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The Lord chose Gideon

May 9, 2010

Judges 6 1 And the children of Israel did evil in the did evil in the sight of the Lordsight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven yearsseven years.

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Their evil alwaysalways goes back to their initial disobedience:

Joshua 17 13 However, when the Israelites grew grew strongerstronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completelydid not drive them out completely.

They thought they were strong enoughstrong enough to handle it themselves.

They ignored God's CommandGod's Command.

Whatever our situationsituation, it's a result of choiceschoices,

Usually made over a longlong period of time.

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If our situation is blessedblessed, it is because God blesses humilityhumility and obedienceobedience,

And we have humbled ourselveshumbled ourselves to obey.

If our situation is cursed, it is because God chastiseschastises the proud and rebellious,

And we have stiffenedstiffened our necks and, in our pridepride, have gone our own wayour own way.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strongholds.

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3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the East, even they came up against them; 4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

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5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

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The Israelites are hidinghiding in caves and dens,

And strongholds in the mountains,

AfraidAfraid to live in their towns and villages.

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God has removed His ProtectionHis Protection from His people.

Sin Is To Blame Written by J. H. Vernon

1. See yonder man in the prison he dwells,Sin is to blame, sin is to blame,List to the story he plaintively tells,Sin is to blame for all.

2. Many dear children are crying for bread,Sin is to blame, sin is to blame, Father's a drunkard and mother is dead,Sin is to blame for all.

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3. Heartbroken mothers all sad and alone,Sin is to blame, sin is to blame,Helpless and needy, no place to call home,Sin is to blame for all.

4. Thousands refuse to accept His free grace,Sin is to blame, sin is to blame,All who reject Him have chosen their place, Sin is to blame for all.

Chorus: Sin is to blame for all sorrow, Sin is to blame, sin is to blame, Have you no hopes for tomorrow?Sin is to blame for it all.

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6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel and the children of Israel cried unto the Lordcried unto the Lord.

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2 Chronicles 7 14 If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humblehumble themselves, and praypray, and seekseek My Face, and turnturn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

We must acknowledgeacknowledge our sin as sinas sin, and admit that we needneed God's forgiveness.

We must askask His forgiveness, and turn from our sin.

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Matthew 18 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little childrenbecome as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, 8 That the Lord sent a prophetprophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

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They cried out for helphelp; God sent a prophetprophet.

A prophet always calls peoplecalls people to repentance.

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye but ye have not obeyed My Voicehave not obeyed My Voice.

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That's why true prophets are

never popular.

True prophets tell the wholewhole Truth.

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This prophet told the Israelitestold the Israelites:

God has loved youGod has loved you as His children.

He has blessed youblessed you many times in many ways.

That's That's whywhy you are in you are in trouble.trouble.

The Israelites must have listenedlistened to the prophet of God, because He then called a delivererdeliverer.

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11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son GideonGideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

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Gideon doesn't have much wheatmuch wheat, and he is working hardworking hard to thresh it without being caught.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

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God calls those things that are not as though they were.

Romans 4:17

Gideon was hidinghiding from the enemy, afraidafraid of discovery.

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He was not by natureby nature a man of great physical courage,

Nor a man of great faith.

God calls the leastleast of us to do great things.

He makesmakes us able.

Whatever we lack, He suppliesHe supplies.