From Judges 6:34-35
After Gideon encountered conflict, his next experience was…
But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon
Judges 6:34
If you tear down people’s idols, they will get mad.
When there is conflict, the temptation is to quit. Especially if the only resolution the other party wants is your death!
However, God clothed Gideon in his Spirit!
What a picture! Gideon was clothed in God himself! What else could someone ever want?
For myself…I’ve given up in conflict. The conflict was too great. I chose to stop.
Now, I look back and wonder, “What if I’d kept going?”
God took Gideon through a journey to strengthen his courage. Gideon hid from his enemies when God found him. God used conflict to form Gideon into the mighty warrior he needs him to be.
God forms us through the conflict. Strength is found when you go through situations where you need God and God alone to get through. If you cease to continue to go through, you no longer need God’s strength to find the courage to keep going.
Instead of being clothed in the Spirit, I decided to be clothed in my own fear.
What have you decided to clothe yourself in?
Like me, have you clothed yourself in fear?
Or clothed yourself in power?
Or clothed yourself in church growth?
Or clothed yourself in being known?
Instead, God will clothe you with himself.
Do not choose any clothing besides God himself. Don’t let ministry make you think you are clothed in God’s Spirit. In fact, it may just be ministry that you clothe yourself in.
Take time to Hear & Follow Jesus for yourself. So then you can lead from the relationship Jesus gives to you. Whatever is done on this website is to remind anyone willing to listen we can clothe ourselves in all kinds of things…
But God offers to wrap you in himself.
What happened next for Gideon?
Gideon’s own tribe started to follow. Out of the ashes of people wanting to kill Gideon came the genesis of his army.
You never know the fruit of what will happen when God clothes you with his Spirit. When he does clothe you, God’s work will start to happen.