Jesus calls us to have a faith that is not passive or hidden, but one that spreads and overtakes the environment we are sent into, much like the mustard seed that grows into an invasive plant. This kind of faith is meant to impact our communities, workplaces, and families, pushing back darkness and bringing the light of Christ wherever we go. Instead of shrinking back or staying on the outskirts, we are invited to let our faith be bold, active, and transformative, trusting that God can use even the smallest seed of faith to bring about great change. [01:40]
Matthew 17:20 (ESV)
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Reflection: Where is one place in your daily life—work, home, or community—where you have been passive about your faith? What is one bold step you can take today to let your faith “invade” that space?
God delights in using those whom the world overlooks, discredits, or deems unqualified. Like Ehud, who was left-handed and considered unsuitable for leadership, God often chooses people with perceived weaknesses or past failures to accomplish His purposes. The Bible is full of stories of broken people—Noah, Moses, David, Paul—whom God used powerfully despite their flaws. Your past, your struggles, or what others say about you do not disqualify you from being used by God; in fact, He often uses the very things that seem to discredit you as the means of deliverance for you and others. [14:29]
Judges 3:12-30 (ESV)
And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. But then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes. And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them. When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor. Ehud escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have felt disqualified or broken? How might God want to use that very area for His glory and the good of others?
When facing adversity, it is not your own strength or cleverness that brings victory, but the authority of God’s Word spoken into your situation. Like Ehud, who declared, “I have a message from God for you,” we are called to confront our challenges not with our own words, but with the truth and promises of Scripture. The enemy and the obstacles in your life cannot stand against the Word of God. When you feel overwhelmed, immerse yourself in the Bible, declare its promises, and watch as God’s Word establishes victory in your life. [20:38]
Job 22:28 (ESV)
You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.
Reflection: What is one specific situation you are facing right now that needs God’s intervention? Find a promise from Scripture and speak it over that situation today.
The battles you fight and the victories you win in faith are not just for your own relief, but for the freedom and blessing of those who come after you. Ehud’s deliverance brought peace to Israel for eighty years—long after he was gone. God wants to use your obedience and faith to set up a legacy of blessing, freedom, and spiritual breakthrough for your family, your church, and even people you may never meet. Your willingness to trust God and step out in faith can change the trajectory for generations. [26:32]
Psalm 78:6-7 (ESV)
That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
Reflection: Who is one person in the next generation—your child, a young person at church, or someone you mentor—who could be impacted by your faith today? What is one way you can intentionally invest in their spiritual journey this week?
God calls you to a faith that refuses to give up, even when you feel outclassed, outgunned, or outnumbered. Like John Paul Jones and like Ehud, you are invited to stand firm, knowing who you are and whose you are, and to declare, “I have not yet begun to fight.” The very things that seem to discredit you are often the things God will use to bring victory. Don’t let labels, past failures, or the opinions of others keep you from stepping into your calling—God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness. [32:57]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection: What is one label or limitation you have allowed to hold you back? How can you take a step of faith today that declares, “I refuse to be refused,” trusting God to use you in spite of your weakness?
Faith is not meant to be passive or hidden; it is meant to be invasive, like the mustard seed Jesus described in Matthew 17. Just as the mustard seed overtakes its environment, our faith should spread and influence every area we enter—our homes, workplaces, and communities. The story of Ehud in Judges 3 is a powerful example of how God uses those whom the world deems unqualified or discredited. Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin, was overlooked and likely considered unfit for military service. Yet, God chose him to deliver Israel from oppression, showing that God delights in using what others see as weakness or disqualification.
Many of us filter our sense of calling and purpose through the lens of our past failures, shortcomings, or the opinions of others. We may feel too broken, too flawed, or too ordinary to be used by God. But the Bible is full of people with messy stories—Noah, Moses, David, Paul—whom God used mightily. Our brokenness does not disqualify us; in fact, it often becomes the very thing God uses to bring deliverance, not just to us, but to those around us.
Ehud’s story also teaches the importance of separating from voices that discredit or discourage us. Sometimes, God allows certain people to walk out of our lives so we can lean more fully into His purpose. When Ehud distanced himself from those who doubted him, he was able to act boldly and fulfill God’s calling.
Another key lesson is the authority that comes from standing on God’s word. Ehud did not confront his enemy with his own strength or cleverness, but with a message from God. Our adversaries—whether circumstances, doubts, or spiritual opposition—cannot stand against the authority of God’s word. When we speak and act in alignment with what God has spoken, we operate in a power that is not our own.
Finally, the victory God brings through us is never just for ourselves. Ehud’s deliverance brought peace to Israel for eighty years, impacting generations to come. Our willingness to step out in faith, despite our perceived disqualifications, can open the door for freedom and blessing for those who follow after us. God is looking for people who will say, “I have not yet begun to fight,” refusing to be defined by their limitations, but instead trusting that God will use even their weaknesses for His glory.
Judges 3:12–30 (ESV) — - Matthew 17:14–20 (ESV)
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Sep 22, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?
Add this chatbot onto your site with the embed code below
<iframe frameborder="0" src="https://pastors.ai/sermonWidget/sermon/faith-that-transforms-embracing-weakness-for-victory" width="100%" height="100%" style="height:100vh;"></iframe>Copy