The Dangers of Success: Gideon

Right In My Own Eyes: Gideon

The Danger of Success

Judges 8

G: The greatest danger: success. Success pulls us away from God

and the gospel. The lie that we earned it and deserved it. Parenting.

J: Parenting success. Compare to when kids were small. All the

mistakes I made. 24 when Camille was born. Afraid of DCS coming.

Gideon: unique slide. Usually after judge comes time of peace. Not

with Gideon. It begins with success that he claims for himself:

Jdgs 7:18, 20: “and for Gideon!”

G: 8:1: Ephraim; 8:5: follow me. I deserve respect and honor.

8:7/9: Right: difficult trust in the Lord. Wrong: did you doubt me?

Disrespect me?

J: 7:15: He worshiped! Posture of trust. When do we lose our faith?

In success. Faith: only by grace. God called. Equipped. Overseeing.

Forgotten. Vengeance. Pride.Yeah, but…

8:16-17: Punished! Taught them a lesson. What do you do when

God doesn’t bring justice. I deserve your respect.

G: 8:18-21: vengeance. Forgiven. Gospel. Compassion. Rightness.

Critical. Tear down. Danger. Success. Mark Driscoll.

J: Me monster pastor. Me too. 8:22-23: Won’t rule. Head/heart. Last

glimmer of hope. Collects spoil. 50 pounds of gold +++.

8:27: Ephod: priest.

G: Unimm/Thummim. Greatest danger in ministry: People need you.

Feels good.

J: Healthy churches multiply. Church planting. John the Baptist: “he

must increase, I must decrease.”

We learn the danger of pride in the story of Gideon. Preached by Pastors Greg Lavine and John Beeson.