Judges 4:1-24

    After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord. [2] So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. [3] Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help.
    [4] Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. [5] She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. [6] She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. [7] I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.' "
    [8] Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."
    [9] "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh, [10] where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
    [11] Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.
    [12] When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, [13] Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
    [14] Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men. [15] At Barak's advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. [16] But Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim. All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.
    [17] Sisera, however, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite.
    [18] Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come, my lord, come right in. Don't be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she put a covering over him.
    [19] "I'm thirsty," he said. "Please give me some water." She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.
    [20] "Stand in the doorway of the tent," he told her. "If someone comes by and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say 'No.' "
    [21] But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
    [22] Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you're looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple--dead.
    [23] On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites. [24] And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, the Canaanite king, until they destroyed him. _^[NIV]

THE PROBLEM (once again):
_{^{Judges 4:1-3 Exodus 19:3-6 Hebrews 12:1-3 Romans 7:15-8:8}}

Sin is a cycle of staleness and slavery.
Following people or programs, not a purpose.
Victory doesn’t mean you are right with God.

Judges 4:1-3

Exodus 19:3-6

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: [4] 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." _^[NIV]

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [2] Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. _^[NIV]

Romans 7:15-8:8

    I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
    [21] So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God's law; [23] but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!
    So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
    [8:1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, [4] in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
    [5] Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; [7] the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. [8] Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. _^[NIV]

THE SOLUTION:
_{^{Judges 4:4-23 Exodus 19:10-20 1 Kings 19:9-13 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 Exodus 15}}

We call out to a warrior not a wimp.
Don’t discount God’s might or minutiae.

Judges 4:4-23

    Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. [5] She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. [6] She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. [7] I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.' "
    [8] Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."
    [9] "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh, [10] where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
    [11] Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.
    [12] When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, [13] Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
    [14] Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men. [15] At Barak's advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. [16] But Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim. All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.
    [17] Sisera, however, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite.
    [18] Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come, my lord, come right in. Don't be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she put a covering over him.
    [19] "I'm thirsty," he said. "Please give me some water." She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.
    [20] "Stand in the doorway of the tent," he told her. "If someone comes by and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say 'No.' "
    [21] But Jael, Heber's wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
    [22] Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you're looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple--dead.
    [23] On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites. _^[NIV]

Exodus 19:10-20

    And the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes [11] and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. [12] Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. [13] He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain."
    [14] After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. [15] Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations."
    [16] On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. [17] Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. [18] Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, [19] and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
    [20] The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up _^[NIV]

1 Kings 19:9-13

    There he went into a cave and spent the night.
    And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
    [10] He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
    [11] The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."
    Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. [12] After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. [13] When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
    Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" _^[NIV]

2 Chronicles 32:7-8

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. [8] With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. _^[NIV]

Exodus 15:1-27

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

    "I will sing to the Lord,
        for he is highly exalted.
    The horse and its rider
        he has hurled into the sea.
    [2] The Lord is my strength and my song;
        he has become my salvation.
    He is my God, and I will praise him,
        my father's God, and I will exalt him.
    [3] The Lord is a warrior;
        the Lord is his name.
    [4] Pharaoh's chariots and his army
        he has hurled into the sea.
    The best of Pharaoh's officers
        are drowned in the Red Sea.
    [5] The deep waters have covered them;
        they sank to the depths like a stone.

    [6] "Your right hand, O Lord,
        was majestic in power.
    Your right hand, O Lord,
        shattered the enemy.
    [7] In the greatness of your majesty
        you threw down those who opposed you.
    You unleashed your burning anger;
        it consumed them like stubble.
    [8] By the blast of your nostrils
        the waters piled up.
    The surging waters stood firm like a wall;
        the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

    [9] "The enemy boasted,
        'I will pursue, I will overtake them.
    I will divide the spoils;
        I will gorge myself on them.
    I will draw my sword
        and my hand will destroy them.'
    [10] But you blew with your breath,
        and the sea covered them.
    They sank like lead
        in the mighty waters.

    [11] "Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?
        Who is like you--
            majestic in holiness,
            awesome in glory,
            working wonders?
    [12] You stretched out your right hand
        and the earth swallowed them.

    [13] "In your unfailing love you will lead
        the people you have redeemed.
    In your strength you will guide them
        to your holy dwelling.
    [14] The nations will hear and tremble;
        anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
    [15] The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
        the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
    the people of Canaan will melt away;
        [16] terror and dread will fall upon them.
    By the power of your arm
        they will be as still as a stone--
    until your people pass by, O Lord,
        until the people you bought pass by.
    [17] You will bring them in and plant them
        on the mountain of your inheritance--
    the place, O Lord, you made for your dwelling,
        the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.
    [18] The Lord will reign
        for ever and ever."

    [19] When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. [20] Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. [21] Miriam sang to them:

    "Sing to the Lord,
        for he is highly exalted.
    The horse and its rider
        he has hurled into the sea."

    [22] Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. [23] When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) [24] So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
    [25] Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
    There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. [26] He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you."
    [27] Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. _^[NIV]