God has a work for you to do . . . and He has a work for me. In fact, God has a work and a purpose for all who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Someone said that it has yet to be seen what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully dedicated to Him in this present age. I believe the Apostle Paul was determined in his heart to be like that when he asked, “ . . . Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). He gave himself fully to the will of God for His life and the Lord used him to turn this world upside down for Christ (Acts 17:6). During Paul’s ministry he brought many to know Jesus as Savior, established churches, and wrote almost half of the New Testament. The Lord is still looking for men, women, boys and girls that He can fill with His Spirit and use to make a difference for Jesus today. And you and I can be that person that God will take and use for His name’s sake. Our text deals with David’s meeting the giant, Goliath, on the field of battle. In this meeting we see some principles that teach us about the kind of people God uses. These verses shed some light on the characteristics they possess. So, let’s examine some thoughts about “The Kind Of People God Uses.”

I. THE PEOPLE GOD USES ARE COMMON PEOPLE.

II. GOD USES CONSECRATED PEOPLE.

III. GOD USES COMMITTED PEOPLE.

IV. GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE.

As we come to our text for today let’s first remember all of the events that have led up to it. Jesus had gone from: A triumphant entry into Jerusalem about a week before, to a betrayal, an arrest, a denial (by Peter), to a mock “trial,” to hearing the people cry out for His crucifixion. He endured mocking, a crown of thorns, and the scourging which left the flesh on His back hanging in ribbons. (We often forget that as well as the purple robe which was allowed to cling to the clotting blood on His back and roughly ripped off at Calvary.) Then there is the crucifixion itself. But I believe the greatest pain Jesus felt while on the cross was not from the nails in His hands and feet but when He became “sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” and He cried out “ . . . Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Now Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome have come to the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea to anoint his body for burial. And, in vs. 6 of our text we have a statement upon which all of Christianity rises or falls. The “young man” sitting in the empty tomb said to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, “ . . . he is risen; he is not here . . . ” That is the key - “ . . . he is risen.” We even sing about it. We sing, "I serve a risen Savior. He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say." However, do you realize that much of the world either denies or ignores the resurrection of Jesus? I Googled “Christianity.” In its listing of the “core beliefs of Christianity” it named: the Trinity, the Bible, original sin and salvation, and Jesus as Savior (and almost as an afterthought it says rather succinctly that Jesus died, “was resurrected, and will return.”) Some who claim to be “Christians” even deny the resurrection of Jesus - either outright, claiming He merely “swooned” and appeared to die and thus was not brought back to life, or, as many do, they deny it by their lives. And, sadly, in our nation crass commercialism has turned the attention of many from the glorious miracle of the resurrection to bunnies, chicks, and hunting of colored eggs. Those things have nothing to do with our Lord nor His death, burial, or resurrection. At this time of year we should, indeed, be rejoicing and celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus for, as I said, everything we believe rises or falls on this one doctrine. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said about the resurrection in I Corinthians 15:13-19: “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” If there was no resurrection, Jesus was not who He said He was because He said at one point, (John 10:17-18) “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again . . . ” (He didn’t do that if there is no resurrection.) If there is no resurrection, according to vs. 15, every preacher who has ever stood in a pulpit and every person who has ever witnessed to a lost friend or family member is guilty of lying about God. If there is no resurrection, we who profess to be “saved” are just as lost as we ever were. We are still in our sins because we have had faith in something that is not so. (Kind of like believing in the tooth fairy . . . or the Easter bunny.) If there is no resurrection all of our loved ones that we expect to meet and enjoy Heaven with one of these days “are perished” (destroyed, or ruined). If there is no resurrection, we are the most miserable (pitiable) because we have placed our hope, our expectation in something that is not so just to get us through this life. That paints a pretty grim picture, doesn’t it. But thank God for vs. 20! “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (FIRSTFRUITS = In the Septuagint, this word is used for the offering of firstfruits and in secular usage the word was used for an entrance fee. Leviticus 23:9-14 gives the instruction for the offering of the firstfruits. Firstfruits represent and anticipate the rest of the harvest. The resurrection of Jesus also anticipates our resurrection, because we will be raised with a body like His. I Corinthians 15:51-53: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I John 3:2: “ . . . we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” There is our hope. There is our glad expectation! The seven simple words the angel spoke to these women have such a message that we can never exhaust their importance - “He is risen; he is not here.” Those words declare and prove to us . . .

I. THE CLAIM OF THE LORD.

II. THE COMING LIFE.

III. THE COURAGE OF THE LIVING.

The following statement is not intended for “shock value.” It is the expression of my heart. I am tired of hearing preachers talk about “the rapture of the church.” Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. As those who know the Bible to teach that a true, New Testament church has only one nature - local and visible - we should also understand that not all of the saved are in a true church, or in any church at all. And, that is sad because, according to Ephesians 3:21 a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the place God has designated to bring Him glory. Some say, “One church is just as good as another,” or “At least they are in church, even though they don’t teach the truth,” but that is just not so! When Jesus comes for His own, everyone who has trusted Him for salvation - whether in a church or in no church - will be “caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air” (I Thessalonians 4:17). All of those who have died “in Christ,” trusting Him for salvation, will be resurrected. All who have trusted Him and are living at the time of His coming will be “caught up.” We do not believe the erroneous teaching of a universal, invisible “church” which is made up of “all the saved of all the ages,” and the Bible does not teach any such thing. Now, after that statement some who view our livestream and some who listen to my podcast may be like those in John 6:66. After the Lord’s statement in vv. 53-58 we are told in vs. 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” But it is more important to please God than to please people and go along with the popular religious thinking of the day. Now, we do speak of a large group of believers of all ages, but that is called the family of God, and there is a huge difference between a family and a church. And there will be a time, according to Hebrews 12, when all of the believers of all ages will meet together (they can’t right now), but that will be in Heaven after the resurrection and rapture. Also, if you believe in the “rapture of the church” only, what are you going to do with all those saved ones who were never in a true New Testament church? The Old Testament saints were never a part of a New Testament church. John the Baptist - had authority from God to baptize and prepare the material from which Jesus would build His church, but he was never a church member. The thief on the cross was saved just before his death, but he was never baptized and fellowshipped into any church. No. The more correct term would be the resurrection and rapture of the saved, of all the saved, and that is what we are going to consider in this message. Millions of saved have believed throughout the ages that the time we call the “last days” would culminate with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. This has been the hope of believers since the first century. It is the subject of 1000’s of songs and (perhaps) hundreds of 1000’s of Bible messages. There are many different indicators of our living in the “last days,” but we don’t have the time to consider them this morning because we are considering the resurrection and rapture of the saved. This morning, we should find comfort and hope in knowing that God’s timetable is right on schedule and that Jesus is coming soon. That’s why the Bible calls it in Titus 2:13 the “blessed hope.” It is the hope (glad expectation) of being in Heaven with the Lord Jesus - I Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” This hope that we have is built on nothing less than the “more sure word of prophecy,” the Bible (II Peter 1:19), the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God. First let's see . . .

I. THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE.

II. THE PRECIOUS HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE.

III. THE PREPARATION FOR THE RAPTURE.

Our text is the account of God’s instructions to Joshua as he becomes the leader of the Israelites in the place of Moses. Joshua was a man of great faith -- Numbers 14:6-9. He was one of the two spies who brought back a good report of the Promise Land and expressed faith that through God the Israelites could conquer it. He said, “(8) If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (9) Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” In vs. 1 of our text he is called Moses’ “minister” (right-hand man). He was a faithful servant of Moses and of God. You recall that Moses was not allowed to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land because of disobeying God. Deuteronomy 34:5 tells us that Moses died in the land of Moab and was buried “in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor . . . ” Now, Israel stands at the border of Canaan with a new leader and a new land before them. These verses are often used as the text “special occasion” messages, especially at the beginning of the new year. But that is not why I want us to look at these verses and what they teach us today. We are already one-fourth of the way through this year already! The Lord’s churches need a lot of things in this present age, and while some of them are material (I guess many of those may be wants more than needs), I believe most of what we need is spiritual in nature. We need revival - not just a series of services but a new recognition of the power and presence of God’s Spirit who dwells within us. Many need a refocusing on the position and purpose of the Lord’s churches in this world. We may need a new commitment to the daily reading and study of God’s Word. Some may need a rededication of their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. But I believe one of the greatest needs we have today is courage. It has been a long time since the Lord’s churches were truly courageous and bold in this world with a holy boldness. We seem to have slipped into a comfort and a complacency that requires little to become a church member and less to remain one. John the Baptist required “fruit meet for repentance” before he would baptize those who came to him. The church at Jerusalem did not want to accept Saul of Tarsus into their membership until Barnabas spoke for him. And the Word of God teaches that as members of one of Christ’s churches there is a certain standard to meet as members. Remember once again what happened with that church at Jerusalem in Acts 4. Vv. 1-21 -- Peter and John are re-arrested, told not to preach in the name of Jesus again, and let go. Vs. 23 -- They went back to the church and reported what had happened. Vv. 24-30 -- The church prayed! This is not just one or two praying; it is the church as a whole praying! Look at what they prayed for, vs. 29: “ . . . grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word . . . ” Vs. 31 - “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” I don’t know about you, but that is what I want in my life for Christ - boldness! Boldness to preach as the Lord leads. Boldness to speak and stand for the truth. Boldness to be an effective witness for Christ regardless of where I am or who I am speaking to. That is what these first nine verses of Joshua 1 deal with - COURAGE. Three times in vv. 6-9 God tells Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage . . . ” or some version of that. Then He repeats it in vs. 18! BE OF A GOOD COURAGE = be resolute. (Along with “strong” it implies fearlessness.) So in this morning’s message we are going to look at this thing called courage and at being courageous for the Lord.

I. COURAGE COMES FROM GOD’S WORD -- VV. 1, 3.

II. COURAGE COMES FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES - V.5.

III. COURAGE COMES FOR GOD’S PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES - VV. 2, 6.

There are two extremes to so-called “worship” today -- a cold, unresponsive formalism which gives the impression of a dead church, or a wild chaotic confusion of which God is not the author. Prior to their slipping away from God and going into idol worship, I believe the people of Israel had a clear understanding of the holiness of God . . . and showed it in their worship. The displays of thunders and lightnings around the mountain and outside the tabernacle, the cloud by day, and the fire by night gave them a sense of the awesome power of God. Sadly, it seems they failed to pass that on to their children. (See Judges 2:10.) There was a time when God’s people in this nation had that sense of the holiness of God, and it showed in their worship. Sadly, we have become so casual about many things, even our worship. We seem more concerned with our comfort than with our concept of God. In order to understand worship, we must have a Scripturally based concept and understanding of God. Listen to what Jesus had to say in John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Here is my personal, expanded translation of that verse: “And this is life eternal -- as to its character, nature, and divine purpose, that they (the saved ones) might know Thee -- God, the Father, the only true God -- with a personal and true knowledge and an intimate and active relation so that knowledge has an influence upon them (the believing ones) to the degree that they allow their lives to be determined or directed thereby.” The purpose of eternal life is not just so we may live in Heaven for eternity after we die. The purpose of eternal life is so we may daily have the kind of relationship with God and Jesus that is described above. The key, then, to understanding biblical worship is an appreciation of the attributes of God - especially His holiness. We must comprehend the exalted character of God (with holiness as the primary attribute) in order to understand our need as worshippers. God does not need our worship. It will not make Him any more God than He is. Worship of God is for our benefit and fills a divine vacuum in our lives. In Isaiah 6:5 Isaiah saw the Lord and realized his contrasting condition. He said: “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” First, a personal assessment (“Woe is me! . . . I am a man of unclean lips . . .”) Next, a public assessment (“I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. . .”) Until we realize ourselves as weak and needy and God as "lofty and exalted," we will be unable to grasp the magnitude of God’s holiness and thereby give Him truly “acceptable” worship. True worship must be from the perspective of God’s holiness and the sinfulness of the worshipper. Hebrews 12:28-29: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.” Vs. 28 instructs us to worship God with holy fear and awe. Does that sound like the modern day Sunday morning worshipper? Many enter God’s presence with divided minds and scattered thoughts. Some pay more attention to their “electronic devices” than to the message. The sound of Bible pages turning has been replaced by the silence of “swiping” across a screen. Also, you don’t have to learn/memorize the books of the Bible if you are letting an app find the text for you. Some are anxious to “get it over with” and go about their day. That doesn’t sound like holy fear and awe to me. Holiness cannot be perceived apart from fear. Why? If you perceive God as utterly holy, you must perceive yourself as utterly unholy. What did Isaiah say? “Woe is me! . . . I am a man of unclean lips . . .” Very literally he said, “I am going to die for I have seen the Lord!” The holiness of God should produce a sense of reverential fear in us because a holy God has a right to a holy reaction against an unholy creation. God has become so casual in our thinking (so human, so buddy-buddy) today, that we do not understand the whole perspective of His utter holiness. He is a “consuming fire.” He has a holy indignation against sin. If we flippantly rush into His presence, with lives that are unattended to through repentance, confession, and forgiveness, we are vulnerable to His holy reaction. John leaned on the bosom of Jesus in the Upper Room, but he fell at His feet when he beheld Him as Sovereign in Revelation 1:17-18: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

I. WORSHIP AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

II. HOLINESS DEFINED AND ILLUSTRATED.

We woke up last Sunday morning to learn of a joint attack on Iran by the United States of America and Israel. I don’t know what you thought (obviously), but I was not sure what to think. When I begin to consider the rapture, or the catching up of the saved, the Great Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ to this earth, and eventually His Millennial Reign, we must look to the Middle East. The things happening to, in, and around Israel are a divine road map as to where we are in the consummation of all things. Whenever Israel is involved my ears perk up just a little bit. So when the news is about them, I listen to it just a little more closely. When I heard what was happening in Iran and who was involved, one of the places my mind went to was this chapter in Ezekiel. Let me just pause a moment to say I am happy for the people of Iran, especially if from this they gain the liberty that has been pledged. It should not amaze us, though it often does, how God moves people and uses people to accomplish His will. Without waxing political I will say that I believe He is using our president to prepare our world for the soon coming of Jesus. God can do that. Whether a person is saved or lost, whether they acknowledge Him or not, He can use their decisions to accomplish what He wants done. In the bulletin article I made reference to Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus the Persian, and to Caesar Augustus. None of these individuals were considered anywhere close to godly, but God used them. The 38th chapter of Ezekiel describes a future invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by Gog of Magog. Some Bible commentators equate Magog with modern day Russia. The coalition of nations joining with Gog (Russia) includes Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya. One thing that is definitely known is that it speaks of an area that is to the north of Israel. Some of the early commentators believed it referred to Alexander the Great, but remember some prophecy can have an immediate and future reference. And, according to commentators, the names Mesech and Tubal are considered to be ancient names for the Russian cities of Moscow and Tobolsk. In Ezekiel 38:4-6 God says to Gog, “And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (5 )Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.” The reference to “Gomer and all his bands” and “the house of Togarmah of the north quarters . . . and all his bands . . . ” in vs. 6 includes Turkey and its surrounding areas. Dr. I. K. Cross this suggests that the nations named above will feel compelled (“ . . . I will . . . put hooks into thy jaws . . . ”) to come against Israel. When will this happen? Most Bible expositors cannot agree as to when, but look at what God says. Vs. 8: “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land . . .” Vs. 16: “And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days . . . ” LATTER DAYS = last, or end; end of days; last days. As I look at the things that are happening at this moment in the Middle East I cannot help but believe that the way is being opened for these things to take place. Consider the article about China and Russia being “forced” now to buy oil on the global market instead of purchasing sanctioned oil from Iran and moving it by way of tankers in a “ghost,” or “shadow fleet.” The article stated that this will definitely affect the economies of those nations. Just this last week Russia commented that anyone who is against Israel and the United States is their partner. But let’s go back to a previous question for just a moment. When is all this going to happen? In vs. 14 God told Ezekiel: “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?” If things in Iran go as most expect them to go Israel will appear to be afforded certain degree of safety. But listen to what Paul said, speaking of the world, in I Thessalonians 5:3: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” In Matthew 24:44 Jesus said: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Luke 12:40: “?Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Why did Jesus say that? Why did He have to tell us to “be ready?” Because He has told us about . . .

I.THE CONDITIONS AT HIS COMING.

II. THE CAUTION ABOUT HIS COMING.

Someone has said that the epitaph of our society today should be: “This civilization died because it just didn’t want to be bothered. It did not care.” Dr. Lawrence M Gould, one time President of Carlton College said: “I do not believe that the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don't think our civilization will end that way. I think it will end, and it will die when people no longer care.” We are rapidly approaching that time in our world. Nineteen of 21 civilizations have died from within -- not by conquest from without. It happened slowly, gradually when no one was aware. If I had to choose a word to describe the condition of most of the Lord’s churches today, I would choose one of two: satisfied, or apathetic (apathy). Satisfied: We are comfortable with both our physical and spiritual condition, very much like the church at Laodicea which said, “I am rich . . . and . . . need nothing.” Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. (Apathy = A state of indifference, characterized by a significant lack of emotion, motivation, interest, or enthusiasm, often manifesting as reduced goal-directed activity.) Symptoms of apathy include emotional numbness, social withdrawal, neglect of tasks, and lack of initiative. As we sit this morning, cool (or warm) comfortable, I feel a trickle-down effect has taken place, and the apathy of the world has come into many of the Lord’s churches, and we are all in danger of being affected by it. Horatius Bonar (ancient Scottish poet) once said: “I looked for the church, and I found it in the world. I looked for the world, and I found it in the church.” I mentioned the church at Laodicea. We will look at it soon on Sunday nights. That church is a prime example of what I am talking about. They were lukewarm - neither hot nor cold. In their apathy they said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17) and could not realize their true spiritual condition. However, when we read our text, we see a man not affected by apathy. I am not sure Saul/Paul was ever apathetic about anything. Before he was saved he was full of zeal, as he persecuted the Lord’s churches. When he met Christ and had his life turned upside down, he became full of zeal, not persecuting churches, but building churches. He was, indeed, a man who was not apathetic. For the next few minutes we are going to examine these three verses in Romans 9. And as we examine the attitude of the Apostle Paul, we will see what we need to survive in this age of apathy.

I. PAUL HAD A TRUE DESIRE -- VS. 1.

II. HE ALSO HAD A TROUBLED HEART -- VS. 2.

III. PAUL HAD A TELLING COMMITMENT -- VS. 3.

Our text is the account of our Lord’s healing of the centurion’s servant. This centurion was a Roman, a pagan, but he exhibited great faith in Jesus. His faith was so great that it prompted Jesus to say (vs. 10): “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” We heard a wonderful testimony Wednesday evening of multiple incidents where men placed their faith in God and saw Him answer and meet their needs. They were taught that faith by their dad as they were growing up. It is the kind of faith and dedication to the Lord we need to teach our children and the young people of this church today. “Lord, turn the hearts of our children to You.” Today we are going to look at this faith like no other and what we must do to have it. Hebrews 11:1 tells us: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (SUBSTANCE = foundation; prop; basis; confidence.) (HOPED = expected. It is the usual N.T. word for “hope.” Why do we expect things like the rapture, glorified bodies, the new heaven and new earth, etc? Faith! Because God’s Word tells us about these things, and we believe His Word. (EVIDENCE = demonstration, proof, convincing argument. Our faith is to be evidence to the world of things it cannot see - evidence of God, the Holy Spirit, Heaven, eternity, etc.) So, let me ask, “Is the way most (of us) believers live in relation to faith in God - not for salvation or service, but for supply - a convincing argument of His existence to the unsaved world?” Many of our prayer lives are weak because our faith is weak! I mention prayer here because prayer and faith go together. It seems that sometimes we pray half trusting God. We pray thinking, “Well, God will answer this prayer if He wants to.” Or, we pray hoping (as the world thinks of “ hope”) instead of expecting (biblical “hope”). And many prayers are not answered because we pray in a weak way. Why do we pray that way when Hebrews 4:14-16 says: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (BOLDLY = (a compound word)(meta = with ; parrhesia = out-spokeness; frankness; bluntness; assurance). “Let us come with assurance.” A man had a burden of service on his heart, set out to obey God, and asked God to supply the means to meet the burden. James 1:5-6 gives us an example of how to pray -- “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (WAVERING = to be in separation with in one’s self.) One who wavers is a person with divided, unsettled as a wave that is blown and tossed by the wind. And look at what James says about the one who asks wavering, who asks in weak faith - vs. 7: “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” Why? Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” [WITHOUT (FAITH) = (literally) at a space from; apart from.] [IMPOSSIBLE = is a compound word made up of “dunatos” with the negating “a” attached. “Dunatos” is from “dunamai,” which refers to “dynamic ability.” It speaks of being powerful, or capable. So, “a(not)dunatos” speaks of being weak and powerless.] [PLEASE = (euaresteo) to gratify entirely; to please well.] Without faith we are powerless to be well-pleasing to God. But what is “faith?” There was a song years ago that said, “Faith is just believing what God says, He will do.” However, biblical faith goes beyond that. [FAITH = (pistis) a firm persuasion, the conviction which is based upon hearing, not upon sight or knowledge.] The Scripture says in II Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) . . . ” Faith is a “firmly relying confidence in what we hear from God in His Word” (Bullinger) This kind of faith is absolutely necessary to the true worship of God - “ . . . for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” “ . . . for he that cometh to him . . . ” [COMETH = to approach; come near; (figuratively, it refers to worship).] “ . . . must believe that he is . . . ” [BELIEVE = (pisteuo) to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to).] This is not just mental assent. That is what demons do. James 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils (demons) also believe, and tremble.” The use of the word here is TRUST. You don’t come near to or depend upon someone you don’t trust [DILIGENTLY SEEK = search out; crave; (a Hebraism for “worship.”)] We cannot truly worship God as we should and as He deserves without faith. So, let’s see what is necessary to have this kind of faith Jesus praised, this great faith.

I. GREAT FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE WORD OF GOD - ROMANS 10:17.

II. GREAT FAITH COMES BY HAVING A DAILY WALK WITH GOD -- GENESIS 5:24.

III. GREAT FAITH COMES BY HEEDING THE WITNESS OF FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GOD.

The book of Judges is an account of a 450 year period when God gave deliverers to His people Israel. It lasted from the time of Joshua’s death to the rise of Samuel, the prophet. In fact, Samuel is referred to by some as the last judge and the first prophet. However, before we can truly understand why these judges were needed, we must know what was going on. The first verse of this book reveals Israel’s problem, and the last verse of the book reveals their practice. Judges 1:1: “Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?” Judges 21:25 offers us an overview of the book this book. It says, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges is an account of Israel’s cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration, and rest. From Joshua 24:15 to Judges 1:28 is only a few years. In Joshua 24:15 we see Joshua’s challenge to Israel: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Vs. 19 Joshua warned the people that they would not be able to serve God. People make emotional, or as I call them revival service commitments to God that sound good at the time, but they usually don’t keep them. Have you ever prayed, “Lord, if You will get me out of this mess I am in, I will serve you faithfully?” Or, “Lord, if You will bless me I will serve you?” In Joshua 24:21-24 we see how the people indicted themselves before God. “And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. (24) And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” However, we see in Judges 1:28 how Israel failed at their commitment to God: “And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.” God commanded the Israelites to enter Canaan and conquer it completely -- Deuteronomy 7:1-3, 5. They were to: 1) Vs. 1 -- Possess the land. 2) Vs. 2 -- Utterly destroy all the nations of Canaan. 3) Vs. 2 -- Make no peace treaties with them. 4) Vs. 2 -- Show them no mercy. 5) Vs. 3 -- Refuse to intermarry with them. 6) Vs. 5 -- Destroy every trace of their pagan religions. And in Deuteronomy 7:6 God explained the reason for this command: “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” God demanded total separation of His people from the practices of those about them. He knew if they entangled themselves with these they would become spiritually corrupt and be drawn away from Him. He promised to visit them suddenly in His wrath when that happened. Israel had their instructions, but they failed to fully obey. Judges 1:22-36 (vs. 28) records this failure of Israel. Nine times between Judges 1:19 and 1:35 the word “but” is used to reveal their failure - vv. 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35. God has instructed His people and His churches that we are to be separate from this world system -- II Corinthians 6:14-18 ; II Peter 1:15-16 (HOLY = set apart) ; II Corinthians 7:1 ; I John 2:15-16. So when we come to Judges 2:10 we are told: “There arose another generation which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done.” This was the generation that followed Joshua’s generation. We are one generation away from heresy. We need to teach these little ones NOW and not wait until they are grown. And we not only need to teach the what but the why of these great doctrines of the Bible. 2:7: “And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.” In vs. 8 Joshua dies, “being an hundred and ten years old.” Vs. 10: “And also all that generation (Joshua’s generation, including the elders that “outlived Joshua”) were gathered unto their fathers . . . ” These were 2nd and 3rd generation of those that had come out of Egypt. Someone said, “The first generation has convictions. By the second generation they are merely preferences. And by the third generation, they are gone altogether.” Today, the Lord’s churches are producing generations which “know not the Lord nor His works” (and I would say, nor His Word). Many teens and young adults know little about the Bible. They often don’t know what we believe or why we believe it. Many are “Baptist” only because “that's the way I was raised,” or “that's what mom and dad are/were.” Many churches and church members do not have a powerful influence with or testimony to the lost about them. So let’s examine that generation of Judges 2:10:

I. IT WAS A GENERATION VOID OF LEADERSHIP.

II. IT WAS A GENERATION OF UNREALIZED POTENTIAL.

III. BUT (SADLY) IT WAS A GENERATION THAT BROUGHT DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

I believe it is “crunch time” in America. In case you haven’t noticed it . . . There is and has been for some time an all out war against God, against Jesus, and against the Bible in this nation. This war is coming rapidly to the Lord’s churches and in an ever increasing degree. We may feel like we are enjoying a “lull” in the fighting at the present moment, but I can guarantee you that the sinister minister of evil, Satan himself, is operating under the surface and behind the scenes preparing his next attack for the days to come. It is high time that someone, or many “someones,” stand up and sound the warning that there is danger ahead. Some might consider Shamgar a ‘nobody’ because his name appears only twice in the Scripture, but the Bible is filled with accounts of people who appear on its pages for just a moment and then promptly disappear. Do you know who ADINO was? II Samuel 23:8 says he was one of David’s mighty men who “lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.” II Samuel 23:9-10 says ELEAZAR, another of David’s mighty men “arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword . . . ” There was SHAMMAH (II Samuel 23:11-12) who “stood in the midst of the ground, (a field) and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” Then there was the Israelite maid who told Naaman about the God of Israel which led to his being healed of his leprosy (I Kings 5:1-4). Even Joseph of Arimathea who, at great personal risk, asked for the body of Jesus so in that he might bury Him in his own tomb (John 19:38-42). The list could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. It seems that God often uses the unknown and the obscure to accomplish His work. Why? I Corinthians 1:26-29: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.” Shamgar is no exception. He appears in two verses in the Bible. He is used of God. And then vanishes away. The Bible gives us information on the first two judges mentioned in this third chapter. First we read about Othniel. Othniel was Caleb’s nephew, the son of his younger brother. Then we see Ehud. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Benjamite. But when we come to Shamgar, and God has chosen not to tell us much about him. As I said, he is only mentioned twice -- Judges 3:31 ; 5:6. But, what is said of him reveals his character and his courage. Though he is relatively unknown to us, God knew him and used him in a great way. Some say SHAMGAR means either “sword,” or “cupbearer.” Either would fit with what we know of him. He was like a sword in the hand of God as He was used to defeat Israel’s enemies. He was like a cupbearer as he brought the cup of God’s wrath upon them. But his name could also mean “overthrower,” for he overthrew 600 Philistines. He is called “the son of Anath.” Some say that is because. . . His father’s name was Anath. But if that is so, we know little about his father. Or, that he was from Beth-anath (house of Anath) in upper Galilee. The area was given to the tribe of Naphtali in the division of the land. According to Judges 1:33 Naphtali did not “drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.” Some have even suggested “son of Anath” might have been a nickname. ANATH = the Canaanite goddess of war. They say he may have been given that nickname because he was a “warrior.” Whatever the case, just as I Corinthians tells us, God can take those the world considers “nobodies” and do mighty things through them. We only have to make ourselves available. In this message we will see that . . .

I. SHAMGAR WAS A WORKER.

II. SHAMGAR WAS A WARRIOR.

III. SHAMGAR BECAME THE WINNER.