Tag Gideon

⁵⁴ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:55-60 See also Zechariah 4:6)

God is pleased to accomplish His work in this world through men and women who are yielded to Him. Again and again in Scripture, when the Lord purposes to build, guide, strengthen, confront, comfort, or advance His saving mission. He does so by filling surrendered vessels with His Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 over a list like this one below giving it summary: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. The names below remind us that the progress of God’s kingdom does not rest finally on natural talent, human energy, or earthly strength. The Spirit of God, working through those who are willing to be used by Him, is the means by which His ministry moves.

On this list, Stephen shines as one of the clearest examples of what Spirit-filled surrender looks like. He was full of faith, full of power, and full of the Holy Spirit in life. When the hour of his death came, he remained full of the Holy Spirit still. Even as he was opposed, falsely accused, and finally killed, Stephen stood as a surrendered vessel through whom Christ was put on display. In him we see that to be filled with the Spirit is not merely to be useful in moments of visible ministry, but to belong so wholly to God that one may bear witness to Christ faithfully even unto death. Stephen, therefore, does not merely appear on this list; he epitomizes the very meaning of being surrendered and used by the Spirit of God.

• Bezalel was filled for craftsmanship, tabernacle work, and teaching (Exodus 31:2–5; 35:31-34)
• Seventy elders of Israel were filled and enabled to help bear leadership (Numbers 11:16–17, 25)
• Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom for leadership (Deuteronomy 34:9)
• Othniel was a man upon whom the Spirit for judgment and deliverance for oppressed people (Judges 3:9–10)
• Gideon was also a judge; the Spirit clothed him for leadership in battle (Judges 6:34)
• Jephthah was a judge; the Spirit came upon him for conflict and deliverance (Judges 11:29)
• Samson was empowered by the Spirit to help God’s oppressed people (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14)
• Saul was anointed by the Spirit and for a while served with extraordinary good character and courage (1 Samuel 10:6, 10)
• David was anointed and used by the Spirit to lead God’s people as Israel’s second king (1 Samuel 16:13)
• Micah was full of power by the Spirit to confront sin (Micah 3:8)
• John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15)
• Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke blessing (Luke 1:41–45)
• Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (Luke 1:67–79)
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and ministered in the Spirit’s power (Luke 4:1, 14, 18)
• The believers at Pentecost were all filled and spoke as the Spirit gave utterance (Acts 2:4)
• Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit for bold witness (Acts 4:8–12)
• The gathered church was filled and spoke the word boldly (Acts 4:31)
• Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, did wonders, and remained full of the Spirit at his death (Acts 6:5, 8; 7:55–60)
• Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and faith, with fruitful ministry (Acts 11:24)
• Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit in powerful confrontation and ministry (Acts 9:17; 13:9–11)

Before we excuse ourselves from serving God because of our many flaws, we should remember the people that God used mightily were also flawed. And they were used while still full of faults. (God did not endorse their sin. But He also did not refuse to summon them until they had purified their own lives.) The Lord met them where they were. Consider with me just a few examples:

1) Rahab – This woman is introduced not as a moral example. She is presented to the reader as Canaanite prostitute living in a condemned city (Joshua 2). She is triple marginalized: by occupation, by ethnicity, and by gender. What is striking is that God does not reform Rahab before using her to help others. He first reveals Himself to her. Rahab’s journey begins not with covenant knowledge, but with fear-informed faith. Listen to her:

For the LORD your God,
He is God in heaven above
and on earth beneath.
Joshua 2:11

She does not yet possess Israel’s law, worship, or moral framework. What she possesses is a growing conviction about who God is — and the courage to act on it at great personal risk.

2) Gideon – Although many commentators find fault with this man for his repeated requests for proof, God does not reprimand him. Gideon was raised in a household of idolatry and needed time and mentoring to come out of Canaanized thinking. God met Gideon where he was – fearful, secretly threshing wheat in a wine press, and ignorant of what God could do.

3) Samson – Although he had been given great gifts for helping others, this man would not move to help anyone. He was only motivated by self interests. And so God used Samson’s narcissism to nettle the man into the work that was needed by the people. How? When it seemed like all was in ruins, this egotistical womanizer called out to God. And God met him where he was and gave him the strength to die doing what he was supposed to be doing all along. You will reply, “But, he died!” And I will answer, “On purpose! That is, although he had been distracted and nearly destroyed by his own desires, Samson was now focused on striking a blow against the enemies of God and his own people. Yes, he died. But he died in the purpose that God had given him as God met him where he was.”

4) Peter – After his tragic failures, Peter could not bring himself to say that he had agape (ἀγάπη) love for Jesus. So Jesus met the big fisherman where he was and said that if philia (φιλία – brotherly love) was all that Peter could muster, then let it be demonstrated by feeding Jesus’ sheep.

I could go on. But these are enough to show the truth: God is not waiting for you to get it together so that you can live in a way that pleases Him. He is meeting you where you are. How? Through Jesus Christ. The Father has sent the Son into the world to save us (John 3:16). Christ came here to meet us where we are in the human condition (John 1:14). He went beyond becoming a human being to paying the price of our rebellion against God (1 John 4:10). A life of purpose and living effectively, like Rahab or Gideon or Samson or Peter, begins with acknowledging and accepting who God is and what He has done for us.

Rahab did not know a lot about God. But she accepted that He is sovereign and had a right to reign in her life (Joshua 2:11). Next is admitting our great need (Romans 3:23); it is best if we look to the example of children (Matthew 18:3-4; Matthew 19:14). They know they need help. They are ever mindful of their need for help and the possibility of getting help through a parent or guardian. Acknowledge your need and then receive the Son by faith (John 1:11-12) and begin letting Him teach and care for you (Matthew 11:28-30; John 5:24). Under His teachings you will become a blessing to others… like Rahab, and Gideon, and Peter.

In His grip by His grace,
Roderick L. Barnes, Sr.