Old Testament Scripture Reading: Judges 6:6 – 12 (KJV)
Jdg 6:6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
Jdg 6:7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,
Jdg 6:8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
Jdg 6:9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
Jdg 6:10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
Jdg 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
Jdg 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:4 – 7 (KJV)
Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) In every generation of mankind since the fall of Adam, God has been the one Who has reached out to save mankind, rather than mankind operating in faith toward God; which illustrates God’s unmerited love and favor toward the children of men, who really have every good reason to trust God; but because of many defects caused by pride and sin, mankind tends not to believe God in order to trust His love and grace, but rather to continue to pursue life in the flesh and not in the spirit, as did Gideon when God chose him to deliver Israel from their enemies.
2) Perhaps one of the most practical tools of discipleship is general Biblical knowledge, which through realization that God is the One Who has been pursing mankind to continue in His blessings, even though we also need discipline when we make bad decisions which are provoked by the fallen world around us, which offers fleshly solutions to our problems, usually to just give in rather than to put up a spiritual fight.
3) God’s Word to the Philippians teaches us to live rejoicing in God, Who has given His Son Jesus to set all things right in His sight for every believer in His death, burial, and resurrection, which is among our most powerful tools of discipleship, along with prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, intercession and patience, as we walk boldly through this life trusting in His Word!