Sermon Outline May 3, 2015 ~ Finish the Job ~ Joshua 23:12

Sermon Outline
May 3, 2015
~ Finish the Job ~
READING FOR WORSHIP GUIDE: Joshua 23: 12- 13 & Judges 4: 4-7
Sunday
5/3
Proverbs Ch. 3; Joshua 23: 1-16
Monday
5/4
Proverbs Ch. 4; Judges 4: 1-24
Tuesday
5/5
Proverbs Ch. 5; Genesis 2: 4-25
Wednesday
5/6
Proverbs Ch. 6; Isaiah 6: 1-13
Thursday
5/7
Proverbs Ch. 7; Joshua 24: 1-15
Friday
5/8
Proverbs Ch. 8; Joshua 24: 16-33
Saturday
5/9
Proverbs Ch. 9; Matthew 28: 1-10; Luke 24: 1-12
Joshua 23:12-13 – “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with
the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you
intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be
sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations
before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you,
whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from
this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.”
Judges 4: 4-7 – Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth,
was leading[a] Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm
of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of
Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes
decided. 6 She sent for Barak …and said to him, “The Lord, the
God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand
men … and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the
commander of Jabin’s army … and give him into your hands.’”
From the time of the creation of humankind God has recognized
that humankind finds its completion in the teaming of the male
(ish) with the female (ishshah). As in Genesis 2: 18, God started
1
Copyrights © 2015 by James M. Moody. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be
copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author.
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the creation of humankind with Adam, but it took the creating of
Eve to FINISH THE JOB!
The story outlined in the text is one of anointed, appointed,
powerful, capable, and decisive women being used by God to
FINISH THE JOB! It describes the Women of Quinn, who God
has called from retreat to now FINISH THE JOB!
1.
Judges 4: 4 Backdrop of Israel after the death of Joshua
a. People became divided and those who had received their
lands no longer fought with and for those who had yet to
receive the Promise.
b. They were commanded by God through Moses and Joshua
to “utterly” destroy those living in the land - the enemies
of God.
i. This command represents for us total separation
from sin, without compromise.
ii. We, the Christian Church, have compromised with
the enemy.
iii. Like the people of God in Israel, we’ve become
desensitized to the presence of the enemy
particularly through the media.
1. The language has changed.
2. What we are exposed to has become more and
more graphic in content.
3. Social norms have been twisted to portray as
normal what was once recognized as twisted.
4. The fracture of the family is considered the
appropriate approach to life.
5. Mass incarceration of African American males
has become an acceptable corridor for life’s
journey.
6. We’ve allowed there to exist, in our thinking, a
division or separation of man and woman, as if
2
Copyrights © 2015 by James M. Moody. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be
copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author.
[email protected].
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c.
2.
the two genders are in combat or competition
with each other as opposed to functioning in
cooperation with each other as God so designed.
Joshua 23: 12-13 – Joshua said, “If you turn away [from
God]…and ally yourself with them…They will become
snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns
in your eyes, until you perish from this land, which the
Lord your God has given to you.”
God raised up Deborah (dabar), whose name means to speak,
declare, warn, threaten, command, promise, and sing to FINISH
THE JOB!
a. Leader – she was leading God’s people in succession of
Joshua and others before her.
3.
b.
Prophet – she called that idolatrous people back into
right relationship with God. She heard directly from
God and directed the people.
c.
Judge – she rendered decisions on disputed matters and
matters of the law.
d.
Deliverer - she was the Moses of her day, used by God
to lift God’s people from bondage and called on Barak,
just as Moses called on Joshua.
FINISH THE JOB!
Judges 4: 8 – Barak (whose name means lightening) was not
weak for requiring Deborah to accompany him to battle.
a. Barak recognized the anointing of God on God's chosen
leader.
b. See right; Submit Right; Serve Right; Sow Right.
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Copyrights © 2015 by James M. Moody. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be
copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author.
[email protected].
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c.
He recognized Deborah as one who had responded
affirmatively to the call of God as did the people of
Israel.
i. The call of God is not for the special few, it is for
everyone. (Isaiah 6: 8)
ii. Whether or not I hear God’s call depends on my
disposition. That is why it is said that, “Many are
called but few are chosen.”
iii. Of the fourteen persons at Quinn who have
answered the call to ministry, thirteen are women.
FINISH THE JOB!
4.
Judges 4: 8 – Barak (whose name means lightening) was not
weak for requiring Deborah to accompany him to battle.
a. Barak recognized the anointing of God on God's chosen
leader.
b. See right; Submit Right; Serve Right; Sow Right.
c. He recognized Deborah as one who had responded
affirmatively to the call of God as did the people of
Israel.
d. God rewarded Barak with victory, but the Canaanite
general, Sisera escaped and Barak didn’t finish the job.
FINISH THE JOB!
5.
Judges 4: 18-24 – God used Jael, the wife of Heber, a man
who had compromised with the enemies of God to FINISH
THE JOB!
a. The enemy with whom there had been a compromise
outside the home now entered the home.
b. Jael didn’t attempt to slow him, impede him, obstruct
him, or block him. She destroyed him.
c. She FINISHED THE JOB!
d. Women of Quinn FINISH THE JOB!
4
Copyrights © 2015 by James M. Moody. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be
copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author.
[email protected].
To contact the writer go to