Faith That Transforms: Embracing Weakness for Victory

Devotional

Day 1: Invasive Faith: Letting Your Faith Overtake the World Around You

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?

Day 2: God Uses the Disqualified and Broken

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?

Day 3: Stand on God’s Word with Authority

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.

Day 4: Your Victory Impacts Generations

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?

Day 5: Refuse to Be Refused—Active, Resilient Faith

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?

Sermon Summary

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.

Key Takeaways

1. God delights in using what the world disqualifies. Ehud’s left-handedness, seen as a flaw by his culture, became the very means by which God brought deliverance. Our perceived weaknesses or disqualifications are not obstacles to God; they are often the very things He uses to display His power and grace. When we surrender our brokenness to Him, He can turn it into a tool for victory. [10:37]
2. The voices we allow into our lives can either propel us toward our calling or hold us back. Ehud separated himself from those who doubted and discredited him, choosing instead to trust in God’s purpose. Sometimes, God allows relationships to end or people to walk away so that we can more fully embrace His calling without distraction or discouragement. Our identity must be rooted in what God says about us, not in the opinions of others. [14:29]
3. The authority to overcome adversity comes from God’s word, not our own strength. Ehud confronted King Eglon with a message from God, not with personal bravado. When we face challenges, it is not our cleverness or willpower that brings breakthrough, but the unshakable truth of God’s promises. Speaking and standing on God’s word releases divine authority into our situations. [20:38]
4. Our battles are not just about us; they are about the generations that follow. Ehud’s victory brought peace to Israel for eighty years, affecting people who had not yet even been born. The choices we make to trust God and step out in faith can set a legacy of freedom, blessing, and spiritual breakthrough for our families, communities, and those who come after us. [25:44]
5. Refusing to surrender in the face of overwhelming odds is an act of faith that inspires others. Like John Paul Jones, who declared, “I have not yet begun to fight,” we are called to persevere even when we feel outmatched or unqualified. God’s track record is perfect—He has never lost a battle. When we trust Him with our weaknesses, He turns them into the very things that defeat our enemies and bring Him glory. [28:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Faith Like a Mustard Seed: Invasive Faith
[03:31] - Introducing Ehud: The Unlikely Deliverer
[05:15] - The Assassination of King Eglon
[07:05] - Ehud’s Disqualification and God’s Choice
[10:37] - Filtering Calling Through Our Past
[13:09] - The Hidden Dagger: God’s Strategy in Weakness
[14:29] - Disconnection from Discrediting Voices
[15:58] - God Uses Broken People
[18:06] - God Glorifies Himself Through Our Stories
[19:21] - Authority Comes from God’s Word
[20:38] - Standing on the Word in Adversity
[23:41] - Jesus: The Dismissed Deliverer
[25:44] - Victory for Future Generations
[27:24] - John Paul Jones: Refusing to Surrender
[28:54] - Faith That Inspires Others
[32:57] - God Turns Discredit into Deliverance

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Judges 3:12–30 (ESV) — - Matthew 17:14–20 (ESV)

Observation Questions

In Judges 3:12–30, what details does the text give about Ehud’s background and why might these have made him seem unqualified to be a deliverer?
According to Matthew 17:14–20, how does Jesus describe the nature and effect of faith, using the mustard seed as an example?
In the sermon, what specific actions did Ehud take to separate himself from those who doubted or discredited him? [[14:29]]
What was the result of Ehud’s victory for the people of Israel, and how long did it last? [[25:44]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to use someone like Ehud, who was considered disqualified by his culture, to deliver Israel? What does this suggest about how God views our weaknesses? [[07:05]]
The sermon mentions that many people filter their sense of calling through their past failures or the opinions of others. Why is this a problem, and how does Ehud’s story challenge that mindset? [[10:37]]
What does it mean to “stand on God’s word” when facing adversity, and how did Ehud demonstrate this in his confrontation with King Eglon? [[20:38]]
The sermon draws a connection between Ehud’s deliverance and the impact on future generations. Why is it important to recognize that our faith and obedience can affect more than just ourselves? [[25:44]]

Application Questions

The sermon describes faith as “invasive,” like a mustard seed that overtakes its environment. In what area of your life do you feel your faith is passive or hidden, and what is one step you could take this week to let your faith “spread” more actively? [[01:10]]
Have you ever felt disqualified or overlooked because of your background, personality, or past mistakes? How might God want to use those very things for His purpose, as He did with Ehud? [[07:05]]
Are there voices in your life—friends, family, coworkers, or even your own inner critic—that discourage you or make you doubt your calling? What would it look like to “separate” from those voices and lean into what God says about you? [[14:29]]
The sermon says, “Our brokenness does not disqualify us; in fact, it often becomes the very thing God uses to bring deliverance.” Can you think of a time when your weakness or failure became a way God helped someone else? [[15:58]]
When you face a challenge, do you tend to rely on your own strength or on God’s word? What is one promise from Scripture you can speak over your current situation? [[20:38]]
Ehud’s victory brought peace for 80 years, impacting people who weren’t even born yet. How might your choices to trust God and step out in faith today affect your family, church, or community in the future? [[25:44]]
The sermon ends with the challenge to say, “I have not yet begun to fight,” refusing to be defined by limitations. What is one area where you need to persevere and trust God to use your weakness for His glory? [[28:54]]

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