Gideon - Intro

Tonight was the first night of the Gideon Bible study lead by Mrs. Anela Culpepper.  It is going to be an AWESOME study!!  If you are local, it is not too late join us (Monday's, 6:30-8:30 @ the home of Anela and Bart Culpepper)...tonight was just the introduction.  That being said...it was an AMAZING introduction...

 

I am going to try to summarize my notes from each evening for my records, but maybe anyone reading our little blog will enjoy them, too!  Note, these are my notes, not the info from the workbook although, there is overlap.  They may not make sense on their own...

 

Gideon, a study of how  God used Gideon's weaknesses to show His strength.  The opening scriptures presented were:

Romans 7:18

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is resent in me, but the doing of the good is not.

 

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

 

James 4:6

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

We are not perfect.  We should confess and forsake our transgressions as God favors the humble and gives them grace.  We cannot let our imperfections, whatever they are or think they are, stall us.  This study is our "divine green light" that is our opportunity to move forward.

When studying a passage or person in the Bible, it is important to understand the context in which the verses were written...understand what God is trying to show through the "bigger" picture.  With Gideon, the account begins in Judges chapter 6 with a nation of people who have chosen rebellion, to do evil.  At the end of Judges everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes...sound familiar?  A lot like our society today.  The Judges in the Bible were not judges as in the modern definition.  Judges were individuals, who through God's amazing grace were raised up and empowered to unite the people of God to stand victoriously.  In unity, the body of Christ, the Church, can stand against the enemy of God.  The people in Gideon's day were not unified.  An important note is that they were living in the promised land...one (1) generation removed from Moses (wilderness...a journey that unified).  In the promised land, they became divided, a fractured and oppressed people who could not even live in their own homes.  Judges 2:7-8,10 describes a generation that did not know the Lord or the works of His hands.  In one generation, the "bless-or" was forgotten by those living in the blessing.  Perhaps they were a generation that was not taught...or filled with young people who did not want to listen.  Joshua (23-24) challenged God's people to cling to the Lord, the laws, the Word and to be firm...to not forget who your God is..."as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  Yet, in one generation, there was severe breakdown.  A lesson from history in how we need to be strategic and intentional in teaching our children to love the Lord, to know his Word and live for Him.  We need to be deliberate in cementing theology in our children.  We need to teach our children to be humble; showing them humility through our own actions.  We need to teach them who GOD is.

 

Deuteronomy 6:5-9

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

 

Titus 2



 

At any point in time you are the older and the younger.  Invest in others.  Allow others to invest in you.  Pray for a willing spirit and opportunities.  Be willing to listen and learn from others.  Be humble.  Be willing to teach and mindful of the example you are setting.  Put your children in a position to hear God's word, to see God's Word.  Speak God's word to them.  Post God's Word in your home, in their rooms, in their lunchboxes!  Get the seed planted.  Even when you don't think they are hearing God's word, seeds are being planted.  Make sure they know God and pray that they have a passion for God.

 

 

Know

Read the Word

 

Passion

Personally see the works of His hands

 

 

Allow yourself to be put in situations where God can move; where you can see His hand, His works.  Pray for revival beginning with YOU.  Pray for situations that ignite you and opportunities to inspire and ignite others.  Encourage others.  I couldn't help but think of the song Starts With Me:

 

What can I do to leave a legacy?
How can I speak with authority
When I can’t see You, I can’t see You
How can I know the dreams You have for me?
How do I believe beyond what I have seen?
When I can’t hear You, I can’t feel You now
No, no, no

You’re my revival song, You start where I belong
On my knees, on my knees
When I am weak You're strong, You meet me here
When I’m on my knees, on my knees
Oh, it starts with me

Why do I try to work outside of You?
Knocking down doors I shouldn't be going through
But I’m so tired, I’m so tired
You take my burdens off of my shoulders
You break the lies that hold me back
I’m not sure enough

You’re my revival song, You start where I belong
On my knees, on my knees
When I am weak You're strong, You meet me here
When I’m on my knees, on my knees
Yeah, it starts with me

I really wanna change the world
I really wanna sing Your song
But I know revival’s got to start with me
I really wanna change the world
I really wanna sing Your song
But I know revival’s got to start with me

You’re my revival song, You start where I belong
On my knees, on my knees
When I am weak You're strong, You meet me here
When I’m on my knees, on my knees

You’re my revival song, You start where I belong
On my knees, on my knees
When I am weak You're strong, You meet me here
When I’m on my knees, on my knees
It starts with me