Bible Study on the book of Judges: Are you afraid of evil powers? - Fr Joseph Edattu VC
Summary
TLDRThe message focuses on the dangers of compromising with sin and evil in one's life, drawing parallels to the Israelites' failure to fully drive out their enemies in the Book of Judges. It emphasizes the importance of eliminating small sins, as tolerating them can lead to bigger spiritual struggles in the future. The speaker encourages trusting in God rather than fearing evil forces, like black magic or enemies, and urges self-examination to rid one's life of negative behaviors before they become overwhelming.
Takeaways
- 🙏 Sometimes, fear of evil can lead to its power over us if we give it undue attention.
- 💡 Small sins or compromises tolerated in life can lead to bigger struggles and temptations later.
- 👴 Caleb, despite his old age, trusted in God and was able to defeat the powerful enemies, showing that faith can lead to strength even in later years.
- 🛡️ Judah trusted in God but was still afraid of the chariots of iron, highlighting how even believers sometimes fear worldly powers over divine help.
- 💭 Allowing small weaknesses or bad habits in life can lead to spiritual and emotional struggles, just like Israel faced constant temptation by tolerating pagan practices.
- ⚔️ The Israelites compromised with Gentiles and failed to drive them out, leading to ongoing spiritual battles and consequences.
- 🔥 God has the power to defeat any worldly force, as seen when He destroyed Pharaoh’s army, and this should inspire trust over fear.
- 📖 Spiritual cleanliness requires removing all potential sources of sin from one's life, just as the Israelites were supposed to remove enemies from their land.
- ⚠️ Overconfidence in controlling small sins can lead to being dominated by them, losing spiritual protection and facing greater consequences.
- 💬 Evil behaviors and tendencies, like gossiping or lying, should not be tolerated, as they grow and ultimately lead to spiritual downfall.
Q & A
What lesson does the speaker highlight from Judah's fear of the inhabitants with iron chariots?
-The speaker emphasizes that Judah's fear of the inhabitants with iron chariots shows how sometimes, despite trusting in God, we can be overwhelmed by fear of evil forces. This fear can lead to unnecessary struggles, and the message is to trust in God's power over any worldly threat.
What does the speaker say about compromising with small sins?
-The speaker warns that tolerating small sins, like lies or anger, can lead to bigger problems in the future. What seems manageable now may later become a significant spiritual and emotional challenge, as these 'small enemies' can eventually control us.
What biblical figure does the speaker use as an example of strength in old age?
-The speaker uses Caleb as an example of someone who, despite his old age, achieved great things through his trust in God. Caleb, even in his senior years, defeated the powerful Anakites, demonstrating that God can use people powerfully, regardless of their age.
How does the speaker compare the Israelites’ tolerance of the Canaanites to personal spiritual battles?
-The speaker compares the Israelites’ tolerance of the Canaanites to how we tolerate bad habits or sins in our lives. Just as the Israelites faced long-term struggles because they didn’t remove the Canaanites, we also face ongoing temptations and struggles when we allow sin to remain in our lives.
What does the speaker suggest about the impact of fear on our faith?
-The speaker suggests that fear can weaken our faith, particularly when we fear evil or black magic more than we trust in God's power. By giving power to fear, we allow it to affect us, but by trusting fully in God, we can overcome these fears.
What is the significance of the story of Caleb and the sons of Anak in the script?
-The story of Caleb defeating the sons of Anak, who were considered giants, signifies that no matter how strong or overwhelming the opposition may seem, God’s strength can enable believers to overcome any challenge. It also highlights the value of faith and perseverance.
How does the speaker relate the Israelites' compromises to modern spiritual life?
-The speaker relates the Israelites' compromises with the Gentiles to modern spiritual life by showing how small compromises in our faith, such as tolerating bad habits or sin, can lead to larger spiritual battles. The message is to eliminate anything that hinders spiritual growth.
Why does the speaker emphasize the need to remove 'enemies' from our lives?
-The speaker emphasizes the need to remove 'enemies'—anything that leads to sin or spiritual downfall—because allowing them to remain can result in constant temptation and spiritual struggle. Eliminating these 'enemies' creates a stronger connection with God and ensures spiritual safety.
What does the speaker suggest about people who underestimate their spiritual strength?
-The speaker suggests that people often underestimate their spiritual strength, especially when facing fears like evil or black magic. However, the speaker encourages believers to trust in God's power, which is far greater than any worldly threat or fear.
What is the broader spiritual message the speaker conveys through the Israelites' failure to drive out the Canaanites?
-The broader spiritual message is that tolerating sin or spiritual compromise in life, much like the Israelites failing to drive out the Canaanites, can lead to long-term struggles and temptations. The speaker urges complete spiritual cleansing to avoid these future challenges.
Outlines
😨 Overcoming Fear and Trusting in God's Power
This paragraph discusses the fear people have of evil forces, like black magic or wicked individuals, and how this fear can give these powers undue influence in their lives. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting in Jesus, as He can bring blessings and victory over these forces. The example of Caleb, an elderly Israelite who defeated strong enemies by trusting in God, is used to show that even when people feel underestimated or powerless, God can use them mightily.
🛑 Avoiding Small Sins to Prevent Greater Problems
The message here warns against compromising with small sins, bad habits, or weaknesses, as these can lead to larger temptations and spiritual struggles in the future. The speaker uses the example of Israel's tribes who tolerated pagan practices and allowed other tribes to live among them, leading to spiritual battles. The importance of cutting off any potential sources of sin and staying safe spiritually is highlighted, as it parallels the tribes’ failure to fully remove unclean influences.
🏇 The Power of God Overcomes All Obstacles
This section focuses on the tribe of Judah, which, despite God’s presence, was afraid to fully conquer its enemies due to their iron chariots, a powerful symbol of strength. The speaker reminds the audience that in the Bible, God repeatedly defeated enemies with superior weapons, like the Pharaoh’s army. The lesson is that trusting in God should outweigh any fear of evil or worldly powers, as demonstrated through several biblical passages emphasizing God's supremacy over such forces.
💪 Caleb's Strength and Faith in Defeating Giants
Caleb, one of the two Israelites to survive the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, is celebrated for his faith and strength, even in old age. Despite facing formidable foes like the Anakites, who were seen as giants, Caleb relied on God's power to defeat them. The speaker encourages the audience not to dismiss the abilities of older individuals, showing how God can work through them to accomplish mighty deeds.
⚔️ The Dangers of Allowing Enemies to Stay
This paragraph explains how the Benjaminites failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem, allowing them to remain. This became a spiritual temptation and struggle for Israel. The speaker warns against tolerating evil influences or bad habits in one’s life, as they will eventually lead to greater problems and temptations, creating an ongoing spiritual battle. The lesson is that compromise with sin allows it to take root and persist.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Compromise
💡Small sins
💡Judah
💡Chariots of iron
💡Caleb
💡Anakites
💡Spiritual compromise
💡Temptation
💡Black magic
💡Forced labor
Highlights
Fear of evil and black magic can have a negative effect on individuals if they allow that fear to overpower their faith in God.
Caleb, despite being old, was able to accomplish great things because he trusted in God, demonstrating that age doesn't limit one's ability to serve God powerfully.
Small sins and compromises tolerated in life can grow into significant temptations and problems in the future.
Israel's tribes made the mistake of compromising with Gentile tribes, leading to spiritual battles and constant temptations.
Even though Judah trusted in God, they were afraid of the inhabitants with iron chariots, demonstrating how fear can overpower trust in God.
The Israelites allowed enemy tribes like the Canaanites and Jebusites to live among them, which eventually caused continuous spiritual struggles.
God has the power to defeat seemingly invincible enemies, as seen with the Egyptians and their chariots of iron, but the Israelites failed to fully trust in this.
The lesson from Israel's compromises is that Christians must not tolerate even small temptations or sins, as these will grow and lead to greater spiritual danger.
Caleb's victory over the Anakites, who were giant warriors, shows that faith in God can overcome any obstacle, regardless of physical strength.
Believers should fully cleanse their lives of anything that could lead them into sin or addiction, as partial compromises will leave room for future temptations.
Judah's fear of the inhabitants of the plain, despite having God's presence with them, demonstrates how doubt can creep in and hinder success.
Tolerating bad habits, such as gossip, lack of self-control, or dishonesty, without addressing them can lead to deeper spiritual challenges.
Spiritual vigilance is necessary, as any tolerance of evil or sin weakens one’s spiritual strength and protection.
Even in weakness or old age, individuals can accomplish significant tasks when they rely on God's strength.
Israel's failure to fully drive out their enemies serves as a warning to believers about the dangers of compromising with sin.
Transcripts
just left them because he was so scared
later the same people became a big
headache for Judah sometimes you know we
we are afraid of certain areas of our
life though we trust in the Lord we are
afraid of evil we are afraid of black
magic we are afraid of certain people we
are afraid of someone who is doing evil
against you the more you frightened of
them there is a possibility that they
may affect affect you because you are
believing in that power and then that
power will have a power on you so
believe in Jesus and you and your whole
family blessed will be blessed and these
are the people who are defeated by
Khalid the oldest member in the Israel
because he trusted in the Lord sometimes
we feel you know some once you are old
you are good for nothing you are useless
people don't value you and family
members don't listen to you but Bible
says even these old people who are
physic may not be physically strong but
we may we may underestimate the physical
strength but God can use them even at
the old age God can use them very
powerfully and here more than Judah more
than all of them Caleb could do Mighty
things he did not in fact drive them out
they thought this canonitis can be used
for labor
so they thought these things these
people should be used for their own
benefit
but later they had a constant struggle
because of us
sometimes we tolerate small small sins
small lives small hatred small angles
small irritation small depositives small
small things thinking that this will be
useful thinking that through these we
can get some benefits through these we
can achieve some small temporary
solutions but remember these small small
sins which we are tolerating and
compromising will be a big problem big
trouble big Temptation in the future
behaviors of us which are reminded by
many people you have this problem be
careful you have this tendency of
gossiping you have this tendons of lack
of control on your tongue you have this
tendency of lying you have this tendency
of stealing you have this tendency of
bad habits be careful but we just
tolerate it just justifying it saying
it's okay I can manage it I can use it I
can control it when we think our
confident about these small small
enemies who are living with us that is
when we are going to lose protection
tomorrow soon or later we will be
controlled by these enemies these
enemies which going to dig their terms
to us these enemies are going to destroy
us we will be always under constant
Temptation and constant struggle
spiritually and also emotionally so this
is exactly what today's Bible passages
is teaching each and every one of us as
many brothers and sisters we were having
a bible study on the Book of Judges and
we have reached chapter 1 verse 15 we
reached and now we read from 16 onwards
chapter 1 verse 16 onwards let's read
this word word of God
the descendants of hobab the key night
Monster's father-in-law
went up with the people of Judah from
the city of Palms Into the Wilderness
of Judah which lies in negeb near arada
then they went and settled with the
Amala caves
so my brothers and sisters in this
chapter the rest of the chapter rest of
the word of God speaks about how the
Israel's tribes different tribes
they compromised with the other groups
they lived with the other tribes who
worshiped other gods the Gentiles
they did not remove everyone from their
land
they tolerated they compromised they
allowed others to live with them
so this is later became a headache for
them a spiritual battle for them a
constant Temptation for them
so this is exactly what that is why all
the struggles which they are going to
face in the whole Book of Judges is
because of what they were doing in this
chapter one
they went and settled with Amala kids
they were they were their enemies but
they made they made an arrangement with
them and they settled with them
and they went to a city of Palm City of
Palms that is Jericho sit your palms up
is known as chariko and they settled
there you know with Amala so you can see
in this chapter they are tolerating
certain tribes certain certain groups
wrong groups and certain uh the Pagan
beliefs they tolerated and they lived
with them they did not remove everything
from their life from their land
so today we also what is the spiritual
context of this the spiritual context is
this in our life if you really want to
be settled spiritually in your personal
life connection with God you need to get
rid of every enemy who is working
against you in you from your
surroundings from your families do not
allow any evil or any any possibility or
potential enemies especially anything
that can lead you to sin anything that
can lead you to fall into sin or
addictions wrong relationship cut it off
completely because we are not so strong
we are not so connected to God always we
are not so full of power we are all weak
human beings therefore it is always to
be safe in the spiritual realm than
taking risk so that is exactly what
happened to the Jewish people especially
the 12 tribes and they compromised their
religious practices with other gentile
people who lived among them they did not
wipe away every uncleanness and
unholiness from their land they
tolerated and small small compromises
small small tolerations can lead you to
big big Temptations in the future and
that is what we are going to read verse
17 let's read
Judah went with his brother's Simeon the
tribe of Judah and tribe of Simeon they
went and they defeated the Canaanites to
who inhabited Safar and devoted it to
destruction so the city was called horma
so these two were tribes they were
continuing Conquering the land that is
allotted to them Verse 18 we really like
these
Judah took ghasa with its territory Ash
cologne with its territory and a crone
with its territory and verse 20 we read
like this the Lord was with Judah and he
took possession of the Hill Country
but could not drive drive out the
inhabitants of the plane because they
had Chariots of iron so God was with
Judah but still he was afraid of the
people of
um the people the inhabitants of the
plane
the land they only conquered the Hill
Country but they were afraid to go to
the plane inhabitants of the plane
because they had Chariots of iron
so that was a big problem that happened
to Judah Judah was afraid of these
Chariots of iron
though he trusted in the Lord but he
underestimated the power of God
sometimes it happens though we trust in
God we believe in God we believe in
Jesus sometimes we have more faith in
the evil one
and I have seen people who are going to
church regularly going for Holy Mass
receiving communion regularly but they
are so afraid of black magic and
Witchcraft and all those things they
feel evil spirit is attacking them evil
spirit is doing something against them
and someone has done some black magic
against them they seems to be afraid of
this evil
though they believe that God is with
them though they go for regular holy
masses
Mari brothers and sisters this is
exactly what happened to Judah the Lord
was with him but still he is afraid of
some Chariots of iron
in the Bible we know many occasions God
has chased those people who are out
chase people out those who are with the
those who depend on the Chariots of iron
we read Exodus chapter 14 verse 17 we
read like these Exodus chapter 14 verse
17 the word of God speaks to us like
this
Exodus 14 17 the word of God says let's
read this passage
then I will harden the hearts of the
Egyptians so that they will go enough to
them and so I will gain glory for myself
our pharaoh and holy sarbis chariots and
his Chariot drivers and was 18.
and the Egyptians shall know that I am
the Lord when I have gained glory for
myself our Pharaoh his chariots and his
Chariot drivers so God has already
defeated in front of the eyes God they
have seen God has defeated the Pharaoh
and his army and his Chariots of iron
and all his drivers everyone was
defeated therefore Judah need not have
been frightened of these inhabitants of
the plane let's read Joshua 1 11 verse
chapter 11 verse 5. we really like these
George chapter 11 verse 5 the word of
God says all these Kings join their
forces and came and came together at the
Waters of maroon to fight with Israel
all the kings came together against
Israel verse six we really like this and
the Lord said to Joshua do not be afraid
of them for tomorrow at this time I will
hand over all of them slain to Israel
you shall armstring their horses and
burn their chariots with fire
you will burn their chariots so chariots
such those days this Charities one
considered as a very powerful weapon but
these Charities are nothing in front of
Jesus in front of our Lord and let's
also read Psalm 20 verse 7 Psalm 20
verse 7 we read like these the word of
God says some take pride in chariots
because those days chariots were
considered as a most powerful weapon or
a instrument they had the Army had if
someone has got iron chariots that means
they are so powerful and now Bible says
some take pride in chariots and some in
horses but our pride is in the name of
the Lord our God
we trust in the Lord they trust in the
Chariots and horses but we trust in the
Lord so this is what the answer is but
Judah failed in these he compromised he
just left them because he was so scared
later the same people become a big
headache for Judah sometimes you know we
we are afraid of certain areas of our
life though we trust in the Lord we are
afraid of evil we are afraid of black
magic we are afraid of certain people we
are afraid of someone who is doing evil
against you the more you frighten of
them there is a possibility that they
may affecting affect you because you are
believing in that power and then that
power will have a power on you so
believe in Jesus and you and your whole
family blessed will be blessed let's
read chapter 1 verse 21 we really like
this Hebron was given to calib Caleb as
Moses had said and he draw out from it
the three sons of anarch
is a very powerful man of God he is the
one who started from Egypt and he still
continued and reached in the promised
land Joshua died Joshua and the caliber
and are the only two people who entered
into Promised Land who started from
Egypt
but now the only calib is the remain
remaining Joshua died
now he's in a very old age I think he is
the senior most member of the whole
Israel
all of Israel he is the senior most
member but he defeated the three sons of
anak anak is
or the the people of Anarchy is the most
powerful people in the world those days
they were considered as the huge in size
they were like considered as Giants
and these Caleb who is a very old man
who depended on God all throughout his
life he could easily defeat these
powerful people we read like these in
the word of God
um Numbers Chapter 13 Verse 33 Numbers
Chapter 13 Verse 33 the word of God says
there there we saw the Nephilim the
anarchites come from the Nephilim and to
ourselves we seem like grasshoppers
Grasshoppers and souls be seen to them
they were so huge giants in front of
them these people Israelis were like
grasshoppers so this is what happened
but Caleb destroyed them removed them
from the earth because he depend on God
Deuteronomy chapter 9 verse 2
Deuteronomy chapter 9 verse 2 we read
like this Deuteronomy 9 2 a strong and
tall people The Offspring of the Anakin
whom you know
you have heard it said of them who can
stand up to the Anakin nobody can stand
against the Children of anarch
Children of anarch
and these are the people who are
defeated by Khalid the oldest member in
the Israel
because he trusted in the Lord sometimes
we feel you know some once you are old
you are good for nothing you are useless
people don't value you and family
members don't listen to you but Bible
says even these old people who has
physique may not be physically strong
but we may we may underestimate the
physical strength but God can use them
even at the old age God can use them
very powerfully and here more than Judah
more than all of them Caleb could do
Mighty things in his old age praise the
Lord thank you Jesus
let's continue reading verse 21. so but
the benjaminites did not drive out the
jabusites who lived in Jerusalem so the
jabu sides have lived in Jerusalem among
the benjaminites to this day so
jebusites is another enemy of Israel
Benjamin benjaminites they did not drive
them out they allowed them to continue
staying with them and they continued to
stay with them until the day This Book
of Judges were written down so that and
later they became a big Temptation for
them struggle for them always a constant
Temptation and struggle for them
praise the Lord thank you Jesus praise
to Jesus thank you Father
and uh you know some and was to continue
reading let's read verse 22 the house of
Joseph also went up against Bethel and
the Lord was with them
so one of the 12 tribes One Tribe is
Joseph's tribe but the Joseph tribe is a
huge tribe and it was divided into two
half tribe each
two tribes so these two tribes are
together called the tribe of Joseph
and the Lord was with them and was 23.
the house of Joseph sent out spies to
Bethel the name of the city was formerly
loose
and was 24 when the spies saw a man
coming out of the city they said to him
show us the way into the City and we
will deal kindly with you so they saw a
man and asked his help so he showed them
the way into the City and they put the
city to the sword but they let the man
and all his family to go so they also
conquered that City and verse 26 so the
man went to the land of the Hittites and
built a city and named it Loose that is
its name to this day this man who was
saved he went out and he went to another
place and he's built a city and he
started a city and it became he it it
became he changed the name of that City
in Toulouse and these men
just because he could help the people of
God he could build even a city alone and
he became the master of a city because
he helped the people of Israel and verse
27 we really like these
did not drive out the inhabitants of
betseen and its Villages or tanak and
its Villages or the inhabitants of Dora
and his villages or the inhabitants of
Il balam ill blem and its Villages or
the inhabitants of megido and its
Villages but the Canaanites continue to
live in that land
so this was the problem of Israel they
allowed so many people who were enemies
and he tolerated and allowed them to
work with them to move with them live
with them this is what happens to us
today when we tolerate small small
weaknesses small small shortcomings
small small bad habits small small sins
in our life thinking it is only a small
thing we can manage with this why did
they allow these people to live why did
Israel allow these people to live
because they thought these people will
be useful for them
they can be slaves they can be used as
slaves they can help in doing some work
so when Israel grew strong they put the
canonitis to force to labor but did not
in fact drive them out they thought this
canonize can be used for labor
so they thought these things these
people should be used for their own
benefit
but later they had a constant struggle
because of this
sometimes we tolerate small small sins
small lies small haters small anger
small irritation small The gossips Small
Small Things thinking that this will be
useful
thinking that through these we can get
some benefits
through these we can achieve some small
temporary solutions but remember these
small small sins which we are tolerating
and
compromising will be a big problem big
trouble big Temptation in the future
this is what I actually happened to the
the Israelites so let's continue already
verse 29 and Ephraim did not drive out
the canaries who lived in guesser but
the Canon eyes lived among the meninges
there was 20 30.
lived among them and became subject to
forced labor they were all used by
Israelites Asher did not drive out the
inhabitants of Paco or the inhabitants
of zidon or abhalab and
or of hafik or help and was 2032 but the
asherites lived among the Canaanites the
inhabitants of the land for they did not
drive them out was 33.
nephtali did not drive out the
inhabitants of Batman or the inhabitants
of batana
but lived among the canonites the
inhabitants of the land nevertheless the
inhabitants of which much
and up became subject to force to labor
for them was 34. the Amorous pressed the
dionites back into the Hill Country they
did not allow them to come down to the
plane was 35.
and the amorites continue to live in
harshares and as alone and in Shah Ali
bhim shalbim hand of the House of Joseph
rested heavily on them and they became
subject to forced labor
and we read the border of the amorites
ran from the ascent of Akra beam from
salad and upward praise the Lord so this
is the whole chapter in in all these
most of the chapters most of the last
words that we were reading the content
that the conclusion is these they
tolerated the enemies and kept them
along with them
the enemies means the evil one
so mighty brothers and says how to apply
these things in our life in our lives
too there are so many evil practices
evil Tendencies evil characters evil
Behavior we tolerate and keep it in our
life
there are many bad behaviors of us which
are reminded by many people you have
this problem be careful you have this
tendency of gossiping you have
descendants of lack of control on your
tongue you have this tendency of lying
you have this tendency of steering you
have this tendency of bad habits be
careful but we just tolerate it just
justifying it saying it's okay I can
manage it I can use it I can control it
when we think our confident about these
small small enemies who are living with
us that is when we are going to lose
protection tomorrow soon or later we
will be controlled by these enemies
these enemies will going to dictate
terms to us these enemies are going to
destroy us we will be always under
constant Temptation and constant
struggle spiritually and also
emotionally so this is exactly what
today's Bible passages is teaching each
and every one of us let's examine our
conscience and see do we have any of
these kinds of bad temptencies and evil
and enemies we whom we are tolerating
and trying to live with us and then we
need to get rid of these bad habits at
the earliest so that we may be safe
let's close our eyes and sing together
[Music]
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