SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR TODAY (Jul. 31, 2013) JUDGES 11:1-11 DISCOUNTED BY MEN, COUNTED BY GOD (Part 2) Memory Verse: JUDGES 11:7 JEPHTHAH SAID TO THEM, “DIDN’T YOU HATE ME AND DRIVE ME FROM MY FATHER’S HOUSE? WHY DO YOU COME TO ME NOW, WHEN YOU ARE IN TROUBLE? In the first part of this message we saw how Jephthah started his life with a great disadvantage. He was born into a broken home; hated by his step-siblings and step- mother; and was thrown out of his own father’s house, yet he held on to his relationship with God. The point was made that it is important for us not to do anything ‘stupid’ because of the hardship we may find ourselves in. It is very important for us not to give up on God but rather hold on to him in all our challenging moments and trust that in his own timing, he will lift us up from the dust, shake all the dust from us and put us on the throne. An interesting part of Jephthah’s life occurred when the elders of Gilead approached him and pleaded with him to lead them in the war against the Ammonites. I am very sure that these same elders knew everything Jephthah was going through but did nothing about the situation. They could have taken action against his step-siblings or father and step-mother, but we are not told they did anything about that. They looked on as he suffered till the day they felt they needed him so much. What a world! Sometimes the people who could help us in our difficult moments refuse to do so. We may get mad at them for refusing to do so. You may be experiencing a similar situation now. Some of your family members and friends may be very rich and influential, very able to help you find a job, go to school, offer you accommodation, pay your hospital bills or feed yourself or family because of your present circumstances, but no one is willing to help. I want to remind somebody that you are not the first to experience this. Do not hate anyone because of your present circumstances. They have not been sent by God to you. According to God’s schedule, it is not yet time for him to change your situation. That time is coming soon, just wait and put all your trust in the LORD and not in any man. No man has the solution to your problem; only God has. Besides, God does not want anyone to take credit for your success. In God’s appointed time, it was not Jephthah’s small family which approached him to come and be their leader, it was the whole of the Gileadite community which sent a delegation of elders to look for the homeless Jephthah to come and be their leader. This is awesome. He was not asked to become the head of his father’s estate but the leader of all the Gileadites (look at verse 8)- WHAT A PROMOTION! WHAT A JUMP FROM A LOW LEVEL TO A HIGH LEVEL IN LIFE! Jephthah was given the best offer in his life after going through several hardships. He made the leaders repeat their words by swearing an oath before the Lord (v. 10) that they would surely make him their leader. He was surely made the head and commander (judge) over the Gileadites (v. 11). ONLY GOD CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE. YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY YOU ARE NOT AT THE NEXT LEVEL AS YOU WOULD HAVE WISHED. I JUST WANT TO REMIND SOMEBODY THAT THE LORD DOES NOT WANT YOU BE AT THE NEXT LEVEL, HE WANTS YOU TO BE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. HE IS THEREFORE PREPARING YOU TO TAKE UP THAT POSITION. YOU DESERVE FAR BETTER THAN THE LEVEL YOU THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN. WHAT YOU DESERVE IS THE BEST, AND THAT IS WHAT THE LORD IS PREPARING FOR YOU AND PREPARING YOU FOR. I DECREE AND DECLARE THAT VERY SOON THOSE WHO REJECTED YOU WILL COME LOOKING FOR YOU. THEY WILL OFFER YOU FAR MORE THAN YOU WANTED. THEY WILL BOW BEFORE YOU AND BEG YOU. THOSE WHO MADE YOU SERVE THEM WILL SOON COME AND SERVE YOU. ALL YOU NEED IS TO POSITION YOURSELF IN THE LORD. DO NOT LET ANYTHING DESTROY YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IN ALL YOUR CHALLENGING MOMENTS. ALLOW THE LORD TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE MOST ENVIOUS POSITION WHETHER IN THIS OR THE NEXT WORLD! THE WORD OF THE LORD!
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 10:49:44 +0000
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