Worthy of Valor
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon said to Him, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”
Judges 6:12-13 NKJV
Gideon would become the greatest Judge that Israel would have. If you continue to read his story it’s almost unbelievable what God accomplished through this man.
But it didn’t start that way.
The Lord calls us out, all of us. Sometimes we feel inadequate.
Sometimes we have convinced ourselves that we are not worthy.
Other times we just doubt what the Lord had said and promised.
Not only did Gideon hide in the shadows of a wine press out of fear, but there was something else.
Not only was he hiding from the enemy, but Gideon was hiding from the Lord.
He felt unworthy to represent God.
He doubted the Word of the Lord about his worthiness!
What makes us worthy?
Where do you find your worth?
Too many times we try to find our worth in what the world calls worthy.
Worth is value.
“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 NKJV
Not one tiny sparrow is forgotten by God!
That’s your value!
The God of the universe, the Great I AM, the King of Glory values your life and your purpose for the Kingdom so much.
How much!
Not only does He know all the number of hair on your head, but He sent His only begotten Son to ensure your worthiness!
The Angel of the Lord came to Gideon.
He says something that seems out of character for a man hiding.
He is called a mighty man of valor.
Valor is heroic courage.
Valor is bravery, it’s having courage in what we have been called to do. Valor is to be brave and fearless, especially in battle!
But Gideon is hiding from the Midianites. Still trying to go through life without being seen by the enemy, just getting by. Trying to be invisible to what is happening around him.
What were to happen if he stepped out?
Imagine what he must have been thinking.
How can I be a mighty man of valor?
Sometimes we try to fight against what the Lord has told us and we have the audacity to question Him.
We make excuses.
Where are the mighty men and women of valor?
Where have you been hiding?
What has kept you in confinement?
We have become a people that searches for safety and comfort. We have become doubtful in our minds that we are unworthy to serve the King.
Why?
Because we have allowed the fear of the world to become greater than our God!
The Angel of the Lord calls Gideon a mighty man of valor!
He tells Gideon that the Lord is with Him!
His response is one that many of us have cried out.
“if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about”
Sometimes we have to step out of the hiding place of the wine press and expose ourselves to what the Lord has called us to do.
He can give you the instructions but we have to make that decision to step out.
Yes, there is evil in the world. Yes, bad things happen to good people. Yes, society is falling apart at the seams.
It’s true that families have fallen apart. It’s true that the leaders of this world have turned their face from God and allowed all these things to take place.
But so have we.
We have allowed circumstances to dictate how we serve Jesus.
Fear, doubt and worry have crept into even the most faithful of hearts.
Gideon had a decision to make.
He gave every excuse possible to not step out.
God had a plan!
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
Judges 6:14-15 NKJV
We will never understand our worth for the Kingdom of God until we step out in faith.
That’s when the Lord shows Himself to be real and present!
That’s when the unthinkable happens. That’s when we make an impact.
That’s when the miracle working Hand of Jesus Christ of Nazareth starts to move!
Start seeking to become uncomfortable.
Out of the comfort, protection and safety that we have become accustomed to.
Seek the Righteousness of God. Seek His Kingdom.
Seek those that have fallen and believe in their hearts that they too are not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven!
The Lord told Gideon that He is with Him. Still he needed confirmation.
The amazing thing is the Lord gave Gideon the confirmation he was looking for.
What gives us that confirmation today?
What makes us worthy!
Is it not by the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus?
Isn’t it His Shed Blood that
makes us worthy!
Isn’t this what makes us worthy to serve.
Shouldn’t this be enough for us to come from the captivity of the wine press?
Remember today that the Lord called Gideon a mighty man of valor.
He didn’t say you could be, or will be.
You are a mighty man of valor.
You are a mighty woman of valor.
You will never know that unless you step out of the security of the wine press.
We speak so much about the promises of God.
Those promises have been given as assurance to us so we can step up and out in heroic courage!
Ponder this today.
If you have repented and believed the Gospels. If you have put your faith and trust in Christ and Him Crucified.
If the Holy Spirit of God dwells in the depths of your whole being.
Then you are worthy to be called.
Yes, you will worry, doubt. You will challenge God for a sign. You will ask why me Lord.
Nothing will change unless we step out of the winepresses of this world into the confidence of His promises.
Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.”
Judges 6:23
Believe and step out!
Pastor Ed
