Text: Judges 3:28
“And he said to them, Follow me, for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and permitted not a man to pass over.”
Introduction
There are moments in life when victory is not determined by how strong the enemy is, but by whether we are willing to follow God's appointed direction.
Israel had been under the oppression of Moab. The enemy appeared stronger, established, and difficult to defeat. But God raised Ehud as a deliverer.
Ehud did not merely defeat the enemy and walk away. He returned with a clear instruction:
“Follow me.”
That statement contains a powerful principle:
When God gives you a deliverer, an instruction, and an opportunity, your responsibility is to follow.
The victory had been provided by God, but Israel still had to move.
1. “FOLLOW ME” — VICTORY REQUIRES OBEDIENCE
The first words of Ehud were:
“Follow me.”
*He did not say, “Watch me.”
*He did not say, “Admire me.”
*He said, “Follow me.”
There is a difference between watching someone experience victory and following the instruction that leads to victory.
Israel could have said:
“Ehud has already done enough.”
“Let us wait and see what happens.”
“We are tired of fighting.”
“Perhaps the Moabites will leave by themselves.”
But they followed.
God often gives an instruction before He gives the visible manifestation of victory.
-Abraham had to go before he knew where he was going.
-Israel had to step into the Jordan before the waters parted.
-Peter had to cast the net before experiencing the miraculous catch.
-The disciples had to fill the waterpots before they saw the water become wine.
Faith is not merely believing that God can act; faith responds when God says, “Follow.”
There are blessings attached to obedience that cannot be accessed by observation.
You can admire what God is doing in another person's life and still miss what God wants to do through you.
Don't just watch the move of God. Follow His direction.
2. “FOR THE LORD HAS DELIVERED” — RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE OF VICTORY
Ehud said:
“The LORD has delivered your enemies…”
Notice that Ehud did not take the glory.
He did not say:
“I have defeated Moab.”
He pointed them to God.
The victory was God's before it became Israel's experience.
This is important because the person God uses is not necessarily the source of the victory.
Ehud was the instrument.
God was the Deliverer.
Psalm 44:3
“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your countenance…”
God deserves the glory for every victory.
•When the battle is won, remember who gave you the strength.
•When the door opens, remember who opened it.
•When the enemy retreats, remember who delivered you.
•When the impossible becomes possible, remember:
“The LORD has delivered.”
3. “YOUR ENEMIES” — KNOW WHAT YOU ARE FIGHTING.
Ehud specifically identified the enemy:
“Your enemies the Moabites…”
Spiritual victory requires spiritual discernment.
You cannot effectively confront what you refuse to identify.
Israel knew who had oppressed them.
Likewise, believers must recognize the things that are standing against God's purpose.
Sometimes the enemy is:
•Fear
•Sin
•Disobedience
•Discouragement
•Bitterness
•Compromise
•Spiritual laziness
•Wrong relationships
•Unbelief
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our ultimate struggle is not merely against human beings but against spiritual forces.
Therefore, we must not waste our energy fighting the wrong battles.
A powerful question:
What is the “Moab” that has been occupying territory in your life?
What has been controlling you that God wants to deliver you from?
What has become normal that God wants removed?
What has intimidated you that God has already given you authority to confront?
4. “INTO YOUR HAND” — GOD CAN PUT THE ENEMY WITHIN YOUR REACH
This is one of the most encouraging statements in the text:
“The LORD has delivered your enemies … into your hand.”
The enemy that once controlled Israel was now within their reach.
There are seasons when the thing that frightened you yesterday becomes the very thing God gives you authority over today.
Goliath stood before David as a giant, but God put Goliath into David's hand.
Jericho stood before Israel as an obstacle, but God put Jericho into Israel's possession.
The problem may still look large, but God's promise is larger.
-Don't confuse appearance with authority.
-The Moabites still existed.
-The Jordan still existed.
-The fords still existed.
But something had changed:
God had changed Israel's position.
They were no longer merely victims.
They were now participants in God's victory.
5. “THEY WENT DOWN AFTER HIM” — DON'T STOP AT THE WORD
This is where the sermon becomes practical.
The Bible says:
“So they went down after him…”
They acted on what they heard.
There is a difference between receiving a word and responding to a word.
Many people love prophecy but resist responsibility.
They love promises but avoid obedience.
They want God to do everything while they do nothing.
But Israel heard:
“Follow me.”
And the Bible says:
“They went down after him.”
James 1:22
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
The blessing often lies on the other side of obedience.
•God speaks.
•Faith hears.
•Obedience moves.
•God brings victory.
6. “THEY SEIZED THE FORDS” — SECURE THE PLACE OF TRANSITION.
The Israelites did something strategic:
“They seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites…”
The Jordan crossings were strategic points.
Whoever controlled the fords could control movement across the river.
Israel didn't merely defeat an enemy; they secured the place through which the enemy could escape or return.
This teaches us something profound:
Don't merely win the battle; secure the victory.
If God delivers you from something, don't return to it.
If God delivers you from an addiction, don't keep visiting the environment that feeds it.
If God delivers you from destructive relationships, establish boundaries.
If God delivers your mind from bitterness, don't continually rehearse the offense.
If God brings you out of spiritual bondage, don't keep looking backward.
Secure the ford.
Close the door through which the enemy keeps returning.
7. “PERMITTED NOT A MAN TO PASS OVER” — FINISH WHAT GOD STARTED.
The verse concludes:
“And permitted not a man to pass over.”
They didn't partially obey.
They didn't secure one ford and abandon another.
They understood the assignment.
The victory required persistence.
There are battles that are won initially but lost because people become careless after victory.
You may defeat something today and have to remain vigilant tomorrow.
Galatians 6:9
“Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due time if we do not give up.”
Don't stop halfway.
Don't abandon your prayer life because the crisis has reduced.
Don't abandon holiness because temptation has become weaker.
Don't abandon the Word because the immediate problem has disappeared.
Complete the assignment.
Three Major Lessons From Judges 3:28
1. Follow God's direction
You cannot experience the full benefit of God's victory while refusing His instruction.
2. Trust God's provision
The battle belongs to God, and the victory must ultimately be credited to Him.
3. Secure what God has given you
Don't leave open doors for yesterday's enemy to return.
Illustration:
The Open Gate.
Imagine a city that has been attacked by an invading army. The defenders finally defeat the enemy and drive them away.
But after the celebration, they leave the city gate wide open.
The enemy that was defeated can return through the same entrance.
Winning the battle is one thing. Securing the gate is another.
Many people pray for deliverance but fail to change the habits, relationships, environments, and attitudes that gave the enemy access in the first place.
Seize your ford. Guard your gates. Protect your victory.
Conclusion: “FOLLOW ME”
Judges 3:28 contains a simple but powerful progression:
“Follow me.”
“The LORD has delivered.”
“Go after him.”
“Seize the fords.”
“Permit no enemy to pass.”
This is the pattern of victorious living.
God gives the victory, but we must respond in obedience.
God opens the door, but we must walk through it.
God breaks the chain, but we must refuse to return to bondage.
God gives the opportunity, but we must seize it.
Today, God may be saying to somebody:
“Follow Me.”
Follow Me out of fear.
Follow Me out of compromise.
Follow Me out of yesterday's failures.
Follow Me into obedience.
Follow Me into holiness.
Follow Me into your divine assignment.
Follow Me into victory.
The question is not whether God is able to deliver.
He is.
The question is:
Will you follow?
ALTAR CALL
Perhaps you have been fighting a battle for a long time.
Perhaps something has controlled your life, your family, your mind, or your spiritual progress.
Today, God is saying:
“Follow Me.”
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Come to Christ.
Surrender your life to Him.
Leave the old life behind.
Follow Him.
The One who calls you is also the One who can deliver you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Prayer for deliverance
O Lord, every enemy standing against Your purpose for my life, deliver me from their power, in Jesus' name.
2. Prayer for obedience
Father, give me grace to follow You even when I do not understand everything You are doing.
3. Prayer for victory
Every battle that has resisted my progress, by the power of God, let victory be established in my life, in Jesus' name.
4. Prayer for open doors
Every door God has opened for me, give me wisdom and courage to walk through it.
5. Prayer to secure victory
Every gate through which the enemy has repeatedly entered my life, let that gate be permanently closed, in Jesus' name.
6. Declaration
The Lord has delivered my enemies into my hand.
I will not retreat.
I will not surrender.
I will follow the Lord.
I will seize my opportunity.
I will secure my victory.
And I will finish what God has started in my life, in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!
-Kunle Solomon.
Minister.
SheepGate Evangelical Ministry. Join us on our WhatsApp page: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BsioVIQmwKW4jX6n6PcKGm?mode=gi_t
Or call +2347051874707
Email: sheepgateevangelicalministry@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment