And the Angel of the LORD appeared to  him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” 

 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

 

Judges 7:2

And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

 

Zechariah 4:6

So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

Says the LORD of the Lord’

 

The three groups.

 

1. Fearful and afraid.

 

Judges 7:3

Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

 

Quotes on fear.

 

“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” 

        John Newton.

 

“Fear is a self imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love.” 

             Rick Warren.

 

“The only known antidote to fear is faith.”

            Woodrow Kroll

 

“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.”

         Florence Nightingale. 

 

“He that fears not the future may enjoy the present.” 

           Thomas Fuller.

 

“The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.”

          John C Maxwell.

 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

Ephesians 6:10-11

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 

Prayer point. 

 

• Lord help my unbelief. Lord give me the courage and strength to face my fear. Lord strengthen me in the inner man that I may stand for you. 

 

2. Willing but not ready for battle.

 

Judges 7:6

And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.

 

1 Peter 1:13-14

 

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.

 

Quotes on preparation.

 

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” 

                H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

 

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” 

                  Colin Powell

 

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” 

                  Bobby Unser

 

Matthew 25:13

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

Matthew 24:44

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 

Prayer point.

Lord help me to always be prepared for battle. 

• Available 

• Equipped.

Lord help me to be ready in all seasons of my life. Lord help me to run and not get weary! Lord help me to be prepared for what you have in store for me. 

 

 

3. The chosen 300 warriors.

 

Judges 7:7

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.”

 

Luke 1:35

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

 

Nehemiah 4:16-18

So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

 

 

• Lord we ask for more of your anointing over our lives. Lord give me the grace to carry you calling and fulfil your purposes.