The story of Israel’s fifth of twelve “judges”is one of a man first appearing as an apparent finalist in a contest for “the least likely to succeed,” but then climbing to the summit of success. However, all too often the ascent up that mountain is followed by a descent on the other side.

So it was with the career of Gideon as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Judges, chapters six through eight.

As exciting as it is to read about the transformation of an ordinary man, cowering from the threat of the enemies of his people, to a courageous military figure, leading his people to an astounding victory against all odds, it is equally disturbing to see the eventual personal and spiritual decline of that same individual.

And this is the movement of events we consider in the fifth study in the series entitled, “The Best of Times and the Worst of Times.” It is so important to remember that God has lessons for us to learn from the history of His people, something we must keep in mind as we move through this episode we call “Beware of Success.”

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Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday.

Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message.

If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners.

Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

“If it is to be, it is up to me!” That maxim has often been heard in humanistic motivational speeches, encouraging the hearers to recognize their self-potential and nearly limitless innate capabilities.

One thing is certain: When Gideon, Israel’s fifth judge, was commissioned by God to lead his people in battle against overwhelming military strength, he did not chant “If it is to be, it is up to me!” or even the less certain self-talk of “The Little Engine That Could”: “I think I can. I think I can!”

Our previous three studies in Judges 6 introduced us to a man who was anything but self confident and self assured, a man who needed extra dosages of divine assurance. And just when Gideon began to believe he might actually be able to accomplish the task in spite of inferior resources, he is ordered to dramatically reduce even those.

But then. . .God steps in to demonstrate the truth of something the apostle Paul would learn almost twelve centuries later, that God’s strength is magnified in our weakness so that He alone receives the glory for great outcomes.

So, for a dramatic demonstration of this important spiritual lesson, we turn to Judges, chapter seven, in an episode entitled, “Weak Enough To Win.”

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Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday.

Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message.

If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners.

Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

Most of us know how important it is when a professional athlete is inducted into the hall of fame, whether that be baseball or football. However, most people don’t realize that there are over one hundred “Hall of Fame” attractions throughout the United States, recognizing exceptional accomplishments in a great variety of fields: lesser known sports, music, entertainment, pop culture.

For example, while we might be familiar with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio and the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, how about the RV (Recreational Vehicle) Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, or the Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Indiana, and how many of us have planned a vacation around a stop at the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, Idaho to visit the Potato Hall of Fame?

This edition of “Ancient Words, Modern Message” draws our attention to a man who surprisingly made it all the way into another Hall of Fame, the Faith Hall of Fame,” some of whose inductees are listed in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews. We learn about him in our series of studies of Judges six through eight, “The Best of Times and the Worst of Times.” Gideon, the fifth of Israel’s twelve judges was in so many ways just an ordinary man with faith the size of a mustard seed, but God nurtured that faith to maturity all the way to Gideon’s induction into the Faith Hall of Fame.

It’s a fascinating story and a reminder to each of us of how God can use ordinary people like us. Let’s look at it together in this episode entitled, “Clay Feet and the Hall of Fame."

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Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday.

Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message.

If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners.

Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.