“Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” – 2 Chronicles 1:10 The fourth and final theme portrayed in Samson’s life is leadership. The last line of the Samson story in Judges 16:31 says, “He had … Read more
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” … Read more
“That night the LORD said to him [Gideon], ‘Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of the stronghold here, with … Read more
“So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the … Read more
“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy … Read more
When non-Christians share their life story, it is a biography. When Christians share their life story, it is supposed to be a testimony. The difference between a biography and a testimony is who the hero of the story is. In a biography, there is a tendency to downplay or even dismiss the faults, flaws, and … Read more
Life often reminds me of the first time I remember flying a kite as a kid. My entire focus was on getting the kite in the air. I kept running back and forth, as fast as I could, dragging the kite behind me, hoping it would eventually take off and soar. I don’t know how … Read more
The appearance of Gideon, the man of God, as bread in the dream also points to the future coming of Jesus Christ, the Greater Gideon. Like Gideon, Jesus is called the “bread of life,” is born in Bethlehem (which means “house of bread”), multiplied the bread of a boy to feed a crowd, and taught … Read more
Syncretism is what happens when you worship both God and other gods, obeying some of what God says and some of what Satan says. Jesus will not allow any syncretism in Gideon’s life and does not allow any syncretism in our life. Gideon’s father was a pagan worshiping the demon god Baal and demon goddess … Read more
Judges 5:1 – Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day… Judges 5 is clearly a Holy Spirit-inspired worship song that Deborah and Barak lead the leaders and people to sing in thanks to the Lord for His forgiveness of their sin and deliverance from their enemies. “Then sang Deborah and … Read more
Acts 5:29 – But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men…” Deborah stepped up to lead in one of the darkest hours in the Old Testament. A Bible dictionary says, “Deborah judged Israel after Shamgar. When Deborah was raised as a judge, Israel had been oppressed by King Jabin of … Read more
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. One of the most helpful things a parent can do in raising a child is help them to discover the will of God for themselves. Scripture, listening prayer, seeking wise counsel, … Read more