Power for the Weak

Passage

Judges 6:33-40

Sermon Summary

Gideon is one of the first characters in the Old Testament to have a power encounter with the Holy Spirit, and one of only two who are "clothed" with the Holy Spirit.* Rather than giving him some sort of superhuman strength, the Spirit gives him confidence like clothing to step out of his winepress and lead God's people to victory. Believers in Jesus now have more: Jesus was stripped naked and killed so that we could have life and be clothed with his Holy Spirit. More than help to make decisions, the Spirit gives us confidence to act on what God has already told us.

Discussion Questions (choose any—you don't have to answer them all!)

1. [Optional starter question] What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
2. What are some thing you tend to assume about the Holy Spirit? How sure are you about them?
3. Do you identify with Gideon at all? If so, in what way?
4. What is your personal "philosophy of clothing"? How do clothes express your inner reality?
5. What is one specific action has God asked you to take, which you are already "clothed with the Holy Spirit" to do?
6. Which people in your life might not know you are a Christian? Which do? Why the difference?
7. Have you ever "put out a fleece" to make a decision? If so, how did it go? Why is it not a good model?

Prayer Prompts

• Thank you, Father, for  __________
• Forgive me, Jesus, for __________
• Empower me, Holy Spirit, to ___________

Resources Consulted

• Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo
• True to Our Native Land, ed. Bryan K. Blount
• The New Testament in Color, ed. Esau McCauley
• The Message of Judges, Michael Wilcock
• Judges for Everyone, John Goldingay
• How to Stay Married, Harrison Scott Key

* the other two characters who are later clothed with the Spirit are Abeizer in 1 Chronicles 12:18 and Zechariah in 2 Chronicles 24:40.