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Judges 3:31 (4/22/21)

Marketplace Ministry

April 22, 2021 • Benham Brothers

Judges 3:31 - Marketplace Ministry
* Our primary form of worship is work.
* This is why excellence in the workplace is so important.
* The workplace consists of both for-profit and nonprofit models.
* People call the for-profit space the “Marketplace.”
* They call the non-profit space the “Ministry.”
* This is wrong, but it is what it is.
* ** God often uses the marketplace as the training ground for His leaders.
* Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David - all shepherds.
* Look at Elisha, Amos, Gideon - all farmers.
* Look at Joseph, Daniel, Obadiah - all employed by kings.
* Look at the disciples and Jesus Himself - all trained in the workplace.
* God uses the marketplace to winnow and wield strong men and women.
* The marketplace judges by ACTION, not INTENTION.
* ** So when it came time to find a leader for Israel, God tapped a farmer on the shoulder.
* Vs 31 - After Ehud, Shamgar used the tool of his business to fight God’s battles.
* He struck down 600 Philistines over time.
* His way of life included work, worship, and warfare! (Sword and Trowel - Nehemiah)
* The same thing happened years later when Israel was about to go into battle.
* Joel 3:10 - "turn your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears"  
* The tools of their sustainability would now be used as weapons for their deliverance.  
* 100 years later……in a time of peace:
* Micah 4:3 - "turn your swords into plowshares and your spears into pruning hooks"  
* The weapons of their deliverance would now be used as tools for their sustainability. 
* This is why your work is so important. God has made it to be your primary form of worship.
* Judges 6:11 - God shows up when you do common work in an uncommon way.
* Judges 6:12 - Your work prepares you for warfare.
* EX: Love Life.

Judges 1 (4/12/18)

April 12, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* The Israelites had ownership of the land but they did not possess it. * They had the power and the authority, but they refused to walk in authority and use their power. * They “could” not take the land because they “would” not. * Why? * 1) They were slothful and cowardly. * 2) They were covetous - they wanted the Canaanites’ labour and money would do them more good than harm. * 3) They pitied those who would lead them astray - they didn’t have the proper view toward the dangers of idolatry. * 4) They didn’t truly believe they could defeat them.

Judges 1:19 (4/13/17)

April 13, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* Luke 9:1 - God has given us two things: * Power - the “ability” to do something. * Authority - the “right” to do something. * As Christians we have BOTH! * ** Side note - Judas had authority as well. * In Judges 1:19 we see that the Israelites owned all the land, but they didn’t possess all of it, so they couldn’t enjoy it. * They “failed” to drive them out because they “refused” to do it. * The Israelites had the authority and power to possess the entire land, but they didn’t. * Judges 1:27-36 - all of these tribes went from defeat to defeat. * We walk in defeat when we cease to walk in faith. * Judges 2:1-3 - the reason they couldn’t drive out the inhabitants - they hadn’t done their part by staying set apart from the people. * If we do our part God will do His part.

Judges 3:1 (4/12/18)

April 12, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* God turned the Israelites failure of driving out the Canaanites into something that could be positive. * For the Israelites who didn’t know how to fight it would teach them how to be warriors. * This is a picture of what we are to do with sin - drive it out! * This will require a FIGHT. * The Israelites had to learn to be militant and so do we.