Podcasts about in judges

What happens when we don't know what we don't know about God and His Word? In Judges 11, the life of Jephthah gives us a sobering picture of the dangers of spiritual ignorance. Jephthah is a mighty warrior, yet his leadership is marked by self-interest, carelessness with the truth, and a tragic vow that reveals how little he understands the God he claims to follow.But this difficult story also points us to the grace of God. Israel did not deserve deliverance, and neither did Jephthah,but God remained faithful and gave His people victory.Jephthah's story reminds us that knowing God's Word matters. We need Scripture to shape what we believe, how we live, and how we lead. And we need one another, people who will speak truth into our lives when we cannot see our own blind spots.May we know God through His Word, live faithfully in light of it, and rest in His grace.

The Tragedy of Bochim is the story of a people who heard God's Word, felt conviction, lifted their voices and wept—yet walked away unchanged. In Judges 2, Israel discovered that compromise has consequences: what they refused to conquer eventually began to conquer them. The tragedy was not that Israel didn't cry—the tragedy was that when the crying was over, they walked away unchanged.

Getting ghosted or left behind stings, no doubt. But what if that sting is actually God's way of saving you from a disaster you can't see? In Judges 7, God trimmed Gideon's army from a crowd of 32,000 to a lean, mean 300. The rest? Not bad folks, just not built for the win God had in mind.Before you wear that closed door like a badge of failure, pause. God might just be cleaning house in your life. You can't step into a big destiny dragging along the wrong crowd. Let them walk—so the right people can finally find their way in.

What does genuine repentance actually look like? In Judges 10, Israel cries out to God after years of idolatry and oppression. But God's response forces us to ask an uncomfortable question: Are we truly repentant, or are we simply sorry for the consequences of our sin?This sermon explores the difference between saying the right words and experiencing genuine heart change. True repentance doesn't mean we become perfect or never struggle with sin again. It means that, by God's grace, we turn from our idols and increasingly pursue Him with our lives.At the same time, Judges 10 reminds us that our forgiveness does not depend on performing repentance perfectly. We come to a God who is holy and rightly disciplines sin, yet is also wonderfully merciful and compassionate toward His people.Come consider what genuine repentance looks like, and rest in the good news that our salvation ultimately rests on the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ.

In Judges 6, Gideon sets up an altar and names it Yahweh Shalom (Yahweh is Peace). We look at how Yahweh extends a gift of peace to us and how pop culture's concepts of "peacemaking" might draw us away from the true peace of Jesus.

What we inherit can easily become what we take for granted. In Judges 2, one generation experienced the power of God firsthand, while the next eventually forgot what had been handed to them. Which Generation Will You Be? challenges us to stop simply consuming what others sacrificed to build and become builders ourselves—strengthening our faith, families, and communities for generations we may never see.

In Judges 7, Gideon and his army faced an overwhelming battle with the odds seemingly stacked against them. On today's podcast, “And They Stood,” we will discover what happens when ordinary people trust God, take their place, and refuse to back down.

In Judges 7, Gideon and his army faced an overwhelming battle with the odds seemingly stacked against them. On today's podcast, “And They Stood,” we will discover what happens when ordinary people trust God, take their place, and refuse to back down.

Spiritual Authority and Dominion (1) (audio) David Eells, 8/26/26 I want to remind you and encourage you about the difference between using carnal and spiritual dominion. The Bride is maturing and overcoming the flesh, and she's using her dominion over the spiritual host of wickedness and doing warfare against the DS satanists. The Lord says, If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: If any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed … (Rev.13:10). Jesus exercised dominion in His kingdom; not the kind of dominion that some want and false religious leaders have, which glorifies man. Jesus rejected the offer by Satan to be a worldly king with carnal dominion. The Pharisees and Sadducees had a carnal dominion over the people of God. Jesus commanded the people not to do what they did but to obey them because they sat in the seat of Moses. They were given governmental authority much the same way they are today in the church. Jesus exercised dominion over the curse and over Satan's kingdom. He was destroying the works of Satan in the lives of His people. Jesus had spiritual authority, and the people followed Him willingly because they were drawn of the Father, not because they were under the condemnation of the Law. Spiritual authority was necessary to be spiritually and physically fed, healed, and delivered. The apostate religious leaders had no authority like that then, nor do they now. Even though the disciples did not resist their carnal authority, they did resist their attempt to exercise spiritual authority when it was important. They said, “We must obey God rather than men.” When Peter tried to enforce his carnal authority with the sword, Jesus said, … All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Mat.26:52). Then, to show that His spiritual authority can, when necessary, dominate the carnal realm, Jesus said, (Mat.26:53) Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? Anyone who has an angel, much less twelve legions, would not need a puny sword for defense. One angel killed 185,000 men to defend Zion. Jesus then makes the point that if He calls the angels to defend His flesh, how would it be crucified? (54) How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be? This is a good principle for us who also must be crucified. According to type, crucifixion does not necessitate the physical death of the body, but the old nature. (Rom.12:1) … Present your bodies a living sacrifice … The body is dead, meaning that it no longer has a will and rights of its own but is devoted to the service of God. In type, just as Jesus sacrificed His literal flesh, we sacrifice the flesh of the old man while we live. We are told that those who try to defend the body by physical force will be killed for their lack of faith. (Rev.13:10) If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. It is also clear here that if a person needs captivity to fulfill in some way their own crucifixion, the sword will not save them. In fact, it will be judgment to them. (Joh.18:36) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews …. Those who wrestle with flesh and blood in disobedience to the Word are not fighting for God's kingdom but the world and the flesh. They are attempting to exercise carnal dominion. Jesus exercised dominion to save God's creation. He did not exercise dominion over people who wanted to put to death His flesh. As He did a few times, we also have permission to flee, for it was not yet His time. That is a type for us. We must go through many things in order to put to death our flesh. That is what the world was created for: to bring us into sanctification through the death of the old man, the flesh. Even while the world around us is spiritually putting us on our cross by insults, injuries, persecutions, slander, etc., we have to cooperate with them by turning the other cheek. We have authority to save, heal, deliver, provide, and die to self. Exercising our dominion is God exercising His sovereignty through us. Jesus exercised dominion, but He personally resisted not the evil by turning the other cheek. While the world was crucifying Him, even before He came to the natural cross, His spiritual man was exercising dominion and delivering His people from the curse.  Sometimes we can get mixed up about when to exercise this dominion and when not. We do not have authority to save the old man. We do not want to keep our old life; we want our new life. Jesus said that unless we lose our life, we would not gain our life. So this authority to exercise dominion that God has given us is the same as Jesus had. This dominion is not to get rich in the world, but it is to have all we need to do God's Will. God gave me my last two houses and cars free, in order for me to do His Will. (Php.4:19) … My God shall supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Dominion is not to live after the lusts of the flesh, as they do in a false, worldly prosperity that encourages and empowers the flesh to live. (1Ti.6:8) But having food and covering we shall be therewith content. (9) But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. Here is a promise to those who are not content but love the things of the world. They will be overcome by lusts, and it will be as impossible for them to enter the Kingdom as it would be for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Mat.19:24‑26).  Jesus exercised dominion over His flesh when He was going to the cross. He said, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” He gave them authority to crucify His flesh. In the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus spoke to those who came to take Him, “they went backward, and fell to the ground,” showing that He could stop them if He wanted to save His life, or until it was time to go to the cross. He said in John 10:18, “No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself.” A couple of times, He passed through their midst, apparently translated, because it was not His time to die (Luk.4:30). He had been given authority to save God's people, who believed, and to destroy Satan's kingdom. Our flesh (the carnal man) is part of Satan's kingdom (Rom.8:7). The book of Esther is not only literally true but also a prophetic parable. Haman (the beast) had been given authority by the king (the Lord) to destroy the people of God, while Esther (the bride) had been given authority to save the people of God. The beast and the bride were given opposing authority at the same time by the same king. In type, the beast was given authority to crucify the old man, the carnal nature, and the bride was given authority to bring to life the spiritual man. The king's authority could not be annulled in anything, just as our Lord's authority. Ultimately, the house of the beast was given unto the bride to have authority over it (Est.8:1).  The time will come when God will no longer offer grace to the Gentiles but will return it to Israel. He will permit Christians, at that time, to exercise authority over the people who are trying to kill them. Fire from the Witnesses' mouths destroying their enemies, smiting the earth with every plague, and stopping the rain for 3 ½ years, are examples (Rev.11:5-6). From there to the end, authority will be manifested to destroy the beast's kingdom until this world becomes God's kingdom and He takes control (Rev.11:15). Personal control differs from control by proxy. God runs everything, but He must use vessels of dishonor now (Rom.9:21‑24). The time is coming when He will take control in and through His saints who believe. This dominion is ours as spiritual children of Jesus Christ, but we will grow into it by grace. Dominion starts here in the training grounds but continues for eternity. Here, the Lord teaches us how to be rulers under Him over His creation. (1Co.6:1) Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? (2) Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (4) If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church? (5) I say [this] to move you to shame …. If we have authority to judge fallen angels, how much more do we have authority to judge things in this life? Jesus taught His disciples to pray like this: “Thy kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The Lord pointed out to me that this is a command that God is putting in our mouth. Some would object that this puts us in the place of commanding God. Look what God said in (Isa.45:11) Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. In effect, what we command when led by the Spirit, He carries out. In Acts 3:6, Peter commands the lame beggar, “What I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” See, we represent Christ. Peter had authority to represent Jesus and to command the curse. When the lame man walked and bystanders were tempted to credit Peter, he said, “Why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?” (Act.3:12) God's power fulfills what we command in obedience to Him. Our work here is to manifest God's kingdom here on the earth. At the last trump, it will be said in (Rev.11:15) … The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of our Lord, and of his Christ …. Through whom did God bring this to pass? The Bible gives credit to the saints. (Dan.7:26) … The judgment shall be set, and they (the saints) shall take away his (the beast) dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end. (27) And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High …. The saints, by God's grace, shall exercise dominion to end the beast's dominion. God gave dominion unto Samson even in his ignorance. What was the secret of Samson's power? Judges tells us that the secret was his long hair, and as soon as he lost his long hair, he lost his power. Samson was not a big, muscle‑bound man. In Judges 16:17, he told Delilah, “If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” His enemies wanted to know the secret of his power. They were not asking, “How did you get such big muscles?” That did not occur to them. It is not because of our great ability, or power, or wisdom, or even sinlessness, but through what Jesus did at the cross that we have this authority to reign over sin and its curse. Samson reigned over the enemies of God's people. When Samson lost his submission to God, he lost his dominion. In 1 Corinthians 11:3‑16, the long hair was given unto the woman as a sign of submission to her husband. The Bride submits to the Lord, Who is our husband. The one who took the Nazarite vow, as Samson did, could not cut his hair as a sign of submission. The point is that this great dominion was given to Samson, and he lost it because he lost his hair, a sign of his submission to the Lord.  Nazarites were separated from the world by their submission unto the Lord, signified by their long hair. (Num.6:5) All the days of his vow of separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy; he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long. This separation by submission is the meaning of holiness. How did Samson lose his holiness and power? (Jdg.16:19) And she (Delilah) made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. Samson went to sleep, spiritually meaning he no longer had his eyes open to the light of the truth. He submitted his head, or mind in the lap of the harlot Delilah and lost his hair (submission, separation, holiness) and consequently his power or dominion. The moral of that story is that we should not let the harlot have our mind, for then we will have no power of dominion. The religious systems of man, the harlot, have deprived God's people of their power because they are not submitted to the Word of God. (2Ti.3:5) Holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away. The “bride” in the Song of Solomon was a prophetic parable of the sojourning of the Bride today, who temporarily lost her submission. (Son.5:7) The watchmen (or ministers) that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls (denominations or sects) took away my mantle (Hebrew: “veil”) from me. The watchmen are identified by the Lord as shepherds (Hebrew: “pastors”) in Isaiah 56:10‑12. These pastors, in trying to keep the Bride within their sectarian walls, smote her and took away her veil, which is also a sign of submission to her husband, the Lord. (1Co.11:3) … The head of the woman is the man … (5) But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head … (10) for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head … (13) Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? False shepherds have made the people of God submissive to religions rather than Christ as it was in Jesus' day.  In a true type to our day, the Bride in vain sought her beloved first in the broad ways of Babylonish religion. (Son.3:2) [I said], I will rise now, and go about the city (Babylon); In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. (She sought Him from the false shepherds whose loyalty was to themselves and their own kingdom.) (3) The watchmen that go about the city found me; [To whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? (It was not until she was delivered from them that she found the one whom her soul sought.) (4) It was but a little that I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, (In her excitement she wanted to share Him with those among whom she was first conceived and birthed.) Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me. The other daughters of that corporate mother did not share her excitement for her peculiar beloved. (5:9) What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, That thou dost so adjure us? Because of her not being content with “another Jesus,” she was not defiled with the religions of these other daughters and was chosen by her Lord. (6:9) My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed …. She regained her dominion when she became undefiled with the women representing the false religious systems. Those who bear fruit will walk in the holiness of her steps, not being defiled with the seed (word) of men, for they are spiritual virgins. (Rev.14:4) These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb. The sects of Christianity have become defiled with what Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 11:4, “Another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or [if] ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different Gospel, which ye did not accept.” (2Co.6:17) Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you. Only the Word is the truth that sets free. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Jesus calls His sheep out of the fold of apostate religion to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” (Joh.10:3) … He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (4) When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This little flock that follows the Lord in rest is what the bride sought for. (Son.1:7) Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest [it] to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that is veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions? The veil in this case represents the blindness and bondage of submission to religion. (2Co.3:15) But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. (16) But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (17) Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory …. As we can see, those who are unveiled of the legalism of religion see the Lord and come into His likeness. The beloved Lord's answer to “Where thou feedest [thy flock]?” was (Son.1:8) If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. In Jesus' day, it was not possible to feed His Church, meaning “called-out ones,” in the apostate sects of Judaism, so He fed them “beside the shepherds' tents.” Likewise, because the Church has greatly apostatized in our day, Jesus is feeding the flock of freedom, rest, and truth, outside the shepherds' tents. This brought reproach to the bride and Jesus. (6) … My mother's sons were incensed against me …. Those who take up their cross to follow Jesus are commanded to accept this same reproach. (Heb.13:11) For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest [as an offering] for sin, are burned without the camp. (12) Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. (13) Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.  Moses, in a true type of Christ, led his people out of the camp of the rebellious apostates. (Exo.33:7) Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it without the camp, afar off from the camp; and he called it, The tent of meeting. And it came to pass, that every one that sought the Lord went out unto the tent of meeting, which was without the camp. It is in these days that thundering judgments will put the fear of God in those in the camp to come out and meet with the “called‑out ones” on the true mountain of God's Kingdom. (Exo. 19:15) And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman (apostate sect). (16) And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning (the beginning of the third day millennium since the last Adam – where we are now [2 Pet.3:8]), that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. (17) And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. If you have discovered that you have been following man's religions and decide to repent, God will restore your dominion. While in bondage to the Philistines, Samson repented, and his hair began to grow. His dominion returned and he brought down their false temple upon their heads. (Jdg.16:30) And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life. Likewise, as we die to self, we increase in dominion over our enemies. Few who ever exercised dominion in the earth for God were manifestly perfect, including Samson. He refused the dominion of the Lord over himself, and he ultimately lost the dominion that he had over the earth. It is not necessary for God to take away the promises of dominion from the rebellious. Their own heart will not have the faith to partake of it. (1Jn.3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. If we do not serve God, our own heart will condemn us, and we will have no faith to exercise dominion. He is still not speaking of manifestly perfect people here, but He does expect us to be disciples, walking in the light that we have. In this way, we are perfect by faith until we manifest perfection. The baby Christian has little knowledge of good and evil, but he is innocent in God's eyes if he is doing what he knows to do. Baby Christians have dominion over sin and the curse, but not over God's people. I have shared this revelation before, but years ago, I had a dream instructing me about the way in which God promotes some to leadership positions over His people. I am making no claims for myself with this dream, merely pointing out principles. In this dream, there were two mountains. (The first mountain represents the kingdom of the world, Babylon, and the second mountain represents the Kingdom of God, Mount Zion.) I was driving a car down the first steep mountain. (This represents humbling ourselves to the Word [Isa.40:4], becoming as a child [Mat.18:4], and losing our carnal life in this world [Mat.16:25-26].) The road that descended this mountain had a trench going down the center of it to the bottom. My car had one set of tires on one side of the trench while the other set was on the other side. I could not turn right or left without falling into the trench and, of course, halting my progress. (Joshua received instructions similar to this for taking the Promised Land. (Jos.1:7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. Turning to the right or to the left symbolizes getting off the narrow road of Scripture. It will stop us from exercising authority to take our promised land, which symbolizes living on the promises.) At the bottom of this hill, I got out of the car. I sensed that I had many enemies. (The more we humble ourselves to God's Word, the more enemies we will have, both in the carnal church and the world, just as our Lord.) Then I found, hidden under a bush, some tools like hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches, which were drenched in oil. (The burning bush is where Moses received authority to deliver God's people from bondage. These tools all bind and loose, as does God's authority given to His disciples (Mat.18:18). The promises of the Word are the binding and loosing keys to the Kingdom of God that were given to disciples. The oil signifies the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, if we stay in the straight and narrow way, we will receive authority to bind and loose for God.) From there, I turned to the right (The sheep are set on the right [Mat.25:33].) and went up a steep mountain. (Going down the first mountain entitles us to go up the next. Being humbled in the estimation of the world makes us great in the estimation of the Kingdom. The last shall be first, and the least shall be greatest. (Isa.40:3) … Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord … (4) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low …. The way of the Lord is that those who are humble in the world shall be promoted on God's mountain, but those who are exalted on the worldly mountain will have to come down.) (Jas.4:10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.) Reaching the top of the mountain, I went through the door of an immense palace. (Joh.10:2) But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (7) Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (Jesus is the only Shepherd of the sheep. He uses vessels that come to the sheep only through Him, the Door. This palace represents the New Jerusalem on Mount Zion, the city that rules over God's people.) Old Jerusalem ruled over God's physical letter people just as New Jerusalem rules over God's spiritual New Testament people. Paul declared that we have come to this spiritual city. He showed us that it is not a physical city that can be touched. (Heb.12:18) For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched … (22) but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem … (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn …. (Jesus' called-out ones come to this mountain. Our journey is to come to this mountain, climb it, and enter the throne room through the Door.)  Then I saw Jesus, the Son of David, sitting on the throne of David. I walked over and sat down next to Him, and we talked. (The throne is the place of dominion that the bride has next to her King.) (Rev.3:21) He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. All who overcome the stubbornness of their evil heart, to abide in the Name of Jesus, will come to this throne. (Jer.3:17) At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations (of the mostly Gentile Church) shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart. (All who overcome the first mountain of the world will live on the second mountain of the Kingdom of God. These act in “the name of the Lord” because they are seated in the throne of authority with Jesus.  This position has been given to all who are born again, but many have turned to the right or left and do not take their rightful position by abiding in Christ.) (Eph.2:5) Even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), (6) and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus. As I talked with Jesus, I heard a noise behind me and turned to see some men trying to climb up into the throne room through a rear window. Jesus said, “Don't worry about them; they can't come in here.” (Obviously, the position of authority may be usurped in Babylon but not in Zion, God's mountain and kingdom.) (Joh.10:1) … He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Jesus, speaking of the apostate ministers of His day, said, “All that came before me are thieves and robbers” (Joh.10:8); and so it is today. Many have stolen the position of authority by not going down the road of humbling themselves to the Word and entering through the Door of Christ. They have robbed the sheep of gifted mentors. They have robbed the sheep of Christ, for ministers can only pass on what they are. Religion has historically made the same mistake. They mistake education in a sect of Christianity to be God's authority and commission. The disciples were perceived to be unlearned and ignorant by the religious leaders (Act. 4:13). However, the religious leaders knew that the disciples had been with Jesus by their gifts. Faith, fruit, maturity, submission to the Lord, and personal knowledge of the Lord and His ways must be passed on to the sheep. Ministers cannot pass on what they do not possess themselves. The daughter harlots (Rev.17:5) are still mass producing hirelings (Joh.10:12-13; Isa.56:9-12); but Jesus comes to lead His sheep out of the Babylonish sheepfolds of men (Joh.10:3-4) so that, unhindered by the traditions of men, they may run after Him. A man must be an elder in experience and maturity in the Word to be promoted as a bishop (overseer) over God's people (1Ti.3:1-7; Tit.1:5-9). A friend dreamed about Christians as babies with beards, showing they had been with the Lord for many years but were still immature. God's people have loved the world, so He has given them immature apostate leaders to tell them what they want to hear. (Isa.3:4) And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. (5) And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable. (Choose the man with the gift over the man with the title.) (2Ti.4:3) For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; (4) and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.

In Judges 7, Gideon and his army faced an overwhelming battle with the odds seemingly stacked against them. On today's podcast, “And They Stood,” we will discover what happens when ordinary people trust God, take their place, and refuse to back down.

What does it look like to be truly stuck in life? In Judges 6, we encounter the nation of Israel living out a painful cycle: compromise leads to crisis, crisis leads to crying out, and God responds with deliverance. But here is what makes this passage so striking, before God sends a deliverer, he sends a prophet to confront the heart. The message is clear: God is less interested in changing our circumstances than in changing us.Fear has a way of relocating us, shrinking our lives down to the size of what we are afraid of. This message calls us to examine whether we have built our lives around our fears rather than around our faith, and to ask honestly: where have we drifted, and what has quietly taken the place of God in our hearts?

Ever hear of a man in the Bible named Ehud? In Judges 3, he was one of Israel's earliest judges. People often think only strong people can do great things. Not Ehud! As a left-handed bureaucrat, He proves that God uses Weak People to do Great Things. Imagine what God can do with you! Frothy Thoughts with the Truth Barista Visit HighBeam Ministry, The Truth Barista Check out the Frothy Thoughts Blog! Check out The Truth Barista Books! Check out The Truth Barista YouTube Channel!

This week, I'm reflecting on something we all face at one time or another: what do we do when our own strength isn't enough?That question became very real for me this week as my grandson William and his friend Grady reported to The Citadel at 4:30 AM to begin “Hell Week.” Before they left, I sent them a note with what I believe is the most important advice I could give them: Put Jesus first. That advice isn't just for two young men facing a difficult week. It's something all of us need to remember.In Judges 7, God reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 men to just 300 so there could be no question about who gave Israel the victory. In 2 Samuel 24, we see King David fall into the temptation of trusting in the size of his army rather than trusting in God.Those stories raise a question worth asking ourselves: Where am I relying on my own strength, resources, preparation, or plans instead of relying on God?The Bible reminds us that God's power is made perfect in our weakness. And when we finally come to the end of our own strength, that's not necessarily a bad place to be. It may be exactly where God wants us to discover His strength.Key Scripture References:Judges 7:1–7 — Gideon's army reduced to 300 men2 Samuel 24 / 1 Chronicles 21 — David's censusZechariah 4:6 — “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit...”2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you...”Questions to consider this week:Where am I tempted to trust in my own “census”—my abilities, resources, preparation, or backup plans?What might it look like for me to surrender control and trust God in a difficult situation?Who do I know who needs to be reminded to put Jesus first?Share the WordIf this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it with a friend and leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. New episodes publish weekly!

What does it look like when God chooses the most unlikely people to accomplish the most extraordinary things? In Judges 4 and 5, we encounter the story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael -- a narrative that turns every expectation about power and leadership completely upside down. Deborah stands out as a prophet and judge at a time when Israel had forgotten who God was and what He had done for them. Her faithfulness and confidence in God's word stands in sharp contrast to a people caught in a cycle of sin, oppression, and desperate crying out for rescue. The story invites us to ask ourselves an honest question: do we truly trust what God says, or do we, like Barak, hesitate and look for extra reassurance before we step forward in faith? As we trace this story together, we are reminded that the battle ultimately belongs to God -- and that He rarely wins it the way we would expect.

Judges 7:1-8, 19-23 What do we do when God calls us to something that seems far beyond what we have to offer? In Judges 7, we find Gideon staring down an army of 135,000 with only 32,000 fighters at his side

God's hand may be unseen, but His work is unmistakable… Judges 4-5 is a good reminder for us when we face circumstances, trials, or situations that God is present, God is working, and God is in control… even when we ask: Where is God? In Judges 4 the people of Israel are asking this… But God is not absent…

In Judges 4-5, God raises up Deborah during a time of compromise, oppression, and spiritual darkness. Her story reminds us that when evil rises, God raises His people to stand against it. Discover how walking in your God-given calling, staying close to God, and relying on the Holy Spirit can give you the wisdom and courage to say yes when God calls.

God does not need the strongest, most confident, or most qualified person. He is looking for ordinary people who are willing to place their lives in His hands.In Judges 6-7, Gideon is hiding from the Midianites when God calls him a “mighty warrior.” Gideon feels weak, afraid, and completely unqualified, but God sees who Gideon will become through His power. God then reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 men to only 300 and sends them into battle with trumpets, torches, and jars. What looked impossible from a human perspective became possible because God was with them.This message reminds us that God uses the improbable to do the impossible. Our weaknesses, fears, and limitations do not disqualify us. When we surrender our lives to God, He can use even the most ordinary people and ordinary tools for extraordinary purposes.Whose hands is your life in today?

What happens when we refuse to repent of sin? In Judges 16:4–22, Samson's relationship with Delilah reveals the consequences of unrepentant sin. What begins with compromise ultimately leaves him disarmed, deceived, and devastated. This message explores how sin always costs more than it promises and points us to the hope of repentance, God's grace, and the freedom found in wholehearted obedience to Him.

What happens when we refuse to repent of our sin? In Judges 16:4–22, Samson's relationship with Delilah reveals the consequences of unrepentant sin. What begins with compromise ultimately leaves him devastated! Listen as Pastor Rob Bentz shares our latest message, Immorality (Unrepentance), to learn why sin always costs more than it promises. Only God's grace, and the freedom found in repentance brings peace. 

What controls your decisions: fear of people or fear of God? In Judges 6, we see how the fear of others can keep us from living in faithful obedience, but God's presence gives us the courage to trust Him instead. Pastor Joel Tomkinson explores how hearing God's truth, holding onto His presence, and honoring Him above everyone else weakens the grip of fear and leads to a life of bold faith.

Many things guide our life decisions. Oftentimes, the difficult decisions we face in life come down to the posture of our heart--do we fear people or do we fear God? In Judges 6, we see how the fear of others can keep us from living in faithful obedience. Listen as Pastor Rob Bentz shares our latest message, Fear, as we explore how hearing God's truth, holding onto His presence, and honoring Him above everyone else weakens the grip of fear and leads to life of bold faith.

What controls your decisions: fear of people or fear of God? In Judges 6, we see how the fear of others can keep us from living in faithful obedience, but God's presence gives us the courage to trust Him instead. This message explores how hearing God's truth, holding onto His presence, and honoring Him above everyone else weakens the grip of fear and leads to a life of bold faith.

God's purpose for your life does not wait for you to have everything figured out. In Judges 13, He moved toward a barren woman in a struggling tribe, setting apart her unborn son as a Nazirite before he ever took his first breath. Even when Israel had drifted from Him for decades, God remained faithful to His plan. Preparation for that plan began not with Samson, but with his mother's obedience. The same is true for us today. God is not looking for perfection before He acts. He is looking for hearts that are willing to be set apart and ready. The question worth asking is whether we are preparing for what He has already purposed.

What happens when a person gains power but loses their sense of right and wrong? In Judges 9, we encounter the tragic story of Abimelech—a man driven by ambition, willing to compromise truth and sacrifice others to achieve his goals. In this sermon we take a careful look at the emptiness that comes when life is built on pride, self-promotion, and a rejection of God's wisdom.This passage reminds us that God sees beyond outward success and ultimately holds every heart and every leader accountable. Yet, even in a dark chapter of Scripture, we are reminded of our need for a better King—one who leads with humility, righteousness, and grace.Join us as we consider the kind of people we are becoming and the foundation we are building our lives upon.

Wednesday, 24 June 2026   Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, Matthew 21:1   “And when they neared unto Jerusalem, and they came unto Bethphage toward the ‘Mount, the Olives', then Jesus, He sent two disciples.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Chapter 20 ended with Jesus healing the sight of the blind men, who were then said to follow Him. In Luke, the account of Zachaeus, the wee little man, comes after the healing. Matthew skips over that, saying, “And when they neared unto Jerusalem.”   The walk from Jericho to Jerusalem is uphill. The path follows a wide gorge at times with stunning views. Eventually, Jerusalem comes into view. Along this well-beaten track, certainly still accompanied by a large group of people, it says, “and they came unto Bethphage.”   Béthphagé is a location found only three times, once in each of the synoptic gospels. It is, unfortunately, rendered by some as House of Figs. This does not give the full sense of the word. The name is derived from beth, house, and pag (Hebrew pagah), crude, which is found only once in the Old Testament, in Song of Songs 2:13. There it says, “The fig spiced her crudes.” The word khanat signifies to spice. It is a term used when referring to embalming.   The meaning isn't that of putting forth but of the sweetening, or spicing, of the fruit as it ripens for harvesting. This process then explains the word pagah, crude, an unripe fig. The fig is already on the tree, but until it goes through the spicing process, it otherwise remains an inedible crude unless it is properly prepared to make chutneys, jams, and preserves. However, once it is spiced by the season, it becomes edible right off the tree.   Understanding this, Béthphagé means House of Unripe Figs, or more scientifically, House of Unspiced Figs, with the understanding that the spicing process is on the tree, not in later preparation. Bethphage is collocated with Bethany, as is seen in Mark's and Luke's gospel records.   The actual site of Bethphage has never been determined, but its general location, based on the gospels, is certain. Being near Bethany, it is within what is known as a Sabbath-day's journey, which is 2000 cubits or less, to Jerusalem. That is determined from Acts 1:12, which places the Mount of Olives within this distance. Matthew says it is “toward the ‘Mount, the Olives'.”   This contains another new word, elaia, olive. It refers to the tree or the fruit. In Judges 9, the olive is noted as the finest of the fruit trees. Its fruit is highly prized. Olives are used for eating, oil, soaps, and more. The oil is used for lighting lamps and cooking food, among other uses. The wood is prized for its beauty and can be burned for warmth.   As for the olive itself, it is a symbol of religious privilege. For example, it reflects the Spirit working through those who are included in this privilege. The olives receive their fatness from the roots. The branches receive this fatness and produce olives, which are then used to put forth light before the Lord in the form of olive oil. At this location, it next says, “then Jesus, He sent two disciples.”   These two are to prepare for a special moment prophesied by the prophet Zechariah, hundreds of years earlier.   Life application: It is important to know what the various things noted in the Bible represent. The olive was just seen as a symbol of religious privilege. The fig has its own connotation as well. Unfortunately, the meaning of the fig has been misapplied by many to signify the nation of Israel.   That misinterpretation has been passed around for eons, and it damages any hint of trying to figure out what is being presented in Scripture. Rather, the fig speaks of the spiritual connection between God and man.   When this was lost in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve attempted, by their own works, to restore that connection through the use of fig leaves covering the disconnect, the shame of sin.   When Jesus curses the fig tree, in the gospels, it forms a parable concerning the place He was coming from and going to, the temple, which is the place where the spiritual connection with God was effected for the people.   In His words, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again” (Mark 11:14), He was indicating that the temple that served the law would never again be the source of connection to God. Instead, that connection would only come through Him.   Understanding this, the House of Unspiced Crudes will have its own particular meaning. It refers to a fig that is not yet ready to be eaten unless it is manually prepared in a manner similar to pickling. Pay attention to such details. In considering the details, typology is likely to come forth from the surrounding narrative, forming a larger picture of something else.   Lord God, it is so wonderful to search out the treasures found in Your word. Help us to be diligent to research what is said, paying attention to every detail. In doing this, we will more clearly understand what You are telling us. Help us, Lord, to be methodical and patient as we search out this precious word. Amen.  

Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Theresa, Facebook (3:32) - Can I have demonic sin? Charles, NY (6:47) - If we are present with the Lord after we die, then who will rise from the dead when the dead in Christ rise? Anonymous, email (8:39) - How would you advise someone having trouble with involuntary thoughts of taking the Lord's name in vain? Carl, email (10:10) - In Judges 11 verse 31, does the word "as" mean a comparison? Matt, Instagram (13:24) - Is it a sin to not want to have kids? Rose, email (16:25) - Who was Cain afraid of, if Adam and Eve were the only other people on Earth? Where did Cain get his wife? Enriquez, HI (18:51) - Are some born again into immortality without the influence of Satan? Bella, email (23:06) - Who is allowed to speak in tongues and when? Isaac, GA (25:48, continued after break at 33:30) - What was Adam to God? Debbie, email (34:50) - Would it have been possible for Hannah to have purchased Samuel back from the temple? Johnny, email (36:33) - Why was Isaac limited to only blessing one son? Rich, email (39:14) - Can you explain why Jesus cursed the fig tree? Jackie, NJ (41:56) - In Kings, how could the king have gathered all the people together for announcements or decrees? Kirk, MA (46:01) - Didn't Esau give away his birthright for soup? Didn't God predict the older would serve the younger? Joshua, MA (51:10) - Was Eve surprised to have a man child? Ask Your Questions: Call: 888-712-7434 Email: Answers@bbtlive.org

Are you making major decisions based solely on what's efficient, logical, or profitable?When things get tough, it is incredibly easy to look around at what is working for everyone else and try to copy it. In Judges 2, the Israelites got into trouble because they stopped trusting God and started copying the religious practices of the surrounding culture. Today, creators do the exact same thing: we follow the algorithms, the hustle culture, and the financial advice of the secular world without ever stopping to ask God for wisdom.Life and content creation become exponentially harder when we rely purely on secular thinking. If you only look at your problems through a physical, biological, or financial lens, you are missing out on the spiritual reality of how God operates. The secular mindset thrives on fear, telling you to panic, go into debt, and work yourself into burnout. But the biblical approach often looks like taking a Sabbath, waiting patiently, and making small, faithful steps of obedience—even if it means making less money.

The letter of James is full of challenging spiritual statements.  Many are applicable to the world which surrounds us. James was writing at the time when Jerusalem was about to be destroyed as his half-brother (our Lord) had warned.  The great majority had rejected the divine message, it is evident that, 30+ years after their Lord ascended to heaven the convictions and commitment of believers was in serious decline.What James writes is also appropriate for the world today and the spirit among many who consider themselves believers, “You ask and do not receive,” he declares, “because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions…. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? [4 v.3,4] What he writes next reminds us of what Paul said to the people of Athens – about the unseen presence of the only real God, encouraging them to “feel their way toward him and find him.  Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being'”  [Acts 17 v.27,28] Compare this with what James told believers in Jerusalem about God, “'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?'” [Ch. 4 v.5]   The Creator of all things, it is clear, sees and knows all. In Judges we read about Gideon; in his days the people had largely forgotten their history, especially the faith that Moses and Joshua inspired in them as they started to possess the promised land. The nation was in deep trouble, Gideon had an astonishing encounter with an angel of the LORD and asked him, “if the LORD is with us why has all this happened …” [6 v.13]  We know the reason, few in our world will know the reason when our world starts to really fall apart.   Finally, what Isaiah writes in todays' ch. 33 is a sort of prayer, an inspiration that we can and should take to heart, “O LORD , be gracious to us,; we wait for you.  Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble.” [v.2] We all need to experience “friendship” How do we find ours? Does it sustain us spiritually?  Above all, how real in our divine relationship?   Is it “our arm every morning.”? 

In Judges 5, Deborah and Barak respond to God's mighty deliverance with a song of praise, celebrating the Lord's victory over the Canaanite oppressors. In this message, Pastor Jim Schultz walks through this powerful chapter, showing how the song highlights both God's sovereign power and the willing obedience of those who answered His call.Along the way, we see the contrast between those who stepped forward in faith and those who stayed on the sidelines, offering timely lessons for believers today. What keeps us from obeying God? Fear, inconvenience, distraction, or something else?This sermon also explores how Christians should understand themes of battle and victory in light of the New Testament. Drawing from Ephesians 6, Pastor Jim explains how believers are called to engage in spiritual warfare through faith, prayer, standing firm in God's truth, and boldly sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.Join us as we learn to praise God for His victories, trust His leadership, and faithfully follow His call.

Today's Promise: Judges 6:12 Have you ever felt inadequate, overlooked, or incapable of being used by God? If so, today's episode is for you. In Judges 6:12, an angel of the Lord appears to Gideon, a frightened man hiding in a winepress, and calls him a "valiant warrior." Gideon certainly did not see himself that way, but God did.   Join us as we explore this promise to discover how God sees beyond our fears, failures, and limitations. While we often define ourselves by our past mistakes and present struggles, God sees our potential through His power at work within us. Just as He transformed Gideon from a fearful farmer into a mighty deliverer, He can transform your life as well.   If you feel stuck in your own "winepress" today, this episode will encourage you to trust God's perspective over your own and step confidently into the purpose He has prepared for you.

In Judges 16:28, Samson discovered that even after failure, compromise, and spiritual defeat, God was still willing to restore, strengthen, and use him again, so cry out to Jesus today and ask, "Lord, one more time," and let Him restore what has been lost.

In Judges, we see gifted, but flawed leaders living through cycles of compromise, rescue, and rebellion. When Israel drifts away from God, we witness the consequences of only using strength and influence without tempering it with surrender and integrity. Even though it seems like chaos, God continues to work through imperfect people. As we look at Judges, we will see why character matters more than giftedness.

We hear a lot about the prophets, but what about prophetesses? Women worked alongside men in the Old Testament, even as prophetesses of the Lord. Although the Old Testament text has a lot less to say about these women, we read that they were respected and sought after for their specific wisdom. The history in the Bible would surely not be the same without unity between these women and the men they served with and for. Why don't we see these stories as powerful movements for the kingdom of God? We have examined the unity God created men and women in and the unity of work he created us for. And we also examined how sin broke this sacred unity. This is the underlying why. Culture and sin both play an unintentional and sometimes intentional role in us not hearing more about these female prophets. You could probably tell me a lot about Moses and Aaron, but what about their sister? Her name was Miriam, and she was also a prophet of the Lord. If I think about this trio more, I wish I could have heard more about their unity and the dynamics of their work together! Miriam is one of the earliest leaders of worship! In Exodus 15:20-21 we see her leading other women in song and dance after they crossed the Red Sea. The timing of the text suggests she may have been the first to lead a victory celebration of the exodus from Egypt! Miriam was noted as one of God's chosen leaders of the exodus in Micah 6:4. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam (Micah 6:4). She was “joined as a whole” in unity with her brothers in this work. Deborah, too, was a powerful prophetess. She is described in Scripture as a judge, military strategist, warrior, and mother in Israel. No, she was not an actual mom, but rather she was a leader of Israel. In Judges, we see Deborah working, first as a judge and then as the one who leads Israel to war. Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided (Judges 4:4-5). Men and women sought her counsel. In the next verse we see Deborah sends for and summons Barak. Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go” (Judges 4:8). You can read more about this in Judges chapters 4 and 5, but again we see God using men and women—in unity— to complete work. How do you see examples of Miriam and Deborah and their unity with the men around them in your work today?

Abimelech's story is a tragic mess. Driven by selfish ambition, he conspires to seize power by murdering his seventy brothers. He is godless, ruthless, and self-serving—and that dangerous combination brings destruction to everyone under his leadership.In Judges 9, Pastor Andy uses the story of Abimelech to show how godless leaders become dangerous leaders. What happens when a leader has ambition without character, power without love, or courage without restraint? The result is always ruin.Welcome to Antioch Georgetown! We are a church in Georgetown, TX, and our mission is simple--We lead people to follow Christ in a life-changing way.Get Connected:

In Judges 6, the Lord meets Gideon and calls him a “valiant warrior.” Yet Gideon doesn't look the part—he appears fearful and uncertain. While Gideon is focused on changing his circumstances, God is focused on changing his identity.Today, we'll explore how the Lord is still at work within us, transforming our hearts and shaping us into valiant warriors who live on mission with Him.Welcome to Antioch Georgetown! We are a church in Georgetown, TX, and our mission is simple--We lead people to follow Christ in a life-changing way.Get Connected:

In Judges 6, Israel's disobedience opened the door to oppression—and the Midianites devastated the land year after year, leaving God's people harassed, hiding, and hopeless (Judges 6:3, 5). It took seven long years before Israel humbled itself and cried out to the Lord (Judges 6:6). In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef draws a sobering parallel to our own time: when adults fail to model faithful obedience, the next generation often learns to retreat—running and hiding from the “Midianites” of their day rather than standing firm in God's strength. But God's pattern with Gideon still holds: before He delivers His people from external threats, He must deliver them from internal unbelief. Dr. Youssef calls believers to welcome God's gift of revival through confession and repentance, then to cling to the Lord, rest in His strength, and show the next generation what it looks like to “stand up and be counted.” If you're burdened for the future of your family, your community, or your nation, this devotional will re-center your hope: God can still rescue, but He begins by reshaping hearts. Prayer: God, forgive us for the poor example we have set for the next generation. I pray that my generation would humble itself before You before it's too late. Help us show our children what it means to stand up for Truth instead of being overrun by our culture. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Beware of Spiritual Amnesia, Part 3: LISTEN NOW Scripture Focus: Judges 6:1-6 The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

What if your biggest obstacle is not fear — but the choice to hold back? In Judges 6, God calls Gideon a mighty hero while he is literally hiding in a wine press. That disconnect is the whole point. In Why You Keep Holding Back, Pastor Mike O'Connell unpacks the Greek word deilía from 2 Timothy 1:7 — often translated "timidity" — and reveals that it is not describing an emotion. It is describing a posture: the decision to shrink back when courage is already available to you.God did not just call Gideon out of hiding. He stripped away every safety net — shrinking an army of 32,000 down to 300 — so there would be no question about who deserved the credit. If there is a decision you keep deferring, a conversation you keep avoiding, or a calling you keep softening to make it more comfortable, this message will challenge you. What God sees in you is not what your circumstances are telling you. And the step He is asking you to take might be the very thing that unlocks everything else.

What if your biggest obstacle is not fear — but the choice to hold back? In Judges 6, God calls Gideon a mighty hero while he is literally hiding in a wine press. That disconnect is the whole point. In Why You Keep Holding Back, Pastor Mike O'Connell unpacks the Greek word deilía from 2 Timothy 1:7 — often translated "timidity" — and reveals that it is not describing an emotion. It is describing a posture: the decision to shrink back when courage is already available to you.God did not just call Gideon out of hiding. He stripped away every safety net — shrinking an army of 32,000 down to 300 — so there would be no question about who deserved the credit. If there is a decision you keep deferring, a conversation you keep avoiding, or a calling you keep softening to make it more comfortable, this message will challenge you. What God sees in you is not what your circumstances are telling you. And the step He is asking you to take might be the very thing that unlocks everything else.

The third stop in our names of God study brings us to Elohim, and it's actually where it all begins. Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word used here for God is “Elohim”. This is how we meet God, and before he asks absolutely anything of us, he reveals who he is. Who is he? He is Elohim, meaning he is the Supreme One, the Mighty One, the Creator. The name Elohim tells us our God is all power and absolutely zero limitation. Nothing and no one is above him and everything begins with him. Nothing exists without the Creator. To understand our Elohim, look at his creation. Look at the magnificent universe and its perfect balance to sustain life. Look at the intricate details of life. Nothing is by accident, everything is the intentional thought and spoken word of Elohim, the Creator. But you know that, right? You know he created all of this and holds all of this, but do you realize, Elohim doesn't stop there. A creator doesn't create once and never create again. He continues to create. He continues to make things new … for you! Not only for you, but IN YOU. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a NEW person. The old life is gone; a NEW LIFE has begun!” This is the work of Elohim, the Creator who is still creating new things in you. As long as you're alive, he's still creating in you. New things are growing and developing because of his continued work of creation in you. Question – Where do you need Elohim to create something new in you? God is working in you, and he's working all around you. Elohim can work in anything and everything because it was all his original work anyway. The one who created it can change it or redesign it in any way he wishes. He alone holds that power. Maybe what you need doesn't even exist right now. Do you honestly think that's a problem for Elohim, the Supreme One, the Mighty One, the Creator? Girl, he can create the solution for your problem. He can design the pathway through your impossible. He can make a brand new, never been seen before creation to meet your need. He is not limited to what has been before. He is not limited to what makes sense. He's not limited to what you know or what you understand. He can make a new cure. He can make a new way. He can make a new solution. Our God is a CREATOR. He creates things that have never existed before. Did you know you can call on him to create for you now? Think about this – when Moses and the Israelites stood before an impassable Red Sea with their enemies closing in from behind, there was no way. There were no solutions. This was hopeless. So Elohim, our God the Creator, created a new way that had never been seen or imagined before. He created a dry path through the Red Sea by splitting the waters and making them stand on their ends. And let me tell you something you need to know – If God can do that then for them, God can do something radically new for you now! Call on your Elohim. God, create a way for me. Maybe what you need is a new opportunity. You're at a dead end with no viable options and you feel desperate. You've looked for a different opportunity and found absolutely none. Well – LOOK AGAIN, Sis. For real, God can create a new opportunity for you that simply wasn't there before … but it can be now. In my journey of faith I've found this simple truth – God loves to show up for the one who is looking for him. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7, “Seek and you will find.” I believe Jesus really meant that and I believe Elohim can really back it up. If you look for him, you will find him … and you'll find him doing new things for you all the time! Creating ways where there were no ways before. Creating new opportunities where old opportunities spoiled. Creating new solutions to impossible problems and letting you stumble right into them as you seek his hand. Question – Where do you need Elohim to create something new for you? You can trust God's unlimited hand over your limitations. You can trust God's power over your problems. He can speak into existence absolutely ANYTHING NEEDED HERE. Elohim is the creator of all things, including YOU. Nothing in your life is beyond his power. He can create in you what you cannot create on your own. He can align for you in one day what you couldn't possibly make come together in a hundred lifetimes. Get a glimpse of how big your God, Elohim, really is … now know that anything you can dare to imagine is the tiniest proportion of who he really is and what he can really do. Elohim doesn't just create worlds with mountains and valleys, rivers and oceans, the sun and moon and stars – he creates moments – he creates solutions – he creates connections – he creates paths that lead to eternal destinations. Elohim creates abundance where there was lack, order where there was chaos, and life where there was death. In Exodus, we see God create manna out of absolutely nothing and make this dewy food substance just appear on the wilderness ground every morning for his people. It had never been there before and likely has never been there again since – but he made it new for the Israelites just when they needed it. This shows us Elohim doesn't need resources – HE CREATES THEM. Maybe you're standing here today empty handed feeling like you have nothing to even start with. Okay, that's not a problem for our God. He can create the resources you need. He can create the job. He can create the opportunity. He can create the connection. He can create the need and then allow YOU to be the one to meet the need in a perfect way. How many times in scripture do we see God create new life in a womb that was declared barren and broken? That's not a limitation for the Creator. He can create in impossible places and grow miracles. I'm literally watching him do that right now in one of my friend's lives. Elohim is still working! In 2 Chronicles 20, God gives a new battle plan for Jehoshaphat against a mighty army he didn't have a chance winning against. The new battle plan God gave was to go out and sing praises the next morning and this would send the enemy armies into a frenzy and fight against one another. As Jehoshaphat and his tiny army of men sang praises to the Lord, this massive army slaughtered each other until not a single enemy remained. I need a battle plan like that for some battles I'm facing. A new plan straight from Elohim! How about you? He creates solutions we would never think of, and even when they sound crazy, God's solutions will NOT FAIL! Elohim spoke a new identity over Gideon. In Judges 6 Gideon felt like the smallest nobody of a whole tribe of nobodies. But Elohim speaks a new identity into Gideon as a mighty warrior. That mighty warrior went on and did mighty things with his new identity. Question – Do you need Elohim to speak a new identity over you? Remember, he's already doing the work in you! Going back to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a NEW person. The old life is gone; a NEW LIFE has begun!” Let him create a new identity in you and do a new work through you leading you to a radically new life! Elohim – our God the Creator is all power and zero limitation … and he's still creating today! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

What if the version of you that God sees… is nothing like the version you see?In Judges 6, Gideon is hiding—afraid, intimidated, and just trying to survive. But in that very moment, God shows up and calls him something completely different: “Mighty man of valor.”God doesn't speak to where you are—He speaks to who He's called you to be. And too many believers are living beneath that calling… hiding, staying quiet, and allowing fear, culture, and distraction to keep them from stepping into what God has already put inside them.Gideon went from hiding in a pit… to tearing down idols… to stepping into purpose. And it started with one moment—when he chose to believe what God said about him.The same call is going out today: Mighty man. Mighty woman. The Lord is with you. Support the show

The book of Judges is the “wild west” of the Bible—a messy, dark season in Israel's history. After settling in the land, the people of Israel failed to continue the fight God had called them to, leaving work unfinished and ground unconquered.In Judges 3, we're introduced to Othniel, the first judge, who shows us what it looks like when God raises up a faithful leader to step into the battle. His story reminds us that God is still calling His people to engage, not retreat.Just like Israel, we're called into a daily spiritual battle. There is still ground to take in our lives—areas where God wants to bring growth, freedom, and victory. The question is: will we step forward in obedience, or settle where we are?Welcome to Antioch Georgetown! We are a church in Georgetown, TX, and our mission is simple--We lead people to follow Christ in a life-changing way.Get Connected:

In Judges chapters 10–21 and Ruth chapters 1–4, Israel repeatedly turns away from God and experiences oppression, and though God raises up judges like Jephthah and Samson to deliver them, the nation falls deeper into moral and spiritual chaos, ending with civil war and the statement that everyone did what was right in their own eyes. In contrast, the book of Ruth shows a story of faithfulness and redemption, as Ruth remains loyal to Naomi, marries Boaz, and becomes part of the family line that would lead to King David.Read the WHOLE Bible with me! Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. If you appreciate what is happening on this channel, please like, comment and most importantly, share this everywhere you can so we can bring as many people as possible with us on this Bible reading journey. GOD IS SO GOOD!Here is a link to all of the worship songs I have finished the Bible readings with. Worship with me!https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0l3ExigVUcMr6ja88bC607BoR1EaQuF&si=e1HfJdRXr4LSdU7WHere is the link to read the WHOLE Bible with me on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0l3ExigVUdyHEiJ2X2tFvXNINmLMs7O&si=FM_Od_qVefeWU1kYDo you want a Bald Headed Country Boy t-shirt? You can find them on my website with the link below.https://baldheadedcountryboy.com/

Sin always costs more than we want to pay. In Judges 10, Israel's rebellion led to crushing discipline, but God also showed them the path back: honest confession, real acknowledgement of sin, and a turning away from false gods. This episode is a sober warning not to test God's patience—and a hopeful reminder that restoration begins when we finally take sin seriously.

In Judges 1, Israel steps into the Promised Land ready to move forward. They actually begin in a good place, they seek the Lord and ask what they should do next. There's direction. Over and over again, we see the same phrase: "they did not drive them out." Instead of fully obeying what God had asked, they begin to compromise. They allow certain people to stay, put them to forced labor, and learn to live alongside what God had clearly told them to remove. But what starts as partial obedience slowly turns into a pattern of compromise, and eventually, confusion. There's a moment in Judges 1:19 where it says Judah couldn't drive out the inhabitants because they had iron chariots. And you can almost hear the justification in that. This is too hard. This is too much. This isn't realistic. It's an invitation to take an honest look at our lives and ask: Where have I stopped short? What have I allowed to stay that God has asked me to remove? Where have I chosen what feels easier over what God has said? Because obedience isn't just about starting well, it's about finishing faithfully. Click SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes with Pastor David Maestas. 

In Judges chapters 6–9, God calls Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, giving Israel victory with a small army, but later Gideon's son Abimelech seizes power and brings conflict and destruction.Read the WHOLE Bible with me! Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. If you appreciate what is happening on this channel, please like, comment and most importantly, share this everywhere you can so we can bring as many people as possible with us on this Bible reading journey. GOD IS SO GOOD!Here is a link to all of the worship songs I have finished the Bible readings with. Worship with me!https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0l3ExigVUcMr6ja88bC607BoR1EaQuF&si=e1HfJdRXr4LSdU7WHere is the link to read the WHOLE Bible with me on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0l3ExigVUdyHEiJ2X2tFvXNINmLMs7O&si=FM_Od_qVefeWU1kYDo you want a Bald Headed Country Boy t-shirt? You can find them on my website with the link below.https://baldheadedcountryboy.com/

In Judges chapters 2–5, Israel repeatedly turns away from God, but He raises up judges to deliver them from their enemies, including Deborah and Barak, who lead Israel to victory and praise God in song.Read the WHOLE Bible with me! Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. If you appreciate what is happening on this channel, please like, comment and most importantly, share this everywhere you can so we can bring as many people as possible with us on this Bible reading journey. GOD IS SO GOOD!Here is a link to all of the worship songs I have finished the Bible readings with. Worship with me!https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0l3ExigVUcMr6ja88bC607BoR1EaQuF&si=e1HfJdRXr4LSdU7WHere is the link to read the WHOLE Bible with me on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv0l3ExigVUdyHEiJ2X2tFvXNINmLMs7O&si=FM_Od_qVefeWU1kYDo you want a Bald Headed Country Boy t-shirt? You can find them on my website with the link below.https://baldheadedcountryboy.com/

Hiding in a winepress. Questions in the heart. A life shaped by fear, weakness, and small beginnings. Then God speaks. In Judges 6, Gideon is seen before he feels strong, called a mighty warrior before he believes it, and sent forward with the strength he already has. What follows is more than a moment of encouragement; it is the beginning of inner transformation—where God meets weakness, speaks identity, and reveals His might through surrendered people. Alan reminds us that purpose can be knocking while fear is still answering, and that God's strength often begins to rise in the places we've tried to hide. If you've been shrinking back, disqualifying yourself, or waiting to feel stronger first, this message is your invitation into a new day: Step out of hiding. Step into the strength God declares over you.

Before the victory came, Gideon gave. Throughout the Bible, breakthrough follows surrender. Guest Pastor Bil Cornelius walks us through the levels of giving and the principle that changes everything. It isn't strategy. It's surrender.   In Judges 6, Gideon didn't wait for proof. He didn't wait for the miracle. He laid down an offering first. And only after the sacrifice was placed on the rock did the fire fall.  The early church gave themselves first to the Lord before explosive growth. And Jesus gave first. Offering precedes outpouring. Sacrifice precedes supernatural. Generosity precedes breakthrough 

This Sunday, Pastor Keithen Schwahn continued our sermon series, God Comes Where He's Wanted, with a teaching on the altar of the home, drawing from the story of Gideon in Judges 6 and the words of Jesus in Matthew 18. We need to confront the brokenness of the altar of the home in our culture and take responsibility for the next generation. In Judges 6, we see the great danger of generational drift when vision is not matched with action, reminding us that renewal begins with tearing down the idols that compete for our devotion. As God restores Gideon's identity and calls him into partnership, we are urged to pursue fully integrated lives marked by obedience and faithfulness to remove idols. In Matthew 18, we are reminded of Jesus' deep care for children, and we are all invited to fight for the future of the church by blessing young people, breaking generational cycles, and intentionally passing on faith.