Introduction

• I Peter 2:12

Put a positive, spiritual spin on life.

• Matthew 5:13-16
• Matthew 5:10-12 – Christians react to things differently.
• Acts 5:40-6:1
• How do I react when things happen?
• Philippians 1:12-14 – Paul had a positive outlook on his imprisonment.

Tell stories about your repentance.

• I Corinthians 13:6
• Galatians 1:23-24 – They glorified God because of Paul’s repentance.
• I Timothy 1:13-15 – Paul talked about himself as a way of talking about Christ.

Choose words that reflect your spiritual mindset.

• Titus 2:7-8 – Every time we communicate, it’s an opportunity to turn toward spiritual things.
• “I’m blessed.”
• “I’ll pray for you.”
• “It’s a good day God has made.”
• Acts 9:1; Romans 1:7 – Look at how Paul talked to Christians before and after his conversion.
• Our speech should reflect our faith.
• I Peter 4:11
• If we’re too afraid to mention God around non-spiritual people, who is influencing who? We are to be salt and light in the world.

Invite someone to Benchley.

• John 4:7-42 – This woman saved many just be inviting people to hear Jesus. Can we do that?

Faith creates courage (continued)

• Terror: a state of intense fear
• Hebrews 11:30-40 – Through faith, these people had the courage to deal with all these troubles.
• Gideon goes from having no great faith and no courage to leading God’s people as one of the judges. Judges 6-8
• Gideon’s faith becomes stronger.
  • Obedience despite doubt. We may have doubts about our abilities and God’s plan for us. God uses us when we follow through.
  • God’s strength is in our weakness. God often uses the humble and unlikely to accomplish His purpose. Our weakness can become a platform for God’s strength and glory. Judges 7:20
  • Giving credit to God. Judges 7:13-15 (Gideon worshipped God.)
• The recounting of Gideon’s journey from fear to faith and the courage it instilled in him reminds us that:
  • God can work through our doubts and weaknesses.
  • When we submit to His will and trust in His strength, we can overcome obstacles.
  • Gideon shows us that God’s presence and power are with us, even in our moments of uncertainty.
• How does out faith grow our courage?
• How does our courage grow our faith?
• How does the world see our faith and the courage it brings us?
• John 15:13
• Hebrews 9:26 – How much faith and courage must this have taken for Christ to die willingly?
• II Peter 1:5

Faith dispels fear

• Fear
  • Torment: extreme pain
• Mark 4:40 – Fear and faith are incompatible.

Introduction

• Hebrews 11:32-34

God cares about each one of us.

• Judges 12:8-15 – Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
• John 20:30-31; 21:25
• Jonah 4:11
• Genesis 1:16 – “… He made the stars also.”
• Luke 12:6-7 – God knows the number of hairs on your head. You are valuable to Him!
• God loves each one of us!

Humans repeat mistakes.

• Judges 2:16
• The judges may have been local leaders.
• The time periods of the judges may have overlapped.

There was a lot of peace.

• Oppression: 114 years
• Rest: 296 years
• Judges 3:30 – 80 years of peace. Some of the people living during this time may have known nothing other than peace!

The cycle of sin continued.

• Judges 10:1-5
• Ecclesiastes 1:4-9
• The cycle:
  • Sin: Judges 3:7
  • Oppression: Judges 3:8
  • Cries to God: Judges 3:9
  • Judge to deliver: Judges 3:9-10
  • Period of rest and peace: Judges 3:11
• God is a god of grace!
• What problem can God not help with?
• I John 4:14; 1:9

Strength comes through struggle.

• Judges 2:20-3:4 – God left these nations on purpose to test the Israelites.
• Judges 3:31 – Shamgar; more struggle, more fighting
• II Corinthians 12:7-9 – God allowed Paul to have a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.
• II Timothy 3:11; 4:14-18
• James 1:2-4

Joshua 5

• Joshua 5:1 – Kings’ hearts melted
  • They were terrified of the Israelites!
• Joshua 5:2-8 – Circumcision
  • It did not make military sense to do this at this time, but God put fear into their enemies and they did not attack.
  • Leviticus 12:3 – Circumcision was supposed to be an ongoing law, but it had not been followed.
  • Joshua trusted that God would protect them while the army healed.
• Joshua 5:9 – Gilgal
  • God is calling this out as a new beginning.
• Joshua 5:10 – Passover
  • See Exodus 12:6. It’s not clear that the Passover had been observed since they left Mt. Sinia. Going by Exodus 12:25, it’s possible that observance was not to begin until they entered Canaan.
• Joshua 5:11-12 – Manna ceased
  • The manna continued from Exodus 16 to Joshua 5. If you multiply it out, God provided at least 50 billion meals!
  • Now they would eat the produce of the land.
• Joshua 5:13-15 – Captain of the Lord’s host

Joshua 6 – Jericho

• Joshua 6:1-5 – God gave them Jericho, but they had to meet His conditions.
• Joshua 6:6-9 – Modern day Tell es-Sultan could be the site of ancient Jericho. It is one of the most excavated archaeological sites in the world.
• Joshua 6:15-21 – The walls of Jericho fall and the Israelites take the city.
• Joshua 6:22-27 – Rahab and her family are spared.
  • Joshua 6:27 – Joshua’s curse was fulfilled in I Kings 16:34 when Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt the city, losing his firstborn and youngest son in the process.

Applications

God can “give” something with conditions

• Hebrews 11:30
• Ephesians 2:8

God rewards faith wherever it is found.

• Matthew 21:31
• Rahab was in the lineage of both David and Jesus.
• Isaiah 42:3
• God is willing to forgive and help us grow.

No stronghold can resist God.

Introduction

• Mark 12:31

This is the law!

• Romans 13:8 – This is not saying it is sinful to take out a loan. Instead, it is emphasizing the importance of loving each other.
• Galatians 5:13-14
• Hebrews 13:2-3 – Treat everyone as valuable.

Prove to be a neighbor.

• Luke 10:25-37 – Jesus gives the parable of the good Samaritan to show how to be a good neighbor. I need to be a neighbor. I Need to take initiative and do the right thing.
• Matthew 7:12 – Jesus calls us to a higher standard. We are to initiate kindness.
• Matthew 5:38-45 – Love everyone, even your enemies.

Get in the habit of thinking about what would help others.

• Jonah 3:10-4:2, 11
• Romans 15:1-3 – Seek to please your neighbor, not yourself.
• I Corinthians 10:24
• We must look to see the value in others – we are all souls!
• James 2:8