“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Judges 3:12-39 06/14/2009 Dr “MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Judges 3:12-39 06/14/2009 Dr. Dane Boyles

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” In Judges 3:12-39 we find the story of Ehud. His story is not exactly pleasant. But the story is applicable to us in some surprising ways.

Judges 3:12, NIV 12 Once 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.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” The children of Israel didn’t have a leader. They were constantly being tested and tempted to reject the LORD and worship idols like Baal and Asherah. The children of Israel acted like the LORD didn’t exist.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” 12 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD (Judges 3:12)

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” They pretended that they were not bound to God in a covenant relationship. 9 …“Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. (Deut. 27:9)

Deuteronomy 27:10, NIV 10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”

Deuteronomy 27:26, NIV 26 “Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.”

Deuteronomy 20:20, NIV 20 The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.

Deuteronomy 20:25, NIV 25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” What they failed to believe is that human experience is dependent upon obedience to the covenant. Obedience = well being. Disobedience = suffering.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” You can act as if God didn’t exist, but He doesn’t cease to exist because you’ve done that! 12 Once 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. (Judges 3:12)

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” God manages this world and human affairs! This is something that God has the ability to do.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” If we turn our back on Him, He can use trouble and heartache to win us back. Notice the first two words of verse 12: “Once again.” I love it that He puts up with all my “Once agains.”

2 Corinthians 5:19, NIV 19 …God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Judges 3:13-14, NIV 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.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Eglon, entered into a military alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites. The Jewish people couldn’t buy swords or create a standing army because they had to give most of their money to Eglon of Moab.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Isn’t that just exactly what sin does to you and me? Sin drains on our resources and keeps us weak. Sin sets up a organized system to hold us down and keep us down.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” When we become a Christian, we inherit the power to break free. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32, NIV)

Judges 3:15, NIV 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.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Why do we have to hit rock bottom before we go to the LORD? God sent Ehud as an answer to their prayers. Like all the other judges Ehud was a gifted individual who was used by God to become a spiritual and military leader.

Judges 3:16-17, NIV 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half 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.

Judges 3:18-19, NIV 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it. 19 At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” The king said, “Quiet!” And all his attendants left him.

Judges 3:20, NIV 20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat,

Judges 3:21-22, NIV 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, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” “The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: ‘Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it.’” -- President George W. Bush The miracle in this story is that Ehud lived.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Conclusion Another miracle has happened among us. When we were dead in our transgressions and sins, God made us alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1-5)!

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” For us a miracle is a victory in the battlefield of spiritual warfare. We have grown so accustomed to not seeing victories in the battlefield of spiritual warfare as miracles.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4, NIV 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” We will not forget our King! We will worship no one but the living God! We both thank and challenge our leaders today.

“MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Judges 3:12-39 06/14/2009 Dr “MIRACLES OF FAITH & LEADERSHIP” Judges 3:12-39 06/14/2009 Dr. Dane Boyles