Cascade Park Men's Retreat

Jeff Pagel

Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

0 ratings

· 8 views

CPBC Men's Retreat

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Reclaiming the Ground We’ve Surrendered. Session #1

Reclaiming the Ground, we’ve Surrendered.

[They] did evil in the eyes of the Lord.We enter this story, this cycle that has been going on for 200 years and has two hundred years to go.The alternating sin, death and abandonment with righteousness, life and confirmation of God’s presence begin about 1400 BC lasted until 1000 BC. For 400 years God kept reminding his chosen people that He was God and there was no other.Fast forward 3000+ years it is 2019. Look around us. God continues to bless our nation despite the evil that is going on in our boarders. Is this alternating part of the cycle where we in the United States turn our back on God? Allowing and in many ways encouraging every abomination, every evil and every sin. When does it stop, how does it stop, who stops it? I pray for our nation that we listen when the next Billy Graham, Hudson Taylor, Dwight Moody, Charles Spurgeon, or Billy Sunday comes to our nation. That we would listen and change our evil ways.Jack Cooper and I have begun to pray for revival in our community, our state, our nation for us to return to GodThis idea goes much deeper and gets very personal• Where am I in this alternating cycle of holiness and listening carefully to God and following his commands and leading in my life. OR• Where am I chasing my sin and disobedience and covering it with smiles, handshakes, with giving, serving, attending. I should continue those things, but I should pray to God and seeking for spiritual revival in my own life.Where do I go for revival in my personal life? Where do I start? Who has any idea what is going on in my life? Who could I possibly share “that” part of my life with? Who would even care that I’m struggling...?I don’t have all the answers; I don’t even have all the questions to have all of the answers. Let’s come back to this...Open your Bibles, phones, iPad’s if you will to the book of Judges chapter 6 verse 1. In my Bible it starts on page it starts on page 272… but I guess that won’t help you much.Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, JUDGES[] NIV1 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

God helps Gideon defeat the Midianites

NIV10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

Jeff Pagel /

The sinfulness of Israel is the primary cause of the ruin in the land...The Israelites had more than enough excuses• Midianites were so powerful that Israel had to flee• Whenever Israel planted a crop they were invaded, and the crop destroyed• The enemies of Israel didn’t spare one living thing; they ravaged the land.In the end it was their sin that brought ruin on them. NIV2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.The Israelites abandoned their land, given to them by God and sheltered elsewhere because the Midianite problem was too BIG. NIV3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. NIV33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.The invaders came, without much effort turned over God’s people, took what they wanted and left the land in a ruin. they did not have to “fire a shot” usually, well guns nor gun powder even existed at the time, but it down easily. NIV10 “…a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen.”So, we know that the Midianites and Eastern peoples where 120,000 strong because here some 3 chapters later all these men fell. NIV5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.They ravaged God’s land…with no or little fight. It was not a blow the horn, launch the weapons, fire the artillery, send the tanks, then send the infantry.It was let’s just move a group here and group there and turn over some leaders, scare people away, threaten them and then the remaining Jews looked up and saw they had been invaded and taken over and nothing of them was left.As a result, Israel was a prisoner in its own land.Why?• Because of their failure to honor God• Because of their idolatryThey have reached the bottom of the cycle; it could not get any worse for Israel. What could they possibly do? NIV6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.THEY NEEDED HELP!! THEY COULDN’T DO IT ALONE!! GOD HELP US!!!In their cry to Lord they finally recognized their situation and turned to Jehovah God for help.What could help them…what could get them on the right track, how could they see the error of their waysJudges 6:7–8 NIV7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.“I [God] brought you out of the land of slavery.” - I brought out of your Egyptian slavery and now I’m giving you opportunity to come out of your personal slavery. NIV9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land.This a rebuke, God delivered Israel time and time again. Which you would have thought they would have remembered, but instead they returned to a life of sin. NIV10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”We see what the Israelites did…What can we do?Do not return to worship of the false gods…they offer and empty promiseWhere have we, where have I given my land, my body, my mind to the Midianites. The Midianites represent evil in the land and in our minds, our hearts, our souls...Are we caught in a cycle where we find ourselves falling far away from God…allowing satan or his minions to push us away, causing us to be prisoners in our own bodies, in our own minds?This is a “man-thing,” this is a “woman thing,” As much as parents and grandparents try to protect and shield their kids, this is a “kid thing” … Each of us man, woman and child have given ground to our own personal Midianites and people from the East. Warriors who make their ways into our lives not by overwhelming power and takeover but in the little and “innocent” ways.At some point we look, and we have nothing left, we are just a shell. An empty shell. The devil has convinced us that whatever we have given up is gone forever, we will always be a shell… we can never reclaim it. satan is telling our country that individual liberty means everyone can do whatever he/she wants. The only rule is that there are no rules, no guides, no standards, morality is whatever is right in your own eyes. And where has that gotten us…I don’t care if you are conservative, liberal or something in the middle. What is currently going on the hallowed halls of government in our nation, in our state and in our community, has gotten us ruin and a huge mess!Let me remind youJudges 6:7–8 NIV7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.God is saying, to them, I’ve got you. Christ is saying to you, to you, “I’ve got you,” “Your mine,” “I’ve already died for that sin in our life.” “I’ve already covered that sin with my blood.” “I’ve forgiven you as far is the east is from the west.” God is saying I’m a big God. I love you enough that I sent my only son, one just like myself so that anyone and everyone has the opportunity to leave our caves where we are hiding from our own personal Midianites and follow Jesus, follow God. NIV13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”I suspect that this has hit at least one nerve...• If you have never really accepted the Lordship and Salvation that is available and only found in Jesus Christ.• If it’s drugs/alcohol • If it’s the internet and porn• if it’s gossiping • If it’s shopping and spending• If it’s a vengeful, vindictive attitude and behavior.• If you are just stubborn with your parents, grandparents• If you are just not engaged in life there is a solutionGod send a prophet to Israel found it in the form of Gideon, they “called” Gideon a savior (with a small “s”). We now serve a great big God in the form of Jesus Christ.No matter how far away you areEphesians 2:13 NIVBut NOW [by Grace of God that is found only] in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.That is the Gospel…even in the depths of the Old Testament we see Jesus and His once-for-all work on the cross.If you need Saving…this is the timeThere is good news for the captive Good news for the shamed There is good news for the one who walked away There is good news for the doubter The one religion failed For the good lord has come to seek and saveFor the one’s mind, heart and body is enslavedHe is beauty for the blind man Riches for the poor He is friendship for the one the world ignores He is pasture for the weary Rest for those who strive For the good lord is the way, the truth, the life HE IS OUR RESCUER!!! Dear God, create in me a clean heart…We are now going into a time of communion. Before we do, I’d like to take this time for silent prayer as we ask God to search our hearts and search our minds and to bring any sin to mind so that we confess it and He will be faithful and forgive usIf you are holding and issue between you and another brother, take that time right now to go to them and to ask forgiveness.Finally, we practice open communion here at First Baptist. If you are a believer welcome to our table.

Gospel through the Prophets /

My name is Jeff Pagel, I am the Pastor at Sunnyside First Baptist Church in Sunnyside, WA. I am also Tyler Pagel’s Dad. We are located 30 minutes from Yakima and 30 minutes from the Tri-Cities on I-82 in beautiful, warm and sunny Central Washington.

Prior to that I was an Elder and just about everything for greater than 20 years at Olympic View Baptist Church in University Place. John Stolz was and is my Pastor, friend, mentor and “encourager.”

I am ordained by the North American Baptists, I was licensed for ministry by Olympic View. I have spend many hours with Chris Gorman.

I have a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity College and Seminary in Indiana and i have finished my PhD coursework in New Testament. My special area of interest is the “Atonement in First Century Context.”

I was born in a small town in NE South Dakota in 1961. I am 58 year old.

Here is my words of wisdom…no matter how old, or what circumstances you are NEVER to old, to tied down, to follow what the Lord has in mind for you.

Introduction

This weekend in 3 sessions we are going to use the life of Gideon and Israel to establish the sinfulness of Israel and Grace that holds us close to God.

Next week our middle school class will begin. This is for “going into 5th -6th and 7th Grade. Going into 8th Grade & 9-12.” They are meeting the 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings right after our song package.

Of course Grace is found at the intersection of Cross and Grace.

Graveside service Tuesday 10AM for Jack Moran longtime church member, stepfather to Wanda and step-grandfather to Tyler & Craig

Grace is that unmerited favor that we have with God…why? Only because of our relationship with Jesus. AND the cross. There is NO FORGIVENESS OF SIN WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD.

Jesus on the Cross provided that blood, a once-for-all, one time only sacrifice for the SIN of man…all of mankind, available for everyone. Grace and covering or the term expiation if your familiar with it satisfied that anger of God.

In Session #1

Welcome Naomi Brooks on her return to Sunnyside. No more roundtrips to Roosevelt on Sunday Mornings

We are going to deal with Gideon, Israel and the Grace that has been provided even to these Old Testament players

Today is the first message in our summer series; Gospel in the Old Testament Prophets; today we look at Gideon from the Book of Judges

In Session #2

We are attack the areas were WE HAVE given up ground to satan and his minions. Don’t get “weird-ed” out here but we are going to attack this notion that we cannot live Holy lives, set apart for him. That is only possible with Grace

Today I’d like to begin by asking God to continue to bless our nation, to lead us back from our national sin, for our disregard for your Word. Lord we pray for revival.

In Session #3

on Sunday Morning. We are going to draw the two together and worship the Lord in song, message, confession, repentance and finally reclaiming that which has been lost to satan.

Session #1

We enter this story of Israel. mid cycle , this cycle that has been going on for 200 years and has two hundred years to go.

· as a nation pray for our President, Donald Trump.

· For the members of the Supreme Court,

· For our representatives in Congress,

· For our Governor, State and Local representatives

[They] did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

We enter this story mid cycle , this cycle that has been going on for 200 years and has two hundred years to go.

The alternating sin, death and abandonment with righteousness, life and confirmation of God’s presence begin about 1400 BC lasted until 1000 BC.

For 400 years God kept reminding his chosen people that He was God and there was no other. AND He was patient with them

Open your Bibles to . (Gen, Ex, Lev, Deut, Joshua JUDGES)

The chapter opens with the same dreary notice of Israel’s idolatry.

When they wandered…they wandered hard and fast went far away quickly.

Judges 6:1 NIV

1 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

This was not the first rodeo for Israel to wander away from God.

Judges 2:11 NIV

11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.

This time Yahweh’s scourge is Midian.

Judges 6:1–6 NIV

1 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

Judges

We have in verses 1–6 the most detailed description of Israel’s distress so far.

Dire distress it was. Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, Midian (along with Amalekites and ‘sons of the east’) would invade and ‘ruin the produce of the land’ (v. 4), that is, probably pillage foodstuffs for themselves and allow their livestock to pasture on the rest.

What have you surrendered to evil in your life? What area’s have been laid barren by our personal Midianites. Does this appear to be cyclical in your lives. Is this not your first rodeo?

This time Yahweh’s scourge is Midian. We have in verses 1–6 the most detailed description of Israel’s distress so far. Dire distress it was. Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, Midian (along with Amalekites and ‘sons of the east’) would invade and ‘ruin the produce of the land’ (v. 4), that is, probably pillage foodstuffs for themselves and allow their livestock to pasture on the rest. They appropriated Israel’s sheep, oxen, and donkeys (the equivalent of stealing a mechanic’s tools). All this was what covenant breakers could expect, says , . For seven years they left Israel no ‘sustenance’ (v. 4) or means of sustenance. The same scourge and terror every year: invade from the east, cross the Jordan, hit the bread basket in the Plain of Jezreel, sweep southwest as far as Gaza in Philistia, practicing their clean-earth policy.

An interesting observation that I have here is that because of their sinfulness God gave them into the hands of the Midianites. At any point, Israel could have turned away from their sin, called out to God, reclaimed their place as God chosen people…but they didn’t. We tend to wallow (like pigs do) in our sin

We have in verses 1–6 the most detailed description of Israel’s distress so far. Dire distress it was. Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, Midian (along with Amalekites and ‘sons of the east’) would invade and ‘ruin the produce of the land’ (v. 4), that is, probably pillage foodstuffs for themselves and allow their livestock to pasture on the rest. They appropriated Israel’s sheep, oxen, and donkeys (the equivalent of stealing a mechanic’s tools). All this was what covenant breakers could expect, says , . For seven years they left Israel no ‘sustenance’ (v. 4) or means of sustenance. The same scourge and terror every year: invade from the east, cross the Jordan, hit the bread basket in the Plain of Jezreel, sweep southwest as far as Gaza in Philistia, practicing their clean-earth policy.

Another is that, These were God chosen people, He had given them His chosen land and they simply abandoned it…

They ran and hid…What would the difference be if they would have stood and fought? Would God have honored the effort. Are we willing to stand group to our personal Midianites, to our personal failures, call on God and reclaim ground that we have lost to sin

God will show up when the odds are against us, we have nothing to fight with and we are weak and he will make us STRONG. - He is truly our rescuer!

To be “rescued” we must admit that we are in deep-weeds and are in need of a rescuer.

When Israel cut bait and ran of course their enemies just walked in and took everything…of value and of NO value

They appropriated Israel’s sheep, oxen, and donkeys

If you are a mechanic it would be taking your tools.

Tell what is your job and what tools do you use?

All of this would be GONE!!!

This was what covenant breakers could expect,

Deuteronomy 28:29 NIV

29 At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.

(NIV84)

------------------

What did the Midianites do, what did the “people from the East do?” Was it really that bad?

At midday you will grope about like a blind man in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.

Judges 6:4 NIV

4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

They left Israel no ‘sustenance’ or means of sustenance. The same scourge and terror every year: invade from the east, cross the Jordan, hit the bread basket in the Plain of Jezreel, sweep southwest as far as Gaza in Philistia, practicing their clean-earth policy.

, . For seven years they left Israel no ‘sustenance’ (v. 4) or means of sustenance. The same scourge and terror every year: invade from the east, cross the Jordan, hit the bread basket in the Plain of Jezreel, sweep southwest as far as Gaza in Philistia, practicing their clean-earth policy.

For seven years the Midianites they left Israel no ‘sustenance’ (v. 4) or means of sustenance. The same scourge and terror every year: invade from the east, cross the Jordan, hit the bread basket in the Plain of Jezreel, sweep southwest as far as Gaza in Philistia, practicing their clean-earth policy.

Joash, Father of Gideon saying Wouldn’t it be wonderful to throw your wheat up into the wind out on the threshing ﬂoor, as a free man should (v. 11)?

Judges 6:11 NIV

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

Judges

Wheat was threshed by throwing it up in the air, as it came down the wheat and chaff would separate. The chaff would float away and wheat would settle to the ground and be gathered. Israel could not even do that or else incited the attention of the Midianites.

Here they had to separate the wheat in a winepress for safety and security reasons.

Judges 6:6 NIV

6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

‘So Israel was brought very low on account of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried out to Yahweh’ (v. 6).

In our personal hell, even if we have brought it on ourselves. Our first stop should but rarely is to call on the Lord

Be careful what you ask for

When enough is enough Israel must hear the Word from God.

Judges 6:7–10 NIV

7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

Judge 6

Judges 6:8 NIV

8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Now we must hear the word that criticizes us (v. 7–10). Here Yahweh does the strangest thing; in fact, it appears ludicrous. Israel cries for relief, ‘and Yahweh sent a prophet to the sons of Israel’ (v. 8). That would be like a stranded motorist calling a garage for assistance and the garage sending a philosopher instead of a mechanic. Israel needs deliverance and Yahweh sends a prophet; Israel asks for an act of God’s power and he sends them a proclaimer of his word who rehearses Yahweh’s grace (vv. 8b–9), repeats Yahweh’s demand (v. 10a), and levels Yahweh’s accusation (v. 10b). Hence Yahweh sends a prophet because Israel needs more than immediate relief; they need to understand why they are oppressed. They must see that ‘Yahweh gave them into the hand of Midian’ (v. 1) because they had ‘not listened to [his] voice’ (v. 10b).

What can a prophet do? Can a prophet conquer the Midians? Can he undo all of the problems that we have had? Can he feed my family, can he balance my checkbook, can he make a way with my wife, can he get my job back???

This prophet was sent instead of God just helping them directly. Why?

That would be like a stranded motorist calling a garage for assistance and the garage sending a philosopher instead of a mechanic.

Israel needs deliverance and Yahweh sends a prophet; Israel asks for an act of God’s power and he sends them a proclaimer of his word… A Prophet instead of HELP!!!

What does this prophet do?

Judges 6:8–9 NIV

8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land.

Judges 6:8 NIV

8 he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Judges who rehearses Yahweh’s grace (vv. 8b–9), repeats Yahweh’s demand (v. 10a), and levels Yahweh’s accusation (v. 10b). Hence Yahweh sends a prophet because Israel needs more than immediate relief; they need to understand why they are oppressed. They must see that ‘Yahweh gave them into the hand of Midian’ (v. 1) because they had ‘not listened to [his] voice’ (v. 10b).

who rehearses Yahweh’s grace (vv. 8b–9), repeats Yahweh’s demand (v. 10a), and levels Yahweh’s accusation (v. 10b). Hence Yahweh sends a prophet because Israel needs more than immediate relief; they need to understand why they are oppressed. They must see that ‘Yahweh gave them into the hand of Midian’ (v. 1) because they had ‘not listened to [his] voice’ (v. 10b).

This Prophet reminds them of their past how He has come through for them in the past; How he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians, and all of the oppressors, I drove them out before you AND GAVE YOU THERE LAND!!!

Now after “building his case” he tells them cleary

Judges 6:10 NIV

10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

Let me translate for you… Stop doing what your doing and expect different results. Why would you NOT listen to me…except that we, I mean they are a stubborn people

They must see that ‘Yahweh gave them into the hand of Midian’ because they had ‘not listened to [his] voice’.

Surely God’s way with his people has not changed. Do we sometimes marvel at the ‘inappropriate’ answers God gives to our urgent need?

Like Israel, we may want escape from our circumstances while God wants us to interpret our circumstances.

Understanding God’s way of holiness is more important than absence of pain. We may want out of a bind, whereas God wants us to see our idolatry. God means to instruct us, not pacify us.

We should not miss the kindness of God in all this. One of the kindest things God does for us is to bring us under the criticism of his word to expose the reasons for our helplessness and misery.

He does this by the preaching, teaching, listening, in a group, having coffee, hauling a load to the dump, moving furniture and appliances, counsel, in other words we hear it best in relationship.

So it is when God teaches us, when his word criticizes and corrects and imparts solid wisdom instead of instant deliverance.

The Gracious Lord God is there he is our Rescuer ---

He's our rescuer We are free from sin forever more Oh how sweet the sound Oh how grace abounds We will praise the lord, our rescuer There is good news for the captive Good news for the shamed There is good news for the one who walked away There is good news for the doubter The one religion failed For the good lord has come to seek and save

He's our rescuer (hey) We are free from sin forever more Oh how sweet the sound (hey) Oh how grace abounds (hey) We will praise the lord, our rescuer

He is beauty for the blind man Riches for the poor He is friendship for the one the world ignores He is pasture for the weary Rest for those who strive For the good lord is the way, the truth, the life He's our rescuer (hey) We are free from sin forever more Oh how sweet the sound (hey) Oh how grace abounds (hey) We will praise the lord, our rescuer

So come and be chainless Come and be fearless Come to the foot of Calvary For there is redemption For every affliction Here at the foot of Calvary We will praise the lord, our rescuer We will praise the lord, our rescuer

The Grace That Holds Us

Reclaiming the Ground We’ve Surrendered. Session #2

The Grace That Holds Us

Introductory formula

Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel

Rehearsal of Yahweh’s grace

I brought you up from Egypt,

and I led you out from the house of slaves,

and I delivered you

from the hand of the Egyptians and

from the hand of all your oppressors,

and I drove them out from before you,

and I gave you their land.

Reminder of Yahweh’s stipulation

And I said to you,

I am Yahweh your God;

You must not fear the gods of the Amorites

in whose land you live.

Accusation

But you have not listened to my voice.

That is why I have called this section ‘the grace that holds us.’ How like the God of the Bible whose covenant love is so ‘mighty’ over us (, in the Hebrew)! When he ‘ought’ to destroy he delivers yet again; when he has every right to shatter he nevertheless prepares to save. How ‘slow to anger’ () indeed! How loath he is to strike his people () even when justice begs for it. That is why grips us so. There we are lifeless (because dead in trespasses and sins, ), helpless (because toadies to Satan and our own desires, 2:2–3a), hopeless (because children of wrath, 2:3)—‘But God, who is rich in mercy …!’ (). As I said previously, no one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace. He is the God who displays himself on the pages of .

Judges: Such a Great Salvation Chapter 8: Getting Ready for Salvation (Judges 6)

I would like us to swallow Judges 6 at one gulp. The chapter opens with the same dreary notice of Israel’s idolatry (v. 1; cf. 2:11). This time Yahweh’s scourge is Midian. We have in verses 1–6 the most detailed description of Israel’s distress so far. Dire distress it was. Whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, Midian (along with Amalekites and ‘sons of the east’) would invade and ‘ruin the produce of the land’ (v. 4), that is, probably pillage foodstuffs for themselves and allow their livestock to pasture on the rest. They appropriated Israel’s sheep, oxen, and donkeys (the equivalent of stealing a mechanic’s tools). All this was what covenant breakers could expect, says Deuteronomy 28:29, 31. For seven years they left Israel no ‘sustenance’ (v. 4) or means of sustenance. The same scourge and terror every year: invade from the east, cross the Jordan, hit the bread basket in the Plain of Jezreel, sweep southwest as far as Gaza in Philistia, practicing their clean-earth policy.

Seven years of it. You are hungry, poor, and tired. Every year, as sure as income tax, Midian’s buzzards come. You’re tired of rushing your family, livestock (what is left of it), and grain (if salvaged) to the hills where you live a caveman existence till the foreign locusts get bored and move on to impoverish others. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to throw your wheat up into the wind out on the threshing ﬂoor, as a free man should (v. 11)? ‘So Israel was brought very low on account of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried out to Yahweh’ (v. 6).

The Word That Criticizes Us

Surely God’s way with his people has not changed. Do we sometimes marvel at the ‘inappropriate’ answers God gives to our urgent need? Like Israel, we may want escape from our circumstances while God wants us to interpret our circumstances. Sometimes we may need understanding more than relief; sometimes God must give us insight before he dare grant safety. Understanding God’s way of holiness is more important than absence of pain. We may want out of a bind, whereas God wants us to see our idolatry. God means to instruct us, not pacify us.

We should not miss the kindness of God in all this. One of the kindest things God does for us is to bring us under the criticism of his word to expose the reasons for our helplessness and misery. He does this by the preaching, counsel, or reading of his word.

I was once teaching a seminary class in Old Testament poetical books. Near the time for the ﬁnal exam some students were agonizing over what and how to study for the exam since we had covered so much ground. The implication was that it would be cruel not to give them some guidance. So I concocted a study guide, consisting of some sixty-ﬁve questions, which covered the material in some detail. Then, of course, the problem was: such a vast amount of material to be studied! Was that also cruel? I think not. I think it was sheer professorial kindness. They knew exactly what to study and how much and how thoroughly. The amount of study may have brought pain, but the fact that they had utter clarity about their responsibility was most gracious of me, even if I do say so myself. So it is when God teaches us, when his word criticizes and corrects and imparts solid wisdom instead of instant deliverance.

The Grace That Holds Us

Secondly, we must see here the grace that holds us. There is something strange about the prophet’s preaching in verses 8b–10. He didn’t ﬁnish his sermon. Let us set down the content of his proclamation:

Introductory formula

Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel

Rehearsal of Yahweh’s grace

I brought you up from Egypt,

and I led you out from the house of slaves,

and I delivered you

from the hand of the Egyptians and

from the hand of all your oppressors,

and I drove them out from before you,

and I gave you their land.

Reminder of Yahweh’s stipulation

And I said to you,

I am Yahweh your God;

You must not fear the gods of the Amorites

in whose land you live.

Accusation

But you have not listened to my voice.

The next thing we know the Angel of Yahweh comes and sits under the oak at Ophrah (v. 11). That is wholly unexpected. after hearing the prophet accuse in Yahweh’s behalf, ‘But you have not listened to my voice,’ we expect him to go on to his punch line, which would normally be an announcement of judgment. For example, in Jeremiah 11:9–11, Yahweh makes a threefold accusation against Judah and Jerusalem (v. 10) and immediately launches into ‘therefore … I am bringing evil upon them’ (v. 11). Or try Jeremiah 25:1–11, where the prophet accuses Judah of not listening to Yahweh (vv. 3–7), and then with his dreadful ‘therefore’ proceeds to announce that Yahweh will bring ‘all the tribes of the north’ and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon against Judah (vv. 8–11). The problem with this prophecy in Judges 6 is that after verse 10b we are all tensed for the proper ‘therefore,’ which does not come. The judgment that should be announced is omitted. Instead the Angel of Yahweh goes to coax a man to deliver Israel.

That is why I have called this section ‘the grace that holds us.’ How like the God of the Bible whose covenant love is so ‘mighty’ over us (Ps. 103:11, in the Hebrew)! When he ‘ought’ to destroy he delivers yet again; when he has every right to shatter he nevertheless prepares to save. How ‘slow to anger’ (Exod. 34:6) indeed! How loath he is to strike his people (Lam. 3:33) even when justice begs for it. That is why Ephesians 2:4 grips us so. There we are lifeless (because dead in trespasses and sins, Eph. 2:1), helpless (because toadies to Satan and our own desires, 2:2–3a), hopeless (because children of wrath, 2:3)—‘But God, who is rich in mercy …!’ (Eph. 2:4). As I said previously, no one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace. He is the God who displays himself on the pages of Judges 6.

Reclaiming the Ground We’ve Surrendered. Session #2

Fast forward 3000+ years it is 2019. Look around us. God continues to bless our nation despite the evil that is going on in our boarders.

Is this alternating part of the cycle where we in the United States turn our back on God? Allowing and in many ways encouraging every abomination, every evil and every sin. When does it stop, how does it stop, who stops it?

I pray for our nation that we listen when the next Billy Graham, Hudson Taylor, Dwight Moody, Charles Spurgeon, or Billy Sunday comes to our nation. That we would listen and change our evil ways.

Just a bit of review from yesterday

Israel was in deep weeds…they had compromised themselves out of business. They had compromised themselves for at least 7 years this time.

Judges: Such a Great Salvation Chapter 8: Getting Ready for Salvation (Judges 6)

Every year, as sure as income tax, Midian’s buzzards come. You’re tired of rushing your family, livestock (what is left of it), and grain (if salvaged) to the hills where you live a caveman existence till the foreign locusts get bored and move on to impoverish others. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to throw your wheat up into the wind out on the threshing ﬂoor, as a free man should (v. 11)? ‘So Israel was brought very low on account of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried out to Yahweh’

This idea goes much deeper and gets very personal

• Where am I in this alternating cycle of holiness and listening carefully to God and following his commands and leading in my life.

• Where am I chasing my sin and disobedience and covering it with smiles, handshakes, with giving, serving, attending. I should continue those things, but I should pray to God and seeking for spiritual revival in my own life.

Where do I go for revival in my personal life?

Where do I start?

Who has any idea what is going on in my life?

Who could I possibly share “that” part of my life with?

Who would even care that I’m struggling...?

I don’t have all the answers; I don’t even have all the questions to have all of the answers.

The net-net if you will was, as a result, Israel was a prisoner in its own land because of their choices to not take a stand for what was right, for not boldly taking a step for God they came under discipline.

Open your Bibles, phones, iPad’s if you will to the book of Judges chapter 6 verse 1. In my Bible it starts on page it starts on page 272… but I guess that won’t help you much.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, JUDGES

[]

NIV

1 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites.

(NIV84)

10I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

The sinfulness of Israel is the primary cause of the ruin in the land...

The Israelites had more than enough excuses

• Midianites were so powerful that Israel had to flee

• Whenever Israel planted a crop they were invaded, and the crop destroyed

• The enemies of Israel didn’t spare one living thing; they ravaged the land.

In the end it was their sin that brought ruin on them.

NIV

Because of our choices, because of our actions, because of the consequences of our actions we may be in a prison of our own making

2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.

The Israelites abandoned their land, given to them by God and sheltered elsewhere because the Midianite problem was too BIG.

NIV

3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country.

NIV

33 Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

The invaders came, without much effort turned over God’s people, took what they wanted and left the land in a ruin. they did not have to “fire a shot” usually, well guns nor gun powder even existed at the time, but Israel went down easily without a fight.

So, we know that the Midianites and Eastern peoples where 120,000 strong because here some 3 chapters later all these men fell.

NIV

5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it.

They ravaged God’s land…with no or little fight. It was not a blow the horn, launch the weapons, fire the artillery, send the tanks, then send the infantry.

It was let’s just move a group here and group there and turn over some leaders, scare people away, threaten them and then the remaining Jews looked up and saw they had been invaded and taken over and nothing of them was left.

As a result, Israel was a prisoner in its own land.

Why?

• Because of their failure to honor God

Because of their persistent sin

• Because of their idolatry

They have reached the bottom of the cycle; it could not get any worse for Israel. What could they possibly do? Where are you in this cycle? Do you have “spiritual dryness” times when the “Lord is not communicating with me” is this the Lord or is this me or you?

6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

THEY NEEDED HELP!! THEY COULDN’T DO IT ALONE!! GOD HELP US!!!

In their cry to Lord they finally recognized their situation and turned to Jehovah God for help.

What could help them…what could get them on the right track, how could they see the error of their ways

NIV

“I [God] brought you out of the land of slavery.” - I brought out of your Egyptian slavery and now I’m giving you opportunity to come out of your personal slavery.

NIV

9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land.

This a rebuke, God delivered Israel time and time again. Which you would have thought they would have remembered, but instead they returned to a life of sin.

NIV

10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”

We see what the Israelites did…What can we do?

Do not return to worship of the false gods…they offer and empty promise

Where have we, where have I given my land, my body, my mind, my spirit to my Midianites.

The Midianites represent evil in the land and in our minds, bodies, our hearts, our souls...

Are we caught in a cycle where we find ourselves falling far away from God…allowing satan or his minions to push us away, causing us to be prisoners in our own bodies, in our own minds?

· Each of us have given ground to our own personal Midianites and people from the East.

· Each of us man, woman and child have given ground to our own personal Midianites and people from the East.

· Warriors who make their ways into our lives not by overwhelming power and takeover but in the little and “innocent” ways.

There are some obvious ways that we give ground to satan in our lives. There are some lies that we continue to carry on with…with reckless abandon.

It’s OK if I take the second look at the attractive young woman as she passes by

My internet usage is no one’s business

I can cheat a little and get by with it.

Compromise after compromise leaves us as a shell.

Look at what happened to Israel, Each year they would plant crops, haul water, pray for a good harvest, pray to God. When they saw the “people from the East” masses on their boarders what did they do…folded up, ran for hills, hid in caves and depressions in the land. They stood for nothing so they became NOTHING.

We have stood for nothing so we are nothing, we are nothing so we deserve nothing, we deserve nothing so we are nothing. This cycle

At some point we look, and we have nothing left, we are just a shell. An empty shell. The devil has convinced us that whatever we have given up is gone forever, we will always be a shell… we can never reclaim it.

And where has that gotten us… as men, as husbands, as fathers, as leaders, as followers of Christ. When we bow the wrong way to the wrong master. We are left as a shell of what God has intended for His people to be.

And where has that gotten us…I don’t care if you are conservative, liberal or something in the middle. What is currently going on the hallowed halls of government in our nation, in our state and in our community, has gotten us ruin and a huge mess and left us with only a shell of what God has intended for His people to be.

Let me remind you

NIV

God is saying, to them, I’ve got you.

Christ is saying to you, to you, “I’ve got you,” “Your mine,” “I’ve already died for that sin in our life.” “I’ve already covered that sin with my blood.” “I’ve forgiven you as far is the east is from the west.”

God is saying I’m a big God. I love you enough that I sent my only son, one just like myself so that anyone and everyone has the opportunity

To leave our caves where we are hiding from our own personal Midianites and follow Jesus, follow God.

NIV

13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I suspect that this has hit at least one nerve...

• If you have never really accepted the Lordship and Salvation that is available and only found in Jesus Christ.

• If it’s drugs/alcohol

• If it’s the internet, twitter, snapchat

· • if it’s gossiping

• if it’s gossiping

• If it’s shopping and spending

• If it’s a vengeful, vindictive attitude and behavior.

• If you are just stubborn with your spouse, with your Pastor, with your church.

• If you are just not engaged in life there is a solution

God send a prophet to Israel found it in the form of Gideon, they “called” Gideon a savior (with a small “s”).

We now serve a great big God in the form of Jesus Christ with a BIG ‘S’

No matter how far away you are. We have all been far away at times

NIV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

But NOW [by Grace of God that is found only] in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

That is the Gospel…even in the depths of the Old Testament we see Jesus and His once-for-all work on the cross.

If you need Saving…this is the time

For the one’s mind, heart and body is enslaved

He's our rescuer (hey) We are free from sin forever more Oh how sweet the sound (hey) Oh how grace abounds (hey) We will praise the lord, our rescuer

HE IS OUR RESCUER!!!

Reclaiming the Ground We’ve Surrendered. Session #3

Hope you all rested well

The last thing that we NEED to hear is

THE PROMISE THAT EQUIPS US!

Judges 6:11–24 NIV

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” 15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” 17 Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” 19 Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Judges

I hope you brought one thing forward from the last two days.

An area where reclamation needs to done…but while all of this is going on where does that leave us.

What do we do...

If you have compromised yourself; today is the day to stop. No excuses, no bargain with God, no one more time, no more, no more, no more. Acknowledge that you cannot do this alone!

If you are a shell of a man because of sin in your life, you are in deep weeds.

I am convinced this is when you are most vulnerable to satan and his minions which further drive you far away from God, family and friends.

You must make that known. Men long after you all go back to Vancouver there will be a man that you know maybe well who comes to you and says I am in deep weeds I need help…STOP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING AND COME ALONGSIDE THEM.

What if I die when I haven’t gotten right with my wife, my kids, my family, my church…There is God’s Mercy and there also is

The Grace That Holds Us

How like the God of the Bible whose covenant of love is so ‘mighty’ over us

Psalm 103:11 NIV

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

When he ‘ought’ to destroy he delivers yet again; when he has every right to shatter he nevertheless prepares to save. How ‘slow to anger’

Exodus 34:6 NIV

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

How loath he is to strike his people ()

Lamentations 3:33 NIV

33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.

Lam 3.

even when justice begs for it.

() indeed! How loath he is to strike his people () even when justice begs for it. That is why grips us so. There we are lifeless (because dead in trespasses and sins, ), helpless (because toadies to Satan and our own desires, 2:2–3a), hopeless (because children of wrath, 2:3)—‘But God, who is rich in mercy …!’ (). As I said previously, no one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace. He is the God who displays himself on the pages of .

(, in the Hebrew)! When he ‘ought’ to destroy he delivers yet again; when he has every right to shatter he nevertheless prepares to save. How ‘slow to anger’ () indeed! How loath he is to strike his people () even when justice begs for it. That is why grips us so. There we are lifeless (because dead in trespasses and sins, ), helpless (because toadies to Satan and our own desires, 2:2–3a), hopeless (because children of wrath, 2:3)—‘But God, who is rich in mercy …!’ (). As I said previously, no one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace. He is the God who displays himself on the pages of .

That is why grips us so.

Ephesians 2:4 NIV

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

even when justice begs for it. That is why grips us so. There we are lifeless (because dead in trespasses and sins, ), helpless (because toadies to Satan and our own desires, 2:2–3a), hopeless (because children of wrath, 2:3)—‘But God, who is rich in mercy …!’ (). As I said previously, no one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace. He is the God who displays himself on the pages of .

We were helpless, we were caught in our own sin, we through all of our trying and striving were lifeless.

We were helpless mostly because we didn’t think we needed any help.

Let’s look in the New Testament

Ephesians 2:1 NIV

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

We were helpless, we were caught in our own sin, we through all of our trying and striving were lifeless. We were helpless mostly because we didn’t think we needed any help.

But even if we did not need any help God, Yahweh knew that we needed help. He says “I will be with you”

Basically, God has nothing else or more to offer you. You can go through a lot with that promise. It does not answer your questions about details.

It only provides the essential. Nothing about when or how or where or why. Only the what, or, better, the Who. ‘But I will be with you.’ And that is enough.

Hear that statement closely. You need to want to change, need to change, have the tools to change, have the people around you to encourage your change

And that is Jesus’ way. He did not hand the rich man a decision card and tell him to check the box beside ‘follow me.’

Mark 10:21 NIV

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Instead he exposed the transgression of the ﬁrst commandment and called on him to smash his idol—then he could follow Christ.

There can be none of this double-heartedness—not for Gideon, nor for Israel, nor for the rich young ruler, nor for us.

Such is Yahweh’s demand on Gideon and Israel. If Yahweh is to be their Savior, Baal must go. Baal may be tolerant, but Yahweh is jealous. There can be no ‘limping between two opinions’ ().

Judges: Such a Great Salvation The Demand that Commits Us

The demand placed on Gideon was meant as a paradigm for Israel. Yahweh was preparing to deliver them. But Israel must be properly prepared for such deliverance. God cannot safely trust his good gifts to those not fully given to him. When our little boy comes, bawling, into the kitchen with knees skinned up from a headlong fall on the driveway, we don’t simply slap a giant two-inch-wide Band-Aid over the mess. Rather, we cleanse the grit and gunk out of the wound before the Band-Aid goes on. And that is Jesus’ way. He did not hand the rich man a decision card and tell him to check the box beside ‘follow me.’ Instead he exposed the moral man’s transgression of the ﬁrst commandment and called on him to smash his idol—then he could follow Christ (Mark 10:21). There can be none of this double-heartedness—not for Gideon, nor for Israel, nor for the rich young ruler, nor for us.

Such is Yahweh’s demand on Gideon and Israel. If Yahweh is to be their Savior, Baal must go. Baal may be tolerant, but Yahweh is jealous. There can be no ‘limping between two opinions’ (1 Kings 18:21). To pray ‘Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet’ (as Augustine did while still a Manichean) is to have already decided the issue. Judges 6 and Matthew 6 agree: no one can be a slave of two masters (Matt. 6:24). For Gideon and for us those times come when our commitment to the living God can no longer remain hidden, when we must declare ourselves, when we must burn our bridges and, if need be, stand alone against the religious, social, cultural expectations of the community.

1 Kings 18:21 NIV

21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

Judges: Such a Great Salvation The Promise that Equips Us

‘But I will be with you.’ Basically, God has nothing else or more to offer you. You can go through a lot with that promise. It does not answer your questions about details. It only provides the essential. Nothing about when or how or where or why. Only the what, or, better, the Who. ‘But I will be with you.’ And that is enough.

and agree: no one can be a slave of two masters ().

and agree: no one can be a slave of two masters (). For Gideon and for us those times come when our commitment to the living God can no longer remain hidden, when we must declare ourselves, when we must burn our bridges and, if need be, stand alone against the religious, social, cultural expectations of the community.

For Gideon and for us those times come when our commitment to the living God can no longer remain hidden, when we must declare ourselves, when we must burn our bridges and, if need be, stand alone against the religious, social, cultural expectations of the community.

But even if we did not need any help God, Yahweh knew that we needed help. He says “I will be with you”

But God

Isaiah 59:1–2 NIV

1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Ephesians 2:2–3 NIV

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But God

Ephesians 2:4 NIV

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Ephesians 2:5 NIV

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

ePH

No one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

no one could ever have invented a God like this; it would be too much for guilty, sane folks to hope for, a God who bridles his judgment to hold us in his grace.

Eph 2.

He is truly our rescuer

He is truly are rescuer

If you need Saving…this is the time

For the one’s mind, heart and body is enslaved

He's our rescuer (hey) We are free from sin forever more Oh how sweet the sound (hey) Oh how grace abounds (hey) We will praise the lord, our rescuer

HE IS OUR RESCUER!!!

Before we do, I’d like to take this time for silent prayer as we ask God to search our hearts and search our minds and to bring any sin to mind so that we confess it and He will be faithful and forgive us.

Servers please come forward

If you are holding and issue between you and another brother, take that time right now to go to them and to ask forgiveness.

Finally, we practice open communion here at First Baptist. If you are a believer welcome to our table.

Related Media

Related Sermons