excerpts from Anointed for Business by Ed Silvoso

p162
we have no problem believing that Satan was able to defile the entire creation by introducing sin into the lives of adam and eve. this is sound doctrine and every Christian wil agree with it. However, we do not accept the idea that that grace introduced into our lives by jesus can redeem the same creation...
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p160
Gideon was neither valiant nor a warrior. He was gathering grain and preparing to flee. Nevertheless the angel of God called him a mighty warrior. Why? Because God always has a higher opinion of us than the one we have of ourselves. he is able to see us, not through the grim grid of past failures, but through the pristine prism of future victories He has in store for us.

yet "The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14)

how much strength did Gideon have? practically none, but God was not interested in his strength; rather, he was concerned about his obedience. Even though Gideon was full of doubts, he did everything the Lord asked him to do. he tore down the altars in his father's house. he did it at night for fear of his neighbours - but he did it. He put a fleece before God, asking for a sign; and when he got the sign, he asked for confirmation because he was still buffeted by doubts. when the Lord told him to go to the enemy's camp and to take his servant with him if he was afraid, he took his servant. so we can see that he was afraid; nonetheless, he went. Obedience in spite of fear is what made Gideon such a hero. he was not by nature a brave man, but he was obedient by choice, and as a result a nation was delivered.

p163
when Gideon and his servant arrived at the enemy's camp, they heard enemy soldiers talk about a dream where a mighty deed brought down the camp of the Midianites. The person who had been given the dream asked for an explanation and was unequivocally told that the interpretation was that they had been delivered into the hands of Gideon and his sword. Gideon was not holding a sword at the moment, nor was he ready to strike. But God had already convinced his enemies that the victory had been awarded to him. God not only had a higher opinion of Gideon than he had of himself, but God spoke better of him than Gideon spoke of himself.

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p169
Sin is never acceptable. daniel and joseph understood this. Joseph went to jail rather than succumb to sexual immorality. daniel and his companions turned down the king's food on one occasion and faced the fiery furnace on another rather than compromise their convictions. How much God can entrust in you is determined by how much sin you refuse to take from the devil and the flesh. the reverse of this is also true: Yielding to sin drives you away from God, His love and His provision.