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She Gave Him Milk

Because Barak was reluctant to obey God’s commands though God had promised to be with him, Deborah told him that the glory that Barak could have gained from defeating Sisera would go to a woman.  While shrinking back, Barak still tried to regain that glory on his own … but you can’t thwart God.

I. Judges 4:8-23.  Deborah is remembered as the leader of God’s people in the battle with Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army.  While Sisera marched against Israel with 900 chariots, it is Deborah who tells Barak to fight in the battle that the Lord would win for him.  Jesus dying on the cross was part of God’s plan (Acts 2:23), and Gamaliel rightly warned the Sanhedrin that they could find themselves opposing God (Acts 5:39).  You can’t thwart God.

II. Judges 5:7-31.  Though Jael’s husband was a Levite, he was friendly with the Canaanites that had oppressed Israel for twenty years, so Sisera believed he had found rest and safety in his flight after the battle.  Using her wiles to conquer her enemy, Jael gave him milk when he asked for water and curds in a nobleman’s bowl while she waited for him to sleep.  Barak arrived to late to gain the glory as Jael had already “staked” out her victory.

III. Acts 4:23-31.  The account closes with the idea that God’s enemies perish but His friends rise in His might.  It’s not just important to be on God’s side but to be courageously and wholeheartedly serving Him.  Though Peter and John had suffered at the hands of the Sanhedrin, they prayed for boldness and spoke about how futile it was to try to fight against God.  His will will always be done.  If you are cowardly like Barak, you won’t gain glory.

God always finds a way for His will to be done.  You’re either with Him or against Him by your courage or cowardice.

 

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I Gave My Life for Thee

When my daughter had a flat tire on the highway on the way back to college a few years ago, it was difficult to hear the rough, male voices of the two truckers who stopped to help her change it.  Though they were wonderful Good Samaritans, as a dad I envisioned them abducting her while I was powerless to stop them.

Because of sin, we have earned death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23).  The hymn, “I Gave My Life for Thee,” challenges us to return all of ourselves to God because Jesus has given all to us (Psalm 91).

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might’st ransomed be, And quickened from the dead.

I.  John 17:3-5.  Jesus left the glory of heaven for our sakes.  Since God is His refuge, the same promises are ours if we make our home within His wings.  The question in the chorus challenges us to leave this world for ministry:

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne, I left for earthly night, For wand’rings sad and lone;

I left, I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me?  I left, I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me?

II.  Hebrews 2:16-18.  Jesus was made like us in every way that He might suffer for us in every way to be a help for us in time of struggle (Isaiah 53:4-6).  Shouldn’t we also suffer all things in this world for Him?

I suffered much for thee, More than thy tongue can tell, Of bitt’rest agony, To rescue thee from hell;

I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me?  I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me?

III.  Matthew 4:5-7.  Because He did not yield to temptation, Jesus was able to bring us salvation, pardon and love.  The last stanza of the hymn speaks of His protection and provision and asks:

And I have brought to thee, Down from My home above, Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me?  I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me?

Thankfully, my daughter got the help she needed to change her tire.  Dead in our sins and separated from God, Jesus gave His life for us to ransom us from hell.  What is our response to that?

I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me?  I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me?

 

 

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Before the World Existed

In the 1st century, those who had been with Jesus or witnessed the power of the resurrection of the dead had a difficult time believing that He had been a man.  In the postmodern skepticism of the 21st century, many can’t believe He was ever God.  Jesus was more than a good man and teacher, religious philosopher or advocate for the common man.  The alpha and the omega, He is eternal and through whom all things were made.  Therefore, He cannot be placed on the buffet with other leaders from world religions.  Through His great love for us, though we were sinners, Jesus died and then was raised from the dead for our justification and sanctification.  Jesus stands alone.

I.  John 1:1-18.  Jesus was God and was with God before creation and at creation.  It was through Him that all things were made.  After the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, John records that the Son’s followers saw Jesus’ glory, the glory of the only God, who was at the Father’s side, who had seen God and made God known to us.  From eternity to creation, then, Jesus was in His glory and was awaiting His role as Creator and through whom all was created (Genesis 1:1-27).  Before He took on the image of man, Jesus made man in the image of Himself.

II.  John 17:1-5.  Before Jesus went to the cross, we glimpse from His own lips what He longed for in prayer–the glory He had with His Father “before the world existed.”  This rare peek into His eternal nature also gives us a clue how He endured the pain and shame of the cross.  While fixing His eyes on the glory that He would return to in complete fellowship with His Father, Jesus gave us a way to run the race that is set before each and every one of us (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Told to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him, three of Jesus’ followers were allowed to witness that glory while Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:1-8).

III.  John 17:20-24.  Jesus will only give His glory to those who are seeking the Savior’s glory (Romans 2:6-10).  In this life we hope for it as He who promises it is faithful (Romans 5:1-2).  The sufferings of this life can’t compare to the glory that is promised to us (Romans 8:18-21).  The promise comes in a spiritual body that is resurrected in power and glory (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

This is why we forsake the world and all its glory (John 12:42-43).  Just as Jesus longed to be clothed once again in the glory He had with His Father before the world existed, we too must live every moment here in a relentless pursuit of the glory that is promised to us in Him.

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So Many Needs

So many needs have I, O Lord,
Not merely two or three.
Of all of these, I can’t afford
To lack humility.

I’d be like you, the Sorrowed Man,
Who bore my sins away.
Remind me how my life began:
I’m but unworthy clay.

I glory in your eternal Name,
In me no good resides.
Let me your holy promise claim,
To find a life that abides.

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Show Me, O God

Teach me, Lord, to glory in weakness,
To love at all times, to live by your power;
Show me, O God, to walk in meekness,
To work with pleasure, to cherish each hour.

Father, use me for good in this world,
Let mercy abound and grace prevail;
Holy Spirit, make me your child,
Let no good deed of blessing fail.

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Will Not Lead to Your Glory

When we look at the time of Judges as God’s people seeking to live for Him in an evil world all around them without compromise or complacency, the parallels to today are evident.

One of the greatest struggles is having the courage to do what God asks when it is so easy to shrink back.

I.  Judges 4:1-10.  Barak had already been told by God to free His people in battle.  This is what the prophet, Deborah, told him when she summoned him.  Yes, Barak was reluctant to obey.  Lacking the courage to do what God had asked of him, he put his trust in Deborah rather than God.  If she would go with him, he would obey.  This road, she told him, would not lead to his glory.

II.  James 4:17.  We often read this account and teach about headship.  Because a man wouldn’t obey, his glory was given to a woman.  But there’s more going on here.  Barak’s sin was one of omission.  He knew the good he ought to do, but he chose to do nothing.  This was Adam’s sin as well.  While his wife was being tempted by the serpent, Adam, who was with her (Genesis 3:6) did and said nothing.  The saddest struggle God’s people have today in an evil culture is our inaction in the face of opportunities for the Kingdom that God gives us each and every day.

III.  2 Peter 1:3-4.  Jesus, however, seized the opportunity to die in our place, so we might share in His glory.  Because He obeyed, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:7-10).  Therefore, the road that leads to our glory is one of obedience to God’s commands.  We must NOT do what we should NOT do, and do what we should do.

This means, unlike Barak, living out what the pages of Scripture tell us to do or don’t do while surrounded by an immoral culture that calls for you to compromise or be complacent.

Do you have the courage to obey though you may be the only one around you to do so?

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Captain of My Soul

Oh, Sovereign God —

Jesus is the captain of my soul,
For I submit my stubborn will to his;
My feet will follow every careful step,
The path to glory passing by the Cross.
O Father, give me eyes for love alone,
Its reaching rays to pierce the dark and rain,
To guide until the proving race is run.

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Open Heaven’s View

In you, O Lord, we live and move
And breathe, to exist forever more.
From nothing you created me,
For the purest glory that Jesus wore.

The stars, my God, seem far away,
And farther still perfection’s goal.
The flesh is too much present here,
In distant light the eternal soul.

Our Father, open heaven’s view,
That we might know the end of war,
And see, with Christ, the faithful few.
From him let us not wander far.

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Empty Our Souls

Isaiah 41

Clear away the fog that we,
O Lord of lights, might glory in you.
May we rejoice in the Holy One
who sweeps away the enemy’s hate.

We have your promise, God and Father,
that you will not abandon your people.
Let water spring from desert sand,
and luscious fruit from barren earth.

Uproot all idols from our hearts,
Created things we made our gods.
Empty our souls of vain ambition,
That you, and you alone, remain.