Flawed Heroes: Ehud Uniquely Qualified

Main Point: God has created each of us with unique qualifications to accomplish a unique purpose for His glory.

There are times in life when we don’t feel like we fit.

Throughout my life, I had times when I felt like I fit in and there have been times when I didn’t.

One thing is that as a person with Celtic heritage, I have very fair skin and burn a lot! It is not as bad now, but if you know my daughter Gwen…she is just like me. very light and if we are in the sun for more than 15 minutes probably need to reply the sunscreen.

This may seem like an odd way to feel differently, but growing up in the IFCA or as it was originally called “The Italian Pentecostal Movement.” All summer I didn’t feel like I fit in with my Italian friends. At the pool parties, when everyone else was just jumping in the pool I needed get Sun-screened up or leave my shirt on or both. (I’ve gotten a sunburn through a light colored shirt!!!!)

At times I wished I was like everyone else…especially those times when I didn’t reapply and ended not able to lay down because I was burned and blistered.

God has created us all unique and I believe this is not to make us feel different, but to accomplish a unique way of walking in God’s purpose through us for His glory.

Exodus 9:16 (NIV)

16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Message title: Flawed Heroes: Ehud Uniquely Qualified.

Judges 3:12–30 NIV

12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. 13 Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. 14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. 15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.” The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left. 20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. 24 After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace.” 25 They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead. 26 While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah. 27 When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. 28 “Follow me,” he ordered, “for the Lord has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands.” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over. 29 At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped. 30 That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.

Ehud discovered He was uniquely qualified or gifted to liberate Israel from the King of the Moabites.

Throughout Judges the purpose of the Judges was to liberate Israel from their enemies and to bring Israel back to following God

Deuteronomy 31:7–8 (NIV)

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Ehud was not different from the other judges, but the how or the unique way God’s purpose was carried out through him was different.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Often people talk about discovering their purpose. I have come to believe it is not a unique purpose, but a unique method.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Ehud knew God’s purpose for him and his people.

Do you know your purpose?

Every follower of Jesus is given this purpose.

Matthew 22:37–40 (NIV)

37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Your purpose is to Love God with all that you are and love or care for people.

Jesus goes on to explain what it looks like to love God and care for people...

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

How to Find Your Unique Way to Fulfill Your Purpose

1. Know God

James 4:7–10 NIV

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Ehud Knew God and had been called to become the deliverer of Israel and lead them back to repentance.

When you come near to God He will speak to you through His word, through prayer, and through Christian mentors.

This will build up your understanding of your purpose to Love God and Love people.

You must start with Loving God; that is your foundation and ultimate purpose in life.

2. Know Yourself

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 (NIV)

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

God has created each of us uniquely qualified to accomplish His good pleasing and perfect will for our lives.

Just like a body needs all the parts to function perfectly, Christ needs each of us to function perfectly on earth.

Worship Team

What are you uniquely gifted in?

Ehud was left handed - what you are gifted in may not seem special or great to you, but God can and will use that if you surrender it to Him.

What are you passionate about?

Ehud was passionate enough about the freeing Israel that he made a sword and a plan and followed through...What is something that gets you motivated to do something?

Get to know God more today…Get in His Word and praying

Then Ask Him to reveal your gifts and passions that He has given you to accomplish something.

Just like Ehud…God has created you to be a deliverer, but you must Know Him and Know yourself so you can walk in your special way of delivering.