Judges 7:15-16 (NKJV) And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshipped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers.
In Judges 6:11-16, a fearful Gideon was hiding from the Midianites. He lacked confidence, had a poor self-image, and was doubtful of the presence of God. However, following God’s affirmation towards him, he became a changed man. God called him a mighty man of valour, said He would be with him, and that he would defeat the Midianites (Judges 6:12,16).
God gave Him a promise, corrected his self-image, and he received a brand-new identity from the Lord. He was now someone made for God and whom God was with. He was sure that he had met God and He worshipped Him. He was confident that God had a calling and purpose for his life for such a time as this. Therefore, he arose to the call of God to do great exploits for Him and His people. He was no longer held back by his past, family background, or lack of experience or achievement. Instead, He held onto God.
The opening passage records how Gideon spoke after accepting how God viewed him, and how his faith arose after receiving God’s promise. He must have had a personal breakthrough in his self-image through what the others said about him (Judges 7:13-14) before he could lead the 300 men. He accepted what God called him: a mighty man of valour. This term symbolises a warrior who is full of confidence on the battlefield before the enemy. The picture that God had of Gideon was on the opposite end of how Gideon saw himself when the angel of God found him.
The person whose affirmation we hold in high regards affects our thinking, speech, and action. Gideon behaved like a warrior and conqueror after God’s affirmation. Gideon’s background didn’t change; what changed was that his identity was now in how God looked at him, and what the Word of God has promised him. He rested on his identity as a conqueror and warrior of the almighty God.
As believers, God should be our greatest and most esteem cheerleader! This new identity in Jesus was given to us purely by grace. It is established on our being in Christ. There is no need to perform. Instead, we can rest on the complete work. It is a strong and unshakable foundation because it has to do with all that God has done for us, and nothing to do with us. The highest approval and what will ultimately help us to be settled in our hearts is from God.
Sermon Series: How to Do Well in Your New Identity?
最高的认可
士师记 7:15-16 基甸听见这梦和梦的讲解，就敬拜神，回到以色列营中，说：“起来吧！耶和华已将米甸的军队交在你们手中了。” 16 于是基甸将三百人分做三队，把角和空瓶交在各人手里，瓶内都藏着火把。
在士师记6:11-16中，满怀惊恐的基甸当时在躲避米甸人。他缺乏自信，自我形象差，并对上帝的显现存疑。然而，在得到上帝对他的肯定之后，他令人刮目相看。上帝称他为大能的勇士，说祂会与他同在，并且他会战胜米甸人（士师记6:12,16）。
上帝给了他应许，纠正了他的自我形象，于是他从主那里领受了一个崭新的身份。他现在是为上帝而造的人，上帝与他同在。他确信自己遇见了上帝，并且敬拜祂。他确信上帝在当时当下给了他生命的呼召和目的。因此，他起来响应上帝的呼召，为祂和祂的百姓做出伟大的壮举。他不再被自己的过去、家庭背景、缺乏经验和成就所束缚。相反，他紧紧抓住上帝。
开篇经文记载了基甸在接受了上帝对他的看法后说话都不一样了，当他得到上帝的应许后，他开始变得有信心。通过其他人对他的谈论（士师记7:13-14）可以看出他必定是在能够领导300勇士之前先经历了自我形象的突破。 他接受了上帝对他“大能的勇士”的称呼。这个词象征着在阵前面对敌人时充满信心的战士。基甸在上帝眼中的形象与上帝的使者找到他时基甸的自我形象截然相反。
得到我们所景仰之人的肯定会影响我们的思维、言辞和行动。在得到上帝的肯定之后，基甸表现得如一名战士和征服者。基甸的背景没有改变；改变的是如今他的身份是来自上帝对他的看法，以及上帝话语对他的应许。他安心于自己作为全能上帝的征服者和战士的身份。
作为信徒，上帝应该是我们最伟大和最受尊重的啦啦队队长！这个在耶稣里的新身份被赐与我们纯粹是出于恩典。这是建立在我们在基督的存在里。我们无需表现，而是能够安息在那已竟之工上。这是一个坚固而不可动摇的根基，因为这是关于上帝已经为我们所做的一切，而非关乎我们自己。最高的认可以及那最终帮助我们内心平安的是来自上帝。
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