YOU Feed Them !!!

1. The Israelites sinned and turned from the Lord and were brought under the hand of the Philistines and the Ammonites for 18 years.
   1. Philistia was to the southwest; Ammon was to the northeast.
      1. They were between two crushing, oppressing millstones.
      2. Their punishment, this time, was double trouble.
   2. The Israelites cry out to the Lord again.
      1. They admit their guilt, making confession.
      2. They realize their troubles are a result of their sin.
      3. God reminds them of all He's done for them and tells them that He will not deliver them this time.
         1. They were consistently in disobedience and idolatry.
         2. They kept backsliding and falling into apostasy.
   3. Confession is not enough
      1. God will not rescue a people who continue in sin, even when they recognize their sin and confess.
      2. Awareness of the problem is not enough; it's just the start
      3. They needed to repent and submit.
   4. Repentance and submission brings deliverance.
   5. The people submit to God's judgment and justice.
      1. True repentance submits to discipline and correction.
      2. True repentance goes beyond mere confession.
   6. The people repent and reform, doing away with idols.
      1. We must return to God when we repent.
      2. We must turn from idols, false gods, and the things we trusted in.
      3. We cannot repent truly unless we do away with past sins.
   7. Repentance touches God's soul!
      1. It brings His forgiveness.
      2. It brings His mercy.
      3. It brings His deliverance.
2. Animated to action.
   1. The Israelites went out to do battle in unity.
      1. In unity they seek a leader.
      2. In unity they consult each other for a fit leader.
   2. True repentance is shown in love and unity that heals the wounds of division and accepts each other and cooperates with each other.
   3. God does not always make extraordinary callings, but uses people available.
      1. We shouldn't always wait for God to send someone else to do the job.
      2. We need to raise up capable people, assured that God will direct and confirm with His anointing.
      3. Too many churches pray that Sunday School teachers or church workers will be sent them by God.
         1. The people in the congregation don't want to do the work.
         2. The workers have to come from within the church.
   4. When the Apostles asked Jesus to send the crowd of 5000 into the city to eat, Jesus said, "You feed them!"
   5. Like Isaiah, we should respond to the question, "Who can I send? Who will go for us?", with a quick, ready "Here I am. Send me!"

   6. Jesus asks us the same question he asked Peter. "Do you love me? Then feed my sheep."

Created 7/17/97

Copyright 1997. Rev. Eugene J. Bolton

Faith Word Ministries