Defeat What’s Defeating You | Part 3 – Experiencing a Miraculous Victory!

#1: There’s a Factor to Miraculous Victories!

Judges 7:2 (NLT)

“You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.”

Judges 7:4-7 (NLT)

The LORD told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” ⁶ Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.

2 Corinthians 1:8,9 (MSG)

We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was on us in the Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. ⁹ … As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!

#2: There’s an Factor to Miraculous Victories!

Judges 7:9-11 (NLT)

That night the LORD said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you (past tense) victory over them! ¹⁰ But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah. ¹¹ Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp.

#3: There’s a Factor to Miraculous Victories!

Judges 7:16 (NLT)

Gideon divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn (shofar) and a clay jar with a torch in it.

¹⁷ Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. ¹⁸ As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”

¹⁹ It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. ²⁰ Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!

²¹ Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape … ²² the LORD caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

#4: There’s a Factor to Miraculous Victories!

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NLT) — Finishing is better than starting.

To Be A Great Finisher:

Don’t do stupid things!

Confess to God and others, when we do stupid things!

Don’t stop growing and going until we reach the finish line and hear God say – “Well done!”