‘You Mighty Man of Valour’

1 February 2009

1. Introduction:

· Judges 6:11-13  -  “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour”.

· God sees our potential – you are not a failure or a mistake.

· God sees us not from where we were, where we are, but where we could be.

· God sees us through the destiny He planned for us: Mighty Man of Valour.

· He calls you just like He sees you, stand up and be who He calls you to be.

2. The Background:

· Old Testament – people fought natural battles against natural enemies with angelic help.

· New Testament – spiritual battles – not against people, but wicked spirits – Ephesians 6:12

· Our battle is for the souls of men, freedom, promises of God, salvation.

· Midian = 4080 = strife, quarrel, contention.

                = to contend for superiority, contend for dominion over.

· Midianites were slave traders – Genesis 37:28 – sold Joseph to Egypt.

· Midianites were idolaters full of sexual immorality – Numbers 25:6-15

· Numbers 25:15 = Cozbi = to be deceptive, to lie – sexual sin is deceptive.

                              = Hur = the place the serpent dwells.

· Midian = spirit of pride – Proverbs 28:25  - proud heart stirs up strife.

· Pride = brings people into bondage, sexual sin, idolatry.

· Note the consequence:

1) People hid in caves – v2                - loss of esteem, insecure, fearful, control

2) Enemy encamp against – v4         - oppression, depression, passivity

3) Greatly impoverished – v6             - made weak, afflicted, no strength to stand up

(2 Princes of Midianites:  Oreb = 6180 = raven;  Zeeb = 2061 = wolf)

· God is raising Mighty men of Valour for such a time as this!

3. Four Keys to Change:

a) Develop Intimacy with the Holy Spirit:

· Judges 6:12,16  - “ The Lord is with you”, “Surely I will be with you”.

· The presence of God sets us apart and makes us different.

· We need t honor and value the Holy Spirit and treasure His presence.

· John 14:16-17  -  “He dwells with you and shall be in you”.

· You are not alone – the Spirit of God dwells within you, the same Spirit that dwelled in Jesus.

· To be effective and have impact you need the power of the Holy Spirit.

· He reveals Jesus; He brings truth to us; He empowers us

b) Embrace Your Identity in Christ:

· Judges 6:12  -  “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour”.

· Who are you? You are who God says you are.

· What voice are you agreeing with? The voice of your past? Your failures? Your background? Injustice?

· 2 Corinthians 5:17  -  “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creator”.

You are a Christian – a mighty man of valour destined for the works of God.

· Mighty man = 1368 = powerful warrior, champion of God, one who is bold.

· Valour = 2428 = strength, ability.

· Why call Gideon this? He was hiding? He was afraid?

God sees our destiny – what he designed us to be – Mighty Men.

God has made us for dominion.

c) Stop Limiting God – Change your thinking:

· Judges 6:15  -  “I am the least”.

· Excuses: Stop belittling yourself, change and expand your thinking.

      1) Manasseh – ½ tribe       2)  Clan = weakest     3) Age = youngest in family

· Proverbs 27:6  -  “As a man thinks in his heart so is he’.

· Ephesians 3:20 -  God is able to do more than ask or think.

· Moses tried to limit God – Exodus 3:10-11

Woman with the jar of oil limit self – 2 Kings 4:2

· Make yourself available to God, e.g. Boy: only a few fishes but here they are.

· 2 Kings – start to dream of what you could be.

d) Embrace Your Assignment:

· Judges 6:14  -   ‘Go! … have I not sent you?”

· Sent = 7971 = to send someone as a messenger to a place.

· Sent = Apostello = to commission someone for a military purpose.

· You are sent by God into the community as an ambassador.

· You must discover and embrace your assignment to find fulfillment.

· Matthew 28:18-20  -  Go – Make disciples – I am with you.

· Present yourself to the Lord – make yourself available = Mission from God.

· Arise in Prayer – strong fervent prayer.

· Declare your dominion – over ruling spirits.

· Prophecy into the situation.

· Look for another to stand in agreement – ‘2 or more’.

· Reach out with expectation for a response.

· Persevere – this is a conflict.

Arise in prayer – whatever you do and where you are is your responsibility to have dominion and clean the devils out!