WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.620 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:15.599 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:20.400 We're glad that you're here. And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:23.940 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:30.400 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good they don't need God's grace, 00:00:31.020 --> 00:00:38.420 and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:39.400 --> 00:00:45.359 And we're continuing our series in the book of Judges. And this morning we turn to Judges chapter 4. 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:48.960 You'll remember that the book of Judges is about a number of things. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:54.399 It's about the constant need for renewal and revival among God's people. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:58.780 It's about our need for a faithful and true king. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:04.040 A king who can do what no human can do, which is to change the hearts of men. 00:01:04.820 --> 00:01:09.299 And it's also about the power of spirit-enabled leadership. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:14.400 If you've been with us, you'll know that we have what we call the Judges cycle, 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:19.840 which is that we have judge after judge who rises up, delivers God's people, 00:01:20.460 --> 00:01:26.140 gives them a time of rest, and then God's people, when that judge is gone, turn away. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:29.240 So last week we saw that pattern with Ehud. 00:01:29.740 --> 00:01:34.820 And now we turn again, turn now to the story in chapter 4 of Deborah and Barak. 00:01:34.860 --> 00:01:40.000 And as we turn to this next cycle, there's a very simple question that this passage presents us with. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:46.200 What do we have to lose when we doubt God's word? 00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:51.900 What do we have to lose when we doubt God's word? 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:54.219 It's that question we turn now. 00:01:54.859 --> 00:01:57.680 You can turn with me in your Bible. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:01:59.840 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:01.719 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:05.319 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:10.599 And we're told in Proverbs chapter 30 that every word of God proves true. 00:02:11.539 --> 00:02:15.280 He's a shield to those who take refuge in him. 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:19.579 And so that's why we read now Judges chapter 4, starting at verse 1. 00:02:20.579 --> 00:02:26.299 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:32.719 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:37.980 The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Herosheth, Hagoyim. 00:02:38.700 --> 00:02:44.820 Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron, 00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:49.680 and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for 20 years. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:56.680 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:02.879 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:06.280 And the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:12.900 She sent and summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, from Kadesh Naphtali, and said to him, 00:03:12.900 --> 00:03:16.379 Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you? 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:24.200 Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:32.480 And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops. 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:35.000 And I will give him into your hand. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:36.379 Verse 8. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:38.700 Barak said to her, 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:41.360 If you will go with me, I will go. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:44.680 But if you will not go with me, I will not go. 00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:47.960 And she said, I will surely go with you. 00:03:48.580 --> 00:03:54.100 Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, 00:03:54.380 --> 00:03:57.760 for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:01.340 Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kadesh. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:06.440 And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kadesh. 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:11.960 And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:18.600 Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites the descendants of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses, 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:23.939 and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zananim, which is near Kadesh. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:29.439 When Sisera was told that Barak, the son of Abinoam, had gone up to Mount Tabor, 00:04:30.219 --> 00:04:34.439 Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:39.339 and all the men who were with him from Heresheth-Hagoyim to the river Kishon. 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:41.500 And Deborah said to Barak, 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:55.060 So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:02.240 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. 00:05:02.779 --> 00:05:07.160 And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:11.540 And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Heresheth-Hagoyim. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.900 And all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. 00:05:16.740 --> 00:05:18.620 Not a man was left. 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:24.260 I invite you to pray with me now as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:05:26.140 --> 00:05:36.140 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that you constantly speak to us and teach us and instruct us in your Word. 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:39.780 And we ask that you would do that very same thing this morning, 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:43.680 that you would show us your grace and our need for it. 00:05:44.460 --> 00:05:48.360 You'd show us your power in the midst of our weakness. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:54.020 That you'd show us that your Word can be trusted and rested on. 00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:56.599 And we ask most of all that you would change us, 00:05:56.659 --> 00:06:04.120 that you would help us to see Jesus for who he is in all his love and joy and holiness and power and authority. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.539 And that you would use that to change us, that we would look more like him. 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:13.620 And we ask all of these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:14.519 Amen. 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:23.659 At the beginning of this chapter, we see what is becoming a formulaic statement in the book of Judges. 00:06:23.740 --> 00:06:24.279 Verse 1, 00:06:24.859 --> 00:06:29.199 The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:31.579 We've seen that statement at least twice before, 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:36.500 because that is the exact same statement that started out the story of Ehud last week. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:40.099 And it's the same statement that started out the story of Othniel. 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:44.120 So this is the author of Judges' way of telling us, 00:06:44.260 --> 00:06:46.860 look, the cycle is starting again. 00:06:47.700 --> 00:06:50.120 The spiral has begun. 00:06:50.260 --> 00:06:55.580 It's the pattern that we discussed a few weeks ago that was set out in Judges 2, verse 19, 00:06:55.700 --> 00:07:00.200 which told us each generation they were more corrupt than their fathers. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.280 They did not give up their stubborn ways. 00:07:03.280 --> 00:07:07.220 And that pattern is part of why I've been telling you over and over 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:10.720 that one of the themes of the book of Judges is the constant need 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.360 for renewal and revival among God's people. 00:07:14.080 --> 00:07:16.220 Every time we see that statement, it reminds us, 00:07:16.340 --> 00:07:20.020 oh yes, God's people are faithful for a time, and then they fall away. 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.060 They need to be constantly drawn back. 00:07:23.460 --> 00:07:27.740 It also reminds us why one of our themes is about our need for a faithful and true king, 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:30.380 a king who can do what no man can do, 00:07:30.380 --> 00:07:33.320 which is to change the hearts of men. 00:07:34.200 --> 00:07:36.500 It's one of the main points that we see in the Judges' cycle, 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:40.339 or we might call the Judges' spiral because things continue to get worse. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.300 Again, we see the same language, chapter of verse 2, 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:44.720 that we saw back with Othniel, 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:47.439 the Lord sells them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:51.660 It's that selling language that reminds us that God is the one who's in charge. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:56.639 God is the one who determines the length and the power of the enemies 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:58.459 who come up against Israel. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:03.319 In fact, we find out that the oppression here is worse than it's been before. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:06.279 You might remember chapter 1, verse 19, 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:11.219 we were told Judah failed to take part of the land because, oh no, they had chariots. 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:18.899 Well, here they don't just have chariots, they have 900 chariots of iron. 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:22.240 Just in case we forget, by the way, we're told the same thing in verse 13, 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:24.219 900 chariots of iron. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:27.319 So we don't just have some chariots like we saw in chapter 1, 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:29.240 we actually have a lot of chariots. 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:33.000 Even more than that, we see that they have been oppressed cruelly. 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:35.879 Again, this is verse 3 for 20 years. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:39.340 If I'm remembering correctly, it was 18 years last time with Ehud 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:41.939 and eight years before with Othniel. 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:44.500 And so the oppression is getting worse, 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:50.019 just as Israel's faithfulness is getting worse with every single cycle. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:52.639 So we see the same things we've been seeing before, 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:56.080 but suddenly we see a break in the pattern in verses 4 and 5. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:09:00.779 Instead of God raising up a judge, we find out we already have a judge. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:04.580 We have a judge and her name is Deborah, who is a prophetess. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:08.539 Now, I told you before that when we think about judges in the Old Testament, 00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:11.340 we are thinking primarily about military leaders, 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.539 not someone in black robes like we might think of today who decides civil cases. 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:18.759 Deborah is the exception to that rule. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:23.580 Deborah is not a military ruler, not a military leader. 00:09:23.700 --> 00:09:30.220 Instead, she seems to be someone who provides wisdom to God's people in challenging situations. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:35.500 And so she is a prophetess here more than someone who leads God's people in battle, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:36.799 which of course makes sense. 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:42.460 It would not be appropriate for a woman to lead the armies of Israel. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:46.899 And so we meet this unusual judge who is already established, 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:50.879 and instead of being the military leader to deliver God's people, 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:54.919 she instead gives God's word as a prophetess to call. 00:09:55.319 --> 00:09:57.439 Barak is the one to fulfill that role. 00:09:57.699 --> 00:09:59.059 That's what we see in verse 6. 00:09:59.439 --> 00:10:03.679 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kadesh Naphtali and said to him, 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:08.039 Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you go? 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:12.600 All of this, up to this point, is good. 00:10:14.199 --> 00:10:15.340 Deborah is already there. 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:20.780 She summons a military leader to do what she cannot do. 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:24.620 And then she provides him with two things from God. 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:29.460 She provides him with a command, and she provides him with a promise. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:32.519 It's not a judge then that's raised up. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.680 It's a warrior. 00:10:34.780 --> 00:10:38.000 And this warrior is being asked to do the impossible. 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:45.019 This warrior is being asked to go up against 900 chariots with 10,000 men. 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:49.879 This is not a fair fight. 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:56.800 Barak has every reason to believe that this is a fool's errand. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:02.359 And he has every reason to quake in his proverbial boots, 00:11:02.359 --> 00:11:06.399 which is why we see the command and the promise, verses 6 and 7. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:16.000 Verse 6, the command, he is to go and take 10,000 men, a fool's errand, without the promise in verse 7, which is this. 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:22.899 I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, and I will give him into your hand. 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:30.819 Verse 6, without verse 7, is reckless and foolish. 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:40.160 Verse 6 with verse 7 should lead to confidence and obedience. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:46.899 We should expect Barak at this point, if he's a faithful Israelite, to receive God's word with joy, 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:51.620 knowing that he is going to go on this mission that by all earthly terms is impossible, 00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:54.360 and yet his success is guaranteed. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:57.419 It's that point, though, that we are disappointed. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:12:02.899 Verse 8, Barak falters rather than having faith. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:10.620 He says, if you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go. 00:12:12.599 --> 00:12:16.620 In other words, Barak says, I will obey if. 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:21.839 I don't believe that God's word is actually enough. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.699 I don't trust that God's promise is sufficient. 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:31.000 I would like to take out an insurance plan, and I believe you, Deborah, will serve as that insurance plan. 00:12:31.680 --> 00:12:36.420 As a prophetess, as God's representative, you can add to God's word. 00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:41.060 You can add to God's promise, and then maybe, like, God's promise and you combined 00:12:41.060 --> 00:12:43.280 will actually be enough for me to have confidence. 00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:46.680 So he speaks out of both sides of his mouth here. 00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:48.340 As some have noted, he says, I will go. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.920 I will not go. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:56.079 And we should expect this to a certain sense because we've been told there's going to be that decline 00:12:56.079 --> 00:12:57.500 with each cycle of judges. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:59.039 Things are going to get worse and worse. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:00.500 Ehud was willing to go. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.500 Barak hesitates. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:05.799 It's not Deborah that shows the decline, by the way. 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:07.939 Deborah has confidence and faith in God. 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:11.779 It's Barak who hesitates and falters. 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:21.980 And so this passage reminds us, warns us, of the failure of men to take God at his word. 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:29.600 The failure of men to trust that God will do what he said he's going to do. 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:38.799 Barak here meets this revelation from this prophetess not with courage, but with cowardice. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:47.539 And he says it all here in verse 8, if you go with me, I will go. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:51.939 He puts conditions on his obedience. 00:13:54.939 --> 00:14:00.799 Brothers and sisters, how often do we put conditions on our obedience to God? 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:10.199 I will obey God if it doesn't require a change in my lifestyle. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:22.559 I will move towards my spouse if she moves towards me first. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:33.559 I will stand for what's true if it doesn't jeopardize my job. 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:43.959 I will be generous if I already have X amount in my bank account. 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:49.420 It's the same thing we saw in Judges chapter 1. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:53.200 God's commands, God's promises are not enough. 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:55.860 We need to add insurance. 00:14:57.920 --> 00:15:01.360 And what are we told, though, in Psalm 20, verse 7? 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:11.080 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:15.899 That's what Barak forgets here. 00:15:16.800 --> 00:15:24.000 He forgets the courageous obedience that comes from great and unshakable confidence and trust in God. 00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:26.500 And it is not courage for courage's sake. 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:33.039 It is courage that comes from believing that God will do what he has said he will do. 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:36.419 And so that's why Deborah reminds him, verse 14. 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:41.919 This is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:46.159 Does not the Lord go out before you? 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:52.340 Words for Barak and also words for us. 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:59.540 When we're tempted to cut corners on what God has commanded us, we need to be reminded of this. 00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:03.180 Does not the Lord go out before you? 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:09.080 Is not the Lord the one who holds the foundations of the earth together? 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:15.879 Is not the Lord the one who has numbered the very hairs on your head? 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:21.720 Is not the Lord the one who cares for the lilies of the valley? 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:28.019 How much more will he care for you, O you of little faith? 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:34.320 Barak's reluctance here makes sense. 00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:36.939 He is in over his head. 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:41.740 And I don't want to throw him under the bus completely. 00:16:42.920 --> 00:16:44.200 Deborah goes with him. 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.960 And Barak does obey. 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:47.920 He doesn't run away. 00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:51.760 He's not a Jonah who refuses to go to Nineveh. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:56.780 With his insurance policy in place, he goes into battle. 00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.600 And so God prevails. 00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:04.340 God honors his word despite Barak's half-hearted obedience. 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:07.000 He gives his promise in verse 7. 00:17:07.659 --> 00:17:09.139 I will give him into your hand. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:13.159 And he fulfills that promise in verses 15 and 16. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.159 Verse 15. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:22.459 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:25.480 Notice the subject of the sentence. 00:17:26.939 --> 00:17:32.279 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots. 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:39.259 At the end of the day, Barak is merely or simply God's instrument. 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:46.519 At the end of the day, it is God's power made perfect in weakness. 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:53.180 At the end of the day, God is the one who wins the battle. 00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:57.779 So Barak has no need to be afraid. 00:17:57.779 --> 00:18:01.579 In other words, Barak does obey. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.680 He needs a kick in the pants to obey. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.259 But he does do it. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.980 He does go into battle. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.480 He does lead 10,000 men against 900 chariots. 00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:13.779 He does do what would be seemingly impossible. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:16.440 And God does honor his obedience. 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.460 In fact, he shows up. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.139 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 32. 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:23.680 He's listed in the hall of faith as someone who has great faith. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.580 And so you might say, okay, well, that's great. 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.799 Barak ends up in the hall of faith. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.340 Imperfect faith is fine. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.400 I can falter at God's word. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.900 I don't need to trust him all the way. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:38.019 I can sort of half trust him and everything will turn out okay. 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:44.660 I can have God's word and I can have my insurance policy and it's going to be fine. 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:49.180 And yet that's not what this passage leaves us with. 00:18:49.800 --> 00:18:51.340 Remember my question was this. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.860 What do we lose when we doubt God's word? 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:57.640 And Barak loses something. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:03.440 Barak, because of his failure to take God at his word, misses out on the blessing. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.880 In fact, that's what we see in verses 8 and 9. 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.620 Verse 8, we have the problem. 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:12.000 Barak's lack of faith. 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:13.500 If you will go with me, I will go. 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:16.000 So, verse 9, we have the punishment. 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:20.619 Deborah says, fine, I'll go with you. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:24.180 But because of how you've handled this, 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:28.759 the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:33.259 for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. 00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:39.359 Barak is in many ways faithful and obedient. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.660 He still has the victory. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:46.140 And he forfeits the blessing. 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:49.799 Barak is faithful in many ways. 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.259 He still has the victory. 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:54.420 And he loses the glory. 00:19:55.559 --> 00:20:00.619 He gets to go down as the man who sort of believed God. 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:06.419 In fact, in verses 16 and 17, we see he's still chasing for that blessing. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.359 He's headed after Sisera. 00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:12.299 He thinks maybe there's a chance that he will be the one to take him down, 00:20:12.459 --> 00:20:15.219 even though Deborah has already spoken. 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:19.100 It is not the end of the road for Barak. 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:21.160 It's not the end of his story. 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:25.079 And it is a real consequence. 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:30.460 Barak misses out on everything that God would have for him. 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.460 Christian. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.460 Christian. 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.460 Christian. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.259 Christian. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:42.160 Have you forfeited God's blessing by refusing to obey? 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:54.320 Have you failed to receive everything that God has for you because you hesitate to trust what he has said? 00:20:54.319 --> 00:21:07.159 If we fail to pray for our neighbors to know Christ, God will use someone. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:10.579 But it may not be us. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:17.139 And you forfeit the joy of watching God work. 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:25.179 So we have to remember God's promise that he is already calling people to himself. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:32.639 We remember what he's told us, that the fields are plentiful and the laborers are few. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:45.880 If we fail to be generous and instead we surround ourselves with trinkets that will never satisfy 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:51.960 or pile up wealth to convince ourselves we're safe, 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:59.120 we will forfeit the joy of knowing that it's better to give than to receive. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:09.439 We'll forfeit the joy of being used by God to bring his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:14.299 What does it take to be generous? 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:21.599 It takes believing God's promise, his promise that I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:28.799 If we fail to show hospitality to strangers, 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:38.419 we miss out on the joy and the connection and the growth that we gain from others. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:44.619 We miss out on the joy of being used by God to show his great love. 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:51.799 Brothers and sisters, that's what we lose when we doubt God's word. 00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:56.119 One commentator says this, 00:22:56.719 --> 00:23:02.939 God in his goodness is constantly looking for opportunities to give good gifts to men and women. 00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:05.959 Yet because of their lack of faith, 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:10.299 they forfeit these blessings that God would freely give. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:17.619 God will accomplish his purposes. 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:21.940 The word of the Lord will actually stand. 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:26.339 Will he use you? 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.639 Excuse me. 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:33.680 God will accomplish his purposes. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:37.019 Will he use you to the full? 00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:42.379 Do you want to receive God's blessing? 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:46.839 Do you want to know his joy? 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.339 Trust and obey, 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:54.500 for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:57.339 but to trust and obey. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:03.379 Will you trust him? 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.519 Will you believe him? 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:07.720 Will you give him everything? 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.339 Or will you hedge your bets 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:14.839 and look for insurance? 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:21.299 It's God's power that's at work in all of this, 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.639 as I've told you over and over. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.180 A thousand men versus 900 chariots 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:29.299 is not a wise scenario to walk into 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:31.220 unless you have the 900 chariots. 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:34.819 And yet, what do we see in verses 15 and 16? 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:37.319 God is faithful. 00:24:39.179 --> 00:24:41.259 God keeps his word. 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.839 He honors his promise. 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:48.220 Christian, 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:53.000 God will be faithful to you as well. 00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:58.319 God will keep his promises to you 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:00.980 against overwhelming odds. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:05.140 God can use your 10,000 men 00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:07.779 to defeat 900 chariots. 00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:10.640 But you must trust him. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:15.019 You must believe his word. 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:19.279 You must follow him in obedience. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.559 God will keep his promise. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.279 God will keep his promise. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.639 God will keep his promise. 00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:22.660 God will keep his promise. 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:22.779 God will keep his promise. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.759 What we see in the judges cycle 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:31.339 is certainly the great need of God's people. 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:33.839 They're in constant need for renewal and revival. 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:39.299 What we also see is God's great commitment 00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.759 and love to his people. 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:44.039 We see God's perseverance. 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:47.059 We see God over and over again 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:49.099 coming and saving his people 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:51.119 in the midst of their sin, 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:54.059 in the midst of their half-hearted obedience, 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:58.000 in the midst of their insurance policy. 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:01.539 Israel gets worse every cycle. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.460 God remains the same. 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:07.379 It's what Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2. 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.880 If we are faithless, 00:26:09.280 --> 00:26:10.740 he remains faithful, 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:14.240 for he cannot deny himself. 00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:17.680 It's what the Jesus Storybook Bible calls 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.100 God's never stopping, 00:26:19.280 --> 00:26:20.040 never giving up, 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:20.640 unbreaking, 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.400 always and forever love. 00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:24.900 At the end of the day, 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:30.500 in the midst of Barak's hesitancy to obey, 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:33.060 the fact that he falters 00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:34.680 is not the end of his story. 00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:36.320 It is not the final verdict. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:39.799 He is still used by God. 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.240 Christian, 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.960 God has not given up on you. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.599 He continues to work 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.839 through imperfect 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:52.879 and flawed and doubting people. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.899 And, 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.899 we want to be people of great courage. 00:27:01.399 --> 00:27:03.759 We want to be people who believe 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.159 what God has said. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.759 We want to be people 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:09.139 who think and act 00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:10.639 as if God is more powerful 00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:12.679 than the rulers of this world. 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.559 How do we do it? 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:19.980 We remember what 2 Corinthians 1, 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.200 verse 20 tells us. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:23.319 I told you this in chapter 1 of Judges as well. 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:26.940 All the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ. 00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:31.859 When we doubt that God is going to be true to his word, 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.919 when we question 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.240 if he is going to be true to his word, 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:38.019 if he is going to do what he said he is going to do, 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:43.820 we remember he has already proven his faithfulness. 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:49.019 We remember that his greatest act of redemption has already happened. 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:52.820 We remember that God's greatest power has already been revealed, 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:55.400 the power that is talked about in Ephesians chapter 1, 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:57.700 the power that raises the dead. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:02.080 God has kept his greatest promise to us. 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:05.759 He has kept his promise to redeem and restore his people. 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:08.019 He has sent his only son, 00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.400 our Lord Jesus, 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:12.140 to live the life we should have lived 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:14.420 and to die the death that we deserve. 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:20.180 Will he not keep every other word? 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:24.140 Remember what Romans 8 tells us. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:27.000 If God is for us, 00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:28.440 he who can be against us, 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:31.000 he who did not spare his own son, 00:28:31.060 --> 00:28:32.519 but gave him up for us all, 00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:35.100 how will he not also with him 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:38.100 graciously give us all things? 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:43.100 Christian, God has kept his promise in Christ. 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:47.039 He will keep every other word. 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:50.879 He has been faithful to you in Christ. 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:54.019 He will be faithful to the end. 00:28:58.899 --> 00:29:01.159 When I was a college student, 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.220 I went to a Presbyterian church 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:06.659 that was about 30 minutes away from where I was in school 00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:12.159 in the, I think it was the arts district of Charlotte, North Carolina. 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:15.480 And that church had a little bit more soul than we have. 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:19.220 And they would sing this song called He is Able. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.319 And the chorus went like this. 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:26.120 God is able to do just what he said he would do. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:30.880 He's going to fulfill every promise to you. 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:33.120 Don't give up on God 00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:36.400 because he won't give up on you. 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.779 He is able. 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:42.399 Christian, he is able. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:46.660 So we trust him and we follow him no matter what. 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.200 Let's pray. 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:54.259 Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word, 00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:56.039 which warns us and encourages us. 00:29:56.319 --> 00:30:00.559 We ask that you would make your promises in Christ real to us, 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:01.839 that we would trust you 00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:05.759 and believe you more than we trust and believe anything else, 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:08.559 that we would see your power 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:10.919 and we would understand that it's greater than the power 00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:12.539 of anyone in this world, 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:17.000 that you would use us as your instruments, 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:20.240 that we would have the joy and the blessing of obedience, 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:22.980 not because it earns anything from you, 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.220 it proves anything to you, 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:27.720 but because we love you and we want to serve you. 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:30.640 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.259 Amen.