Be used but be careful what you say!

 

Judges 11

 

I.                  God can use you in spite of your past!

a.    His birth was not his fault 11:1

                                                             i.      But it caused him much embarrassment

                                                          ii.      It caused him to be thrown out of the family 11:2

b.    He associated himself with the wrong company 11:3

 

II.              We must prepare and be ready for the moment God desires to use our life

a.    He was obviously recognized for his bravery and strength 11:1

b.    He was obviously a leader 11:3

c.     He knew the history of his country and what His God had done 11:14-28

                                                             i.      Israel did not take land from the Ammonites—the sons of Lot

                                                          ii.      They had gone around the land to avoid problems with family

                                                        iii.      They had fought with the Amorites and taken their land

                                                        iv.      He knew that God had given them the land 11:24

                                                           v.      They had had 300 years to complain or take back the land but had not done so 11:26

                                                        vi.      He compares them to Balak 11:25

 

III.           Take the opportunities that God gives with a good spirit

a.    He had every reason to be bitter and to live a selfish worthless life 11:7

b.    It is not your job to make yourself a leader rather to prepare yourself to serve God whatever the need may be

c.     When the need arose they were prepared to make him their head 11:9

 

IV.            Trust in God

a.    God had given them the land 11:24

b.    The Spirit of the Lord came upon him 11:29

c.     All that we do of value will happen because of Him and His working in us

d.    Apparently he doubts God’s leadership and power in his life and makes a foolish vow 11:30-31

e.    God graciously gives him great victory 11:32

f.      He is mentioned in the Hall of Faith Hebrews 11:32

g.    His daughter was excited to see God’s grace exhibited in her father’s life and how God had given victory 11:34

h.    His daughter will be sacrificed

                                                             i.      At least to perpetual virginity 11:39

                                                          ii.      Maybe even to death

i.       She willing obeys her parents believing that God directs through them 11:36

j.      She was willing to be very dear to her parents but to see that her parents loved God more than they did her

 

V.                Be careful what you vow or promise to God

a.    He opened his mouth unto the Lord and said that he would fulfill his word 11:35

b.    We are to be careful what we promise the Lord Ecclesiastes 5:2-6

c.     There are serious consequences for not fulfilling your vows to God

d.    Better not to vow—lets learn from Jephthah Deuteronomy 32:22

e.    Think before you vow – the sin of Ananias and Saphira Acts 5:4

f.      Pay your vows Psalm 76:11

g.    There is no condemnation for us here on earth now but we need to be careful what we say—Don’t take God or His worship flippantly

 

VI.            Greatest lessons learned from this chapter

a.    You can over come your past

b.    You must learn to forgive

c.     You must prepare yourself for whatever ministry God may have for you

d.    You must trust God and not allow your fear to cause you to waver—to make a vow, to backslide, to get off track

e.    You must love God’s will more than even your children

f.      You must love God enough to be willing to submit to your parents

g.    There is not one word of condemnation of Jephthah in all the Bible rather he gets mentioned in the Hall of Faith