"JOIN IN THE FIGHT" Mark McCool TEXT: JUDGES 1:1-3 I. INTRODUCTION The book of Judges takes up the thread of Israel's history where the book of Joshua stops. And it relates to us the further developement of Israel as a nation. Joshua had gathered the elders and the leaders of the people around him, and laid out before them the entire destruction of the Canaanites, which would come through the devine and providential help of God, if they would hear and obey the voice of God! This passage of scripture speaks of a time when Isreal had no man to lead them as such when Moses and Joshua led Isreal out of Egypt. Moses and Joshua had now passed on as the pages of Isreal's history was beginning another chapter. Isreal was now in a time of searching and inquiring of the Lord by the priesthood through use of the Urim and Thummim to find direction from God. These were crititcal times, for God had brought them to this place from the lap of sin's dillusion of comfort, to the struggle for a land God had promised to the faithful. Yes, God promised them a land of heritage, but it wasn't going to come without a fight! God's promise was this: "Drive them out, and I will give you the land as you are able to possess it." Some things in life and in living for God don't come without first joining in the fight! The term to join is a military term which means to touch the enemy, as an Apache Indian would count coup with a coup-stick. A warrior, in the danger of battle, would take his coup stick and merely touch the enemy without harming him. This left the humiliating mark upon the enemy that one could touch him without being in turn harmed, and then live to tell about it! This is the blessing of God to His Church, in that if the Church will join in the fight, and do her part, God will see to it that the enemy is left defeated and humiliated, as the saint of God eludes the enemy, and lives to tell about it! What a testimony to say, "I was in the heat of the battle, I touched my enemy without harm, and God caused me live to tell about it!" Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in a critical time of decision of bringing America into WW2: "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" II. BODY A. HAVING THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP Isreal wanted to know from God Himself, "Who shall go up for us?" In otherwords, "God, you are the General, the Captain of our Salvation, our Commander in Chief - You give the orders. Tell us how it's going to be. Because, if we go and conquer, it won't be because we did it, but it will be because You led us, and gave us the power and ability to conquer!" 1. God said, "Judah shall go up. I have delivered the land into his hand." Judah wasn't chosen because of her great numbers! For we find in Genesis 44:8, she was chosen because of the blessing of Jacob to be champion of his brethren! * We find in Judah's history that he was an intercessor: 1) He interceded for Joseph when his brethren were going to kill him; 2) He interceded for Benjamin before Joseph for his father's sake when they came to Egypt to find provision against the famine. * Judah means Praise! And praise will always preceed the power of God in the day of battle! It is the main ingredient in victorious living. * Paul said, "In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God concerning you." * David said, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." 2. The Bible tells us that "God inhabits the praises of His people!" He becomes, not only the outward protection, but the indwelling power that ignites this mighty army called the Church!" * The right leadership must be not only around us, but it must be within us! And the atmosphere and lifestyle of true praise puts us into the realm of the greatest leadership of all! B. BROTHER MUST HELP BROTHER 1. Judah said unto Simeon, "Come with me into my lot .... I likewise will go with thee." * Simeon means Hearing, with the connotation that he hears and obeys with a willingness! 2. Simeon had been the opposite of what his name implied from the beginning of his history. Joined to Levi, he was treacherous and selfwilled, as in their slaying of the male Shechemites, who had raped their sister. But only after his dealing of bad to Joseph and his later repentance in Egypt during the famine, did he change. * No prosperity came as long as he was joined to Levi, or to Reuben, who is described by God as "unstable as water." But when they crossed into Canaan he joined himself to Judah and it was then that things became different! * The disobedient, the self-willed, the carnal, the unstable, can only change and bring change when he will join himself in praise to God, who gives us the victory! 3. To join in the battle also means to attach oneself in the aid or help of his ally, commerade, and brother! (Ecc.4:9-12; Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 21:12-25) * Adoni-Bezek cut off three-score and ten (70) king's thumbs and great toes - He dismembered the body so that they couldn't run, or carry a weapon! We must not dismember the body - causing division among ourselves! * God is calling for the brotherhood to come together and join themselves in the battle! No man has any discharge in this battle. Some may feel they have no time, or any resolve to help another, much less themselves, but warriors must remember, their survival depends upon the survival of their brother's! * The attack didn't come at the gathering at Shechem or before their march to take their possessions. But it came when they were in the land of their possessions. They had to take care of Adoni-Bezek before they could go and fight for their place within their lots! * Before you can find your place within the Kingdom, you're gonna have to deal with the spirit of division that hinders the Church from revival! * Simeon joined Judah and victory came! C. THE CURSE OF MEROZ 1. Judges 5:16-23 * Deborah judged Isreal * Barak, captain of the host, vs Sisera * In their song of victory and praise, it is mentioned that those who helped in the battle were blessed by God. But those who would not were cursed by God! * Why? What was the real reason? There was none given. No justified reason ... no answer to the charge! * And verse 23 said, "Cursed be Meroz, they didn't help in the LORD'S cause." III. CLOSING It's time to join in the fight together as brothers and sisters in the cause of Christ. To find our place in the Kingdom of God, under the ordained leadership of God, and God's pastor!