Valor - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Nov 9
- 9 min read
Valor
Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
Intro: Today, we observe Veterans Day. It is a day where bravery, courage and valor are celebrated.
Valor is not a word you hear every day.
DEFINITION: Valor - strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness; heroic courage.
We find the word “valour” 37 times in the King James Bible.
We find the phrase "mighty men (or man) of valour” 29 times.
The Hebrew word for “valour” is the word chayil (Pronounced khah’-yil)
It means strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army; ability
That word is also translated:
· army – 56 times
· valiant – 13 times
· hosts – 14 times
· forces – 19 times
· power – 9 times
It is a word that is used almost exclusively for those familiar with the challenges of battle.
It is a word that speaks of a generation that did not receive a participation trophy.
It is a word that is foreign to snowflakes, whiners and quitters.
It is a word that embodies character, integrity, loyalty, virtue and honor.
It is a description that every person should covet.
Every child should be trained to strive to be labeled.
It is a title given to few.
It is a character trait earned by a very small percentage of humanity.
It is a quality that is not appreciated enough.
It is a goal that is not strived for enough.
It is a word that built this nation.
It is a word that embodies the American dream and ideal.
Look at the definition again: Valor - strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness; heroic courage.
Websters 1828 Dictionary defines VALOR as: Strength of mind in regard to danger; that quality which enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery; courage; intrepidity; prowess.
“strength of mind or spirit”
Valor is not based on one’s athletic ability.
Valor is not determined by a person’s physical attributes.
· QUOTE: “Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.”
A child can have valor.
A woman can have valor.
A senior citizen can be a person of valor.
Age is irrelevant.
One’s physique is unimportant.
Physical strength is not required.
Valor is a word that describes a person’s mindset and spirit in regard to danger.
A person with valor has the strength of mind to fight for what is right.
A person with valor has the strength of spirit to do what needs to be done.
It boils down to conviction and character to face the adversity.
It’s one thing to say you believe in something; it is another thing to have the courage and firmness to defend it; to protect it; to stand against those that would try to strip it away from you.
Today, we honor the Americans that will put themselves at risk to defend the freedoms and liberties we love in this country.
It is rare today to find people that are not intimidated by danger.
It is rare today to find preachers that are not intimidated by opposition or adversity.
It is getting harder and harder to find men today that will sacrifice themselves if necessary to defend that which is true, and right, and just.
There are a few, but many of them are what Jesus called “hirelings.”
John 10
· 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
· 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
· 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
There is a shortage of valor in the pews across this nation.
There is a shortage of valor in the pulpits of our churches.
Of all the examples that we could examine this morning, we will focus on just one mighty man of valor.
His name was Gideon.
On the surface, he might not appear to be a man of valor.
But God called him a “mighty man of valour.” So he was.
Looking at the story of Gideon, we can all be encouraged.
A. You can have Valor in spite of your Faith
No less than three times, Gideon expressed doubt.
· 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
· 17 then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
· 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
· 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece…
B. You can have Valor in spite of your Family
· 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
· 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
C. You can have Valor in spite of your Fear
1. He was afraid of the Angel of the Lord – vs. 20-23
2. He was afraid of the Assignment of the Lord – vs. 25-27
· QUOTE: “Valor is when the fire inside burns hotter than the fear outside.” — Unknown
I. Valor is Fulfilling Duty regardless of the Unpopularity – 6:25-30
There was no part of this assignment from God that would endear him to anybody.
· QUOTE: “Valor grows in the heart of those who choose duty over desire.” — Anonymous
A. His duty to God would put him at odds with his Father.
· God wanted him to kill one of his father’s seven-year-old bulls.
· God wanted him to throw down his father’s altar to Baal.
· God wanted him to cut down his father’s grove that was beside it.
Any one of these would have gotten him in a world of trouble.
But all three? There was no coming back from this one act of obedience.
B. His duty to God would put him at odds with his Family. (vs. 27 - his father’s household)
His father’s household was his mama; his sisters; his brothers; his entire family.
He was about to be the black sheep of his family. No question about it.
C. His duty to God would put him at odds with his Friends. (vs. 27 – the men of the city)
Was he afraid? Absolutely.
· QUOTE: “Valor is doing what must be done even when you’re terrified.”
— Gen. Douglas MacArthur
These were his peers; neighbors; co-workers; lifelong friends; the men he saw everyday.
They would never look at him the same again.
· QUOTE: “The highest form of valor is obedience to God when it costs everything.” — Vance Havner
This one act of obedience would create a permanent stigma.
In fact, his dad changed his name after this one event. (vs. 32)
It turns out that Gideon’s obedience did something miraculous in the heart and mind of his father.
II. Valor is Faithful Dedication regardless of the Uncommitted – 7:4-8
Gideon’s dedication to God’s call was not based on the number of people standing with him.
His commitment was not diminished one iota with 300 that what it was when he had 32,000.
His morale didn’t hinge on the number of people standing with him.
His attitude was not contingent on his support group or the number of “besties” in his corner.
He didn’t chase down the deserters.
He didn’t renegotiate the terms of employment.
He didn’t sweeten the pot with a lot of promises.
He let them walk.
I am impressed with a person’s commitment to truth, especially when they are in the minority.
If you let quitters, compromisers and phonies determine your degree of faithfulness, you won’t do much.
· QUOTE: “The greatest valor is to stand firm for righteousness when the world bows to wrong.”
— Charles Spurgeon
NOTE: If you abandon your principles because your friends abandon you, you don't have any principles.
Down through the years, I have seen a lot of people come and go.
I’ve said a lot of goodbyes.
I have watched men that I trusted turn and walk away without an explanation or an apology.
But I didn’t get in this thing because of them, and I won’t get out because of them.
As the song says; “Though no one join me, still I will follow!”
REMEMBER: Valor is not measured by the size of your army; it is measured by the strength of your mind and spirit to encounter danger with firmness
III. Valor is Focused Discipline regardless of the Unlikelihood
Humanly speaking, they had no chance to win.
The size of the opposition was innumerable.
· 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
· QUOTE: “Valor is endurance for one moment more.”— George S. Patton
Gideon knew something that nobody else knew.
Notice how many times God had promised him victory.
A. The Confirmation of the Declaration
· 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
· 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
· 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
B. The Confirmation of the Dew
· 6:36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
· 6:37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
C. The Confirmation of the Deserters
· 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
D. The Confirmation of the Dream – 7:13-15
· 7:9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
· 7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
· 7:14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
· 7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
The tactics and strategy Gideon used were completely ridiculous.
NOTE: God's definition of victory is not impacted by human aspects such as crowds and tactics. It is based solely on obedience.
They went to battle with a clay pitcher in one hand and a trumpet in the other.
But the enemy does not determine the success of God’s people.
The devil says, “That won’t work.”
The enemy says, “You won’t be able to do anything with that!”
The world says, “But you don’t have a degree from an accredited, highly respected institution.“
"You don’t have enough people.”
“You still use the King James Bible.”
“You still name sin and preach on holiness.”
“You still knock on doors and run busses.”
“You still sing the old hymns and dress modest.”
“You can’t do anything with that!”
“You’re no match for us!”
But – if God be for us, who can be against us?