By Stephanie Montague
It is more than fair to say the entire Bible is that of faith. From Genesis to Revelation you will find faith needed first to believe this good news, that it is the inspired word of God given to man, and that it alive in action today. Since it is so faith driven and out entire walk is all faith driven we seldom like to discuss the ugly word…fear. I have heard the acronym of fear; F-False, E-Evidence, A-Appearing, R-Real…and I don’t know who came up with it but its cleaver. I particularly like the word evidence in the acronym. We’ve all watched a ton of cop or investigation shows at this point. Most of us act like part time Sherlock Holmes while we watch our shows…we always think we know right away who did the crime. We are all really familiar with having evidence. Evidence implies, without even looking at the definition, that you got something on the person…the “smoking gun” if you will. Moreover, it implies fingerprints, some DNA at the scene; caught on camera…you get my drift. So in this acronym saying that its “false evidence” is powerful. There is the proof, you’ve got it right, it’s there on camera, it’s a fact BUT it’s planted. Someone has tried to stage the scene as if really happened. You’ve been set up to take the rap. The evidence has been tampered with putting you at the scene! That’s fear. It appears, feels and sounds very real but it’s a trick of the enemy.
We find in the book of Judges a man by the name of Gideon. Before we get to him let’s establish the story. The children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the Lord and found themselves delivered in the hand of the Midianites. The Midianites, just to keep it simple, were worshippers of many false gods. The children of Israel, the chosen people, were delivered into the Midianites hand…the were under them. Israel came to be into idol worship as well, this was the evil in Lord’s sight. All of this found in Judges 6. The children of Israel were in a bad way…they were impoverished (Judges 6:6) and they were crying out to God. During this time in Judges 6:11 an angel of the Lord came and sat under a tree and a man named Gideon is close by and angel appears to him. This angel declares Gideon to be a mighty man of valour. This was a great compliment. The angel basically called out, “You are mighty man who has great courage in the face of danger…especially in battle. You are brave”. Who doesn’t want to hear great things about themselves?! Gideon goes on to question why these horrible things are happening to them. He begins to ask what happen to the miracles that God did for their fathers when they were in Egypt. He continues by say God has forsaken us and given us to the Midianites.
The Lord tells Gideon to go speak for them to the Midianites and you all will be saved. Gideon quickly begins to denounce all of what the angel said “… Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:15 Even with this the angel assures Gideon that the Lord will be with him. After several acts and requirements God gave Gideon to do came the moment of battle. Several times in Judges it asked if there is fear to remove yourself of several people. Gideon went and said if anyone is afraid to leave…two thirds left. God knew it would take boldness to be set free…and there was no room for fear.
In the end it was Gideon and his men of 300 who fought the Midianites for victory. God kept His promise…they had the victory.
In our lives the situations loom large but God says we are mighty. We are connected to Him which makes us even more mighty. We are overcomers! Victory is ours! As in the story of Gideon God doesn’t need much to get you the victory. Today you may feel that you need victory and I am here to declare that you have it. Remember, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. Declare each and every day, Romans 8:37 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Receive your victory today.
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