Leading with Grace: Lessons from Gideon's Journey

Devotional

Day 1: The Challenge of Self-Leadership

Leading oneself is often the most challenging task. It requires deep introspection and the willingness to work through personal grief, hurts, and habits. To be the parent or leader God calls you to be, you must invest in self-improvement and spiritual growth. This doesn't happen overnight but requires consistent effort and reliance on God. Self-leadership is crucial because it sets the foundation for how you lead others. If you cannot lead yourself well, it will be difficult to lead others effectively.

Investing in self-improvement and spiritual growth means taking time to reflect on your actions, seeking God's guidance, and being willing to make necessary changes. It involves acknowledging your weaknesses and asking God for strength to overcome them. This process is ongoing and requires patience and perseverance. Remember, God is with you every step of the way, offering His grace and support. [00:37]

Proverbs 16:32 (ESV): "Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with self-leadership? How can you begin to address this area with God's help today?

Day 2: Responding to Criticism with Humility

Gideon’s initial response to the Ephraimites' criticism was marked by humility and wisdom. He de-escalated the situation by offering a gentle answer, which turned away wrath. This teaches us the importance of responding to criticism with grace and humility, rather than anger and defensiveness. When faced with criticism, it is easy to react defensively or with anger. However, responding with humility can diffuse tension and lead to a more positive outcome.

Humility involves recognizing that you are not perfect and being open to feedback. It means valuing others' perspectives and being willing to learn from them. By responding to criticism with humility, you demonstrate a Christ-like attitude and create an environment of respect and understanding. This approach not only benefits your relationships but also helps you grow as a person and a leader. [08:40]

James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you received criticism. How did you respond? How can you apply humility and grace in similar situations in the future?

Day 3: Worship in Exhaustion

Gideon failed the test of exhaustion by reacting poorly when denied bread. In moments of exhaustion, it's crucial to worship God before making significant decisions. Worship re-centers us and reminds us of God's sovereignty, helping us respond better in challenging times. When you are exhausted, it is easy to make hasty decisions or react negatively. However, taking time to worship God can provide the clarity and strength you need to handle the situation appropriately.

Worshiping God in moments of exhaustion involves acknowledging His presence and seeking His guidance. It means taking a step back from the immediate stress and focusing on God's greatness and faithfulness. This practice can help you regain perspective and approach challenges with a renewed sense of purpose and calm. [13:52]

Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV): "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: When you feel exhausted, what are some ways you can incorporate worship into your routine to help you regain strength and perspective?

Day 4: The Danger of Arrogance and Success

Gideon’s story warns us about the dangers of arrogance and overconfidence. Success can lead to mistreating others and forgetting to honor God. Previous victories do not guarantee future successes; we must continually rely on God and give Him the glory for our achievements. Arrogance can blind you to your weaknesses and lead to poor decisions. It can also damage your relationships and hinder your spiritual growth.

To avoid the pitfalls of arrogance, it is important to remain humble and recognize that all success comes from God. This means giving God the credit for your achievements and seeking His guidance in all areas of your life. By doing so, you can maintain a healthy perspective and continue to grow in your faith and leadership. [16:28]

Proverbs 16:18 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent success. How did you respond to it? Did you give God the glory? How can you ensure that you remain humble and reliant on God in future successes?

Day 5: God’s Grace in Our Failures

Despite Gideon’s numerous failures, God’s grace remained. This mirrors our own lives where we often fail but are continually offered grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus has passed every test on our behalf, offering us His perfect righteousness. Our task is to accept this grace and strive to honor God in all we do. God's grace is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by our failures but by His love and mercy.

Accepting God's grace means acknowledging your mistakes and seeking His forgiveness. It also involves extending grace to others and striving to live in a way that honors God. By doing so, you can experience the fullness of God's love and grow in your relationship with Him. [37:08]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (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."

Reflection: Think of a recent failure. How did you respond to it? How can you embrace God's grace and use this experience to grow in your faith and character?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Leading oneself is often the most challenging task. It requires deep introspection and the willingness to work through personal grief, hurts, and habits. To be the parent or leader God calls you to be, you must invest in self-improvement and spiritual growth. The world needs good leaders who lead with courage and point others to God. This is exemplified in the story of Gideon from Judges 8, where we see a man called by God to lead but who faces numerous tests and challenges.

Gideon's journey is a mix of triumphs and failures. Initially, he passes the test of dealing with criticism from the Ephraimites by responding with humility and wisdom. However, he fails subsequent tests, such as the test of exhaustion and the test of grief, leading to poor decisions and violent actions. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of arrogance, overconfidence, and failing to worship God in moments of success and exhaustion.

Despite his failures, Gideon's story is a testament to God's grace. Even when Gideon fails, God remains faithful. This mirrors our own lives, where we often fail but are continually offered grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the better Gideon, having passed every test and offering us His perfect righteousness. Our task is to lead ourselves well, worship God in all circumstances, and honor Him in our actions.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Leadership is Crucial**: Leading oneself is the hardest task. It requires working through personal grief, hurts, and habits. To be the leader or parent God calls you to be, you must invest in self-improvement and spiritual growth. This doesn't happen overnight but requires consistent effort and reliance on God. [00:37]
2. Responding to Criticism with Humility: Gideon’s initial response to the Ephraimites' criticism was marked by humility and wisdom. He de-escalated the situation by offering a gentle answer, which turned away wrath. This teaches us the importance of responding to criticism with grace and humility, rather than anger and defensiveness.

3. Worship in Exhaustion: Gideon failed the test of exhaustion by reacting poorly when denied bread. In moments of exhaustion, it's crucial to worship God before making significant decisions. Worship re-centers us and reminds us of God's sovereignty, helping us respond better in challenging times.

4. The Danger of Arrogance and Success: Gideon’s story warns us about the dangers of arrogance and overconfidence. Success can lead to mistreating others and forgetting to honor God. Previous victories do not guarantee future successes; we must continually rely on God and give Him the glory for our achievements.

5. God’s Grace in Our Failures: Despite Gideon’s numerous failures, God’s grace remained. This mirrors our own lives where we often fail but are continually offered grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus has passed every test on our behalf, offering us His perfect righteousness. Our task is to accept this grace and strive to honor God in all we do.

### [00:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:37] - The Challenge of Self-Leadership
[02:32] - Celebrating Commitment: Bob and Carol's 66 Years
[04:46] - Introduction to Judges Chapter 8
[05:20] - Living in the Days of Judges
[06:38] - Gideon's Pursuit of the Midianite Kings
[07:40] - The Criticism from Ephraim
[08:40] - Responding with Humility
[10:19] - The Test of Exhaustion
[13:52] - Worship in Exhaustion
[16:28] - The Danger of Arrogance and Success
[19:05] - The Grief Test
[22:32] - Leadership Lessons from a Football Team
[25:50] - The Purity Test
[29:03] - The Danger of Syncretism
[32:54] - Honoring God in All Circumstances
[37:08] - God’s Grace in Our Failures
[39:20] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

How did Gideon respond to the criticism from the Ephraimites in Judges 8:1-3? What was the outcome of his response? [08:40]
What was Gideon's reaction when the men of Succoth refused to give bread to his exhausted men in Judges 8:4-9? How did this differ from his earlier response to criticism? [13:19]
In Judges 8:22-27, what did Gideon request from the Israelites after refusing to be their king? What did he do with the gold he collected? [27:37]

Interpretation Questions

Why is self-leadership described as the hardest task in the sermon? How does this concept relate to Gideon's story? [00:37]
How does Gideon's failure to worship God in moments of exhaustion and success impact his leadership and decisions? [13:52]
What does Gideon's story teach us about the dangers of arrogance and overconfidence, especially after experiencing success? [16:28]
How does the sermon illustrate God's grace in the midst of Gideon's failures? What does this reveal about God's character? [37:08]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you faced criticism. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can Gideon's response to the Ephraimites guide you in future situations? [08:40]
When you are exhausted, how do you typically react to challenges or requests? What steps can you take to ensure you worship God and seek His guidance before making decisions in such moments? [13:52]
Have you ever experienced success that led to arrogance or overconfidence? How can you remain humble and give glory to God in your achievements? [16:28]
Think about a recent failure or mistake. How did you experience God's grace in that situation? How can you extend that same grace to others? [37:08]
Identify a personal habit or hurt that you need to work through to lead yourself better. What practical steps can you take this week to address it? [00:37]
How can you honor God in both your successes and failures? What specific actions can you take to ensure you are worshiping Him in all circumstances? [32:54]
Reflect on the concept of self-leadership. What areas of your life require more intentional self-leadership, and how can you improve in those areas? [39:20]

Sermon Clips

1. "Do you know who the most difficult person in the world for me to lead? It's me. The most difficult person in the world to lead is you, right? Work on yourself. Do the hard work of working through grief and hurts and habits and things that have happened in your past. You want to be the parent God has for you. That takes work. It doesn't happen overnight. If God calls you to be a leader, be a leader. Lead well. Lead with courage. Lead pointing people to God. Don't be afraid about your faith. Listen, our world needs good leaders." [00:37] (-2298 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "My friends, we are living today, 2024, in the day of Judges. Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes, but there is hope and there's good news for all of us today. There is a way for you to honor God with your life. Regardless of what's happening to you, happening around you, there is a way for you to honor God with your life." [05:20] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Some of us didn't start well, but by God's grace, we're finishing well. Some of us didn't start well, or we started well, and it's not going well right now. Where do you find yourself in that mix? We look at the life of Gideon and where he is. We end at chapter 7. The Midianites are on the run, and Gideon is pursuing them." [06:38] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "A great characteristic of a good leader is to be able to bring water to the conflict, not fuel. Carry water to the conflict. De-escalate people, de-escalate problems. Gideon got it right. This is the first test, the fear of man. We've all had that test. We want to please people. We're a people pleaser." [09:09] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "In moments of exhaustion, worship God. Worship God before you do anything else. You can worship God. You don't have to be in a building. You don't have to have a band. You don't have to have a tech board. You can worship God wherever you are at, in your car, in your classroom. Wherever you're at, you can choose to worship God." [14:20] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If God has given you success, remember who gave it to you. Previous victories does not guarantee future successes. Okay? If you've experienced success in your life, recognize where it came from. It is not an expectation of the future. If things are going really well in your life, careful, this too shall pass. If things are going really bad in your life, good news, this too shall pass." [16:28] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Despite society, despite culture, despite the nation that you're in, that is not an excuse. It's an excuse to not honor God. No matter where you find yourself, you can honor God. In any culture, in any society, in the midst of hundreds of thousands of enemies, you can worship and honor God. You can do that in the stillness of your heart. You can do that any time, in any place." [32:54] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The things that have happened to you is not an excuse to have improper responses to the people around you. It's never an excuse to treat people poorly. His bitterness and his anger spills over into his son. He brings his son up because it's more shameful to be killed by a woman. He brings his son up because it's more shameful to be killed by a woman or a child." [33:52] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Gideon's a saved man, but he's not a perfect man. He's got faults and failures like every one of us in this room. He failed most of the tests that God gave to him, just like you and I have failed most of the tests that God has given to us. There's a whole lot to unpack in this passage. We're one generation away. The church is one generation away from the end of the church, right?" [35:24] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Jesus is the best. There's a better Gideon. Jesus has passed every test that was ever placed in front of him. Jesus is perfect. Jesus has no failures. Jesus has no faults. So he takes our faults. He takes our failures. He takes our sin. He paid the price on the cross so that you and I might experience grace, grace for you. I don't know what your past looks like. I don't know how many times you got it wrong in the past. Today, there's hope for you." [37:08] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?