[Judges 6:1-5] The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight. So the LORD handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. [2] The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. [3] Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, [4] camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. [5] These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare.

Pressure doesn’t just shape ________________ it shapes how you see ________________.

[Judges 6:11] Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.

God doesn't call who you ________________ but who you are ________________ to be.

[Judges 6:12] The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!"

God doesn't wait for you to have ________________ to give you a ________________.

[Judges 6:13] "Sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn't they say, 'The LORD brought us up out of Egypt'? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites."

What you believe about ________________ will always shape what you believe about ________________.

[Judges 6:14] Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!"

When God chooses someone he _________ what they ________.

You have all the ________________ that you need right now!

[Judges 6:15-16] "But Lord," Gideon replied, "how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!" [16] The LORD said to him, "I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man."

Our identity shouldn't be in _________-confidence it should be in _________-confidence.

[John 15:5] "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

[Hebrews 11:33] By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them.

[Jeremiah 29:11] For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. This is a ___________ verse in ________ chapter. [Jeremiah 29:1] Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. [Jeremiah 29:10] This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. ________ is the central character in the Bible, not ________. [2 Timothy 3:12] Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The Good News is not that God saves us from our ___________. The Good News is that God saves us from our ________. Our faith grows the most in the _________ _________. [Jeremiah 29:5] “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. God doesn't always give us freedom ____________ suffering, but he will always give us freedom ________ suffering. [Jeremiah 29:7] And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” God wants to use you to be a ____________ to others. [Jeremiah 29:12-13] In those days when you pray, I will listen. [13] If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. The first step in knowing God's _________, is knowing ________.

Christmas is the beginning of your CALLING.

[John 8:12] Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

God's Light wants to work THROUGH you.

[Matthew 5:14] "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

You are not just saved from the DARKNESS, you are sent INTO it.

Darkness is not your ENEMY, it is your ASSIGNMENT.

[Matthew 5:14-16] "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. [15] No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Faith was never meant to be INVISIBLE.

[Matthew 5:13] "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

The light grows in COMMUNITY, not in ISOLATION.

Light shines through your STORY not your PERFECTION.

[Revelation 12:11a] And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.

The light has come TO you so that it can move THROUGH you.

[Matthew 28:18-20] Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."