[Pastor Ralph]

Q3. (Judges 6:12-16) How did God see Gideon? How did Gideon see himself? Whose self-perception is most accurate? How can our own self-perception prevent us from becoming what God has made us to be? What is God's answer to Gideon's self-image? What might be an appropriate prayer to pray in light of what God has taught you from this passage?

[Pastor Ralph]

What is God's answer to Gideon's self-image? (Judges 6:16) Does this spiritual principle apply to our lives as Christians? Can you recall any New Testament passages that teach the same principle? What is an appropriate prayer to pray in light of what God has taught you from this passage?

[Barbara Momphard]

God saw Gideon as a mighty warrier. God’s—God was sending him and God would be with Gideon. Many times we think we can’t do something and need to step out in faith knowing that God will be with us.

[Barbara Momphard]

God said, “I will be with you.” Yes, God has promised us guidance through His Holy Spirit.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes

Philippians 4: 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”d

John 14¨ 25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate,i the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

Pray that God will lead you and guide you and be with you as you open yourself as a willing servant to be used by God.

[Omie]

God knows us, and knew Gideon had the capability to become a great soldier. God promised Gideon that He would be with Him all the way!

Gideon did not know his own strengths and felt he was the weakest in a weak family. He questions that God about this.

Our self perception is often false, it is only when we try that we will be able to step out to do whatever is needed. With God's help we are stronger and more capable.

[Omie]

As Gideon tries to explain that he is not up to the task God asks of him, God replies in no uncertain terms that Gideon will have God as a partner in this project to deliver the Israelites just as Moses had.

To Gideon this must have had a fearful impact, as he still sees his tribe (family) and himself as too weak to do anything. In 6:3 we read where their country was invaded time and again, with great destruction. How fearful the thought of going into battle against this hoard of people must have been. I would have felt all the same fears Gideon does.

Barbara Momphard, above, has answered this with one I would have chosen, such as Phillippians 4:13.

I have no more faith then Gideon; will God really be with me? The God in the OT has this magnificient glory and He appears to people in the roles of angels, etc... I have a problem knowing when God wants me to step out and do something.

My Prayer: Lord search me and show me the strengths I have. Help me to find You in my life's struggles. Take my doubts and fears and use them to Your purpose. In your son's name, Amen!

[Chris]

God saw Gideon as a mighty warrior but Gideon himself felt he was weak and of no use or value. On the other hand God knew that with faith in Him Gideon was capable of being a mighty warrior.

We can all be modest when we feel that we are not worthy to carry out a duty that we feel that God is asking of us. We then make every excuse we can think of for not doing his will and we forget the important factor that everything is possible with God. However we need to have faith in God's capabilities within our own lives if we are ever to grow in our relationship with God.

[Pat Beckner]

I think that the reason that God called Gideon a mighty warrior [He knows us better than we know ourselves] is because of Gideon's humbleness. In verse 15 Gideon says that he is the least of the least......that is a person who is not going to try and take control of the plan....he knows that God's plan is best.

[Peter Huang]

God saw Gideon as a mighty warriior. This was in contrast with the image Gideon had of himself as the weakest member of the family of the Manesseh tribe. Our own self-perception may prevent us from doing great things which God may want us to do. So we must step out in faith that the Lord will be with us in any venture that He has entrusted us with

[Peter Huang]

God answered Gideon by saying that He will be with Gideon and together they will strike down the Midianites. This spiritual principle applies to our lives as christians as we all have low self images and need the Lord's strength in all that we do.
Heavenly Father help us as we seek to do your work and gives us the strength to follow you and obey your commandments Amen

[Judie Suda]

I love God's answer to Gideon's weak self-image- He said:

" I WILL be with you and you WILL strike down ALL the Midianites together."

This spiritual principle applies to our lives - We CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us!"
(Phil 4:13)

The CAPS speak for themselves.

[Johnson]

God saw Gideon as "mighty warrior". Gideon was humble enough to consider himself the weakest of the weak. He had a worldly perception of himself. But God is Almighty, capable of making any one mighty. However at first Gideon didn't realized that God was speaking to him. God said to Gideon that He will be with him and gave strong suggestive assertiveness that Gideon will be able to srike down the Medianites all together.
Prayer: Almighty God, help me to recognize what You want me to do.

[Johnson]

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to recognize what You want me to do.

[Kats]

God saw Gideon as a warrior.... a "mighty warrior" with alot of strength. Gideon states that his clan is the weakest, and he is also the weakest in the eyes of his family. He has a very low opinion of himself and low self-esteem. He forgets that with God by his side, he can do whatever God wants him to do. I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me.

Kats

[Kats]

God tells Gideon, "I will be with you (in strength), and you will strike down all the Midianites together." I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Lord, show me what you would have me do.

Kats

[Peggie]

God saw Gideon as a mighty warrior, while Gideon saw himself as the least of his family. This is much the way David started out, as a shepherd boy. God however saw him as a king.

Such great things happen in our lives when we truly seek God, for He promises that He does not have plans to harm us, but to prosper us.

[Peggie]

God promises Gideon that HE will be with him. In our lives today, the enemy would have us believe that we are of not worth to God, giving us a poor self imagage which keeps us from totally trusting that God does indeed have a plan for all of us that involves His Kingdom.

When we truly seek God, He directs us right where He wants us. Lately, I've been praying for another Christian, my daughter, and for myself that we would all recognize what God is trying to show us. I praise Him for directing me to this study!!!

[Anita Fetzer]

God saw Gideon as a mighty man of valor and Gideon saw himself as a weak man.
We need to put our whole selves in Gods' hands and He will make us what He wants us to be. Often times God uses the weakest things to bring His Glory. We sometimes make ourselves weak just to get out of doing things because of just being pure lazy.

[Anita Fetzer]

I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me!!

Dear God please forgive me for not trusting in you in all things and that You will bring me through all my problems and fears. Please keep me strong in my wlak with you. To keep my eyes upon you and not the circumstances around me. Amen.

We have a plague that says, The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

[Geoff B]

Mighty warrior was not how Gideon saw himself, as he was down in his hole in the ground threshing wheat. I wonder if God waited for a moment when Gideon was really low to say these words. Gideon wasn't a mighty warrior, but he started becoming one when he believed God's word, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?'

For Gideon, he started becoming a mighty warrior when he began to get hold of a bigger picture of who God is. May the same happen to us as we do this study!