Chico Alliance Church
October 6, 2002
Pastor David Welch
“Life Cycles”
Unlikely Heroes: Part One
Introduction
God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His work. We ought to consider it a privilege that God includes imperfect fragile humans to bring about eternal impact. Oftentimes a whole group gets themselves into bondage and God uses a single person to bring deliverance for all of them. Hebrews 11 reveals a lengthy list of faithful heroes used by God to lead and effect eternal change on earth. One section of this distinguished list of Bible heroes includes a group of unlikely heroes. Not only were these ordinary people, they were people with some major struggles and even noteworthy flaws that normally would disqualify them to be used at all let alone to effect eternal change. The Bible records God’s use of many unlikely heroes. In the next several weeks I want to focus just on these named yet unlikely heroes listed in Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Hebrews 11:32-34
The bulk of these listed here fit the category of “from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” What does it take to be a minister of deliverance to those in bondage? Who will God use to help others? Since four out of the six people specifically named in these verses came from the period of Judges it would do well to understand the times.
Background
The Book of Joshua records the initial occupation of the Promised Land. Joshua led the people to victory over the evil and corrupt inhabitants of the land. The entire nation joined in warfare against some formidable foes and fortresses. After a series of successful full scale military campaigns the territory was divided between the twelve tribes of Israel with instructions to finish the occupation and completely eradicate the former inhabitants lest their evil influence spread to the Israelites and the world. The book of Judges continues the history of the conquest. The book begins with the record of continued conquest by each individual tribe. It was not long however before complete conquest turned to partial conquest and then to no conquest and then reoccupation by foreign people again. Partial obedience resulted in complete occupation. Judges records a series of cycles revolving around bondage and deliverance. This week I want to explore the five elements in the cycle. Next week we will devote the service to Baptism and the wonderful salvation that it symbolizes. The following week we will look at the first of the unlikely heroes -- Barak.
The writer of Judges first summarizes the cycle and then illustrates it with the history of seven major Judges.
When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.
Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger. So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.
Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers. When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered 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 oppressed and afflicted them. But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways. So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not." So the LORD allowed those nations to remain, not driving them out quickly; and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua. Judges 2:6-23
SIN
The first level in the cycle is SIN. A generation of people arose who did not have a personal relationship with the Lord or who had not personally witnessed God’s works. As a result they followed after the gods of those around them. They did evil in God’s sight even though it was not a problem in their own sight. In fact, that is basically the summary of this whole generation.
In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6
God’s standard no longer ruled. Their society and culture no longer followed the principles of the Lord. They abandoned the way of the Lord. Each person became their own standard. Not too far off from today’s American culture. There are no absolutes especially Biblical ones. Our society determines what is acceptable or not. Obscenity is determined by the cultural standards of each community. Morality is determined by what the culture will tolerate.
We are now in a culture who determines right and wrong by community consensus. We are taught that tolerance must extend to everyone and every behavior. There is no objective standard which applies to everyone. The end of this road has clearly been experienced before. The book of Judges follows this philosophy to its conclusion where immorality, idolatry and anarchy destroy a people. The beginning of the cycle is sin against God and His standard.
SLAVERY
God must respond to evil in His world, especially among His chosen people.
The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Judges 2:14
Just because God does not respond immediately does not mean he won’t respond or that we are not rebelling against His will for us.
"These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
"Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Psalm 50:21-23
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: Romans 2:4-6
regard the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation 2 Peter 3:15
The point is this: Sooner or later God must deal with sin.
Often times he allow sin to run its natural course of enslavement either to the act itself others or demonic powers or all of the above. The intention is to realize that service to God is much better than slavery to sin. Sin is a ruthless and unforgiving taskmaster ending in destruction. In the case of the Israelites, God allowed a surrounding people to enslave them in order to expose their disobedience and rebellion against Him. In our case God may cause us to be dominated by a difficult situation. We may suffer discouraging addiction to a particular habit or sin. We learned from Romans one that God turned them over to destructive passions. We may suffer demonic oppression and even attachment as a result of our failure to live by God’s standard. God longs for us to live in submission to Him and enjoy the blessing of obedience.
SUPPLICATION
In the misery of their bondage the people cried out to God.
for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.
This specific cry to the Lord for help in troubled times appears all though Scripture.
It is in every cycle in the book of Judges.
Israel cried to the Lord under horrible bondage in Egypt.
Moses cried to the Lord.
Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of the people.
David often cried to the Lord.
Solomon cried out to the Lord.
Elijah cried out to revive the widow’s son.
Many of the kings of Israel cried out to the Lord and found victory in battle.
A Canaanite woman cried for deliverance for her daughter.
A desperate father cried out for his son’s healing.
A blind man cried out for mercy and asked to see.
The disciples cried out for help in the violent storm.
What is so special about crying out to God?
• It arises from recognition of personal helplessness.
I realize that I am flat out of resources. The resources I have been relying on have come up short and dried up.
Thus says the LORD,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. "For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD.
"For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. Jeremiah 17:5-8
• It arises from recognition of hopelessness.
Not only am I out of resources but unless God do something, nothing will change.
Only God can intervene.
King Asa is a tragic story of one who exercised such confidence in God at one point in his life and cried out to Him resulting in supernatural victory over impossible odds. Yet later in life turned to other means and refused to cry out to God but the physicians resulting in a bitter death. Bitterness will prevent us from even crying out to God.
"But the godless in heart lay up anger; they do not cry for help when He binds them. Job 36:13 (Elihu)
An angry heart is a godless heart.
Are you disappointed or bitter at God?
Are you blaming God for your circumstances?
Are you harboring and nursing bitterness toward God?
• It expresses humble faith in God’s goodness
Doubt and pride will prevent answers to our cry.
• It expresses willingness to let God do it His way
Sin blocks God’s answers to our cries.
Therefore thus says the LORD, "Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them. Jeremiah 11:11
’Why do you cry out over your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your iniquity is great and your sins are numerous, I have done these things to you. Jeremiah 30:15
Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time, because they have practiced evil deeds. Micah 3:4
Continued pride and rebellion blocks answers to our cries
Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me. Hosea 7:13
Those who honestly cry out to God find deliverance.
God hears the cry for deliverance from bondage and distress.
Bondage in Egypt (circumstantial difficulty)
Physical infirmities (illness, impending death)
Financial disasters
Demonic oppression
Relational turbulence
God hears the cry of those who demonstrate confidence in His ultimate goodness
God hears the cry of an honest, repentant heart
God hears the cry of the heart willing to accept and follow his answer
God hears the cry of a determine heart (fasting)
God love the cry of worship
NOTE: I have supplied some passages related to each of these in the weekly study guide.
Some Examples of cries to the Lord
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. Psalm 27:7
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. Psa 28:2
"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You, a sojourner like all my fathers. Psalm 39:12
Be gracious to me, O Lord, For to You I cry all day long. Psalm 86:3
Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! Psalm 88:2
"Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me. Psa 142:6
As for me, I said in my alarm, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried to You. Psalm 31:22
In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me. Psalm 120:1
Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O LORD. Psalm 130:1
I cried out to Thee, O LORD; I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Psalm 142:5
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1
To Thee, O LORD, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, Lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Psalm 28:1
SALVATION
In response to their cry God would raise up and anoint someone to bring salvation. Often this was a leader specifically empowered by God for the purpose of deliverance in response to the cry of the people. This deliverer would not be empowered until the people were repentant. The Lord used a number of unlikely “saviors” to bring salvation to the people. Hebrews lists four of the judges from this period. Who will God raise up among us to deliver us from what binds us as a church? Who will God bring into your life to lead you to freedom from what binds you?
SILENCE (Rest)
After freedom from the oppressor, God granted a period of rest or continued freedom. This period usually corresponded with the life of the anointed servant. After the death of this leader, the people returned to their old ways and the cycle began again. The leader was there to remind them to keep their eyes on God. The leader was there to expose evil and encourage righteousness.
APPLICATION
Which part of they cycle do you find yourself this morning? Sin, slavery, supplication, salvation, silence
There is something blocking the growth of our church family.
There may be something blocking your own individual growth.
Your life may feel miserable. You may be bound by some ruthless taskmaster out to destroy you. You may be struggling with difficult times.
Circumstantial, physical, financial, relational, psychological, perhaps even demonic.
Will you cry out to God this morning? There is no deliverance without a sincere cry of the heart that communicates the realization of your helplessness and hopelessness without God’s intervention. Will you in repentant humility demonstrate your submission to God and your faith in Him? There is no deliverance without turning to God alone for help.
My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
How long will you assail a man, that you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood;
They bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse.
My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; in the balances they go up;
They are together lighter than breath.
Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God; and lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work. Psalm 62:1-12
What does God want me to Know/Feel/Do as a result of this message today?
