Living Without A Leader
A. Look at Judges chapter one. Begin with the background to help
us better understand the context. This book covers 300 years of
Jewish history. Not many people know much about that period of
time. We know a little about Gideon, Samson. Men who were historical
legends who are part of this book. You will remember Moses. He
was chosen to lead Israel out of Egypt. 40 years in the wilderness
with them but was not allowed to enter the promised land. He was
a great leader. Deut. 34:10-12, says, "Since then, no prophet
has risen in Israel like Moses." Moses was a mighty leader
who gave Israel Gods Holy Law. I want to remind you of one
aw Moses gave in Ex. 23:32-33, "When you go into the land,
do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not let
them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against
me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare
to you."
1. Over and over Moses gave that warning. Do not make a covenant
with unbelievers, they will compromise you. Now Moses is gone
and Joshua is given the responsibility of leading God's People.
Josh. 1:5-7. You are to obey every command. Do Not make a covenant
with the people of that Land. Israel enters and begins to conquer
the land and they begin to live and prosper in the land. Joshua
grows old before he dies he leaves the people with this important
message, Josh. 24:15, "Choose for yourselves this day whom
you..... What's he saying? Serve God and do not make a covenant
with the heathens and their gods. Joshua dies at 110, that is
where the book of Judges begins.
a. Jud. 1:1, says, "After the death of Joshua..."
That is the introduction to what happens over the next 300 years.
For the next 300 years things never be the same in Israel. They
do one thing right in the 1st verse. They ask God what to do,
in Jud. 1:1, it says, "the Israelites asked the LORD,
"Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against
the Canaanites?" That's
where you always start. You ask God what He wants, tell us how
you want it done. God answered
them in Jud. 1:2, and said, "Judah is to go; for I have already
given the land into their hands." Go
take the land that I have already given you. Any time you
go for God and with God the victory is
already guaranteed. There is no question about the outcome. The
only question is, Will you go and
fight? Vs. 4, says, "When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the
Canaanites and Perizzites into their
ands and they struck down ten thousand." And they celebrated
a great victory.
(A) But then we see a little trouble. Vs. 5-7. God said, Kill
all the inhabitants, take no prisoners.
God said, No covenants, destroy them, drive them out.
God never said, Mutilate them
and keep them for prizes. They leave Adoni-Bezek alive and
he dies later on. They
have set a terrible precedent. It happens again, Vs. 19, says,
"The LORD was with the men
of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were
unable to drive the people
from the plains, because they had iron chariots." Why not
drive out? Afraid. The problem is
not God. Its their Lack of Faith.
(1) Begin to live in peace. Treaties and covenants. Influence
of Idols begins to creep in.
Vs. 21. God had already forbid that, God said, No!
Vs. 27, 29-34. Domino effect.
One Compromise ends in disobedience. Yes, they took control. Partially
conquered.
Lived with them and made covenants with them. Guess what? God
calls them on the
carpet, Jud. 2:1-3. What do we learn? Men who lead in God's way
are to be treasured.
Why? They will have the courage to keep you from sin and they
will never lead you into
sin, not even by compromise.
(2) If Joshua been there. Stood up and put a screeching halt to
the compromise. No
congregation can long exist without strong, God loving, God fearing
leaders.
(B) Partial obedience is compromise, partial obedience and compromise
is no obedience at all.
It is rebellion. Partial obedience is detested by God, It is an
abomination and will bring nothing
but damnation. Israel conquered but did not destroy. They compromised.
And then they
fellow-shipped and made covenants and lived in peace with heathen.
Were not talking about
compromise of an opinion. There is a big difference between opinion
and the Word of
Godthose are commandments. It takes a big person to compromise
an opinion.
We are commanded to do just. Phip. 2:21. It is a great sign of
spiritual maturity to
compromise your personal opinions. But, you never, ever compromise
a command of God.
When God speaks, no man has right to an opinion.
(1) 1 Pet. 1:15-16, "Just as he who called you is holy, so
you must be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy,
because I am holy." That means you are not like the Non-Christian
people in this world, you are different. Holy living is not an
option. You
compromise and you are no longer Holy. Israel partly obeyed God
and partly
Ignored what God said. They compromised, and their compromise
did what it always
does. It damns your soul. It will make you a joke, a laughing
stock in the eyes of the
world. Whether you are a pauper or a president, compromise your
integrity and you have absolutely no credibility.
(2) Living without leaders or living with leaders who compromise
will always lead you away from God. Margaret Thatcher, the former
Prime Minister of England was hated
because she would not compromise what was right. Her motto was,
Compromise is the
negation of Leadership. Leaders who compromise will lead
you in the wrong
way. That applies to all leadership, whether it be in a nation,
community, congregation,
husband or a father. Compromise your integrity, honesty before
God and you loose not
only your own soul. But, you will answer to God for those you
encouraged to follow you.
When you compromise in one thing, it will not be long until you
are compromising in
several things.
(C) We are fortunate. We don't have to live like those people
in the book of Judges. We have
the greatest leader of all. Jesus the Son of God who came to lead
us to heaven. He never
compromised one time and He asks you to follow in His footsteps.
Hear, again, His call to
you and me, "Remember that just as He who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do; for
it is written: for He commands "I am holy therefore you shall
be holy also."
(D) ACTS 20:32.
Spur - 10/05/03 am
|