Sermon Notes, August 2, 2015
Rev.
Garry McGlinchy
Rev.
McGlinchy’s sermon was the first in his series “The Story of Gideon,” and was
based on Judges 6: 1-10. Those ten
verses give the background of the cycle the Israelites seem to be in time after
time. At first, they trust God, following
the Covenant Moses made, and everything is going well. Then they disobey, a
little at a time, and compromise the blessing.
Soon there is decay, with people doing whatever feels right to them no
matter what God’s law says. Then there
is defeat, and oppression by other nations. When they call upon God and repent,
He sends heroes to deliver them.
The
situation in Judges 6 is comparable to the situation in Numbers: the people
were so oppressed by the Midianites that they hid in the mountains in caves and
dens. They were impoverished; their crops
and livestock were destroyed, and they cried out to God. God sent a prophet to them. The prophet reminded them of their history;
of all that God had done for them, delivering them from slavery, from the
Egyptians and all their oppressors, and giving them the land of the Amorites. He reminded them that God said “I am your God,”
and not to worship the gods of the Amorites.
But they had not listened.
We can learn from the cycle of
disobedience the Israelites lived.
First, Seek God in all circumstances, not just when all else
fails. Depend on God first. It’s better to seek God first than to ask
forgiveness later. Depend on Him first.
Second, Listen to God. Sometimes when we pray, we do more talking
than listening. We’re so busy telling
God all our problems He can’t get a word in edgewise. Don’t allow the desires of this world to pollute
the mission God has given you. We all
have this mission: “Go. . . and make disciples.”
We are to seek God first. In all things, big and small, give it to God
first. Then listen to what He says, and
do it.
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