Ancient Future Ministries

Judges 6:1-12

Isreal does that which is wrong in the eyes of the Lord and for seven years the Midianites controlled the food source left little to no food for the Israelites.  God sends an unknown prophet to call His people to repentance. Unfortunately, they don't rep[end but simply cry out for relief from their oppressors. While the Israelites don't repent God chooses to raise up a deliverer to save His people from their enemies. 

Isn't it interesting that God doesn't tell us much about this prophet but we know he was faithful to his calling. Sometimes God chooses to use us in unknown ways to accomplish His goals and purposes. 

Then God calls Gideon to be a deliverer. Gideon is an odd choice. He seems to be a fearful man and someone filled with doubt. Again God chooses an unlikely hero. It takes constant reassurances from God and His message before Gideon has enough faith to trust.

What will it take for us to trust God? Interestingly enough God doesn't chastise Gideon for his doubt. He simply continues to provide reassurance as Gideon wrestles with his lack of faith.

Aren't you glad that God doesn't give up on us? He continues to assure us as we struggle to learn to Trust God and His plan for our life.

Thank you, Lord, for not losing patience with my doubt and fears!

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 5

Chapter four and five we have two versions of the same event. They offer unique insight into the difference between prose and poetry. Chapter four is prose. Prose is used to inform, educate, entertain, and indoctrinate the reader. While chapter five is poetry and it is designed to help us celebrate, commemorate, and inspire us to greater things.

In this account, we recognize that God is glorified and exalted. 

What enemy are you facing?

How should we respond whenever the Lord delivers us from an enemy?

If you wrote a song about God's work in your life, what would be the theme?

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 4:17-24

Deborah informs Barak that because he questions God's commands that while victory will still be achieved the glory for the defeat of the enemy will go to a woman. While I'm sure that Barak thinks that it will be Deborah who receives the glory it is another woman. In fact, she is not even a Hebrew.

What have you learned from this passage about God’s view of women?

With what situation in your life do you need to trust the Lord more?

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 4:1-16

Barak and Deborah are an interesting pair. Barak is reluctant to go to war without Deborah accompanying him. Perhaps it was Deborah was God's representative on earth. 

It seems hard to believe that a person would choose to question God's direct command. Is it possible that even though we see how wrong it was for Barak to do so, we also question God's direct commands we find it the Bible?

Of more interest is that God's spokesperson was a female. This was especially interesting due to the patriarchal society of its time. A society that was even more male-dominated then ours is today. 

How do we respond to God's direction? 

In what circumstance of your life has it been difficult for you to trust the Lord?

What situation in your life do you need to trust the Lord more?

These and more are the questions we discuss in this blog and the next.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 3:12-31

Each succeeding Judge is a little worse than the previous one. Ehud is not the spiritual leader that Othniel was. The people of Isreal's plea for help seems to be superficial and simply a desire to escape the oppression of their enemies. I base this on how easily the people slipped back into their idolatrous ways.

One positive discovery in this chapter is that one does not have to be perfect for God to use you to accomplish His ministry. All God wants is our willingness to be used to accomplish His purpose.

As you listen to this podcast ask yourself "How does this story challenge me to view believers who may not seem as capable as others?"

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

 

Judges 3:1-11

God never allows the next generation to rest on the laurels of the previous generations. 

God answers Isreal's cry for deliverance not because they deserve it but rather because of His grace and mercy. He raises up a judge (a deliverer) to redeem God's people.

In this passage, Othniel sets the bar high for the rest of the judges in this book. No other judge ever reaches the same level of spirituality. 

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 2:13-23

This last portion of the second chapter is a second introduction. We see that there is a pattern of outwardly following the law but quickly en fall back into their sinful ways. 

There is a need for strong leaders. Without these leaders, the people often wander like sheep without a shepherd. It is interesting how the peer pressure of pagan nations can cause God's faithful to become unfaithful. It is interesting how peer pressure often seems to be a downward spiral vs. an upward one. 

It is important for us to remember God's faithfulness in the past to help us to chose to be faithful in the present. The Greeks have a term for how the past affects the present. It is called anamnesis.

What has God done for you in the past that should help propel our faithfulness in the present? The answer to this question will be life-changing! 

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 2:6-12

It's been said that God has no grandchildren. Families go from rags to riches to rags in three generations. And that is what happened to Israel. 

What the first generation sees as a conviction the second generation views as a command (or a tradition that they commit to outwardly without the inward motivation). By the time the third generation comes along, they view it as a choice, often rejecting their grandfather's convictions.  

Each generation must decide if they will choose to be convicted and obedient to God's commands. 

What generation are you? You can choose to become a first generation by simply obeying God's loving commandments to Love Him and love others!

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 2:1-5

Imagine that God appearing before you and letting you know how disappointed He was in your level of obedience. That is what the tribes experienced. It appears that they repented and were obedient for a time. But it didn't last.

God reminds them that the covenant they have with Him is a conditional one. Obey God's commands and there is a list of blessings that He promises. But fail to obey and there are a series of curses that God promises that Isreal will experience. 

Isreal didn't totally reject God they simply added other gods to worship. Today we add modern gods to our love of God. What are those gods? Anything that takes precedence over God. 

Is anything or anyone more important than God in your life? If so you are acting just like the Israelites! They repented. How about you?

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Judges 1:1-36

In this podcast we begin to look at the twelve tribes of Israel and how they start off obeying Jehovah but then fail to be completely obedient to God's instructions. The results are disastrous! 

The failure of the tribes to strictly follow God's instructions He allows the Canaanite city-states to afflict His people. This becomes an ongoing issue for generations to come.

Some of the questions we look at include:

1. What are some distractions that hinder your relationship with the Lord?
2. How does God want us to react when we learn of a sin in our lives?
3. What happens to our relationship with the Lord when we turn away from sin?
4. *What are some of your God-given responsibilities, jobs, roles, or tasks?
5. *What obstacles do you need to overcome in fulfilling your God-given responsibilities

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.