Great Confirmations

Aim: To be marvelously encouraged by God's great confirmations.

Doctrine: The Lord gives His church great confirmations of His best (and most enduring) blessings. The supreme example of this is the gift of Christ, whereas assurance of subordinate goods is sometimes veiled (by God).

Exegesis: God's pattern of great confirmations: first, He addresses us right where we are (vv. 9-12); then, He firmly establishes our courage (vv. 13-14); finally, He energizes our faith (for service) (v. 15).

Further application: How great confirmations aid the church in her mission here: without strong consolation from God we would never move forward, but with it we gladly follow our magnetic Christ.

Key verse: v. 15 ''And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, 'Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.'''