This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the book of 1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:1-13; 14:1-5; and Judges 4 and 5.  “When leaders lead…” (Jdg. 5:2).

THE WORDS OF JESUS

When He was on earth, our Lord spoke these words: “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mk 13:31). The words ‘pass away’ mean to disappear, to be passed by or ignored. Our Lord says that the present heaven and earth shall be changed and become new. But His Words remain forever. This proclamation reveals the total authority of Jesus Christ. He alone can speak like this. No man can say such a thing. For the past 2000 years, His Words have stayed with supernatural power. His words have become doctrines to be preached, Laws in many countries and a great source of comfort for millions. To God be all the glory!

PRAYER FOR GREATER REVELATION OF GOD’S LAW   

“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish” (Jer 33:3; AMP). “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law” (Ps 119:18). ‘Wondrous’ means great, difficult, or wonderful. The word ‘open’ means to uncover, to make naked; revelation, to have a clear vision. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the deep things of God. To see and appreciate the value of God’s love, His kindness and generosity to men in giving His only begotten Son to die for sinners, these are revelation pearls found only in the ocean of God’s Grace. You need the equipment of faith to dive in and find these treasures of the deep. These are hidden from the natural man, from the superficial seeker. These revelations excite our spirits, make us hungry for more of God’s Word and lead us to deeper worship. These revelations are always connected with prayer and come as a response to prayer. No man is able to appreciate the depth and beauty of the Bible except he is born again, Spirit filled and pays the price for spiritual maturity. That man is a true disciple of Jesus. He prays that God will open his eyes to see as God sees. He prays that God will remove the veil of religious ignorance and spiritual blindness. The Apostle Paul prayed for spiritual wisdom saying: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph 1:17). May we desire not only to know religion, but to experience God’s wisdom, His power of resurrection and the glorious riches available to us in Christ alone! Amen!

THE GOSPEL OF LOVE

Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn 14:15). Love is more than a feeling. Love is intelligent and strong. Love is more than a poet. Love is a soldier, a general in the army. Love does exploits for Jesus. Love leads others to God’s Word! When leaders lead and lovers love, revival will happen! What is Christianity? It is not a human idea, or a philosophy of men. Christianity is Christ. Christianity is the Gospel. What is the Gospel? The word means ‘good news’. The Gospel is the life, death and resurrection of Christ, the Son of God. It is the total victory of Christ over sin and death. The Gospel is the most wonderful news that ever come to planet earth. We are born sinners. We are supposed to die and go to hell. God the Father loved this world. Only Love has the power to create a way and pay the price for salvation. Love leads! God the Father sent His only begotten Son to become Man and die on behalf of sinners. Faith in the Gospel is the only way to be saved and go to heaven. Many people argue about religions, denominations, and creeds. They ask me, how do you know that the Gospel is true? I know because I totally believe the Bible is the Word of God. In the Old Testament, thousands of years before Jesus came, there were many prophecies who said that one day, God will send a Savior. All these prophecies came true in the Person of Jesus Christ. For example, the Bible said that the Messiah will be born in a small city called Bethlehem. He did! The Bible said that He will enter in Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He did! The Bible said that He will be betrayed and sold for 30 silver coins. He did! Look at Jesus! Study His words and His life! He said that He came to bring abundant life. He said that Him and God the Father are one. He is either mad, a liar, or He is truly God. The answer is that Jesus is God! Who is this Man of Galilee? You must receive Him in your heart before you really know Him. Look at His disciples. When He was arrested, they all ran away. They later came and saw Him crucified. They saw Him dead. They took His Body and buried it. On the Third Day He rose from the dead. He sent the Holy Spirit. These depressed and cowardly people suddenly became bold like lions. What is the explanation? They were filled with the Spirit of Christ and became His witnesses preaching His Words. Look at the Apostle Paul. He hated Christ and the Church. He had an encounter with the resurrected Christ, and he was never the same again. He preached the Gospel and died as a martyr. Christianity is the joyful story of Jesus Christ, of eternal life, of God’s Love for men, His resurrection power and amazing grace! If your heart is not bubbling with joy, you are not yet saved.

LOVE IS THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY (1 Cor 12:31; 13:1-13; 14:1-5)

The way of Love is called ‘the more excellent way’. Not everyone has all the gifts. But every believer must passionately desire to know and to walk in the excellent way of love. “But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love]” (1 Cor 12:31; AMP). Spiritual gifts are the reason why many Christians have become proud or jealous of others. Love is the cure for all pride and jealousy. The word ‘excellent’ means the best of all, outstanding, highest quality of character of leadership. All lovers are leaders. We are commanded to ‘pursue love’. Finding love is an active exercise and there is a price to pay. In both Old and New Testament, when man is commanded to Love, his whole person must be involved, body, soul, and spirit. Love is the perfect way of life. Many people talk about love, but few experience it in this life on earth. Selah!

In the Book of 1 Corinthians 13 we see the greatest song of love. It is agape love, the love Jesus displayed on the Cross. Love ‘suffers long’. It is patient, waiting for the prodigals to come back; it endures through times of affliction. Many things break down, but love continues to pray and endures to the end. Love is kind. It does good deeds to others. It is generous with its heart, time, energy, and gifts. Love does not envy, and it is not covetous. It does not steal the blessings of another. Love is happy when God blesses others. Love is humble. It is not proud and does not oppress others. Love is not aggressive in speech, it is not rude, but it is gentle and kind. Love is not selfish. Love thinks of the good of others and not only of herself. Love is not over sensitive or easily provoked. Love never loses its temper and insult others. Love does not think evil. Love is a sister to Truth. Love feeds on God’s Word. It rejoices when she sees the truth. Love is an excellent worship leader. Love is stronger than all hindrances. Love finishes the race. Love never gives up. A baby Christian is only able to receive love. He grows by it. But a mature Christian is able to also give love. More than faith, and wider than hope, Love is the greatest of all. Love never fails! Love is the eternal champion! Glory!

We are commanded to study, seek, and receive spiritual gifts. The best of all gifs is the gift of prophecy. The least of gifts is the gift of tongues. Why is this so? Because Love measures our desire to help others. Tongues are good but we can become selfish using them. This is because speaking in tongues only helps the speaker. But prophecy helps the whole congregation. In the New Testament, prophesy is not just foretelling of future events. It is preaching God’s Word under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A teacher teaches God’s Word systematically. We need good Bible teachers. But a Christian who has the gift of prophesy, teaches, and preaches with a passion greater than the teacher. He speaks directly to the people’s conscience, stirring them to repent and rise to serve God. In this way the whole church is strengthened and encouraged. Love wants to help many people. That is why love works best thru prophetic anointing. Love for God and man is the fuel for revival. Praise the Lord!

POSSESS YOUR POSSESSIONS

“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses” (Josh 1:3).  “See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them” (Deut 1:8).

The problem many Christians have is that they only have ‘a head knowledge’ of God’s Word. They know the doctrines, but they do not apply the truth practically in their lives. There is a difference between position and possession. You may have a title, a position, and lack the possession of that title. A title gives you an official position in an organization or in society. But you need to enter and possess that title before you can use the power and the privileges available. It is the same with God’s promises. It is the same with Love. Theory without application only gives you ‘head knowledge’. There is no authority in your testimony. There is no power to produce results. Just before entering the Promise Land, God promises Joshua that ‘every place that the sole of your foot tread upon’ shall be his. Joshua sees the Promised Land across the Jordan. But seeing is not possessing. Joshua needs to walk on that Land before he can claim it as his own. Even today, it’s possible to buy a piece of land without possessing it. You can have the document of ownership in your hand and still not possess or enjoy the property. Once the land is yours, you walk on that land until you know every hill and every valley on it. To possess means to enjoy!

DEBORAH – THE BEE (Judges 4 and 5)

During the Book of Judges, it was a difficult time for Israel. “In those days [when the judges governed] there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Jdg. 21:25). Before God gave His people kings, He gave them judges. They are a symbol of Christ. They prepared the way for the monarchy. The word translated ‘judges’ is not exactly what we know about a court judge. Judges means troubleshooters. Troubleshooting is necessary when something has failed. Like a doctor discovers the diagnoses of a sickness, so, thru systematic approach troubleshooters solve the problem. Lesson: God used the judges to save His people from themselves and from their enemies. The judges become national heroes. There were 12 judges: 6 major and 6 minor judges. Deborah is among the 6 major judges. She is the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. Not all the judges had prophetic gifts. Only Deborah and Samuel function as both prophet and judge in Israel.

Deborah is one of the most important and influential people in the Bible. She has an impressive testimony. She was a wife, a mother, a leader, a prophetess, a judge, a poet, a singer, a songwriter, a worshipper, and a warrior. She is unique because she was a woman. Few women stood openly in the position of a national leader. She is the only woman in the Bible who is known for her faith, wisdom, courage, spirituality, and actions, not because of her relationship with any man, but just because God was with her. Her testimony is that God indeed called her, and, against all odds, she fulfilled her call. Lesson: Obedience to God’s Word is the basis to fulfill destiny. God’s grace is enough for us! No excuses!

Deborah was married to Brother Lapidoth. His name means ‘the shining one’. He may have been a handsome man who dressed well. We do not know more details than this. We do not know if he has encouraged or helped his wife to answer God’s call. Lesson: God’s call must be obeyed. God will make a way. In spite of all her titles and offices, Deborah simply called herself ‘a mother in Israel’ (Jdg. 5:7). This reveals great humility and a love for children, natural and spiritual. Her office as a judge was in the open field, under a palm tree. People from all over the country came to her with their complains. She will counsel them, pray for them, and judge their matters. She was clearly a woman of spiritual authority.

Deborah’s name means ‘the Bee’. Her name is prophetic. The bees are very organized as a family. They have one queen, many workers, male bees, and soldiers. The queen alone reproduces. Each male that impregnates her dies immediately after the act. The queen has total authority in the family. Lesson: As all the other bees follow the queen, so the people of God listen and obey their leaders. Like the bees, believers are humble, faithful, and hardworking. When under attack, all fight to preserve their family. A bee’s sting is painful, but her honey is sweet. God’s people speak the truth that both wounds and heals. “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps 119:103). For 40 years in the wilderness, God fed His people with Manna. It is a symbol of God’s Word that sustains. “And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” (Ex 16:31). The bees are wise and prudent. They store the honey for the time of winter. God’s people store His words in their hearts to be used in time of need. Bees make honey not only for themselves but for men to eat. “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (PV 16:24). God’s word blesses the soul with peace and the body with health. The Promised Land is a land ‘of milk and honey’. “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you” (Ps 81:13-16). Honey is a symbol of God’s word that gives strength to defeat the enemies and total satisfaction in life! Praise the Lord!

Because God’s people became rebellious, God handed them over to their enemies. God has commanded the people to destroy and take over the land of Canaan, also called the Promised Land. But God’s people became proud and lazy. They did not destroy the Canaanites. They in fact followed them in worshiping their idols. That is when God handed them over to King Jabin, a Canaanite king. People suffered greatly under the oppressive reign of King Jabin whose army general was called Sisera. God’s people cried for mercy. That is when God called Deborah to stand as their leader. She was a judge already. Now she stands as a prophet and national leader. Deborah called one of the Israelites leaders, Barak. He was from the tribe of Naphtali, not known as a tribe of leaders. Deborah told him what God said to her. It was a prophetic word. “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?” (Jdg 4:6, 7). Apparently, God has called Barak to stand and lead the army against the Canaanites. It seems that he was afraid or doubtful. Deborah confirms God’s call to him. This was God’s call to both Deborah and Barak to wake from slumber of defeat and to lead the armies to victory. Lesson: leaders stand when others are sitting. When leaders lead, people will follow them! God’s call to fight for victory comes with singing praises to God. “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!” (Jdg 5:12). Praise warfare wakes men from slumber and get them ready for battle! Praise the Lord!

God reveals the strategy and the sure victory. Barak was to gather 10,000 troops up Mount Tabor to attack Sisera, Jabin’s commander of troops. Barak responded by saying “If you will go with me, I will go; if not I will not go” (Judges 4:8). Deborah agrees to go to battle with Barak and the troops but share with him: “However, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for then the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman” (Judges 4:9). It happened the way Deborah predicted. The battle against the Canaanites was won. They had supernatural help. Even the angels helped Israel. The Canaanites, who had stronger military equipment were trapped by God in the flooded river. They all died in the battle. It was a mighty victory for Israel! Lesson: obedience to God’s Word leads to breakthrough and victory! Praise the Lord!

Sisera ran on foot to the tent of a woman called Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. He wanted to hide there because of a peace treaty the Kenites had with the Canaanites. Jael welcomes Sisera into her tent. It seems that she was alone. He asked for water, and she gave him milk. Exhausted from the battle, as he was sleeping, she used a hammer and drives a tent peg into his head. He dies on the spot. When Barak comes, he sees Sisera dead. He could not take the glory for the victory. That glory went to God alone who used a weaker vessel to kill the enemy.

Jabin oppressed Israel for 20 years. Jabin and Sisera stand for the devil. Jael stands for the believers. The name Sisera means ‘meditation’. He is a symbol of the devil. Jael drove a tent peg into his head and killed him. This is a picture of spiritual warfare. Like the tent peg, God’s Word penetrates and destroys the meditation and plans of the devil against us. “Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]?” says the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks the [most stubborn] rock [in pieces]?” (Jer 23:29; AMP). God sends angels to help us during spiritual warfare. “The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver. They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera. The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!” (Jdg 5:19-21). God sent angels to help and strength to His people.

Not everyone trusted Deborah’s leadership. Some people quietly stayed behind and did not come to join the army. Barak was from the tribe of Naphtali. God told him to call 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. People from other tribes may come as volunteers. The men from the tribe of Issachar joined the army. Ruben was the eldest son of Jacob. He was supposed to lead others in battle. God did not call the men from the tribe of Ruben to lead. But they were supposed to humble themselves and join the army. But they did not come. They claimed that they were still praying about it. There was ‘great searching of heart’ in their midst. Lesson: there is a time to pray and there is a time for action. When it is time to move, you don’t stay home to pray. The men from the tribes of Dan and Asher claimed to be busy with their ships. But the worse of them were the men from a village called Meroz. Not only that they refuse to come, but they also despised Deborah and Barak as the military leaders. A bitter curse was placed on them. The same angel of the Lord who helped the Israelites win the war curses the people who drew back, who refused to follow Deborah and Barak. “Curse Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty” (Jdg 5:23). The book ends with a prophecy, The lovers of God will be strong like the sun. The ministry of Deborah brought peace to the land for the next 40 years. Amen!

LESSONS FROM DEBORAH’S LIFE AND MINISTRY

Deborah was an uncommon leader because she was a woman. Lesson: God is sovereign in His choice of His servants. Love is creative. Do not limit God. Humble yourself! God decided to call a woman as the spiritual leader of Israel. God can call and use anyone. No matter what men or devils say, God’s call comes with power to perform great deeds. God’s call cannot be stopped or defeated by men. Let go of every inferiority complex. Obey God’s voice. Have 100% faith in God who saved and called you to serve Him. This is a spiritual law: when leaders lead, and lovers love, people will follow. Deborah was not bound by the religious spirit of her day. God spoke to her, and she obeyed. She called Barak and told him what God said. She was not afraid of the enemy. Sisera led an army that had 900 chariots of iron. She was like David facing Goliath. She refused to be intimidated. She trusted God who assured her that the enemy will be defeated. She delivered God’s message to Barak with confidence: ‘Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you?’ (Jdg. 4:6). Deborah did not fight in the battle, but her presence encouraged Barak and the people of God. Lesson: our presence in the church is encouragement to many. She was an ordinary wife and mother when God called her to ministry. God said: “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song!” (Jdg. 5:12). God woke her like from sleep with a fresh zeal to fight for the freedom of her nation. Lesson: God does not call the equipped. God equips the called! Barak was a humble man of faith (Heb 11:32). Deborah told Barak that ‘there will no glory for you’. Knowing that there will be no fame or glory for him, he still obeyed God and led Israel in battle. Lesson: all glory must go to the Lord!

Use every resource you have. Do not despise the day of little things. Jael used the peg tent and hammer she had at home. Deborah used her love as a mother to intercede for Israel. God blessed her by enlarging the area of authority. She became a mother in Israel, a mother to many spiritual children. The love of a mother is like a fire. She purifies and strengthens the heart of her children. Love is fearless. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 Jn 4:18). Love is strong and courageous. “Love is as strong as death” (SS 8:6). Have you seen a mother hen defending her chicks? When Israel abandoned their God, God fought them as an enemy, as a mother bear robbed of her babies. “I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them” (Hosea 13:8). Fear God!

In Deborah we see God’s grace and strength manifested in our weakness. ‘One with God is majority’ (John Knox). This is a spiritual law: When leaders lead, people follow. Deborah was like Paul, who led by example. “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (1 Thess 1:6,7). “Therefore, I urge you, imitate me” (1 Cor 4:16). We are saved from death unto life, not to live comfortably, but to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). God is not asking you to invent some way to serve Him. Pray for His Plan to be revealed in your life. He will put within you an irresistible desire to do those plans He had already purposed for you. If you pay attention, you’ll see God giving you opportunities to do those things. Deborah was faithful in little things. God trusted her with bigger things. From being a wife and mother to her children, God promoted her. Like Queen Esther, she became a national hero. May you hear God’s call and may you act on it! Even the sky is not the limit for those who love God and serve Him in His Kingdom. Her courage inspired a nation and brought peace to her people for the next 40 years. We bring peace to our nation by leading people to Christ. Jesus is the Captain of our salvation. He can never lose! Follow Him and you will be more than a conqueror. Worship the Lord!