Scripture: Judges 6:1-6

Context - the crushing oppression of Midian

Scripture: Judges 6:11-16

2 questions, 3 statements

Scripture: Judges 6:25-27

Meet the Baals

A tale of two bulls

Apply: Do it afraid

1/ Address family idols

2/ Remember, it’s God’s story

3/ Sort your own life out before you attempt change the world

Final scripture: Isaiah 44:6-8 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord says—

    Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:

I am the first and I am the last;

    apart from me there is no God.

Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.

    Let him declare and lay out before me

what has happened since I established my ancient people,

    and what is yet to come—

    yes, let them foretell what will come.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid.

    Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?

You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?

    No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

The story of Deborah

Key Scriptures Judges Ch 4&5

Who is Deborah?

A judge and prophet in Israel for 60 years

A national leader

A military commander

A songwriter

A war hero

A spiritual mother of Israel

Story Summary: 

• The pattern of the people of Israel continues and once again they have turned away from God and returned to their idol worship and they find themselves under the brutal oppression of a foreign King. God raises up a new leader, Deborah (a judge and a prophet) to speak for him and to lead the people to victory and deliverance by God’s mighty hand.
• God is sovereign and brings about his perfect plans yet he chooses to use humans to be part of his mission on earth.
• Deborah, Barak and his 10, 000 men and Jael are all examples of how God uses people to be part of his story of salvation.
• Deborah’s song in Judges 5 serves as a prophetic warning to the people of Israel and to us today about the importance of surrendering our lives fully to God. God blesses those who are obedient and willing to partner with him.

– Deborah and all its colourful characters serve as a reminder to us that God is looking for hearts and lives that are fully surrendered to him.

Questions:

 1/ Is there anything in my life that I have not yet fully surrendered to God? 

2/ Is there anything God has asked me to do that I haven’t acted on yet? If so, what is causing me to hold back or hesitate? 

2/ How is God inviting me to be part of his story?

Response:

So often, The thing you’re holding back, the thing you haven’t yet acted on is the very thing God wants to use you to bring deliverance and freedom and liberty to your life and to the lives of others through you.

PRAYER:

God give us the courage, the boldness, the vision, the conviction to follow you wholeheartedly. God help us to trust in you when we are afraid and to lives fully surrendered to you. Bring your victory and deliverance to us afresh today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

“Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” – CS Lewis

Exodus Chapter 1 – Judges Chapter 1 – Summary

Slavery in Egypt

Deliverance by God through Moses (Red Sea)

40 years wandering in the desert with Moses

Crossing the river into the Promised Land with Joshua

Conquest of the promised land

Death of Joshua

Failure to complete the conquest

Syncretism / pluralism in the new land

Israel’s disobedience and decline

Judges Chapter 2 – Summary

Judges 2:18-19

Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

Israel’s Cycle (from above) :

Israel worships idols

The Judge dies

Israel attacked by foreign armies

Israel turns back to God

Israel cries out to the Lord for mercy

God raises up a leader (Judge)

Israel’s Cycle (from the side):

Call of Samuel

(1 Samuel 1)

Death of Joshua

(Judges 1)

So what can we learn from the book of Judges?

1. God is still present, even when things are bad
2. God is still gracious in the midst of the ‘grit’ of life
3. We have a tendency to run to God in bad times and forget Him in good times
4. God wants our whole lives lived in devotion, not just some parts
5. The Bible doesn’t try to hide the mess
6. Right when you think there is no hope, God still has a plan and will bring it to pass

Exodus begins with the death of Joseph

Joshua begins with he death of Moses

Judges begins with he death of Joshua

Even 1 Kings later on, begins with the death of David.

Can you think of any others?

And so now, we meet our first Judge…

Othniel, the boring Judge

Judges 3:7-11

And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

v 7-8

forgetfulness, idolatry and God’s steadfast love

v 9-10

God’s double salvation

v 11

An invitation to rest

Communion – offer your ordinary story to God again

Guest speaker John Lamerton from Global Mission Partners

Acts 1:3-8

3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Time:

The Book of Jonah is set during the reign of Jeroboam II (793–753 BC), a period marked by Israel’s relative prosperity and expansion. The exact date of the book’s composition is debated, but it is traditionally placed in the 8th century BC.

Place:

• Israel: Jonah begins his journey in Israel. He is a prophet from the northern kingdom, specifically from Gath-hepher in the region of Zebulun.
• Nineveh: The primary setting for Jonah’s mission is Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River (in modern-day Iraq). Nineveh was a large and significant city known for its great wickedness and power.

Context:

• Jonah is part of the prophetic tradition in Israel, where prophets were called by God to deliver messages of warning, repentance, and hope. Unlike other prophets who primarily addressed Israel, Jonah’s mission extends to a foreign city, highlighting the universal scope of God’s mercy.
• During Jonah’s time, Assyria was a growing threat to Israel. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty and aggression, which makes Jonah’s reluctance to preach to Nineveh understandable from a human perspective.

Who is Jonah?

The son of Amittai from Gath-hepher in Zebulun, who prophesied the restoration of Israel’s borders, which was accomplished by Jeroboam II (782–753 b.c.) (2 Kgs 14:25), and the hero of the book of Jonah (1:1).

A SEASON OF EXPANSION MUST BE FOLLOWED BY A SEASON OF EXTENSION.

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

Jon 1:1–2 ESV

7 Reasons to run from Nineveh:

Notorious

Idolators

National Enemy

Ego

Vengeance

Exiled

Hopeless

Questions:

• What Nineveh are you running from?
• Have you run from your calling?
• What are your reasons for running?
• How long have you been running from God?

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call

out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.

Jon 3:1–3 ESV

Scripture: Phil 4:1-9

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Context:

– Paul is writing from prison to the church in Philippi about what it means to walk the walk as followers of Jesus and to encourage them in what it looks like to live out their faith in real life!

• Paul speaks to the temptations that were facing the Philippians that would cause them to sink into the culture of their day rather than stand out from it.
• Paul speaks with honesty from his own experiences and discusses 6 key attributes that should be evident and obvious in the lives of those who follow Jesus.

You’ll stand out if you…..

1/ Stand firm

• don’t retreat or waver when opposition, trial and challenge comes
• resist running to old patterns and old comforts (anything that draws our attention and affection away from Jesus is idolatry)

2/ Seek unity

• be committed to resolving differences instead of holding grudges
• working together = increased effectiveness for the Gospel

3/ Be gentle with one another

– the literal meaning of the word ‘gentleness’ in this scripture translates as ‘sweet reasonableness’ – to be intentionally kind, compassionate and humble towards others especially when they’re facing struggles or difficulties.

• a strong hand with a soft touch (1 Thes 2:7 – gentle like a mother caring for her children)
• gentleness is not weakness

4/ Pray (Don’t be anxious)

– there were plenty of reasons for the Philippians to be anxious, discouraged and worried – Paul invites them to experience prayer as an active strategy against anxiety

• Paul shows them that prayer is a gateway to God’s supernatural peace
• God’s peace is not dependent on a perfect outcome – God’s peace is available to us in the midst of our circumstances
• being a person of peace in an anxious world stands out!

5/ Focus on what’s good

• Paul addresses the battlefield of the mind
• our thoughts are prone fix themselves on things are unhelpful and unhealthy but Paul also teaches us that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind – Rom 12:2
• what we think about and focus on translates into our behaviour.
• This serves as a reminder to be wise about the content we engage with

6/ Walk the Walk

• moving from head knowledge to heart transformation
• discipleship is a journey not a destination – a journey of practicing the way of Jesus and becoming more like him

– When we encounter the grace of Jesus we can’t help but be changed – this change should become evident to others.

Invitations for us today:

• To stand out boldly in our culture rather than blend into it
• To be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world – faith in action
• To keep growing by practicing the way of Jesus
• To live a life worth following

Questions:

Q: How is God inviting me to stand out for him?

Q: Am I walking the walk or just talking the talk?

Q: Do my actions line up with my words?

Q: Am I the same person on Monday as I am at church on Sunday?

Q: Do people encounter the nature of Jesus in me?

Q: Am I becoming more like Jesus each year?

Philippians 4:14-16

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.

Philippians 3:17-20 

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Matthew 5:15-17

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Philippians 2

a/ Sing an old song: an ode to humility

Verses 1-11

The real ones live for humility and unity

b/ Hold on and hold out

Verses 12-18

Daniel 12:3

3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

The real ones live with gratitude and thankfulness

c/ Pay the price

Verses 19-30

Real ones give honour where honour is due

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“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21 ESV

How do we live? 

To live is self, to die is loss.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…”

2 Timothy 3:1-2

Live for something bigger than yourself, Paul defines his life as a partner of the Gospel. 

If dying is seen as loss, it is because you live for self and not for Jesus. Without God, death is seen as the end of self.