Complete Obedience: Embracing God's Full Deliverance
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we embarked on a new series studying the Book of Judges, with a unique co-teaching format that aims to create a conversational and engaging Bible study experience. We began by setting the scene with a personal story about my childhood desire for a purple bike, which served as an illustration for the main theme of our study: the importance of completing the tasks God sets before us. Just as I failed to fully mow my neighbor's lawn, the Israelites failed to fully obey God's command to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan.
We delved into Judges 1, where the Israelites, after the death of Joshua, sought God's guidance on who should lead them into battle against the Canaanites. God appointed the tribe of Judah, and they initially succeeded in their conquests. However, they faltered when faced with iron chariots, symbolizing the challenges that can hinder our faith and obedience. This partial obedience led to long-term consequences, as the Israelites allowed some Canaanites to remain, contrary to God's command in Deuteronomy 20:16-18.
We discussed the significance of faith, not as a means to avoid difficulties, but as the strength to persevere through them. The Israelites' failure to fully trust and obey God resulted in incomplete victories and ongoing struggles. This serves as a powerful reminder for us to fully commit to God's commands and trust in His power to deliver us completely.
In conclusion, we emphasized that God desires complete deliverance for us, not partial. Just as He fully saves us, He calls us to fully surrender and trust in Him for complete deliverance from our struggles. We ended with a call to action, encouraging everyone to seek God's complete deliverance and to live in the fullness of His promises.
### Key Takeaways
1. Complete Obedience to God’s Commands: The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's command to drive out the Canaanites led to long-term consequences. Partial obedience is not enough; God calls us to complete obedience to experience His full blessings and protection. [24:57]
2. Faith Through Challenges: Faith is not a tool to avoid difficulties but the strength to persevere through them. The Israelites' encounter with iron chariots symbolizes the challenges that test our faith. True faith carries us through these challenges, trusting in God's power and promises. [42:30]
3. The Danger of Partial Deliverance: Just as the Israelites allowed some Canaanites to remain, we often leave remnants of sin in our lives. This partial deliverance can lead to ongoing struggles and hinder our spiritual growth. God calls us to fully surrender and seek complete deliverance. [50:54]
4. God’s Justice and Mercy: God's command to drive out the Canaanites was both a punishment for their wickedness and a protection for the Israelites. This teaches us about God's justice and His desire to protect us from the corrupting influence of sin. [52:01]
5. Living in Complete Deliverance: God desires complete deliverance for us, not partial. Just as He fully saves us, He calls us to fully surrender and trust in Him for complete deliverance from our struggles. This requires faith and a willingness to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him. [59:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:23] - Introduction to the Series
[21:29] - Personal Story: The Purple Bike
[24:11] - Israel’s Partial Obedience
[25:43] - Prayer for Guidance
[30:18] - Historical Context: From Moses to Joshua
[32:19] - Theocracy to Monarchy
[34:06] - Judah’s Initial Success
[38:01] - Encounter with Iron Chariots
[42:30] - Faith Through Challenges
[50:54] - The Danger of Partial Deliverance
[52:01] - God’s Justice and Mercy
[55:22] - Personal Anecdote: Deliverance from Sin
[57:09] - Consequences of Incomplete Obedience
[59:14] - Call to Complete Deliverance
[01:00:37] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Judges 1:1-20
2. Deuteronomy 20:16-18
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial success of the tribe of Judah in their conquests, and what challenge did they face that hindered their progress? ([35:30])
2. According to Deuteronomy 20:16-18, what was God's command regarding the inhabitants of Canaan, and why was this command given? ([51:02])
3. How did the Israelites' partial obedience manifest in their interactions with the Canaanites, and what were the consequences? ([56:05])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the encounter with the iron chariots symbolize in terms of challenges to faith and obedience? How did this affect the Israelites' actions? ([41:12])
2. How does the story of the Israelites' partial obedience in Judges 1 reflect on the importance of complete obedience to God's commands? ([24:02])
3. In what ways does the concept of "partial deliverance" apply to our spiritual lives today, as illustrated by the Israelites' failure to fully drive out the Canaanites? ([53:05])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge to your faith. How did you respond, and what can you learn from the Israelites' encounter with the iron chariots? ([41:12])
2. Are there areas in your life where you have been partially obedient to God's commands? What steps can you take to move towards complete obedience? ([24:02])
3. The sermon emphasized the danger of leaving remnants of sin in our lives. Identify one area where you need to seek complete deliverance and discuss practical steps to achieve this. ([53:05])
4. How can you ensure that your faith is not just a tool to avoid difficulties but a strength to persevere through them? Share a specific example from your life. ([42:01])
5. God's command to drive out the Canaanites was both a punishment for their wickedness and a protection for the Israelites. How can you apply this understanding of God's justice and mercy in your daily life? ([52:01])
6. Think of a situation where you have experienced God's complete deliverance. How did it impact your faith and relationship with Him? ([59:14])
7. What practical steps can you take this week to live in the fullness of God's promises and seek His complete deliverance from your struggles? ([59:14])
Devotional
### Day 1: Complete Obedience to God’s Commands
The Israelites' failure to fully obey God's command to drive out the Canaanites led to long-term consequences. Partial obedience is not enough; God calls us to complete obedience to experience His full blessings and protection. [24:57]
In Judges 1, we see the Israelites' struggle with partial obedience. After the death of Joshua, they sought God's guidance on who should lead them into battle against the Canaanites. God appointed the tribe of Judah, and they initially succeeded in their conquests. However, they faltered when faced with iron chariots, symbolizing the challenges that can hinder our faith and obedience. This partial obedience led to long-term consequences, as the Israelites allowed some Canaanites to remain, contrary to God's command in Deuteronomy 20:16-18. This serves as a powerful reminder for us to fully commit to God's commands and trust in His power to deliver us completely.
Complete obedience to God is crucial for experiencing His full blessings and protection. Just as the Israelites' partial obedience led to ongoing struggles, our incomplete obedience can hinder our spiritual growth and lead to long-term consequences. God calls us to fully surrender and trust in Him, ensuring that we follow His commands wholeheartedly. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of His promises and live in the protection and blessings He desires for us.
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (ESV): "But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are practicing partial obedience to God? What steps can you take today to fully obey His commands and experience His full blessings?
### Day 2: Faith Through Challenges
Faith is not a tool to avoid difficulties but the strength to persevere through them. The Israelites' encounter with iron chariots symbolizes the challenges that test our faith. True faith carries us through these challenges, trusting in God's power and promises. [42:30]
The Israelites faced significant challenges when they encountered the iron chariots of the Canaanites. These chariots represented formidable obstacles that tested their faith and obedience to God. Instead of fully trusting in God's power to deliver them, the Israelites allowed these challenges to hinder their progress. This serves as a reminder that faith is not a means to avoid difficulties but the strength to persevere through them. True faith involves trusting in God's power and promises, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
In our own lives, we will encounter challenges that test our faith. These challenges may come in various forms, such as personal struggles, difficult circumstances, or external opposition. It is essential to remember that faith is not about avoiding these difficulties but about trusting in God's strength to carry us through them. By relying on God's power and promises, we can overcome any obstacle and experience the fullness of His deliverance.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing that test your faith? How can you trust in God's power and promises to persevere through these difficulties?
### Day 3: The Danger of Partial Deliverance
Just as the Israelites allowed some Canaanites to remain, we often leave remnants of sin in our lives. This partial deliverance can lead to ongoing struggles and hinder our spiritual growth. God calls us to fully surrender and seek complete deliverance. [50:54]
The Israelites' decision to allow some Canaanites to remain in the land led to ongoing struggles and hindered their spiritual growth. This partial deliverance resulted in the Israelites being influenced by the Canaanites' practices and ultimately led them away from God. Similarly, in our own lives, we may leave remnants of sin that can hinder our spiritual growth and lead to ongoing struggles. God calls us to fully surrender and seek complete deliverance from these remnants of sin.
Partial deliverance can be dangerous because it allows sin to maintain a foothold in our lives. This can lead to ongoing struggles and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's promises. It is essential to fully surrender to God and seek His complete deliverance from any remnants of sin. By doing so, we can experience true freedom and spiritual growth, living in the fullness of God's promises and protection.
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Reflection: Are there remnants of sin in your life that you have not fully surrendered to God? What steps can you take today to seek complete deliverance and experience true freedom in Christ?
### Day 4: God’s Justice and Mercy
God's command to drive out the Canaanites was both a punishment for their wickedness and a protection for the Israelites. This teaches us about God's justice and His desire to protect us from the corrupting influence of sin. [52:01]
God's command to drive out the Canaanites was not only a punishment for their wickedness but also a means of protecting the Israelites from the corrupting influence of sin. The Canaanites' practices were abominable in the eyes of God, and allowing them to remain in the land would have led the Israelites astray. This command demonstrates God's justice in punishing wickedness and His mercy in protecting His people from the harmful effects of sin.
Understanding God's justice and mercy helps us recognize the importance of following His commands. God's desire to protect us from sin's corrupting influence is an expression of His love and care for us. By obeying His commands, we can experience His protection and avoid the consequences of sin. It is essential to trust in God's justice and mercy, knowing that His commands are for our ultimate good and well-being.
Psalm 103:8-10 (ESV): "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."
Reflection: How does understanding God's justice and mercy influence your view of His commands? In what ways can you trust in His protection and follow His commands more faithfully?
### Day 5: Living in Complete Deliverance
God desires complete deliverance for us, not partial. Just as He fully saves us, He calls us to fully surrender and trust in Him for complete deliverance from our struggles. This requires faith and a willingness to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him. [59:14]
God's desire for complete deliverance is evident in His call for the Israelites to fully drive out the Canaanites. Just as He fully saves us, He calls us to fully surrender and trust in Him for complete deliverance from our struggles. This requires faith and a willingness to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him. By fully surrendering to God, we can experience the fullness of His promises and live in the freedom He desires for us.
Living in complete deliverance involves a continuous process of surrendering to God and trusting in His power to deliver us from our struggles. It requires us to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him, whether it be sin, fear, or doubt. By doing so, we can experience true freedom and live in the fullness of God's promises. It is essential to seek God's complete deliverance and trust in His power to transform our lives.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV): "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek complete deliverance? How can you fully surrender this area to God and trust in His power to deliver you completely?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Faith does not prevent trouble from happening or some hard situation from happening. They certainly had faith up until this point. They were administering justice. They were doing what God had called them to do. And so they had faith in all of those things and then they run into these iron chariots and then what happens? They don't feel like they can defeat the iron chariots. Now, I'm not saying that they didn't have some sort of a battle or whatever it might have been. But this is the exact same thing that happened to the Israelites when they didn't go into the promised land when they refused to go in. Because they didn't think that they could win the battle. They didn't think that they could conquer the thing that was in front of them." [42:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faith is not just keeping us from the hard thing. It doesn't get us out of the scrape. I think this is the thing that I see often especially being in the circumstance that I'm in as having my wife and passed away from cancer. And there's this idea that people want to say to me like how come God didn't fix that. And the answer that I always give is that faith is not what faith is. The whole reason we have faith is not so that God gets us out of every scrape. And then if God doesn't get us out of some bad situation all of a sudden I have to lose my faith because that must mean that God's not real. It's the other way around. Faith is the thing that carries me through when I'm in that situation." [42:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith is the thing that is faith that by faith that's how you're walking on water. That's by faith that's how you're going to get through any of it. We can't do it on our own. They couldn't do any of this on their own. It even said in the following verse in verse 20 it said that they had driven out anic. Anic was giant people. This is from their descendants you end up with David and Goliath. And so you're talking about the giant people. They were able to run them out but they had let something hinder them." [42:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What Christ wants for us, what Christ wants for you, is complete deliverance. He doesn't want partial deliverance. We don't deal with a partial God. We deal with an amazing God who does amazing things. And God will completely deliver those and He will completely save us. What if God took our salvation the same way that we, sometimes the way that we treat the things that we should repent of? You know, what if God half way saved us? What if God 99% of the way saved us? I'd find that 1% and do the wrong thing." [59:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You can be delivered. We had a whole series on Wednesday nights before talking about that because you can actually be delivered. It's the enemy in your head saying you can't get away from that. That's too strong for you. You know what those are? Those are chariots of iron. And the Lord's delivered other people from those things. He can deliver you as well if you'll give it to him." [59:53] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I think that we have to look at the Bible as a whole and say, what did God call them to do? And then how did they perform in that? And then that's going to really give us a picture of how we can apply this to us. What it means. So, man, I tell you what I think we have to do though. This is too long to read all in one sitting and then, and then try to read go over. So let's just read a little bit and talk." [24:57] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I think another thing I want to point out is that it started with something small. It didn't start with, there were so many people or it's like their chariots are iron. Call me crazy but something tells me a wood chariot would be pretty hard to go against too. You still have to have some bit of practical war sense to get through a wood chariot as well. Yes, they have advanced technology. They have iron chariots. They're armored chariots. But that doesn't mean that they have to lose. It doesn't mean Israel has to lose." [43:36] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "How often do we find ourselves in this exact same thing where we know what we were supposed to do? We didn't do what we were supposed to do. We had that warning. We see the results of it. And then we ended up going right back and doing the exact same thing that we were doing before. You know, the Bible calls that in the New Testament. It's kind of graphic. But the Bible calls that like a dog returns to his vomit and goes back to the same thing. You know, how often do we go back to doing the same thing? The same thing." [58:27] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I think the one thing that we have to remember is where we started this evening, which is that faith is the thing that gets us all the way through it. Faith doesn't always just pull us out, but faith gets us all the way through it. And that's exactly what I think we should end with tonight is that what Christ wants for us, what Christ wants for you, is complete deliverance. He doesn't want partial deliverance. We don't deal with a partial God. We deal with an amazing God who does amazing things." [59:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And God will completely deliver those and He will completely save us. What if God took our salvation the same way that we, sometimes the way that we treat the things that we should repent of? You know, what if God half way saved us? What if God 99% of the way saved us? I'd find that 1% and do the wrong thing. And, you know, God has given us a demonstration. He saves us completely. When he saved me, he saved my past, my present, my future. He saved me completely. And what he wants us to do is to be delivered completely. He wants us to totally give it up." [59:14] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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