Title: Overcoming a Lack of Faith
Text: Judges 11:34-40
CIT: Jepthath’s lack of faith in God was not an answer to his problem.
Thesis: Our Faith in God will give the answer to our problems.
Major Objective: Consecrational
Specific Objective: That they will trust God with their problems.
Sermon Question: How?
Overcoming a Lack of Faith
Judges 11:34-40
Introduction
Have you ever thought about where you would be without faith? As Christians we think, how can this be possible? We were bought by the blood of Christ. We have the Holy Spirit of God to guide us. Yet, what happens then when we do not listen to God’s leadership, when have a lack of faith? Today’s scripture is the story of Jephthah. A man who came up from the bottom, to a place of great leadership, only to loose the thing he loved because of a lack of faith.
Problem – When we act out of haste, more problems will follow.
Explanation
Jephthah was one of the men who were called to rule Israel written about in the book of Judges. In the scripture nowhere is he called a Judge, but we do know him as a leader and a mighty man of valor. Jephthah was born in Gilead, which is located west of the River Jordan. From Jephthah’s beginning as an illegitimate child, the son of a harlot, he was to have problems. Because of his illegitimacy, Jephthah could not inherit the possessions of the family like the legitimate children. He was cast out from what was his family to join together a band of worthless men. Under Jephthah’s leadership, the survival of the men was contingent as their income as a raiding party.
When war broke out with the Ammonites, there was need for every man that could fight. The elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah and his men to help in this battle with their enemy. They needed a leader and Jephthah was the man who was chosen. The elders decided that they would make Jephthah leader, in the condition that they win the battle. In an almost reluctant way, Jephthah agrees to fight this battle. His plea before the elders is, “will you really take me back, AND let me be your leader?†The elders agree and make a bond before the Lord…."The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say." Josh 11:10 NIV
Jephthah, was once an out cast and now made the ruler. Amazing. This victory over the Ammonites was absolutely necessary if he wanted to hold on to this great power. It meant everything, not only to Jephthah, but to his people as well. This was their home. A home and a land that was given to them by God. After unsuccessful negotiations, Jephthah took his men to war, they were proven successful in battle and were ready now for a decisive blow to the Ammonites. Jephthah knew this was to be the most important of strikes. He could not let himself and his men fail. He, then in this time of faithlessness, made this vow to God. …"If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31) whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." Judg 11:30b-31
The battle was a success, the war was over. Jephthah and the men of Israel conquered twenty cities. This was a great victory. Now Jephthah is coming home to enjoy this great celebration. Who now comes out of the house to see him? His daughter! She is overcome with joy. Can you imagine her glowing face? Daddy! As she come dancing down the road with timbrels in her hands. She had longed to be with him all this time while he was away and now, he is here.
The hero and father is returning from a victorious battle and yet there is something not right. Jephthah knows now what he had done. He tears his clothes in grief. The vow. In Jephthah’s lack of faith, he made the vow. Now the one thing that he loves is to be another of the victims of war. The very vow that he made to insure a victory would cause the death of his daughter.
Application
Have you ever had to face a situation like Jephthah? Why did Jephthah make this vow? Did he not remember that he was promised victory? Did he not remember that the Lord was a witness to the agreement with the elders? Did he not remember how God had delivered the other enemies to him? It is so easy for us to act irresponsibly when we lack the necessary faith. When feel like we can not go on. When feel like all is lost. When feel like we will not be able to persevere. We must however over come that lack of faith. We must know that as part of the body of Christ we are able to continue in faith, overcoming any lack thereof.
Illustration
Paul Krause was recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He played sixteen years and had eighty-one career interceptions as a safety with the Minnesota Vikings. However, his greatest challenge in life did not occur on a football field but in his response to the automobile accident his wife of thirty-five years suffered on October 5, 1995. Pam Krause was in a coma for five years after suffering a brain stem injury and several broken bones on the left side of her body, including facial bones, ribs, pelvis, and vertebrae.
Former Vikings teammate Wally Hilgenburg recently said, "I have gained so much more respect and admiration for Paul over the past two years for what Paul has done as a husband, father, and provider for Pam. He has proven himself a true Hall of Famer based on how he has handled everything." Krause credits his strength to his faith in God: "When the doctors tell you that they do not know if she will live . . . that is not giving you any hope. But I never thought she would die. That is my belief in God, hoping that he would give me strength through all of it." (May, Steve, The Story File, Peabody: Hendrickson, 2000, p. 8)
Solution: Faith in God will give the answer to our problems.
Explanation
As for Jephthah, he did not seek God’s direction. From what we know in the text, Jephthah went right to bargaining with God, without even coming to God in prayer. So, when Jephthah arrived home, he had pledged to make a sacrifice of the first thing that he saw coming from the doors of his house. The first things he saw however, of all people his daughter. His only child.
During this time vows were not obligatory but certainly binding once they were made. We have to remember that a vow which included a human sacrifice, is generally condemned in the Hebrew Bible. It is possible that the language and nature of the vow was originally intended to be an animal sacrifice. Now however, Jephthah had no choice but to follow through with what he had said. The vow of course had been to pledge a burnt offering. There no specifics as to the victim, it just happened that Jephthah’s daughter was the one. If Jephthah would have remained in faith, the vow to assure victory would have been unnecessary.
Application
For the Christian, faith is not an option. Is essential for us to persevere, for us to have hope, for us to know that there is something else than what we know in this world. We started in faith, now we must over come any lack of faith. Remember when you gave your life to Christ, it was in faith. When you entered in the waters of baptism it was in faith. When you were bound together in marriage, it was in faith. When we pass from this world, in to the hands of God, it will need to be in faith.
Faith in God, is the only way we can overcome life’s problems. When the bills come in the mail, we need faith. When the body starts to hurt and feels like it can’t move any longer, we need faith. When there is trouble at work, we need faith. When the kids have you pulling out your hair, we need faith. You may be at the end of your rope, or in the midst of a heated battle. You can overcome that lack of faith. God has the answers, and will bring you though the situation.
Illustration
A group of friends was visiting the Niagara Falls. At the falls was a place called the ‘Cave of the Winds’. From there, a person had a marvelous view of the mighty waterfall. Led by a guide, they passed through the rocks out to the edge of the river. They traveled by winding paths, across narrow bridges and through the flying spray of the falls. Drenched from the spray, the tourists came upon a rather shaky footbridge in front of the American side of the falls. That plank bridge, with only a single wooden rail must be crossed in order to reach the ‘Cave of the Winds’.
The party followed the guide across, but one lady lost her nerve and stood still clinging to the handrail. The guide sensing the situation, stepped back quickly and said in a kindly and calm voice, “Your hand in the guides hand please.†With an effort the lady transferred one hand to the guides hand, but hung ever so more tightly with the other to the handrail. The guide saw that there was no progress here being made.
Then the guide with an understanding smile said, “Both hands in mine, please!†For a moment there was a struggle, fear defying faith, then faith won: she moved, trusting both hands to the safety of the guide. Soon they were on the ledge of rock safely in the ‘Cave of the Winds’. (Naismith, Archibald, 2400 Outlines, Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes for Sermons, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993, P.78)
Conclusion
It is not easy to have faith in times of crisis. Those moments however are the times when we need faith in God the most. In the case of Jephthah, even though he was assured victory from the previous promise before the elders of Gilead, he did not believe. Friends there are to be times when we enter into battle, but we are assured victory through Christ Jesus. If we put our trust in Him, there is no need to make rash decisions or oaths. If we put both hands in his, we can overcome of our lack of faith. Friends, you can overcome that lack of faith as well. Trust Christ for the victory!
