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Overcoming Fear and Insecurity Study

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Overcoming Fear and Insecurity Study
Swap Homepage:http://www.intouch.org/read/overcoming-fear-and-insecurity
Swap Coordinator:Stepht (contact)
Swap categories:
Number of people in swap:7
Location:International
Type:Type 1: Electronic
Last day to signup/drop:April 18, 2015
Date items must be sent by:May 2, 2015
Number of swap partners:6
Description:

Hello my Bible Studiers!

This is a one time study following the life of Gideon. It's from the InTouch ministries website. Read the chapters and references and answer the questions below - you may want to grab a good cup of coffee, there is a lot of questions but I think it will help us all understand it better!

Answer the questions and email them to your partners. 2 weeks to send!

Have you ever been afraid of obeying God? Have you avoided responsibility because you felt inadequate? God wants you to place your confidence in Him, not yourself. In this Bible study about Gideon’s life, you’ll learn about victory over fear and insecurity.

Read Judges 6-8.

A. Feeling afraid or unworthy doesn’t disqualify us from being used by God.

Briefly describe Israel’s situation in Gideon’s day (Judg. 6:1-6).

Read Exodus 33:20. Why did speaking with God make Gideon afraid (v. 22)?

How could Gideon survive “seeing God”? Since God is Spirit (John 4:24), no man has ever seen the Father in His essence. However, in Judges 6 (as in other Old Testament passages), He assumes a visible form (Gen. 32:24-30, Ex. 24:9-10, Isa. 6:1, Dan. 7:9). Some scholars believe references like this one to “the angel of the Lord” describe Jesus before He was clothed in human flesh.

God asks Gideon to tear down His father’s altar to Baal, the false god some Israelites worshipped at the time. How does Gideon approach his first assignment (Judg. 6:27)?

What does his neighbors’ reaction reveal about the hearts of the Israelites at this time (v. 30)?

What frightens you about fully obeying all God asks of you?

B. Exchanging our viewpoint for God’s perspective is essential to winning our battles.

From God’s perspective, who would deliver Israel (vv. 8-10)?

On what did Gideon focus (v.13)?

Contrast Gideon’s perception of himself with God’s view (vv. 12,15).

By refusing to help Gideon—who was God’s chosen deliverer—the leaders of Succoth and Penuel aligned themselves with the Midianites by default (Judg. 8).

What does Gideon’s threat to them reveal about how he viewed himself after victory over the Midianites (vv. 5-9)?

Name a difficulty or challenge you face. Where do you tend to look for a solution in your own strength? How do you think God wants you to approach it?

C. The Lord is prepared to confirm His will.

Initially, Gideon doesn’t believe he’s really talking with God. What sign does Gideon prepare (Judg. 6:18-21)?

When several enemy armies assembled near Gideon’s home, he used a sheep’s fleece to ask God for a confirmation of Israel’s deliverance.

Why was his action unnecessary (vv. 36-37)?

Why do you think Gideon was afraid the Lord’s anger would burn against him (v. 39)?

Although God was patient with Gideon, this method of determining His will is generally not the best. It can take our focus off of the Lord, placing it on a “sign,” which may or may not indicate God’s will accurately.

What finally convinced Gideon that the Lord had given victory into the Israelite’s hands (Judg. 7:13-15)?

Describe how you know when God is leading you in a certain direction (Isa. 30:21, John 10:27).

D. When we obey God despite our weaknesses, He gets the glory. On his first assignment from God—tearing down the altar to Baal—Gideon acts at night, in fear.

Why did Gideon suddenly have the confidence to assemble an army and declare himself its head (Judg. 7:34)?

Why did God want to decrease the number of warriors (v. 2)?

Why do the two eliminations also make sense from a practical standpoint (vv. 3-7)?

Gideon’s army attacked at night, around 10 p.m., right as the first watch was ending. The retiring guards had not yet returned to their tents and probably were mistaken for Israelites by the confused Midianties.

Why do you think the strategy of breaking the jars and blowing the trumpets was successful?

Why couldn’t Gideon take credit for what happened as a result of their surprise “attack” (v. 22)?

When the Israelites returned home after their victories, the men of Israel asked Gideon to rule over them (Judg. 8:22).

Why do you think Gideon responded as he did (v. 24)?

Gideon’s disobedience in making and worshipping the ephod could have been due to ignorance or the low moral standards at the time. What were the consequences (vv. 24-27)?

Despite the ephod, what did God do for Israel as a result of Gideon’s victory (v. 28)?

Closing: What is God asking you to do? Be willing to obey, trusting that He will provide all you need. No matter what happens, your faithfulness will result in deep inner peace, which is the fruit of being right with the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who helps me accomplish Your will. Teach me to take my eyes off of my circumstances and the solutions the world offers—and instead look to You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Discussion

Swan 04/10/2015 #

Great study. The timing won't work for me, so I have to skip this swap. Thanks for coming up with great ones like this, stepht.

ChrisAnne 04/10/2015 #

Great study! Timing doesn't work for me to participate, but I will be saving the questions to do on my own for sure! Thanks for putting this up!

Stepht 04/15/2015 #

Sorry you can't join this month ladies! I'll be doing another one in the future for sure :)

Mona 04/26/2015 #

so we are to emai this to our partners?

AveryHart 04/30/2015 #

Hey guys! I sent a message to each of you individually, but am saying something here too. I sent out emails on April 20th, but have received no acknowledgment, so I'm assuming Gmail decided it didn't want to work that day. I don't wish to spam anyone's inboxes, and so won't resend unless I don't get a response or am asked to do so... However, I am having dental surgery this afternoon and don't know if I can resend before May 2nd. PLEASE check your SPAM BOX. Maybe it went there?

Mona 05/ 1/2015 #

My swap is going to be late having a bad time with my sinuses. Headache that will not go away. Will try and send by Monday, May 4. Sorry for the inconvenience.

MCGalaxy 05/ 2/2015 #

I'm also late in getting it out. I forgot that the questions were on the front page. So I was waiting for an email with the study like we had with James. Sorry for forgetting to read the front page clearly. I suffer with memory issues after an illness 2 years ago. But I will have the study completed and in your inboxes by Monday

Keruka 05/ 2/2015 #

Hi guys I'm sorry I'm late too. I've just had a full on week and didn't get it done. I'll be sitting down with God tomorrow to do this study and will email you all then

Keruka 05/ 2/2015 #

Scratch that I felt led to do it tonight, so I did. Emails have been sent, please let me know if you didn't get one :)

MCGalaxy 05/10/2015 #

I just wanted to apologize to my partners. I had attempted to send the corrected swap yesterday but realized that the bible study swaps are actually on my work computer not at home like I had thought. I won't be in my office until Tuesday but then I will make sure that you have the correct swap in your email. Again I'm sorry for the delay. I'm posting here rather than emailing because my computer is acting up and not letting me click the profile links

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