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An Abel Offering

Sunday, June 15th, 2003
This entry is part 1 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service:

Psalms 51:10-17 (NIV)

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

INTRODUCTION

Read Hebrews 12:1-4

The Scripture that we just read in Hebrews 12 is one of the most powerful in the Bible.

? If you?re here this morning and life is weighing you down, this passage is for you.

? If you?re here this morning and sin has trapped you, this passage is for you.

? If you?re here this morning and the stress of life is getting to you, this passage is for you.

? If you?re here this morning and you?re tired and need encouragement, this passage is for you!

Before we go any further, I want you to understand what?s happening here.

Paul is writing to the Christian church and encouraging the Jewish believers to finish running the race set out before them. A race that is marked by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Paul recognizes in this passage that this race of faith isn?t always easy. But he introduces Hebrews 12 with the word “therefore”

A basic principal of Biblical hermeneutics teaches that when you see the word “therefore”, you need to ask exactly what it?s “there for”.

In this case the apostle Paul is referring back to chapter eleven where he describes the heroes of the faith. These men and woman are the “cloud of witnesses” who have demonstrated with their lives the impact faith in God has.

Over the course of the next several weeks, we?re going to take an intimate look at the men and women that Hebrews teaches are the heroes of the faith.

We?re going to look at their lives.

We?re going to see their successes.

We?re going to feel their failures.

I believe that if the veil between heaven and earth could be torn down for just a moment, and the heroes of the faith could talk with you and me, they would have great pearls of Godly wisdom to share with us.

As we look at chapter eleven for the next few weeks I hope to take you into the hearts of these heroes and uncover what they might say to us today.

Today, we?re going to begin a sermon series entitled “When the Heroes of Faith Speak”.

The apostle Paul begins describing the heroes of the faith in verse four of chapter eleven.

Read Hebrews 11:1-4

The Biblical story of Abel is found in Genesis 4.

Abel was the first man to die in the history of mankind.

He was also the first man to be murdered in the history of mankind.

Our story begins as Abel and Cain bring their sacrifices to the Lord.

The first two verses of Genesis 4 give us some background.

We learn that Adam and Eve have a baby, a little boy named Cain.

Then a second son, Abel, is born.

He has an interesting name.

In Hebrew Abel means “breath or temporary”.

I believe that his name foreshadowed that his life would be cut short.

These 2 brothers grow up together, but choose different careers.

Abel becomes a shepherd, herding the flocks.

Cain becomes a farmer, tilling the soil and raising crops.


Genesis 4:3 (NIV)

3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.

Genesis 4:4a (NIV)

4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

Adam and Eve were probably proud of their sons. Both were doing their religious duty. But…

Genesis 4:4b-5a (NIV)

4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

Cain was furious, and argued with God.


Genesis 4:8 (NIV)

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Thousands of years later, the Apostle Paul names Abel as a Hero of the faith.

Why?

What was it about Abel that made him a hero in God?s eyes?

How did his character as a man of God label him for all eternity as a man of faith?

What would Abel say to you and me if he were here today?

First, I believe that Abel would tell us:

1. Don?t be afraid to give God your best.

You see friends, Abel knew that talk is cheap.

He knew that saying we love God isn?t enough.

He knew that our Faith is always expressed by how we give.

And Abel gave the best that He had.

Genesis 4:4 (NIV)

4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

He didn?t hold anything out from God.

He took the best that he had, the firstfruits, and gave them to God.

He didn?t gather his sheep together and decide how much he could afford to give to God.

He didn?t gather his sheep together and pick a few sad, sickly sheep to throw into God?s offering plate.

He took the very best he had, the firstfruits of all his labor, and gave them happily and willingly to God.

He didn?t give because He had to?.He gave because He wanted to.

May I ask you a question this morning?

Are you giving your firstfruits to God?

Are you giving the best that you have to God ? or are you taking an inventory of what you have and choosing the things that don?t cost so much to give?

A. Do you give the best of your time to God?

Leonard Sweet says that, “The currency of the 21st century isn?t money, it?s time.”

Time has become the most valuable commodity on the marketplace.

You don?t believe that?

Look how much money you spend in order to save time!

Microwaves?We can take food from “freezer” to “fat” in 5 minutes!

Frozen food section of the grocery store has never been larger.

Time is the most valuable currency of the 21st century.

Let me ask you?Are you a participant in the work of God, or just a spectator?

Are you giving God the firstfruits of your daily schedule?

Do you daily set time aside in prayer and study of God?s Word?

Do you set time aside daily to give to His bride, the church?

If we apply the principal of giving the best of our time to God how would that change your week?

There are 168 hours in a week.

For the sake of argument, let?s remove 8 hours a day for time spent sleeping.

That leaves 112 hours in your week.

A tithe of our waking hours means that we should spend at least 11.2 hours per week in prayer, Bible study, and service.

Are you giving God at least 1.5 hours per day, every day, in service to Him?

Most of us would probably have to say no.

B. Do you give the best of your talent to God?

God has given each person here a rare, unique gift.

Some of you are great cooks. Are using that gift for God?

Some of you are musicians. Have you ever played your instrument for God?

Some of you are wonderful hostesses. Do you use God?s gift of hospitality?

Some of you are carpenters, teachers, painters, administrative workers.

Do you use your talents for God?

For every gift/talent that we have been given, God expects us to use it for His glory, and His benefit!

What are you holding back from God this morning?

C. Do you give the best of your treasure to God?

Simply put?.God wants you to give the firstfruits of your finances to the work of His kingdom.

If we?re going to be obedient servants of God:

We can?t escape it.

We can?t ignore it.

We can?t refuse it.

If the church in Canada was obedient to God, there wouldn?t be a single ministry that struggled financially.

If everyone in our church is obedient to God in giving the best of our treasure, there would be no limits to what this church could accomplish in Hanover and area for Jesus.

If Abel were here today to speak words of wisdom to you, I believe that He?d say to you, “Don?t be afraid to give God your best.”

You can never out give God!

Don?t be afraid to give God your best?in your time, your talent, and your treasure.

2nd, I think Abel would tell you that:

2. Motives are important to God.

Have you ever wondered why Abel?s offering was accepted by God, and Cain?s wasn?t?

There was a time when I felt sorry for Cain.

He brings an offering to God only to be told it is not good enough.

Over the years, many Bible scholars have speculated as to why God rejected Cain?s offering.

The Scofield Bible says God expected a blood sacrifice, which was a sin offering, signifying atonement of sin.

Some other Biblical theologians think that God must have told Cain that a grain offering wasn?t acceptable, but that Cain was stubborn and ignored what the Lord said.

But that can?t be right, because in the rest of the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses, we find that grain offerings are very appropriate.

So what was the problem?

I think that the answer is found on our text-Hebrews 11


Hebrews 11:4 (NIV)

4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

I believe that faith made the difference between acceptance and rejection from God.

What pleased God about Abel?s offering was not so much that it was a blood sacrifice, but that it was an offering given in faith.

I think the big difference between Cain and Abel is not the kind of offering they brought, but the attitude/motive behind their offering.

Cain?s problem was a bad attitude.

I?m can?t tell you what his motives were, but you can be sure that they were not focused on worshiping the Lord.

Friends, motives are important to God.

He isn?t nearly as interested in our actions as He is in our motives behind them.

Do you remember in Matthew 6 when Jesus criticized the motives of the Pharisees?

Matthew 6:1-6 (NIV)

1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I once read about a taxi cab driver in New York who slowed down for an elderly lady who was crossing the street.

The customer in the back seat leaned forward and thanked the driver for being so courteous.

The driver said, “I?m not courteous. If I had hit her, I?d have lost a half a day?s pay while I filled out the police reports.”

Our motives mean everything to God.

God doesn?t care how much you do, if you do it for the praise of man.

God doesn?t care how much you give, if you give it to have power, sway or control.

God doesn?t care how much you serve, if you?re serving your self instead of the Savior.

Abel would tell you that motives are important to God!

By faith, Abel?s offering was accepted by God.

His motives were pure?

His worship was pure?

Shouldn?t ours be the same?

CONCLUSION

If Abel were here today, I believe that we would hear from the heart of God?s Hero.

I believe that he?d say to us:

1. Don?t be afraid to give God your best.

Give God the best of your time, your talent and your treasures.

2. Motives are important to God.

We need to make sure that our reasons for serving God are pure, and that our worship is pure.

We?ve looked today at Abel, the first great hero of the faith that Paul describes in Hebrews 11.

ALTAR CALL.

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Gideon: From the Winepress to the Warzone

Sunday, October 5th, 2003
This entry is part 2 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service


John 14:1-14 (NIV)

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

INTRODUCTION

This morning we?re continuing the series on “When the Heroes of Faith Speak”

In listing the various people in Hebrews 11, the author illustrating by their lives the definition of faith,


Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV)1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

This morning, we?re going to look at the life of a man called Gideon.

He was a man who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, saw his potential for greatness realized.

I believe Gideon would share many things with us but I?m going to focus on four.

But, before he shares them, let me give you some background about the man called Gideon.


Judges 6:1-6 (NIV)

1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.

The kingdom of Midian was located 250 miles south of Israel, in present day Saudi Arabia.

The Midianites swept into Israel and completely conquered it.

Scripture says that their army were like locusts, devouring everything in their path. (135,000 [Judges 8:10]

This had gone on for 7 years, and Israel?s resources were just about exhausted.

Things were so bad that that verse 11 tells us that,


Judges 6:11 (NIV)

? Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

Winepresses were sunk into the ground, and Gideon was so afraid of the Midianites that he was hiding in a hole in ground while he threshed his wheat.

Israel was conquered and cowardly, and in desperation called out to the Lord.

Into this scene, the angel of the Lord comes and visits Gideon. Recalling this scene I believe Gideon would say to us this morning?

God sees our incredible Potential

here we have the picture of Gideon hiding out in a winepress while he threshes his wheat to avoid discovery by the Midianites.

The angel of the Lord first refers to Gideon as “Mighty Warrior”!

The Bible is full of examples of God seeing past the surface of individuals into the potential of who they can become:

Abram: a desert nomad becomes Abraham, the father of God?s people

Jacob: a liar and a cheat becomes the progenitor of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Moses: a murderer and an exile becomes God?s man to lead close to 1 million Israelite people from captivity in Egypt to the promised land of Canaan

David: the youngest in his family and a shepherd boy becomes the greatest king in Israel?s history and described as a man after God?s own heart.

Elisha ? a herder of oxen, a farmer becomes one of the greatest prophets of God.

That?s just a brief snapshot of some of the people in the OT but things don?t change in the NT?

Just look at some of the men who were Jesus? disciples? fishermen, a tax-collector, a doctor, laborers, Jesus saw past who they were on the surface to the potential of who they could be in Him.

And that is how God is. He looked at Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior!”

That is how God is with us. He looks at you and sees your potential?

But in order for that potential to be realized there is a part we have to play?

God wants our trusting Obedience

God has indicated the incredible potential he sees in Gideon by saying, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior” but notice that right away Gideon narrows in on a statement that baffles him,


Judges 6:13 (NIV)13 “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

I find it interesting that Gideon doesn?t have a problem being called mighty warrior ? instead, at first, he has a problem with the statement, “the Lord is with you”. For Gideon, the Lord truly would be with him if he and the rest of the Israelites were free from the oppression of the Midianites and threshing wheat in the fields instead of the winepresses. To Gideon the presence of the Midianites indicated that God had simply abandoned them.
Instead of answering Gideon?s complaint the angel of the Lord simply restates again the potential God sees in Gideon and introduces the task He has for Him which will require that potential to be realized?


Judges 6:14 (NIV)14 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?”

I?d like to draw your attention to two things the Lord says, Go in the strength you have and, Am I not sending you? I?m going to refer to them in a moment.
Gideon?s reply indicates his misunderstanding of what God is really saying. Now, instead of focusing on who is sending him he?s focusing on what he is being asked to do. When Gideon heard the Lord say, “Go in the strength you have..” he immediately thought about his own resources?


Judges 6:15 (NIV)15 “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

But God corrects him and declares,


Judges 6:16 (NIV)16 The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

What God is saying, is that the strength you have is knowing and believing that I will be with you!! Friends, the potential God saw in Gideon (to be a mighty warrior and save Israel from the Midianites) was never dependent on Gideon?s resources but on Gideon?s faith ? his trust that God would be with Him and his obedience in going/doing where/what God sent Him/asked Him to do!!!

So it is with us. God sees incredible potential in each one of you but that potential will only be realized as we trust and obey Him. This kind of faith is key to becoming what God wants us to be ? in HIM. And this is the exciting part ? In Christ there are no limits to what can be accomplished in and through your life.

God said to Gideon in effect ? you are a mighty warrior, this is what I want you to do ? I want you to save Israel out of Midian?s hand. Oh, and remember, I am with you!!”

God is always working to increase our faith in Him.

I want to quickly highlight a few things as we continue Gideon?s story?

Gideon?s first test for God (vs 19-24) ? the offering “I?m not sure I trust you”

Gideon wanted to make sure that he was hearing from the Lord. The door of faith has opened up in Gideon?s heart but before he commits he wants to know. Isn?t that how we are when it comes to the things of God? I find it funny however that?

?you go to a doctor whose name you cannot pronounce and whose degrees you have never verified. He gives you a prescription you cannot read. You take it to a pharmacist you have never seen before. He gives you a chemical compound you do not understand. Then you go home and take the pill according to the instructions on the bottle. All in trusting, sincere faith!! (quoted at Autoillustrator.com, “FAITH”)

However, it is good to want to be sure. Gideon prepared an offering to determine whether His guest was divine or ordinary. Whether the message was true or false. Notice that it was in the position of worship (via his offering) that Gideon was seeking this confirmation. It is in the place of worship, in the place of prayer that we too will find confirmation for the potential God sees in our lives as well.

With this initial test Gideon is given reason to trust God but there is still room for his faith to grow.

God?s first test for Gideon (vs 25-32) ? tear down the idols “Will you obey me?”

Now I believe there are two reasons why God asked Gideon to do this. The first reason is obvious ? God wanted to make it clear to Gideon and the Israelite people that He alone was to be worshipped. God didn?t only want Gideon to be a deliverer for the Israelites from the Midianites but He also wanted Gideon to be His instrument of restoration in Israel?s relationship with their God.

The second reasons is I believe so that Gideon?s faith would be stretched. God wanted Gideon to not only learn to obey Him but also to trust Him?

Gideon did as he was told in faith but notice the manner in which he accomplished it. He was obedient but still not very trusting! In fear of his family and the men of the town Gideon tore down the idols at night rather than in the daytime.

Yet even in the face of Gideon?s lack of trust God proved to him that He is trustworthy by keeping him from being killed (via Gideon?s father.

There is still room for his faith to grow.

Gideon?s second test for God (32-40) ? setting out the fleece “I?m not sure I want to”

There are some that would try to turn this story of Gideon setting out the fleece into a parable of faith. However, I don?t believe it is! I believe that it is a parable of faithlessness!! Gideon had already received confirmation that he had heard from God. He already knew God?s instructions for him! I believe that Gideon?s setting out the fleece was an indication of Gideon?s doubt in God?s direction. But more than that, I believe Gideon knew what God wanted Him to do but he was looking for a way out!! Why? Because he didn?t just set out the fleece once but twice!!

I?ve heard people say, “Before I ?????, I want to put out a fleece to see if this is what God really wants.” Do you know what I think? I think you already know what God wants. I think people put out a fleece to try to manipulate God?s will for their lives because they?re not sure its what they want!!

For example: let?s say God calls you to: teach, to be a deacon, to go on a mission trip, etc. So you put out a fleece. If you want to obey, you?d say something like this, “Now God, If the sun comes up tomorrow morning, then I?ll know you want me to teach Sunday School”
If you don?t want to obey, you?ll say something like this, “Now God, if two midgets come to my house at exactly 3:43 pm tomorrow afternoon, and one of them sneezes 9 times and blows his nose with a polka-dot handkerchief that he took out of his left rear pants pocket, then I?ll know that you want me to teach Sunday School.”!

Friends, when God seems to be calling you to something the first step is to pray, spend time worshipping Him until that confirmation is in your heart (as Gideon did with his offering). But when you know— don?t try to delay it by setting out fleeces! What you think you don?t want to do will actually turn out to be something you?ll never regret if you obey Him!!

I always tell people when they come to me saying, “Pastor, I think God is asking me to do ________, but I want to be sure that is His will” I always say if you?ve prayed about it and you still feel that way then it?s time to start walking through the open doors and let God close the ones he doesn?t want you to walk through ? If you are always seeking to do His will I firmly believe you?ll be doing it!! On this point, notice that before Gideon set out the fleece he had already put out the call to his countrymen to gather into an army and they answered the call!!! That in itself is confirmation that God wanted Gideon to lead His army to conquer the Midianites!!
the beautiful thing about the story of Gideon is that even though Gideon set out the fleece ? God patiently answered Him and Gideon?s faith grew a little more ? but there was still room for more growth!

God?s second test for Gideon (7:1-25) ? winnowing the army and attacking the Midianite camp ? “Will you trust me?”

So Gideon has raised an army of 32,000 part-time citizen soldiers to face Midian?s 135,000 battle hardened troops. Doesn?t look too good for the hometown team, does it? The Midian?s had a 4:1 advantage over the Israelites, and they were trained better as well.


Judges 7:2-3 (NIV)

2 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 3 announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

Wow! 22,000 cowards head for the hills, leaving 10,000 to fight Midian. Things are starting to look worse for the hometown team! Now the Midianites have a 13:1 advantage. But God?s still not finished.


Judges 7:4-5 (NIV)4 But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.”

God cut the herd again, and this time only 300 men were left to fight the nation of Midian. Yikes! Things are beginning to look pretty desperate for Israel. Midian now has a 450:1 advantage over Israel. It is with this army of 300 men that God sends Gideon to face the 135,000 strong army of Midian! God wanted to make sure that He would receive glory for the victory and not anyone else. It is for this moment that I believe God has been stretching Gideon?s faith. And then at the crucial moment on the eve before the battle God gives Gideon the reassurance of His presence.


Judges 7:9-15 (NIV)9 During that night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. 13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” 15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”

Gideon and his 300 men attack the Midianite army the potential God had seen in Gideon became realized as this “Mighty Warrior” soundly defeated the invaders of Israel.

In this sequence of events I hope you noticed that all the time God was working to increase Gideon?s faith. Friend?s God sees an incredible potential for your life. It takes a faith involving trust and obedience to fulfill that potential and God is ever working in your life to increase that faith. God will often begin with inviting us to trust Him in the little things. Then, He lays bigger challenges before us to stretch our faith and make us grow.

It?s a lot like watching a baby learn to walk. We don?t pick a baby up out of a crib and tell him to walk around the block. We work with him until he can sit up by himself. We encourage him as he begins to crawl. We cheer him on as he learns to stand, holding onto the coffee cable or mommy and daddy?s finger. We challenge him to let go and take those first baby steps. We work with him as he learns to walk picking him up when he falls and teaching him to not give up. And then we rejoice as he learns to run.

That ?s what God does with us! The problem with some people is that there are still too many spiritual toddlers in the kingdom of God! Too many people who won?t let go of the spiritual coffee table and take the next step in learning to walk by faith! God wants you to trust him, he wants you to obey him and he is ever giving you opportunities to do both if you will step out in faith! If your faith in Christ is at the same level as it was a year ago, a month ago, or even a week ago, you need to let go of the spiritual coffee table and take those steps of faith!

God wants to take our faith to new levels!! He?s not content to leave us where we are. He wants to put us in positions where we trust Him more and more so that the potential He sees for our lives can be realized. Are you willing to allow God to take you to new levels of faith? Then why don?t you just let go of the coffee table and walk!

So, Gideon would tell us that God sees our incredible Potential, God wants our trusting obedience, and God is always working to increase our faith in Him. But there is one final thing I believe Gideon would say to us this morning and it is a warning?

God Alone deserves our devoted Worship!

For all his faith, Gideon lost sight of God at the end

Judges 8:24-27 (NIV)

24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.) 25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each man threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

How heartbreaking! This great man of God lost sight of His Lord, and began to worship the memorial rather than the maker. I believe Gideon?s original intentions were right when he wanted to make a golden Ephod (a ceremonial vest worn by the priest during worship) as a memorial to God?s victory over the Midianites. The problem with Gideon?s memorial is that he began to worship it. His focus changed from the Creator to the Creation.

God had done an amazing thing in Gideon?s life and Gideon learned a lot about obeying God and putting your trust in Him. There is always a danger in victory though. The danger is that as time goes on we may begin to treasure the victory rather than the victor, the moment rather than the moment-maker, the memory rather than the one who gave us that memory. The danger is that when we start getting to excited about what God has done we forget that God has done it!! I?d like to make a blunt statement. There are too many Christians in too many churches who are worshipping idols when they ought to be worshipping God. Whether it be a memorial plaque or a “sacred tradition” or a “hallowed memory” the only one who should be receiving our praise and worship is Jesus Christ! Let me tell you something friends, if you are here for any reason other than to worship Jesus Christ, you are here for the wrong reason and you need to repent. God alone deserves our worship.. Not a pastor, not a teacher, not a family member, not a building, not a piece of stained glass. Not a hymnal. Not a tradition. God and God alone deserves our worship!!

Always remember that with everything God does in your life ? He deserves the worship!!

CONCLUSION

Invitation to non-believers to put their faith in God

Invitation for those who think God is calling them to something (their potential).

Invitation for those who have disobeyed what they now know God has asked them to do ? to repent.

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Barak: Relying on God

Sunday, October 12th, 2003
This entry is part 3 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service:

Mark 9:14-30 (NIV)

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” 30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were,

INTRODUCTION

Recap Series ?

Last week we looked at Gideon and learned that the incredible potential God sees in you (which he sees in every person) is realized through faith in Him. This week we?re looking at the story of Barak. Chronologically, Barak comes before Gideon and so I probably could have spoke on Barak first last week and then Gideon this week but I am simply following the order in which they are found in Hebrews 11:32

When I undertook my study of Barak in preparation for this message I began to wonder why he was listed in the hall of faith! After all the story of Barak has always been for me more the story of Deborah a prophetess. Certainly as we look at this story today it would appear that she has more faith than Barak. Nevertheless there is still much to learn from the story of Barak about faith.

Read Judges 4:1-17

pray

If Barak were here today I believe he would draw attention to the different levels of faith in the midst of life?s complications. Certainly Barak faced a rather sticky complication in his life?

If Barak were here today, there are probably many things he could say but here are some observations I feel he would make about the faith found in the main characters of his story.

SISERA?S FAITH WAS WORTHLESS

Judges 4:12-13 (NIV)

12 When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 13 Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.

These 900 iron chariots figure prominently in this story ? they are mentioned repeatedly. They are the Abrams Tanks of their day ? the best warfighting equipment known to man, foot soldiers were simply run down like rabbits on the highway ? ordinary mounted cavalry was not even close to a match for the iron chariot and even ordinary chariotry was no match for it ? like the outdated Russian tanks of the Iraqis facing the modern force of the Americans during the War on Iraq.

Yet in the end Sisera?s sophisticated technology not only didn?t save him, it spelled his army?s doom as the heavy Iron Chariots sunk in the mud of the flooded river valley.

Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Today we might say some trust in their money, their career, their education, their intellect but now as then the only trust that?s ultimately worthwhile in the mud-pit of life?s battlefield is trust in the Lord our God. Faith in anything less is worthless faith.

There?s only one cure for those who have a worthless faith ? and that?s to realize that the only one who you can trust is God. The only one whom you can place your faith is God. Everyone and everything else will let you down.

Next I believe Barak would draw our attention to some characters who don?t figure prominently in the account of the battle but who are mentioned in Deborah?s song about the battle in Chapter 5. These are the tribes of Israel who don?t make it to the battle?

The Tribes of Reuben, Gilead, and Dan had a Waiting Faith

Judges 5:14-17 (NIV)

14 Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff. 15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, rushing after him into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. 16 Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. 17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.

The text doesn?t tell us as much as we?d like to know about these folks. In fact, Deborah asks the same questions we might: Where were they? Why didn?t they come?

I don?t? know, but there?s enough information for an educated guess. We?re told at the beginning of Chapter Four, that Sisera and his chariots had been terrorizing the Israelites for 20 years. It seems likely that these folks ? thought I?m sure they waited anxiously for good news ? weren?t ready to put their lives on the line against a proven enemy with an unproven leader on the say-so of a woman. So they waited on the sidelines.

On life?s battlefields today the choice is still a tempting one ? to sit on the sidelines and hope for a positive outcome, but to never commit to wage the battle. Whether it be going out to share Christ with those who are lost, following God?s call on your life to the ministry, or simply stepping up to fill the role that God has prepared for you in this local body of believers, until you commit your faith is still a waiting faith?

Again, the issue with waiting faith is an issue of trust. Many people with a waiting faith simply have a lack of trust in God. In the case of these tribes their fear of Sisera overcame their faith in God and God?s anointed. Fear is often the crippling agent today as well.

Next, Barak might draw attention to himself and describe his faith?.

MY FAITH (BARAK?S) WAS A WAVERING FAITH

Judges 4:8-9 (NIV)

8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” 9 “Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh,

Interestingly enough, the woman who had the victory of Sisera was not Deborah. Sisera escaped the battle on foot and another woman, Jael, takes his life.

Now there is something to be said for wavering faith, God can work with it. Like Jesus did with the father of the demon possessed boy who said “I believe, but help my unbelief.” But as Barak found out, wavering faith doesn?t always get God?s best.

We can experience this kind of faith too ? sometimes with those first tentative baby steps of faith as we step out into ministry, or as we (in the midst of our doubt and unbelief) reach out to God in the hard times in our life saying, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” And that?s okay but it?s not where we should stay.

It is in these times of wavering faith where it is good practice to draw those around us who have a solid faith in God like Barak did. When you?re not sure where you?re trust level is in God it is good to lean on their trust level.

I find it interesting that even though Barak had a wavering faith ? he is still listed in Hebrews 11 as a “witness” of faith. Friends, wavering faith is better than worthless and waiting faith. Wavering faith has the greatest potential to lead to the next level of faith. A level that I believe Barak reached that is found in the example of Deborah. This is the place of faith that the Lord means for all of us to get to?

DEBORAH?S FAITH WAS WILLING

Judges 4:6-7 (NIV)

6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

Deborah?s faith is so strong that she hears God?s voice, knows it is Him, trusts His word and tells it to others.

We don?t know anything about Deborah beyond these two chapters, but to me that sounds like practiced faith. A faith that comes from having heard and answered God?s voice before, a faith that comes from experiential knowledge that God is faithful. A faith that knows beyond a doubt that we can cast our cares on Him because He really does care for us.

What about us? Can we get there? To a place where faith isn?t just wavering but willing? I believe we can, and we get there by trusting today, trusting in the midst of our distrust or fear or anxiety, trusting and finding He is trustworthy?

CONCLUSION

There?s an important point to be made here about changing your level of faith?

Judges 4:1-3 (NIV)

1 After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 2 So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. 3 Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.

Just because you may have been trusting in worthless things or your faith may have been on hold or wavering, doesn?t mean you have to stay that way.

Some people think that its hypocritical to reach out in faith just because you?re facing a crisis, but throughout the pages of Scripture I see God using crises as a way to get his people to renew their faith in Him?

?Or to reach out to him for the very first time. So this morning if you?re facing a crisis, or if you know that you?re faith has been misplaced in the things of your life or that it hasn?t been where it should have been, NOW, this morning is the time for you to call out to the Lord with a WILLING faith.

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Jephthah: Living by Choosing

Sunday, October 26th, 2003
This entry is part 4 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service:

Acts 2:29-41

Big Idea: You can waste your life by making lame excuses or shape your life by making appropriate choices.

INTRODUCTION

Recap Heroes of Faith Series

Read text

In his book The Walking Drum, author Louis L?Amour makes this assertion:

“Up to a point a man?s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world about him. Then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, ?This I am today; that I will be tomorrow.??

In other words you can waste your life by making lame excuses or shape your life by making appropriate choices. God wants you to live a victorious life. He created you with destiny and purpose in mind. You have the power to be what you?ve always dreamed. This is the character of a person living a life of faith in God. When you have the kind of faith that these men and women have in Hebrews 11 you stop making lame excuses and start making appropriate choices.

Today we?re looking at the story of a man who was able to overcome tremendous odds and be used by God to shape the history of a nation. His name was Jephthah. He?s one of those little known characters from the book of Judges in the Old Testament. With God on his side Jephthah was able to save Israel and subdue an invading kingdom. He became a hero among his people, but you never would have guessed that would be his destiny at the beginning of the story! Notice how Judges 11 begins?


Judges 11:1-3 (NIV)

1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.

Jephthah began life with several strikes against him. He was the illegitimate son of a prostitute. In those days in Israel your pedigree was important. People?s perceptions of you were determined by who your parents were. Jephthah?s father was a leader named Gilead from the tribe of Manasseh. His ancestry was esteemed except for his mother. Prostitutes were regarded with contempt. Jephthah, because of the woman who gave him birth, would have shared in her shame.

This is evident in what happened. Jephthah?s half-brothers, the legitimate ones, ran him out of town so that he could never collect a dime of their father?s inheritance. This act was perpetrated with the approval of the entire community, as we?ll see shortly.

Jephthah was victimized by his circumstances and by the people in his life. As a young man he allowed his past to shape how he lived. He relocated to the land of Tob and formed a gang. The translation I used paints Jephthah?s followers in a better light than they deserve. Other versions describe them as “worthless men? or “outlaws? Criminals attached themselves to Jephthah. He led the gang because he was the strongest and the smartest.

Jephthah allowed himself to be a victim. He decided that he was worthless and, thus began living a worthless life with worthless companions. Early on he must have felt that there was nothing he could do to change his lot in life, so he opted for crime and obviously felt justified. Jephthah, like so many people today, felt that his life had already been determined and believed himself to be powerless to escape.

In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey writes about the three excuses people often make to avoid taking responsibility for their life situation.

3 Degrees Of Determinism

1. Genetic – “My grandparents did it to me.?

Here we blame everything on DNA. We use everything from nationality to hair-color to race to metabolism as an excuse for our failures.

2. Psychic – “My parents did it to me.?

This is the view that we?re screwed up because our parents did a lousy job raising us. They were either too strict or too permissive. They either smothered us or gave us no time at all. They praised us too little or too much. Then we go to a therapist and they affirm us an agree that it?s all our parents fault.

3. Environmental – “Someone or something did it to me.?

This category is increasingly popular today. Even juries and judges are starting to buy into environmental determinism as a legitimate defense.

In 1997 Dale L. Larson?s $41,000 trial-court award was upheld by a Wisconsin appeals court in October, which agreed with the trial court that the Indianhead golf course in Wausau was 51 percent responsible for Larson?s needing nine root canals and 23 dental crowns. Larson tripped on his golf spikes and fell hard on his face on a brick path outside the clubhouse, and he argued that he wouldn?t have fallen if it had been a smooth concrete sidewalk rather than a brick path. The trial court had found that only 49 percent of the accident was due to Larson?s having consumed 13 drinks that evening, which left him with a blood-alcohol level of 0.28 90 minutes after the fall.

In January of 1996, Lori Collison, 30, charged with robbing three stores in Toronto, Ontario, in 1994, was found not criminally responsible because of mental disorder. According to psychiatrist Hy Bloom, Collison thought she was making a screen test at the time and was playing the role of a person robbing the three stores.

Patrick L. Bark, 59, pleaded guilty in September of 1996 in Kansas City, Mo., to selling more than 1,300 guns illegally over a two-year period, including many to juveniles and felons. Said Bark at his sentencing, “I blame half of it on the (government) for letting me go as long as they did. How was I to know (the guns) would be used in (crimes)?”

(News of the Weird)

Here?s the truth about determinism: “It?s a lie.? You can be influenced by things outside of yourself, but you?re life is not determined by them. It?s like sailing on the ocean. There are outside forces that affect you like wind, waves and currents. Ultimately, however, your hand is on the rudder of the boat. You may have to compensate for outside forces, but by steering the rudder (i.e. making choices) you affect the boats direction.

That?s how human beings are distinct from the animal world. Animals can only react. They function by either instinct or training. We?re different.

Between stimulus and response, human beings have the freedom to choose.

The determining factor of your life is you – your choices, your responses, your actions.

Everything was about to change for Jephthah. Events conspired to bring him to a choice about the direction of his life:

Judges 11:4-11 (NIV)

4 Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.” 7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead.” 9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me–will I really be your head?” 10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.

Apparently, Jephthah and his gang gained some notoriety. Their fearless exploits were legendary in Gilead. They were the ancient equivalent of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Jesse James Gang, the Hole in the Wall Gang, and Billy the Kid. Life as an exile in Tob developed Jephthah as a fighter and a leader.

The Ammonites began invading Israel and so now Israel needed a commander. The leaders of Gilead named Jephthah and sent out a search committee to bring him home.

Jephthah had a choice here. He could keep living as a perpetual victim and continue his life of crime or he could lead his people in a righteous cause. Frankly, the life of an outlaw would have been easier, at least in the short-term. Jephthah, jettisoned his past and chose to move forward into God?s greater plan for his life.

We all have this ability. We have the ability to respond appropriately. In doing so we choose our destinies.

The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true:

“One?s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.? (Little House on the Freeway, Tim Kimmel, p. 143)

Here?s the lesson that we learn from Jephthah?

Because you have the ability to choose your response you have the power to fulfill God?s program for your life! (or reject it)

You can delete all the junk that people and circumstances have dumped into your computer. They only have power over you if you give it to them.

Now the story of Jephthah takes a turn for the strange. He made the right choice in becoming the leader of Gilead. He responded correctly. But soon afterward he lapsed back into reactive choices.

Judges 11:29-31 (NIV)

29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

This vow was totally unnecessary. God was on Jephthah?s side. He wanted to rescue Israel from the Ammonites as much as Jephthah.

What?s going on here? Jephthah was trying to control God. He slipped back into a victim mentality. His error provides us with another principle:

Responsible people focus on things within their realm of influence.

Jephthah was doing fine until he made this stupid vow. He was initially making decision on factors within his realm of influence. He didn?t know his Bible well enough to understand that you can?t manipulate God.

Here?s how you can tell whether you?re primarily a responsible person or a reactive person. Responsible people change what is within their ability to change. Reactive people turn their time and energy and thoughts to things beyond their control. This typically takes the form of worry or meditating on what might be. We see it also in blaming. Those who specialize in blaming other people are merely dodging responsibility for their own lives.

The consequences of Jephthah?s vow play out in a terrible way:


Judges 11:32-39 (NIV)

32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. 34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break.” 36 “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised, now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. 37 But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.” 38 “You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and the girls went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. 39 After the two months, she returned to her father and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin. From this comes the Israelite custom

We?re not really sure what Jephthah had in mind with his vow. Maybe he expected an animal to run out first. In those days, people often kept their meager livestock in the house. Certainly he wasn?t expecting his only child ? his daughter to run out and meet him! Her greeting quickly turned Jephthah?s celebration into a catastrophe

At this point in the story, there is reason to both commend Jephthah and censure him as well. We can commend him because he did not back down from his vow. He could have made excuses. He could have looked up to heaven and said, “But I didn?t mean my daughter. ? He didn?t. Jephthah remained true to his word despite the cost. And this was a costly lesson. He was going to lose his daughter and the possibility of heirs. The line of Jephthah would end with him. Again, it was a big deal in ancient times.

Though it was a foolish and unnecessary vow we can commend Jephthah for being responsible for his words.

Responsible people are guided by their values and principles, not feelings or circumstances.

Reactive people are carried by the currents of outside forces. They typically don?t keep their word when it becomes inconvenient or difficult to do so.

Jephthah could be commended for his responsibility. However he must be censured for what he did to his daughter. Although he was guided by values and principles, they weren?t godly values and principles. His vow was exceedingly ungodly. The sacrifice of human beings is forbidden by God.

“You must not do this to the LORD your God. These nations have committed many detestable acts that the LORD hates, all in the name of their gods. They have even burned their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods.?? Deuteronomy 12:31 (NLT)

Had Jephthah only known God?s word he would never have committed this act. In fact, there is an escape clause for such a vow. In Leviticus 27, verses 1 though 8, God reveals how to redeem people. Jephthah could have paid ten pieces of silver and spared her life, while at the same time remaining true to his word.

It?s great to be responsible and live by principles and values, just make sure that they?re informed by God?s word.

CONCLUSION

Let?s take some principle?s from Jephthah?s life and apply them to our own. How can we make the transition from a reactive life to a responsible life?

1. Stop trying to prove that your life is not your fault.

Author Wayne Dyer says: “All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty of something by blaming him, but you won?t succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy.? (Wayne W. Dyer, “Your Erroneous Zones?)

2. Admit that what you are today is because of the choices you made yesterday.

Own your life for what it is. If other people aren?t responsible for you, then who is? You are. You?ve made the bed that you?re sleeping in for better or worse.

Let me add that this is exactly what God requires of us to enter into his kingdom. If we want forgiveness, a relationship with him and eternal life we?ve got some admitting to do. You must admit that you?ve sinned and choose Jesus. Note how it happened after one of Peter?s sermons.

Acts 2:37-38 (NIV)

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

To repent is to turn away. You can?t turn away from sin unless you first admit that you?ve committed it.

Quit blaming circumstances and other people and admit that who you are today is because of the choices you made yesterday. This is the only way to become a responsible person.

3. Make promises and keep them

Don?t make foolish and uninformed vows like Jephthah. Let your promises be few, but keep the one?s you?ve made. If you?re married, stay true till death do you part. Remember when you pledged that kind of faithfulness. If you promise to be somewhere and do something at a certain time, show up and fulfill your promise even if it become inconvenient or, horror or horrors, you don?t feel like it. If you?re a member of this church, follow through with your covenant promises even if you?re scared or uncomfortable.

This is the path to growth. You become even more responsible by keeping your promises despite circumstances and feelings.

4. Discover God?s goals for you and make yourself available to Him in order to achieve them.

God has a purpose and a plan for every single one of you. Yet sometimes we?re so mired down by our environment and the things that have happened to us that we?re oblivious to the goals He has for us!

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

God has a plan and a purpose for your life but he requires your efforts. You can waste your life by making lame excuses or shape your life by making appropriate choices. Do you choose what God would have in your life? Do you choose His goals for your life? Do you choose to contribute to the Biblical Community that Paul wrote about by utilizing the giftings God has given you?

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Samson: The Bible’s “Incredible Hulk”

Sunday, November 9th, 2003
This entry is part 5 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service:

Psalm 34 (whole chapter)

INTRODUCTION

PRAY

Recap series, “When the Heroes of Faith Speak”

Today we?re going to look at the Incredible Hulk of the Bible?.(explain who the Hulk is)

Today we?re going to look at Samson ? who I consider to be the incredible Hulk of the Bible! If Samson were here this morning, I believe that he?d spend hours telling you how God worked in his life. He?d admit his lusts, bad choices and consequences, and he?d be honest with you about his journey of life.

Samson?s story is found in Judges 13-16 and I don?t have time to read all of his story too you but I am going to be highlighting a few incidences in the course of this message.

Before we look at what Samson might say, let?s look at the context and background of his life. We?re going to be looking at Judges 13 so I invite you to turn in your Bibles to that passage if you have it.

The book of Judges tells us that for 400 years, Israel was locked in a vicious cycle of sin and repentance.

Every new generation would fall away from the lord.

They would become rebellious toward God.

They would become disobedient.

They would fall into idolatry.

And they would abandon God.

Again, the people had fallen away from God.

Again, God had allowed them to be oppressed/conquered by their enemies.

The Philistines were the latest enemy.

And into this world was born a little baby named Samson.

Judges 13 tells us that Samson was a specific answer to prayer.

His parents were childless.

An angel appeared to them, and promised them a son, if they would take a Nazirite Vow on his behalf.


Judges 13:3-5 (NIV)

3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5 because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

NAZiRITE = Devoted or separated one

Nazirites took an oath to ABSTAIN from worldly Influences & CONSECRATE their lives to God…

There were 4 Commitments that were Common to the Nazirite

1 ? To Abstain for All Intoxicating Drink & Grape Products

2 ? To Not Cut the Hair

3 ? To Avoid Contact with the dead

4 ? To Refuse to eat Food Regarded as Unclean

The vow could be taken by any Israelite for a period of time to commit themselves to God.

Typically it lasted 30 to 100 days.

Only 3 men in the Bible were thought to have taken the Nazirite vow for life ?

Samuel…John Baptist…and Samson.

Samson was one of those men whose intent was to serve God his entire life.

God had chosen him to free His people from the Philistines.

Samson had it made in many ways?

His parents were Godly…

His purpose was revealed clearly to him…

His Spiritual heritage was assured…

His path was carved out…

All he had to do was stay faithful and walk in it!

And yet, he lost his way, and failed to accomplish his God ordained, life?s purpose.

He never freed the Israelites from the Philistines.

There is much that we can learn from Samson?s life this morning.

I believe that Samson would warn you to be careful.

He?d say that?

Your Greatest Strengths can be destroyed by your Smallest Weakness

Samson was the strongest man who ever lived.

But all of Samson?s strength was overcome one slight weakness?.

Samson?s greatest problem was impulsive behavior.

Samson had a problem with wandering eyes

He just couldn?t be satisfied with what God had made available to him.

There were plenty of Israelite women, and I?m sure many of them were beautiful.

And I?m sure many of them would have been thrilled to have Samson come courting.

But Samson couldn?t be content with the beautiful Israelite women all around him.

He wanted to cross the line.

He wanted to taste forbidden fruit.

He wanted to see how long he could dance with the devil without getting burned.

Friends, here?s truth you can take to the bank!

If you let your eyes wander long enough your feet will surely follow.

You can?t play with fire without getting burned!


Job 31:1 (NIV)

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.

David evidently learned his lesson with Bathsheba because in Psalms 101:3, he said


Psalm 101:3a(NIV)

3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing?

In Colossians 3:2, Paul says,

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

These men knew what would happen if they let their weaknesses loose.

These men know what would happen if they let their sinful thoughts to percolate.

These men knew what happened once our focus on sin change from a glance to a gaze. (EXPOUND)

But, for all his strength, Samson didn?t (Not couldn?t) control his weakness.

Scripture says that Samson went down to Timnah.

Timnah was a border city in the no man?s land between the Philistines and the Israelites.

It was populated by both Israelites and Philistines.

It was kind of like the red light district of a large town.


Judges 14:1-3 (NIV)

1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

Timnah wasn?t the only where he let his eyes wander?.eventually married the woman from Timnah ? riddle ? ended up woman and her family were killed?Samson visited a prostitute in Gaza?Eventually fell in love with a woman named Delilah in the Valley of Sorek. I want to tell you something folks?Samson wasn?t seduced by temptation – he willingly took steps that led him in the wrong direction.

Eventually Samson reached a place where he was no longer in control of his life. (Briefly tell the story of Delilah as told in Judges 16)

His hair was the secret to his strength.

When he allowed Delilah to cut his hair, he lost his strength.


Judges 16:21 (NIV)

21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.

Here?s the Irony..Samson was a strong man, but he was also a weak man.

He was strong in public, but he was weak in private

His public life was good enough to fool a lot of people, but his private life was in shambles

Someone famous said, “Character is who you are when no one is looking.”

In spite of his physical strength, he ended up being defeated by his enemy, without his enemy even striking one blow,

He just laid his head in Delilah?s lap and went to sleep. Yes, it was the Philistines that bound him and put out his eyes, but not until Samson of his own free will revealed the secret power of his covenant with God.

It was his covenant with God that gave him his power

When his covenant was gone so was his power

It didn?t happen all at once, it was a gradual thing

The enemy will never tell you that you have to choose between him or God.

He?ll tell you that God trying to keep you from having any fun.

He?ll tell you that God is trying to run your life.

He?ll tell you that God is holding you back.

He?ll tell you that those “so-called” sins will make you happy. That there is nothing really wrong with them.

Listen friends, Samson?s mess was of his own making,

It was a series of wrong choices that brought him down.

This is where a lot of people are today

They have made wrong choices so long, that in their minds, what used to be wrong is now right.

If you justify wrong attitudes/actions long enough, you will sear your conscious to the point that you no longer feel any conviction over wrong thoughts, or actions.

If you allow your flesh to rule in your life, you will reach the point where you may be on the top, doing everything you want to do, enjoying the grass on the other side of the fence?.

But Spiritually you will be on the bottom?

No joy. No peace.

No victory.

No song in your heart.

Samson ended up a slave, eyes poked out, bound by the Philistines, grinding mill like a mule in the Philistine?s camp.

He didn?t get there because his enemy was so powerful

He got there because he was so weak.

He let his flesh/impulses/lusts/desires rule him.

Let me ask you a very pointed question this morning.

What?s your lust?

What?s your impulse?

What sin is ruling your life?

? Are you a blind slave to alcohol/drugs?

? Are you a blind slave to pornography?

? Are you a blind slave to illicit sex?

? Are you a blind slave to greed/money/power?

? Are you a blind slave to gossip/backbiting?

? Are you a blind slave to destructive relationships?

how about pride? Unforgiveness? Lying? Envy?

I want to tell you something – you didn?t get there in a day.

You?re blind, bound and broken because of a series of choices that you?ve made.

They probably started long ago, maybe even innocently.

Nobody gets up one morning and says, “I think I?ll begin serving Satan today”.

We all need to realize that, no matter how strong we all are, just one weakness can destroy us!

Don?t ever think that you?re too strong to be broken by sin! That in itself is a sin ? the sin of pride!

Don?t ever think that bad choices really don?t matter.

Don?t ever think that your reputation doesn?t matter.

Do you remember that tacky Fox network show “Who Wants to marry a Millionaire”?

That program caused quite a scandal?

After a prime time, beauty pageant romance Darva Conger married millionaire Rick Rockwell in front of millions of viewers.

Allegations that Rockwell was abusive emerged immediately.

Darva Conger sued for an annulment to the marriage because she said she, “Wanted her privacy”.

Then, she promptly posed as a centerfold for Playboy magazine.

Her life is an example of bad choices.

In an ABC TV interview, she told ABC?s Diane Sawyer, “I have worked my whole life to be a credible person, a person of integrity. Unfortunately, in two hours I destroyed much of that credibility. And … I?d like it back.”

I believe that Samson would warn us that your greatest strength can be destroyed by your smallest weakness.

But here?s the good part.

I think that Samson would also remind us that:

God is willing to give you another chance?

Thankfully this story doesn?t end with Samson in a slave?s pit.

Samsons life did end on a positive note.


Judges 16:22 (NIV)

22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

When the hair returned, so did the strength.

I don?t want you to make a mistake, though, in thinking that it was his magical hair that gave him his strength.

He had the long hair because he had taken a lifelong vow of faithfulness to God.

It wasn?t the hair that made him strong, it was the renewal of his commitment to God.

You see, somewhere Between Barber Shop & the Coliseum?Samson got something he hadn?t had in a long time ? He got real with God!

His broken heart cried out to God.

As he turned to mill wheel, his mind dwelled on:

? All the missed opportunities.

? All the impulsive emotions.

? All the times he flirted with sin.

? All the disobedience to his Parents

? All the disobedience to his calling.

? All the disobedience to his God.

I believe that while his hair was growing, his faith was also growing.

I believe that Samson got real with God, and became broken before God.

Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 147:3 (NIV)

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalms 51:17 (NIV)

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

And I believe that God heard the cry of a man who had wandered far away from God.

Scripture doesn?t spell it out, but can?t you feel Samson?s repentant heart as he worked in the grinding mill?

Numbers 6:12 tells us about what a Nazirite is supposed to do when he sins.


Number 6:12 (NIV)

12 He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.

Friends, that?s called repentance!

This verse means that after repentance ? Nazarites start all over and the old sins are gone…

That?s exactly what happened with Samson.

He found himself standing between the pillars that held up the Temple of Dagon.

Dagon was the god of the Philistines.

In Judges 16:28, Samson does something that Scripture hasn?t shown him do for a long time.

He begins to pray?


Judges 16:28 (NIV)

28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Judges 16:30 (NIV)

30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

I believe that Samson?s final choice to come back to God was what qualified him as a hero of the faith.

CONCLUSION

It doesn?t matter how far you?ve run away, it only matters that you?re willing to come back.

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