• There was an authority shift from the feckless leadership of Israel to the bold leadership of Gideon.
• Much like the Shebna-Eliakim shift in Isaiah 22.
• God is in the business of shifting authority - the question is:
• Which person are you - the one He has to shift it from or shift it to?
• Notice what Gideon did before authority shifted to him:
• 1) He was faithful in his work (vs 11) - he was going a common task in an uncommon way.
• 2) He was more concerned about his people than himself (vs 13) - he had a nations mindset.
• 3) He refused to worship the false god everyone else worshipped (vs 15) - before he tore down the altar he refused to bow to it.
• 4) He walked in obedience (vs 27) - this paved the way for God’s power to flow through him.
• 5) He dealt with the stronghold of his day (vs 28) - he was willing to tear down the tradition of his people where his father was the ring leader.
• 32,000 people rallied to Gideon after he did this - he didn’t try to come up with some strategic way to recruit them.
• Judges 7:14 - even the enemy knew he was the man with authority now.
Judges 6:34 (4/14/16)
Authority Shift
April 14, 2016 • Benham Brothers
Judges 1 (4/12/18)
April 12, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The Israelites had ownership of the land but they did not possess it. * They had the power and the authority, but they refused to walk in authority and use their power. * They “could” not take the land because they “would” not. * Why? * 1) They were slothful and cowardly. * 2) They were covetous - they wanted the Canaanites’ labour and money would do them more good than harm. * 3) They pitied those who would lead them astray - they didn’t have the proper view toward the dangers of idolatry. * 4) They didn’t truly believe they could defeat them.
Judges 1:19 (4/13/17)
April 13, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Luke 9:1 - God has given us two things: * Power - the “ability” to do something. * Authority - the “right” to do something. * As Christians we have BOTH! * ** Side note - Judas had authority as well. * In Judges 1:19 we see that the Israelites owned all the land, but they didn’t possess all of it, so they couldn’t enjoy it. * They “failed” to drive them out because they “refused” to do it. * The Israelites had the authority and power to possess the entire land, but they didn’t. * Judges 1:27-36 - all of these tribes went from defeat to defeat. * We walk in defeat when we cease to walk in faith. * Judges 2:1-3 - the reason they couldn’t drive out the inhabitants - they hadn’t done their part by staying set apart from the people. * If we do our part God will do His part.
Judges 3:1 (4/12/18)
April 12, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* God turned the Israelites failure of driving out the Canaanites into something that could be positive. * For the Israelites who didn’t know how to fight it would teach them how to be warriors. * This is a picture of what we are to do with sin - drive it out! * This will require a FIGHT. * The Israelites had to learn to be militant and so do we.