Well, good evening. Slightly complex passage tonight and quite confusing, hence why I've given out a sort of sermon outline.
Unfortunately, I ran out of copies of those.
So if possibly some of the people that could sort of share them between two or whatever,
so that some of the people from the band can get them and know where we're going.
Let's start with just finishing off the reading.
So we've read chapter one and then we're also dealing with the first five verses of chapter two tonight.
So Judges chapter two.
The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochum and said,
I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your forefathers.
I said, I will never break my covenant with you and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land,
but you shall break down their altars.
Yet you have disobeyed me.
Why have you done this?
Now, therefore, I tell you that I will not drive them out before you.
They will be thorns in your sides and the gods, their gods will be a snare to you.
When the angel of the Lord has spoken these things to all the Israelites,
the people wept aloud and they called that place Bochum and they offered sacrifices to the Lord.
Let's just pray before we start into this.
Father, we pray that as we come tonight to a passage that's quite difficult to understand
and with application that is difficult,
that you will open our hearts,
that you will open our eyes,
that we may see your glories
and that you won't allow anything important to be snatched up from us,
but that anything worthless will be forgotten and swept away.
We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So it should have been perfect.
Everything had gone so well.
God had brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt
and despite some rebellion and wandering around the wilderness for 40 years,
had brought them into the land he'd promised to them,
the land flowing with milk and honey.
Under the leadership of Joshua,
they had entered the land
and God had given them some miraculous victories,
such as that at Jericho.
And so God's covenants to the patriarchs
appeared to have been fulfilled.
We see here God's people
in God's place
under God's rule.
So
what went wrong?
Last week, Graham was
going through overview of the whole book
and left us with that question.
Where did it all go wrong?
And over the next two weeks
in these introductory chapters of Judges,
that's the question that we'll be looking at.
But I think before we get further
into this passage,
we need to deal
however briefly
and superficially
with one big issue.
We could
bypass it,
skim over it,
get some nice lessons from the passage,
go home
and
pretend
and pretend
the issue wasn't there
until
the enemy
whispers in our ear,
you don't really believe that,
do you?
And then we start to question everything.
The leaflet about this sermon series states,
there are few books
that make our modern sensibilities
squirm
as much as Judges.
And that's very true.
The trouble is,
in most of the rest of the book,
the things that we struggle with
are the things that are condemned as wrong.
Here,
the events we struggle with
are when they are obeying God.
When I was discussing this passage
with some people around,
I rather flippantly described it
as being about
why incomplete genocide is sin.
This is about the conquest
and destruction
of the various peoples
that inhabited the land of Canaan
and it doesn't sit very well
with our 21st century mindsets.
We know that Jesus teaches us
to love our enemies,
to turn the other cheek.
And so how do we reconcile this?
And it's not just us Christians
that find it difficult.
Richard Dawkins
in The God Delusion would write,
The God of the Old Testament
is arguably the most unpleasant character
in all fiction.
A vindictive,
bloodthirsty,
ethnic cleanser.
A misogynistic,
homophobic,
racist,
infanticidal,
genocidal,
phileicidal,
pestilential,
megalomaniacal,
pseudo-masochistic,
capriculously malevolent bully.
So how do we deal
with those accusations?
I think we need to be able
to respond to these challenges
whether they come from others
or whether they just come
from ourselves.
So what were the Israelites
told to do
and why?
Moses takes several chapters
to cover this early in Deuteronomy.
But the key passage really
is at the beginning of chapter 7
and it's pretty explicit.
when the Lord your God
brings you into the land
you're entering
to take possession of it
and clears away
many nations before you,
the Hittites,
the Girgashites,
the Amorites,
the Canaanites,
the Perizzites,
the Hivites,
and the Jebusites,
seven nations
more numerous and mightier
than you.
And when the Lord your God
gives them over to you
and you defeat them,
then you must devote them
to complete destruction.
You shall make no covenant
with them
and show no mercy to them.
You shall not intermarry
with them
giving your daughters
to their sons
or taking their daughters
for your sons
for they would turn away
your sons from following me
to serve other gods.
Then the anger of the Lord
would be kindled against you
and he would destroy you quickly.
But thus shall you deal with them.
You shall break down their altars
and dash in pieces their pillars
and chop down their ashram
and burn their carved images
with fire.
They are to completely clear
the land of its inhabitants.
They are not to enter
into any sort of peace treaty,
but they are to destroy them
completely
and destroy all their pagan altars,
idols, etc.
There are several reasons
that are given for this.
The first,
and potentially the most obvious,
is to fulfill the promises
that God made to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob.
He had promised them
on oath this land.
It was part of his plan
to bring blessing
to the whole world
and ultimately
to bring his Messiah.
Moses continues in
chapter 7 of Deuteronomy,
It was because the Lord
loved you and kept the oath
he swore to your ancestors
that he brought you out
with a mighty hand
and redeemed you
from the land of slavery,
from the power of Pharaoh,
king of Egypt.
Then the second reason
was to punish the wickedness
of the nations
that lived in the land.
We see
actually his mercy
in this
because he promised
this land
to Abraham
but told him
that his descendants
would live as slaves
for 400 years
for the iniquity
of the Amorites
is not yet complete.
So God was holding off
as long
as he could.
But now the time
for mercy is over.
Their sin
has reached
its full extent
and God will use
his people
as an instrument
of judgment.
As one writer put it,
until it was right
to invade,
God's people must wait
even if it cost them
centuries of hardship.
But then the third reason
and the one
that probably
we see most
tonight
is because
God knows
the weakness
of his people.
He knows
how easily
they are led astray.
He knows
that if they settle
down among
the other nations
they will start
copying them
and become like them
in their detestable
practices
and worship.
And in the rest
of this series
we'll see that
that is exactly
what happens.
But along
with these reasons
there are several
clarifications
that God
gives through
Moses.
first of all
he reminds them
that there is
nothing special
about them
other than
that God
chose them.
He says that
the Lord
did not set
his affection
on you
and choose
you because
you are more
numerous
than the other
peoples
for you were
the fewest
of all peoples.
But then
there's a reminder
that it is God
who is doing this.
They are
at most
being used
by him.
this is God's
battle
not theirs.
Various times
through verses
18 to 24
still in
Deuteronomy
7 there
remember
what the Lord
your God
did to Pharaoh
and to all
Egypt.
The Lord
your God
will do the
same
to all the
peoples
you now
fear.
The Lord
your God
will drive
out those
nations
before you.
The Lord
your God
will deliver
them
over to
you.
And then
thirdly
there's
a reminder
that although
the Amorites
and other
peoples may
be wicked
the Israelites
themselves
are far
from perfect.
Later on
in chapter
9 of
Deuteronomy
after the
Lord
your God
has driven
them out
before you
do not
say to
yourself
the Lord
has brought
me here
to take
possession
of this
land
because of
my
righteousness.
No
it is on
account of
the wickedness
of these
nations
that the
Lord is
going to
drive them
out before
you.
And in
case they
hadn't got
the point
if you
ever forget
the Lord
your God
and follow
other gods
and worship
and bow
down to
them
I testify
against you
today
that you
will surely
be destroyed
like the
nations the
Lord destroyed
before you
so you
will be
destroyed
for not
obeying
the Lord
your God.
God
and the
rest of
the Old
Testament
tells how
God uses
the surrounding
pagan nations
time after
time against
his own
people when
they turn
away from
them.
There's
far more
that could
be said on
this topic.
Books and
books could
and have
been written
but ultimately
it comes down
to the question
of whether
we want
to exalt
our ideas
of right
and wrong
above that
of God
or whether
we want
to in faith
like Abraham
says
will not
the judge
of all
the earth
do right.
We may
not fully
understand it
but we
must trust
him in
this.
And so
back to
our passage
basically
it splits
into three
parts
roughly where
we divided
the readings
although they
overlap a bit
there's some
grey areas
about some
bits whether
they're right
or wrong
is slightly
uncertain
but essentially
about the
first 20
verses
talks about
the victories
of the people
then the
rest of
chapter 1
talks about
the defeats
and then
the section
at the beginning
of chapter 2
talks about
the consequences
of that.
So it all
starts really
well at the
beginning.
In the first
few verses
we see the
Israelites
seeking to
obey God.
They know
what they've
been instructed
to do
they seek
God's guidance
about how
to do it
and then
trusting God
they follow
his direction
and God
gives them
the victory.
They are
obedient to
God
but they
are also
dependent on
him.
They don't
just say
God has
told us
to take
this land
we can
do that.
Instead
they go
in
dependent
on him
to lead
them
and to
give them
the victory
and as
promised
he does.
But another
thing we
notice in
these early
verses
where the
Israelites
are victorious
is that
they're often
seen to be
working
together.
In verse
three we
read of
Judah
and the
Simeonites
agreeing to
help each
other in
taking their
allotted piece
of the
land.
They will
go with
their fellow
Israelites
and fight
together
lending each
other their
strength.
In the
following
verses
four to
eighteen
we read
of one
victory
after another
in Judah's
territory
and then
after that
victories
in Ath of
Simeon.
Working
together
they were
much
stronger.
But I
think what's
particularly
significant
here is
that Judah
at this
point is
the largest
of the
tribes
and Simeon
is the
smallest.
Judah
probably
didn't need
any help
but they
turned to
their future
neighbours
Simeon
the smallest
of the
tribes
about a
third of
their size
and say
to them
let's
do this
together
and together
they go
into the
land
and take
it
and settle
there.
So another
interesting
thing
hidden away
in verse
sixteen
here we
see the
descendants
of Moses
father-in-law
the
Kenite
going up
and settling
along with
Judah.
the point
here is
that Moses
father-in-law
Jethro
was not
an Israelite
here he's
called a
Kenite
and elsewhere
a Midianite
they're probably
two names
for the same
people
in Exodus
he's called
the priest
of Midian
he's also
known as
Ruel
which translates
as a friend
of God
so this
demonstrates
that this
conquest
is not
about
ethnicity
it's not
genocide
it is
about
Yahweh
against
the false
gods
of the
Canaanites
but
unfortunately
these
positive
accounts
don't
fill much
of the
chapter
quickly
the accounts
of victory
turn into
accounts of
defeat
and I think
there's various
things we can
learn here
about these
defeats
where they
came from
the first
thing we see
about their
defeat
is that they
have a stubborn
enemy
it says
time after
time the
Canaanites
were determined
to live in
the land
the first
victories may
have been
dramatic
but this is
going to
take endurance
their enemies
aren't going to
all flee before
them
they quite like
the land
they're living
in thank you
very much
so this
is going to
be a test
of endurance
for God's
people
not just
will they
trust him
for one
battle
but will
they trust
him long
term
the second
thing we see
about their
defeat is that
it comes from
fear
in verse 19
we read that
Judah were
unable to
drive the
people from
the plains
because of
their chariots
fitted with
iron
we have to
remember here
that iron
was the
latest
technology
that was
just beginning
to be seen
we aren't
really into
the iron age
proper yet
so this is
top grade
military hardware
and so it is
reasonable
that
they
can't
defeat them
on their
own
but it's
very interesting
that this is
just before
the next
verse
where we
see the
account of
Caleb
defeating
three sons
of Anak
if you look
back at
various accounts
through
numbers etc
we see that
the sons of
Anak
are reported
as giants
these are the
people that
the twelve
spies that
Moses sent
into the
promised land
saw
as the song
goes
ten were
bad
two were
good
ten saw
the strength
of the
enemy
saw
the power
of these
giants
and only
two saw
actually
God is
with us
we can do
anything
and one of
these good
spies
was Caleb
the other
was Joshua
who has
now died
so Caleb
is now
an old
man
he's the
only survivor
from that
time
and he
knows
that it
doesn't
matter
whether
they're up
against
giants
or iron
chariots
because God
is greater
it seems
that the
men of
Judah
have forgotten
this
despite
all these
victories
that God
has given
them
they seem
to have
thought it
was about
their strength
and so
when up
against a
stronger
enemy
they cannot
win
but
with God
they had
nothing
to fear
the third
thing we see
about their
defeat
is that
pragmatism
takes over
time after
time
we read
that instead
of killing
or driving
out the
people
as they've
been told
to do
they put
them into
forced
labour
they made
them slaves
humanly
it made
sense
they were
useful
there was
a lot of
work to
do
building up
the country
and a
ready supply
of slaves
would be
a real
help
but that's
not what
they were
told to
do
it was
not long
since that
they'd
suffered a
major
defeat
after
Achan
had kept
a portion
of the
plunder
for himself
that should
have been
destroyed
and later
we'll read
of Saul
keeping the
best of
the herds
from the
Amalekites
to offer
as a
sacrifice
to God
he believed
he had a
better idea
of how to
worship God
than what
God had
told him
to do
and then
the final
thing we see
about their
defeat here
is the
problem of
unfinished
work
in verse
8
Jerusalem
is taken
it's put
to the
sword
and set
on fire
but it
seems that
they failed
to hold
it
because in
verse 21
we read
that the
Benjamites
didn't drive
out the
Jebusites
that lived
in Jerusalem
and in
fact it
would be
David
several
centuries
later
that
finally
conquered
and held
Jerusalem
they have
started
the job
but they
haven't carried
it through
to the end
and so
their work
the good
work that
they've done
is all
undone
but then
in those
verses
at the
beginning
of chapter
2
we see
that their
sin
and their
disobedience
has consequences
the angel of
the Lord
appears to
them
and brings
them God's
message
of judgment
it's interesting
to notice
that the
last time
the angel of
the Lord
was mentioned
was just
before
they took
Jericho
when he
said that
he was there
to fight
with them
but now
following
their
disobedience
God is
doing exactly
as he
promised
and he's
leaving them
to themselves
he's not
going to
fight for
them any
longer
when they
were obedient
he fought
for them
and gave
them victory
but he's
not going
to do
that now
they are
left to
fight
and ultimately
lose
their own
battles
but
despite
these
consequences
we see
that God
did not
completely
abandon
his people
because
we've got
the rest
of the
book of
Judges
where
time
after
time
the people
repent
and God
fights for
them
but then
they turn
away
again
and then
we have
the rest
of the
Bible
which all
tells the
story of
how God
patiently
calls his
people back
to himself
again
and again
despite
the repeated
unfaithfulness
and rebellion
so
how on
earth do
we apply
a passage
like this
to our
lives
in 21st
century
Scotland
some
have taken
passages
like this
as an
excuse
for Christian
holy wars
or crusades
but Jesus
would say
my kingdom
is not
of this
world
if it
were
my servants
would fight
others
would take
these
warnings
for Israel
to go to
such lengths
to separate
themselves
from the
people around
as a reason
for Christians
to separate
themselves
to cut
themselves
off
whether
as hermits
in monasteries
in separate
societies
like the
Amish
or just
by cutting
themselves
off from
much of
the culture
around
as many
in our
own
tradition
would have
done
in previous
generations
and that
urge
is in many
ways
very
commendable
indeed
Paul would
write to
the
Corinthians
who are
getting
caught up
with
idolatry
come out
from them
and be
separate
there is
a need
for us
to not
get
completely
entangled
in the
world
around
us
but
Jesus
would
say
in his
prayer
in the
upper
room
in
John
17
my
prayer
is not
that you
take them
out of
the world
but
that you
protect
them
from the
evil
one
elsewhere
he would
tell them
how they
had to
be salt
and light
to not
put their
lamp
under a
bowl
it was
expected
to unlike
the Israelites
they would
be living
among
and
interacting
with
unbelievers
be they
Jews
pagans
atheists
or whatever
and yet
we are
told of a
battle that
we are
to fight
the letter
of the
Ephesians
would tell
us that
our struggle
is not
against
flesh and
blood
but against
the rulers
against
the authorities
against the
powers of
this dark
world
and against
the spiritual
forces
of evil
in heavenly
realms
the letter
to the
Colossians
tells us
to put
to death
therefore
whatever
belongs
to your
earthly
nature
sexual
immorality
impurity
lust
evil
desires
and greed
which is
idolatry
because of
these the
wrath of
God is
coming
you used
to walk
in these
ways in
the life
you once
lived
but now
you must
also rid
yourself
of all
such
things
as
these
anger
rage
malice
slander
and filthy
language
from your
lips
do not
lie to
each other
since you've
taken off
your old
self
with its
practices
and to
put on
the new
self
which has
been renewed
in knowledge
in the image
of its
creator
and in
Romans 8
therefore
brothers and
sisters
we have
an obligation
but it is
not to the
flesh
to live
according
to it
for if you
live according
to the
flesh
you will
die
but
if by
the spirit
you put
to death
the misdeeds
of the
body
you will
live
the stakes
in this
battle
are high
the
destruction
that is
commanded
is just
as complete
but this
is not
the destruction
of pagan
peoples
and of
their idols
but of
everything
within us
that falls
short of
displaying
God's
glory
any sin
within us
or anything
that would
cause us
to sin
and we are
to be
ruthless
Jesus
would teach
that if
your right
eye causes
you to
stumble
gouge
it out
and throw
it away
if your
right hand
causes you
to stumble
cut it
off
and throw
it away
or as
the writer
to the
Hebrews
says
let us
throw off
everything
that hinders
and the
sin
that so
easily
entangles
ultimately
it's the
same battle
the battle
for God's
glory
to be seen
in the
obedience
of his
people
a people
that are
not special
in themselves
but that have
been chosen
called
and redeemed
by God
and just
like the
Israelites
God knows
how easily
we are
drawn astray
and so I
want to go
back through
the exact
same headings
that we
looked at
the Israelites
battle
under
and use
the same
headings
to look
at our
own
battle
the first
and most
obvious thing
we learn here
about victories
in the
Christian battle
is they
come
when we
come to
God
in obedience
and dependence
knowing what
he has
commanded
but looking
to him
to lead
and guide
and for his
strength
in the
battle
so often
we try
and do
what God
commanded
but we try
and do it
in our own
way
and in our
own strength
and wonder
why we
fail
but Paul
tells the
Philippians
it's God
who works
in you
to will
and to act
in order
to fulfill
his good
purpose
we sort
of grudgingly
accept
that our
salvation
is nothing
to do
with us
but we
like to
think
at least
think we
can do
something
about our
sanctification
that we
can work
hard
to make
ourselves
better
but Paul
tells us
here that
even our
will to
obey God
comes from
God
we can
do nothing
on our
own
the second
thing
we've
learnt
here
is that
so often
victory
comes
when we
work
together
Jesus
sends
his
disciples
out in
pairs
we're told
in Hebrews
not to
give up
meeting
together
but to
spur one
another on
to love
and good
deeds
we're told
in Proverbs
that as
iron sharpens
iron
so one
man sharpens
in another
or in
Ecclesiastes
two are
better than
one
because they
have a good
return for
their labour
if either
of them
falls down
one can
help the
other up
but pity
anyone who
falls
and has
no one
to help
them up
Tim was
telling us
last Sunday
morning as
we were
looking at
the beginning
of Philippians
of the
importance
of good
Christian
friends
of
partnership
in
Christian
life
and
gospel
ministry
as
Tim
isn't
here
tonight
I
feel
free
to
embarrass
him
over
the last
few
years
I
have
found
him
to
be
that
partner
that
brother
in the
Christian
fight
it's
a great
encouragement
to have
someone
that you
can send
a message
to
saying
I'm
struggling
please
pray
and know
that they
will
it's
a real
encouragement
to have
someone
that
has the
patience
to spend
the hours
with you
until you
actually
finally
see
how you
really
are
and to
encourage
and to
point my
eyes to
the beauties
of my
saviour
and to
send me
on my
way
rejoicing
strengthened
for the
battles
ahead
obviously
he's
a far
from
perfect
friend
and I
am
a far
from
perfect
friend
to
him
but he
has
greatly
helped me
as a
brother
in the
fight
and so
I would
highly
encourage
all of
you
to take
the time
effort
and risk
to
get
around
you
brothers
and
sisters
that
you
can
fight
with
and
who
will
fight
with
you
maybe
like
Judah
and
Simeon
there's
someone
younger
weaker
in the
faith
that you
can get
alongside
and say
let's
do this
together
but
just like
the
Israelites
battle
unfortunately
the
Christian
battle
also
tends
to be
littered
with
defeats
we
see
that
like
the
Israelites
we
have
a
stubborn
enemy
the
sin
within
us
is
deeply
rooted
and
ultimately
will not
be
completely
gone
until
that
day
when
we
see
him
and
are
like
him
even
the
apostle
Paul
could
grieve
about
how
the
things
that
he
wanted
to
do
he
didn't
do
and
the
things
that
he
didn't
want
to
do
he
did
there
are
several
songs
that
while
quite
good
in
some
ways
I
refuse
to
sing
the
chorus
of
one
hymn
another
wise
great
hymn
says
at
the
cross
where
I
first
saw
the
light
and
the
burden
of
my
heart
rolled
away
I
was
there
by
faith
I
received
my
sight
and
now
I
am
happy
all
the
day
really
is
that
what
your
Christian
life
is
like
mine
certainly
isn't
so
many
of
these
songs
and
so
many
presentations
of
the
gospel
manage
to
miss
out
everything
that
happens
between
that
first
moment
of
salvation
and
our
ultimate
glorification
they
forget
the
long
arduous
and
sometimes
painful
process
of
sanctification
in
between
they
forget
about
the
reality
of
the
Christian
life
and
we
see
too
many
new
Christians
that
aren't
prepared
for
this
they
think
everything
will
be
easy
and
they're
completely
thrown
when
the
battles
come
and
keep
coming
but
secondly
like
the
Israelites
many
of
our
defeats
come
from
fear
we
know
that
dealing
with
sin
will
be
hard
and
we
don't
really
want
to
do
hard
the
call
to
discipleship
is a
call
to
radical
living
to
take
up
our
cross
daily
potentially
to
be
hated
and
persecuted
by the
world
around
us
a
call
to
follow
God
into
the
unknown
and
we
sort
of
think
yeah
that's
fine
for
others
I
remember
one
preacher
saying
something
along
the
lines
of
and
I'm
sure
I'm
completely
misquoting
them
you
haven't
really
repented
until
it's
painful
to
turn
away
from
the
sin
that
you
love
are
we
willing
to
deal
with
that
pain
but
Charles
Macmillan
brought
to us
on
Wednesday
night
the
story
of
Elisha
and
his
servant
surrounded
by an
army
the
servant
is
fearful
and
Elisha
prays
that
the
servant's
eyes
will
be
opened
he
sees
that
the
whole
hillside
is
covered
with
chariots
and
horses
of
fire
the
angelic
armies
are
there
to
fight
for
them
why
should
we
fear
hard
things
when
this
is
our
God
but
thirdly
like
the
Israelites
our
defeats
come
from
pragmatism
we
often
find
useful
those
things
that
either
lead us
into
temptation
or
sometimes
even
our
sins
we
find
useful
and
quite
convenient
for
example
the
devices
that
many
of
you
are
reading
the
text
tonight
on
are
the
exact
same
devices
that
can
bring
you
in
the
privacy
of
your
homes
a
Pandora's
box
of
distraction
and
temptation
some
of
you
will
struggle
greatly
with
this
and
yet
find
it
too
useful
too
integral
a part
of
your
life
you're
willing
to
compromise
to
accept
the
risk
to
put
yourself
in
that
danger
zone
because
it's
convenient
previous
generations
worried
about
bringing
TV
into
our
homes
and
generations
before
that
worried
about
printed
books
but
we
have
brought
into
our
life
something
far
more
powerful
both
for
good
and
for
evil
are
we
willing
to
live
with
the
things
that
cause
us
to
stumble
because
they're
convenient
even
because
we
find
them
useful
in
our
worship
and
our
service
or
maybe
in
our
attempts
to
provide
for
ourselves
and
our
families
to
support
the
church
to
give
to
the
poor
do
we
allow
ourselves
to
forget
about
our
dependence
on
God
and
be
shaped
by
the
greed
the
idolatry
the
striving
for
wealth
and
power
of
those
that
are
around
us
in
our
attempts
to
be
responsible
and
do
good
do
we
unthinkingly
open
ourselves
to
temptation
and
sin
there
are so
many
other
areas
where
it's
so
easy
for
us
to
accept
as
part
of
our
lives
things
that
cause
us
to
stumble
that
turn
our
hearts
from
the
glories
of
Christ
and
the
difficulty
here
is
that
as
we've
discussed
unlike
the
Israelites
we
can't
just
cut
ourselves
off
from
all
these
sources
of
temptation
and
even
if
we
could
there
are
plenty
within
us
and
yet
we need
wisdom
each
of us
is
different
each
of us
has
our
own
particular
weaknesses
things
that cause
real
struggles
to me
are
probably
not
a
problem
to
you
and
other
way
around
we
are
called
in
James
to
be
involved
in
the
world
to
feed
the
widows
and
orphans
and
yet
not
be
polluted
by
it
it's
not
easy
but
it's
what
we're
called
to
and
it
needs
care
wisdom
and
not
compromise
and
finally
like
the
Israelites
our
defeats
come
from
unfinished
work
it's
so
easy
for us
to
think
that
something
that
we
struggled
with
in
the
past
is
now
defeated
and
we
needn't
worry
about
it
any
longer
I
heard
the
story
of
someone
who
proudly
told
those
around
him
that
he
hadn't
sinned
for
ten
years
and
their
comment
was
he
has
now
but
maybe
our
attitude
needs
to be
like
that
of
the
alcoholic
who
can
say
my
name
is
Jim
I'm
an
alcoholic
I
haven't
had
a
drink
for
40
years
I
need
to
say
my
name
is
Neil
I'm
a
poor
vile
sinner
redeemed
by
outrageous
amazing
grace
as soon
as we
think
we're
anything
more
than
that
we're
sure
to
fall
unlike
the
Israelites
our
defeats
have
consequences
as a
congregation
we were
shocked
recently
to see
the
effects
of sin
that had
gone
unchecked
in the
life of
one of
our
brothers
others
but
while
the
effects
may
not
always
be
so
public
our
sin
does
have
consequences
in
our
own
lives
in
the
lives
of
those
around
us
in
the
church
as a
whole
the
consequences
of our
sin
are
many
and
varied
and
we
could
have
several
sermons
on
them
and
some
of
the
psalms
we
studied
recently
we've
heard
the
psalmist
recounting
some
of the
consequences
of sin
they had
experienced
as they
find that
it takes
away
their
joy
it
obstructs
their
fellowship
with
God
it
affects
fellowship
with their
brothers
and sisters
I'm
sure
at times
all of
us
know
the
reality
of
these
and
many
other
consequences
but
I just
want to
focus
on one
consequence
just
now
it
affects
our
display
of
God's
glory
to
the
world
around
us
man
was
created
in the
beginning
in the
image
of
God
to
reflect
his
glory
his
beauty
his
character
but
in
Romans
we
read
that
all
have
sinned
and
fallen
short
of
the
glory
of
God
we
have
all
failed
in
the
purpose
for
which
we
were
created
likewise
as
Christians
we're
called
to
shine
as
stars
in a
crooked
and
depraved
generation
God
Paul
could
write
to
Romans
God's
name
is
blasphemed
among
the
Gentiles
because
of
you
how
we
act
individually
and
as
a
church
has
a
great
impact
on
what
the
world
thinks
of
our
God
and
his
gospel
there's
always
great
scandal
when
yet
another
well
known
church
leader
has
seen
to
fall
dramatically
and
the
constant
accusation
that is
thrown
at
Christians
is that
we're
hypocrites
that we
fail to
practice
what we
preach
we need
to be
very
clear
to those
we come
in contact
with
that none
of us
claim to
be perfect
that that's
not what
Christianity
is about
but
if there's
nothing
different
about us
other than
that we
go to
church
are they
really
going to
believe
that there's
any
power in
the gospel
to transform
lives
but before
we finish
up
before we
go from
here
yes
challenged
but really
feeling
discouraged
there's a
great
encouragement
for us
in this
fight
we read
last week
in Philippians
chapter 1
he who
began
a good
work
in you
will
bring it
to
completion
at the
day of
Christ
in
Ephesians
we read
about
Christ
that God
placed
all things
all his
enemies
under his
feet
at the
cross
we hear
those great
words of
triumph
it
is
finished
the battle
is already
won
our enemy
who appears
to be so
strong
has been
gloriously
defeated
the battle
belongs to
the Lord
we are
very much
in a battle
a battle
that seems
too much
where the
victories
often seem
too infrequent
but a
battle that
is already
won
God's
words to
Joshua
just before
entering
the land
were
be strong
and
courageous
do not
be afraid
do not
be discouraged
for the
Lord your
God
will be
with you
wherever
you go
and
then
Jesus
last
words
before
his
ascension
I
am
with
you
always
even
to
the
end
of
the
age
as
the
old hymn
says
the last
hymn
sung by
Jim
Elliot
and his
friends
that we're
reminded
about
this
morning
we go
in
faith
our
own
great
weakness
feeling
and
needing
more
each
day
thy
grace
to
know
yet
from
our
hearts
a
song
of
triumph
pealing
we
rest
on
thee
and
in
thy
name
we
go
Amen