Clothed With Power

One Year Bible (April 26)

Judges 6:1-40

“Clothed With Power"

Do you ever feel fear all the way to your bones? You know that your entire future is in jeopardy and you aren’t sure what to do or where to turn. Well, this is at the core of today’s stories. It is the story of two men who were “clothed with power” beyond their own human strength.

First, we meet Gideon, “The Reluctant Rescuer”. The angel of the Lord appears to him and says, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you”. Gideon replies, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?” (Judges 6: 12Ff)

Gideon is the son of Joash, who actually owns the altar to Baal and the Asherah pole that God wants him to take down pronto! The drama begins to unfold with his father, Joash, actually standing up for his son and challenging the false priests who want to kill his son. Gideon appears to be a very unconfident leader as he puts God to the test THREE Times!

First, he brings a dinner to offer the Lord. Secondly, he brings a fleece that he wants the Lord to make wet with dew during the night. Thirdly, he now wants the fleece to be dry overnight while the ground around it is all wet. Now, mind you that Gideon is speaking to an angel of the Lord. Here is what Gideon says to the angel after his first test with the food that is swallowed up in fire on the rock, “Oh Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

More importantly, look at the message that is said about Gideon, “Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power!” (Judges 6:34)

Secondly, we encounter Peter, “The Unlikely Rock” in our NT passage found in Luke 22:54-23:12. Peter was so bold swinging his sword around whacking off the high priest’s ear in the garden. Now Peter is actually denying His Lord three times as Jesus had predicted. Just one look from his Master as he passed through for trial by the High Priests brought Peter to bitter weeping. The rooster crows and the ultimate denial was done… it could not be taken back!

But, this story is far from over! Look what Jesus has said about Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift EACH OF YOU like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)

Peter seems pretty powerless at this point, but His Lord saw something much different in his future. Look what he says about him, “You are Peter (a piece of THE ROCK) and on this rock (The Messiah), I will build my church.” --I Cor. 3: 11.

Peter will be getting a new wardrobe very soon… Wait for it!

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been “Clothed with Power from on High.” Luke 24:49

By the way, did you catch the part about who Satan asked to "Sift like wheat"? "EACH OF YOU"... The ones who were called to serve the Lord and were on the front line. I am pretty sure that pertains to many of us today and we need prayers too...

What are you wearing today? Are we clothed with power from on high?

How can you relate to the “Reluctant Rescuer” and the “Unlikely Rock”?