Men and Their Tests

Men and their Tests: Gideon 4

A test is to prepare you for what is next. Until you pass the test, you cannot move ahead 

#1. The Fear Test

Judges 6:15,17,22-23,27,37,39; 7:10-11 “my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house…show me a sign… “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.”… because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night… Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more…if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. Then he went down with Purah his servant…”

5 Marks of a fearful man 

1. He makes excuses
2. He retreats 
3. He surrenders
4. He avoids conflict 
5. He does not fear the Lord 

#2. The Bitterness Test

Judges 8:19-21 He [Gideon] said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.” So he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them!” But the young man did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a young man. Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna,

Bitterness  – unforgiveness, disappointment, woundedness, brokenness, holding a grudge, being offended, or just plain old hurt 

• Big deal vs big person 

10 Things Forgiveness is 

1. The opposite of vengeance (you pay vs I pay debt) = counterfeit to forgiveness
2. Shifting your focus from the one who hurt you, to the One who can heal you 
3. Both a one-time event, and an ongoing process (70×7) 
4. Passing the case to a Higher Court 
5. Taking the burden you cannot carry and handing it to Jesus to carry 
6. Giving up control of the situation & outcome 
7. Making but not keeping a record of wrongs 
8. Boxing it up & putting it out of sight 
9. Opening the door for their repentance and your reconciliation 
10. Choosing health for your body and soul 

8 Things Forgiveness is not

1. Minimizing or Globalizing (underreact vs overreact) 
2. Covering a crime (legal vs personal) 
3. Based upon their repentance or apology (nouthetic counseling) 
4. Completely forgetting (Jer. 31:34) “I will forgive…and their sin I will remember no more”
5. Trust – forgiveness is free in a moment, trust is earned over time 
6. Agreement
7. Public – often other person or anyone else has to know about 
8. God’s forgiveness 

#3. The Success Test  

Judge 8:21-27 he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold [possibly 40 pounds], besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

Success Brings 

1. More power 
2. More money
3. More fame 
4. More critics
5. More idolization 
6. More distortion (normal, big vs little problem) 
7. More exhaustion 

#4. The Sex Test 

Judges 8:30-31 Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.

1. Growing up, you had to work to see a naked woman or have sex
2. Today, you have to work hard not to see a naked woman or have sex 
3. The average man sees more naked women a week than a king did in a lifetime 

Gross – God – Gift (Real Romance) 

? Son asked me in my truck w/my sons 

Group Discussion Questions:

1. What in the talk did the Holy Spirit highlight for you?
2. Which of the 4 tests (Fear, Bitterness, Success Sex) did the Holy Spirit highlight for you? 
3. How can we pray for you?