Empowered by Faith: Lessons from Warrior Mamas
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone. Today, we have a few announcements before diving into our message. This week is particularly significant as we prepare for the altar gathering, which coincides with Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost Sunday commemorates the day the Lord poured out His Spirit upon His disciples, empowering them to be His witnesses. To prepare, we will embark on three days of fasting and prayer starting Tuesday, May 14th. We will meet for prayer at 6 AM and 6 PM each day. The fast will be just water for 72 hours, and I encourage everyone to join us in this spiritual discipline.
The altar gathering begins on Friday, and we are excited to welcome Prophet Nathaniel Saint-Deloit from Philadelphia. The gathering continues on Saturday night and concludes on Sunday with a special worship night in Haitian Creole, featuring Minister Jean-Jean from Montreal. This weekend is a time to celebrate the gift of Pentecost and to seek the Lord together.
We also have a teacher appreciation event at Brockton High School on May 23rd. If you wish to contribute, please give under the missions tab. Additionally, we need volunteers for hospitality, security, and media. Please see Sister Laverne, Brother Kenji, Brother Mo, or Brother Richie if you can help.
Now, let's dive into today's message, "Warrior Mamas," inspired by the story of Deborah in Judges 4. Deborah was a prophetess, judge, and leader of Israel during a time of oppression by the Canaanites. Despite the challenges, Deborah received divine vision and insight from the Lord, which she shared with Barak, the commander of Israel's army. She instructed him to gather 10,000 men and lead them to Mount Tabor, where the Lord would deliver Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, into their hands.
Deborah's story teaches us several key principles. First, divine vision and insight come from spending time with the Lord. Deborah's intimate relationship with God allowed her to receive and share His instructions. Second, bold fearlessness is essential. Deborah's unwavering confidence in God's word enabled her to lead with courage. Third, worship is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. Deborah and Barak's song of praise in Judges 5 demonstrates the importance of worship in acknowledging God's intervention and victory.
As we prepare for our three-day fast, let us seek divine vision and insight, cultivate bold fearlessness, and prioritize worship. These principles are not just for mothers but for all of us who desire to grow in faith and intimacy with the Lord.
### Key Takeaways
1. Divine Vision and Insight: Deborah's ability to lead Israel came from her intimate relationship with the Lord. She spent time in prayer and received divine instructions, which she faithfully shared. This teaches us that to receive God's vision and insight, we must prioritize our time with Him. Spending time in prayer and fasting allows us to hear from God and receive the guidance we need for our lives. [01:18:39]
2. Bold Fearlessness: Deborah's boldness was evident when she agreed to accompany Barak into battle without hesitation. Her confidence came from her trust in God's promises. This bold fearlessness is a result of spending time with the Lord and being filled with His Spirit. As we grow in our relationship with God, we develop a holy audacity to face challenges head-on, knowing that God is with us. [01:25:14]
3. The Power of Worship: Deborah and Barak's song of praise in Judges 5 highlights the importance of worship in spiritual warfare. Worship shifts our focus from our problems to God's greatness. It is a powerful weapon that brings breakthrough and victory. When we worship, we acknowledge God's sovereignty and invite His presence into our circumstances. [01:30:18]
4. The Importance of Sacrifice in Giving: David's refusal to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing teaches us that our offerings to the Lord must be sacrificial. True worship and giving involve a cost, reflecting our love and reverence for God. When we give sacrificially, we honor God and position ourselves to receive His blessings. [44:45]
5. Prioritizing Time with God: Growing in intimacy with God requires intentionality. We must set aside dedicated time to spend with Him, just as we would prioritize important appointments. This intentional time with God allows us to receive His vision, develop boldness, and become true worshipers. As we prioritize our relationship with God, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience His transformative power. [01:35:51]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:50] - Announcements and Fasting Details
[37:28] - Altar Gathering and Special Guests
[38:58] - Teacher Appreciation Event
[40:58] - Call for Volunteers
[43:03] - Offering and Sacrificial Giving
[01:04:21] - Introduction to Warrior Mamas
[01:09:51] - Deborah's Leadership and Prophetic Role
[01:18:39] - Divine Vision and Insight
[01:25:14] - Bold Fearlessness
[01:30:18] - The Power of Worship
[01:35:51] - Prioritizing Time with God
[01:41:00] - Prayer and Fasting for Breakthrough
[01:46:27] - Benediction and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Judges 4:1-9 (NIV)
2. Judges 5:1-3 (NIV)
3. 2 Samuel 24:18-24 (NIV)
### Observation Questions
1. What roles did Deborah hold in Israel according to Judges 4:4-5?
2. How did Barak respond to Deborah's command from the Lord in Judges 4:8? [01:09:51]
3. What was David's response to Arana's offer in 2 Samuel 24:24, and why did he respond that way? [44:45]
4. What did Deborah and Barak do after their victory over Sisera as described in Judges 5:1-3? [01:30:18]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Deborah's leadership and prophetic role in Judges 4:4-5 tell us about the importance of divine vision and insight? [01:18:39]
2. How does Barak's request for Deborah to accompany him into battle reflect on his faith and fear? What can we learn from Deborah's response? [01:25:14]
3. In 2 Samuel 24:24, why is it significant that David insisted on paying for the threshing floor and oxen? How does this relate to the concept of sacrificial giving? [44:45]
4. How does the song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5:1-3 illustrate the power of worship in acknowledging God's intervention and victory? [01:30:18]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own prayer life. How can you prioritize spending more intentional time with God to receive divine vision and insight? [01:18:39]
2. Think of a situation where you need to act with bold fearlessness. How can you draw confidence from God's promises to face this challenge head-on? [01:25:14]
3. Worship is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. How can you incorporate more worship into your daily routine to shift your focus from problems to God's greatness? [01:30:18]
4. David's refusal to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing teaches us about the importance of sacrificial giving. What is one way you can give sacrificially this week to honor God? [44:45]
5. As we prepare for the three-day fast, what specific steps will you take to seek divine vision and insight, cultivate bold fearlessness, and prioritize worship? [01:35:51]
6. How can you support the upcoming events at the church, such as the altar gathering and teacher appreciation event, through your time, talents, or resources? [38:58]
7. Reflect on a time when you hesitated to follow God's command like Barak. What can you do differently next time to act with immediate obedience and trust in God's plan? [01:29:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Seeking Divine Vision and Insight
Description: Deborah's leadership in Israel was rooted in her intimate relationship with the Lord. She spent significant time in prayer, which allowed her to receive divine instructions and share them with others. This teaches us that to receive God's vision and insight, we must prioritize our time with Him. Engaging in prayer and fasting, like the upcoming three-day fast, creates space for us to hear from God and receive the guidance we need for our lives. As we prepare for this spiritual discipline, let us seek to deepen our relationship with God and be open to His direction. [01:18:39]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time this week to seek God's vision and insight for your life? What specific steps will you take to ensure this time is uninterrupted and focused?
Day 2: Embracing Bold Fearlessness
Description: Deborah's boldness was evident when she agreed to accompany Barak into battle without hesitation. Her confidence stemmed from her unwavering trust in God's promises. This bold fearlessness is cultivated through spending time with the Lord and being filled with His Spirit. As we grow in our relationship with God, we develop a holy audacity to face challenges head-on, knowing that God is with us. This week, let us ask God to fill us with His Spirit and grant us the courage to step out in faith, just as Deborah did. [01:25:14]
Joshua 1:9 (ESV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Reflection: What is one challenge or situation in your life where you need to embrace bold fearlessness? How can you remind yourself of God's presence and promises as you face this challenge?
Day 3: Harnessing the Power of Worship
Description: Deborah and Barak's song of praise in Judges 5 highlights the importance of worship in spiritual warfare. Worship shifts our focus from our problems to God's greatness and serves as a powerful weapon that brings breakthrough and victory. When we worship, we acknowledge God's sovereignty and invite His presence into our circumstances. This week, let us prioritize worship in our daily lives, using it as a means to draw closer to God and experience His power in our battles. [01:30:18]
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (ESV): "And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.’ And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine this week? What specific songs or acts of worship help you focus on God's greatness and invite His presence into your life?
Day 4: Understanding the Importance of Sacrifice in Giving
Description: David's refusal to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing teaches us that our offerings to the Lord must be sacrificial. True worship and giving involve a cost, reflecting our love and reverence for God. When we give sacrificially, we honor God and position ourselves to receive His blessings. This principle challenges us to examine our giving and ensure that it truly reflects our devotion to God. As we prepare for the upcoming events and opportunities to give, let us consider how we can offer our best to the Lord. [44:45]
2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV): "But the king said to Araunah, ‘No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Reflection: In what ways can you offer a sacrificial gift to the Lord this week? How can your giving reflect your love and reverence for God?
Day 5: Prioritizing Time with God
Description: Growing in intimacy with God requires intentionality. We must set aside dedicated time to spend with Him, just as we would prioritize important appointments. This intentional time with God allows us to receive His vision, develop boldness, and become true worshipers. As we prioritize our relationship with God, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience His transformative power. This week, let us commit to making our time with God a top priority, seeking to grow in our faith and intimacy with Him. [01:35:51]
Psalm 63:1 (ESV): "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to prioritize your time with God this week? How can you ensure that this time is consistent and meaningful, allowing you to grow in your relationship with Him?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "How do you prioritize? How do you grow in intimacy with God? Intentionality, family. There's got to be a time set to spend time with God. And then we spend that time with God intentionally. And then what happens? We're growing in him. We're growing in him. We're prioritizing what's priority." [01:35:51]
2. "I'm going to lift up my hands. I don't feel right. But I'm still going to lift up my hands. Why? Because I know the God that I serve who is with me. He's given me a word. I'm going to go forward with what he has said. Why? Because he has never failed. And he never will." [01:31:12]
3. "The moral of the story, friends, is things aren't always as they seem. In a similar vein, we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We're not fighting against what we see, right? We're not fighting against what we see. But we're in a very real fight, make no mistake. And that very real fight requires some things from us. You know what's required? Just like the warrior mama. Divine vision and insight. Bold fearlessness. And worship." [01:38:26]
4. "Do you know, the truth is this. The majority of your time with the Lord ought to be in song. It ought to be in you in submission to him. Not you talking, talking about all your problems. He's above your problems. If you fix your eyes on him, your problems become dim." [01:32:33]
5. "Before the Holy Spirit, Peter was running and hiding. Right? After the Holy Spirit comes, what happens? Now this dude is preaching boldly and thousands are coming to the Lord. Why is that? What happens? As you're spending more time with the Lord, what is literally happening is you're developing some spiritual audacity and boldness." [01:27:25]
### Quotes for Members
1. "It takes you in spending time with the Lord. It takes you being with the Father. Number two. Verse 7 and verse 8 really illustrate this so clearly. Verse 8. Let's start in verse 8, actually. Barak said to her, I'll go. But I'm only going to go if you go with me. If you don't go, I won't go. Let's think about this. Let's illustrate this a little bit. Right? Let's talk about this a little bit. The prophetess, the leader of the nation speaks to her general. Right? She speaks to her general. She's leader. She says, this is what the Lord done said. Right? And you know what the brother says? Y'all just read it with me. I'll go. But you got to go with me. You know what that sounds like? Straight punk. Action. That's what that sounds like. Right? What that sounds like is a brother who's scared. Amen? Y'all with me? Y'all with me? Right? He is scared and he is rightfully scared. Right? The truth is, Sisera has got hundreds of chariots of iron and Barak ain't got nothing. Amen? Y'all with me? Right? Barak ain't got nothing. Barak is legitimately scared. Right? And so what does he say? Ma'am, I know you are in charge and you're leader, but I just want to say, with all due respect, the only way I'm going to go is if you go. Right? The only way I'm going to go is if you go. Right? And then look at what she says. Please look at what Deborah says, because this is what illustrates the second point that characterizes warrior mamas and it characterizes anyone who is in the place where they're actually growing in intimacy with the Lord. Because here is what's going to develop in you. She says this, certainly I will go with you. There's no hesitation in her. Because what's in her is this bold fearlessness. What's in this warrior mama is I'm going to do whatever it takes. going to work whatever job I got to work. going to go cuss out whatever principle I got to cuss out in Jesus' name. I'm going to do whatever I got to do to ensure, to ensure what's before me is taken care of. Amen." [01:23:37]
2. "Deborah rises on the scene as Israel is in rebellion. They're not following the precepts of the Lord and they're as a result being persecuted. As a result, they're actually subject to the Canaanites at this time. They're subject to the Canaanites, right? And so the Canaanites run them and then, you know, Deborah rises. Deborah rises up and she becomes both judge as well as prophet, as well as leader. And the Bible calls her in chapter 5, which we didn't read, but the Bible calls her in chapter 5 of the book of Judges, the mother of the nation, the mother of Israel, right? Surely what's in her is nurturing and nurturing. And looking out for her children, looking out for those who she has the privilege to lead and care for. But as we read in our text today, we see Deborah as this woman who is definitely distinct, right? Definitely strong and powerful, right? She's presented as prophetess and leader and judge, right? And what we see almost immediately is an affirmation of the gifting. That's in her." [01:14:48]
3. "The very first point that we want to make here is this. Warrior mamas, warrior mamas, number one, have divine vision and insight. Can y'all say this with me? Can y'all say this with me? Divine vision and insight. Deborah, praise. This divine insight and vision doesn't just come out of the air. Deborah clearly has an intimate relationship with the Lord. This divine insight, frankly, revelation, vision, it comes from the fact that Deborah is on her business in terms of spending time with the Lord. This stuff becomes non-negotiable. This stuff becomes part of who she is. And as a result, she's able to receive from God and then share out what God says. Right? So, mind you, this guy Sisera has been straight up oppressing the people of Israel for 20 years. Yet Deborah gets this word from the Lord, right, that makes no sense for any hearer. But because it's from God and because she knows it's from God, right, she's able to release it accordingly. And here's the point that I want to make to you today. If you're in this place and you know that God's calling you into a space of deepening relationship with him, here's what's required. The way in which you get revelation. The way in which you actually hear from God. The way in which you actually get vision and understanding about what it is the Lord would have for you to do. What it is that are the next steps to go forward. The only way this happens is as you spend time with the Lord. The only way this happens is as you are militant about that time with the Lord. It's non-negotiable. It's got to be non-negotiable and here's why it's got to be non-negotiable, family. Because what you recognize is that at his word, my circumstances can change. At his word, when I receive instruction, all of a sudden the instruction that comes from him are the keys to my breakthrough and my deliverance. people of Israel have been in captivity and oppression for 20 years. But at the appointed time, Deborah rises up and she receives this word from the Lord and she then releases it." [01:18:39]
4. "Deborah says, without hesitation, certainly I will go. But let's look at the rest of verse 9. But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours. For the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman. Do you know that many of us are like birds? Like Barack and not Deborah. In this picture, we hesitate in going with what the Lord has said. And we make excuses. And the Lord has already made it plain. You know what we do? God, give me another sign. God, I need another sign. And then here's what happens. Rather than going forward boldly. We find ourselves like Barack. Actually not being the true vessel that God has called us to be. last point that we're going to make today. And then we're going to wrap up and close out. I told you I was short today. All of chapter 5 describes one thing and one thing alone. 5, if you've got a decent Bible, it's got a title to it. And it's called Deborah's Song. Song of Deborah. As a result of what the Lord has done. Deborah, and this is where Barack redeems himself, y'all. Deborah and Barack lift up praise unto the Most High God. Do you know one of your biggest weapons in the warfare that we are fighting is your praise and your worship? When you could come to the place where regardless of what they say, I'm a praise. Regardless of what might happen. I'm going to praise. Regardless of what's before me. I'm going to worship." [01:29:14]
5. "And lastly, rededicating our lives to being a people who worship you and prioritize the worship of you. We thank you and we praise you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen and amen. God bless you and go. Before the Holy Spirit, Peter was running and hiding. Right? After the Holy Spirit comes, what happens? Now this dude is preaching boldly and thousands are coming to the Lord. Why is that? What happens? As you're spending more time with the Lord, what is literally happening is you're developing some spiritual audacity and boldness. And that boldness is coming about for one reason. Because you're beginning to gain more and more confidence in who Jesus is. And more and more confidence in who the Lord has made you to be. And more and more confidence because you're being filled with the Spirit of God all the more. Now you're like, you're not operating out of your own flesh, out of your own understanding. You're now having the capacity and the ability to operate now as a result of the Spirit that's been breathed upon you, animating you and pushing you forward. Deborah got a boldness, y'all. No hesitation. I'm a go. I'm going. So what that dude got chariots? I got the Lord of Hosts on my side. So what that dude got iron? And he's got hundreds of folks and we ain't got no army. You know what I got? I got the Lord of Hosts. Jehovah Shabbos. I got him on my side. I don't know what you're going through today. But I just get this sense that this is where I'm supposed to pause here for a little bit. And just encourage you. Regardless of what your circumstance is. Regardless of what the doctor's report is. Regardless of what the wayward child is and where he's at. Regardless of whatever it is you're going through and dealing with. If you've got the Lord on your side, you will win. Regardless of what they have said. Regardless of what comes up against you. If you've got the Lord on your side, friends. If you've got the Lord on your side, you could flex. You could walk in boldness and confidence." [01:27:25]
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