Rise Up for God's Glory and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Rise Up for God—Discover Your True Identity in Him

When you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or defined by your circumstances, remember that God sees beyond your current situation to the masterpiece He has placed within you. Just as Gideon was hiding in fear but was called a "mighty man of valor" by God, you are not defined by your failures, your past, or what others say about you. God calls you His child, a conqueror, and an instrument for His glory. He sends His word into your life to call you out from behind your winepress, to remind you of your true identity, and to set you on the path He has destined for you. No matter what you are facing, one word from God can change everything and reveal who you are truly meant to be. [13:50]

Judges 6:11-16 (ESV)
Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have let your circumstances or failures define you? How can you invite God to speak His truth over that area today and step into your true identity in Him?

Day 2: Do All for the Glory of God

The Christian life is not about self-centeredness or personal gain, but about living every moment for the glory of God. Whether in the smallest daily tasks or the biggest decisions, our motivation should be to honor God above all else. When we shift our focus from “what’s in it for me?” to “how can this bring God glory?”, we move from a consumer mindset to a consecrated calling. This change in motivation transforms our worship, our service, and our giving, and aligns our hearts with God’s purposes. [09:53]

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Reflection: Think about a decision or action you will take today—how can you intentionally shift your motivation so that it is for God’s glory rather than your own benefit?

Day 3: Consecration—Tear Down What’s Not of God

Before God can use you mightily, He calls you to consecration, which means tearing down the altars in your life that are not of Him. Sometimes these altars are familiar, cultural, or even passed down from those we love, but if they stand in the way of God’s purpose, they must be removed. Whether it’s the altar of materialism, comfort, political identity, or silence in the face of truth, God asks you to lay everything on His altar and make Him your highest priority. Consecration is not about perfection, but about a willingness to let God search your heart and remove anything that competes with Him. [29:53]

Judges 6:25-26 (ESV)
That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you shall cut down.”

Reflection: What is one “altar” in your life—an attitude, habit, or loyalty—that you sense God is asking you to tear down so you can be fully consecrated to Him? What step can you take today to begin that process?

Day 4: Trust is a Must—Depend on God When the Odds Are Against You

God often calls you to assignments that are beyond your own strength so that you will learn to depend on Him completely. When the odds are stacked against you, it’s not a sign of defeat but an opportunity for God’s power to shine through your life. Sometimes God will even reduce your resources or circle of support, not to harm you, but to ensure that when victory comes, all the glory goes to Him. Trusting God means believing He can do the impossible, even when you feel outnumbered or outmatched. [45:24]

Judges 7:2-7 (ESV)
The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.”

Reflection: Where do you feel the odds are stacked against you right now? How can you choose to trust God’s power and provision in that area today, even if it means letting go of your own sense of control?

Day 5: Listen for God’s Whisper—Tune Out the Noise

In a world filled with noise, distractions, and competing voices, it is vital to intentionally tune your ear to the whisper of God’s Spirit. God’s voice is often gentle and quiet, not competing for your attention but waiting for your devotion. To discern His guidance, prioritize time in His Word, prayer, and worship, and protect your heart from the constant barrage of cultural noise. When you wait on God and listen for His wisdom, you will find clarity, strength, and direction for your life. [38:15]

John 10:27 (ESV)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can reduce the noise in your life today—whether it’s screen time, social media, or other distractions—so you can better hear the gentle whisper of God’s voice?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered in the presence of God, recognizing that without Him, we are simply a group of people meeting together—but with Him, we are transformed, empowered, and called to something greater. God is inviting us to rise up, not for our own sake, but for His glory. The story of Gideon in Judges 6-7 serves as a powerful reminder that God sees beyond our current circumstances, our fears, and our failures. While Gideon was hiding in fear, God called him a “mighty man of valor,” seeing the potential and purpose He had placed within him. In the same way, God calls each of us out from behind our “winepresses”—the places where we feel stuck, defeated, or defined by our past—and into a life that reflects His glory.

We live in a culture obsessed with self—“for me” thinking has crept into every area, even our faith. But true Christianity is not about what we can get, but about how we can glorify God. When our motivation shifts from self to God, everything changes: our worship, our service, our giving, and our daily living. God is looking for people who will do all things for His name’s sake, who will seek first His kingdom, trusting that He will take care of the rest.

Rising up for God requires more than just surviving; it means moving from survival mode to “more than conqueror” mode. It means tearing down the altars in our lives that are not of God—whether they are cultural, familial, or personal idols—and building our lives on consecration and devotion to Him. It means learning to discern His voice above the noise of the world, prioritizing His Word, and protecting our hearts from distractions. Trust is essential; God often calls us to assignments that require total dependence on Him, not on our own strength or resources. Sometimes, He even prunes our lives so that His power can shine through more clearly.

God is also able to use what the enemy means for harm and turn it for our good. When we hear the enemy’s threats, we can respond with worship, knowing that God is about to move. Ultimately, when we rise up for God, we experience the supernatural. God takes our brokenness, our limitations, and our humble offerings, and breathes His life and power into them. Like Gideon’s 300, when we are surrendered and available, God can do the impossible through us—not for our glory, but for His.

Key Takeaways

1. God Sees Beyond Our Circumstances God does not define us by our current struggles, failures, or what others see. He looks at the potential He has placed within us and calls us according to His purpose, not our past. When we rise up for God, we discover our true identity as sons and daughters, not slaves to our circumstances. Let God’s word call you out from behind your “winepress” and into your destiny. [14:12]
2. Consecration Precedes Calling Before God can use us mightily, we must be willing to tear down the altars in our lives that are not of Him—even if they are familiar, cultural, or passed down from those we love. Consecration is not about perfection, but about a heart fully surrendered and willing to let go of anything that competes with God’s place in our lives. Only then can we be instruments in His hands, set apart for His glory. [28:07]
3. Discernment in a Noisy World In a culture filled with competing voices, learning to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit is essential. God speaks in the whisper, not in the noise, and we must intentionally tune our hearts to hear Him through His Word, prayer, and worship. Fasting, prioritizing Scripture over screen time, and protecting our hearts from cultural distractions are practical ways to cultivate spiritual sensitivity. [40:09]
4. Trusting God When the Odds Are Against You God often calls us to assignments that seem impossible, requiring us to trust Him rather than our own resources or the size of our support. Sometimes, God will even reduce what we rely on to increase our dependence on Him, ensuring that He alone gets the glory. When the odds are stacked against us, it is often a sign that God is preparing to do something extraordinary. [45:24]
5. God Uses Brokenness and Humility for His Glory The supernatural victory comes not through our strength, but through our surrender and brokenness before God. Like Gideon’s army, it is when we are broken and yielded that God’s light shines brightest through us. God delights in using what the world considers weak or insignificant, so that His power and glory are unmistakable. [57:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[01:04] - Church Announcements and Upcoming Events
[02:46] - Vision for Expansion and Special Offering
[04:18] - Declaration of Faith and Bible Reading
[05:00] - Introduction to Gideon and the Book of Judges
[06:50] - Rise Up for God: The Call to Glorify Him
[08:00] - The Danger of “For Me” Christianity
[09:35] - Living for God’s Glory in All Things
[11:51] - Gideon: From Hiding to Hero
[13:27] - The Power of God’s Word to Transform
[15:03] - God Sees Our Potential, Not Our Cracks
[17:50] - Remembering Our Identity as Children of God
[22:05] - Moving from Survival Mode to Conquering
[26:37] - Becoming Instruments in God’s Hands
[28:07] - Tearing Down Idols and Consecration
[35:14] - Learning to Discern God’s Voice
[43:34] - Trusting God When the Odds Are Against You
[51:44] - Expecting God to Use the Enemy for Good
[56:03] - Experiencing the Supernatural Through Surrender
[57:53] - Brokenness, Humility, and God’s Glory
[60:52] - Living for God’s Glory Alone
[62:05] - Closing and Final Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Judges 6:11-16 (ESV) — > Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Observation Questions

What was Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and why was he doing it? (Judges 6:11)
How did the angel of the Lord address Gideon, and how did Gideon see himself in that moment? (Judges 6:12, 15)
According to the sermon, what did God ask Gideon to tear down before he could be used? ([27:22])
What was the size of Gideon’s army compared to the Midianites after God reduced it, and why did God do this? ([45:24])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God called Gideon a “mighty man of valor” even though he was hiding in fear? What does this say about how God sees us? ([14:12])
The sermon says that before God can use us, we must be willing to tear down altars in our lives that are not of Him. What might these “altars” look like in our own lives today? ([28:07])
The pastor mentioned that God sometimes reduces what we rely on to increase our dependence on Him. How might this principle challenge the way we view setbacks or losses? ([47:40])
In the story, Gideon asked for multiple signs from God. What does this reveal about his relationship with God, and how does it compare to how we seek confirmation today? ([35:50])

Application Questions

The sermon talked about “winepresses”—places where we feel stuck, defeated, or defined by our past. Is there a “winepress” in your life right now? What would it look like for you to step out from behind it? ([13:27])
The pastor challenged us to examine our motivations: Are we living “for me” or “for God’s glory”? Think about a recent decision or action—was your main motivation self-focused or God-focused? How could you shift your motivation in similar situations? ([09:35])
Consecration means tearing down idols, even if they are familiar or cultural. Is there something in your life—maybe a habit, relationship, or value—that competes with God’s place? What would it take to surrender it? ([28:07])
The sermon encouraged us to discern God’s voice above the noise of the world. What is one practical step you can take this week to prioritize God’s Word or reduce distractions (like screen time)? ([40:09])
When have you faced a situation where the odds were against you, and you had to trust God rather than your own resources? How did you respond, and what did you learn? ([45:24])
The pastor said God uses brokenness and humility for His glory. Is there an area of weakness or limitation in your life that you’ve been ashamed of? How might God want to use it for His purposes? ([57:53])
The sermon mentioned that when we hear the enemy’s threats, we can respond with worship instead of worry. What would it look like for you to worship God in the face of fear or opposition this week? ([53:17])

Sermon Clips

God doesn’t see what you and I see in ourselves. God doesn’t see what others see in us. God doesn’t see what the enemy sees in us. God sees to the potential that He’s put on the inside of you and I. When others see a coward, how many of you know God sees a more than conqueror? When others see a shepherd boy, God sees a king. When others see somebody who can’t, God says you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. [00:14:27] (24 seconds) #GodSeesPotentialNotLimits

Do not confuse what you’re stuck under and where you currently are with who you are. You are a child of God. Gideon has been sent a word into a winepress to remind him of who he is, a mighty man of valor. God is sending a word right now into whatever you’re stuck in. Some of you have been stuck in addiction. Some of you have been stuck in a low self-esteem. Some of you have been stuck in a bad relationship or a dead-end job or this or that or the other thing, and you’ve allowed it to begin to define you. And it defines you in your mentality and in your heart. And God is sending this word to you who are stuck behind the winepress. That’s not who you are. You are not your sin. You are not your addiction. You are not your problem. You are not your struggle. You are a son of God. You are a daughter of God. You are a child of God. And God has called you not to be a slave to sin, but an instrument of righteousness. [00:18:35] (61 seconds) #NotDefinedByStruggles

We are in trouble when our screen time exceeds our scripture time, and it’s not even close. When you get your iPhone that sends you that little message every week, what does it say? 12 hours, 14 hours, 16 hours, in a week. And then you measure that against how much you are in the Bible. Five minutes a day? 10 minutes a day? I don’t got time, you know. I don’t got time. But you’ve got time for 16 hours of screen time. And when your screen time exceeds your word time, don’t be telling people what God has to say. Because you don’t know what of life. And when the bread of life is the thing that is talking to your spirit, it will be way different than what you see trending on social media. [00:41:21] (52 seconds) #DependenceNotIndependence

God will never really give you an assignment that doesn’t require your dependence upon him. If your assignment doesn’t require daily dependence upon him, you haven’t yet got to the assignment that God is calling you to. Because one of the things about God is God never promotes independence. God always promotes total dependence upon him. [00:43:23] (25 seconds) #GodWorksWithImpossibleOdds

Trust that God can do it when the odds are stacked against you. 300 to 135 is one to 450. But God looked at that and he said, now these are odds that I can work with. How many of you know when the odds are too much in your favor, God sometimes can’t work with that. All throughout the scripture, I can work with those odds. When the odds are against you, I want you to know that God is setting to do something impossible in your life. Odds stacked against you is code in the spirit realm for get ready for God to do something. [00:45:36] (83 seconds) #DownsizeToDependOnGod

Sometimes God will downsize your surroundings to upgrade your dependence. Because that’s what God is looking for. God is looking for people who will depend on him. He’ll reduce what we rely on so that when victory comes, we can or no one can say, look what they have done and look at how great they are. No, it’s not what we have done, look what the Lord has done. [00:48:05] (34 seconds) #EnemyTalksGodActs

We need to flip this paradigm. It’s no longer God prosper me for me, it’s God prosper me for your glory. It’s no longer God use me for me but use me for your glory. It’s no longer God heal me for me but heal me for your glory. It’s no longer God rescue me for me but rescue me for your glory. It’s no longer God connect me for me, it’s connect me for your glory. It’s no longer God reposition me for me, reposition me because when you begin to give your life to God, watch what happens, here comes the glory of the Lord. [01:01:39] (33 seconds)

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