Against All Odds

Bread

The Lion Loosed

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 18:9-14 (NIV)

9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.

Judges 7:9-12 (NIV)

7 The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

Judges 7:7-8 (NIV)

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. 22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.

Judges 7:19-22 (NIV)

28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace forty years.

Judges 8:28 (NIV)

8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NIV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)

Butter

The Lesson Learned

“Miracles are the great bell of the universe, which draws men to God’s sermon.” John Foster

“He has always been a haven to preserve us, and a house to protect us.” Stephen Charnock

“It is then faith in Christ – not merely works or slavish legal obedience - which releases the divine power to live the Christian life. Flesh will ultimately fail you. Christ does not automatically operate in a believer’s life like rubbing a jar for a genie and making a Paul out of a Pilate. No, no… as we walk in faith, placing our trust and confidence in Him, He bestows the power to accomplish things too hard for man to do – the most amazing one is changing the bents of our broken human hearts. He is the ultimate Transformer always from the inside out. Trust Him with your life.” BHY

“God’s miracles don’t require help from us. If He makes a promise, He will keep it without any assistance from you or me.” Michael Youssef

“He is never weary in His providence, and never faints in His care. He has never lacked the will to relieve us, nor the power to support us.” Stephen Charnock

“How many opportunities have I missed to witness the miraculous because I didn’t listen or wouldn’t obey?” Kristen Welch

“I never have difficulty believing in miracles, since I experienced the miracle of a change in my own heart.” Augustine

“Faith is not measured by our ability to manipulate God to get what we want. It is measured by our willingness to submit to what He wants. The truth is, there’s no formula we can count on for when Jesus says yes and when He says no. We can’t figure out what He’ll decide, and we can’t base our own confidence on His favor. We can, however, base our confidence on His faithfulness. Miracles are temporary, but the word of Jesus, His teachings—they bring eternal life. Real life. If our hope is centered in this life, in what we will have while we are here, then we will forever be disappointed. But if we hope for what we do not have, if we believe God is for us, then we can wait patiently for what He has promised. Our ability to endure hardship is almost limitless—if we have the confidence to live in hope.” Tricia Lott Williford

“It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent.” Jeremy Taylor

"God delights in doing things that are ‘too hard’ for man to do as we put our trust in Him. We will never put Him in a proverbial box of our own making, however, He states, ‘no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) BHY

“It’s not our work, nor is it a matter of working for Him. It’s His work, and it’s a matter of His working through us. Jesus is continuing to do His work and teach His truths just as surely as He did in the Gospels. It’s by His Spirit and through Hs people like you and me.” Robert J. Morgan

“Your God’s not absent, distant, impotent. Your God’s vigilant, infinite, omnipotent, and intimate.” Ann Voskamp

“As a believer in Jesus walking in His will, the task ahead of you is never as great as the Power behind you. In Him is the strength to accomplish all He asks for us to do. Lean in and on Him. He will never let the righteous fall.” BHY

“The moment you are ready to quit is usually the moment right before the miracle occurs.” Kristen Welch

“Because our God moves, these mountains can move.” Ann Voskamp

Heart Savor

The Lion Roars

  • We are never to be lacking in zeal but keep our spiritual fervor serving the Lord.
  • We are to be zealous for the Lord’s great Name – through His power for His glory.
  • Create in me a pure heart and a steadfast spirit Oh Lord.