Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt dives into the incredible story of Gideon and his 300 men, who defied the odds and defeated a massive army using nothing but trumpets, clay jars, and torches. Learn how Gideon’s faith and creativity led to an impossible victory, and discover how his story can inspire you to face your own battles, no matter how overwhelming they seem. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, addiction, or any other challenge, Gideon’s example shows that you already have what you need to overcome—with faith, resourcefulness, and the right community by your side.
Notes 📓✏️:
YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER IN CHRIST!
GOD IS WITH YOU!
Judges 7:15-23 (NIV): “ When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
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. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled…as far as the border…
Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.”
Sometimes God will give you specific directions, other times he allows us to do our creative best to accomplish the task at hand.
Connected and Common.
Joshua 6:20 (NIV): “When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.”
Did God help you before? Then He will do it again!
Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV): “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
When we face the enemy, we tend to fixate on what we DON’T have rather than what we do.
“I have WHAT I need.”
“If I had ______ then everything would be ok.”
2 Peter 1:3 (AMP): “For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness…”
Judges 7:17,18 (ESV): “And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do.” When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
Don’t battle alone!
Your spiritual potential will be limited if you try to go it alone.
Judges 7:23 (NIV): “Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.”
Fear is contagious, but so is courage.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- How have you experienced the power of prayer in your life?
- How can we actively seek our people within our community who needs support and encouragement
- Share a time when God has provided wisdom and guidance in your difficult circumstances.
- How can we better remember the times that God has helped us in the past