The book of judges is a chronicle of one of the darkest times in the lives of God’s people. After all the victories and triumphs in Joshua, Judges is a depressing view of what happens when a people stray from God. When entering the promised land, Joshua failed to tear down the idols and strongholds that God had said could not stand. Things that we allow to stand when God tells us to tear them down always come back to be a problem. As a result, Israel became spiritually weak and vulnerable. Israel sunk to a place where they were not living on ownership of the land and were having to sneak around and hide to avoid the harassment of its enemies. Our text is a brief look at the history of Israel during this time. In the midst of all the doom and gloom, it is a story of victory and triumph. The story of the victory seems to not be possible. It was one man against 600. Shamgar was working in the field with oxen when he was beset with Philistines. All he had for a weapon was an ox goad. An Ox goad is not an ideal weapon, but it is what he had, and God provided the victory. There are lessons to be learned from this brief story. The first is that how we face the moment, determines our future. For Israel, they had been stuck in moments of frustration and aggravation, but nothing ever happened. Secondly, God illustrates with this story, that just because it looks impossible, does not mean that it is impossible. Our humanity causes is to look at situations and tell ourselves that it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. Often we refuse to challenge our current circumstances because it looks impossible. The next lesson is that if we will happily work with what we have; God will provide us with what we desire. Surly Shamgar would have rather had the battle in the mountains where he might have a strategic advantage and with a better weapon, but it didn’t happen that way. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our words are our weapon! Finally, we can go on using what we have the way we have always used them, or we can let God use it to provide a victory. When we look at this story we have to ask how a farm implement could be such a formidable weapon to kill 600 warriors. The reason is that there is someone else interested in the outcome of this story. When Shamgar began to fight, the first swing release something that he didn't’ even know was available. When Shamgar took that first swing God stepped in and took over. We have a weapon at our disposal and if we will use it, God will release what we need and secure the victory. The word begin is not in the text, but it is implied. Everything has to begin somewhere. Every revival, transformation, or renewal has to begin somewhere. The root word of begin from the Hebrew is calal. It means to be sick of. When we get sick enough of what we are dealing with and the friction that it creates, all it takes to change it is is to begin. Quit being intimidated by your circumstance and do something about it. We have to get sick of something before we can make a change. There will come a point when we get sick enough that we will do whatever it takes. Begin using what is at your disposal and keep using it until God gives you the victory.

The book of judges is a chronicle of one of the darkest times in the lives of God’s people. After all the victories and triumphs in Joshua, Judges is a depressing view of what happens when a people stray from God. When entering the promised land, Joshua failed to tear down the idols and strongholds that God had said could not stand. Things that we allow to stand when God tells us to tear them down always come back to be a problem. As a result, Israel became spiritually weak and vulnerable. Israel sunk to a place where they were not living on ownership of the land and were having to sneak around and hide to avoid the harassment of its enemies. Our text is a brief look at the history of Israel during this time. In the midst of all the doom and gloom, it is a story of victory and triumph. The story of the victory seems to not be possible. It was one man against 600. Shamgar was working in the field with oxen when he was beset with Philistines. All he had for a weapon was an ox goad. An Ox goad is not an ideal weapon, but it is what he had, and God provided the victory. There are lessons to be learned from this brief story. The first is that how we face the moment, determines our future. For Israel, they had been stuck in moments of frustration and aggravation, but nothing ever happened. Secondly, God illustrates with this story, that just because it looks impossible, does not mean that it is impossible. Our humanity causes is to look at situations and tell ourselves that it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. Often we refuse to challenge our current circumstances because it looks impossible. The next lesson is that if we will happily work with what we have; God will provide us with what we desire. Surly Shamgar would have rather had the battle in the mountains where he might have a strategic advantage and with a better weapon, but it didn’t happen that way. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our words are our weapon! Finally, we can go on using what we have the way we have always used them, or we can let God use it to provide a victory. When we look at this story we have to ask how a farm implement could be such a formidable weapon to kill 600 warriors. The reason is that there is someone else interested in the outcome of this story. When Shamgar began to fight, the first swing release something that he didn't’ even know was available. When Shamgar took that first swing God stepped in and took over. We have a weapon at our disposal and if we will use it, God will release what we need and secure the victory. The word begin is not in the text, but it is implied. Everything has to begin somewhere. Every revival, transformation, or renewal has to begin somewhere. The root word of begin from the Hebrew is calal. It means to be sick of. When we get sick enough of what we are dealing with and the friction that it creates, all it takes to change it is is to begin. Quit being intimidated by your circumstance and do something about it. We have to get sick of something before we can make a change. There will come a point when we get sick enough that we will do whatever it takes. Begin using what is at your disposal and keep using it until God gives you the victory.

Our text uses the phrase Let us lay aside... This implies that we have a choice in the things that are obstacles in our life. None of us are prisoners to our heritage or circumstances. We can choose to lay those things aside and overcome them. Before we were converted and filled with the Holy Ghost, we sinned because it was our nature. But when we sin after receiving the Holy Ghost, it is by a choice. An overcomer is not one with no problems, shortcomings, or failures. An overcomer is one who limits their exposure to those problems, shortcomings, or failures. It is someone who recognizes areas that are dangerous for us and works to not be in situations that would allow our weaknesses to win. It is not a shame to miss the mark. It is a shame to continue to miss the mark. An overcomer does not let their weakness define them.

Our text uses the phrase Let us lay aside... This implies that we have a choice in the things that are obstacles in our life. None of us are prisoners to our heritage or circumstances. We can choose to lay those things aside and overcome them. Before we were converted and filled with the Holy Ghost, we sinned because it was our nature. But when we sin after receiving the Holy Ghost, it is by a choice. An overcomer is not one with no problems, shortcomings, or failures. An overcomer is one who limits their exposure to those problems, shortcomings, or failures. It is someone who recognizes areas that are dangerous for us and works to not be in situations that would allow our weaknesses to win. It is not a shame to miss the mark. It is a shame to continue to miss the mark. An overcomer does not let their weakness define them.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! was a newspaper panel (and adapted to Radio, TV and many other formats) written by Robert Ripley that dealt in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. As believers, we all experience seemingly impossible things: healings, deliverance, making a way when there is no way. If we had not experienced it ourselves, we would not believe it. Do we still believe these things? How easy it is to fall into unbelief. As children, we have vivid imaginations. Children believe that anything is possible. When do they move from that state to a state of unbelief? When life happens, it becomes more difficult to live by faith. In our text, the father of the child struck by the dumb spirit had lived with that condition since he was a small child. After years and years, the belief that God would heal him began to fade. It is easy to believe in God when faith is new, but when the struggles of life come along, it becomes more difficult. It is difficult to have the faith that we encourage others to have when we ourselves began to experience a storm in life. It is not that we do not believe in God’s ability or that he is willing. We convince ourselves that this is just the way that it is meant to be. We like to walk around saying that we are a believer, but do we really believe it? Do we believe that He is able to heal? Do we believe that He is able to restore? More than that, do we believe that He WILL do those things. There is more to being a believer than just believing that there is One God. That is a great thing to believe, but there is more. Some wear the title believer as a badge of honor. That it somehow entitles us to special treatment. The Bible tells us that the devil also believes the one god message. It is not enough. In our text, the man believed, but there was still something more. He asks Jesus to forgive his unbelief. We have to do more than just say “I believe”, but to live as we believe. We have to be more than hearers of the word but become doers of the word. Just saying we are a believer is meaningless if we do not live like a believer.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! was a newspaper panel (and adapted to Radio, TV and many other formats) written by Robert Ripley that dealt in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. As believers, we all experience seemingly impossible things: healings, deliverance, making a way when there is no way. If we had not experienced it ourselves, we would not believe it. Do we still believe these things? How easy it is to fall into unbelief. As children, we have vivid imaginations. Children believe that anything is possible. When do they move from that state to a state of unbelief? When life happens, it becomes more difficult to live by faith. In our text, the father of the child struck by the dumb spirit had lived with that condition since he was a small child. After years and years, the belief that God would heal him began to fade. It is easy to believe in God when faith is new, but when the struggles of life come along, it becomes more difficult. It is difficult to have the faith that we encourage others to have when we ourselves began to experience a storm in life. It is not that we do not believe in God’s ability or that he is willing. We convince ourselves that this is just the way that it is meant to be. We like to walk around saying that we are a believer, but do we really believe it? Do we believe that He is able to heal? Do we believe that He is able to restore? More than that, do we believe that He WILL do those things. There is more to being a believer than just believing that there is One God. That is a great thing to believe, but there is more. Some wear the title believer as a badge of honor. That it somehow entitles us to special treatment. The Bible tells us that the devil also believes the one god message. It is not enough. In our text, the man believed, but there was still something more. He asks Jesus to forgive his unbelief. We have to do more than just say “I believe”, but to live as we believe. We have to be more than hearers of the word but become doers of the word. Just saying we are a believer is meaningless if we do not live like a believer.

In general, we all desire the same things in life. There are variations in the type of house or job or car, but most people want the same thing: Happiness. It would be very difficult to find someone who did not want peace or joy in their life. We want to live in God’s favor. The problem is that desire is not what separates us. We all desire the same thing. Why then does it seem that some in life are more favored than others? Why do some have a better job, a better marriage, or a better lifestyle than others? It is not about what we desire. Many people are waiting for their ship to come in. They believe that “If I just wait, my time will come.” In our text, Paul says to not get weary in well doing. He goes on to say that in doing that, we will enjoy a blessing at the right season. In verse 10 he gives us the key to unlocking that season. The fulfillment of our desire is not found in just desiring it, but in doing something about it. He says “as we, therefore, have the opportunity, let us do good unto all men. They key to the future is what we do with our present. We are not thankful for what we have now so God cannot bless us with more. Our due season is dependant on the season in which we are now living.

In general, we all desire the same things in life. There are variations in the type of house or job or car, but most people want the same thing: Happiness. It would be very difficult to find someone who did not want peace or joy in their life. We want to live in God’s favor. The problem is that desire is not what separates us. We all desire the same thing. Why then does it seem that some in life are more favored than others? Why do some have a better job, a better marriage, or a better lifestyle than others? It is not about what we desire. Many people are waiting for their ship to come in. They believe that “If I just wait, my time will come.” In our text, Paul says to not get weary in well doing. He goes on to say that in doing that, we will enjoy a blessing at the right season. In verse 10 he gives us the key to unlocking that season. The fulfillment of our desire is not found in just desiring it, but in doing something about it. He says “as we, therefore, have the opportunity, let us do good unto all men. They key to the future is what we do with our present. We are not thankful for what we have now so God cannot bless us with more. Our due season is dependant on the season in which we are now living.

Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey, and Walt Disney have one thing in common. They are all overcomers. They all overcome great trials in their life to be successful. They refused to be defined by their past. The did not let learning disabilities, abuse, or poverty define them. We must be careful what we let define our life. To be an overcomer, by definition, we have to overcome something. In our study of overcomers, we have learned some characteristics of overcomers. We have talked about the choices overcomers make. Last week we explored the attitude of an overcomer. Tonight we look at holding on. When a rodeo cowboy rides the bull, he holds on. But he doesn't hold on to the bull. He holds on to the rope tied around the bull. As long as he holds on to the rope, the bull cannot buck him off. In our text tonight, the writer calls attention to a specific action. He didn’t point out a person's talent, skills or abilities. What he does say is that we must have a grip on the right thing. In our humanity, we look at things like talent, skills, physical conditioning, and experience to define our success. The Bible is clear here that being an overcomer is rooted in holding on. What is it that we need to get a grip on? It is our profession. The profession, in this case, is a spoken utterance. The bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. What we speak has power. The devil wants to destroy our life and one of the ways he does that is to cause us to destroy our testimony with our own words. That is why we must be careful the things with which we associate. Our associations will influence our thoughts and words. The power in our life is in what we speak, what we say, what we confess. Our victory is in our mouth. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I have been made to be the head, not the tail. I am a child of God. By choosing our words, we determine the distinctive sound that emanates from our life. We get to chose the quality of our life by the words we use.

Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey, and Walt Disney have one thing in common. They are all overcomers. They all overcome great trials in their life to be successful. They refused to be defined by their past. The did not let learning disabilities, abuse, or poverty define them. We must be careful what we let define our life. To be an overcomer, by definition, we have to overcome something. In our study of overcomers, we have learned some characteristics of overcomers. We have talked about the choices overcomers make. Last week we explored the attitude of an overcomer. Tonight we look at holding on. When a rodeo cowboy rides the bull, he holds on. But he doesn't hold on to the bull. He holds on to the rope tied around the bull. As long as he holds on to the rope, the bull cannot buck him off. In our text tonight, the writer calls attention to a specific action. He didn’t point out a person's talent, skills or abilities. What he does say is that we must have a grip on the right thing. In our humanity, we look at things like talent, skills, physical conditioning, and experience to define our success. The Bible is clear here that being an overcomer is rooted in holding on. What is it that we need to get a grip on? It is our profession. The profession, in this case, is a spoken utterance. The bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. What we speak has power. The devil wants to destroy our life and one of the ways he does that is to cause us to destroy our testimony with our own words. That is why we must be careful the things with which we associate. Our associations will influence our thoughts and words. The power in our life is in what we speak, what we say, what we confess. Our victory is in our mouth. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I have been made to be the head, not the tail. I am a child of God. By choosing our words, we determine the distinctive sound that emanates from our life. We get to chose the quality of our life by the words we use.