From Doubt to Faith: Embracing God's Guidance

Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to seek God's wisdom and guidance, especially for those who feel overwhelmed and uncertain. We prayed for families, asking God to bring peace and healing into their lives. We acknowledged that it is God's love, not luck, that has carried us through difficult times. We celebrated the power of prayer and the comfort it brings, knowing that God listens and responds.

We then turned to the story of Gideon from the Book of Judges, focusing on his journey from doubt to faith. Gideon, like many of us, was hesitant and unsure about God's calling. He sought multiple signs from God to confirm his mission to save Israel. Despite his doubts, God remained patient and provided the signs Gideon requested. This story reminds us that God understands our hesitations and meets us where we are, guiding us towards His purpose.

We reflected on the importance of faith, even when we cannot see the outcome. Gideon's story teaches us that faith is not about having all the answers but trusting in God's promises. We are called to be witnesses of God's work in our lives, living in a way that glorifies Him. Just as Gideon moved from doubt to action, we too are encouraged to step out in faith, trusting that God will lead us to victory.

We concluded by celebrating the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died for our sins. This act of love and redemption calls us to live with unwavering faith, knowing that God has already paid the price for our salvation. As we partake in communion, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and commit to living lives that reflect His love and grace.

### Key Takeaways

1. God's Love Over Luck: It is not luck but God's love that has carried us through difficult times. His love lifts us, guides us, and brings us peace in the midst of chaos. We are reminded to lean on His love and trust in His wisdom. [01:01]

2. The Power of Prayer: Prayer is a powerful tool that brings comfort and change. When we pray, we invite God into our situations, and He responds with peace and healing. Knowing that others are praying for us can make a significant difference in our lives. [03:05]

3. Faith Amidst Doubt: Gideon's story teaches us that it is okay to have doubts. God understands our hesitations and meets us where we are. Faith is not about having all the answers but trusting in God's promises and stepping out in obedience. [25:18]

4. God's Patience and Guidance: God is patient with us, even when we are hesitant and unsure. He provides the signs and guidance we need to move forward. Just as He guided Gideon, He will guide us through our uncertainties and lead us to victory. [33:20]

5. The Ultimate Sacrifice: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, paid the ultimate price for our sins. His sacrifice calls us to live with unwavering faith and gratitude. As we remember His sacrifice through communion, we commit to living lives that reflect His love and grace. [36:54]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - Prayer for Families and Peace
[03:05] - The Power of Prayer
[04:19] - Opening Hymn
[08:15] - The Name of Jesus
[09:38] - Reflection on Jesus' Name
[10:39] - Proclaiming Jesus' Power
[12:16] - Welcome Guests
[17:45] - Scripture Reading: Gideon’s Story
[19:43] - Recap of Previous Sermons
[21:38] - Our Responsibility as Witnesses
[23:01] - Gideon's Assignment
[24:15] - Gideon's Doubts and Demands
[25:18] - Faith Amidst Doubt
[26:09] - Walking by Faith
[27:43] - Gideon's Reluctance
[28:21] - Gideon's Demands
[29:50] - Negotiating with God
[30:49] - Proving God
[32:16] - God's Direction
[33:20] - Moving from Neutral to Action
[34:14] - Gideon's Army
[35:01] - God's Victory
[36:07] - The Lamb of God
[36:54] - Jesus' Sacrifice
[37:43] - Living by Faith
[39:02] - Trusting God's Guidance
[40:35] - Closing Prayer
[41:14] - Invitation to Salvation
[42:20] - Confession and Belief
[43:51] - Preparing for Communion
[45:10] - Weekly Prayers and Blessings
[46:55] - Communion
[47:34] - Remembering Jesus' Sacrifice
[50:08] - Communion Hymn
[52:46] - Being a Servant
[53:16] - Announcements
[54:20] - Tithes and Offerings
[55:16] - Closing Hymn
[56:40] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Judges 6:36-40 (NIV)
> Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

#### Observation Questions
1. What specific signs did Gideon ask from God to confirm his mission? (Judges 6:36-40)
2. How did God respond to Gideon’s requests for signs? (Judges 6:38, 40)
3. According to the sermon, what was the significance of Gideon’s doubts and demands? [24:15]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of faith in Gideon’s story? [25:18]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Gideon needed multiple signs from God to confirm his mission? What does this reveal about his faith? [24:15]
2. How does Gideon’s story illustrate God’s patience and understanding of human doubt? [33:20]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith is about trusting in God’s promises rather than having all the answers? [25:18]
4. How does the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ relate to the concept of unwavering faith as discussed in the sermon? [36:54]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed and uncertain. How did you seek God’s wisdom and guidance during that period? [01:01]
2. How can you incorporate the power of prayer into your daily life to invite God’s peace and healing into your situations? [03:05]
3. Gideon’s story shows that it’s okay to have doubts. How can you embrace your doubts and still step out in faith, trusting in God’s promises? [25:18]
4. Think of a situation where you felt hesitant or unsure about God’s calling. How did you seek confirmation, and what was the outcome? [24:15]
5. How can you live in a way that glorifies God and serves as a witness to His work in your life, similar to how Gideon was called to lead Israel? [21:38]
6. Reflect on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How does this act of love and redemption inspire you to live with unwavering faith and gratitude? [36:54]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel “stuck in neutral.” What steps can you take to move from doubt to action, trusting that God will guide you to victory? [33:20]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Love Over Luck
Description: It is not luck but God's love that has carried us through difficult times. His love lifts us, guides us, and brings us peace in the midst of chaos. We are reminded to lean on His love and trust in His wisdom. In moments of uncertainty and hardship, it is easy to attribute our survival to chance or luck. However, the truth is that it is God's unwavering love that sustains us. His love is a constant source of strength and comfort, providing us with the peace we need to navigate life's challenges. By recognizing and relying on God's love, we can find solace and direction even in the most tumultuous times. [01:01]

1 John 4:16 (ESV): "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

Reflection: Think of a recent difficult situation you faced. How did you see God's love guiding you through it? How can you lean more on His love in future challenges?

Day 2: The Power of Prayer
Description: Prayer is a powerful tool that brings comfort and change. When we pray, we invite God into our situations, and He responds with peace and healing. Knowing that others are praying for us can make a significant difference in our lives. Prayer is not just a ritual; it is a profound way to connect with God and invite His presence into our lives. Through prayer, we can experience God's peace and healing, even in the midst of turmoil. Additionally, the knowledge that others are praying for us can provide immense comfort and encouragement, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. [03:05]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Think of someone who is going through a tough time. How can you commit to praying for them daily this week? How might you let them know you are praying for them?

Day 3: Faith Amidst Doubt
Description: Gideon's story teaches us that it is okay to have doubts. God understands our hesitations and meets us where we are. Faith is not about having all the answers but trusting in God's promises and stepping out in obedience. Gideon, like many of us, experienced doubt and uncertainty about God's calling. He sought multiple signs from God to confirm his mission. Despite his doubts, God remained patient and provided the signs Gideon requested. This story reminds us that God understands our hesitations and is willing to meet us where we are, guiding us towards His purpose. Faith is about trusting in God's promises, even when we cannot see the outcome. [25:18]

Judges 6:36-40 (ESV): "Then Gideon said to God, 'If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.' And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, 'Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.' And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew."

Reflection: What doubts are you currently facing in your faith journey? How can you bring these doubts to God and seek His guidance and reassurance?

Day 4: God's Patience and Guidance
Description: God is patient with us, even when we are hesitant and unsure. He provides the signs and guidance we need to move forward. Just as He guided Gideon, He will guide us through our uncertainties and lead us to victory. God's patience is evident in His interactions with Gideon. Despite Gideon's repeated requests for signs, God did not grow impatient or frustrated. Instead, He provided the guidance and reassurance Gideon needed to fulfill his mission. This same patience and guidance are available to us today. God understands our uncertainties and is willing to lead us through them, providing the direction we need to achieve His purposes. [33:20]

Psalm 32:8 (ESV): "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel hesitant or unsure? How can you seek God's guidance and trust in His patience to lead you forward?

Day 5: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Description: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, paid the ultimate price for our sins. His sacrifice calls us to live with unwavering faith and gratitude. As we remember His sacrifice through communion, we commit to living lives that reflect His love and grace. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith. His willingness to die for our sins demonstrates the depth of God's love for us. This act of redemption calls us to live lives of unwavering faith and gratitude, continually reflecting on His love and grace. As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the immense sacrifice made on our behalf and are encouraged to live in a way that honors that sacrifice. [36:54]

1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Reflection: How does the sacrifice of Jesus Christ impact your daily life? What specific actions can you take to live in a way that reflects His love and grace?

Quotes

1. "God always put someone in place to try to lead and to guide and to be an example of what holy living ought to be like. Granted none of us are perfect but God calls us to walk in a way and to live in a way that others might see our walk and glorify our Father in heaven. Can I go off script today that really is our responsibility is to be a witness. I'm talking 24 7. You're a witness at the ball game. You're a witness in the cafeteria. You're a witness in your quiet hour. We are called to be a witness." [21:38] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Isn't it amazing how God will give you victory when you are able to move from where you are to where he wants to take you? Amen? Lest I hold you too long in this rainy Sunday morning, I began talking about the fleece. Gideon's fleece and the role it played and how it moved him from neutral. And I want you to go home saying the pastor preached about the fleece. That was a word. fleece. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I want you to know that a fleece comes from when there's a sheep or a lamb. And that's what comes off of them. And we know that lambs were sacrificed. Amen?" [35:01] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Aren't you glad that God is a God that when you don't know what to say he will speak for you and speak through you? Well that's good news today and so we pull back the curtains one final time and we meet Gideon. His story is told in the book of Judges which covers about 300 years of Israel's history. The people didn't want kings they wanted judges. Judges like Deborah, Barak, and Samson were those persons including Gideon who were there to try and lead the people." [19:43] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God is well prepared and able to keep his word. That Gideon makes demands, pulled in with the doubt, but he gets to a point that there's some direction. He says, okay, don't be angry. One more time. I'm going to try this time, make the ground wet and the fleece dry. Here we go. Yeah, you. You did it, didn't you? Okay, I'm good now. And getting to that point in our faith experience, to know that God will keep his word. Has he ever kept it with you?" [33:20] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You might be there today, hesitant about shifting from the neutral place in your life and embracing what God has for you. Well, Gideon had already called the armies. Let's go. And he says, listen, I got 32,000, we're going to get them. And God says, you got too many. What do you mean? Yeah, yeah. You still trying to figure me out. I'm going to cut off 10 right there. Y'all go home. You're down to 22,000. Still too much. I need you to cut it down and get those who will lap like a dog." [34:14] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Isn't it amazing today that we make a deal with God who's almighty? God who is heaven and earth. God who made us. And we are asking him to prove himself. Oh, you got the right one. Maybe for you and I, it's not a fleece. But it's something that we have turned to. A person, a place, or a thing to use as a negotiating tool. You don't have to say it, but you said, now God, if you make this happen by the first, then I know it's you." [29:50] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "I mean, faith. You know, I can't see it, but I'm trusting God for it. My wife looked at it. You hit a wrong step, brother, to where you're going. But have you ever been there before? That it seemed right, everything lined up, but there was still some doubt in your heart. Hebrews 11 and 1. Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, and there again, the evidence of things not seen. Gideon couldn't see the victory, even though God had promised it." [26:09] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Where have you set your faith today. On 65. Or if you just say God. However you want to take me. And how high you want to take me. Amen. Lord we thank you. Come on stand today. Father we. We bless your name. You've given us so many. Examples. Of the prophets. Who knows. In glory we may. Bump into Jeremiah. Man I heard about your story. You somebody wasn't you. You may run into queen. Esther. Boy you had courage. You may see Jonah. Say. Man your story is still being told. Years later." [40:35] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "But the fact of the matter is. You have your own story. And your own testimony. About what God can do. Father we come. In the name of Jesus. And while we thank you. For the example. Of the biblical characters. We thank you for Jesus Christ. Who stands with us. Each and every step of the way. Propelling us. To new heights. It does not yet appear. What we shall be. Today God. Maybe there's one. Stuck in a situation. Who wants to. Follow you. The invitation. Has been available more than 2000 years." [41:14] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Aren't you glad today that you serve. That kind of God. Who guides you all the way. I'm pressing on the upward way. New heights I'm gaining every day. Still praying as I'm onward bound. Lord plant my feet on higher ground. Thank you Lord. For what you're doing in my life. Thank you God. I don't need some sign from the world. Don't need a scratch off. Don't need something to say. Let me call Mother Rose. But I'm glad today that God will. He'll give you everything that you need. No need to play fleece games. When you've got the favor of God in your life." [39:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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