WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.940 Several weeks ago, our classes, Sunday school classes that do the Explore the Bible curriculum 00:00:05.940 --> 00:00:09.599 were studying the books of Joshua and Judges. 00:00:10.339 --> 00:00:14.740 And these are books that are not big attractions. 00:00:15.900 --> 00:00:20.740 You know, you hear people offer revelation and people come out of the woodwork and want to study revelation. 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:25.420 Or even the book of Romans sometimes will draw people or James. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:32.660 But when you say, I'm going to be speaking or teaching through the book of Judges, you usually don't have big crowds go out of their way to come 00:00:32.660 --> 00:00:34.679 because it just doesn't sound that appealing. 00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:41.579 Maybe it sounds, if you've not studied it, you know, in depth, it may sound like it has a lot of legal terms 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:45.680 or a lot of the law of the Old Testament, which is not the truth at all. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:50.799 And I found great delight going through our Sunday school class studying the book of Judges. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:56.259 There's some very rich biblical truths that are found throughout this book. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:59.619 And I think it's things that we can learn from in our own lives. 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:04.819 You know, they say a smart person learns from their mistakes in life. 00:01:05.259 --> 00:01:10.259 But a wise man learns from other people's mistakes. 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:18.019 And so I think the Old Testament in general, but especially the passages we're going to be looking at today, 00:01:18.019 --> 00:01:25.379 are definitely passages that we can analyze the life of the Israelites and we can certainly learn from. 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:33.879 And hopefully we can avoid repeating the same mistakes that maybe they made in their lives and apply them to us. 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:39.519 But understanding, you know, the type of life that God certainly would have us to live 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:46.899 and the holiness and purity that he's called us to live and to be set apart and to be different. 00:01:46.900 --> 00:01:55.460 And so I think today we're going to, you know, find a really rich truth in the word that we can also hold up as a mirror 00:01:55.460 --> 00:01:57.860 and look back into our lives. 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:05.760 And to recognize that the commands that God gave to Israel can also be heard and applied in our own lives. 00:02:06.300 --> 00:02:11.460 God commanded them to rid the people of the land because of their culture. 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:17.420 But we can apply that to our lives of what are things in our culture that we need to rid from our lives, 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:25.340 that we don't need to embrace or to filter into the community so that we can live lives of holiness and purity. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:27.960 Now, before we get into this, let me explain. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.240 Moses had led Israel for 40 years. 00:02:31.620 --> 00:02:38.200 He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and led them for 40 years as they wandered into the wilderness. 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:43.839 And now Moses has died right at the cusp of going into the promised land. 00:02:44.359 --> 00:02:50.199 And Joshua has become the leader now that is going to be leading them into the promised land 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:54.419 and conquering and defeating the people groups that are already living there. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:58.879 And we see that beginning and taking place in the book of Joshua. 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:05.659 And the different tribes of Israel were settling into the territories that had been allotted to them. 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:17.759 But Joshua failed to lead the people to completely obey God's command of driving the people completely out 100% without exception. 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:21.599 And so in the book of Judges, we see some of that continuing. 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:26.579 We see the children of Israel, the different tribes, trying to go to battle 00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:32.879 and deliver the people groups from the areas and territories that they had been allotted. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:40.639 But to spoil the story for you, we're going to see that they continue to fail to do that and certainly disobey God. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:50.800 God had given them the commandment to go in 100% without exceptions to defeat, to kill, destroy, 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:57.120 and rid the land of the people and the influence that they would have in there. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:02.599 And we see Israel failing to do that completely. 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:07.819 It wasn't that the Lord wasn't with them when they initially set into the promised land. 00:04:07.980 --> 00:04:15.620 It wasn't that they ran into armies that were bigger and more powerful than them and God could not defeat. 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:22.800 They ran into cultures and countries that had chariots like Egypt did. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:27.060 And the scripture kind of makes it out like they couldn't defeat them because of the chariots. 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:29.280 But is a chariot bigger than God? 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.800 Can God not defeat an army of chariots? 00:04:33.579 --> 00:04:36.800 We see that he did against the Egyptians. 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:41.660 And so there were others that Israel failed to bring out. 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:45.480 But it wasn't that God could not do this for them. 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:49.280 What it boils down to is one word. 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:52.660 And that word is disobedience. 00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:54.300 Disobedience. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:57.660 You know, Israel could come up with a lot of excuses of why. 00:04:57.960 --> 00:05:02.240 We could sit here and analyze today and determine other reasons why they didn't. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:08.200 But when we get into Judges chapter 2, we will see without any doubt. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.220 And Israel, when confronted, did not offer an excuse. 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:21.100 They wept because they knew they were guilty that they simply disobeyed God and did not do exactly what he had called them to do. 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:30.740 Now, while studying this book, the book of Judges, we can't help but to notice several themes that run throughout, you know, the book. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:34.900 The first of those themes that we run into and we see over and over again. 00:05:34.899 --> 00:05:43.299 Because the book of Judges is a book that spans, I forget the exact number, but something like 300, maybe 350 years. 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:49.299 And we see as many as 12 judges that were raised up to deliver Israel from oppressors. 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:58.300 But we see this happening every time God raised up a judge like a Gideon or a Samson or a Deborah and delivered the people. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:00.560 And they worshiped and honored God. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:09.060 And then when they died and the next generation was coming into adulthood, they forgot what God had done for them. 00:06:09.460 --> 00:06:11.360 And this theme runs throughout the book. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:18.860 It says, In those days, Israel had no king, and the people did what was pleasing in their own eyes. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:22.600 They did what they thought was right. 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:35.980 And therefore, we see that theme of them drifting away from God, worshiping foreign gods, and God having to punish them, them repent, and then God raising up another judge to deliver them. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:44.300 But one of the other themes that really caught my attention, and maybe it caught my attention the most because this is the message that God was speaking to me. 00:06:45.020 --> 00:06:51.860 You know, I've heard pastors often say some of the best sermons they preach are the ones that they're preaching unto themselves. 00:06:52.460 --> 00:06:56.120 And so maybe that's the case for me today as I studied this. 00:06:56.520 --> 00:07:03.140 But I see a theme that runs throughout the book of Judges that partial obedience is disobedience. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:09.620 Partial obedience is complete disobedience. 00:07:09.719 --> 00:07:10.680 Now, parents, help me. 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:13.039 What's the rest of that that you often tell your children? 00:07:13.979 --> 00:07:21.000 And disobedience, come on, you parents, you've never said that to your children. 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.579 Disobedience is sin, right? 00:07:26.479 --> 00:07:28.139 Am I the only one that's ever said this? 00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:29.419 Okay, thank you, D.D. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:30.519 Thank you. 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.139 Partial obedience is disobedience. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:35.839 And disobedience is sin. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:37.819 Now, let me give you an illustration. 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:43.399 Imagine on one of these hot days, you decide your car needs to be washed. 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:44.699 Maybe it's been a long time. 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:48.419 There's still the yellow pollen from the spring all over your car. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:50.759 And your kids are home out of school. 00:07:50.979 --> 00:07:53.219 And they're already saying, I'm bored. 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:55.359 I'm glad you said that. 00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:57.000 I have a car that needs to be washed. 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:01.060 I've told my kids, every time they tell me they're bored, I've got a chore for them. 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:04.240 So, I need you to go out and wash my car. 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:06.699 The children are excited. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:08.420 It's a hot day. 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:10.540 They're thinking more of playing in the sun. 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:12.079 I mean, playing in the water. 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:13.899 And so, they go out. 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:16.000 They move your car under a shade tree. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.339 They soak it down with water. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.319 They get the soap going in the bucket. 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:22.300 They sud your car up. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:23.720 And their cell phone rings. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:27.800 One of their friends is opening their swimming pool at their house. 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:30.759 And they want your kids to come over and swim. 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:36.820 And all of a sudden, that soapy car is lost in their minds. 00:08:36.820 --> 00:08:41.060 And off they go to swim at their friend's house. 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:46.160 Lo and behold, you come out to check on your kids to see how things are going. 00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:47.760 And what do you find? 00:08:48.640 --> 00:08:56.040 You find a car that has dried soap suds all over it and has made a bigger mess. 00:08:56.160 --> 00:08:59.640 Now, do you commend your children and say, well done. 00:09:00.140 --> 00:09:03.720 You at least attempted to do what I asked you to do. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:14.460 You partially obeyed or are you angry and furious that they've left a bigger mess than if they had just not done it at all? 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:17.019 You know, if you're like me, I'm going to be angry. 00:09:17.160 --> 00:09:18.460 I'm going to that friend's house. 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:20.060 I'm getting them and bringing them back. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:21.720 And they're not swimming the rest of the summer. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.540 They're going to wash my car every week. 00:09:25.800 --> 00:09:30.560 You know, because partial obedience is disobedience and they disobeyed us. 00:09:30.560 --> 00:09:33.540 And we need to understand that as Christians today. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:38.820 That when God gives us commandments, it's not good enough to just partially obey it. 00:09:39.460 --> 00:09:47.080 You know, sometimes we partially obey to ease our conscience, to make us feel like, you know, well, we did what God wanted us to. 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:49.259 Or at least we gave it a shot. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.820 But that's not how God sees it. 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:54.620 God sees partial obedience as disobedience. 00:09:54.920 --> 00:09:58.860 And God cannot bless disobedience. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:10.279 God had commanded Israel to drive the people out of the land because he was serious about them being his chosen people and to being a people of holiness and purity. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:15.159 God is just as serious about his children today. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:19.959 Those who have given their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 00:10:20.219 --> 00:10:27.939 He's just as serious today about us being holy and pure and obedient people. 00:10:28.719 --> 00:10:33.759 1 Peter 1.16 is just one place we find in scripture where he says, 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.059 You are to be a holy people as I am holy. 00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:46.279 God wanted to bless the world through the descendants of Abraham, through the line of David, and bringing the Messiah into the world. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:52.559 He wanted the world to come to know who he was through Israel. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:11:01.739 And in order for that to happen, you know, they needed to remain faithful, pure, and holy people. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:04.519 Not blending in with society. 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:06.779 The same is true today for us. 00:11:07.619 --> 00:11:11.919 God wants us to make him known to the world. 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:18.139 To communicate the gospel message into the world that people may hear it and receive it. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:22.439 Romans tells us, how can they believe if they have not heard? 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:27.139 And how can they hear if someone doesn't go to them and share? 00:11:27.859 --> 00:11:31.639 But we must not blend into the culture or they won't listen. 00:11:32.599 --> 00:11:35.839 You know, we've got to be set apart and different. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.579 You know, so as we study this book today, I want us to walk away with a couple of things. 00:11:44.839 --> 00:11:45.519 Excuse me. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.239 We are to be set apart from the world first. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:56.240 Second of all, I want us to walk away realizing that partial obedience to God is complete disobedience to him. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.940 And so I want you to think about a couple of questions as we listen to God's word this morning. 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:08.640 Are there areas in your life where God has spoken to you that you have not fully obeyed? 00:12:09.140 --> 00:12:14.740 Are there areas in the word of God that you have not obeyed? 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:18.840 Are there areas in the word of God that we don't like? 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.680 They're uncomfortable. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.320 They're difficult. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.680 And so we choose to not read them. 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:28.360 We choose to not pay attention to them. 00:12:28.760 --> 00:12:34.320 And we kind of set them over to the side and focus on the ones that we do like. 00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:42.800 You know, God says, you know, Jesus says that those who obey my teachings, those are the ones that will enter into the kingdom of God. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:51.599 And so we can't just pick and choose the things that we want, but to read it in its entirety and be obedient to all of it. 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:56.579 So are there areas in your life where you're not completely obeying God and his word? 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.959 Or are there areas in your life where God's been convicting you? 00:13:00.859 --> 00:13:04.419 Maybe he's convicting you of a sin that is in your life. 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:12.939 And up to this point, maybe you've made little efforts to, you know, rid that sin from your life, but you haven't completely done it. 00:13:12.979 --> 00:13:13.979 You've compromised. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:22.639 And you do just enough to make yourself feel comfortable or good about yourself, but you really know in your heart you haven't obeyed. 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:30.279 Or maybe God's leading you to commit more fully to him, to serve him, to be used of him in a certain capacity. 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:36.959 But for one excuse after another, you've not obeyed and followed through with that. 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.299 Well, let me ask you this. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:40.699 How are you going to respond today? 00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:52.779 How are you going to respond to the word of God today so that when we leave here, we are walking in total and complete obedience to God and not just partial obedience? 00:13:52.779 --> 00:14:03.620 Now, before we get into Judges, I wanted to read a passage in Deuteronomy because I wanted us to understand the commandment that God had given Israel. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:11.899 And then I want us to look at how Israel responded to that commandment and then what are the consequences of that. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.259 So let's look together at Deuteronomy 7, verses 1 through 6. 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:19.759 It'll be on the board, but I'd love for you to open up your Bibles. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.700 That's one great thing about Pickens First Baptist. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:25.740 We always still hear people opening their Bibles and following along. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:30.539 We're probably one of the one denominations that people really still carry their Bibles. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:33.220 They can still find Deuteronomy in the Scriptures. 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.399 And I'd hate for us to lose that. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:40.879 Continue to open the Bible, read along, make sure I just haven't put something up there that I wanted it to say. 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:48.600 But make sure it really is God's Word and to not lose the skill of opening your Bible and finding, you know, the words. 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:50.800 If you've got an iPad or something, that's fine too. 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:52.920 That's still fine and it may be even quicker. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:58.220 But let's look together at Deuteronomy 7, verses 1 through 6. 00:14:58.220 --> 00:15:05.080 When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:08.100 and clears away many nations before you, 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:18.540 the Hittites, the Gergesites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:23.360 seven nations more numerous and mightier than you. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:27.460 And when the Lord your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:31.519 then you must devote them to complete destruction. 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:36.000 You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:43.440 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:49.200 for they would turn away your sons from following me to serve other gods. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:55.560 Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you and he would destroy you quickly. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.220 But thus shall you deal with them. 00:15:58.800 --> 00:16:03.460 You shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars 00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:09.220 and chop down their ashram and burn their carved images with fire. 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:15.220 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:20.759 The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:24.940 out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:32.620 Again, God didn't choose Israel so that they would be exclusive and he only cared about them. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:37.080 God chose Israel to use them to bless the world. 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.860 That's why we're sitting here today. 00:16:39.540 --> 00:16:42.560 He wanted the world to come to know the one true God 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:46.519 and it was through Israel that the Messiah would certainly come 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.459 that he would die for the sins of the world. 00:16:49.859 --> 00:16:55.139 But God commanded Israel that when they went in to take possession of the land 00:16:55.139 --> 00:17:00.419 that they were to devote the people to complete destruction. 00:17:01.119 --> 00:17:04.940 Now this sounds unlike anything a loving God 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:08.440 that we often understand God to be in the New Testament. 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:15.559 It sounds unlike anything a loving God would certainly command his people to do. 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:19.680 And sometimes people really struggle in the Old Testament 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:21.820 of how God could give such a commandment. 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:25.720 When I was in college, I had a friend that got saved 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:28.380 through the Baptist Collegiate Ministry now. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.580 It was the Baptist Student Union back then. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.900 But he had not grown up in a Christian family. 00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:34.080 Grew up in Montana. 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.940 Not in a Christian environment. 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:38.360 But he came to faith in Jesus Christ. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.900 But as he studied the Bible 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.680 and he got into the Old Testament, 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:43.059 he really had a problem. 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:45.840 And he didn't understand the full scope 00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:49.900 of, you know, really the penalty of sin. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.259 And so he said, if that's who God is, 00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:54.200 I don't want to have anything to do with him. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.400 And he walked away from Christianity. 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.779 And I've lost touch with him over the years. 00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:00.880 So I don't know if he's ever come back or not. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.820 But he really struggled with that. 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:05.960 So I want us to ask the question this morning, 00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:09.059 why would God give such a commandment 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:12.799 as he told the children of Israel to go into the Promised Land? 00:18:12.939 --> 00:18:16.619 Why would he tell them to go in and conquer and destroy 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:18.000 and defeat all the peoples 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.819 rather than telling them to go in and evangelize 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:24.279 and enrich them through Judaism? 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:28.079 Well, let's look back at Deuteronomy chapter 7 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:29.539 and look at verse 4 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:32.919 and we will see exactly God's wisdom 00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:36.659 and God's purpose behind giving such a command. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:37.559 He said, 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:41.099 For they would turn away your sons from following me 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:43.699 to serve other gods. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:46.839 Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:49.240 and he would destroy you quickly. 00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:52.079 God gave this commandment 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:56.000 in order to protect the holiness of his people. 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:59.159 He was not fearful or afraid 00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:02.199 that the people living in there militarily 00:19:02.199 --> 00:19:05.699 would rise up and defeat the Israelites 00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:08.279 because God is mightier and more powerful 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.919 than any of those nations. 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:13.980 One word from his mouth would destroy all of them 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.779 without any problem. 00:19:16.199 --> 00:19:19.539 But God was more concerned with their influence. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:23.460 You know, their worship of false gods 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:25.539 and their culture. 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:29.799 He knew that that would be a constant temptation 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:34.980 to draw Israel away from worshiping the God of Abraham, 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.339 the one true God, 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:41.200 and that they would slide away into worshiping these false gods 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:44.440 and committing spiritual adultery against him. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:47.580 And therefore, he commanded them 00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:53.000 to go in and to get rid of anything from their lives. 00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:56.400 Get rid of any of these people in the promised land 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.539 that would ever serve as that temptation. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.840 Do you see the correlation that we could make 00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:04.480 between that commandment that God gave there 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:07.779 and the commandment that he gives us in our lives today? 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:11.500 Jesus said that if your right eye causes you to sin, 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:13.880 it would be better to gouge your right eye out 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:17.140 than to enter into eternity separated from God. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:22.279 Now, obviously, that's a passage more talking about salvation. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:25.119 But as Christians, is it not saying, 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:29.319 isn't it better for us to get rid of things in our lives 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:33.140 that would hinder us from growing in our relationship with him 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:35.660 and being faithful and obedient to him 00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:39.180 and honoring and worshiping him with all that we have? 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:42.080 Jesus makes it very clear over and over. 00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:44.920 Seek the Lord with all of your heart. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.580 You know, pursue him with all that you have. 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:52.200 Lay down your life as a living sacrifice. 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.799 You know, what is it that could be in our lives 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:58.080 that is hindering us? 00:20:58.560 --> 00:21:01.600 How have we blended in to the world? 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:06.240 You know, they say that if you look at the morality 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:09.259 of Christian churches today in the United States 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:13.799 that we typically just lag behind society by about 20 years. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:20.200 That means that the morality within the church today 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:22.339 is somewhere around 1997. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.920 Now, how many of you remember 1997? 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.039 Were they very moral years? 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:35.619 Was society a godly, holy society in 1997? 00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:40.599 No, I can remember back when it turned 1980. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:43.399 And everybody's like, man, it's the 80s. 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:46.399 We've got all this freedom to do whatever we want. 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:49.379 And TV shows like Three's Company came out 00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.359 and stuff like that. 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:53.940 And it was like another 1960s 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:56.920 where we had the freedom to do whatever immoral things 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.940 we wanted to do. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:02.420 But that's not for the children of God, is it? 00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:06.120 We are not to infiltrate into the world. 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.920 We're not to be friends of the world. 00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:09.720 We are to be set apart. 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:11.200 We are to be different. 00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:15.500 We are to be separate and holy and pure as God is. 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:18.860 For if we're not, then we're only partially obeying 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:20.680 the things God has commanded us to do. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:24.500 And how will the world ever see God in us 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:27.920 if we are not a reflection of God? 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:32.259 If we are not holy and pure and righteous, 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.599 and if we are not set apart and different, 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:41.059 then how will the world ever come to know God? 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.880 How will they know Jesus Christ? 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:46.539 I hear different studies that say 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:49.400 one of the reasons why people don't want to come to know 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.799 or be a Christian today 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.659 is because they see no difference 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:55.379 in Christians and the world. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:23:01.460 Well, how will your friends know God? 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:04.700 How will your schoolmates know God? 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.579 How will your coworkers know God? 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:09.339 How will your families know God? 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:10.879 If you are not different, 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.240 if I'm not different, 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:15.319 set apart and separate 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:17.440 from the things of this world. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:22.880 God had chosen Israel to be a special people. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.420 Again, not to be exclusive, 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:29.340 but to use them to bless the world. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:32.700 It was God's purpose to bless the world, 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:38.000 that the world would come to know God through them. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.940 And there is a tremendous correlation 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:45.440 between what God was using Israel to do 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:49.779 in their day and time and Christians today 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:52.360 and what he desires to do with us 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:55.920 by allowing us to make Jesus Christ known 00:23:55.920 --> 00:24:00.180 around here and around the world 00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:03.980 by going and taking that gospel message. 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:08.900 God knew that if Israel did not go in 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:11.460 and conquer and defeat the people groups 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:14.740 that were living in the promised land, 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:17.279 that they would be a constant temptation 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:22.460 to draw them away from faithfulness to him. 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.460 And we see it over and over. 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.799 Because they failed to do it, 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:31.019 we see exactly what God was trying to get them to avoid 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.720 of being pulled away, 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.600 worshiping other gods 00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:36.460 and committing spiritual adultery 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.799 to the one true God. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:43.740 Now this may seem to some 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:46.819 as very barbaric still 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:48.519 of why a loving God 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:51.720 would command his people to go in 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:54.480 and totally kill all the people there. 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:59.599 But maybe the right question is not 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:01.819 why would God give that command? 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.220 Maybe we're looking at it 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:06.839 from a different and a wrong point of view. 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:08.779 Maybe the better question 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:10.859 that we should be asking 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:13.539 is why doesn't God kill all of us? 00:25:14.919 --> 00:25:17.039 Instead of asking why doesn't God 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.439 or why did God command Israel 00:25:19.439 --> 00:25:20.759 to go in and kill these people, 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.659 why doesn't God kill us? 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.699 Because God told Adam and Eve 00:25:25.699 --> 00:25:27.679 that if they ate from the tree 00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:29.659 of knowledge and good and evil, 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:30.759 then what would happen? 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.859 They would die. 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.959 Romans tells us 00:25:36.959 --> 00:25:39.159 that the wages of sin 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:41.000 is death, right? 00:25:41.959 --> 00:25:43.039 Hebrews tells us 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:45.019 that without the shedding of blood, 00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:47.159 there can be no forgiveness 00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:48.439 of sin. 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:50.240 And also in Romans, 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:52.979 we understand that all have sinned 00:25:52.979 --> 00:25:55.459 and fall short of the glory of God. 00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:57.799 So every one of us in here, 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.859 myself included, 00:25:59.199 --> 00:26:00.279 we are sinners 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.379 sinners. 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:03.200 And we deserve to die. 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:05.220 We deserve to die 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.480 and spend an eternity 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:09.359 totally separated from God 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:11.000 because God is a holy God 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:13.019 and God cannot allow sin 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.940 into his presence. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:15.799 He can't ignore sin. 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:18.299 He can't sweep sin under the rug. 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.879 And this might shock you. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:22.460 God cannot even forgive sin 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:26.500 unless the law is fulfilled. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:30.359 God cannot forgive sin 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:32.000 unless the law is fulfilled. 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:34.079 And the law was fulfilled 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.420 when Jesus Christ 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:36.839 entered into the world, 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:39.279 lived a perfect sinless life, 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.940 and went to the cross 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:42.940 taking our sins upon himself, 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.779 and the wrath of God 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.519 was poured out upon him 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:48.019 because of you and me. 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:51.900 Because Jesus spilt his blood 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:54.900 and died satisfying the law 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:56.359 is why you and I 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.619 can be here today 00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:59.059 worshiping him, 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.900 entering into his presence, 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:03.180 going before him and praying, 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:05.500 and knowing that our sins 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.139 are forgiven 00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:07.519 and that one day 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.200 when we enter into eternity, 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.859 we will be able to enter 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:12.119 into the presence of God 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.160 and spend an eternity 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.720 in heaven with him. 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:17.539 But it is only through Jesus Christ 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.059 that that is possible 00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:22.299 for without Jesus Christ, 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:25.119 we deserve the same fate 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.899 that the Canaanites 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.759 and Parasites 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.839 and all those people 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:30.519 received 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.240 when the Israelites 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.359 went into the promised land. 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:36.480 We deserve the same fate 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:38.399 that Sodom and Gomorrah received. 00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:40.579 You know, we might live 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:42.240 a little bit more moral lives 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.259 than Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.659 but a sin is a sin 00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.720 in the eyes of God, 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:47.180 and he cannot allow it 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.079 into his presence. 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.839 And so you and I 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:51.339 deserve the same fate 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:54.339 as those people did 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.360 except for Jesus Christ. 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.500 And so the question isn't 00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:00.600 why would God give a command 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:02.259 to go in and destroy the people? 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.259 The question is better, 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:06.819 why doesn't he kill all of us? 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:11.240 Excuse me. 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:15.759 And the answer 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.799 is because he poured his wrath 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.740 out upon Jesus. 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.179 And now, 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.339 there's only one way 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.379 to respond to that. 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:25.500 When we come to understand 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.919 what God did for us 00:28:26.919 --> 00:28:27.960 through Jesus Christ, 00:28:28.159 --> 00:28:29.659 how do we respond? 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:32.680 Do we respond 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:34.259 by infiltrating the world 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:35.200 and living it up 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.560 and having a great time 00:28:36.560 --> 00:28:37.440 and thanking God, 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.120 woo-hoo! 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:40.900 Or do we come before God 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:42.200 and we bow before him 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.300 and we worship him 00:28:43.300 --> 00:28:44.800 and we praise him 00:28:44.800 --> 00:28:46.320 and we thank him 00:28:46.320 --> 00:28:48.240 and we glorify his name 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.560 and we pray that our lives 00:28:49.560 --> 00:28:52.000 would 100% bring glory 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.140 and honor to him. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.900 We ask him that he'll search 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.120 the depths of our heart 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:57.900 and anything that is in us 00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.740 that is impure, 00:28:59.100 --> 00:29:00.040 that is unholy, 00:29:00.300 --> 00:29:01.259 that is ungodly, 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.980 that he would reveal it to us 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.920 and through the power 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.700 of the Holy Spirit 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.920 working in our lives, 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.420 help us to rid it 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.240 from our lives 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.560 and become more and more 00:29:09.560 --> 00:29:10.340 like Christ. 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.800 Romans 12, 1 says, 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:14.680 in light of all that God 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.600 has done for you, 00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:18.519 when you consider 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:21.300 all that God has done for you, 00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:22.560 is it too much 00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:25.400 to ask for you 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:27.040 to offer your life unto him 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.960 as a living sacrifice? 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.440 Is it too much 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:36.519 to ask that we die to self? 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.639 Is it too much 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:40.859 to ask that we sacrifice 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:42.279 our wishes, 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.019 our cares, 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.079 our desires 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:45.579 in order to seek 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:47.000 and pursue Jesus Christ 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:49.119 and to offer our lives unto him 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.779 as a living sacrifice, 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.960 honor him, 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:53.720 obeying him completely 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:56.019 and helping the world 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.720 come to know Jesus Christ? 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.440 Is that too much to ask? 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:02.660 What is there in your life 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:05.740 that when you stand before God 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.759 on judgment day 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:08.339 that you're going to think, 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.440 man, I wish I had done 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.519 a little bit more of that? 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:13.319 If you devote, 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:15.819 let's say you really devote 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.180 everything to the Lord 00:30:17.180 --> 00:30:18.859 and you live that, 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:19.879 you know, 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:21.819 living sacrifice for God 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:23.339 and when you stand before him 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.819 and he says, 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.500 well done, 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:26.160 good and faithful servant, 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.599 are you going to really think, 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.819 man, I wish I had partied 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.539 a little bit more? 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:34.480 I wish I had worked harder 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.420 and made more money 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.759 or climbed the corporate ladder 00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:37.559 a little bit more, 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.879 got more education, 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.940 had a bigger house, 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:45.059 but let's flip that around. 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.820 If those are the things 00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:48.940 we're living for now 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:51.400 and when we stand before God, 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.940 Christians entering 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:54.420 into the kingdom of heaven, 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:57.559 but we see 00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:59.759 all that could have been ours, 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.980 are we going to say, 00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:02.960 man, I wish, 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:05.940 I wish I had lived a life 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:07.680 more separated from the world. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:11.080 I wish I had pursued God more. 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:13.259 I wish I had studied 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.460 his word more. 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:17.279 I wish I had been obedient more. 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:21.580 I wish I had told more people 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:24.240 about Jesus 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:26.700 so that they would be here with us. 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:28.319 You know, 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.500 when we consider 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:35.039 all that God has done for us, 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:37.200 is it too much 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:39.200 to ask 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:41.880 that we lay our lives down 00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.700 as a living sacrifice 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.240 unto him? 00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:46.299 Now, I've got to get moving here. 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:48.259 Let's look at Judges 1. 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:51.259 We see what God 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.839 has commanded them to do. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.599 Now, let's look at the reality 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.660 and I'm only going to read 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:57.079 one couple verses here, 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.019 but if you read the whole 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.119 chapter 1, 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.019 you'll see this 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:02.259 repeated over and over 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.700 with all the different tribes. 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:07.360 And the Lord was with Judah 00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.380 and he took possession 00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:09.319 of the hill country, 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:11.220 but he could not drive out 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.680 the inhabitants of the plain 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:14.600 because they had chariots of iron. 00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:17.740 And Hebron was given to Caleb 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:19.680 as Moses had said, 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.900 and he drove out from it 00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.519 the three sons of Anak. 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.519 But the people of Benjamin 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:27.440 did not drive out the Jebusites 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.620 who lived in Jerusalem. 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:32.059 So the Jebusites have lived 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:34.019 with the people of Benjamin 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:35.859 in Jerusalem to this day. 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:46.319 Excuse me. 00:32:49.219 --> 00:32:50.719 God had commanded Israel 00:32:50.719 --> 00:32:51.759 to devote the people 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:54.079 living in the promised land 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.759 to complete destruction. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.679 But what did Israel do? 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.459 You know, they did, 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:03.099 they ran into some militaries 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.579 that were, 00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:05.219 or armies that were bigger than them, 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.319 more powerful than them, 00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.879 that had chariots. 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:10.279 But is that a problem for God? 00:33:11.699 --> 00:33:13.559 They had already defeated Jericho. 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:16.299 They had already defeated Egypt 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.479 40 years earlier. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.500 They had already experienced God 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.959 doing so much in their lives. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.399 Are you telling me that a chariot 00:33:22.399 --> 00:33:24.459 is going to stop them? 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.819 Is going to stop God 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:28.199 from doing what He's promised? 00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.639 That He would do? 00:33:29.639 --> 00:33:32.259 You know, what I also find 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:34.159 very interesting 00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:36.019 if you read throughout chapter 1 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:37.379 is you see some of the tribes 00:33:37.379 --> 00:33:39.839 put the people to slavery. 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:43.599 So obviously they conquered them. 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:45.699 Obviously they ruled over them. 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.419 But instead of obeying God 00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:49.839 and destroying them, 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:51.219 they made them slaves. 00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:53.359 God said no treaties, 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.619 no compromises. 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:57.559 Just devote the people 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:59.259 to complete destruction. 00:33:59.479 --> 00:34:01.500 And yet they did not do that. 00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:03.119 And we could look 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:05.759 and we can come up with lots of excuses 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:08.420 of why the people were unable to do 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:10.900 what God had commanded them to do. 00:34:11.299 --> 00:34:13.159 But God sends an angel of the Lord 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:15.359 to them to confront them with their sin. 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:17.759 And it's summed up in one word, 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.739 disobedience. 00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:20.839 And you'll notice that the people 00:34:20.839 --> 00:34:22.119 do not argue. 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.879 They don't offer excuses. 00:34:24.379 --> 00:34:26.619 They don't rationalize why they didn't do it. 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:28.599 They wept because they knew 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:30.299 they were guilty. 00:34:30.459 --> 00:34:32.599 Look with me at Judges chapter 2 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:34.539 verses 1 through 5 now. 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:39.539 Now the angel of the Lord 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:41.460 went up from Gilgal to Bochum. 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:42.840 And he said, 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:44.539 I brought you up from Egypt 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.820 and brought you into the land 00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:47.460 that I swore to give to your fathers. 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.539 I said, 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:50.719 I will never break my covenant with you 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:52.519 and you shall make no covenant 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:54.480 with the inhabitants of this land. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:56.779 You shall break down their altars. 00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:59.539 But you have not obeyed my voice. 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.340 What is this you have done? 00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:02.960 So now I say, 00:35:03.200 --> 00:35:05.559 I will not drive them out before you, 00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:07.920 but they shall become thorns in your sides 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:10.620 and their God shall be a snare to you. 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:13.180 As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke, 00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:16.420 spoke these words to all the people of Israel 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:19.620 and the people lifted up their voices and wept. 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:23.800 And they called the name of that place Bochum 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:26.380 and they sacrificed there to the Lord. 00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:30.500 Because Israel failed to obey God, 00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:34.820 God said that he would not go before them. 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:37.320 He would no longer go before them at that point 00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:39.460 and continue to drive out the people. 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:40.119 And therefore, 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:43.400 the people would continue to remain in the land 00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:47.480 and be a thorn in their side forevermore. 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:49.539 You ever watch the news? 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:53.460 You ever look at what's going on in the Middle East? 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.500 You ever see the turmoil 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:57.500 that's always constantly in Israel? 00:35:57.500 --> 00:36:01.500 Could it be because they did not obey God 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:05.559 when Joshua led them in to destroy the people 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:08.139 and rid them from the land? 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:11.500 That they continue to have strife and difficulty. 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:13.460 And not only that, 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:15.639 but the people remained in the land 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:18.719 and they constantly served as a temptation 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:22.260 to lure the people away from the worship of God. 00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:26.480 We even see that in one of the most well-known judges in this book 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.620 and that's Samson. 00:36:29.220 --> 00:36:31.640 Even a man that God raised up, 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:37.280 he continued to have problems with, you know, Philistine women 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:39.760 and being pulled away 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:43.440 and focusing on things that he shouldn't have been. 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:46.760 And so the people continued to live in the land 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:50.059 and they continued to lure Israel away. 00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:51.599 And every time that happened, 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:53.440 God had to punish them. 00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:55.240 As a loving parent, 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:59.320 God would punish them for the purpose of bringing them back. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.760 Now, if you're a parent, 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:02.460 you realize we're not perfect 00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:06.099 and we don't always discipline in love, do we? 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.579 But the great thing about God 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:11.000 is that he's a perfect, holy God 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:14.099 and his discipline is in perfect love 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:16.820 to bring his people back to him. 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:20.500 Unfortunately, throughout the ages of Israel, 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:22.780 thousands of people had to die 00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:25.860 to bring them as a nation back to him 00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:27.880 because of their disobedience 00:37:27.880 --> 00:37:29.880 and their wandering over and over. 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:31.500 Just in the book of Judges alone, 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:34.519 the cycle took place 12 times 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:37.800 to where they wandered from the Lord, 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:39.380 the Lord had to punish them, 00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.599 they repented, 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:44.039 God would raise up somebody like a Gideon or a Deborah 00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:45.500 to deliver them 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:50.739 and then the cycle would be repeated again and again. 00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:54.559 And it's because they disobeyed God 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:57.679 and did not rid the people from their lives. 00:37:57.679 --> 00:38:02.619 I wonder what we have in our lives 00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:05.460 that God has really said, 00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:06.639 you need to get rid of that. 00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:09.779 You need to remove that from your life 00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:13.539 because it's not helping you worship me, 00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:17.159 but it's a constant temptation pulling you away. 00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:21.239 Dads, what have we got in our lives 00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:25.899 that we're setting a bad example for our children? 00:38:28.959 --> 00:38:29.479 Moms, 00:38:29.979 --> 00:38:32.339 are we teaching our children 00:38:32.339 --> 00:38:34.719 to seek and to pursue the things of God? 00:38:36.479 --> 00:38:39.339 Or do we allow some things to live in us 00:38:39.339 --> 00:38:41.479 that causes our children 00:38:41.479 --> 00:38:43.500 to pursue the things of the world 00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:45.559 more than God? 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:53.159 And what are we going to do about it? 00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:55.679 How are we going to respond? 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:58.759 Are we willing to turn loose 00:38:58.759 --> 00:39:02.460 of some things in our lives in this world, 00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:04.139 no matter how hard it might be, 00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:07.000 so that we might establish a legacy 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:09.320 in our children 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:11.639 and in our grandchildren 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:14.599 and in the generations to follow? 00:39:15.319 --> 00:39:18.199 Or are we holding on to things in the world 00:39:18.199 --> 00:39:22.139 that are going to send the wrong messages 00:39:22.139 --> 00:39:23.059 to our children 00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:25.059 that will impact their lives 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:28.359 and then they will live pursuing the same things 00:39:28.359 --> 00:39:30.679 and they'll hand that on to their grandchildren 00:39:30.679 --> 00:39:33.659 and their great-grandchildren 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.480 and on and on. 00:39:35.839 --> 00:39:37.460 So let me ask you this morning, 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:39.539 are there areas in your life 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:41.179 that God has been speaking to you 00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:43.379 areas in your life 00:39:43.379 --> 00:39:46.699 where God has been showing you things in your life 00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:49.480 that you need to make a change? 00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:53.500 There's areas in your life 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:55.579 where you've not completely obeyed, 00:39:56.359 --> 00:39:57.739 maybe partially thinking, 00:39:57.879 --> 00:39:59.659 well, you know, I did what I could, 00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:05.419 but we've not completely obeyed. 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.779 We've made compromises. 00:40:06.779 --> 00:40:09.279 We've made excuses. 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:13.859 And how do you need to respond? 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:16.819 How do you need to respond today? 00:40:16.899 --> 00:40:18.819 Are there areas in the word of God? 00:40:19.919 --> 00:40:22.199 Are there things that God has said in his word 00:40:22.199 --> 00:40:23.879 that we've thought, 00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:25.639 I just can't live up to that? 00:40:28.879 --> 00:40:31.539 But God keeps tapping on your heart going, 00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:36.579 read my word, 00:40:37.139 --> 00:40:38.219 study my word, 00:40:38.219 --> 00:40:41.000 obey in its entirety. 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:42.599 So I want to ask you today 00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:45.439 as the musicians come and play 00:40:45.439 --> 00:40:51.379 and as we go to the Lord in prayer, 00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:52.839 I want you to be very open 00:40:52.839 --> 00:40:54.359 to listening to what God 00:40:54.359 --> 00:40:56.619 is saying to you in your heart. 00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:59.000 And if there are areas in your life 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:01.039 that you need to make a change in, 00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:02.519 you need to repent 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.799 or you need to step up 00:41:03.799 --> 00:41:05.239 and completely obey, 00:41:05.939 --> 00:41:08.019 surrender those areas over to the Lord today. 00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:10.039 And I'll also be down front, 00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:13.679 be more than happy to pray with you. 00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:15.059 Let's close in prayer 00:41:15.059 --> 00:41:16.219 or have a word of prayer 00:41:16.219 --> 00:41:18.800 and then William will play while you pray. 00:41:19.239 --> 00:41:20.780 Father, we just thank you for your word. 00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:23.519 Thank you for your truth. 00:41:24.219 --> 00:41:25.440 We thank you for the lessons 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.860 that can be found here. 00:41:27.800 --> 00:41:29.460 And we ask, Lord, for each of us 00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.480 that your Holy Spirit 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:32.239 is speaking to our hearts right now. 00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:35.000 There may be some sitting in here 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.760 knowing that they need to surrender 00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:37.880 their lives to you. 00:41:38.659 --> 00:41:40.840 That they need to make you Lord of their lives. 00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:41.260 And yet, 00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:43.099 they just haven't been willing 00:41:43.099 --> 00:41:44.559 to turn loose of things. 00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:47.260 And in fact, 00:41:47.340 --> 00:41:48.480 they've not done that yet. 00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:49.380 And I pray, Lord, 00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:50.699 that you continue to speak, 00:41:51.480 --> 00:41:52.579 helping them to understand 00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:53.420 they need you. 00:41:53.420 --> 00:41:55.780 But for the rest of us, 00:41:55.880 --> 00:41:55.980 Lord, 00:41:56.039 --> 00:41:56.519 I pray, 00:41:57.220 --> 00:41:58.639 there may be areas in our lives 00:41:58.639 --> 00:42:00.059 where we're disobeying. 00:42:01.220 --> 00:42:02.079 There may be areas 00:42:02.079 --> 00:42:03.159 in our lives 00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:03.900 where there's sin 00:42:03.900 --> 00:42:05.240 that we need to repent of. 00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:07.639 And Lord, 00:42:07.700 --> 00:42:08.940 I pray that your Holy Spirit 00:42:08.940 --> 00:42:10.200 is speaking to us 00:42:10.200 --> 00:42:11.720 loud and clear 00:42:11.720 --> 00:42:13.440 and that we'll recognize 00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:14.980 how we need to respond 00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:16.119 and give us the power 00:42:16.119 --> 00:42:17.280 to do that, 00:42:17.400 --> 00:42:17.500 Lord, 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:18.380 in Jesus' name. 00:42:18.380 --> 00:42:19.380 Amen.