When God repeats a word or message in the Bible, He is telling us something important.

Today's episode is a continuation of God's message for us to reclaim your personal sovereignty. Why? Because it's critically important for what God is calling you to do. The stakes will only get higher if you fail the test, and they will also get higher if you pass. God always rewards you when you pass.

In episode #361 Kim shared the four tests that one must pass as requirements for reclaiming your sovereignty and how Bartimaeus was confronted with and passed the tests. Today we take a look at how Gideon was faced with the same test in the book of Judges.

The Law of Sovereignty/ The Law of Forfeiture

To forfeit something is to lose the right to own or possess something typically because you violated some rule or law. Adam and Eve forfeited their right to govern the earth and became ruled by the god of this world. Christians know that it was Jesus who set us free so that we could take back our lives and live according to God's original intent. This is yet another description of the law of sovereignty, or to put another way the law of forfeiture.

Don’t be alarmed by this statement that "your life is up for grabs". Compared to an automobile, you are either moving forward or you are moving backwards. However, there is no gear called "neutral" in your life as there is in a car. It's up to you to take control of the gear shift. If we are not intentionally moving forward, then we will eventually digress or default to the way were.

That is the premise of the law of sovereignty and forfeiture… to take complete and total control of how you think, what you feel, how you decide, how you act and how you emote. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR BLAME when you are in control of your life. Jesus never blamed anyone!

Let's review the tests required for reclaiming your sovereignty and how they relate to Gideon. They include the test of Necessity, Internal Conflict, Freewill, and Opposition. Gideon was the 5th of 12 judges in Israel. Judges followed the book of Joshua and describes how Israel moves from victory (Joshua) to defeat (Judges) -- from freedom to bondage.

At the time God called Gideon to judge Israel, Israel did what we evil in the sight of the Lord and was ruled by Midian. The Midianites desecrated the land, and Israel was poverty stricken so they cried out to the Lord. The law of necessity; Israel was desperate. When God approached Gideon, Gideon blamed God for the present situation that he and the Israelites were in. Fortunately, Gideon grew out of blaming God and recognized that he was enough to fight Midian despite never being battle-tested. Gideon passed the test of necessity.

Gideon experienced inner conflict. He doubted that he possessed what was required to defeat Midian… until Gideon saw the angel of the Lord. Then God tested Gideon and asked him to pull down the altar of Baal and the sacred pole that belonged to his father. Gideon was willing to forfeit his relationship with his father. He did what God commanded him to do and passed the test of inner conflict.

Gideon also passed the tests of freewill and opposition. He willingly and voluntarily complied with God's commands, including the destruction of the altar as well as engaging in battle with the Midianites. He was opposed by the Israelites who wanted to kill him for tearing down Baal's altar. When God told Gideon to attack the camp, He strengthen Gideon by allowing him to go down and hear what his enemies were saying about their battle with Israel. Gideon overcame his fears; he trusted God that he agreed to an army of 300 men equipped with trumpets and empty jars with torches.

Gideon took control of his circumstances and offered them to God, so that he could operate in God's will. Like Gideon, we are called to own our circumstances, offer them to God, and operate in His divine will.

God gave Gideon and Israel the victory. Gideon passed the tests.

Judges 6:1-32; 7:9; 8:22