Judges 14:3 “Right in My Eyes”

Judges 14:3 “Right in My Eyes”

We used to live in the Land of the Christians. But today we live in the land of the Philistines. We used to take basic morals as the norm. But today we live in a country of relative morality, and relative truth. Even many churches are compromised by the values of the world around them. The reason for it is found in the words of Samson, “She is right in my own eyes”

1.       The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord
a. servants to the Philistines
b. each doing what was right in their own eyes or mind
c. left God’s way behind

 

2.       Samson
a. no vision or message from God
b. No seeking the will of God
c. Samson knows that the Israelites are not to intermarry
d. right in my own eyes
e. behind the scenes God is at work

 

3.       What if…
a. What if Samson lived a holy life?
b. What if he chose to Lead Israel by the Spirit God gave him.
c. What if he had lead Israel to do what was right in Gods’ eyes and not their own.

 

4.       The United States has left God behind.
a. Embezzlement, identity theft, fraud, robberies
b. Biblical values of sex only between a man and woman who are married, sex with everyone and anyone.
c. twisted minds carrying out mass shootings
d. ordinary people carrying guns in their pockets and purses
e. doing what is right in their own eyes

 

5.       Ephesians 4:17-24
a. futility of their minds and thinking.
b. Christians living in disobedience to God
c. You cannot play with sin and not get burned.
d. sinful things we have done are seared into our hearts and minds forever.

 

6.       But there is hope
a. Make a commitment not to live by your own eyes but by God’s
c. Pray for the revival of our community and our nation.
d. Encourage those around you to be transformed by God.
e. if you have never made a decision….

Judges 13:2-5 “The Man of Promise”

Judges 13:2-5 “The Man of Promise”

In the town where I grew up is a hydroelectric plant on the river. In a neighboring town of Midland Two massive companies, Dow Chemical, and Dow Corning gobbled up power. A decision to provide power for future growth was made and a nuclear power plant was started. The promise of job expansion made the future look bright. The old Hydro plant feel into neglect, and the Nuclear plant feel victim to protesters and construction scandals. There is now a half completed Nuclear plant in Midland, and a leaking dam in Sanford, where I grew up. The promise of power, the promise of jobs, the promise of the future all lost to mismanagement.

This is the story of Sampson in the book of Judges. I will take several weeks to look at His story for in it we can find the story of our lives, our church, even our country.

We start with verse 1 and The recurring theme of Judges, “the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”. The people who have all the promise of God cannot stop from doing evil. They trade in God’s sure win game plan for one of their own. The result is the rise of the Philistines. In the midst of oppression by the Philistines God sends a deliverer, Sampson.

1.       Manoah
a. barren wife
b. a special child
c. a Nazirite (to separate) to separate yourself for God
d. Samson’s mother is not to drink wine or eat unclean food.
e. Samson is to never cut his hair.

2.       Paul makes this kind of vow Acts 18:18
a. they offer a sacrifice
b. pay a vow price to get their head shaved
c. upon completion of the vow their hair is cut by the priest and burned on the alter.

3.       God has set Samson apart
a. Samson’s power is in his being separated to God (Holy)
b. all of God’s power was available to him.

4.       We are the people of promise
a. Matthew 16:18 the gates of Hell shall not….
b. John 1:12 to all who believe

c. Romans 8:17
d. Romans 1:16

5. Midland
a. three-mile island
b. protest
c. embezzlement
d. even sabotage

Like Sampson we are a church dedicated to God! Like Sampson we possess the promise of God to deliver people from their oppressors. Our nation has been blessed with great power that comes from God. Our nation holds hope for all the world. How we use this power, that promise, will not just effect our lives but the lives of all who live around us. Will we deliver hope, power, forgiveness and light to our darkened world? Or will we be a half finished edifice to our failure? How will we use the power of God?

Judges 11:29-40 “What You Vow”

Judges 11:29-40 “What You Vow”

Two men in the life raft…..

We make vows all the time. We take a vow to be a good church member, to serve and support the church. We take Vows to become an Elder, Deacon, or Pastor. We take a vow when we join the military, testify in court, get married and many more. Some vows are spoken while others are written. Some are solemn, serious, even mystical, while others are flippant. In this passage we find the seriousness with which God takes our vows to Him, even the foolish ones.

Jephthah is the son of Gilead and a prostitute who is raised by Gilead’s wife. But when his half-brothers grow up they kick him out of the family. Doing so they cheat him out of his inheritance. Later when the brothers need a warrior to defeat the Ammonites the brothers come back and ask Jephthah lead them into battle. Jephthah forgives them and takes up the mantle of leadership with all seriousness for He is a man of his word.

1.       Jephthah’s vow
a. if they win….
b. and they do…….
c. Jephthah fulfills his word at the breaking of his heart.

2.       Vows in the Bible
a. Ex 24:3 “everything the Lord has spoken we will do
b. Samson’s mother and Samuel’s mother
c. Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5

3.       People of the Word and people of your word
a. God wants us to be people of our word
b. Number 30:2, Deut 23:23, Ecc 5:4, Ps 22:25
c. Mal 3:8
d. Mat 12:36
e. Matt 5:33-38
f. be careful to do all you vow to the Lord.

4.       God keeps His promises
a. I will never leave you or forsake you Heb 13:5
b. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3
c. If you confess your sin 1 John 1:9
d. At the table Matthew 26-29

Jephthah was a person of his word even at the cost of his daughter’s life. God calls us to be people of our word. When we are people of our word God and people take notice. Today also God has made you a promise. No matter what happens in life you can always trust God’s word, you can always come to Him, His words of forgiveness and love are words you can trust.

Judges 8:22-28 Gideon’s Snare

Judges 8:22-28 Gideon’s Snare

Great people often fail. Gideon has won great battles and saved Israel from it enemies. The people want to make him king. Gideon refuses with “The Lord will Rule over you.” This is strange considering Gideon’s next move. In our walk with Jesus we have victories. In the midst of victory another danger waits to catch us.

Gideon request Gold for an Ephod. It could be pride or some other reason but God did not tell him to do it.

Ephod was a breast plate, Though the word is used of clothing as well as something that could be hung up and used as an idol.

Gideon’s ephod weighed in over 42 lbs.

Elvis Presley was famous for costumes they started in at 42 lbs. and went as high as 75 lbs.

Gideon sets up this breast plate in his town for all to see. Israel is soon worshiping it.

The ephod becomes a snare, a trophy of sorts to honor Gideon’s victories.

God cut the army so Gideon and all Israel would know who had won the battles.

God knew Gideon’s heart..

Romans 11:17-22

Romans 12:3

King Saul falls to spoils of war and vanity

David falls to Lust and power

Solomon falls to wealth, power and women

Ephesians 6:10-18

Our victories come by Grace and the Holy Spirit. Thank God for the victories great and small. Thank Him for the things He has done and the things He has yet to do.

John 3:9-15 lifted up for all

John 3:9-15 lifted up for all

Today is Palm Sunday, a day when Jesus is welcomed by the people as a Hero. Waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna in the highest. Heroism usually happens in a moment. A cop or a fireman respond to a call and then comes a moment of choice, draw your weapon or run in the building. A soldier in a fire fight, runs in for a buddy or dives on a bomb. While they know the choice may come they don’t know for sure it will come. And they don’t have time to think about who they are saving and why. But Jesus did have the time. He had the time, knew the hearts of the people, and from that perspective Jesus walks His entire life on the road to the cross.

1. Lifted Up
a. The strange conversation only understood at the end of the book
b. Numbers 21:5-9
c. Jesus lifted up for all to see
d. Jesus knew, walked His whole life knowing

2. Jesus still needs to be lifted up
a. I never talk to Jen because I don’t want to talk religion.
b. every day you lift up your picture of Jesus
c. tongue wagging and finger pointing
d. faith as a backpack
e. church as a small town board meeting

3. A New Picture of Jesus
a. faith as Chocolate cake
b. Church as a campfire
c. God’s Word as a cup of hot coffee in a living room of friends

Jesus walked every day of His life deliberately toward the Cross. That is heroic. We need to walk deliberately each day holding up our picture of Jesus. Who He is and What He is about. Every day we lift up our picture of Jesus, we only get to choose what that picture looks like.

Judges 6:36-40 “How Many Signs Do You Need?”

Judges 6:36-40 “How Many Signs Do You Need?”

Last week we learned how Gideon wanted God to do great things in Israel and deliver them as God had done in the past. Gideon is told that God would use him to deliver his people. Gideon destroyed the false gods on his father’s land.

We often have God’s Spirit speak to our heart. It can be a light happy or excited message to go speak to someone. Sometimes when God speaks it is a heaviness, a burden, impressing upon us the need to pray for someone or help someone, or speak up for God. But like Gideon we just want more before we act.

1.       Gideon ask for signs
a. the fleece is wet and the ground dry I will know.
b. they wring out a bowl full of water.
c. the fleece is dry and the ground is wet.
d. God made it happen.

2.       God is not done showing off for Gideon
a. Gideon has an army of 32,000 men
b. God says send the fearful home and 22,000 men leave.
c. God says those who kneel down to drink send home, 700 men leave.
d. Gideon asked for two signs from God and God cuts his army twice.

3.       God wants to do great things through us
a. bring people to Him
b. deliver people from things that oppress them
c. God lays it on our heart to go and win the battles of our time
d. we do not need 1,000’s or even 100’s to go with us
e. we just need to be willing and go.
f. It is time to stop praying for signs and time to start fighting for victory.
g. fight for your family, children, parents, friends, neighbor, your communities.

There came a time when God said Gideon we have spent enough time praying and talking it’s now time to fight the battle and win. In our lives it’s time to stop praying and talking, it’s time for doing. It is time to follow that voice peaking to your heart, take up the Spirit’s power and win the battle.

Judges 3:25-27 “tear it down”

Judges 3:25-27 “tear it down”

Gideon is the reluctant judge.  Gideon is at the winepress beating the wheat, hiding from the Midianites, Israel’s enemy. When Gideon meets the angel of God he ask the question everyone ask. God if you are with us then where are your mighty works of deliverance? We may ask the same question. God where is your healing? Where is your protection? God where is a revival for our church, our home, our life? Lord my enemies oppress me at work or school, where are you to part Mora Lake and drown them all?

This question has many answers but in this case it is part of the reoccurring theme of Judges, “because you have not obeyed God. God tells Gideon that Israel has gone after other God’s. One of the answers to where is God and His power in our life, our church, our communities, may be found in this section of Judges.

1.       Alters of worship to false god’s
a. Israel has broken the first two commandments Ex 20:1-6
b. Gideon’s own father has an alter to Baal and an idol to Asherah
c. false god’s in the church
d. the god of compliancy
e. the god of political correctness
f. The god of money
g. The god of personal sin

2.       Tear them down
a. if we want to see God work in power we must tear them down
b. Gideon is told to tear down the alter to Baal and cut down the Asherah poll
c. Gideon is afraid so he does it at night
d. identify alters and idols through prayer and observation
e. What idols and alters are in your life?
f. confront them and tear them down, remove them from your life.
g. Psalm 139:23&24

3.       Build an alter to the Lord
a. another key to God working in power in our lives is sacrifice
b. Gideon is instructed to build a new alter to the Lord
c. Gideon is told to offer a sacrifice to the true God
d.  Judges 6:34 The Spirit of God clothed Gideon
e. Romans 12:1&2 our life a sacrifice (our wants and desires)
f. John14:15-17 Obedience brings the Spirit’s power

What are your excuses for not living radically for God? What do you keep finding interfering with your walk with God? These are some of your alters and idols. Has God pointed out an alter or idol in your life? There is only one way to deal with it, tear it down. Offer your life as a sacrifice to God and you will be clothed with the Holy Spirit and open the way for God to work in power in your life.