Title: God's Leading Lady
Bible Book: Judges 4
Author: David Cook
Subject: Character; Woman, Godly; Courage
Objective:
Introduction
Where would the church of Jesus Christ be today without the ladies? In most churches today, it’s the ladies who lead the way in serving, praying, Sunday School, mission projects, taking food to the sick, singing in the choir, etc. I thank God for the ladies in this church who are willing to roll up their sleeves and serve Jesus faithfully!
Some of Christianity’s greatest leaders today are powerful women of faith. I think of ladies such as Anne Graham Lotz, Kay Arthur, and Beth Moore. Most people (men or women) rarely rise to that level of spotlight and fame, but that’s okay. Some of God’s greatest leading ladies are those who work behind the spotlight – faithfully loving their families – faithfully encouraging a neighbor – faithfully drying the tears of a child. All through the Bible God has chosen to work through everyday ladies to get the job done.
From the Old Testament Book of Judges, let’s look at Deborah: God’s Leading Lady! Deborah is an excellent example to all God’s people that He can use any of us in His service if we are willing and obedient to His call on our lives.
Let’s get ready to learn some important principles in being a faithful servant of the Lord this morning!
I. The Sin Of God’s People
Judges 4.1, “When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.” The old saying is true, “Sin will take your further than you wanted to go, cost you more than you wanted to pay, keep you longer than you wanted to stay.”
There will never be victory in our lives and in this church like there ought to be until God’s people get serious about confessing and forsaking their sin before God. Some of us tend to wink at sin and then we wonder why there is little hunger for God, desire for the Word of God! We are like the man who sent a check to the government for back taxes with a note attached that said: “I felt so guilty for cheating on my taxes I had to send you this check. If I don’t feel any better, I’ll send you the rest.”
We may not take sin seriously, but God does. How seriously does God take sin? He let His Son go to the cross to bear on His body our sins. Why is sin so serious a matter in the life of God’s people?
A. Sin Robs us of God’s Purpose
Sins robs us of God’s purpose – Judges 4.2, “So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Cannon, who reigned in Hazor.”
God takes sin so seriously in the life of His children, in the life of His church that if not dealt with through repentance and correction, God’s people can miss out on God’s purpose. God allowed his people to be placed in the hands of Jabin. Jabin was king who reigned inside Cannon, the Promised Land! That’s where sin starts most of the time – not on the outside, but the inside!
Why is it that God deals with His people over and over about sin? It’s because sin causes sin stops spiritual growth and leads to spiritual death!
Perhaps there was a time in your life when you wouldn’t think of missing church, were bold in sharing your faith, were quick to respond to the Spirit’s small voice in your life…yet now, it’s not big deal to miss church. It’s okay to watch ungodly TV programs, and its okay to spread a little gossip. If that is your attitude you are not right with God today. You need to get before God and let the Holy Spirit reveal the sin in your life.
Sin robs us of God’s purpose. What is our purpose? “We, Colonial Woods Baptist Church, are a body of believers called together in Jesus Christ, gathered together for worship and discipleship, sent by the Holy Spirit to witness and minister to those in our community and throughout the world.”
We can only accomplish God’s purpose when we’ve confessed our sin to God.
B. Sin Restricts us of God’s Power
Judges 4.3b, “…Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly opposed the children of Israel.”
How long were the people of God living in defeat because of their sin? Twenty years. What weapon did the enemy have on the people of God? Jabin had 900 chariots of iron! Let me tell you a truth I’ve found in dealing with sin in my life, if you give sin an inch, it will take the whole!
Another truth about sin, it doesn’t go away easily. Pornography is ripping up homes, tearing down marriages, influencing our kids, infecting our churches because it does not go away easily. Sin whispers, it’s just one click, no big deal! Sin says, it’s ok, everyone is doing it. It’s harmless! Listen to what the Apostle Paul said about sin in Romans 6:16, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
A wealthy contractor finished building the Tombs prison in New York, only later to be found guilty of forgery and sentenced to several years in the prison he had built! Entering into his cell with his head low, he said, "I never dreamed when I built this prison that I would be an inmate one day."
Now think about it, how did the people of God get into this sinful situation? Godly leader Joshua died and soon after the parents forgot God – they didn’t teach their children and grandchildren to know and worship the Lord – the next generation forsook the Living God and followed the pagan gods of the surrounding nations. It’s easier to get pulled downhill than to forge uphill. What a lesson for us today! The world needs to see Christians living and loving like Jesus!
Finally, sin took it’s toll and the children of God did the one thing necessary. They had a change of heart. Verse 3 tells us they “cried unto the Lord.” (Share God’s amazing grace here).
II. The Selection Of God’s Prophetess
The name Deborah means “bee.” Matthew Henry points out some of the qualities of bees that Deborah possessed: industrious, sharp perception, great usefulness, sweet to her friends and sharp to her enemies.
When you read the Bible you’ll find some incredible women being used for God’s purposes. Notice that Deborah was…
A. A Woman of Great Character
Read Judges 4.4-5; Dr. Brian Harbour points out that between Moses and Samuel, no one else filled all three roles of prophet, judge, and military leader, except Deborah. On top of her service duties, Deborah was also a wife and mother. Judges 5.7, “Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.”
Parents/Grandparents what a call this is to us to remember to live a balanced life of family, faith, and work life, etc. Too many parents are losing their families because their jobs are more important than their kids. Take time to simply be with your kids. Build that relationship with them. Never forget your assignment from the Lord is to raise up children who know Jesus and build their lives based on the Bible.
We are talking about a character crisis. Our young people long to see consistency in our lives. If they see us living out what we proclaim to believe, this will be a wonderful witness to their lives of our faith in God.
When people looked at Deborah, they saw a lady and leader standing firm in the Lord. Is that what people see when they look at you?
Having character doesn’t mean we are perfect. It does mean when we sin, when we don’t keep our promise, when we blow our temper, we confess it to God, we apologize to the ones we hurt…then by faith we move on with God and go in His direction!
B. A Woman of Great Confidence
Read Judges 4.6-10; Barak, the leader of Israel was not willing to go into battle alone! The only way he would go was if Deborah was willing to go, too!
Imagine the scene – Sisera had 900 iron chariots, multiplied thousands of skilled soldiers greatly outnumbering Israel, etc. On his own strength, Barak had every reason to fear defeat. Yet, he forgot something that Deborah had said earlier. God had told them He was going to deploy, deliver and destroy Sisera at the River Kishon. Evidently, Barak didn’t fully believe this, but Deborah did. Deborah believed God no matter how impossible the situation looked.
What impossible situation are you facing this morning? Financial, Family, Friendship? I urge you to commit this verse to memory, Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.”
C. A Woman of Great Conquering
News began to spread to Sisera’s side that Israel had a plan for attack. Read Judges 4.13-16. As Israel moved forward in faith with God, the battle was already won. Read Judges 5:4-5
King Jabin’s army and Sisera were humiliated and demolished! Sisera took off and thought he found relief at Jael’s tent. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite, a friend of King Jabin. Sisera felt secure enough in the care of Jael that he fell asleep in her tent. Read Judges 4:17-24
Deborah started the victory and Jael sealed it! Let’s review: We’ve seen the sin of God’s people, the selection of God’s prophetess, and now…
III. The Shouting Of God’s Praises
Read Judges 5:1-3; Christians, let me remind you the same God who gave Israel victory over the enemy is the same God who gives you the victory in Jesus Christ our Lord. Just as Deborah and Barak gave praise to God, realizing there was no way they could have accomplished it on their own, that’s what God deserves from you and I today. Let me share with you one of my favorite verses on victory, 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This song included…
A. Praise for the Lord’s Help
They gave praise to God for His incredible faithfulness! Church, today is the day to sing, “Great is thy Faithfulness!” It’s always good to stay praising the Lord. Not only for the big victories, but the small!
B. Praise for the Lord’s Helpers
Read Judges 5.2. How are we going to have victory like Israel had victory that day? The leaders were leading in Israel…and the people willingly offered themselves. The pastors and people got hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder and God worked mightily through them.
Are you one of the Lord’s helpers? Read through Judges 5 and the song extols those who made the effort to join in the army of God, and it also questions those who sat on the sidelines and were unwilling to offer themselves. (Lack faith, fear of enemy, fear of failure, etc.) Read Judges 5:16-17; 5.23 – There is no excuse alive today for God’s people not to be serving Him faithfully!
Today is decision day for some of you! Some of you are marching forward in faith and some are sitting on the sidelines. Do you help us win victories at our church? Are you faithful in your Testimony – Tithe – Time – Temper? The leaders were leading…and the people were voluntarily following! Let your commitment to God be as strong as the sun is to shine! (Judges 5.31)
Because of the people’s sin, they were in bondage to the enemy for 20 years. Because one lady was willing to listen and obey God, “the land had rest for forty years.”
Perhaps the enemy has had you down and defeated. Listen, it’s time to “Awake!” Awaken to service! Awaken to sing! Awaken to the day of God’s salvation! Come to Jesus today.
