June 17, 2026 • 30 mins
Do you ever feel like you are just going around in circles? As we begin the Book of Judges, God's people are doing just that because of their insistence on disobedience. What can we learn from this and how can we step out of that vicious circle of disobedience, discipline, and repentance? #StJohnsBuffalo #CovertoCoverBible #BookOfJudges #Repentance #FaithJourney
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(00:02):
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:23,522.897959184 --> 00:00:24,802.897959184 There's a, there's a hotel there. 5 00:00:24,932.897959184 --> 00:00:25,482.897959184 Hey, look, kids. 6 00:00:25,842.897959184 --> 00:00:32,816.897959184 There's Big Ben and there's Parliament There it is. 7 00:00:33,636.897959184 --> 00:00:34,236.897959184 I know. 8 00:00:34,276.897959184 --> 00:00:36,176.897959184 I can't seem to get over to the left, honey. 9 00:00:36,376.897959184 --> 00:00:37,436.897959184 I'll try next time. 10 00:00:37,666.897959184 --> 00:00:38,226.897959184 Sorry. 11 00:00:38,946.897959184 --> 00:00:40,246.897959184 We'll get out of this jam in a minute. 12 00:00:41,96.896959184 --> 00:00:43,586.897959184 Kids, Big Ben, Parliament again. 13 00:00:52,380.897959184 --> 00:01:11,466.897959184 Kids, we know, Big Ben, Parliament Kids, forget it It's amazing. 14 00:01:11,466.897959184 --> 00:01:16,770.897959184 I cannot get left There's Big Ben, kids. 15 00:01:16,770.897959184 --> 00:01:17,240.897959184 Parliament. 16 00:01:26,641.56462585 --> 00:01:42,595.47443836 This scene from European Vacation, released, if you can believe it, almost 40 years ago, was what I thought of as I began studying the first 12 chapters of the Book of Judges this week in our cover to cover Bible reading plan. 17 00:01:43,345.47343836 --> 00:01:46,245.47343836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 18 00:01:47,55.47443836 --> 00:01:49,975.47443836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 19 00:01:50,475.47343836 --> 00:01:53,75.47343836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 20 00:01:53,105.47443836 --> 00:01:59,115.47343836 And around, and around, and around they went, over and over again. 21 00:02:00,555.47243836 --> 00:02:33,259.47443836 As we jump into this gory, somewhat depressing, frustrating seventh book of the Bible, the Book of Judges, we're going to see this scenario just like Noah talked about a few minutes ago, playing out over, and over, and over, and over again The Book of Judges begins with these words: "Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 22 00:02:33,909.47443836 --> 00:02:37,819.47443836 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance." 23 00:02:39,149.47443836 --> 00:02:49,909.47443836 For the past about 75 years, the nation of Israel has been ruled by two central, very strong figures. 24 00:02:50,109.47443836 --> 00:03:03,549.47243836 First of all, by Moses for the first 45 years out in the desert, and then Moses passes away, and Joshua, son of Nun, becomes their leader for the next 30-some years. 25 00:03:03,839.47243836 --> 00:03:15,629.47143836 He was the one that led them into the Promised Land, and by the power of God, they were able to subdue all their enemies and take the Promised Land for themselves. 26 00:03:16,589.47243836 --> 00:03:26,589.47243836 But now, as the Book of Judges begins, Joshua, that second great leader of the Israelites, has passed away. 27 00:03:28,721.47443836 --> 00:03:42,531.47443836 In Judges 2 it says, "After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord, nor what He had done for Israel." 28 00:03:43,981.47343836 --> 00:03:47,261.47343836 Now, there are questions in my mind of why that happened. 29 00:03:47,661.47343836 --> 00:03:51,881.47343836 Did the parents, did the grandparents not pass on the message? I don't know. 30 00:03:51,881.47443836 --> 00:03:53,251.47443836 The Bible doesn't tell us. 31 00:03:54,541.47443836 --> 00:04:09,351.47343836 But for whatever reason, this new generation did not have the same intimate relationship with their heavenly Father as the generation before them, and that had dire consequences. 32 00:04:09,911.47343836 --> 00:04:16,151.47443836 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and they served the Baals, the false gods. 33 00:04:17,171.47543836 --> 00:04:22,361.47443836 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. 34 00:04:22,791.47443836 --> 00:04:26,771.47343836 They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. 35 00:04:27,781.47243836 --> 00:04:35,321.47143836 They aroused the Lord's anger because they forsook Him and served Baal and the Astaroths. 36 00:04:37,937.47443836 --> 00:04:56,527.47443836 You know, God's people, when they entered into the Promised Land, they had the world by the tail because they had God with them, the only one true God, and His powerful hand was on them all the time. 37 00:04:57,907.47343836 --> 00:05:00,387.47343836 And so they did miraculous things. 38 00:05:00,577.47343836 --> 00:05:09,397.47443836 Every one of their enemies that they came into contact with, they defeated quickly and overtook all of their land. 39 00:05:09,777.47443836 --> 00:05:14,207.47243836 Nothing could stop them because the hand of the Lord was upon them. 40 00:05:15,327.47343836 --> 00:05:22,387.47143836 And God said, "You're gonna go into this land that I promised you, and you're gonna live in homes that you didn't build. 41 00:05:23,97.47443836 --> 00:05:25,617.47343836 You're gonna live in cities that you didn't build. 42 00:05:26,487.47343836 --> 00:05:28,937.47043836 You're gonna have, fields. 43 00:05:29,907.46943836 --> 00:05:47,177.47243836 You're gonna have all of this stuff that you didn't plant, and it's all gonna be yours because of Me But God's people took these things for granted. 44 00:05:48,777.47243836 --> 00:06:04,207.47243836 And very soon after Joshua passes away, God's people begin to turn away and actually worship other gods that are not gods at all, false gods, instead of following the one true God. 45 00:06:04,517.47143836 --> 00:06:11,547.47143836 Instead of obeying the Lord and all that He had said to do and not to do, they forsook all of that. 46 00:06:11,597.47143836 --> 00:06:14,617.47143836 They compromised and disobeyed Him. 47 00:06:16,861.47243836 --> 00:06:22,641.47243836 In His anger against Israel, the Lord gave them into the hands of the raiders who plundered them. 48 00:06:22,921.47243836 --> 00:06:29,321.47243836 He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 49 00:06:29,601.47243836 --> 00:06:40,981.47143836 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as He had sworn to them, and they were in great distress. 50 00:06:42,221.47143836 --> 00:06:44,471.47243836 So here we go around the circle. 51 00:06:44,921.47243836 --> 00:06:50,211.47043836 They had the world by the tail, and then what do they do? They disobey the Lord. 52 00:06:50,211.47143836 --> 00:06:57,651.47043836 They take those things for granted, and then the Lord pulls back His hand of blessing and protection. 53 00:06:58,51.47143836 --> 00:07:03,801.47043836 And pretty soon, those supernatural things that had been happening aren't happening anymore. 54 00:07:04,641.47243836 --> 00:07:09,491.47043836 And now the people of Israel are finding their enemies too strong for them. 55 00:07:10,51.47143836 --> 00:07:28,513.47243836 Their enemies are defeating them, and they're actually going back into slavery in much the same way that they were all the way back in Egypt And then we see the same phrase played out over and over and over again. 56 00:07:28,713.47243836 --> 00:07:31,93.47243836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 57 00:07:32,263.47243836 --> 00:07:33,783.47243836 They cried out to the Lord. 58 00:07:34,353.47243836 --> 00:07:36,983.47143836 Again, the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 59 00:07:37,403.47243836 --> 00:07:42,893.47243836 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. 60 00:07:43,253.47243836 --> 00:07:45,293.47143836 Israel was in great distress. 61 00:07:45,473.47143836 --> 00:07:54,113.47143836 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals." 62 00:07:59,355.47243836 --> 00:08:00,905.47243836 They had the world by the tail. 63 00:08:02,145.47243836 --> 00:08:03,355.47243836 They disobeyed God. 64 00:08:03,865.47243836 --> 00:08:11,85.47243836 God pulls back His hand of blessing, leading to the people repenting and turning back to the Lord. 65 00:08:12,805.47243836 --> 00:08:23,865.47243836 And then in Judges 2 it says, "Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived. 66 00:08:24,75.47143836 --> 00:08:30,35.47143836 For the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them." 67 00:08:31,375.47243836 --> 00:08:41,785.47143836 As I was reading this this week, I just saw the amazing love of God for His people. 68 00:08:42,925.47243836 --> 00:08:45,95.46943836 Think about what these people had done. 69 00:08:45,825.46943836 --> 00:08:48,745.47143836 All that the Lord had done for these people. 70 00:08:49,5.47043836 --> 00:09:00,995.47043836 There had never in the history of the world been a people like this, that God had had His hand upon, and nobody or nothing could defeat them. 71 00:09:02,825.46943836 --> 00:09:03,965.46843836 And they forsook Him. 72 00:09:04,235.46943836 --> 00:09:05,615.46743836 They worshiped other gods. 73 00:09:06,795.46743836 --> 00:09:20,817.47243836 They did what He told them not to do But when things got hard and they came back to the Lord and asked Him for forgiveness, it says the Lord relented because of their groaning. 74 00:09:21,7.47243836 --> 00:09:23,87.47243836 In other words, God couldn't handle it. 75 00:09:23,887.47243836 --> 00:09:33,17.47143836 He loved His people so much that even though they were disobedient, as soon as He heard their groaning, He just couldn't handle it. 76 00:09:34,637.47243836 --> 00:09:47,211.47243836 And so He raised up these powerful figures, the judges, to come and to help them to be free once again And that completes the circle. 77 00:09:47,631.47243836 --> 00:09:51,911.47243836 God forgives, and His blessings return. 78 00:09:53,731.47243836 --> 00:09:57,671.47243836 Now, if that only happened one time, that would be pretty sad. 79 00:09:59,331.47143836 --> 00:10:09,791.47243836 But just like we talked about, it happens over and over and over and over again throughout the Book of Judges. 80 00:10:10,231.47143836 --> 00:10:20,111.47043836 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. 81 00:10:20,351.47243836 --> 00:10:25,141.47243836 They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. 82 00:10:26,571.47343836 --> 00:10:33,621.47143836 And so what happened? They started the circle over and over again. 83 00:10:38,159.47243836 --> 00:10:41,769.47243836 Now hopefully you've been reading through this, throughout this past week. 84 00:10:42,519.47243836 --> 00:11:02,509.47243836 But as we're reading through these chapters, I believe what the Holy Spirit wants us to be asking ourselves is, "Hey, do you see yourself in that pattern, that same pattern?" Because if so, there's something for us to learn. 85 00:11:02,519.47143836 --> 00:11:10,615.47243836 There's something for us to gain here today You know, none of our lives are perfect. 86 00:11:10,615.47243836 --> 00:11:14,715.47243836 We all have problems because we're not home yet to heaven. 87 00:11:15,355.47243836 --> 00:11:31,385.47243836 But you better believe that just like those Israelites, we have the hand of God's blessing upon us, and there's not a person here today that doesn't have amazing blessings from the Lord. 88 00:11:31,555.47143836 --> 00:11:49,55.47043836 We say this all the time, there's not a person here that doesn't have miracles in your past in answer to your prayers, because God hears your groaning and He can't stand it because just like His Old Testament people were His, you're His as well. 89 00:11:49,685.47043836 --> 00:11:55,635.47243836 We all have all kinds of amazing blessings in our life. 90 00:11:57,185.47043836 --> 00:12:12,285.47043836 But if we're gonna be honest, sometimes just like those Israelites, we begin to take those things for granted, don't we? And as we take those things for granted, we begin to forget who we are. 91 00:12:12,985.47343836 --> 00:12:16,185.47043836 We begin to forget whose we are. 92 00:12:16,665.47343836 --> 00:12:23,455.47243836 And we begin to compromise, and we say, "Well, it's not really that important that I follow God closely." 93 00:12:23,455.47443836 --> 00:12:32,505.46843836 And pretty soon we start doing those things, saying those things, looking at those things that we shouldn't be doing. 94 00:12:34,65.46743836 --> 00:12:40,635.47243836 And just like those Israelites, we begin that cycle of disobedience to the Lord. 95 00:12:41,705.46743836 --> 00:12:44,945.46743836 God's people turn away. 96 00:12:47,387.47243836 --> 00:12:52,707.47243836 What's next on the circle? God removes his hand of blessing. 97 00:12:54,217.47243836 --> 00:13:31,347.47243836 Now, here's the question: We who are living in this new covenant through Jesus, does he do that? Does he remove his hand of blessing? Well, I'm not sure he does it in kind of the same way, but what we do have in the New Testament is this particular verse, these verses from Hebrews 12 where it says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. 98 00:13:31,817.47143836 --> 00:13:33,967.47243836 Endure hardship as discipline. 99 00:13:33,967.47243836 --> 00:13:37,797.47043836 God is treating you as his children. 100 00:13:38,17.47143836 --> 00:13:49,627.47243836 For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 101 00:13:49,877.47243836 --> 00:13:55,477.47043836 Moreover, we have had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. 102 00:13:56,27.47443836 --> 00:14:09,607.47243836 How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good in order that we might share in his holiness. 103 00:14:10,97.47343836 --> 00:14:13,367.47043836 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. 104 00:14:13,737.47343836 --> 00:14:20,687.47343836 Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 105 00:14:22,497.46743836 --> 00:14:28,907.47043836 Whether God removes his hand of blessing or not, we don't know exactly what it looks like in the heavenlies. 106 00:14:30,97.47343836 --> 00:14:43,607.46643836 We do know this, that God loves you and me way too much to allow us to start that process of going around that circle in disobedience to him. 107 00:14:44,947.47243836 --> 00:15:01,327.47143836 Everything the Lord tells us to do is for our good because he loves us, because he loves our family, because he's got a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives that is a good and fulfilling purpose, and he doesn't want us to get too far off. 108 00:15:02,567.47443836 --> 00:15:11,317.46543836 And so whether it's him removing his hand or whether it's him disciplining us, whatever it is, he doesn't let it go. 109 00:15:12,437.47043836 --> 00:15:28,597.47243836 And sometimes that discipline is not a whole lot of fun Now just a couple of things about discipline because there's always opportunity for misunderstanding whenever we come to this. 110 00:15:28,677.47243836 --> 00:15:34,417.47243836 Number one is this: not everything bad we go through is God disciplining us. 111 00:15:34,767.47243836 --> 00:15:41,897.47243836 Sometimes the bad that you and I go through is simply the result of living in a fallen, broken world. 112 00:15:42,127.47143836 --> 00:15:44,487.47143836 Like I said before, we're not home yet. 113 00:15:45,637.47243836 --> 00:15:49,747.47243836 When we get home to heaven, there won't be any bad things in our lives. 114 00:15:50,197.47143836 --> 00:15:58,417.47143836 But for those of us that are sitting here or standing here today, we're still in a broken world where sometimes bad things happen. 115 00:16:01,265.47243836 --> 00:16:17,455.47243836 But according to Hebrews 12, there are some times where we are getting way off base, we are disobeying, we are actively doing those things that He has told us not to do, and He disciplines us for our good. 116 00:16:18,805.47143836 --> 00:16:25,725.47143836 Secondly, even when it is divine discipline taking place, it is not punishment. 117 00:16:25,735.47143836 --> 00:16:27,345.47143836 This is really an important point. 118 00:16:27,545.47143836 --> 00:16:33,465.47143836 It is loving discipline, and there's a difference between punishment and discipline. 119 00:16:34,235.46943836 --> 00:16:38,285.47343836 The difference is this: punishment always looks back. 120 00:16:38,835.47243836 --> 00:16:43,835.4704384 It's always saying, "Because you did this, I'm gonna do this to you." 121 00:16:45,465.4734384 --> 00:16:49,495.4694384 It's always retribution for what you've done wrong. 122 00:16:50,865.4704384 --> 00:17:13,85.4724384 As we're gonna see here in just a couple of minutes, there is no more retribution for you and for me that are baptized like little Brooklyn here today and have put our faith in Jesus Christ because all of that retribution went on somebody else, But there still is loving discipline. 123 00:17:13,85.4724384 --> 00:17:15,555.4724384 Discipline doesn't look back like punishment does. 124 00:17:15,775.4724384 --> 00:17:17,865.4724384 Discipline is always looking ahead. 125 00:17:18,75.4724384 --> 00:17:22,725.4724384 Discipline is saying, God is saying, "I've got a great plan for your life. 126 00:17:23,315.4724384 --> 00:17:31,485.4724384 I've got things that I want you to do before you come home to me that are gonna change this world for the good. 127 00:17:33,55.4724384 --> 00:17:36,375.4714384 And that's why I've put all those gifts and talents in you. 128 00:17:36,835.4714384 --> 00:17:38,975.4704384 That's why I've given you these experiences. 129 00:17:38,975.4724384 --> 00:17:41,355.4724384 This is why I gave you that personality. 130 00:17:41,565.4724384 --> 00:17:46,995.4694384 That's why I put you right here in this place and time to accomplish these things. 131 00:17:47,385.4724384 --> 00:17:51,275.4724384 And when you get off base through sin, I gotta steer you back." 132 00:17:52,715.4704384 --> 00:17:54,595.4704384 And so it's not that He's looking back. 133 00:17:54,625.4704384 --> 00:17:55,665.4714384 He's looking ahead. 134 00:17:55,675.4734384 --> 00:18:01,825.4714384 He's got good plans for you, and He's gotta steer you back sometimes through discipline. 135 00:18:01,965.4704384 --> 00:18:11,853.4724384 But like I said, sometimes that is not a whole lot of fun But always remember those words. 136 00:18:12,433.4724384 --> 00:18:22,473.4724384 Who does the Lord discipline? He disciplines those He loves, and He chastens everyone that He accepts as His son. 137 00:18:26,833.4724384 --> 00:18:40,423.4714384 And so what is God's hope? What is God's prayer for when he chastens us? That we would be like those Israelites, that we would get down on our knees, that we would repent, that we would turn back to him. 138 00:18:43,729.4724384 --> 00:18:56,869.4724384 If there's something in your life right now that God is speaking to you about something that isn't right, something that you've been doing that the Holy Spirit has been whispering to you, "Don't do that. 139 00:18:57,259.4724384 --> 00:19:20,661.4724384 You know that's not the will of God for your life," then at some point here today, find a quiet place where you can just get down on your knees and go before the Lord and say, "I am so sorry Forgive me, and I give my life back to you for your purposes for my life. 140 00:19:21,931.4724384 --> 00:19:30,311.4714384 You know, this is what King David did in scripture, and we're gonna be learning about David in the next few weeks of our study. 141 00:19:31,611.4714384 --> 00:19:36,461.4724384 David was, quote, "A man after God's own heart," but David wasn't perfect. 142 00:19:36,661.4724384 --> 00:19:39,751.4724384 In fact, he did two horrendous things. 143 00:19:40,481.4724384 --> 00:19:58,71.4724384 He committed adultery with a woman that was married, and then to cover up his tracks, he killed her husband And when he realized the horrible things that he did, he got down on his knees and repented. 144 00:19:58,811.4724384 --> 00:20:10,941.4714384 And the words are recorded for us in Psalm 51, where David says, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 145 00:20:11,131.4724384 --> 00:20:14,941.4714384 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from all my sin. 146 00:20:15,431.4714384 --> 00:20:19,131.4714384 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 147 00:20:19,441.4714384 --> 00:20:28,691.4724384 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and you're justified when you judge." 148 00:20:29,221.4704384 --> 00:20:31,831.4704384 David is saying, "You're justified, Lord. 149 00:20:31,841.4734384 --> 00:20:37,721.4724384 You should punish me both now and into eternity for what I've done. 150 00:20:39,141.4724384 --> 00:20:42,71.4714384 But I'm asking you for your mercy and for your grace. 151 00:20:42,351.4714384 --> 00:20:45,701.4714384 I'm asking you for your forgiveness." 152 00:20:48,657.4724384 --> 00:20:58,557.4714384 In Psalm 30 it says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says, 'In repentance and rest is your salvation.'" 153 00:21:01,393.4724384 --> 00:21:08,583.4724384 You know where your rest and your salvation isn't? It isn't in continuing to go astray. 154 00:21:09,263.4724384 --> 00:21:12,393.4724384 It isn't in continuing to fight against God. 155 00:21:12,413.4724384 --> 00:21:15,303.4724384 And by the way, you won't win. 156 00:21:17,83.4724384 --> 00:21:25,403.4714384 No matter how upset you are with God, no matter how much you wanna stick it in His eye, you're not gonna win by fighting against Him. 157 00:21:26,13.4714384 --> 00:21:29,303.4714384 It reminds me of my roommate back at Iowa State. 158 00:21:29,973.4724384 --> 00:21:32,253.4724384 My roommate was a big guy, Jeff. 159 00:21:32,983.4724384 --> 00:21:48,863.4744384 And I remember he told me the story one day, he said that during his senior year, he and his father got into a heated argument, so much so that Jeff put up his hands, and his dad just stood there with his hands to his side and said, "You'll lose." 160 00:21:52,7.4754384 --> 00:21:53,467.4754384 The same thing with God. 161 00:21:53,727.4754384 --> 00:22:03,57.4754384 You can put up your dukes, you can try to fight Him, you can try to rebel against Him as much as you want, you'll lose. 162 00:22:04,697.4754384 --> 00:22:09,757.4744384 That's not where your rest, that's not where your salvation is going to come from. 163 00:22:09,927.4754384 --> 00:22:16,527.4744384 It comes from one place, and that is just getting down on your knees and saying, "Lord, I'm a sinner. 164 00:22:17,257.4754384 --> 00:22:21,557.4754384 I'm sorry, and I ask you to forgive me and give me a fresh start. 165 00:22:22,167.4754384 --> 00:22:25,357.4764384 I want to spend the rest of my life following you." 166 00:22:28,263.4754384 --> 00:22:42,733.4754384 And like we said, whenever you do that, God will always, always, no matter what you've done, forgive you and His blessings return to your life. 167 00:22:45,263.4754384 --> 00:22:50,923.4754384 Now, I'm sure there's a few people out here today that are asking this question, "Well, you don't understand, Pastor. 168 00:22:51,123.4754384 --> 00:22:54,113.4754384 What I've done is horrendous. 169 00:22:54,963.4754384 --> 00:23:00,433.4754384 I understand that God could forgive, you know, most sins, but you'd have no idea what I've done. 170 00:23:00,683.4754384 --> 00:23:10,179.4754384 Could God ever forgive me for what I've done?" Well, in order to answer that question, let's go back to the Book of Judges again. 171 00:23:11,79.4754384 --> 00:23:14,49.4754384 And these passages really speak the heart of God. 172 00:23:15,69.4744384 --> 00:23:32,509.4754384 And from Judges 10 it says, "The Lord replied, 'When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, the Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me. 173 00:23:32,719.4744384 --> 00:23:36,79.4744384 You have served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 174 00:23:36,359.4734384 --> 00:23:39,219.4754384 Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen. 175 00:23:39,389.4764384 --> 00:23:42,419.4754384 Let them save you when you're in trouble.'" 176 00:23:43,309.4744384 --> 00:23:55,549.4744384 You can hear the heart of God, can't you? Of course I come to your rescue, but you're worshiping other gods, gods of wood and, and stone. 177 00:23:57,799.4754384 --> 00:24:01,689.4754384 If you really think that they're worthy of worship, then let them save you. 178 00:24:04,103.4754384 --> 00:24:07,673.4754384 But the Israelites said to the Lord, "We have sinned. 179 00:24:08,253.4754384 --> 00:24:13,33.4754384 Do with us whatever you think best, Lord, but please rescue us now." 180 00:24:13,713.4754384 --> 00:24:24,673.4744384 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord, and listen to these words, "And He could bear Israel's misery no longer." 181 00:24:25,303.4744384 --> 00:24:29,113.4754384 Once again, God just couldn't handle it. 182 00:24:29,463.4744384 --> 00:24:37,543.4734384 He couldn't handle the misery of His disobedient kids because He loved them so much. 183 00:24:39,323.4724384 --> 00:24:46,133.4754384 There is nothing that you've done in your life that is as bad as what the Israelites did. 184 00:24:46,903.4744384 --> 00:24:56,203.4754384 They had completely forsaken their God, and they were worshiping false gods and doing everything that God had told them not to do. 185 00:24:56,793.4744384 --> 00:25:12,733.4724384 But when they came back to the Lord and asked Him for forgiveness, He could bear their misery no longer, and He sent them judge after judge after judge to bring them out of slavery and back into freedom again. 186 00:25:15,399.4754384 --> 00:25:17,719.4754384 In Isaiah 49, I love these words. 187 00:25:17,719.4754384 --> 00:25:21,169.4754384 It says, "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me. 188 00:25:21,339.4754384 --> 00:25:22,789.4754384 The Lord has forgotten me.'" 189 00:25:22,789.4754384 --> 00:25:24,339.4754384 And maybe you feel that way. 190 00:25:25,79.4744384 --> 00:25:28,339.4744384 Because of the horrible thing that I've done, He's forsaken me. 191 00:25:28,339.4754384 --> 00:25:29,219.4754384 He's left me. 192 00:25:30,249.4744384 --> 00:25:49,369.4764384 But look at the Lord's reply: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will never forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." 193 00:25:50,639.4734384 --> 00:25:52,329.4724384 I will never forget you. 194 00:25:52,329.4754384 --> 00:26:01,589.4754384 Why? Because the reminder of you is right there on the palms of my hands. 195 00:26:05,135.4754384 --> 00:26:20,705.4754384 When did God engrave you and me on the palms of His hands? When His Son, Jesus Christ, came here to this earth, lived a perfect life, and then died on that cross for you and for me. 196 00:26:21,915.4754384 --> 00:26:38,35.4754384 When He died on that cross, He was taking our punishment so that no matter what we did wrong, no matter how horrendous it may have been, we could always, always, always have that fresh start. 197 00:26:39,765.4734384 --> 00:26:50,395.4744384 God forgives over and over and over again, and when He does, all of His blessings return to us. 198 00:26:53,95.4754384 --> 00:26:59,325.4754384 In Lamentations 3, I love these words, it says, "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed. 199 00:26:59,625.4754384 --> 00:27:02,405.4754384 For His compassions, they never fail. 200 00:27:02,535.4754384 --> 00:27:04,275.4754384 They are new every morning. 201 00:27:04,485.4744384 --> 00:27:07,25.4754384 Great is Your faithfulness." 202 00:27:08,945.4744384 --> 00:27:10,75.4744384 Absolutely. 203 00:27:10,285.4764384 --> 00:27:22,119.4754384 How great is His faithfulness that over and over and over again He would take us back? One last thing. 204 00:27:23,969.4754384 --> 00:27:34,399.4744384 Knowing that this is our tendency, right? Not just to do it once and learn our lesson, but to go around and around and around the circle again. 205 00:27:34,409.4754384 --> 00:27:36,389.4744384 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 206 00:27:36,809.4754384 --> 00:27:38,949.4754384 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 207 00:27:40,569.4754384 --> 00:28:02,289.4734384 Is there anything that we can do to stop that cycle or slow that cycle down a little bit so that we don't begin that cycle of turning away from Him again and again? Well, until we get home to heaven, we're gonna wrestle with this, but I think there is something that can help us. 208 00:28:02,859.4734366 --> 00:28:16,759.4734384 In 1 Thessalonians 5 it says this, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 209 00:28:17,989.4734384 --> 00:28:40,469.4734384 Remember why those Israelites began to fall away? Because they had the world by the tail, and instead of thanking God for those things over and over and over again, and remembering who gave them those blessings and who they are and whose they are, they began to forget those things. 210 00:28:41,499.4754384 --> 00:28:53,279.4754384 Instead, simply this: remember the good things that God has done for you Spend time with Him each and every day. 211 00:28:53,909.4754384 --> 00:29:02,279.4754384 Spend time thinking about, writing down the good things that God has done for you. 212 00:29:03,39.4754384 --> 00:29:23,29.4734384 And as you do that, it'll- you'll be slower to forget all of the good blessings that God has brought into your life, and hopefully won't continue going around that circle at the same pace that those Israelites did in our readings for today. 213 00:29:25,575.4754384 --> 00:29:27,825.4754384 But when you do, you know where to go. 214 00:29:28,345.4754384 --> 00:29:30,285.4754384 Go back to the Lord in repentance. 215 00:29:30,625.4754384 --> 00:29:32,645.4754384 That is where your salvation is. 216 00:29:33,475.4754384 --> 00:29:36,465.4754384 And may God grant it to each and every one of us for Jesus' sake. 217 00:29:36,945.4754384 --> 00:29:37,365.4754384 Amen. 218 00:29:40,230.4754384 --> 00:29:41,880.4754384 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 219 00:29:41,880.4754384 --> 00:29:43,960.4754384 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 220 00:29:44,280.4754384 --> 00:29:46,80.4754384 If you would like more information about St. 221 00:29:46,80.4754384 --> 00:29:51,740.4754384 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 222 00:29:51,830.4754384 --> 00:29:52,70.4754384 stjohnsbuffalo. 223 00:29:53,310.4744384 --> 00:29:53,640.4744384 org. 224 00:29:54,20.4744384 --> 00:29:55,310.4754384 Thank you and God bless you.
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:23,522.897959184 --> 00:00:24,802.897959184 There's a, there's a hotel there. 5 00:00:24,932.897959184 --> 00:00:25,482.897959184 Hey, look, kids. 6 00:00:25,842.897959184 --> 00:00:32,816.897959184 There's Big Ben and there's Parliament There it is. 7 00:00:33,636.897959184 --> 00:00:34,236.897959184 I know. 8 00:00:34,276.897959184 --> 00:00:36,176.897959184 I can't seem to get over to the left, honey. 9 00:00:36,376.897959184 --> 00:00:37,436.897959184 I'll try next time. 10 00:00:37,666.897959184 --> 00:00:38,226.897959184 Sorry. 11 00:00:38,946.897959184 --> 00:00:40,246.897959184 We'll get out of this jam in a minute. 12 00:00:41,96.896959184 --> 00:00:43,586.897959184 Kids, Big Ben, Parliament again. 13 00:00:52,380.897959184 --> 00:01:11,466.897959184 Kids, we know, Big Ben, Parliament Kids, forget it It's amazing. 14 00:01:11,466.897959184 --> 00:01:16,770.897959184 I cannot get left There's Big Ben, kids. 15 00:01:16,770.897959184 --> 00:01:17,240.897959184 Parliament. 16 00:01:26,641.56462585 --> 00:01:42,595.47443836 This scene from European Vacation, released, if you can believe it, almost 40 years ago, was what I thought of as I began studying the first 12 chapters of the Book of Judges this week in our cover to cover Bible reading plan. 17 00:01:43,345.47343836 --> 00:01:46,245.47343836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 18 00:01:47,55.47443836 --> 00:01:49,975.47443836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 19 00:01:50,475.47343836 --> 00:01:53,75.47343836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 20 00:01:53,105.47443836 --> 00:01:59,115.47343836 And around, and around, and around they went, over and over again. 21 00:02:00,555.47243836 --> 00:02:33,259.47443836 As we jump into this gory, somewhat depressing, frustrating seventh book of the Bible, the Book of Judges, we're going to see this scenario just like Noah talked about a few minutes ago, playing out over, and over, and over, and over again The Book of Judges begins with these words: "Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 22 00:02:33,909.47443836 --> 00:02:37,819.47443836 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance." 23 00:02:39,149.47443836 --> 00:02:49,909.47443836 For the past about 75 years, the nation of Israel has been ruled by two central, very strong figures. 24 00:02:50,109.47443836 --> 00:03:03,549.47243836 First of all, by Moses for the first 45 years out in the desert, and then Moses passes away, and Joshua, son of Nun, becomes their leader for the next 30-some years. 25 00:03:03,839.47243836 --> 00:03:15,629.47143836 He was the one that led them into the Promised Land, and by the power of God, they were able to subdue all their enemies and take the Promised Land for themselves. 26 00:03:16,589.47243836 --> 00:03:26,589.47243836 But now, as the Book of Judges begins, Joshua, that second great leader of the Israelites, has passed away. 27 00:03:28,721.47443836 --> 00:03:42,531.47443836 In Judges 2 it says, "After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord, nor what He had done for Israel." 28 00:03:43,981.47343836 --> 00:03:47,261.47343836 Now, there are questions in my mind of why that happened. 29 00:03:47,661.47343836 --> 00:03:51,881.47343836 Did the parents, did the grandparents not pass on the message? I don't know. 30 00:03:51,881.47443836 --> 00:03:53,251.47443836 The Bible doesn't tell us. 31 00:03:54,541.47443836 --> 00:04:09,351.47343836 But for whatever reason, this new generation did not have the same intimate relationship with their heavenly Father as the generation before them, and that had dire consequences. 32 00:04:09,911.47343836 --> 00:04:16,151.47443836 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and they served the Baals, the false gods. 33 00:04:17,171.47543836 --> 00:04:22,361.47443836 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. 34 00:04:22,791.47443836 --> 00:04:26,771.47343836 They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. 35 00:04:27,781.47243836 --> 00:04:35,321.47143836 They aroused the Lord's anger because they forsook Him and served Baal and the Astaroths. 36 00:04:37,937.47443836 --> 00:04:56,527.47443836 You know, God's people, when they entered into the Promised Land, they had the world by the tail because they had God with them, the only one true God, and His powerful hand was on them all the time. 37 00:04:57,907.47343836 --> 00:05:00,387.47343836 And so they did miraculous things. 38 00:05:00,577.47343836 --> 00:05:09,397.47443836 Every one of their enemies that they came into contact with, they defeated quickly and overtook all of their land. 39 00:05:09,777.47443836 --> 00:05:14,207.47243836 Nothing could stop them because the hand of the Lord was upon them. 40 00:05:15,327.47343836 --> 00:05:22,387.47143836 And God said, "You're gonna go into this land that I promised you, and you're gonna live in homes that you didn't build. 41 00:05:23,97.47443836 --> 00:05:25,617.47343836 You're gonna live in cities that you didn't build. 42 00:05:26,487.47343836 --> 00:05:28,937.47043836 You're gonna have, fields. 43 00:05:29,907.46943836 --> 00:05:47,177.47243836 You're gonna have all of this stuff that you didn't plant, and it's all gonna be yours because of Me But God's people took these things for granted. 44 00:05:48,777.47243836 --> 00:06:04,207.47243836 And very soon after Joshua passes away, God's people begin to turn away and actually worship other gods that are not gods at all, false gods, instead of following the one true God. 45 00:06:04,517.47143836 --> 00:06:11,547.47143836 Instead of obeying the Lord and all that He had said to do and not to do, they forsook all of that. 46 00:06:11,597.47143836 --> 00:06:14,617.47143836 They compromised and disobeyed Him. 47 00:06:16,861.47243836 --> 00:06:22,641.47243836 In His anger against Israel, the Lord gave them into the hands of the raiders who plundered them. 48 00:06:22,921.47243836 --> 00:06:29,321.47243836 He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 49 00:06:29,601.47243836 --> 00:06:40,981.47143836 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as He had sworn to them, and they were in great distress. 50 00:06:42,221.47143836 --> 00:06:44,471.47243836 So here we go around the circle. 51 00:06:44,921.47243836 --> 00:06:50,211.47043836 They had the world by the tail, and then what do they do? They disobey the Lord. 52 00:06:50,211.47143836 --> 00:06:57,651.47043836 They take those things for granted, and then the Lord pulls back His hand of blessing and protection. 53 00:06:58,51.47143836 --> 00:07:03,801.47043836 And pretty soon, those supernatural things that had been happening aren't happening anymore. 54 00:07:04,641.47243836 --> 00:07:09,491.47043836 And now the people of Israel are finding their enemies too strong for them. 55 00:07:10,51.47143836 --> 00:07:28,513.47243836 Their enemies are defeating them, and they're actually going back into slavery in much the same way that they were all the way back in Egypt And then we see the same phrase played out over and over and over again. 56 00:07:28,713.47243836 --> 00:07:31,93.47243836 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 57 00:07:32,263.47243836 --> 00:07:33,783.47243836 They cried out to the Lord. 58 00:07:34,353.47243836 --> 00:07:36,983.47143836 Again, the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 59 00:07:37,403.47243836 --> 00:07:42,893.47243836 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. 60 00:07:43,253.47243836 --> 00:07:45,293.47143836 Israel was in great distress. 61 00:07:45,473.47143836 --> 00:07:54,113.47143836 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals." 62 00:07:59,355.47243836 --> 00:08:00,905.47243836 They had the world by the tail. 63 00:08:02,145.47243836 --> 00:08:03,355.47243836 They disobeyed God. 64 00:08:03,865.47243836 --> 00:08:11,85.47243836 God pulls back His hand of blessing, leading to the people repenting and turning back to the Lord. 65 00:08:12,805.47243836 --> 00:08:23,865.47243836 And then in Judges 2 it says, "Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived. 66 00:08:24,75.47143836 --> 00:08:30,35.47143836 For the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them." 67 00:08:31,375.47243836 --> 00:08:41,785.47143836 As I was reading this this week, I just saw the amazing love of God for His people. 68 00:08:42,925.47243836 --> 00:08:45,95.46943836 Think about what these people had done. 69 00:08:45,825.46943836 --> 00:08:48,745.47143836 All that the Lord had done for these people. 70 00:08:49,5.47043836 --> 00:09:00,995.47043836 There had never in the history of the world been a people like this, that God had had His hand upon, and nobody or nothing could defeat them. 71 00:09:02,825.46943836 --> 00:09:03,965.46843836 And they forsook Him. 72 00:09:04,235.46943836 --> 00:09:05,615.46743836 They worshiped other gods. 73 00:09:06,795.46743836 --> 00:09:20,817.47243836 They did what He told them not to do But when things got hard and they came back to the Lord and asked Him for forgiveness, it says the Lord relented because of their groaning. 74 00:09:21,7.47243836 --> 00:09:23,87.47243836 In other words, God couldn't handle it. 75 00:09:23,887.47243836 --> 00:09:33,17.47143836 He loved His people so much that even though they were disobedient, as soon as He heard their groaning, He just couldn't handle it. 76 00:09:34,637.47243836 --> 00:09:47,211.47243836 And so He raised up these powerful figures, the judges, to come and to help them to be free once again And that completes the circle. 77 00:09:47,631.47243836 --> 00:09:51,911.47243836 God forgives, and His blessings return. 78 00:09:53,731.47243836 --> 00:09:57,671.47243836 Now, if that only happened one time, that would be pretty sad. 79 00:09:59,331.47143836 --> 00:10:09,791.47243836 But just like we talked about, it happens over and over and over and over again throughout the Book of Judges. 80 00:10:10,231.47143836 --> 00:10:20,111.47043836 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. 81 00:10:20,351.47243836 --> 00:10:25,141.47243836 They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. 82 00:10:26,571.47343836 --> 00:10:33,621.47143836 And so what happened? They started the circle over and over again. 83 00:10:38,159.47243836 --> 00:10:41,769.47243836 Now hopefully you've been reading through this, throughout this past week. 84 00:10:42,519.47243836 --> 00:11:02,509.47243836 But as we're reading through these chapters, I believe what the Holy Spirit wants us to be asking ourselves is, "Hey, do you see yourself in that pattern, that same pattern?" Because if so, there's something for us to learn. 85 00:11:02,519.47143836 --> 00:11:10,615.47243836 There's something for us to gain here today You know, none of our lives are perfect. 86 00:11:10,615.47243836 --> 00:11:14,715.47243836 We all have problems because we're not home yet to heaven. 87 00:11:15,355.47243836 --> 00:11:31,385.47243836 But you better believe that just like those Israelites, we have the hand of God's blessing upon us, and there's not a person here today that doesn't have amazing blessings from the Lord. 88 00:11:31,555.47143836 --> 00:11:49,55.47043836 We say this all the time, there's not a person here that doesn't have miracles in your past in answer to your prayers, because God hears your groaning and He can't stand it because just like His Old Testament people were His, you're His as well. 89 00:11:49,685.47043836 --> 00:11:55,635.47243836 We all have all kinds of amazing blessings in our life. 90 00:11:57,185.47043836 --> 00:12:12,285.47043836 But if we're gonna be honest, sometimes just like those Israelites, we begin to take those things for granted, don't we? And as we take those things for granted, we begin to forget who we are. 91 00:12:12,985.47343836 --> 00:12:16,185.47043836 We begin to forget whose we are. 92 00:12:16,665.47343836 --> 00:12:23,455.47243836 And we begin to compromise, and we say, "Well, it's not really that important that I follow God closely." 93 00:12:23,455.47443836 --> 00:12:32,505.46843836 And pretty soon we start doing those things, saying those things, looking at those things that we shouldn't be doing. 94 00:12:34,65.46743836 --> 00:12:40,635.47243836 And just like those Israelites, we begin that cycle of disobedience to the Lord. 95 00:12:41,705.46743836 --> 00:12:44,945.46743836 God's people turn away. 96 00:12:47,387.47243836 --> 00:12:52,707.47243836 What's next on the circle? God removes his hand of blessing. 97 00:12:54,217.47243836 --> 00:13:31,347.47243836 Now, here's the question: We who are living in this new covenant through Jesus, does he do that? Does he remove his hand of blessing? Well, I'm not sure he does it in kind of the same way, but what we do have in the New Testament is this particular verse, these verses from Hebrews 12 where it says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. 98 00:13:31,817.47143836 --> 00:13:33,967.47243836 Endure hardship as discipline. 99 00:13:33,967.47243836 --> 00:13:37,797.47043836 God is treating you as his children. 100 00:13:38,17.47143836 --> 00:13:49,627.47243836 For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 101 00:13:49,877.47243836 --> 00:13:55,477.47043836 Moreover, we have had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. 102 00:13:56,27.47443836 --> 00:14:09,607.47243836 How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good in order that we might share in his holiness. 103 00:14:10,97.47343836 --> 00:14:13,367.47043836 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. 104 00:14:13,737.47343836 --> 00:14:20,687.47343836 Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 105 00:14:22,497.46743836 --> 00:14:28,907.47043836 Whether God removes his hand of blessing or not, we don't know exactly what it looks like in the heavenlies. 106 00:14:30,97.47343836 --> 00:14:43,607.46643836 We do know this, that God loves you and me way too much to allow us to start that process of going around that circle in disobedience to him. 107 00:14:44,947.47243836 --> 00:15:01,327.47143836 Everything the Lord tells us to do is for our good because he loves us, because he loves our family, because he's got a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives that is a good and fulfilling purpose, and he doesn't want us to get too far off. 108 00:15:02,567.47443836 --> 00:15:11,317.46543836 And so whether it's him removing his hand or whether it's him disciplining us, whatever it is, he doesn't let it go. 109 00:15:12,437.47043836 --> 00:15:28,597.47243836 And sometimes that discipline is not a whole lot of fun Now just a couple of things about discipline because there's always opportunity for misunderstanding whenever we come to this. 110 00:15:28,677.47243836 --> 00:15:34,417.47243836 Number one is this: not everything bad we go through is God disciplining us. 111 00:15:34,767.47243836 --> 00:15:41,897.47243836 Sometimes the bad that you and I go through is simply the result of living in a fallen, broken world. 112 00:15:42,127.47143836 --> 00:15:44,487.47143836 Like I said before, we're not home yet. 113 00:15:45,637.47243836 --> 00:15:49,747.47243836 When we get home to heaven, there won't be any bad things in our lives. 114 00:15:50,197.47143836 --> 00:15:58,417.47143836 But for those of us that are sitting here or standing here today, we're still in a broken world where sometimes bad things happen. 115 00:16:01,265.47243836 --> 00:16:17,455.47243836 But according to Hebrews 12, there are some times where we are getting way off base, we are disobeying, we are actively doing those things that He has told us not to do, and He disciplines us for our good. 116 00:16:18,805.47143836 --> 00:16:25,725.47143836 Secondly, even when it is divine discipline taking place, it is not punishment. 117 00:16:25,735.47143836 --> 00:16:27,345.47143836 This is really an important point. 118 00:16:27,545.47143836 --> 00:16:33,465.47143836 It is loving discipline, and there's a difference between punishment and discipline. 119 00:16:34,235.46943836 --> 00:16:38,285.47343836 The difference is this: punishment always looks back. 120 00:16:38,835.47243836 --> 00:16:43,835.4704384 It's always saying, "Because you did this, I'm gonna do this to you." 121 00:16:45,465.4734384 --> 00:16:49,495.4694384 It's always retribution for what you've done wrong. 122 00:16:50,865.4704384 --> 00:17:13,85.4724384 As we're gonna see here in just a couple of minutes, there is no more retribution for you and for me that are baptized like little Brooklyn here today and have put our faith in Jesus Christ because all of that retribution went on somebody else, But there still is loving discipline. 123 00:17:13,85.4724384 --> 00:17:15,555.4724384 Discipline doesn't look back like punishment does. 124 00:17:15,775.4724384 --> 00:17:17,865.4724384 Discipline is always looking ahead. 125 00:17:18,75.4724384 --> 00:17:22,725.4724384 Discipline is saying, God is saying, "I've got a great plan for your life. 126 00:17:23,315.4724384 --> 00:17:31,485.4724384 I've got things that I want you to do before you come home to me that are gonna change this world for the good. 127 00:17:33,55.4724384 --> 00:17:36,375.4714384 And that's why I've put all those gifts and talents in you. 128 00:17:36,835.4714384 --> 00:17:38,975.4704384 That's why I've given you these experiences. 129 00:17:38,975.4724384 --> 00:17:41,355.4724384 This is why I gave you that personality. 130 00:17:41,565.4724384 --> 00:17:46,995.4694384 That's why I put you right here in this place and time to accomplish these things. 131 00:17:47,385.4724384 --> 00:17:51,275.4724384 And when you get off base through sin, I gotta steer you back." 132 00:17:52,715.4704384 --> 00:17:54,595.4704384 And so it's not that He's looking back. 133 00:17:54,625.4704384 --> 00:17:55,665.4714384 He's looking ahead. 134 00:17:55,675.4734384 --> 00:18:01,825.4714384 He's got good plans for you, and He's gotta steer you back sometimes through discipline. 135 00:18:01,965.4704384 --> 00:18:11,853.4724384 But like I said, sometimes that is not a whole lot of fun But always remember those words. 136 00:18:12,433.4724384 --> 00:18:22,473.4724384 Who does the Lord discipline? He disciplines those He loves, and He chastens everyone that He accepts as His son. 137 00:18:26,833.4724384 --> 00:18:40,423.4714384 And so what is God's hope? What is God's prayer for when he chastens us? That we would be like those Israelites, that we would get down on our knees, that we would repent, that we would turn back to him. 138 00:18:43,729.4724384 --> 00:18:56,869.4724384 If there's something in your life right now that God is speaking to you about something that isn't right, something that you've been doing that the Holy Spirit has been whispering to you, "Don't do that. 139 00:18:57,259.4724384 --> 00:19:20,661.4724384 You know that's not the will of God for your life," then at some point here today, find a quiet place where you can just get down on your knees and go before the Lord and say, "I am so sorry Forgive me, and I give my life back to you for your purposes for my life. 140 00:19:21,931.4724384 --> 00:19:30,311.4714384 You know, this is what King David did in scripture, and we're gonna be learning about David in the next few weeks of our study. 141 00:19:31,611.4714384 --> 00:19:36,461.4724384 David was, quote, "A man after God's own heart," but David wasn't perfect. 142 00:19:36,661.4724384 --> 00:19:39,751.4724384 In fact, he did two horrendous things. 143 00:19:40,481.4724384 --> 00:19:58,71.4724384 He committed adultery with a woman that was married, and then to cover up his tracks, he killed her husband And when he realized the horrible things that he did, he got down on his knees and repented. 144 00:19:58,811.4724384 --> 00:20:10,941.4714384 And the words are recorded for us in Psalm 51, where David says, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. 145 00:20:11,131.4724384 --> 00:20:14,941.4714384 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from all my sin. 146 00:20:15,431.4714384 --> 00:20:19,131.4714384 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 147 00:20:19,441.4714384 --> 00:20:28,691.4724384 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and you're justified when you judge." 148 00:20:29,221.4704384 --> 00:20:31,831.4704384 David is saying, "You're justified, Lord. 149 00:20:31,841.4734384 --> 00:20:37,721.4724384 You should punish me both now and into eternity for what I've done. 150 00:20:39,141.4724384 --> 00:20:42,71.4714384 But I'm asking you for your mercy and for your grace. 151 00:20:42,351.4714384 --> 00:20:45,701.4714384 I'm asking you for your forgiveness." 152 00:20:48,657.4724384 --> 00:20:58,557.4714384 In Psalm 30 it says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says, 'In repentance and rest is your salvation.'" 153 00:21:01,393.4724384 --> 00:21:08,583.4724384 You know where your rest and your salvation isn't? It isn't in continuing to go astray. 154 00:21:09,263.4724384 --> 00:21:12,393.4724384 It isn't in continuing to fight against God. 155 00:21:12,413.4724384 --> 00:21:15,303.4724384 And by the way, you won't win. 156 00:21:17,83.4724384 --> 00:21:25,403.4714384 No matter how upset you are with God, no matter how much you wanna stick it in His eye, you're not gonna win by fighting against Him. 157 00:21:26,13.4714384 --> 00:21:29,303.4714384 It reminds me of my roommate back at Iowa State. 158 00:21:29,973.4724384 --> 00:21:32,253.4724384 My roommate was a big guy, Jeff. 159 00:21:32,983.4724384 --> 00:21:48,863.4744384 And I remember he told me the story one day, he said that during his senior year, he and his father got into a heated argument, so much so that Jeff put up his hands, and his dad just stood there with his hands to his side and said, "You'll lose." 160 00:21:52,7.4754384 --> 00:21:53,467.4754384 The same thing with God. 161 00:21:53,727.4754384 --> 00:22:03,57.4754384 You can put up your dukes, you can try to fight Him, you can try to rebel against Him as much as you want, you'll lose. 162 00:22:04,697.4754384 --> 00:22:09,757.4744384 That's not where your rest, that's not where your salvation is going to come from. 163 00:22:09,927.4754384 --> 00:22:16,527.4744384 It comes from one place, and that is just getting down on your knees and saying, "Lord, I'm a sinner. 164 00:22:17,257.4754384 --> 00:22:21,557.4754384 I'm sorry, and I ask you to forgive me and give me a fresh start. 165 00:22:22,167.4754384 --> 00:22:25,357.4764384 I want to spend the rest of my life following you." 166 00:22:28,263.4754384 --> 00:22:42,733.4754384 And like we said, whenever you do that, God will always, always, no matter what you've done, forgive you and His blessings return to your life. 167 00:22:45,263.4754384 --> 00:22:50,923.4754384 Now, I'm sure there's a few people out here today that are asking this question, "Well, you don't understand, Pastor. 168 00:22:51,123.4754384 --> 00:22:54,113.4754384 What I've done is horrendous. 169 00:22:54,963.4754384 --> 00:23:00,433.4754384 I understand that God could forgive, you know, most sins, but you'd have no idea what I've done. 170 00:23:00,683.4754384 --> 00:23:10,179.4754384 Could God ever forgive me for what I've done?" Well, in order to answer that question, let's go back to the Book of Judges again. 171 00:23:11,79.4754384 --> 00:23:14,49.4754384 And these passages really speak the heart of God. 172 00:23:15,69.4744384 --> 00:23:32,509.4754384 And from Judges 10 it says, "The Lord replied, 'When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, the Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me. 173 00:23:32,719.4744384 --> 00:23:36,79.4744384 You have served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 174 00:23:36,359.4734384 --> 00:23:39,219.4754384 Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen. 175 00:23:39,389.4764384 --> 00:23:42,419.4754384 Let them save you when you're in trouble.'" 176 00:23:43,309.4744384 --> 00:23:55,549.4744384 You can hear the heart of God, can't you? Of course I come to your rescue, but you're worshiping other gods, gods of wood and, and stone. 177 00:23:57,799.4754384 --> 00:24:01,689.4754384 If you really think that they're worthy of worship, then let them save you. 178 00:24:04,103.4754384 --> 00:24:07,673.4754384 But the Israelites said to the Lord, "We have sinned. 179 00:24:08,253.4754384 --> 00:24:13,33.4754384 Do with us whatever you think best, Lord, but please rescue us now." 180 00:24:13,713.4754384 --> 00:24:24,673.4744384 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord, and listen to these words, "And He could bear Israel's misery no longer." 181 00:24:25,303.4744384 --> 00:24:29,113.4754384 Once again, God just couldn't handle it. 182 00:24:29,463.4744384 --> 00:24:37,543.4734384 He couldn't handle the misery of His disobedient kids because He loved them so much. 183 00:24:39,323.4724384 --> 00:24:46,133.4754384 There is nothing that you've done in your life that is as bad as what the Israelites did. 184 00:24:46,903.4744384 --> 00:24:56,203.4754384 They had completely forsaken their God, and they were worshiping false gods and doing everything that God had told them not to do. 185 00:24:56,793.4744384 --> 00:25:12,733.4724384 But when they came back to the Lord and asked Him for forgiveness, He could bear their misery no longer, and He sent them judge after judge after judge to bring them out of slavery and back into freedom again. 186 00:25:15,399.4754384 --> 00:25:17,719.4754384 In Isaiah 49, I love these words. 187 00:25:17,719.4754384 --> 00:25:21,169.4754384 It says, "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me. 188 00:25:21,339.4754384 --> 00:25:22,789.4754384 The Lord has forgotten me.'" 189 00:25:22,789.4754384 --> 00:25:24,339.4754384 And maybe you feel that way. 190 00:25:25,79.4744384 --> 00:25:28,339.4744384 Because of the horrible thing that I've done, He's forsaken me. 191 00:25:28,339.4754384 --> 00:25:29,219.4754384 He's left me. 192 00:25:30,249.4744384 --> 00:25:49,369.4764384 But look at the Lord's reply: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will never forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." 193 00:25:50,639.4734384 --> 00:25:52,329.4724384 I will never forget you. 194 00:25:52,329.4754384 --> 00:26:01,589.4754384 Why? Because the reminder of you is right there on the palms of my hands. 195 00:26:05,135.4754384 --> 00:26:20,705.4754384 When did God engrave you and me on the palms of His hands? When His Son, Jesus Christ, came here to this earth, lived a perfect life, and then died on that cross for you and for me. 196 00:26:21,915.4754384 --> 00:26:38,35.4754384 When He died on that cross, He was taking our punishment so that no matter what we did wrong, no matter how horrendous it may have been, we could always, always, always have that fresh start. 197 00:26:39,765.4734384 --> 00:26:50,395.4744384 God forgives over and over and over again, and when He does, all of His blessings return to us. 198 00:26:53,95.4754384 --> 00:26:59,325.4754384 In Lamentations 3, I love these words, it says, "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed. 199 00:26:59,625.4754384 --> 00:27:02,405.4754384 For His compassions, they never fail. 200 00:27:02,535.4754384 --> 00:27:04,275.4754384 They are new every morning. 201 00:27:04,485.4744384 --> 00:27:07,25.4754384 Great is Your faithfulness." 202 00:27:08,945.4744384 --> 00:27:10,75.4744384 Absolutely. 203 00:27:10,285.4764384 --> 00:27:22,119.4754384 How great is His faithfulness that over and over and over again He would take us back? One last thing. 204 00:27:23,969.4754384 --> 00:27:34,399.4744384 Knowing that this is our tendency, right? Not just to do it once and learn our lesson, but to go around and around and around the circle again. 205 00:27:34,409.4754384 --> 00:27:36,389.4744384 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 206 00:27:36,809.4754384 --> 00:27:38,949.4754384 Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. 207 00:27:40,569.4754384 --> 00:28:02,289.4734384 Is there anything that we can do to stop that cycle or slow that cycle down a little bit so that we don't begin that cycle of turning away from Him again and again? Well, until we get home to heaven, we're gonna wrestle with this, but I think there is something that can help us. 208 00:28:02,859.4734366 --> 00:28:16,759.4734384 In 1 Thessalonians 5 it says this, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 209 00:28:17,989.4734384 --> 00:28:40,469.4734384 Remember why those Israelites began to fall away? Because they had the world by the tail, and instead of thanking God for those things over and over and over again, and remembering who gave them those blessings and who they are and whose they are, they began to forget those things. 210 00:28:41,499.4754384 --> 00:28:53,279.4754384 Instead, simply this: remember the good things that God has done for you Spend time with Him each and every day. 211 00:28:53,909.4754384 --> 00:29:02,279.4754384 Spend time thinking about, writing down the good things that God has done for you. 212 00:29:03,39.4754384 --> 00:29:23,29.4734384 And as you do that, it'll- you'll be slower to forget all of the good blessings that God has brought into your life, and hopefully won't continue going around that circle at the same pace that those Israelites did in our readings for today. 213 00:29:25,575.4754384 --> 00:29:27,825.4754384 But when you do, you know where to go. 214 00:29:28,345.4754384 --> 00:29:30,285.4754384 Go back to the Lord in repentance. 215 00:29:30,625.4754384 --> 00:29:32,645.4754384 That is where your salvation is. 216 00:29:33,475.4754384 --> 00:29:36,465.4754384 And may God grant it to each and every one of us for Jesus' sake. 217 00:29:36,945.4754384 --> 00:29:37,365.4754384 Amen. 218 00:29:40,230.4754384 --> 00:29:41,880.4754384 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 219 00:29:41,880.4754384 --> 00:29:43,960.4754384 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 220 00:29:44,280.4754384 --> 00:29:46,80.4754384 If you would like more information about St. 221 00:29:46,80.4754384 --> 00:29:51,740.4754384 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 222 00:29:51,830.4754384 --> 00:29:52,70.4754384 stjohnsbuffalo. 223 00:29:53,310.4744384 --> 00:29:53,640.4744384 org. 224 00:29:54,20.4744384 --> 00:29:55,310.4754384 Thank you and God bless you.
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