But Are You Following Through on the Word God Gave You!

Judges 13-15

This is a reminder that God will give us a word. This is also a reminder that we must have an ear to hear. Even more importantly than an initial "I hear you God" or beginning to implement the word, is am I following through with it? In other words, am I giving place for God to continue to speak to me about this word with next steps. The initial word is just the beginning. I must be willing to wait on God for how I need to proceed. Sometimes, things have to transpire in our lives before we can see and glean what God is trying to tell us. Sometimes, he just wants us to watch so we know what we are dealing with which will tell how we should be responding. When we are not willing to wait, we align ourselves with the enemy and still try to do God's work. This is counter productive.

The Cost of Speaking too Soon!

Judges 11-12

This is a reminder of the story of a man named Jephthah. Jephthah was an Israelite. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a harlot. He was a mighty man of valour. Gilead's wife had sons as well. When Gilead's wife sons grew up, they cast Jephthah out of his father's house. Jephthah became a bandit in a place called Tob. When the people of Ammon began to war with the Israelites, the elders of Israel came to Tob, and asked Jephthah if he would lead them in fighting the war against Ammon. He eventually agreed as long as he would be the ruler of the Israelites after the victory. Jephthah prayed to God and won the victory over the Ammonites. Jephthah was so glad that he vowed to the Lord that the first person who came out of his door when he returned home would be dedicated to God or offered as a burnt offering if it ws cattle.

when he got home, his one and only child came out dancing and playing the timbrels. He was saddened. This meant his only daughter would be given in service to God because of the vow he made to God. The daughter said it was okay since God gave him the victory. She asked for 2 months to bewail her virginity with friends. And so she did. Jephthah did what many of us do with God. He made a vow to God when he did not need to. We often think that we need to make a vow with God to get our prayers answered. This is not so. God will answer out prayers. We do not need to barter, promise, or make vows for God to answer our prayers. But, if we do make a vow, God will require it of us. Thinking before we try to make a deal with God is wise. It can cost too much when we do not.

What You Don't Want to Hear From God!

Judges 10

This is a reminder that even favor can run out when we continuously take it for granted. When we keep doing the same things and expect God to keep rescuing us when we get in trouble, it is just a matter of time until the favor runs out. God tells the Israelites to let their gods deliver them out of their tribulations. Back then and now, we have many gods such as people, money, and drugs, to name a few. Anything we put before God is our god. God wants us to default to him, not the mini gods that we go to first. We often go to God last when everything else has failed us. What happens when God himself says "not this time."

So You Know It's God!

Judges 7-9

This is a reminder that it is God that causes us to triumph in war and in life's battles. We see Gideon using God's strategy to overcome the Midianites. We often think that it is us when it is God working things out for us in the background. Often. we take credit for things we should be giving God the glory for. It is God that has gifted us and given us unique skillsets.

God told Gideon that he had too many men. He had 32,000 men ready to do battle. God ended up sending all but 300 back home. God did not want them to think they prevailed because of the number of men. God wanted them to see his power at work.

Talking to God and Still Can't Hear!

Judges 4-6

This is a reminder to stop for a minute and actually listen and hear what God is saying to us. This is a look at how Gideon was introduced in the Bible, and his journey to calling himself what God called him, and realizing that when God says he will use you to do something, it is a done deal. 

It Depends On Who You Ask?

Judges 1-3

This is a reminder that man thinking is very different than God's thinking. What is evil in the sight of God may be fine in the sight of man. When we pray to God for deliverance, we often think that we are fine when our prayers are answered and we have been delivered. This is man's thinking. God's thinking according to the word is that deliverance is only the beginning. Once we have been delivered, we are on a journey to allow God to change our life. We miss this part and spend our lives in a cycle of answered prayers, and deliverance without ever changing. We would not need so much deliverance if we listened to God. The Israelites learned the hard way. 

Not Again!

Joshua 22-24 Season Finale

This is a reminder to remember what has transpired with us and God in the past. Our experiencecan teach us to revere God and honor what he says so we cam avoid the consequences of disobedience. The 9 and a half tribes were ready to fight against the 2 and a half tribes because they were oreparing to do something outside of what God had told them and ordained for them to do in offerings. Israel did not want God to blame them for what the 2 and a half tribe was preparing to do. They called them on their mistake and the 2 and a half tribe repented and halted their plans. God exoects us as people of God to call people of God on their errors and ask them to repent. We should be glad if someone calls us on a wrong and repent immediately so we donot offend God.

Is It Your Promise?

Joshua 19-21

This is a reminder that not only does God make promises, but that he keeps them. He is a promise-keeper. We are disappointed in God when we try to claim a promise that God made to someone else. Some promises in the Bible are to everyone. Some are to individuals and are not for anyone else. We must be careful not to try to transfer the blessings or oromises of others onto ourselves. The only way we can do this is if God tells us that is is fir us as well. The promised land was to Abraham and his seed. It was not realized until the 4 th generation. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob never saw the promise, but they believed God that it would come to pass even if it was not in their lifetime.

God wants a personal relationship with us so he can tell us what our personal promised land is. When we know what our personal promised land is, we can do our part as God blesses what he promised.

Joshua 16-18

Be Very Careful!

This is a reminder that we can lose because of our disobedience to God. When God says do not make a league with someone, it is for our own good. It will be like a thorn in our side or a snare to us. We often compromise by making excuses for why we compromise or settle for less than God's best. We end up looking like the world more than God. It is hard to get out of the league we make with the devil. He will try to hold us to it. We should be very careful to ask God if we should make a league with anyone.

Joshua 13-15

What is robbing you of the promises of God?

This is a reminder of what it looks like to follow God fully and walk in faith. It parallells Caleb walking with God wholly to us walking by faith. Caleb chose faith when others chose to walk in what they saw. Walking by faith means believing in what God has said to the point where we operate, think, and speak based upon what God has said.