Happy Father s Day J. (4) men are in the maternity ward anxiously awaiting news about their new babies.

Transcription

1 The Story ~ The Cycle of Sin [ ] Happy Father s Day J (4) men are in the maternity ward anxiously awaiting news about their new babies. A nurse goes up to the 1 st guy and says, Congratulations! You are the father of twins. ü That s cool, answers the new dad, I ve been a Minnesota Twin fan all my life. A nurse says to the 2 nd guy, Congratulations! You re the father of triplets. ü No way answers the 2 nd guy, I actually work for the 3M Company. A nurse tells the 3 rd guy, Congratulations! You re the father of quadruplets! ü Hmm that s odd, he answers, I work for the Four Season Hotel. Over in the corner is the last in the waiting room groaning & banging his head against the wall. What s wrong? The other dads ask. I m a cashier at 7-Eleven! J [Today] God s story picks up 700 years after God s promise to Abraham to make his descendants into a great nation. Context = The nation of Israel is now occupying the long-awaited Promised Land. God is present in the tabernacle 1

2 Mosaic Law is now in place + a sacrificial system exists for forgiveness of sins. People of Israel have now been the recipients of many years of godly leadership under Joshua & the elders who outlived him. To date for the nation of Israel it s been the longest period of peace & prosperity = Life has never been better/all s good J Let s pick up the Story in = (R) Judges 2: 6 9 or p. 189 in pew Bible But there is a problem = Sin. Sin now raises its ugly head once again. (R) Judges 2: 10 I. Israel s (2) mistakes after Conquering the Land = A. 1 st mistake = Idolatry (R) Judges 2: Exodus 20: 5, I am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. If you were to spend 26 hours a week staring at the same object, what would you call that? If you were so mesmerized by what you saw that you couldn t tear yourself away from it, what would it become to you? If you let it change the way you think and act, would it be too powerful? If you let this object show and tell you things that you knew were wrong and that God didn t want you to be involved 2

3 with, would it be replacing Him? Wouldn t that be called an idol? The average American family spends 26 hours a week watching television. It certainly isn t the only idol we have in our society, but it s one of the most powerful. Other things that might be displacing our devotion to God are sports, money, work, hobbies, or even other people. Idols come in various forms, and they can control our lives. B. 2 nd mistake = Failed to disciple their children about God & all He had done for them (R) Judges 2: 10 ü They missed the most basic goal line in parenting = the most important value they can pass down to their children = Everything else pales in comparison! ü (R) Deuteronomy 6: 1 9 or 5 th Book in your Bible They failed to disciple their children = number of possible excuses Had a new land to conquer /Giants to slay/crops to plant/money to make All good things = children s greatest need was not having the latest model of camel to drive nor who could throw the javelin the furthest Greatest need was spiritual in nature = Do they love & honor God? Christianity is always one generation away from extinction. v To not sit down w-our children & teach them the stories of God s ways is a costly mistake. That s WHY we re committed as a church to putting a copy of The Story into the hands of every parent, 3

4 grandparent, & child who attends WRCC. We want our families to talk about God & His greatness = most important investment! RESULT a pattern emerges in the Book of Judges = Cycle of Sin [INSERT] Diagram of the Cycle of Sin II. Cycle of Sin (The cycle is repeated 6 times in the Book of Judges) A. 1 st movement = Disobedience 1. The people choose to turn away from YHWH & worship pagan gods. 2. Exodus20:5, I am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. 3. KEY to your personal happiness & inward joy = Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord & He will give you your heart s desire. B. 2 nd movement = Oppression 1. God removes His hand of protection and allows surrounding nations to oppress His people. 2. (R) Judges 2: God uses 6 pagan nations to oppress His people: a. Mesopotamians oppress for 8 years; b. Moabites for 18 years; c. Canaanites for 20 years; d. Midianites for 7 years; 4

5 e. Ammonites for 18 years; f. & the Philistines for 40 years. C. 3 rd movement = Repentance 1. The oppressed people cry out to God for help. They turn or return to the Lord. They make a decision to do a 180 degree change in direction. 2. God raises up a judge who serves as a deliverer: D. 4 th movement = Deliverance. 1. It is important to notice that God orchestrates the deliverance, not the human judge. 2. The judges were flawed human beings - - JUST LIKE US! III. Cycle of Sin in the Book of Judges = Deborah & Gideon A. Story of Deborah = cycle of sin is revealed in the 1 st (5 verses) 1. (R) Judges 4: 1 = Disobedience 2. (R) Judges 4: 2 3a = Punishment 3. (R) Judges 4: 3b 4 = Repentance 4. (R) Judges 4: 5 7 = Deliverer Deborah was an amazing leader ~ here [WHY] she was thrust into leadership = (R) Judges 4: 8 10 ü [side note] Thank you to all the SINGLE MOMS who lead your homes in the absence of a husband. You have my greatest respect! 5

6 B. Story of Gideon = cycle of sin is revealed in the 1 st (7 verses) 1. (R) Judges 6: 1a = Disobedience 2. (R) Judges 6: 1b 6a = Punishment 3. (R) Judges 6: 6b = Repentance 4. (R) Judges 6: 7 11 = Deliverer [side note] Gideon is an excellent example of how God uses flawed individual J = (R) Judges 6: C. Cycle of Sin as it relates to our lives = our personal stories We sin we don t keep God on the throne of our lives. 1 John 1:8 We are oppressed our fellowship with God and others is broken. 1 John 1:6 We repent /confess we are restored through the blood of Jesus. I John 1:9 We experience deliverance we experience the joy of our salvation. I John 1: As I looked at this Cycle of Sin I was reminded of an academic truth that says, History always repeats itself. Academically for argument sake that might be so ~ but in the spiritual realm it doesn t ever have to be the truth b-c History doesn t have to repeat itself. 6

7 Since its Father s Day weekend this is how to break the Cycle of Sin : (3) factors that help children maintain their faith into adulthood. 1 st factor = The young person s parents practiced their faith in the home & in daily life = not just in public settings. ü When father is an active believer 75% likelihood become active believers but if only mother is a believer, this likelihood is reduced to 15% (D-Journal #49) ü [INSERT] Erma Bombeck J 2 nd factor = The young person had at least one significant adult, mentor, friend, other than parents who practiced their faith. ü Never underestimate the power of influence as a pre-school teacher + special needs assistant + coaching + Boy Scout /Heritage Girls +volunteer leader = THANK YOU! 3 rd factor = The young person had at least one significant spiritual experience before they reach 17 yrs old. ü Your child s FAITH DEVELOPMENT is everything! ü [WHY] it s critical your child is actively involved in our Next Gen ministries 7

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