For the Children!

 

Judges 2:16-19

 

I.                     Failure

a.      They failed to pass their faith on to their children 2:7

                                                               i.      As long as those who had seen the great works of the Lord lived they worshipped God!

                                                             ii.      What are you doing to cause your children to see the great works of God in your life

1.      In your finances

2.      In answers to prayer

3.      In soul winning

b.      What a saying: “There arose another generation” 2:10

                                                               i.      They didn’t know God

                                                             ii.      They didn’t know what He had done

                                                            iii.      What are you doing to make sure that your family comes to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior

                                                           iv.      What are you doing to make sure they know the great power of God in the Bible and in your life

c.      They refused to obey 2:2

d.      They refused to separate themselves from the enemies of God 3:5-7

                                                               i.      They dwelt among them

                                                             ii.      Married them

                                                            iii.      Forgot God

                                                           iv.      How many of these steps are you taking in your life

e.      Their disobedience angered God 2:14

f.        His angered caused them to fail

                                                               i.      He allowed their enemies to defeat them 2:14

                                                             ii.      They “could not” 1:19

                                                            iii.      Notice the neithers—those that were meant to win and be victorious are now failing 1:27, 29, 30, 31, 33

                                                           iv.      They were forced to live in the mountains in their own land 1:34

II.                   Deliverance 2:16-19

a.      Nevertheless—though he was angry He still had mercy and gave them a judge to deliver them

b.      In their rebellion they refused to listen to the judges 2:17

c.      The children quickly turned from the ways of their fathers 2:17

d.      The sad thing is that the children corrupted themselves even more than their fathers

e.      You must be aware of what is going to happen with your family

f.        You must be wise enough to make a difference in the lives of your children—it is an everyday battle

III.                  Why did God leave their enemies in the land

a.      Every Christian needs the test to see if their faith and obedience is genuine 2:21-23, 3:4

                                                               i.      Victory doesn’t come easily or quickly 1:23

                                                             ii.      They will be tested to see if they will obey God

                                                            iii.      Your children must pass their own test as they serve God

b.      Our children must learn the art of war 3:2

                                                               i.      They must learn obedience

                                                             ii.      They must learn to be separate from sin

                                                            iii.      They must learn to fight in the power of the Holy Spirit