This Is Why Stubbornness Is So Dangerous Spiritually

Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the LORD and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” - Judges 15:18

This Scripture is the record of the first time Samson prayed. He had been in the fight of his life. One-thousand men came to apprehend him, the enemy had marked his life, and wanted to take him out. He fought back to survive, and God helped him. With the jawbone of a donkey, he kills a thousand men!

But we have to wonder, why is there a jawbone of a donkey in the hand of a great and powerful warrior: not a knife, sword, spear, or even a bow and arrow. A jawbone? And how did Samson find himself in this undesirable situation, to begin with? On his own, vastly outnumbered, and fighting against an enemy who wanted to destroy him, completely unprepared and thirsty for more than just water?

Because there is more happening here than meets the eye on the surface. God is trying to reveal something to Samson through his situation and his surroundings.

Donkeys are known for being stubborn. They don’t want to listen and they won’t do anything unless they want to do it. You can beat them or bribe them and a donkey is still a donkey. He’s not going to do it unless he wants to do it.

Interestingly, in this narrative, this particular jawbone belonged to a donkey that we can assume wandered off into the wilderness where there was no substance for life and

died of thirst. Very possibly it broke free from its bridle – reigns that were meant to protect it from its demise. Almost, undoubtedly, the donkey's stubbornness killed it.

Samson himself was stubborn. He wouldn’t listen, and he didn’t take correction well. God would put a mandate on his life, and then he would then jeopardize the covenant with God through his inability to comply and be coachable. Likely, the jawbone of a donkey represents Samson’s stubbornness and how it was ruining him. His stubbornness was standing in the way of who and what he could be. It was stopping him from living a meaningful life. I believe God was saying to Samson, allow me to take you in my hands and use you the way I want to use you.

But because Samson couldn’t get this reality straight, he was thirsty in the physical despite how God was using him in the spiritual. Samson had a lot of positive things in his life that God wanted to bring him through to impact the lives of others in a meaningful way. And a lot of times this is true for us too!

Some of the battles we’ve gotten ourselves into directly respond to our stubbornness. This is a direct response to our unwillingness to be teachable and acknowledge what God wants to do in our lives. Like Samuel, we look victorious on the outside, but God desires to work through the stuff going on inside of us. On the outside, one might appear to have it all together. But inside, we are drained, exhausted, and thirsty. Maybe it’s time for some of us to stop being stubborn and admit that we need a refreshing – even strong men and women must occasionally admit they are thirsty if they are to be rejuvenated.

So God (split the hollow place and) caused water to gush out of the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank. Then he named that place “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out,” and it is still in Lehi to this day. - Judges 15:19

There is still the opportunity to cry out to God, the one who is greater than you, and receive revival, refreshing, and renewal! The only reason you're thirsty now is that God is reminding you that you can not go without Him. You need Him to continue!

God will hear your cry, but He can not listen to what you do not release! You have not because you ask not. So it’s time to let out a cry. It’s okay to let God know you need a drink of His Spirit, His presence. A drink of what only Heaven can offer you.

He will fill the thirsty! You can come to the crevice of prayer, despite how hollow, empty, or undesirable it may have felt up to this point.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. - Matthew 5:6

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/hI4Lemjz2tM

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The Deliverance Dilemma

Has God ever brought you out of something, but not fully delivered you to the next thing? Many of us consider this the waiting period, but Caleb Southern, our youth coordinator, refers to it as the deliverance dilemma- a time when you're waiting for God to bring you into something new. We’ve all been there.

The Israelites know all about the deliverance dilemma.

As a nation of people enslaved by the Egyptians, they were treated horrifically as slave laborers for many years. Moses, following the commandment of God, comes to their rescue, setting them free from the Egyptians, and delivers them to The Promised Land, otherwise known as The Land of Milk and Honey. God brought them out of bondage and into something new and wonderful!

Caleb, however, points out that 40 years elapsed from the moment the Israelites leave Egypt and when they arrive at The Promised Land. For 40 years they were wandering around in the wilderness tired and starving. In this period of waiting they start to reminisce about what they used to have, even though they were slaves- they were still well fed. Comfort and familiarity can keep us enslaved, even when we know we're choosing the wrong path.

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” - Exodus 16:2 (ESV)

The Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt but had not yet been delivered into The Promised Land. They were experiencing the deliverance dilemma.

They had followed God, but they were still experiencing issues. Can you relate? You gave your life to Jesus and you’re trying to be obedient, but you're still struggling in different areas of your life. Maybe with anger, temptation, depression, anxiety, and/or addiction? God is bringing you out of sin, but you're not fully delivered from it.

Here are four key takeaways from Caleb’s message, The Deliverance Dilemma, that I think will help you navigate your season of waiting.

1) Don’t choose to grumble over being grateful:

The Israelites only focused on what they did not have- meat and bread- and chose to grumble and complain. They should have been focused on the promises God had for them and all He had already done for them.

We must always focus on what we do have, choosing gratitude over grumbling and complaining.

2) Remember that God will provide:

Even though the Israelites chose to grumble and complain, God gave them grace and provided them food to eat. They didn’t deserve it, and they didn’t pray for it, but God gave it to them.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

-Exodus 16:4 (ESV)

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. - Exodus 16:13 (ESV)

God will provide all that we need too. His provision may not look exactly like you would think, but He will provide.

3) Keep coming back for what God has for you:

God only gave the Israelites enough bread for one day at a time. They were not to store it up, but they had to keep coming back for more. God only gave them exactly what they needed for that day. We have to keep coming back to God every day for His blessings. We have to keep showing up at church, keep giving our time, talents, and treasures, keep reading the Word and praying prayers and God will keep blessing us.

And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. -Exodus 16:19-21 ESV

4) What you do today matters to the generations that come after you:

The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. -Exodus 16:35

Two generations of Israelites continued to feast on the blessings that God gave.

Have you decided to follow Christ? Have you decided to put God in the center of the generations that come after you? Will your kids and your grandchildren inherit a generational blessing or a generational curse? You get to decide if Jesus is the center of your life and your home, and that decision directly affects more than just you!

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. - John 6:35

Just like the Israelites needed bread, we do too. Jesus is the bread of life. Step into a generational blessing.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link:

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

How the Gifts of the Wise Men Are Significant to Our Lives Today

Earlier this week, we talked about the wise men and the barriers they had to overcome to worship Jesus. The wise men made it through every barrier they faced, and when they got to Jesus, they fell and worshiped Him! They also gave Him the three gifts they had brought for Him. These gifts aren't just any gifts! They each had great significance and honored prophetic unction.

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. -Matthew 2:9-11

Do you know the significance behind the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Let's look at what each give signifies and what it means for our relationship with Jesus Christ today.

1) Gold: A gift fit for a true king. It showed that the wise men truly believed that Jesus was a King.

GOLD signifies His DOMINION.

When was the last time you went before God and let Him know that He has dominion over your life? When was the last time you declared that Jesus is the King of your life? The wise men did this by bringing Jesus their wealth, a symbol of treasure. When we give Jesus our offerings and tithes today, we are blessing Him and aligning ourselves with actions of wise worship, just as the wise men exemplified. This action has great significance! Don't allow the barriers of discouragement, disappointment, distraction, or dismay to stop you from giving God dominion in your life.

2) FRANKINCENSE: The Old Testament reveals that God desires a sweet scent during worship.

Frankincense signifies His DEITY.

Through the gift of gold, the wise men said Jesus is King, but through the gift of frankincense, the wise men declared that Jesus is a God, and He is to be worshiped.

3) MYRRH: This gift is nothing like the other two. It conveys death, not life.

Myrrh signifies His DEATH.

The Gold signified we should give Jesus our wealth; the frankincense signified we should give Jesus our worship. But, the myrrh illustrated what Jesus would give for us -- His life!

You can't understand the cross without understanding the cradle. You can't appreciate Easter if you don't have a revelation of Christmas. The wise men had to overcome their barriers, but we also overcome modern-day obstacles. Maybe you are so discouraged that it's been a long time since you lifted your hands to worship Jesus. Perhaps you are so distracted that you can't remember opening your Bible last time. Maybe you're so dismayed by everything going on in the world that you've stopped honoring God with your treasure. I don't know what your barrier is, but it's time for you to start following the actions of wise men!

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/WSQtN6GI4iU

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.
   

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.
   

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin
   

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES