The Need for Leaders (Part C)

At some point you may find yourself where you have to draw from every lesson you learned about God will be a knife fight of faith against faithlessness in your own heart. Say what how do I get ready for what you do in the seasons of peace will that's how we prepare for these things.

That's how we become useful to God.

That's how it stays real when we preach Christ and not just preaching what we heard Peter say this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue teaching through his message called the need for leaders as he makes his way to Judges chapter 10, so long as the people prospered without Yahweh following the fake gods they never thought about repenting was when the pressure was on.

They did not look at their prosperity. As a result of Toler and JR's obedience.

They never connected that no they just live for the moment. Deuteronomy God warned the people's assistant have a spirit of gratitude.

When I bless you, it is going to sustain you. If you have a spirit of gratitude. But if you become a bunch of ingrates I work well. Deuteronomy 8 verse 10 when you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless Yahweh your God for the good land which he is given you know about you, but after meals.

I do say thank you Lord. Sometimes I forget them doing stuff for you see, say, the virus could not kill this humor is back anyway you say is me what you were waiting for. Anyway, they departed from Yahweh because their hearts were seduced by abundance. That's what tripped them up Yahweh. I get myself the prey crop the feel of the bumper crop this year. Ezekiel said this to the people concerning this very thing.

The warning goes all the way back to Sodom and Gomorrah to say this is something that is not in the land where people are because it's in their hearts, he says, look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, CN her daughter had pride fullness of food. An abundance of idleness.

Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. You know where that went. They had so much stuff they figured they could to do anything you see some of these entertainers. They think they can name the kids anything they think they can wear anything they think they can do anything. There are no rules on them, not only the entertain some of the very very rich of this distinctives. Nothing binds them. There are no boundaries in us because they forget that they think that they're so self-sufficient. Well, this was the problem. Sodom and Gomorrah.

There are, is anyone then surprise at the people who do these things are also rank sinners so immorally want nothing to do with them. Well, it was only under the beat down of calamity that they sought Yahweh. If they continue to prosper him you know we can prosper in gratitude. That's with Deuteronomy 810, was telling the people what I bless you.

It's okay to be blessed. Rejoice in the blessing and and just remember where it comes from. Don't bite or ignore the hand that feeds you may know that my be all right a paddock that comes each of food and doesn't want to let you pet runs away and you will see me until he got hungry.

That's fine is not created this not right created created in people that some trying to get to something that I can't find it is not good in the end beware of a higher intelligence. We are created in the image of God. That's what I was looking at as a nation. They admitted his glory every time they mentioned the nation's name every time they said Israel.

That was a sermon, the testimony to their history. Every time they mention one of the tribes of the story behind each name sons of Jacob and the two sons of Joseph bearing testimony to God's truth. But it didn't register with them as we see today. People drive by churches to see across it doesn't register here than I am apprising you in vain.

It doesn't register. They become callous to this Paul warns about that your hearts would become calloused when feel anything concerning righteousness in Jesus Christ really feel something for each other and Jesus said I know what when the end comes. This still be getting married and giving each other in marriage life is going to be this you know hunky-dory thing and then the rains will come just like in Noah's day. They compete on that article. Only one getting to be too late.

These truths again were wasted on them. Unbelief would again creep in flawed reasoning can go a long way for him to go from the time of the age of reason and personal age of reason to the grave, flawed reason. Always sound like I'm playing Floyd reason this guy's name is Floyd's last name is reason but when reason is flawed. Damaged, it always has standing by a reason to not believe God is one of the reasons why we as Christians suffer from several reasons why one is we must, we have to be identified with sinners, even the worst save sinners I Christ was identify with them. We will be identified negative. Nothing touched us hearsay, let me emigration because people becoming Christians just to avoid being sick that we cared about Christ, but we go through hardship, you know, you're a Christian when you feel abandoned by God by the Lord Jesus Christ and you still love and worship committee that's for sure. Christian you are not going anywhere, though he slay me, I will trust him. Some of you have been there.

You know you felt the goddess ripped you off is cheated. Julie's turned his back on you is lied to you yet. Still praying to him still seeking is still trying to serve. As you know he's real is true and flawed reasonings that are standing by ready to pounce on you have been repelled by faith and is nothing Satan can do coming to that realization will not turn the faucet off it will not be will have an epiphany. I understand now. I am 74. Then when I realize everything started getting better doesn't always happen that would happen that way and Psalm 73 amuses crazy reduction securities people going when everything they don't care about God look at them big houses, big cars of size that donkey and here I am suffering trying to just get by your old meal every day and the he says.

And I realize I went to the house of the Lord, but he still had to live the rest of the life and all that it will throw at us. Verse 11 so Yahweh said to the children of Israel, did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Amazon from the Philistines.

We don't know who delivered this message. There was someone it's written down.

We don't know how it was delivered that he's preaching to the leadership and they published it.

Did he publish it and give it we don't know not recorded but it is recorded and it is delivered because God says in this case.

The main thing is the message not it is really always that way, but we don't want to trivialize the messengers because God is in trivializing just in this case he conceals the messenger it's like a concealed message is not as good as a weapon. It is a weapon. The message is a weapon, the word of God is a sword, but the messenger is concealed and I love it because the partner comes out about this curiosity wants to know what your God says I'm keeping the main thing the main thing here.

You know sometimes just to do without. Because the main thing is to be the main thing is that you don't believe you said you said that baptism does not save as locale put you in a place we can get baptized this if you still believe that this is true, the blood of Jesus Christ belief on Jesus Christ's cross and resurrection is Ascension's return. These are things that will get you say because unbelievers can get baptized and stay unbelievers, so God puts us to the test. Sometimes you take something away less able to really believe that doesn't mean he trivializes the rights that he's given to the church just enforcing the main thing and this is some of that is here not much, when will crazy with joy anyway. He sent a messenger to rebuke the people for their lack of loyalty in light of all they got it done no loyalty in return you expect something right. You you'd expect a surprise when a two-year-old is all I was a two-year-old and in the morning.

That is, they don't say I feel better. Thanks for staying up with was tough to her duty. You pull last night the mess left behind.

Thanks. No, but an adult you do expect that you do expect thank you. I know you know you just doing this labor of love. Thank you and God is saying is you I did all this for you. Have a little thank you a lot actually.

Verse 12 also the site Noni of the Amalekites. The Maronites pressed you. You cried out to me and I delivered you from their hand again listen to the link that I not deliver you from this is what God says to these people, the Egyptians, the Amorites, the people of them on the Philistines. He removes the place from the people of God dwell the people who were supposed to be the people of God, just for them to be like farrow and turned back to their old ways as soon as they can.

He says and you cried out to me and I delivered you from their hand, when a self was riding his saw me remember the history of the Jew in the wilderness and Psalm 78. He says, but he God being full of compassion for gave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time, he turned his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath.

He's talking about the mercy and the kindness and gentleness of God. What overcomes the meanness in man against God the mercy of God is, what does it and so here in the Scripture when we come across verses 10 and 11 of judges 10. We are inspired the Siam by how much mercy God has available for us. We can't measure it, it's like the lampstand and the temple. No dimensions were given.

God had simply said enough light that's what I want inside the tabernacle enough light so the children of Israel cried to the Lord saying we have sinned against you because we have both forsaken our God and serve the bowels. The bowels and continues verse 11 so Yahweh said to the children of Israel that are not deliver you from the Egyptians from the Amorites and the people of Amazon and from the Philistines. Did I not do that.

Didn't that not happen. Verse 13 yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods.

Therefore, I will deliver you know more that had they probably hit the way it's recorded is over. We were making progress, and then he says you forsook me they agreed to that. We repented and then he says that I won't save you anymore again.

They worshiped the losers goddesses the cycle that they were on the abandoned the truth and for what Elijah the prophet we love this sermon that he gave on Mount Carmel Eliza came to all the people and said, how long will you falter between two opinions. If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if thou follow him sad part is people. It says people answered him not a word but yet you would think that once the prophet, the great prophet Elijah says what's got you go serve Yahweh. Also mother God you were there was a serve Yahweh you write conviction know they wanted to see proof while they got the proof God that answered by fire is God, and that is what happened then came his Yahweh's threat against the apostate generation and this is a threat. Therefore, I will deliver you know more he's going to let them suffer. Verse 14 going cried to the gods which you have chosen. Let them deliver you in your time of distress will follow them. Let's make this clear.

The gods of the world can deliver their people in times of stress, but only up to the point of death in the fruit.

That's when the power stops the deception is over and verse 14 where goddesses go cry out to the gods which you have chosen. Unfortunately, that is routine of the antichrist individual Isaiah preaching. Centuries later, said now go write it before them on a tablet God speaking to the prophet and noted on the scroll that it may be for time to come forever and ever, that this is a rebellious people lying children. Children who will not hear the law of Yahweh, who say to the Sears do not see to the prophets, do not prophesy to us right things speak to us move things prophesy deceits get out of the way turn aside from the path because the holy one of Israel to cease from before us. Therefore thus says the holy one of Israel because you despise this word and trust and oppression and perversity and rely on them and then of course he goes on to pronounce judgments. But the people were saying we don't want to hear the Scriptures when Isaiah spoke these words of people were not actually coming out and saying not all of them. That way, as today, do you know people that would never say these things but are doing them they would never say the governor want to hear what you have to say no. Instead, they say preach to us nights they want to edit the sermons they want to edit the Scripture want to cherry pick the verses they want to dictate to their pastors. You can speak on this but you can speak on that and if you speak on that you going to be out of here so nothing new verse 15 and the children of Israel said to Yahweh we have sin, do not do to us whatever seems best to you only deliver us this day. We pray so their response to the sermon. The sermon hit the mark in their response essentially is. We are so desperate for relief will do anything it would make shoes makes you say is this a superficial confession. Is this a superficial surrender. Do you really mean or you just trying to get away from the pressure. Do you love me because of who I am or what I can do, and it's something that all of us have to face it someplace some point your Bible knowledge is going to be severely challenged gods, let that happen at some point you may find yourself when you have to draw from every lesson you've learned about God. It will be a knife fight of faith against faithlessness in your own heart you say well how do I get ready for that will use you in the seasons of peace you billed for war. That's how we prepare for these things.

That's how we become useful to God.

That's how it stays real when we preach Christ, and were not just preaching what we heard Peter say your member book of acts. The seven sons of Steve or you know we weary exhort you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches that wasn't he wasn't real to them. The demon pounced on them, gave them a severe beating and sent them out shamefully.

The stories you may reach a point. Your Christianity were you just a hot air all stories they don't work.

They don't stop the things that are coming get for yes they do all yes they do.

You just stay stand your ground. God is just as sweet and wonderful as he was brighter days you just going through something you'll make it through some way.

You'll make it through and that somewhere is Jesus Christ by the spirit of God, the historian senses the heartfelt compassion of God. In verse 16 he says, so they put away the foreign gods from among them, and serve Yahweh and his soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. How much could have been avoided. All of it.

How much was avoided. Not all of it, the mercy from God's heart is the only explanation again the kindness of God towards those who are mean to him and the historian picks up on she's telling the stories is God's heart was moved was broken for on behalf of the people. He couldn't really affect anthropomorphism. He assigns a humanistic trait trait to block the humans and this is compassion he puts it in language we can really understand.

Verse 17 then the people of Ambon gathered together and encamped in Gilead and the children of Israel assembled together and encamped in in Mizpah well now they've had the sermon committed to God. Tara now shows up on the front doorstep, with the blessings. Why send the man of God to me encouraging me to obey. If I don't face this. The next day that's how it is supposed short answer we'll do about this.

Does no alternative. Stick around long enough, you'll find that out. Peter encapsulated in worlds we got to go.

You got the words of life that means you have life you you control it you you own it, you give life you taken what you have your sovereign, it doesn't mean you you have the words of life like he somehow grew in a cave is saying you are everything you can backup everything you say can't say that about any man.

Tell that the Jehovah's Witnesses try St. anybody. As you have the words of life. I don't mean the sermons I mean you got the power well.

Verse 18 out of the being threatened and this is the. The leadership part that is been throughout, because we had the leadership of the two first two judges total and JR and then avoid no leadership. We've come to a situation with them must be a leader of the going to survive. Verse 18 and the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ambon, he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

They were headless. They had no head something is not right when it doesn't have a head you've noticed leadership streusel is nowhere around when it's bad is really bad when it's good it's really good. It's a responsibility on both sides. Riskless responsibility of the leader and his responsibility of the follower and Satan knows enuresis watch this I'm just gonna bump this one and they got run off just but he also knows the ones bump that Geico bump you back and thank God that there are men and women like that in the faith leadership is crucial. Otherwise we would have no Ephesians 411 that he himself gave some to be apostles and prophets evangelist Pastor teaches for work of ministry, equipping of the saints who would we would need that if leadership was not crucial.

Jeremiah 315 God speaking and I will give you shepherds. According to my heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding as Satan hates it and said he tried to get people say you don't need to charge it on a pastor to Satan is not God.

The Bible is very clear on this, and you may be sitting to say I never heard anybody discovered I have some of you have there out there that are not in here. So whether it's a nation or local church. The absence of qualified leaders is often a judgment of God, you don't deserve a good leader you would waste a good leader. You get the leader you deserve.

John F. Kennedy's up first person to make that statement is a fact, I think we should all be sensitive to.

Fortunately, many pastors have great congregations. People pray for them and past praise for the people. Evidence of the low spiritual qualities in people chase away the good leaders or draw them in and they come in and they clean house will be getting Jephthah next Jeff that was you know the of the Bible.

He was Leroy Brown that is due no town meaner than a junkyard dog that's just and will but for us tragic ending.

He would've been my hero because I just like the kind of guy he was.

He was treated like a bomb. And yet when trouble came they go to get you know he's 911 judge problem call 911 that's what they did there was a job the edge of the why you coming amazes you got rid of me.

You make beat the bad guys so but is always a remnant of faithful servants and buy them God gets critical work done and he doesn't get it done without a leader doesn't get it done without follower so we remember our theme for Judges Joshua Judges and Ruth and that is, of course, conquest, failure, and hope and will we've seen the conquest in the book of Joshua, along with failure.

Some we are watching the failures in the book of Judges, but also kind quest and then of course to so much hope given the book of Ruth so that she shows up in the genealogy of thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. If you'd like more information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference radio.com you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there, and we encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast that work just follow the links and cross reference radio.com that's all the time we have for today.

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