Deborah
When God created the world, He established 3 institutions
I. Family and Marriages
II. The Church
III. Government
Galatians 5:9 NKJV A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Judges 4 NKJV
Judges NKJV5:6-8, 12-18,
1. The Family Was Weakening
- She’s married there’s no mention of her husband /leadership
- In general men were passive,
- fear dominated,
- men avoided responsibility
2. Government Was Corrupted and Oppressive
Israel was oppressed under Jabin and Sisera.
Judges 5 says:
- highways were abandoned,
- travelers hid on winding paths,
- village life ceased.
This is the collapse of a society :
- fear,
- insecurity,
- loss of public order.
Proverbs 29:2: When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3. Israel / The Church today Had Lost Spiritual Fire
The deepest problem in Judges was spiritual compromise.
Israel repeatedly:
- forgot God,
- embraced idols,
- lost discernment.
John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,
John 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them/
· Passover Jesus was crucified
· 1st Fruits Jesus rose
· Pentecost the Holy Spirit Falls and the church was born.
· The Lord told the disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait on God / the Promise of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts of the Apostles 2:
- fearful disciples became bold,
- silence became proclamation,
- hiding became witnessing.
Psalm 11:3 When the foundations are being destroyed, (church, family, and government) what can the righteous do?”
In Acts 2:
God poured out His Spirit to awaken the Church.
Deborah said:“ Awake, awake, Deborah!” (Judges 5:12)
Pentecost is also an awakening:
- Awakening of courage,
- Awakening of truth,
- Awakening of witness,
- Awakening of spiritual authority.