[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."

You will never take ground with your ____________ if you haven't taken ground in your ____________.

[Numbers 13:32-33] So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: "The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. [33] We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that's what they thought, too!"

You can take people out of ______________ in a moment, but it takes a long time to get the ______________ out of people.

God wants us to experience __________________!

[Psalm 34:3 ESV] Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

What you __________________ in your mind will __________________ your life.

[2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV] We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Your mind is the territory the enemy fights __________________ for.

[Joshua 1:6-9] "Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. [7] Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. [8] Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. [9] This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Meditation is filling your mind with _____________________ until it changes who you are.

[Numbers 13:16] These are the names of the men Moses sent out to explore the land. (Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by the name Joshua.)

Taking ground in your mind requires __________________ while still __________________.

[Joshua 3:15a] It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks.

[Romans 8:28 CSB] We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. This isn't saying all things are ___________. God doesn't cause every ________________ in your life, but He will use them. Must _______ God [1 Corinthians 2:9] That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." This is not a promise for those who ___________ love God. Called to his ___________ [Matthew 6:33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. God can turn around the _____________ in your life for his ___________. [Romans 8:17-18] And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. [18] Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. God does not waste our ______________. [Romans 8:35-37] Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? [36] (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) [37] No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. God will turn our failures & hardships into opportunities for ___________________. [Romans 5:3-4] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. We will not ________________ difficulties and hardships but God will ________ ________ for good in your life. [Psalm 37:23] The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

[Philippians 4:13 WEB] I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:10-13] How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. [11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ___________________ is something you have to learn. My _______________ does not control my ____________________. Paul wasn't measuring his joy by his ________________. [Philippians 4:18-19] At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. [19] And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. God's _____________ will not run ____________. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. If I’m not satisfied with what I ___________ I’ll never be satisfied with what I _____________. [1 Timothy 6:6-8] Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. Be content with what God _______________. I will be the ______________ and not the ______________.

Christmas is the moment where the _____________ breaks the ___________________.

[John 1:9] The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

When God reveals His _____________, nothing stays the _____________.

[Micah 5:2] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.

God is never _____________.

[Luke 2:6-7] And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. [7] She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

God didn't _____________ for us to come to Him.

[Philippians 2:6-7] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form.

Everyone is _________________ at the ________________.

[Isaiah 59:2a] It's your sins that have cut you off from God.

God’s solution to ___________________ is a Person.

[Luke 2:8-10] That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. [9] Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, [10] but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

God reveals His Light to the ones the world _____________.

[Luke 2:15] When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

[John 1:12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Every superhero has a _________. [Judges 13:5] You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” You don't need to _________ strong to _________ strong. [Judges 15:16] NIV Then Samson said, "With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men." Every strong person has a _________. [Judges 16:15-17] Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” [16] She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it. [17] Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” Samson was strong _________ but weak _________. [Judges 16:20-21] Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. [21] So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison. Disobedience to God will result in losing your _________. Those things that _________ us can eventually _________ us. [Judges 16:22] But before long, his hair began to grow back. God can restore what was _________. [Judges 16:28] Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” Never underestimate the _________ on the inside!