Who? And with What? 

Shamgar 

“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an ox goad, and he also delivered Israel” (Judges 3:31). 

Shamgar is defined in Hebrew as: sword ; Shamgar became a sword in the hand of God 

 Backdrop to story: 

Philistines overrule Israel, possessions are seized or destroyed, weapons are confiscated and everyone is running for the hills. 

And in comes SHAMGAR ?! 

• God often chooses to use unknown people to accomplish great achievements to bring glory to His name. 

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; “(1 Corinthians 1:27) 

• God working through one person to change the lives of many 

We are each called to live for God, knowing that our actions can have tremendous influence over many people. 

• Not willing to settle for how things are, he aspired to be all that the Lord intended him to be. 

• Maybe just a little faith, but that was enough:  
• God used one man with one simple weapon  

“After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an ox goad, and he also delivered Israel” (Judges 3:31). 

“For the Lord does not see as man sees;for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).  

• Courage To Make A Beginning 
• Willingness To Use What He Had In His Hand 

 “Do what you can with what you’ve got where you are.”   

We were not created to “fit in” we were perfectly created to stand out. 

Misfits are those people who do not fit in, they are not like everyone else. 

We are all uniquely made and our imperfections might make us misfits, but God uses misfits.  

Looking through the Bible we see some very good examples of some mighty leaders that where also great misfits: 

Abraham: Did not always tell the truth, He denied that Sarah was his wife and placed her and himself in danger. Yet he became the father of the Israelite people and the lineage through which Jesus came into the world. 

Moses: Murderer, bad temper – But he lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to the promise land. 

Jeremiah: A prophet who heard from God but was always burned with sorrow. 

Mary Magdalene: Was possessed by demons, set free , And she was the first one to see Jesus after his resurrection. 

All of these people had issues and problems that society would label as “Not good enough” But all of these people dared to do what God called them to regardless of their inadequacies. 

We need to stop the excuses and dare to talk about Jesus everywhere we go and every chance we get. 

I am proud to be a misfit, because if I don’t fit in than I know I am standing out. 

Free Love 

I will love them freely 

Hosea 14:4 

• Salvation was given to us in Christ Jesus Freely. 

• Free means that you are given something that you did not have to pay for. When you give something and expect nothing in return. 

• God gives His grace to those who seek it, but His Grace has always been there for us to have, it’s not there because we asked for it, it has been given to us already we only need to reach out to accept was has already freely been given to us. 

• It is not because of our seeking, our prayers, and our tears, that lead God to love us. God loves us at first most freely. 

• There is nothing we can do to attract Gods Love to us. He already Loves us. 

• The origin of Love is that God Loved us even before He created us. 

• God love is not earned by works,  

• For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 

• God Love for us is so great that He gave His only Son to die for our salvation. We did not deserve it, we cannot earn it, it was freely given to us. 

• You may not feel worthy of Gods Love, But understand that Gods Love is not given because of your feeling of unworthiness or worthiness, it is freely given to you, because it is. God is God. 

• Remember that the covenant of grace has condition.  

•  “He who believes on him is not condemned.” No fitness is needed; John 3:18 

• Take all of the doubts and thought of inadequacy out of you head. God Love you, Receive it because He already loves you, not because of who you are, but because of who He is. 

No More Sleepwalking

1 Thessalonians 5:6 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be [a]sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.


1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 The Message (MSG)
4-8 But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

Awful ignorance. The sleeper knows nothing.

Powerlessness. While  Sisera was sleeping, he was killed by the hand of a woman. When you are sleepwalking you have no.

Inactivity. When your slipping, you are not productive and you can get nothing done.

Unwatchfulness. When you are sleeping, you have no idea what going on around you, you are present, but checked-out.

Speak up 

 
“We love [Him] because he first loved us.”  

 1 John 4:19 

Everyone has a Voice; it’s how they use it that makes a difference. 

• The Voice of the Holy Spirit  
• The Non-Believers  
• The Believers  
• The Passionate Believers  

1. If you ask: Why do I need to speak up and announce my Love for Jesus? 

BECAUSE he first loved you 

Some reasons people give for not talking more about their Love for Christ 

• Afraid of being laughed at 
• Afraid of being criticized  
• They do not want any trouble 

 “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”?  John 15:19 

2. Jesus deserve to be acknowledged 

• He was not ashamed of his love for us.  

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels”  Mark 8:38 

3. Because it puts you among the most blessed company. 

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying,“This is My beloved (LOVED) Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 

 If you look through History you will see some of the Bravest Men and Women all who publicly and loudly proclaimed “I LOVE HIM” 

4. Your Public declaration of Jesus has the power to influence others around you. 

By your example you lead others to Jesus.  

5. Speaking up and out loud about your Love for Jesus will be of benefit to yourself. 

When we speak of Jesus others might listen, But for sure YOU WILL LISTEN, Because you are with you all the time.  

Scared of What? 

“Who are you that…live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?” [Isaiah 51:12-13] 

What are we allowing to trouble and worry us from day to day?  

We give more thought to the negative and we forget the awesomeness of God.  

WHY DO WE DO THIS?  

Because we think of God as if he were far off, while we can see the negative ( is, things, people situations) with our eyes, and we can hear with our ears his intimidating words.  

1. So many of our Fears are Unnecessary 

“Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it;” but so many people are crossing bridges that don’t even exist. They only exist in the heads. 

We are harsher on ourselves than God would ever be. 

2. Some people are very troubled by the fear of man.  

 “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” [John 15:19] 

3. Fear of Poverty 

God feeds the birds; won’t he feed you? 

The provisions may change, but the God of that provides does not change. He will supply your needs.  

4. Another fear is the fear of death.  

There is no pain after death, Your eyes may be closed here on earth but they will open in the glory of God in Heaven. 

Why is it so hard for us to Believe in the Holy Spirit ?

Look at this Verse: 

17 the Spirit of truth,whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

John 14:17 

The unbeliever/unsaved people of world that prefer their sin to their eternal salvation, those are the ones that despise the Holy Spirit excuse it neither sees Him nor knows Him; 

Many people may laugh at the idea that we believe in the Holy Spirit because we cannot see him. I on the other hand am amused at their lack of faith, because when I think of the wind, I cannot see it but the wind is real. I live in Florida, have you seen what the winds of a hurricane can do? I have, and I can tell you that I so not see the wind, But I have no doubt that the wind is real.   

You need to listen to the podcast so you can hear a very good example of a Doctor and a Christian having a conversation.  Its funny and a great way to prove just how real the Holy Spirit really is. 

Read this  

The people that laugh at the belief of the Holy Spirit do so because they so not know him. But to those of us who believe you cannot convince us otherwise.  I like the example of electricity. I can look at an outlet but by looking at it I will never know if it works or not.  But if I stick my finger iin the socket and its working, when the current hits my finger, shakes me to the core and I do a jumping bean type of jig, you can tell me that the socket is not working.  I know it’s working, because my whole body has felt its current and I will never be the same. 

When you experience the Holy Spirit, no one can tell you He is not real, because you have felt His presence and you know that he is real. 

Our daily prayer should be that the power of the Holy Spirit would come down on the church , not the building, the CHUCH – The People that profess to believe in God and have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Because When He shows up its an experience that is life changing. And when we as human change we impact the world around us.  Holy Ghost impact. That’s what I’m talking about. 

The Sin of Unbelief 

"And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes but shalt not eat thereof" —2 Kings 7:19 

1. The Sin. 

His sin was unbelief.  

He doubted the promise of God.  

Unbelief took the form of:  

Doubt of the Gods Truthfulness  

Unbelief sometimes calls itself humility  

Doubt of God's unchanging character:  

The Immutability of God is an attribute that "God is unchanging in his  

Doubt of God's power.  

Doubt that keeps us from coming to Christ  

2. Unbelief fosters sin.  

3. Unbelief does not allow any good work.  

"……Whatsoever is not of faith is sin," ROMANS 14:23   

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." HEBREWS 11:6 

Obedience without faith, if it is possible, is a gilded disobedience. 

23 Jesus said to him, “If[d] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”  Mark 9:23-24 

Look at he had faith, Peter walked on the waves of the sea. Faith  kept him up; but unbelief sent him down.  

There are 3 People at work in our Salvation 

Look at the text, three persons mentioned.  

“I"—(that is the Son—) 

"will pray the Father, - (The Creator) 

and he shall give you another Comforter." - (Holy Spirit) 

3 persons mentioned, all of them doing something for our salvation.  

"I will pray," says the Son.  

"I will send," says the Father.  

"I will comfort," says the Holy Ghost.  

When God first made man, he said,  

"Let us make man," not let me, but, "Let us make man in our own image."  

The covenant Elohim said to each other,  

"Let us unitedly become the creator of man."  

So, when in ages far gone by, in eternity, they said, "Let us save man:" it was not the Father who said, "Let me save man,  

"but the three persons conjointly said, with one consent, "Let us save man."  

It is NOT 1 person of the Trinity that is in it for my salvation;   

Take NOTE:  that EACH person is spoken of as performing a SEPARATE office.  

"I will pray," says the Son; that is intercession.  

"I will send," says the Father; that is donation. 

"I will comfort," says the Holy Spirit; that is supernatural influence.  

When we are tired and weary, He leads you to Jesus to you can find rest. 

When we are sad and broken He leads our eyes to the cross so we can see Jesus and remember that we are saved, healed, redeemed, loved. 

When we are struggling with our salvation because of situations and temptations, He speaks to our hear and encourages.  

When you see how clearly there are 3 working towards your salvation than you know that you can’t say “I am ONLY grateful to the Son”. Yes you should be grateful to the Son, but you need to also be grateful to God the Father and to the Spirit of God, The HOLY SPIRIT. 

Look how perfect the three are one. 

The Son says, "I will pray the Father."  

And he will send you." Here we Jesus speaking on behalf of the Father 

"He will send you another Comforter."  Here we see Jesus telling us what the Holy Spirit will do when He is here. 

When one person speaks for another with such authority than you have to know that they have an agreement, almost like a contract between them. Because what one says that other is is full agreement that it will be done. 

The Personality Traits of the Holy Spirit 

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” 

John 14:16-17 

Who is the Holy Spirit? Lets look at His at some of His personality traits. 

 We are so used to hearing and talking about the Holy Spirit in regards to his influence, His actions, His grace, that we forget that He is an actual person. 

The Holy Spirit is a person. Why else would we be baptized in the name of the Father (God Creator), in the name of the Son (Jesus), and in the name if the Holy Spirit. 

1. When we are baptize, the words that are spoken over us before the immersion into the waters are: In the name of the FATHER, SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT . Note: "in the name," not names—"of the  

2. The Holy Spirit has shown us what he looks like. 

• In the Jordan river a bright light shined from above and what was to glorious to described took the recognizable form of a dove. 

• In the upper room we see the Holy Spirit take on the form of a mighty rushing wind, then bright light, than and what appears to be tongues of fire appear over their heads 

1. Spirit has a will.  

Spirit has power 

Romans 15:13, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost."  

When we look at the word of God and see that From Old testament to New the Holy Spirit is talking to the greats. 

When Moses wrote the Pentateuch, The Holy Spirit move his hand. 

When David wrote the Psalms, played the harp or bearded his soul in the word that were recoded, the the Holy Spirit was with him and his every stoke of his hand was cradled by the Holy Spirit  

When the words of wisdom Solomon emanated from his mouth was it not the Spirit of the Lord, The HOLY SPIRIT that was in him and upon him? 

And what can be said of Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. Seriously this list can go on forever and we would still not completely cover all the ways that the Holy Spirit is present and upon us 

1. The Holy Spirit has feelings 

Ephesians 4:30 "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."  

Isaiah 63:10 the Holy Ghost can be vexed: "But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their enemy., and he fought against them."  

Acts 7:51 The Holy Ghost can be resisted: "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so do ye."  

Acts 5:9 "How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?"