"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD RULING OVER YOUR LIFE"
Judges 8:22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
Judges 8:23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”
Some explanatory thoughts/application and a prayer:
Gideon was a man the Lord raised up to deliver Israel out of it's troubles, and he did. The people wanted him to rule over them, but he would not. He knew better. He directed them towards God's leadership.
1. We need leadership in our lives, but can often look for it in the wrong places, specifically to man, and not to God. Judges
8:22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
2. In this passage, Gideon knew better than to take the place that truly belonged to God, and thus he refused the request of the people, and directed them towards the Lord.
Judges 8:23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”
3. We as people have a tendency to be just like the people in Gideon's day. We will look to man to rule over us, when in fact, we ought to look to the Lord to perform that great need in our lives.
Isa 42:16* I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will make the darkness bright before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.
4. God is more than willing to rule over you, and your life. In fact, there is no one better than God to do this, and He alone rightly deserves that place of leadership in your life.
Col 2:10 and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.
5. God will most gladly lead you, but you must sincerely give yourself to Him, and then You will find yourself in the middle of His most wonderful will. It's the only logical thing to do, in light of what He has done for you in dying on the cross for your sins, and rising from the dead, that You might have eternal life by grace through faith.
Rom 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
A prayer:
Father, left to our own wisdom we do not do well. You want to provide for us what we cannot find or produce on our own. We thank You that You desire to not only save us, but to be our Lord and our Master. Please keep us from seeking that leadership from other sources, and direct our hearts day by day away from our own wisdom, and lead us to be led by You, and Your wisdom. We want to this day, submit ourselves to You, and to follow You with all of our hearts in Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier.
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
