He is Astounding!

O. T. #506  "He is Astounding!"
April 27, 2015
Judges 2-Part 2

*Thanks to everyone for your prayers. My husband made it through the ablation of the heart fine, with only 2 pathways needing fixed. It could take up to 3 months before the effects are felt. He went in the hospital on Tuesday, had the surgery on Wed., went home Thurs., but had to go to the emergency room on Friday as a result of an infection. Hopefully, you will excuse my not posting since I was exhausted. Recovery is slow and the special diet of only soft, cold or room temperature foods and cold drinks for 2 weeks. God is so good! We can't thank Him enough!

LET IT GLOW

What a glorious God we serve and love!!  Sunday, our church walked from the 100 year old sanctuary to a twice the size and brand new sanctuary. It was as if we left our wilderness of unbelief and crossed over our Jordan of faith into our Promise Land. (We have been serving 17 years now, almost 18 at FBC.) We were able to build it debt free as God provided. (Only money was borrowed for the technical equipment.)

Had I died back in 2001 after surgery, I would not have been walking with them. Had my husband died two years ago or last week after his heart surgery, he would not have walked with them either.
Had we given up through all the trials, troubles, discouragements, and failures, and left the church, giving up the fight, our faith failing, we would not have walked with the church. That is why I can say, "HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!! "
I am so astounded by God's mercy and grace and strength throughout these 17 years! It has been a tearful weekend; tears of joy and amazement and thanksgiving.
Are you walking by faith or by sight, my friend? Endure, hang in there, and you too will experience my astounding God working in your life. Nothing is too difficult for Him! Then He will by your ASTOUNDING GOD.

Luke 18:31 says, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem.
We went up to our Jerusalem, Highfill, to fulfill God's purpose, not our own. What seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's because God's purpose is never man's purpose.

Now that God has built the space for 300 people to worship the Lord Jesus, He challenges us to build the church. There are so many people lost in our community and countryside; so many who need His love and hope for life. What is God challenging you to do?

Israel served and worshiped the Lord as long as Joshua, the elders, and that generation, who had experienced so many of God's wondrous works, lived.

The first people in the land had vivid recollections of all the miracles and judgments and were devoted to faith, duty, and purity. God would be faithful until the end, but the people would forfeit blessing for trouble, due to their disobedience (verse 3). (MacArthur)

How faithful to God are we? Do we teach His Word to our children and the next generation?


LET IT GROW

Now they had died, those men of faith, obedient leaders in Israel, the chosen children of God and Israel.

The miraculous intervention of God on behalf of the people in the days of Moses and Joshua was now past history. (Falwell)

Verse 10 tells us, There arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.

Liberty Bible Commentary explains:

This new generation had forgotten the intervention of Jehovah on behalf of their forefathers and neglected the covenant mercies of God toward them. The apostasy of the new generation set the pattern for subsequent periods of apostasy, restoration, and renewed apostasy.

Webster's Dictionary defines apostasy as a renunciation of a religious faith; abandonment of a previous loyalty. (I think this is a man-made word, since concordances do not have it listed.)

They had not even brought their own children to the Lord! They had failed to teach them the Law, as God had instructed them to do in Deut. 6:1-15. How often this happens in nations, churches, and families. How easy it is for the "younger generation" to fall away from the Lord if the "older generation" is not faithful to teach them and set the best example of obedience before them. (Wiersbe)

Because children learn so much by our example, the home offers the most effective place to pass on the faith to the next generation.  (Life Application Study Bible )

David Jeremiah said, "This verse highlights the importance of solid spiritual leadership and reinforces how quickly spiritual complacency and apostasy can take over."


LET IT GO

Turn from self-indulgence, worldly ways, pleasing the flesh.

Turn to God in surrender, His ways, and pleasing Him.

Teach the little ones about the love and forgiveness of Jesus.