FB. Vidalia
July 10, 2022
Sunday AM
Weary -- Yet Pursuing!
Judges 8:4
Intro.: Good morning FB, Vidalia. Great to be back and worship with you here in the summer. My wife Diana and Son Tyler and his girl friend Kelly are all with me as well. Open your copy of God’s inspired and holy word to Judges 8:4 please.
Within the last 10 days I have read some disturbing news that made me very weary. In the city of Pottstown, Pennsylvania the homeless population has rose 118 % in 2021-22. And there is little evidence that will change any time soon due to the housing boom in Montgomery, County. The city has a 30% poverty rate greater than any part of the state.
Fortunately, several churches throughout the county have stepped up, offering support for those in need. Unfortunately, the municipality has told two such churches that doing so places them in violation of the zoning code's definition of a "church."
The municipalities notice to the churches in question states that "it is the opinion of this office that the use of the property has changed, and by definition, is more than that of a church." Their definition of a "church" is limited to "a building wherein persons assemble regularly for religious worship and that is used only for such purposes and for those accessory activities that are customarily associated therewith."
Apparently, that definition does not leave room for ministries like free mental health support and counseling, free food and hygiene products, and weekly meals for the public, all of which were cited as examples of ways that the church was no longer acting as a "church."
I couldn’t agree more with the Director, Clare Schilling “helping people is what the church does, even when others may not appreciate it.” Jim Dennison, Daily Article, July 7, 2022.
In other Evangelical news, in a historic and far-reaching decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022 officially reversed Roe v. Wade on Friday, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion, upheld for nearly a half century, no longer exists.
Immediately in several areas of our nation, including our own state, disagreements and protests began, social media began buzzing with sayings such as “women’s rights had been taken away.” Lawsuits and court injunctions were filed, including in our own state to delay or to overturn the Supreme Courts decision.
FRIDAY RULING
Need I go back to late 2019, 2020-2022 and mention the pandemic. That upon January 30, 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and then issued a set of Temporary Recommendations.
Today we are marking 30+ months of this declared pandemic in the United States that has brought about deaths, hospitalizations, large public event gatherings cancelled (including church services), schools moving to virtual classrooms, the wearing of personal protective equipment, stay at home orders by politicians, businesses closed, and isolation of many at risks people. And it’s still not over.
Certainly this is not a foreign or distant problem with any of you and for this congregation. These months have been difficult for everyone in many different ways.
Speaking of life: Someone once described the journey of life like this: When as a child I laughed and wept – TIME CREPT; When as a youth I dreamed and talked – TIME WALKED; When I became a full grown man – TIME RAN; and later, as I grow older – TIME FLEW; soon I shall find while traveling on TIME GONE.
Whatever age or stage of life we are in at this moment – the reality is that life is moving on. We may feel as if we need to press the pause button and stop life or shift down into a lower gear and let life slow down – but the reality is we cannot do either and life continues to move ahead.
I would also say that much of these difficulties have come at a great cost. In some ways we wonder how much more can we endure? How much longer will the circumstances we are facing continue?
If that’s’ the way your outcome on life is right now – I am positive that you are not alone and you are in good company and you are in the right place. In fact there is no better place for anyone to be other than in the church during a time of crisis.
Look with me here in Judges to see if these words do not describe how you fee today. In Judges 8:4 there are five words I want us to consider this morning. Let’s read the verse and then I’ll give you the five words. “Exhausted, but still in pursuit.” Can I get an Amen? Other translations read, “Faint, yet pursuing,” “Weary yet pursing.”
Setting: Book of Judges Follows the Exodus from Egypt (Bondage/Slavery/Plaques//Red Sea and a Promise Land. As the Israelites began to move into that land they defeated enemies and took possession of the Promise Land. The book covers over 300 years of battles involving various leaders (Judges). Specific to chapters 6-8, God is using a leader called Gideon to fight against the Midianites – they have been back and forth in battle for seven long years with various enemies but especially against the Midianites.
This morning - I want to use this opportunity to inspire, motivate and encourage each of you to not grow weary – in doing good! To not give up – to stay faithful and obedient to the Lord and His call on your lives as individuals and as a church. In fact, I want this opportunity to encourage you all to press forward with even more energy and strength and joy. Weary – Yet Pursing with a sub-title: Lessons about obedience - -
I. Obedience To the Lord Brings Weakness -Hardships
A. See, I told you this was going to be inspiring.
1. This truth must be learned and accepted though before we move to the next step.
2. As believers we must understand that surrendering our lives to the Lord was never intended to be easy.
3. There are no verses in the Bible that teach the Christian life is going to be easy when you surrender to Jesus.
4. In fact, the opposite is true – we will endure hardships, trials and persecutions for the sake of the Lord.
B. The physical faintness of Gideon’s troops illustrates for us the spiritual faintness of our own Christian lives.
1. Sometimes we are going to feel weak and tired.
2. Some days will be difficult to get up and put on Jesus.
3. Some moments we may feel like slowing down, or quitting.
4. LISTEN: Gideon is teaching us the value of persevering even in the midst of weariness, weakness and hardships.
5. He teaches us that whatever we commit to do for the Lord needs to be completed, it needs to be finished.
C. Gideon had had previous success in overcoming other enemies but now he was faced with his toughest enemy.
1. Gideon seems to have had in mind the past, the present and the future.
2. His mind is dwelling on PAST battles, the PRESENT reminds him of his small army and the FUTURE oppression.
3. Those days of marching in battle, the heat, hunger/thirst, weight of their armor, had all exhausted their strength.
4. The hardships of leading those who complained, argued, fought against one another rather than the enemy.
5. They were weary, faint, weak and broken.
6. Standing at the Jordon with an enemy pursuing them.
7. They were broken mentally, physically and emotionally.
8. Yet, in their weariness they kept pursuing because their obedience to the Lord compelled them to stay in the work and to finish the job.
D. This morning we ALL must resolve to put a little more energy into the extraordinary tasks the Lord has awaiting us.
1. In spite of our own weariness/faintness and discouragement.
2. In spite of the economy, court decisions, or pandemics.
3. As individuals and as a church – we must remain obedient even in the face of hindrances and opposition.
4. Confident of this - “He who started a good work in us will carry it on to completion.”
5. Obedience to the Lord’s work will bring hardship but with the Lord’s help we can keep pursuing.
II. Those Who Remain Obedient to the Lord Express/Define Encouragement.
A. Living a life of obedience for the Lord can be hard and sometimes it can be lonely.
1. But here is an important lesson we learn from Gideon.
2. Gideon was a valiant/strong leader – thoroughly equipped for his work. He had boldness and enthusiasm.
3. He had a heart loyal to the Lord.
4. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Was he faithless? Times/Yes.
5. Likewise, the men in his army were also competent men, highly chosen men – who knew no fear for the enemy.
6. Chosen in a unique way and used in a non-conventional war method to defeat an enemy.
7. Tired = yes, Discouraged = yes, Weary = yes.
8. Disobedient = no, Quitting = no.
9. KEY: Through it all they stayed together, planned together and worked together.
B. I’ve discovered that right encouragement can be contagious.
1. The right words, the right deed/action can be infectious to others. (Pandemic of ENCOURAGEMENT)
2. Encouragement keeps us going – it gives us hope.
3. True at work, in the family, any sport, true in all life.
4. Every person needs encouragement and every person should be an encourager.
4. “How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.” Truett Cathy – Chic-fil-A.
C. Let me see if I can encourage the church today -- remember the eternal words of Jesus -
1. “I will build my church and nothing shall come against it.” Matthew 16:18.
2. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes.” Acts 1:8
3. “If I go away . . . I will come again. . .” John 14:3
4. It’s a loud and clear reminder that we are not alone.
5. Eternal words that DEFINE encouragement.
6. We have Jesus and we have each other.
7. Reminder the church is not just one – but many members.
8. In times we rejoice with those who are rejoicing and we weep with those who are weeping.
9. Yes, there will be days and moments when we are weary – so we need someone to encourage us.
10. Christian stay obedient; Church stay in the work of the Lord – it is an encouragement to all.
III. Only Those Who Remain Obedient to the Lord Will Share in the Victory (8:4, 22, 28)
A. Faintness and weariness can be overcome by the believer.
1. Though the troops of Gideon were faint, they still pursued.
2. In an ironic way – being faint can be a good thing.
3. To be more specific – only when we are faint in our obedience to the Lord will we be victorious.
4. Maybe another word is “dependent.”
5. Because when we are at our weakest God is always at His strongest in our lives.
6. The real source of victory is not our strength, but God’s.
7. ((Judges 7:2)).
8. Troop = 32K, 10K, 300 men.
B. Listen: when we are most faint – God is most strong.
1. When we are most weary – God is most powerful.
2. When we are most exhausted – we are least self-confident.
3. Paul’s moment of weakness/weariness “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
4. Those who remain obedient the Lord will share in the victory.
Conclusion: Illustration # 1 Ignacy Paderwski
One of Poland’s famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignacy Paderewski tells this story. (pad-uh-ref-skee)
A mother, wishing to encourage her son’s progress at the piano, bought tickets for a Paderewski performance. When the night arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on stage.
Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away. When eight o’clcok arrived, the spotlights came on, the audience quitted, and only then did they notice the boy on the bench, innocently picking out, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard.
“Don’t quit – keep playing,” he whispered to the boy. Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began playing. Then soon his right arm reached around the boy and began playing. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized while they played together, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
In our own lives, unpolished though we may be, weary and faint through the days, it is our Master who surrounds us and just when we want to stop or quit or slow down – we hear words of hope and encouragement – “don’t quit – keep playing.”
FB, Vidalia - Christian, don’t quit! Dad, mom, grandparent, Sunday School teacher, school teacher, business man, student, retiree – DON’T QUIT. Keep serving, studying, teaching, singing, going, witnessing, praying, encouraging, keep pursing.
Tired = yes, weary = yes, exhausted = perhaps. Disobedient = No
God is still on His throne and He wants to share the victory
