Fear Of Failure

[JUDGES 6:1-3]

“The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.”

1. CRY OUT

[JUDGES 6:6]

“So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.”

For some of us, maybe you’ve settled into a spiritual place like the Israelites had. Life is far from perfect, but it’s what you know. EXAMPLES: Your marriage isn’t dead, but you both have settled into a tolerant stalemate. You wouldn’t describe your faith as vibrant, but you go to church. Your relationships are ok, but you can’t say you’ve had a positive spiritual impact on your friends. You know there has to be more than this, but life in the cave is what you know and what you’ve settled into. Stepping outside, fighting for better, is risking failure. Our comfort zones can act as a self sabotaging mechanism in our life.

God is calling us to reconsider what we conform to by changing our minds about what is worth committing to.

[2 CHRONICLES 7:14] “

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

[PSALM 86:5]

“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.”

2. LISTEN UP

[JUDGES 6:7-9]

“When they cried out to the Lord because of Midian,the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.””

[JUDGES 6:11-12]

“Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.  The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

[JUDGES 6:15]

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!””

 If you’re ever going to overcome the fear of failure, the fear of not being good enough, first focus on the fact that God is always good enough, and then allow what He says about you to overcome the voices of doubt.

3. STEP OUT

[JUDGES 6:25-26]

“That night the Lord said to Gideon, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole standing beside it. Then build an altar to the Lord your God here on this hilltop sanctuary, laying the stones carefully. Sacrifice the bull as a burnt offering on the altar, using as fuel the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.””

If you aren’t ready to risk for God then you aren’t ready to be used by God. 

[JUDGES 6:27-30]

“Early the next morning, as the people of the town began to stir, someone discovered that the altar of Baal had been broken down and that the Asherah pole beside it had been cut down. In their place a new altar had been built, and on it were the remains of the bull that had been sacrificed. The people said to each other, “Who did this?” And after asking around and making a careful search, they learned that it was Gideon, the son of Joash. “Bring out your son,” the men of the town demanded of Joash. “He must die for destroying the altar of Baal and for cutting down the Asherah pole.””

[ROMANS 8:28]

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

[JUDGES 6:31-32]

“ But Joash [Gideon’s Father] shouted to the mob that confronted him, “Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his altar!” From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal, which means “Let Baal defend himself,” because he broke down Baal’s altar.”

FEAR OF FAILURE IS OVERCOME BY THE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE

_____________________________________________________________

Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?