00:28:50] The backdrop for Gideon's biography actually begins with the Israelites being ravaged.
[00:28:56] This is the word the Bible used.
[00:28:58] They're being ravaged by the Midianites as a consequence of Israel's disobedience to God.
[00:29:04] They needed a hero.
[00:29:06] They needed a George Washington, if you will.
[00:29:09] Here's what the Bible says in Judges chapter 6, 1 and following.
[00:29:14] The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
[00:29:18] And for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.
[00:29:22] Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves and mountain cliffs and caves and strongholds.
[00:29:30] Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, the Amalekites, the other eastern peoples invaded the country.
[00:29:36] They camped on the land.
[00:29:38] They ruined the crops all the way to Gaza.
[00:29:40] They didn't spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.
[00:29:45] They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts.
[00:29:49] It was impossible to count them or their camels.
[00:29:52] They invaded the land to ravage it.
[00:29:56] Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.
[00:30:03] For seven years, the Israelites endured these devastating invasions, these occupations, if you will, from the Midianites, from the Amalekites, until they finally called out to God for help.
[00:30:16] We can't take it anymore, Lord.
[00:30:18] You know, there's an important lesson here for you and me that we can't miss.
[00:30:21] You might write this in your margin because I didn't do a blank for it.
[00:30:26] The truth is God will discipline his people for evil, for sin, for disobedience.
[00:30:32] And that discipline can be severe and it will eventually cause us to turn back to him for help.
[00:30:39] God, I need you, right?
[00:30:41] And we see it again and again in life.
[00:30:43] If you live long enough, you will.
[00:30:44] You know, the lesson is this, obey lest the Lord causes you to pay.
[00:30:49] I see it.
[00:30:49] You know, there's a reason why the Israelites find themselves in a desperate season here.
[00:30:54] It was a consequence of their own poor choices.
[00:30:58] You see, when they came to their senses, they cried out to God.
[00:31:02] And He sent a prophet to them to tell them why they were suffering to this degree.
[00:31:08] Why God was allowing this oppression in their lives.
[00:31:11] You see, they had disobeyed Him.
[00:31:14] They had strayed from Him.
[00:31:16] They were worshiping other gods.
[00:31:19] So the prophet reminded them of all that God had done for them, including saving them from slavery in Egypt and settling them in this promised land.
[00:31:29] God had just one clear expectation.
[00:31:32] We see it here in verse 10 of Judges 6.
[00:31:34] I said to you, I am the Lord your God.
[00:31:37] Do not worship the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.
[00:31:43] But you've not listened to me.
[00:31:46] They didn't obey him.
[00:31:48] They chose to worship other gods, specifically Baal.
[00:31:51] So God allowed them to suffer oppression.
[00:31:55] Here's the truth.
[00:31:56] You might write this down, that we are free to choose to obey God or not.
[00:32:01] But God will always honor those choices.
[00:32:04] This month, you know, again, we're celebrating our nation's birth, the freedoms that we enjoy in this country.
[00:32:10] One freedom that we have, obviously, is the right to worship the Lord our God.
[00:32:15] We gather today to freely worship and to honor our Savior, our Lord, our King, Jesus Christ.
[00:32:22] But in this country, we also can choose not to worship Him.
[00:32:28] However, there are consequences for our choices.
[00:32:31] You see, when we turn from God, when we chart our own course, when we begin to worship idols, other gods, we face the consequences of that choice, both personally, as individuals, and nationally, as a nation.
[00:32:47] In fact, the Bible tells us in Psalm 33, 12, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
[00:32:53] See, God honors our decision to turn toward Him in obedience or to turn from Him in disobedience.
[00:33:00] Some of you are struggling today personally because of your own poor and sinful choices.
[00:33:06] You know, the Bible makes clear that we are to worship the Lord, our God.
[00:33:11] He makes that clear.
[00:33:13] Worship Him alone.
[00:33:14] God's Word is also clear that we're all sinners in need of a Savior.
[00:33:18] A Savior who is Jesus Christ.
[00:33:21] And you and I can freely choose to follow Him or not.
[00:33:25] But that choice will have consequences for both you and me, not just for today, but eternally.
[00:33:33] You see, Israel had a choice.
[00:33:35] You know, sadly, they chose to disobey God and to worship a foreign God.
[00:33:40] They suffered because of that choice.
[00:33:43] You see, this is the context where we're introduced to this reluctant hero.
[00:33:47] His name? Gideon.
[00:33:50] Israel needed a hero.
[00:33:51] They needed a leader.
[00:33:53] They needed someone to step up, to get them back on track, to challenge them, to direct them.
[00:33:58] God chose Gideon to be that man.
[00:34:00] But Gideon didn't fit that mold of a great leader.
[00:34:04] Not at all.
[00:34:05] In fact, when we're introduced to Gideon, he's threshing wheat in an old wine press, trying to stay hidden from the Midianites.
[00:34:12] He's just trying to thresh enough wheat here to make enough grain that he could feed his family.
[00:34:20] That's what he was concerned about.
[00:34:22] You see, Gideon didn't come from a great pedigree.
[00:34:25] He wasn't an intellectual giant.
[00:34:27] He wasn't a great theologian.
[00:34:29] He wasn't an accomplished general, not a powerful politician.
[00:34:32] He was just a simple Hebrew man doing the best he could to take care of his family.
[00:34:38] In a lot of ways, he was just like you.
[00:34:41] He was just like me.
[00:34:43] Yet God was about to use him in an extraordinary way.
[00:34:46] I want you to note this.
[00:34:47] Maybe write it down.
[00:34:48] That God loves to use unlikely, ordinary people to do great things.
[00:34:54] This is a lesson that we'll see again and again in this series.
[00:34:58] Why do you think God does that?
[00:34:59] And why does God love to use ordinary people?
[00:35:05] You know, I think there are a couple of reasons for that.
[00:35:07] I'll give it to you.
[00:35:08] You need to know because, again, most of you, like me, are very ordinary people.
[00:35:12] I think, first of all, God loves to use us because most of us are remarkably ordinary people.
[00:35:19] You know, if God only used exceptional people, then his options would be pretty limited, right?
[00:35:25] And everyone in this room, maybe watching today, might be tempted to say, I have very little to offer God.
[00:35:32] You know, I'm not the smartest person.
[00:35:35] I'm not the most talented person.
[00:35:37] I'm not the most outgoing person.
[00:35:40] A few of us are.
[00:35:42] But that doesn't mean that God can't, that God won't use you for a specific, a providential purpose.
[00:35:48] I think there's another reason that God loves to use ordinary people.
[00:35:52] You know what it is?
[00:35:52] because when I accomplish the purpose that God intended, He gets the glory, not me. It's not about me. You see, if God only used exceptional or extraordinary people, then it's not always clear who deserves the credit, right? That extraordinary person or God, though I would argue it's always
[00:36:13] God. You know why? Because He gives all of us any of the gifts that we have, that we enjoy in this world. It all comes from him. So he always deserves the credit, though some might be reluctant
[00:36:25] to give him the credit. Gideon was a very ordinary guy, just like you, just like me, who God used in an extraordinary way. So in the time we have left, I want to make some observations
[00:36:38] about what God did with Gideon. And then I want to share some powerful lessons along the way that I believe God will do in your life, that God is doing in your life. So if you want to write
[00:36:50] these down I think it might be helpful to you might go back and spend some time thinking through them even this week the first observation is this that God sold Gideon not for who he was
[00:37:00] but rather who he could be you know the Bible tells us in Judges chapter 6 and an angel of the Lord came to speak with Gideon while he was hidden away threshing that wheat it says in verse 12 when
[00:37:13] And the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, and he said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.
[00:37:20] You know, mighty warrior?
[00:37:23] I mean, is Gideon, based on what I've told you, do you think Gideon saw himself as a mighty warrior?
[00:37:30] Probably not, right?
[00:37:31] I mean, a lot of people might describe Gideon in different ways, but mighty warrior is probably not a way they would describe him.
[00:37:39] I don't think it's a way he would describe himself.
[00:37:41] But note this, that God saw something in Gideon that Gideon probably didn't yet see in himself.
[00:37:48] Have you ever thought about how God sees you?
[00:37:51] It may be different than how you view yourself.
[00:37:54] Here's the first lesson for you and me, that God sees you, not just for who you are, but with his help, who you can be.
[00:38:02] Yeah, I wonder if some of you may be shortchanging yourself, maybe as a leader, as an influencer, for Christ's sake, because you don't think that you have what it takes.
[00:38:13] Maybe you don't consider yourself a great dad or a great mom.
[00:38:17] But the truth is, the Lord wants to make you that.
[00:38:20] Maybe you don't consider yourself an exceptional spouse.
[00:38:24] But the Lord wants to make you that.
[00:38:26] Maybe you don't consider yourself a really good friend for Christ's sake.
[00:38:30] But the Lord wants to make you that.
[00:38:32] Maybe you're one who doesn't think you can produce much fruit for Christ's sake.
[00:38:36] But the Lord wants to help you with that.
[00:38:40] Some of you may not see yourself as a great teacher, a great disciple maker, yet God could use you in a big way by serving as a teacher, an influencer, a caregiver at Watermarks Children's Ministry in Kidsport.
[00:38:54] You know, Corrie stood up here a while ago and she said, Hey, I've got a sign for you. You're waiting on a sign. Here it is.
[00:39:00] We'll see Gideon in a little bit looking for a sign.
[00:39:03] So Corrie held that up, said, Serving Kidsport.
[00:39:05] Some of you saw that and said, That's funny. That's cute.
[00:39:08] But it's not for me.
[00:39:10] But here's the truth.
[00:39:11] God is sending more and more families to Watermark.
[00:39:15] And with them are precious little children.
[00:39:18] And they need to be discipled.
[00:39:20] They need to know the love of Jesus.
[00:39:22] They need to hear the gospel.
[00:39:24] And He's going to use you, some of you, to help teach them.
[00:39:29] To care for them.
[00:39:30] To influence them for Christ's sake.
[00:39:32] You may say again, it's not for me.
[00:39:34] But it is.
[00:39:35] If you call Watermark home, God can use you.
[00:39:38] They say, I don't have time for that.
[00:39:39] It's just once a month.
[00:39:41] All of us can.
[00:39:42] We offer two services.
[00:39:43] Serve in one and attend the other.
[00:39:45] You can do that for Christ's sake.
[00:39:47] Can't you?
[00:39:49] Some of you may not think of yourself as a disciple maker.
[00:39:53] But yet Jesus called you to make disciples.
[00:39:57] He called me to do that.
[00:39:59] Some of you may not think of yourself as much of an influence for Christ's sake.
[00:40:02] But yet God wants you to share His bright light in this dark and desperate world.
[00:40:08] You see, God sees you not just for who you are, but who you can be for Christ's glorious sake with His help.
[00:40:16] Here's a second observation about Gideon's journey from zero to hero.
[00:40:20] God did not intend for Gideon to accomplish the task that He called him to alone.
[00:40:27] Did you notice what the angel who was speaking for the Lord said to Gideon before he called Gideon this mighty warrior?
[00:40:34] He said, the Lord is with you, mighty warrior.
[00:40:42] So how could Gideon become a mighty warrior?
[00:40:46] How would he ever be a mighty warrior?
[00:40:50] There's only one way, because the Lord was with him.
[00:40:55] That's amazing to me.
[00:40:56] God would make him into that, not by Gideon's power, but by God's power at work in him.
[00:41:04] Gideon was not in this alone.
[00:41:05] He was not on his own.
[00:41:07] The Lord's hand was on him.
[00:41:09] It's a powerful lesson for all of us.
[00:41:11] Write this one down.
[00:41:12] Lesson two, God does not expect you to go it alone in life.
[00:41:17] He is with you.
[00:41:19] I love that about our God.
[00:41:22] You know, the times that I've felt most overwhelmed and overmatched and ill-prepared in life is when God did his greatest work in and through me.
[00:41:32] to be clear that doesn't you know mean that I could ever be irresponsible as a dad or as a husband as a pastor a son a leader but as a Christ follower I'm never on my own he is with me he is
[00:41:48] for me he is at work in me and if you're a believer God works the same way in you I say it often I firmly believe it. What God calls us to, He equips us for. The Lord was with Gideon,
[00:42:03] though he didn't yet fully realize what that meant. So Gideon was still not convinced that he was the right guy for the job that God was calling him to, that this was for him. Maybe
[00:42:15] you're there. Maybe that's where you are in life in general. Maybe that's where you are concerning this kid sport gig, right? But I want you to notice what happens next. The Lord turned to him
[00:42:25] in verse 14 of Judges chapter 6, and he said, go in the strength that you have and save Israel out of Midian's hands. Am I not sending you? Pardon me, my Lord, Gideon replied. How can I
[00:42:40] save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. The Lord answered, I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.
[00:42:55] Did you catch Gideon's answer, his excuse here to God?
[00:43:00] When God called him, when he said, I'm sending you, I want you to do this.
[00:43:04] What did he say?
[00:43:05] Pardon me, no disrespect here, God, but I'm the weakest guy in the weakest clan.
[00:43:11] I'm no hero, God.
[00:43:14] I'm a zero.
[00:43:16] I think you've got the wrong guy here.
[00:43:18] Surely there's somebody better equipped than me.
[00:43:21] You ever felt like that?
[00:43:22] and so ill-equipped, so underqualified, so overmatched in life.
[00:43:28] Yeah, I remember when Lori and I, I've shared this a couple times, when we were expecting our first child, we were in the middle of seminary.
[00:43:34] I went to seminary right out of college, so I was there young.
[00:43:37] We decided to have a child.
[00:43:39] We were ready to start our family.
[00:43:41] We were working part-time in ministry at a little church, rural church outside of Wake Forest up in Lewisburg.
[00:43:48] We had no maternity insurance.
[00:43:51] I don't think we even had insurance.
[00:43:52] to be honest with you. So we found a little hospital over in Durham. It wasn't a little, it was a bigger one, but we found a doctor over there who was willing to let me kind of pay
[00:44:01] as we go, right? One step at a time with no insurance. So I got a little job in Wake Forest.
[00:44:07] I was working at an antique store. Can you believe that? A little part-time job, 10, 15 hours a week. So I'd go over there. It was slow business. So I was able to do some work
[00:44:19] while I was there but I put in my hours I got paid I took every penny that I made and I paid that doctor for my first child for Lori's doctor's visits and you know I guess I could have qualified
[00:44:32] for for government assistance but that never occurred to us and when our son Logan was born around midnight Lori checked out the next morning because we couldn't afford to stay any longer right we had to get out of there as quickly as we could and when we left the hospital I remember
[00:44:50] thinking I can't believe they're letting us take this baby home because we have no idea what we're doing right well actually I'm speaking for myself Lori knew what she was doing but I had no idea
[00:45:02] what I was doing didn't even know how to put the car seat in right so that's the kind of deal and when you when you you know when you become a parent it's kind of like that you feel a little
[00:45:13] ill-equipped and unprepared and ill-prepared at the very least parenting can always make you feel that way sometimes I still feel that way right my kids are grown but here's the truth if God blesses you to be a parent then you're not in it alone and he'll be with you in every step of the
[00:45:31] way you see it's true for any position that God places you in in life he will be with you and some of you really need to know that today because you're feeling alone and ill-prepared or ill-equipped
[00:45:43] for a task that's in front of you.
[00:45:45] Maybe it's a leadership position that you find yourself in at home or at church or at work.
[00:45:51] And you need to know that God is with you.
[00:45:54] Maybe it's a difficult situation or circumstance that you're facing right now in your life.
[00:46:00] Maybe it's a health battle.
[00:46:02] Maybe it's caring for someone close to you.
[00:46:05] Maybe it's advising someone with godly wisdom who is counting on you.
[00:46:10] You need to trust and believe that God is with you, that he is at work in you, that you're not going it alone. You see, God is reassuring you of that right now in the same way he reassured Gideon, telling him yet a
[00:46:26] second time, I will be with you. You don't think you can do this, but with my help you can.
[00:46:34] You can do this and you'll defeat the Midianites. Here's the third observation. God wanted Gideon to faithfully believe that with his help he could strike down the mighty Midianites.
[00:46:49] Mighty Midianites. Sounds like an opponent for the Savannah Bananas, doesn't it? Right?
[00:46:55] Some of you all have no idea what I'm talking about. The Lord answered, I will be with you and you'll strike down all the Midianites. You know, the truth is that Gideon was struggling to believe that God was really calling him to lead. And he wanted to be sure that he
[00:47:11] was hearing God clearly. Are you sure I'm the right guy for this? So he asked God for a sign. Remember the sign you got a minute ago? Some would say that Gideon was demonstrating a lack of faith by asking for this sign from God. And not just one sign, but you'll see
[00:47:27] two here in a minute. And that may be true, but listen, it's hard to fault him for wanting to be sure. So Gideon decided to throw out a fleece. You ever heard that phrase? I'm
[00:47:37] just going to throw out a fleece and see what happens here. Here's the story in verses 36 and following in Judges chapter 6. Gideon said to God, look, if you will save Israel by my hand as you
[00:47:48] have promised, then look, I'll place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. And if there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I'll know that you will save Israel by my hand as you
[00:48:01] said. And that's what happened. Gideon rose early the next day, squeezed the fleece and he wrung out to do a bowl full of water. And then Gideon said to God, don't be angry with me, but let me, let me
[00:48:14] make just one more request. Allow me one more test with this fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew. That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry. All the
[00:48:28] ground was covered with dew. Now Gideon must have known he was pushing it a little bit with God, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have said, hey, don't get angry with me, God, but let me give
[00:48:41] you another test here, right? Let me just make sure. Look, Gideon was wrestling with something, doubt, right? He was unsure if God was really calling him to lead, unsure of his own abilities, clearly lacking some faith at this point in his journey, but at least he was exploring it,
[00:49:01] right and you know he he wanted a sign he got he got the signs but notice that God showed immense patience toward Gideon graciously answering his doubts even though Gideon was fearful he was hesitant God gently met him exactly where he was but he didn't leave him there
[00:49:21] the Lord reassured him of his presence of his calling of his promise there are a couple of lessons here for us and I want you to write these down. The third lesson here for us is that God
[00:49:32] meets us in our weakness but he doesn't leave us there. You know Gideon struggled with fear and he asked for a sign, a miracle to confirm God's will. God graciously answered his request for a wet
[00:49:47] fleece than a dry fleece. The truth is God doesn't demand perfect or unwavering faith overnight from you and me. He's patient with us and he'll allow our faith to develop, to grow deeper over time.
[00:50:02] That's been true for me. It'll be true for you. But there's a fourth lesson here I don't want you to miss. There is a fine line between testing God and asking God for clarity. Understand that.
[00:50:16] You know, while God was merciful to Gideon, the overarching biblical principle is that putting out a fleece to force God's hand is generally discouraged and I could probably preach prohibited right means get in off needing a tangible miraculous sign to walk in obedience
[00:50:39] here's the truth God wants us to walk by faith not by based on his character on his promises rather than expecting some supernatural comfort okay if I can't just throw out a fleece then what can fear not by doubt he wants us to move forward and i do how can i how can i seek
[00:51:04] clarity from god when i'm searching for answers when i'm trying to do biblical insights here because some of you may be or be asking him to reveal his will and that's what we're told in
[00:51:17] first thessalonians 5 16 pray the second directive is this pay attention right now i love what pastor author henry henry blackaby said years ago i remember this back keep your eyes open for where

[00:51:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:51:39] god is at i'm there and we just talked about that in kids port right and god is working i'm there

[00:51:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:51:53] i think there's a third directive here seeking through wise and godly christ followers don't just seek counsel from a friend who's going to tell you what you want to hear you seek counsel from godly wise mature believers and then finally so seek counsel from those you know to be that
[00:52:15] carefully measure what you sense and what it is contrary to what god's word teaches let me be you understand that i've seen people run off in wrong direction because they felt something listen that is not from god you know god answered gideon's request for a sign he may
[00:52:39] may not do the same for you so be careful with that maybe follow these directives I think they're biblical and proven there's a fourth observation very important in Gideon's life when God graciously reassured Gideon's faith with an even greater display of his power here comes the battle so
[00:52:58] Gideon assembled this army that seems like a big crowd right a pretty big regiment to you consider that he was up against an army with 135,000 soldiers.
[00:53:13] So the Midianites, the Amalekites, were outnumbering the Israelites at this point four to one.
[00:53:18] But what happened next might surprise you.
[00:53:22] Look at verse two in chapter seven.
[00:53:23] The Lord said to Gideon, he didn't want the Israelites to think that they saved themselves, freed from the Midianites.
[00:53:30] So Gideon reduced the army, 10,000 were let go.
[00:53:36] You know why?
[00:53:38] Gideon said, any of y'all who are afraid, just go ahead and head on home.
[00:53:43] 10,000 of them took him up on that.
[00:53:45] Said, okay, I'm out of here, right?
[00:53:47] So he's down to 22,000.
[00:53:50] But he's out of 22,000 next.

[00:53:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:53:55] Now, I might surprise you.
[00:53:57] Take a look.

[00:53:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:53:57] For 22,000 to just 350 to one advantage.
[00:54:06] Those are impossible odds in battle.
[00:54:09] But impossible becomes very possible when God received the credit that He deserved.
[00:54:17] You see, the Midianites and the Amalekites had set up camp in a valley.
[00:54:22] The Bible says that they were as thick as locusts.
[00:54:25] And God told Gideon in a dream how He could defeat them.
[00:54:28] I'm sure he was wondering, right?
[00:54:30] 300 against 130 soldiers and the three troops of 100.
[00:54:37] And he gave each of them a trumpet and a pottery jar.
[00:54:43] How would you like to go into battle equipped with only a trumpet and a pottery jar, right?
[00:54:50] A stoneware vase.
[00:54:53] I'd be thinking, I could use a little more, God.
[00:54:56] Is this it?
[00:54:57] Is that whoever afraid option still open?
[00:55:00] Because I'm kind of ready to hit the road too.
[00:55:03] But these 300 remain.
[00:55:04] And sometimes we think we need far more than we actually do.
[00:55:12] Take a look at what happens next.
[00:55:14] Gideon says, you watch me.
[00:55:16] Follow my lead.
[00:55:17] When I get to the edge of the camp, you do exactly what I do.
[00:55:20] And when I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp, you blow yours.
[00:55:26] And you shout for the Lord and for Gideon.
[00:55:29] 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.
[00:55:37] They blew their trumpets.
[00:55:38] They broke the jars that were in their hands.
[00:55:41] The three companies blew the trumpets.
[00:55:43] They smashed the jars, grasping the torches in their hands and holding their right hands.
[00:55:50] The trumpets they were to blow, with the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, a sword for the Lord and for Gideon.
[00:55:58] While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
[00:56:05] And when the 300 trumpets sounded, The Lord calls the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.
[00:56:15] He used them against themselves.
[00:56:19] You see that?
[00:56:20] With all the noise, with all the chaos created by these blaring trumpets, by the smashing jars, the Midianites, the Amalekites panicked.
[00:56:28] They started killing each other.
[00:56:32] The ones not killing each other fled as fast and as furiously as they could with Gideon's army and the extra troops he called in, chasing them in hot pursuit. Here's the great news too. For the next 40 years, the Israelites would be safe. They would be secure because of a
[00:56:49] reluctant, an underqualified, maybe ill-equipped, but obedient leader, Gideon, a legendary hero of our faith. Here's the fifth lesson I want you to get today. That your weakness is made perfect is a perfect place to prove God's presence
[00:57:10] and His power.
[00:57:12] And I would add His promise.
[00:57:14] God is not limited by your weaknesses.
[00:57:17] In fact, when you are weak, He is strong.
[00:57:20] He shows up in a big way.
[00:57:22] In fact, He crafts ministry opportunities for you from your weaknesses.
[00:57:27] I read this week that God is far more likely to give you a ministry out of your weakness than He is out of your strength.
[00:57:33] Did you know that?
[00:57:34] Look, maybe you're like Gideon and you think, I'm not equipped to serve in this role, God.
[00:57:40] I'm the least and the weakest clan.
[00:57:43] I don't come from much and I don't know if I have what it takes.
[00:57:47] I'm a zero, God.
[00:57:49] Look, if that's you, then you're in a perfect place to experience God's presence, His power, and His promise.
[00:57:56] As Jesus said to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, 9, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
[00:58:07] Look, maybe you're weak these days.
[00:58:10] You're unsure.
[00:58:11] You're insecure.
[00:58:13] Maybe you've failed in critical areas of your life.
[00:58:17] Maybe you're feeling woefully outnumbered and overmatched in a battle you're facing right now.
[00:58:24] I want you to learn from Gideon, his powerful faith story.
[00:58:29] He won because he declared the battle was the Lord's.
[00:58:33] He trusted Him.
[00:58:34] He believed in Him.
[00:58:36] That God was with him.
[00:58:37] that God was for him that God was at work in him and he'll do the same for you do you believe that I want to invite you to stand on your feet for just a moment
[00:58:51] I want to pray with you I want to pray for you God I thank you for your word to us God I thank you for this remarkable faith hero Gideon a man who went in his own mind
[00:59:07] from a zero to truly a faith hero God there are people in this room today who are overwhelmed by life, feel overmatched in certain areas, maybe as a parent, maybe as a spouse, maybe as a leader, a manager,
[00:59:24] whatever you've called them to, maybe even to teach your God.
[00:59:28] And I pray that you would reassure them today.
[00:59:31] You would give them confidence and faith that with you, the impossible becomes very possible.
[00:59:39] Even where a marriage may be failing, where a child may be wayward, God, you'll give them the strength and the ability you'll give them the help that they need God there may be some in this room today
[00:59:52] who like the Israelites have strayed they have done evil in your sight they have been sinful and God they have suffered oppression because of that and so I pray God that you would as they seek
[01:00:08] forgiveness forgive them God help them to turn to you God give them the power to repent of their sins to turn away from it to follow you and fully.
[01:00:22] And God, for those in this room who today are watching today who for the very first time recognize I'm a sinner in need of a Savior.
[01:00:30] I need Jesus.
[01:00:32] I know what He did on Calvary's cross.
[01:00:34] I know He shed His blood there to pay my sin's penalty of death.
[01:00:39] I know it separates me from You.
[01:00:41] And I want to be right with You, God.
[01:00:43] So I pray in this moment that You will save me.
[01:00:47] I give my life to Jesus.
[01:00:49] I surrender fully to Him I ask for His leadership I don't know all that means but I know You'll teach me I want to make disciples I want to be an influencer for Christ's sake
[01:01:01] so use me God do in me what I could never do alone I pray it in Jesus holy and precious name Amen

[01:01:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[01:01:10] our hope

[01:06:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:06:29] is what we want is what we need most you know you believe today

[01:06:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:06:34] that God is at work in you.
[01:06:37] That God and that with His help you can do great things for Jesus Christ.

[01:06:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:06:47] Amen?
[01:06:47] So let's be used by Him.
[01:06:50] You know, speaking of doing great things for Christ's sake, we have a mission team that's getting ready to team.
[01:06:55] So we'll be leaving next Saturday

[01:06:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:06:57] really early in the morning.
[01:07:00] I think we have to leave.
[01:07:04] So it's an early flight down there.

[01:07:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:07:06] It's an early flight there with about 200 kids.
[01:07:09] We'll be working with our partners, and I look forward to seeing them and being able to spend it.
[01:07:14] It's kind of cool in the afternoon.
[01:07:15] So lots of good work going on.
[01:07:17] We'll be leading some worship in two churches for them.
[01:07:20] And I'll just read their names here to make sure I get everybody, and they'll just wave at you.
[01:07:24] First of all, on this trip, we have Patty Benfield.
[01:07:27] We have Nicole Flynn, Crystal Franklin, and John Franklin, Jordan Franklin, and Ryland Franklin.
[01:07:37] Noah Jenkins is already in the DR.
[01:07:40] He's already started working.

[01:07:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:07:42] Denise Chaney is going.
[01:07:44] Grace Chaney.
[01:07:48] My wife, Lori Settle.
[01:07:51] And then Katie Waters and Matt Waters.

[01:07:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:07:54] So we've got a great team that the Lord has put together.

[01:07:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:07:57] Yeah, give them a hand.
[01:07:59] I just encourage you to be in prayer for these folks as they make their way down there, that the Lord would use us to do great things.
[01:08:11] Thank you each for your faithfulness in answering the call.

[01:08:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:08:18] Guys, I just want to pray for them and pray for you as we make our way today.
[01:08:23] Let's pray.
[01:08:25] Our Father, we love you.

[01:08:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:08:28] So grateful again to have the opportunity to be able to worship you, to be able to lift you up, God.
[01:08:37] You deserve all the praise.
[01:08:39] For God, we want to do it for Christ's sake.
[01:08:45] We want you to use us.
[01:08:46] We want you to make us into the fully devoted follower that you are.

[01:08:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[01:08:50] keep them safe

[01:08:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:08:51] God give them give them word