1 Sam 2

And the child Samuel went on growing both in stature and in goodness, both in favor of God and also with men. 1 Samuel 2:26

And Samuel served before Jehovah, a child girded with a linen ephod. 1 Samuel 2:18

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52


As we read, Samuel’s life was a life consecrated to the Lord. He was to belong to the Lord from day one. Samuel would be Israel’s greatest prophet. In his life time he would appoint the first king of Israel and the greatest king of Israel. His life seems to have remained pure the entire time. He would set up multiple schools of ministry and prophesy. The key is, he started when he was young. Compare 1 Samuel 2:26 to Luke 2:52 in your Bibles. The similarities are remarkable! How great would it be if someone read about your life and it looked like the life of Jesus!

1 Samuel 2:18 gives us this sweet picture of the boy Samuel, going around the temple in a linen ephod (The garb of a priest). I picture this little guy going around, looking like all the other priests, seemingly busy but carefree just like a child. One might say he was in a bit over his head, wearing all that fancy stuff. I remember when I was a kid I would enjoy setting up a little office. I had all the requirements: a derby cap, a phone book (because it looked official), a desk, and my favorite, a magnifying glass. Of course everybody knows that those combinations of items cannot get any real business done, but none the less, it looked like what business men did in my 6 year-old mind. Now picture Samuel, this little guy going about the Lord’s business. Must of looked funny, but I guarantee he was making an impact.

It challenges me. What did Samuel have in that little mind that made his ministry so sweet? What does Jesus tell us we need to be like to enter the kingdom of heaven? Samuel had a child like mind. He was focused on helping, whether he really could or not, and that was laired with ignorance and innocence. As you grow and become adults the world pushes you to pursue fancy titles. I believe there is something to be learned from Samuel. I am not saying studying, college, and jobs are bad, but keep in mind that in the Lord’s perspective, we are still children. We can accomplish these great things for a business and we can get these big jobs done as we become adults, but does God really need our help? Are we not like Samuel still? Remember, whatever ministry you find yourself doing, God is doing the work. I am humbled every time I teach, share a devo, and speak into your lives. Gang, I really have nothing to offer except Jesus. I have nothing to offer Jesus except for the fact that HE died for me and therefore I can come to Him. Stay humble, stay a child, and you too will grow in favor with God and man.

1st Samuel 1

Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

(1Sa 1:11)

This chapter marks a period of transition for the children of Israel. In it we see the birth of Samuel, a young man born with a great call upon his life, created to fulfill a very specific purpose. Samuel is the last of Israel’s judges, and the first of their prophets. He would also be the one to anoint the first 2 kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel’s life is an incredible picture of how God can use one committed person to completely transform a nation.

We see that Samuel’s story begins before he is even in the womb! What an incredible thought, God knew of Samuel long before he had even been thought of, long before he began to grow in his mother’s womb. The question mark wasn’t what God had planned for Samuel; it was what Samuel would do with all that God had planned for Him. Listen to what the Lord said to Jeremiah when He called him. “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."” (Jer 1:4-5) Before God had formed Jeremiah, He knew Jeremiah and had a plan for his life. I would venture to say that God has a plan for all of us, and that plan has long been ordained. The question for us is simple; will we obey Him? As we enter the study of the life of Samuel, I can’t help but think about Samson, and the way he threw away the plan God had for his life; chasing the lusts of his flesh rather than the heart of God.

What about You? God has a plan for your life; will you follow Him as He leads you into it, or will you run the other way? Fulfilling your calling is as simple as OBEYING THE LORD. Often we run around saying “what is God’s will for my life”? If we would just focus on Jesus and following Him, it would come naturally. I love Samuel’s life, because all He did was follow the Lord… Love the Lord and worship the Lord right where he was at. God did great things through Samuel without Samuel ever having to seek them.

Boys and girls, where does God have you right now? Are you going to follow Him WHERE YOU ARE, or are you going to chase after your own desires? The best advice I think I could ever give you about discerning God’s will is this: BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED. Don’t fret with where you are, are where your life is going; focus on WHAT you are (a little Christ) and WHAT you should be doing (following Him). The rest is just details!

Ruth 4

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife;

(Ruth 4:13)

To me, this is the “happily ever after” to one of the greatest pictures of God’s Love that we have in the scriptures. A woman from Moab, a woman who suffered greatly, brought into the family of God, married by a wonderful man, to one day become the great-grandmother of David; the ancestor of Jesus. She went from rags to riches, from a life of ruin to a glorious recovery. God took what was broken, what was worthless, what was wasted… and He turned it into something beautiful.

This is what God does, it is “His business”. He is all about REDEMPTION. Buying back the things He made, wasted broken things; and restoring them to the beauty He intended for them. Ruth’s story is my story, it is your story, it is the story of every person who has ever put their trust in Jesus Christ. From condemned sinner to child of God; Jesus Christ transforms people’s lives EVERY DAY.

This is the work that the Lord is doing in all of His creation. Sin entered the world and wrecked it. Sin has marred this world, scarred this world, twisted and destroyed the world. It has taken what God made to be good and beautiful, and turned it into a tragic mess. The book of Romans tells us that our world is crying out to God for REDEMPTION; longing to be “bought back” and restored to its original beauty. That day is coming. One day, the Lord will complete His work of redemption. In that day there will be no more sin, and no more suffering. All things will be made new, and life will never be the same. The Bible tells us that in that day, we won’t need the sun for the Lord will be our light. It says that a wonderful river will flow from Jerusalem, healing the land and bringing life to all things… Even purifying the Dead Sea.

Our God is all about LIFE. I think that we often forget that. People ask things like, “how could a loving God send people to HELL?!?!” They ask as if God WANTS to see people go to hell. Those people don’t know my God. He is taking this world, this sinful world that is sending ITSELF to hell; and He is offering it life, one person at a time. God’s story isn’t one of condemnation, and history isn’t just a series of tragedies. HIStory is the story of a loving God, and just how far He will go to save the “RUTH’S” of this world. I hope you can share this love story with all those you come to know in this life... The story of a God that loved this world so much, that He gave His ONLY SON to die for it!

Ruth 3

Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."

(Rth 3:18)

Boaz had the opportunity to redeem Ruth, to buy her back and make her his bride. Before he did this, he had to get things cleared with the one guy who was a closer relative and therefore had the right of first refusal. There was no inheritance for Boaz, no treasure, the only motive in it for him was love. For Ruth, it was everything. It meant security, protection, love, and provision. Boaz could provide Ruth with everything she needed, and he was in no way OBLIGATED to do this. It was his choice.

As the events unfold here, I love the advice that Naomi gives to Ruth. She tells her to “sit still… for the man will not rest until he has concluded this matter”. It applies to us. When it comes to our salvation, there is nothing we can do to earn it. We have everything to gain, but like Boaz… God has nothing but love to motivate Him. WE KNOW THAT GOD LOVES US. And so, like Ruth, we can wait for the Lord, we can sit… knowing that HE WILL NOT REST until He has accomplished all that He has set out to do.

What a picture of love, of pure love Boaz gives us. It is like Jesus! All we must do is lay ourselves at His feet, knowing that He will take care of us, He will see to it that we are provided for. May we learn from Ruth, and the rest that she had as she waited on Boaz. The work is in the Lord’s hands… all we need to do is submit ourselves to Him! Know this today… the Lord loves you, and He is working on your behalf. If you will wait on Him, He will not rest until He has accomplished His will in your life.

MY FRIENDS, WAIT ON THE LORD!!!

Ruth 2

And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

(Ruth 2:11-12)

Ruth had found a refuge in the Lord. His wings provided her with a safety and security that she could find no other place. As a person living in the presence and under the protection of the Lord, Ruth was beginning to experience His PROVIDENCE. This concept of providence is important for us to understand. It is the idea that God “provides” for us, and makes preparation for our future according to His foresight.

This chapter opened up with a picture of God’s providence, leading Ruth to the fields of Boaz, and causing him to provide her with such excellent conditions to glean in. For those of us who trust in the Lord, we can be sure that the providence of God is at work in our lives. There is no luck, and no accidents. There is no such thing as mere happenstance… when we are following the Lord, our every step is ordered. If Ruth had not submitted herself to the LORD and followed Naomi to Israel, she would have never experienced this providential work of God. You see God was working, and He had a plan for Ruth… but that plan could never be realized if Ruth wasn’t willing to TRUST IN HIM.

The providence of God does not work exclusively, forcing men to live lives against there will. Instead it works in concert with an obedient heart, the out workings of a love relationship between God and His child. It is interesting to note that the phrase “under His wings” can also mean “under the edge of His garment”… a reference to being taken as ones wife. Ruth had professed her love and commitment to Naomi and Naomi’s God; now Ruth was experiencing the blessings of relationship with that God; He was a husband to her, a lowly widow.

In the Gospels, Jesus told us that He longed to gather His children like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings; but the children would not be gathered. Friends, remember this! We can’t be resisting the work of the Lord on the one hand, and expect God’s provision, preparation, and protection for the future on the other. The place where we see God really working in a beautiful way is within REAL RELATIONSHIP. How is your relationship with the Lord? Are you seeking refuge in the shadow of His wings? Do you love Him with your heart, your soul, your mind and strength? Are you following Jesus, or are you headed another direction?

Ruth would have never experienced God’s providence like this if she had stayed in Moab. It was following the Lord that brought her to the place she was in. Follow the Lord; don’t be content to remain where you are. I guarantee you that if you are following Jesus, God in His providence will be working behind the scenes to guide and direct your steps!

Ruth 1

But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

(Ruth 1:16-17)

In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful literary statements ever made. It expresses the deepest form of commitment and love, a willingness to abandon all for the sake of another. I think most people have heard it before in one form or another, even if they have never read the Bible. It is similar to marriage vows, expressing the same concept of “till death do us part”.

The background to this statement is ESSENTIAL in understanding all that Ruth was really saying. We see here in this chapter that Elimelech took his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion to Moab because of the famine in Israel. They were strangers in a strange land, and there the boys met their wives; Orpah and Ruth. As the years rolled on Elimelech dies, and then Mahlon and Chilion die. Naomi is left with no family in a foreign land. As she takes in all that is going on around her, she decides that it is time to head back to Israel… the only family she has left is back in her land.

Orpah has no problem with this, she will stay with her people in Moab, Naomi can return to Israel. Ruth on the other hand is a different story. She doesn’t want to leave her mother in-law… she LOVES her mother in law. This is when she proclaims this glorious statement of commitment.

Naomi had nothing to offer Ruth but herself… yet Ruth loved her so much she followed here. Jesus has everything to offer us, yet we rarely follow him. These words should provide us with a framework for the kind of commitment the Lord wants from us… To follow Him wherever He goes, to call His people our people, to never leave Him in this life. If He is truly our LORD, we should be more than willing to live this way. Ruth gives us a model for a proper relationship to the Lord… Unconditional commitment.

Judges 21

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

(Jdg 21:25)

We have talked about this verse a little bit already, but as the closing verse of this book, it sums things up rather nicely. We have a word in the English language that means the same thing as this verse. When there is no authority and everyone does whatever they want, we call it Anarchy. Anarchy always leads to a state of chaos, and ultimately ends in oppression of one sort or another.

The saddest thing to me is that all of this was so unnecessary… God wanted to be their king; He wanted them to live under a “Theocracy”; to be a people who were truly governed by God. The word “Israel” means just that in the Hebrew language, GOVERNED BY GOD. When the Israelites threw off God’s authority from their lives, they truly had no king, no leadership at all. They had been given laws by God to show them what it meant to love God and your neighbor, but they ignored those laws and chose to love themselves.

These people threw out the standard… rather than asking what God thought about something, they did whatever felt good and right to them. The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitfully wicked and NO ONE can know it. These people were “following their hearts” and it led them over and over again into sin, idolatry, bondage, and suffering. These people needed a leader, someone who would rise up and lead them back to the Lord. They needed someone who would remind them of the blessing that comes with obedience, someone who could be a mouthpiece for God.

In our world today, we are in a state of spiritual anarchy… from every side we are being told to “just do it” and to “obey our thirst”. Living this way will lead us into the same things it brought upon Israel. Will you be that mouthpiece? Will you point people back to Jesus? Will you be honest with others about where following your heart really gets you?

When we start 1 Samuel, we will see that Samuel was that man… the greatest of the judges, and the first of the prophets. In Ruth we will see what God can do for an individual in the midst of a culture that is so rotten… may it encourage you!

Judges 20

So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.

(Jdg 20:1)

There is nothing that will bring people back to a place of seeking the Lord like a sudden unexpected tragedy. As humans we go out, and we do our thing; “whatever is right in our own eyes”… we don’t think we will ever really have to pay the consequences.

The whole society had been living this way when SHOCK!!! Out of nowhere they were confronted with just how wicked their actions had really gotten. A piece of this poor concubine sent to each tribe, and they all gather together. Notice what this verse says… when they gathered together they were as ONE MAN before the LORD.

It took tragedy to unite them, and their unity wasn’t found in their self seeking, self serving lifestyle… it was found in a place of brokenness before the Lord.

I often hear the question asked, “Why does God allow Evil?” The VA Tech question has brought it up again. Maybe we are asking the wrong question… maybe the question to ask is “why did this happen?” The concubine, Columbine, V-Tech, or the Tsunami… we can ask WHY?!?!

The answer to all of these, in different ways is the same: SIN. Sin is the cause of the evil and destruction we see in the world, God told us it would be this way. He told Adam, “If you eat it, you will surely die”. Sin entered the world, and it has been destroying lives ever since. The answer to the “why do bad things happen to good people” question is simple as well; there are no good people. We are all sinners, and SIN doesn’t play favorites. Neither does the devil.

The hope in all of this what we see here in Judges 20:1. In the midst of the tragedy, we see triumph. The people turn AS ONE back to the Lord. As those who walk with Jesus, may we share the love Christ with those asking “why” in the wake of this most current tragedy, and point them to the who that can defeat death once and for all!

Judges 19

This chapter is grim, and it gives you a sick feeling in your stomach just to read it. I believe that the main reason it is included here in Judges is to give us an idea of just how ugly things got in Israel when “every man did what was right in his own eyes”. Chapters 17 – 21 are not necessarily in chronological order… (IE they don’t necessarily follow 16) At the end of Samson the next judge to arise was Samuel. He was the greatest of the judges, and the first of the prophets. He would be the one to anoint David as king.

These chapters show us what was going on culturally for Israel; just how radically their idolatry had affected their morality. When we lose God as the center of our life, then we abandon any sort of moral compass. We lose a sense of right and wrong, we lose touch with the pulse of God’s heart. It becomes all about what I want rather than all about what the Lord wants.

This chapter is full of examples of selfish living, and what it gets you. The concubine selfishly went seeking love outside of marriage, leading her husband the Levite on a wild goose chase. In the end, she ends up dead. The Levite chooses to turn her over for the townspeople’s pleasure rather than face them himself… and he loses the very love he had been chasing. The men of Gibeah sought to fulfill there own flesh, and as we will see tomorrow it cost them big time. The nation of Israel was falling apart, their culture was disintegrating. The reason for this was that the people had stopped seeking the Lord, and begun to seek to satisfy their own desires.

Guys and girls, I know Hector and I say this a lot; maybe we even sound like a broken record at times… BUT PLEASE, DON’T EVER THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT WITHOUT THE LORD. Look how fast it turned the people of God into a group that looks like Sodom and Gomorrah. We need Jesus; we need to feed on Him EVERY DAY. So think about it long and hard; what are you seeking?

Judges 18

“So he said, ‘You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have,” (Judges 18:24).

The last two chapters have very slowly built around this story. It seems uneventful and rather personal for a story in Judges. I find it quite sad as we examine the life of this man Micah. It becomes apparent that something is wrong, especially when we read the verse above. Do we have any gods in our lives? What is the difference between a false god and gift from God?

1. A false god is man made. “You have taken away me gods which I have made…” It is something which you have created because you were not allowing the Lord to fulfill your life. I find lukewarm Christians often have many gods in their life. They follow Jesus because they know He is the truth. Micah knew the God of Israel, but he wanted false gods as well. Soon he was living for his gods. Our God is a jealous God who is not given to spiritual polygamy. We are to be dedicated to Him and Him alone. Do you find that there are things in your life which cause that not to be true? Do you find there are things in your life which takes the place of your time with Jesus? A spiritual gift, something the Lord blesses you with, does not take time from Jesus but reminds you to spend time with Jesus.

2. A false god is something you lean upon and put faith in. A gift from God is something which can be taken away, because ultimately, you are leaning on the Lord. I need to be careful that I do not lean on my own means and make a god out of them. Sasha, my little blue and white scooter, is a gift. However I know the Lord can take her away and I would recover. Because right now Tommy has taken her away, and I’m okay with this… In a more practical sense people rely on money, other people, and numerous forms of false gods. If you find that there is something in your life you cannot live without and Jesus and could not replace, there is a problem.

Allow no false gods in your life. Rely on Jesus. Allow Him to be the one thing that ultimately matters. If He blesses you with more, do not lean on those things, but instead give glory to God. If he takes it away then you too will be able to utter the words of Job, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord.” If you do have a false god in your life, you will utter the words of Micah, “Now what more do I have?”

Judges 17

Ever wonder how religions get started? They start when a young man steals 1,100 pieces of silver from his mother, has a change of heart, and returns the 1,100 pieces of silver. In turn, the mother blesses him instead of curses, gives the money to the guy, and sets up a false god in the middle of their living room. This is how religions get started. Or maybe when a man has a vision of the angel MoronI and is "given" this book which only he received. This is possible. It could be when societies outcast is sitting in a cave and receives a message from an angel which tells him he is the great prophet. Either way, religions start in funny ways, and they typically have one purpose, to expand upon the truth.

"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his eyes" (Judges 17:6).

Religions start because one man does not want to sacrifice his life in the way the Bible tells us to. hey have no direction, therefore they do what is right in their own eyes. We live i a very frightening world today. We live in a world of absolute relativism, or complete randomness. There is no order in this world. We cannot say what is right and wrong because there are no morale absolutes. Abortion, homosexuality, sensual lifestyles run rampant because they are people's rights. Children are being taught evolution. Jesus cannot be mentioned in as public school.

All this is happening and people long for more. They fantasize about reality. In our lesson today we read of a man who created his own religion because he needed something more than 1,100 pieces of silver. He needed something he could see, something which was real. The world is full of Micah's. They are tired of what the world has offered. They are seeking something more, and that something is Jesus. Do not hide your light under anything. Be a light to this world. Pray for each other that we would be looking for opportunities daily to reach out to bless someone. Often times it will mean self sacrifice on our part, but that should be okay. Show someone Jesus, they do not need anymore relativism.

Judges 16

There is a lot in this chapter. Obviously, the story of Samson and Delilah is here. This is one of the saddest stories in the Bible. Samson is walking where he does not belong. He finds out the plight of Delilah, nevertheless, he is such a slave to sin that he allows himself to stay in this place of sin. What a sad testimony! In the end, Samson is brutally tortured. He is first tormented by the woman who betrays him. He is then taken by the Philistines and his eyes are gauged out. Finally, he is made a spectacle in front of his enemies. He then dies with the Philistines. Despite all this, we find his name mentioned in Hebrews 11, the hall of faith, "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David, and Samuel and the prophets," (Hebrews 11:32).


Rather than dwell on the obvious faults of Samson, let us focus on the good. Samson was born to be separated to the Lord. He obeyed this commandment partially. He never cut his hair in his entire life. He kept it long because he knew that his strength was not his to brag about. Consequently, we never find Samson bragging about his strength. We do find him bragging about his wits in chapter 15. We find him being a very resourceful individual as he found honey from a lion (who knows how he thought that one up), yanked a gate from a city, and tied together the tails of 300 foxes. Nevertheless, we never find him bragging about his strength because he knew it came from the Lord. This is something to remember. Do not brag about what the Lord gives you. What has h given you? Some of you are blessed with amazing skills in music. Some in sports. Others in dancing, drama, and art. Others are gifted in intelligence. Remember, whatever we have the Lord gave us, therefore, do not brag but give glory to God.

Another positive about Samson was that he knew he was judge of Israel. I honestly believe that we never find him with an Israeli woman because he never wanted to compromise the purity of his own people. Unfortunately, he was willing to live the life of sin himself. I have heard numerous stories of church leadership that preached against all these evil things, yet in secret was a slave to those same sins. Gang, pray for your church leadership. Pray for me. Pray for Tommy, Noel, and Mr. O'Keefe. Pray for your parents. We are all human, and all capable of sin when we are not following the Lord. When I here these stories it always grieves me. No doubt these men and women knew what was right. They would have never taught his or encouraged it, but they were a slave to it. Praise the Lord that God is gracious and forgiving! That, though their sins have found them out, God's grace has conquered those sins.

Finally,
through Samson's life we learn the power of repentance. He trusted that the Lord could give him the strength at any time. He knew God could empower him again. Here he was, made a clown for all to see, though he himself could see none. Imagine the time he had to think over his life! He prays for the Lord, he shoves the pillars, and down goes all the Philistines. Judges tells us that 3000 Philistines were on the roof of this thing. Many more were below it! Samson had faith in his God at the end of his life. Whatever you have to regret today, praise God God is faithful even when we are not. Praise Jesus for grace. It continually pours down on us and that is why we are going up to Him!

Judges 15

I have never tried to catch a fox before but I have chased a dog around for hours. I never did catch that mutt. Yet Samson managed to catch 300 foxes in this chapter! He kills countless Philistines. Later he kills 1000 Philistines. All of this is done, not by stopping and considering the Lord's will, but through emotion.

After an emotional wedding day which involved killing 30 men for their clothes to pay off a bet, Samson heads home. He has time to rethink his actions. He comes back to get his wife. He is then told that his wife was given away to some other guy. This in turn causes Samson to catch 300 foxes and send them out in pairs. He apparently placed a slow burning fuse on their tails causing them to run wildly through the Philistines farming country and burn down their fields. Consequently, Samson's anger was extinguished, but the Philistines Fields would not be, and neither would his wife. They sent her up in flames as a result, and this rekindled the anger. He then went on a killing spree.

The stories in this lesson seem far fetched and out of control. Here is the strongest man ever to live, and he cannot control his emotions. The result: thousands die. Now I do not know about you but at first glance I think to myself, "This is ridiculous." Consider it. Emotions are a powerful thing. They can be friend and foe. They can determine what we act like. They can even cause someone to walk into a town and kill 30 men for their clothes, or perhaps walk into a university and kill 30 men because their girlfriend left them. Emotions still exist today and Satan will use them against us. Consider it, if you had no walls to hold in your emotion, what you would act like. If I were emotion controlled today, I would be in a very different place.

Jesus works beyond our emotions. Why? Because Jesus replaces our emotions. He replaces happiness with joy, in both good times and bad. He replaces calm with peace. He replaces selfish "love" with non-selfseeking love (Look up 1 Cor 13 for true definition). Most of all, he replaces us with Him. Without Jesus, I am just as capable of doing everything Samson did, except not nearly strong enough. I am just as capable of doing what that poor soul at V-Tech did, just because his emotions got the better of him. I am just as capable of ruining my life except for the fact that Jesus has restored it. The glass can only spill what it contains. Are you filled with emotion? Or are you filled with Jesus?

Judges 14

Compromise:

We find the beginning of Samson's fall here in chapter 14. He is a Nazirite. He is to be set apart. He is to be married to his own people, the people of Israel. Samson is out one day spying over the land of the Philistines. He then sees the Philistine woman. What does he do? He immediately goes and seeks counsel from his parents.

First of all, Samson was a man and he should of sought counsel from the Lord. All of Israel was prohibited from marrying outside their people, what made Samson think he was different. Have you ever went and asked one of your parents for something? They tell you "NO" so you go and ask another parent. This is Samson. He knows his heavenly father has already shut the door, therefore he goes and convinces his parents to clear his conscience. He ends up putting his own life into danger, the would be wife into danger, and his parents into danger. This is what our works an conniving produces.

One sin leads to another sin. I believe God sent that lion to get Samson's attention. God was saying, "Samson go another direction. I have a plan for you not to join the Philistines but to defeat them." Samson responds by killing the Lion, which was not lawful for a Nazirite. They were to be set apart, not in any contact with dead carcasses. Samson of course realized this. Still, after killing the animal, he returns again to the dead carcass! After disobeying the Lord once, it was becoming easier and easier to do it again.

Finally, we see the end of the story. Samson is about to marry this girl. He plans a foolish little game with the Philistines. If he wins, he gets a gift card to the Gap, if they win, they get a gift card to the Gap. Samson has the game underwraps when the Philistines find Samson's greatest weakness. They send his wife to get the information out of him. Remember, later in our story we will see the Philistines using this same technique to conquer Samson once and for all. If Samson only knew what he was getting himself into the moment he decided to disobey the Lord. Of course, Samson spills the beans, and has to resort to stealing the gift card in order to give it.

Gang, I know there are numerous different things on all our hearts. For some its
college which is right around the corner. For others it is just getting through the next day of school or work. And still, when we go through these things there is even more on all our minds always tugging day by day. Remember, just follow Jesus. Do not disobey. Do not step away from His direction. Do not connive. You know what the Lord has called and has not called you to do. That which He has called you, follow, even if it the harder choice. That which He has not called you to do, cut off immediately. And always remember to pray for each other through out the week.

Judges 13

Judges 13
Introduction to Samson

We remember that the word judge could also be translated deliverer. In Judges 13 we are introduced to one of Israel’s most unique deliverers, Samson. Israel had fallen into sin and consequently fallen into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years. God provides a man to deliver them from their hands.

From day one Samson had a special calling in his life. Here he was, in the womb of his mother, and the Lord is already commanding them to stay away from wine. He was to be a Nazirite and hold to th Nazirite vow. The word Nazirite means “to separate.” The idea is that the Nazirite vow was something anyone could do to say, “I am separated for the Lord’s work and the Lord’s will. To learn all the laws of the Nazirite vow read Numbers 6, as we will be talking a lot about it in the upcoming days.

Of course, we can see a parallel for us in our lives. No doubt we have liberty to do whatever we want, however, are you doing things that would separate your relationship with Christ or are you doing thing which separates you TO Christ.. Taking this vow was a form of saying, “God is enough for me.” I find that when I have both my eyes on Jesus, He is enough for me. I do not need anything else in the world, because the world grows dim when my eyes are on Him. However, when my eyes fall off of Jesus, I get insecure. Then I find myself needing everything the world has to offer, because I need to fill a void.

Separate yourselves to Christ. Be completely His. All of the fears of this world, all of the insecurities, all of the confusion is dies when both eyes are on Christ. You too have a Nazirite vow. You too are called to be “set apart.” “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,..” Live for Jesus, Live like Jesus, and Live with Jesus.

Judges 12

The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan before the Ephraimites arrived. And when any Ephraimite who escaped said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," then they would say to him, "Then say, 'Shibboleth'!" And he would say, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time forty-two thousand Ephraimites.

(Jdg 12:5-6)

Betrayed by their speech, the Ephraimites were unable to disguise themselves from the Gileadites. These Ephraimites were pretending to be something that they weren’t in order to escape the judgment that awaited them. The Gileadites had developed a way to uncover the truth beneath their disguise. The simple fact is, pretending can only go so far. Eventually, a person’s true colors will show.

I am reminded of Peter when he denied being a disciple of Jesus. It was his speech that betrayed him there as well. In both of these stories you have people pretending to be something they are not. This kind of a solution is never permanent; you can only keep up the charade for so long before it comes crashing down.

I can remember times when I was younger that I would try and disguise who I was in order to impress people… it rarely worked. One time, in an attempt to impress an older girl, it did work. She actually seemed to like me! Then it dawned on me in a flash… “If I want her to keep liking me, I’m going to have to keep up this stupid charade FOREVER!” It scared me so bad! I thought to myself, “No girl is worth changing my personality over”. I realized just how awful it would be to live a lie… but it didn’t cure me. As I got older I began to pretend to be a lot of things I wasn’t, and to pretend to NOT be doing some things I was. Eventual, my cover was blown… my true colors came shining through! As difficult as that was, it was really the best thing that could have happened to me. The Lord doesn’t want people who look like Him on the outside but are all messed up on the inside. He wants people who are honest about their failures, and recognize their need for Him. He wants people whose hearts are turned towards Him!

My dad used to say to me, “You can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool God ANYTIME”. This is so true! In light of this, I have one question for you: ARE YOU PRETENDING? Just how real is your Christian faith? Is it false? Is it just show to cover up what’s really going on? Or, do you have a real faith but hide it because you are afraid like Peter? Are you afraid to let the world know that you love Jesus? I pray that you would be sincere… that you would be real about who you are, and who the Lord is in your life. No room for hypocrisy, just humble faith in Jesus!

Judges 11

And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."

(Jdg 11:30-31)

When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it."

(Jdg 11:34-35)

The Holy Spirit had come upon Jephthah, he was prepared to do a great and glorious work for the Lord… then he opened his mouth and made a very foolish vow. “If you do this God, then I’ll sacrifice to you the first thing that comes out of my house when I get home”. This foolish vow cost Jephthah big time. The first thing that came out of his front door was his daughter!

Now he was in trouble, he had made a promise to the Lord, but this promise now involved something forbidden in the law… human sacrifice. The big question that surrounds all of this is pretty simple: Was God pleased with Jephthah’s sacrifice? I believe the answer to that question is NO. The real issue goes back even further than this… it is a question even more foundational. Did God want Jephthah to make any kind of vow at all? Does God ever want us to make these sorts of vows? “God, if you_____/then I will_____”… does that please Him?

I believe that the Lord doesn’t want vows from us at all; He is after a committed relationship! Not commitment to do things He never asked us to do… (Like how He never asked Jephthah to sacrifice ANYTHING) but a commitment to FOLLOW HIM, and to OBEY HIS COMMANDS.

I think sometimes we struggle with just what it is that the Lord requires of us, what He wants us to do. I often come back to this verse… No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Mic 6:8)

Don’t be stumbled by the events of this chapter… learn the lesson of thinking before you speak!

Judges 10

And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!" So the LORD said to the children of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines? Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress." And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray." So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

(Jdg 10:10-16)

That last bit of verse 16 is incredible. 10 words that reveal the heart of God… 10 words that demonstrate the truth found all throughout the New Testament. “His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel”. They had sinned so much… They had forsaken Him time and time again, yet He still loved them! As soon as they put away their idols and began to worship God again, His love flowed freely towards them. The Israelites did not change God’s mind, they just returned to a place where they could once again receive the love the Lord had always had for them!

One of the reasons I love this passage is because it dispels one of the greatest myths that exists in Christianity. That myth is the concept that the God of the Old Testament is somehow different from the God of the New Testament. People think that the God of the Old Testament was all about wrath and judgment, while the God of the New Testament is all about love and mercy. The truth is, God is all of these things, has always been all these things, and will always be these things. There is a place for judgment, a place where His wrath MUST be poured out… but at the very core of who God is, we find this amazing LOVE!

Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the same YESTERDAY, TODAY, and FOREVER. He doesn’t change! He is the one constant in all of life! Love is not some new gig that God got involved with in recent history; it has been at the core of who He is from the beginning. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is the most epic love story ever told. A story of a God who would not give up on a world that gave Him every reason to give up. Mankind blew it… we deserved death, and we STILL deserve death. But… God so loved the world, that He gave His ONLY SON… that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE. That is the God I know, and that is the God I love… He is found on every page of the Bible, and is at the very center of life. Without Him, there would be nothing… When we turn to Him, He fights for us. Look at Israel, and remember how much God loves you!

Don't Forget the cookout!

Judges 9

Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, "Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?' Remember that I am your own flesh and bone." And his mother's brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

(Jdg 9:1-4)

SELFISH AMBITION. Webster defines ambition as “a desire of excellence or superiority… an inordinate desire for power”. When we are ambitious for the Lord, ambitious to accomplish HIS will, HIS plans, and HIS purposes; it can be a beautiful thing. But when SELFISH AMBITION drives a man, it can cause him to do the UGLIEST THINGS. This is the story of Abimelech. Jealous of the positions of prominence held by his half brothers, he is driven to overthrow them… so he starts to sow seeds of dissension. He begins telling people why he would be better, why they should follow him and not others. He does not have the interests of the people of Shechem in mind... all he cares about is himself. His ambition is blind, blind to what it will do to him, and to his countrymen.

He hires worthless and reckless men, and in this we have a startling example of what selfish ambition can do.

WORTHLESS – The word used for worthless here means: empty, vain, having no morals or anything to offer that is of worth. The Lord wants us to have PURPOSE, to live lives of WORSHIP. When we pursue our own selfish desires, we end up surrounded by worthless, empty, vain things. All of our ambition comes up empty, no real satisfaction.

RECKLESS - The word used for reckless here means: bubbling, boiling, and frothing. It was used to denote people who were wild, undisciplined, arrogant, and devoid of any restraint. Like a pot of boiling water they frothed and foamed all over, uncontrolled and dangerous. – This is another thing that comes along with reckless pursuit of your own selfish desires. You arrogantly rush along, ignorant of the danger you are causing your self, ignoring the consequences of your decisions!

How different this is than the way that the Lord wants us to live. He wants us to PURSUE HIM, to SEEK HIS WILL and HIS KINGDOM, to be SOBER MINDED, and to choose HUMILITY rather than pride. Abimelech’s selfish ambition caused him to surround himself with EVIL COMPANIONS. On the contrary, our pursuit of the Lord should cause us to run to HOLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy; “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2Ti 2:22) Rather than Ambition we should all be chasing FAITH, LOVE, PEACE, and RIGTHEOUSNESS. The companions we should seek during this endeavor are not the reckless and worthless friends of Abimelech… they are those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Judges 8

Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian." But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you." Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. So they answered, "We will gladly give them." And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels' necks. Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

(Jdg 8:22-27)

This is definitely an interesting development in the glorious account of Gideon. He has just chased down the Midianites (15,000 of them had remained) and finished them of taking their kings. He punishes the men of Succoth and Penuel for their unbelief in the power of God, and unwillingness to participate. Then, after killing the two kings of the Midianites, Gideon is put in a weird spot… the people want to make him king!!!

We see 2 things happen here, first we see Gideon’s humble response (a good thing); then we see his misguided memorial (a bad thing). Gideon, having done so well as a man of faith blows it big time… it seems like a small mistake, but it prepares Israel for a return to Idolatry. He had it right, the LORD was to be their ruler, their leader… he was to call the shots and direct their steps. He had ordained a way for this to happen, by setting up the tabernacle in Shiloh. Gideon seems to have forgotten all about God’s plan for worship and leadership, and it leads him to a grave mistake.

Gideon creates an Ephod. This was something only to be worn by the High Priest; something only to be used at the tabernacle. He creates it as a sort of memorial to what God had done, and it creates problems. You see, instead of pointing these people back to GOD’S WAY, he constructs for them a shortcut, a sort of easy way out. Right their, in their own city, the people were given a way to seek the Lord and worship HIM. Only, pretty soon it wasn’t Him getting the worship; instead the whole thing turned into stinky old religion. IDOLATRY… a departure from truly seeking God, now they were worshipping a silly Ephod! Even Gideon was ensnared by this!!!

So what is the lesson in this for us? It is quite simple; don’t turn yesterday’s victories into today’s idols. Gideon had accomplished a lot, but his job wasn’t done… if only he had restored the worship as God had intended! Our work is never finished; there is always more the Lord would have us to do! I pray that you would never turn past victories into present day idols that keep you from future works the Lord has called you to do… That would be as tragic as the end of Gideon!

Judges 7

And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'

(Jdg 7:2)

Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place."

(Jdg 7:7)

When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.

(Jdg 7:22)

In our chapter today, we see the LORD reduce the size of Gideon’s army, so that the LORD can get the maximum amount of glory. Gideon, the man who was to afraid to thresh wheat in public, is now going to lead an army of 300 against the Midianite forces. What changed this man? What was it that transformed him into the “Mighty Man of Valor” that the Angel of the LORD had foreseen him as? I believe that what happened to Gideon was simple. For the first time, Gideon realized how great his God really was. It wasn’t the greatness of Gideon, but the greatness of the God he trusted that enabled him to do this amazing deed.

Sometimes I freak out about the tasks that I have in front of me. I think to myself, “how in the world am I going to do all this?!” I worry about seemingly little things because I can’t figure out how I am going to get them done with MY limited resources. THAT IS MY PROBLEM… I am looking at the problems I face and trying to solve them myself, rather than allowing the Lord to fight my battles for me. Gideon vs. the Midianites… an impossible battle; The Lord vs. the Midianites… a glorious victory.

The problem that we all deal with in this life, is failing to see our God for who He really is, and believing that He really can do what the Bible tells us He wants to do. The difference between the Israelites living on under oppression, or being set free from the enemy and idolatry was simple. All it took was one man willing to step out in faith, to believe the promises of God. No one with special powers, talents, abilities, or strategies… just a man who REALLY BELIEVES that God can do great things for His people.

God is looking for young men and women who really believe… who really believe that He means what He says, and that He can still do miraculous things today. You might not have any special powers, talents or abilities… but that means you are a prime candidate to be used by God! Just like Gideon, all He needs is for you to love Him, and listen to His voice. The rest is up to Him!

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, "HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD."

(1Co 1:26-31)

Judges 6

Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!"

(Jdg 6:11-12)

In this chapter we are introduced to Gideon. Of all of the Judges, I believe that he is my favorite… you see, he is just a normal guy. He describes himself as a weak nobody that comes from the weakest family in the weakest tribe of all of Israel (a currently weak country oppressed by formidable enemies). He can’t believe that God is really speaking to Him, and He can’t understand why things are going the way they are.

Gideon is no CAPTAIN COURAGE, in reality he is a very fearful guy. We first see him in a winepress trying to thresh wheat because he is AFRAID of the Midianites. Threshing wheat is something that needs WIND to take place. WIND is something you will never find in a winepress. His fear of the Midianites had made it impossible to do God’s work! Here he is, afraid to thresh wheat, and the angel of the Lord calls him a MIGHTY MAN OF VALOUR.

Beneath Gideon’s fear riddled exterior, the LORD saw a heart of faith… Faith that was currently dominated by fear, but faith none the less. The Lord begins to speak to Gideon, calling him to rise up as the deliverer, the judge HE will use to rid Israel of the Midianite oppression. He begins to build Gideon’s faith by proving His promises to be true. The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. There is absolutely no replacement for God speaking to a man; it is the only way a man can gain the faith needed to accomplish the works God has called him to do.

In Gideon, I see a man who is a perfect candidate to be used by God. No pride, no selfish ambition, just a guy sitting there saying “why me? Can you please pick someone else?” God can transform fear into faith, He can use the weak to confound the strong. As we study Gideon over the next couple of days, I pray your faith would be built, and you would be prepared to accomplish all that God calls you to do.

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

(Heb 11:32-34)

Judges 5

"When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD!

(Jdg 5:2)

"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength." So the land had rest for forty years.

(Jdg 5:31)

The book of Judges is like a roller coaster ride… a roller coaster ride with six hills and valleys. 6 times in the book of judges we will read that “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord”. This evil that they were doing was a return to idolatry, a refusal to submit to the Lordship of God, and a choice to do what was right IN THEIR OWN EYES. Six times we see the Israelites go from a right relationship with the Lord, to a state of idolatry. Every time the idolatry starts up again, the Lord sends oppressors their way. Then he sends a deliverer, a person who will DEFEAT the oppressors, and DRIVE OUT the idolatry. These deliverers are what we know as the JUDGES. There are 12 of them listed for us throughout the course of this book, each one playing an important role in returning Israel to a right relationship with YHWH. Our chapter today is the song of victory sung by judges number 4 and 5; Deborah and Barak.

When the leaders lead, and when the people willingly offer themselves as servants of the Lord, it is a glorious thing. Look at verse 31, it tells us that those who love the Lord are like the sun shining forth in its strength. This is what we see in the book of Judges; Periods of great victory and strength, followed by mournful defeat and loss. The common denominator in every period of oppression that we have recounted in this book is Idolatry and Rebellion, a refusal to submit to the authority of the Lord. The common theme in their deliverance is a return to life as God intended it, “leaders leading, and the people willingly offering themselves to the Lord.”

In this song, we see the victors shining forth like the sun. But if you flip to the next page, if you start reading the next chapter, you will see them right back where they started… idolatry, rebellion, everyone doing whatever THEY want to do, with no regard for what the LORD wants them to do. How do we keep from repeating this cycle in our own lives? How do we stay on the side of the victor, shining like the sun; and keep out of the position of the oppressed idolater, living in bondage to the enemy?

I think the solution is simple, but it is one that requires an active and constant obedience: We simply must willingly offer ourselves to the Lord. We need to be daily, decision by decision, choosing not our own will, but the will of the Lord. We need to walk in the Spirit, and not follow the desires of the flesh… We need to walk by faith. Maybe your group of friends is in need of a deliverer right now… someone who will call sin for what it is, and will point things back to Jesus and away from the sinful pursuits that crowd into life so easily. Maybe God is calling you to stand up for righteousness, and lead the way back to a right relationship with Him.

Judges 4

Judges 4

Today we are learning about Deborah. We are told in verse 4 that Deborah is a prophetess. She also served as the judge of Israel. She was a woman who followed the Lord. Even when Israel was failing to do so, and doing evil in the sight of the Lord, Deborah stood up for what is right. The woman was a champ.

Israel had once again fallen into idolatry. Once again God raises up judges (deliverers). He raised up Deborah to lead Israel back to the Lord by her wisdom and example. He raised up Barak to save Israel from the hand of the enemy in battle. There was one problem, Barak had little faith in his God. Like the rest of Israel, Barak did not lean on the Lord. However, Barak did notice that Deborah did. In fact, he noticed that the Lord was doing a work in Deborah.

Gang, too often people are like Barak. They know what it is to follow Jesus. Maybe they have even followed Jesus for a season. Now they do not have any faith to allow Jesus to be Lord over their life. And yet they still recognize the Lord doing a work through your life. Have you ever had someone come up to you and ask, “Pray for me, because God listens to you.” In one way, it is nice to know they are recognizing that you have a personal relation with Jesus Christ. In another way, it is oh so sad because in a way they are saying, “I still do not want to give up my life but I still want the benefits of being a Christian.” They want the Lord to be with them and even in them, but just not the head of their life.

This is Barak. He does not have enough faith to walk into battle and be a deliverer therefore, seeing the faith Deborah has in God, he asks for her to come along. Deborah agrees, but promises that the glory which would have once belonged to him would be given to a woman. One battle and one tent peg later, the enemy, Sisera, is dead.

We are to live as Deborah’s in a world of unbelievers. We are to be steadfast. I can think of many people who accept that Jesus is the Lord, but just do not want to make Jesus the Lord over their life. This was the difference between Barak and Deborah. Live and shine and give God the glory.

Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Happy Birthday Kyle

Judges 3

Judges 3

“But when the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the sons of Israel sent a present to Eglon the king of Moab by him” (Judges 3:15).

It is believed that Samuel the Prophet wrote the Book of Judges. Either way, whoever it is seemed to enjoy some good action. In the book of Judges we get some of the most detailed descriptions of war and battle. In this chapter, we read about Ehud, the left-handed Judge.

This chapter also introduces us to a pattern Israel had fallen into. When times were good, they went off and did as they pleased. When the times grew bad, they cried out to the Lord. They followed Him until times were good again and repeated the process. What a dangerous way to live! Too often Christians live the same way. They get to a place in their spiritual walk and they become content just staying there. Hebrews 6 tells us to move on from the elementary stages of Christianity. We are to be growing in the Lord. If you find yourself being snared by something, which is causing your walk to come to a halt, stop and share it with the Lord. Just share it with Him. Talk to Him. Fellowship with Him. The moment you allow yourself to become content in reaching a certain place is the moment you open the door for an opportunity to sin.

Israel was not turning to the Lord. God sent Ehud. Israel had been taken captive by Moab. Ehud, following the Lord, knew the country would collapse if they lost their king. He knew this is all Israel needed to escape from their grasp. Therefore Ehud made a dagger and placed it on his right side. This is important. Almost all persons are right handed. Therefore they all would walk around with their sword fastened to their left side. I know I do. When he was being checked for weapons as he went to talk to the king, he would only be checked on his left side. He walks in and tells the king, “I have a secret message for you.” Everybody leaves. He then gives the king his secret message, right in the gut, and leaves the dagger because the “fat closed over the blade.” This is like Hollywood. Ehud then sneaks out of there, locks the door, finds Israel, and starts a revolution. Just a few days later and 10,000 Moabites are dead.

Even though it would apparently look like Israel conquered their foe, we know it was God doing a work in Israel. Sure Ehud used a dagger and some cool confidence to kill the king. Sure Israel used their swords to defeat the Moabites army of 10,000. What had really happened is that Israel turned toward the Lord and the Lord did a work. Do not get snagged by one of Satan’s devices. Do not become content at where your walk with the Lord is. Draw even closer! If you do have something which is in the way and holding you back, pray for the Lord to do a work. He will. In the end, it may look like you were able to conquer that trial because you did this or you did that, but the reality is the Lord did a work. Praise the Lord that even when we mess up, He continues to work in our lives!!!

Judges 2

Judges 2

"When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10).

We recently went through the book of Deuteronomy. The word Deuteronomy means "second law." The entire book is just a repeat of the law which moses had already given to Israel. The only difference is that now he was giving it to the generation that would conquer Canaan. The book contains the ten commandments, the law concerning offerings, and the law concerning holy days. It was given that Israel's new generation would know the Lord.

Once again we come upon another generation of Israel. The only difference is that this generation does not know the Lord. They were not given the law. They had not been taught like their fathers. Fianlly, they did not heed what they were being taught. Consequently, they fall into idolatry. Judges 2:11 tells us that Israel starts to follow the Baals.

The amount of sin that can result from a little bit of compromise is truly amazing. It starts with not conquering all the land. This is a picture of sin in our life. We leave some sin unattended and it will grow. Remember, "a little leaven leaven the whole lump." Next, uin their laziness, we see Israel shirking the responsibiliy they have as parents to teach their children. Finally, we see the new generation following the lazy nature of their parents and not listening to the Lord.

Do not compromise. Listen to what your parents have to teach you. Get rid of all the sin. Confess, humble yourself. Chuck Smith puts it this way, "If you have not drawn closer to God than you were yesterday, you have back slidden." It sounds extreme but it is true. We are either heading in the right direction or the wrong direction, therefore, do not compromise your faith.

Judges 1

Judges 1
Intro to Judges

Just like that we are through the book of Joshua and into Judges! I feel as if we just started Joshua yesterday. Remember the good times in Joshua, because from here on we are going to watch Israel stumble.

The word Judges in Hebrew means “Savior” of “deliverer” as well as one who judges. We get the sense then that Israel was going to come to a place where they needed a savior. Think about Israel. They are the ones obeying God’s voice and the ones conquering the other nations. Typically the conqueror is not the one who needs a savior. What does this tell us? It tells us that Israel stopped conquering. In fact, they stopped obeying the voice of the Lord. Remember how I told you that Israel had really only conquered about half of what they needed to. They still needed to go North and East all the way to the Euphrates River. Let us read through chapter 1 to get an idea of what happened.

“And it happened, when Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not completely drive them out,” (Judges 1:28).

We see the problem riddles all over chapter one. The Israelites start to compromise and stop driving out the other inhabitants of Canaan. Now when Israel was strong this was okay, because they were strong. Later, Israel will start to have weak spots, and these nations would prove to be a great menace in their lives. For instance, there is a little strip of land right along the Mediterranean Sea which Israel did not bother conquering. The land is no greater than a couple miles. This is where the Philistines live. The Philistines would fight against Israel for many years to come.

I cannot help but see this as a picture of sin in our lives. Here we are, given the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls us, “More than conquerors…” The challenge is, are we still living with sin unchecked in our lives? Sure we can control it, when we are strong. However, what about when those moments of weakness come? Is there sin left unconquered in my life?

Remember, we were already given a Savior or Judge, His name is Jesus Christ. We walk in His power. We follow His commandment. We have been made complete through Him. Therefore, if there is still something which can defeat you, you have a serious problem on hand which must be dealt with! I understand that we are all going to sin. We are all going to stumble. Jesus died that we might be saved from these sins. However, too often Christians give up and stop conquering the land God has given them. Too often Christians walk away from their title, “More than Conquerors,” and become more than lazy. Understand, God is not asking for perfection. Grace covers a multitude of sins. He is just asking for you to pursue perfection, even when you mess up. I have to wake up everyday and ask Jesus to be Lord over me, today, and to forgive me for my sins, however, I know I am drawing closer to Him. Draw closer. You are more than a conqueror through the power of Jesus.

Joshua 24

Joshua 24
What we can Control

In Joshua 23 Joshua gives perfect advise to the nation of Israel He tells them every little aspect they need to know on how to stay close to the Lord. Over the years we watch Israel turn from this advice. Despite the perfect advice, there was nothing Joshua could do about it. He could not control the hearts of his brothers and sisters. However there is one thing Joshua could control.

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” (Joshua 24:15b).

In your life you will have many intersections. When you come upon times of choices, you can get advice and help, but ultimately, you will be the one making the choice. Joshua realizes this. After spending the last chapter and a half talking about staying faithful to God, Joshua simply states, “This is what I am going to do.”

Sometimes being a Christian can feel lonely. Sometimes it can feel like you are the only one standing up for what is right. Sometimes your best of friends will disappoint you. Remember, do not put your faith in them, but instead put your faith in Jesus. I can preach it all day long, but you need to make the choice, follow Jesus, or follow the ways of Egypt (the world). Everything you put expectations in will let you down, except Jesus.

As we wake up this morning we are faced with the same question, “Are we going to serve the Lord?” Tommy and I cannot make this decision for you. Your parents cannot make this decision for you. Only you can. Once again I challenge you, today, will you serve the Lord? I am challenged. I want to come before you as witnesses (Like in verse 22) and tell you, “Today I will serve the Lord.” I encourage you to find someone and tell them this, or to even post it on the blog. Today, we need to serve the Lord, and only you can make that decision for yourself.

Joshua 23

Joshua 23
All the Things You Cannot Control

An amazing lesson is absolutely useless if no one intends to follow it. This chapter is one of the most amazing lessons in the Bible. Why is so amazing? It is so relevant to Israel. Joshua tells them in verse 6 not to turn aside from the Law of Moses. In verse 11 Joshua tells Israel to love God.

Gang, do not turn aside from the things you have been taught from childhood. Do not turn aside from Jesus. Times in your life will be difficult. Times in your life will not make sense. Sometimes, it will seem that nothing is really happening in your life at all. No matter what, do not turn aside from the Lord. When the rest of the world looks like it has it so figured out, remember, Jesus died on the cross for you. He has saved you from so much. Really, when it comes down to it, I deserve nothing. Think about this. As a servant of the Lord, I do not deserve anything. Therefore anything given to me belongs to Jesus and anything taken away belongs to Jesus. I am to see myself as a sinner saved by grace, and to see my brothers and sisters as children of the Lord.

In verse 12 Joshua tells Israel not to make marriage with the rest of the world. In verse 13 Joshua tells the repercussions for these actions.

Israel slowly became more and more like the world until they were just as bad as the world. They started out by conquering according to what the Lord told them to do. They then stopped conquering the land God had promised them and became content where they were. They then started to want to become like the world by having a king. Later, these kings got married to the foreign princesses. This caused foreign gods to enter Israel. Soon Israel was a slave to idols. Soon after this, they were slaves to Babylon. Guys, Satan is patient. When you compromise a little, it can become huge. Joshua warns Israel. He pleads with Israel. He tells them what will happen if they disobey! Israel still did not obey. Guys I can plead with you. I can beg you. I can warn you and I can reason with you, but when it comes down to it, you make the choices. Do not turn your backs against the Lord. Do not stop obeying His commandments. The moment you stop, is the moment you start to walk the wide path. Do not be content when the Lord wants to move you on.

In verse 14-15 Joshua talks about our faithful Lord and His promises. He always completes them. I am learning more and more each day to hold on to the promises of God. You have been taught from youth the things of the Lord and the promises of God, hold on to them. He will not let you down. Israel failed to do this. They ended up going the ways of the world. No one can force you to love Jesus. People cannot be controlled. I cannot control you. Your pastor cannot control you. Your parents cannot completely control you. Finally, God will not control you. As we read this chapter we are faced with the same choice Israel was faced with, follow God or go our own direction. Pray that I will stop complaining about the circumstances in my life, because I want to follow Jesus. He is everything I do not deserve, therefore contentment is not the right circumstance, it is Jesus.