Fear Does Two Things by Pastor Ed Young

Gideon probably thought that God was cutting the 300.  Then He said regarding the 9,700 people, who just stuck their faces in the water, not looking up,  that they have thought only about satisfying their thirst.  They are thought only about their vision, their deal, their situation.  They did not think about protecting you like the other 300.  Cut the 9,700 and keep the dog lappers.

How about in your business?  How about on your team?  How about in the group?  How about in the church?  The dog lappers or those who just put their heads in the stream and don’t think about anything else but their deal.  A guy told me after last night’s service that he was going to take his whole company to a stream and see how each person would drink.  You hear what I am saying, don’t you?  God used those 300 men.

Well, Gideon was ready to fight now.  Gideon is ready to go after the Midianites.  I want to share something with you that really concerns me about the Bible.  Here is what God says.  Verse 10.  “Gideon, if you are afraid…..”  Well, God had just cut 22,000 because they were afraid.  But He asks Gideon the same question and it didn’t really jell with me.  “…if you are afraid, walk on down to the Midianites camp at night and listen to what is going on.”  Gideon was fearful.  Now I want you to know something.  He did not appear fearful at 22,000.  Gideon was fearful then, but he stepped out and faced his fear.  I want to talk to you about fear for just a moment.  Fear does two things.  First, it is contagious.  If a person gets scared, everybody around him gets scared.  Fear will also paralyze you.

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