Deliverance Church International - Makueni South Region.

ISAAC.
=> Genesis 26:24
[24]And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will favor you with blessings and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.

6 PROMISES FOR OBEDIENCE.
1. Divine appearances of God .
- Genesis 12:7
[7]Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your posterity. So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, Who had appeared to him.

- Genesis 17:1
[1]WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).

- Genesis 18:1
[1]NOW THE Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks or terebinths of Mamre; as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day,

- Genesis 26:2
[2]And the Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you.

- Genesis 35:9
[9]And God [in a distinctly visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and declared a blessing on him. [Gen. 32:28.]

- Exodus 3:16
[16]Go, gather the elders of Israel together [the mature teachers and tribal leaders], and say to them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, I have surely visited you and seen that which is done to you in Egypt;

- 1 Kings 3:5
[5]In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, Ask what I shall give you.

- 1 Kings 9:2
[2]The Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.

- 2 Chronicles 3:1
[1]THEN SOLOMON began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [I Chron. 21:20-22.]

2. Visions as a method of revelation.
- Genesis 15:1
[1]AFTER THESE things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.

- Genesis 46:2
[2]And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, Jacob! Jacob! And he said, Here am I.

- Exodus 37:1
[1]BEZALEL MADE the ark of acacia wood–two cubits and a half was the length of it, a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it.

- Acts 9:10
[10]Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord.

- Acts 10:3,11
[3]About the ninth hour (about 3:00 p.m.) of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God entering and saying to him, Cornelius!
[11]And he saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descending to the earth.

- Acts 16:9
[9][There] a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us!

- Acts 18:9
[9]And one night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, Have no fear, but speak and do not keep silent;

- Acts 22:18
[18]And I saw Him as He said to me, Hurry, get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony about Me.

- Acts 23:11
[11]And [that same] following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, Take courage, Paul, for as you have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.

- 2 Corinthians 12:1
[1]TRUE, THERE is nothing to be gained by it, but [as I am obliged] to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

- Revelation 1:12
[12]Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

3. "FEAR NOT"
7 REASONS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT.
a). Blessings in the journey of life.
- Genesis 26:24
[24]And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will favor you with blessings and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.

- Numbers 21:34
[34]But the Lord said to Moses, Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.

- Judges 6:23
[23]The Lord said to him, Peace be to you, do not fear; you shall not die.

b). Supplies in famine.
- 1 Kings 17:13
[13]Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son.

c). Protection in peril.
- 2 Kings 6:16
[16][Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them.

d). Strength in weakness.
- Isaiah 41:10
[10]Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. [Acts 18:10.]

e). Companionship in trial.
- Isaiah 43:1-3
[1]BUT NOW [in spite of past judgments for Israel's sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
[2]When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.
[3]For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt [to the Babylonians] for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba [a province of Ethiopia] in exchange [for your release].

f). Overwhelming care.
- Matthew 10:30-31
[30]But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
[31]Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows.

- Matthew 28:5
[5]But the angel said to the women, Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified.

- Luke 12:32
[32]Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

g). Life beyond the grave.
- Revelation 1:17-18
[17]When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, [Isa. 44:6.]
[18]And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

4. Divine presence promised and is a comfort to the saints.
a). In the pilgrimage of life.
- Genesis 28:15
[15]And behold, I am with you and will keep (watch over you with care, take notice of) you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you.

- Genesis 31:3
[3]Then the Lord said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers and to your people, and I will be with you.

- Exodus 3:12
[12]God said, I will surely be with you; and this shall be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain [Horeb, or Sinai].

- Exodus 29:45
[45]And I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

b) . Gives rest.
- Exodus 33:14
[14]And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.

c). Gives courage in life's battles.
- Deuteronomy 20:1
[1]WHEN YOU go forth to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

d). A comfort in trials.
- Isaiah 43:2
[2]When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.

e). Zechariah 2:10
[10]Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord.

f). Assured to the smallest assembly of believers.
- Matthew 18:20
[20]For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them. [Exod. 3:14.]

g). To the end.
- Matthew 28:20
[20]Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

5. Blessings promised.
- Exodus 23:25
[25]You shall serve the Lord your God; He shall bless your bread and water, and I will take sickness from your midst.

- Leviticus 26:4
[4]I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field yield their fruit.

- Deuteronomy 28:2
[2]And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.

- Psalm 81:16
[16][God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you.

- Proverbs 28:20
[20]A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished. [Prov. 13:11; 20:21; 23:4; I Tim. 6:9.]

- Isaiah 30:23
[23]Then will He give you rain for the seed with which you sow the soil, and bread grain from the produce of the ground, and it will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures.

- Joel 2:26
[26]And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame.

- Amos 9:13
[13]Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt [that is, everything heretofore barren and unfruitful shall overflow with spiritual blessing]. [Lev. 26:5; Joel 3:18.]

- Zechariah 10:1
[1]ASK OF the Lord rain in the time of the latter or spring rain. It is the Lord Who makes lightnings which usher in the rain and give men showers, and grass to everyone in the field.

- Matthew 3:10
[10]And already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

- Luke 18:30
[30]Who will not receive in return many times more in this world and, in the coming age, eternal life.

6. Posterity promised
- Genesis 15:5,18
[5]And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars–if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be. [Heb. 11:12.]
[18]On the same day the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates–the land of

- Genesis 17:20
[20]And as for Ishmael, I have heard and heeded you: behold, I will bless him and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly; He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. [Fulfilled in Gen. 25:12-18.]

- Genesis 22:17
[17]In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, [Heb. 6:13, 14; 11:12.]

- Genesis 26:24
[24]And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will favor you with blessings and multiply your descendants for the sake of My servant Abraham.

- Leviticus 26:9
[9]For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you, and establishing and ratifying My covenant with you. [II Kings 13:23.]

- Deuteronomy 7:13
[13]And He will love you, bless you, and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your land, your grain, your new wine, and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you.

- Romans 4:18
[18][For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. [Gen. 15:5.]

Deliverance Church International - Makueni South Region. Religious organization

INSIDE OUT
. Part 2.
11 THINGS ABOUT THE SECRETS OF THE HEART KNOWN TO CHRIST.
1. The Lord does not look at the outward appearance as man does.
- 1 Samuel 16:7
[7]But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

2. God sees the hearts of the children of men.
- Proverbs 15:11
[11]Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the final place of the accuser Satan) are both before the Lord–how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men? [Job 26:6; Ps. 139:8; Rev. 9:2; 20:1, 2.]

3. God sees the hearts and minds.
- Jeremiah 20:12
[12]But, O Lord of hosts, You Who try the righteous, Who see the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You have I revealed and committed my cause.

5. Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees.
- Matthew 12:25
[25]And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.

5. Jesus is aware of malicious plots of hypocrites.
- Matthew 22:18
[18]But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked, Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me, you pretenders (hypocrites)?

6. The Lord is aware of debates arising among us.
- Mark 2:8
[8]And at once Jesus, becoming fully aware in His spirit that they thus debated within themselves, said to them, Why do you argue (debate, reason) about all this in your hearts?

7. The Lord is aware of man's thoughts.
- Luke 6:8
[8]But He was aware all along of their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, Come and stand here in the midst. And he arose and stood there.

8. The Lord is aware of the intentions and purpose of the heart.
- Luke 11:17
[17]But He, [well] aware of their intent and purpose, said to them, Every kingdom split up against itself is doomed and brought to desolation, and so house falls upon house. [The disunited household will collapse.]

9. God knows the hearts of men.
- Luke 16:15
[15]But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. [I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2.]

10. God can read human hearts.
- John 2:25
[25]And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men's hearts.] [I Sam. 16:7.]

11. God is acquainted with the hearts.
- Acts 15:8
[8]And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;

INSIDE OUT.
- Part 1.
7 WAYS HUMAN HEART'S SEARCHED BY GOD.
1. Through self searching.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9
[9]And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever!

2. God knows the secrets of the heart.
- Psalm 44:21
[21]Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

3. The Lord searches the heart.
- Jeremiah 17:10
[10]I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

4. One cannot hide anything from the Lord.
- Jeremiah 23:24
[24]Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? says the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

5. The Lord's presence is everywhere.
- Amos 9:3
[3]And though they hide themselves on the top of [Mount] Carmel, from there I will search out and take them; and though they [try to] hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent and it shall bite them.

6. The Lord will search for His own.
- Zephaniah 1:12
[12]And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men who [like old wine] are thickening and settling on their lees, who say in their hearts, The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.

7. Holy Spirit intercedes for us
- Romans 8:27
[27]And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. [Ps. 139:1, 2.]

21 HEROES OF FAITH.
Part 7.

19. Elisha's Faith: Raised the dead.
- Hebrews 11:32,35
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[35][Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. [I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:25-37.]

- 2 Kings 4:8-37
[8]One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a rich and influential woman lived, who insisted on his eating a meal. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.
[9]And she said to her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by continually.
[10]Let us make a small chamber on the [housetop] and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then whenever he comes to us, he can go [up the outside stairs and rest] here.
[11]One day he came and turned into the chamber and lay there.
[12]And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him.
[13]And he said to Gehazi, Say now to her, You have been most painstakingly and reverently concerned for us; what is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people [they are sufficient].
[14]Later Elisha said, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, She has no child and her husband is old.
[15]He said, Call her. [Gehazi] called her, and she stood in the doorway.
[16]Elisha said, At this season when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son. She said, No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.
[17]But the woman conceived and bore a son at that season the following year, as Elisha had said to her.
[18]When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father with the reapers.
[19]But he said to his father, My head, my head! The man said to his servant, Carry him to his mother.
[20]And when he was brought to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
[21]And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him and went out.
[22]And she called to her husband and said, Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and come back again.
[23]And he said, Why go to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath. And she said, It will be all right.
[24]Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, Ride fast; do not slacken your pace for me unless I tell you.
[25]So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite.
[26]Run to meet her and say, Is it well with you? Well with your husband? Well with the child? And she answered, It is well.
[27]When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came to thrust her away, but the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul is bitter and vexed within her, and the Lord has hid it from me and has not told me.
[28]Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?
[29]Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go lay my staff on the face of the child. If you meet any man, do not salute him. If he salutes you, do not answer him.
[30]The mother of the child said, As the Lord lives and as my soul lives, I will not leave you. And he arose and followed her.
[31]Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the child's face, but the boy neither spoke nor heard. So he went back to meet Elisha and said to him, The child has not awakened.
[32]When Elisha arrived in the house, the child was dead and laid upon his bed.
[33]So he went in, shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.
[34]He went up and lay on the child, put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself on him and embraced him, the child's flesh became warm.
[35]Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro and went up again and stretched himself upon him. And the child sneezed seven times, and then opened his eyes.
[36]Then [Elisha] called Gehazi and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she came, he said, Take up your son.
[37]She came and fell at his feet, bowing herself to the ground. Then she took up her son and went out.

20. Zechariah's Faith: Was stoned.
- Hebrews 11:32,37
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[37]They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated–

- 2 Chronicles 24:20-21
[20]Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood over the people, and he said to them, Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.
[21]They conspired against Zechariah the priest and stoned him at the command of the king in the court of the Lord's house!

21. Isaiah's Faith: Sawn Asunder.
- Hebrews 11:32,37
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[37]They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated–

- Tradition.

Deliverance Church International - Makueni South Region. Religious organization

21 HEROES OF FAITH.
Part 6.

16. David's Faith: Obtained Promises.
- Hebrews 11:32-33
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[33]Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions, [Dan. 6.]

- 2 Samuel 7:11-13
[11]And as from the time that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord declares to you that He will make for you a house:
[12]And when your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up after you your offspring who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom.
[13]He shall build a house for My Name [and My Presence], and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

17. Jeremiah's Faith: Was Tortured.
- Hebrews 11:32,35
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[35][Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. [I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:25-37.]

- Jeremiah 20:2
[2]Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate by the house of the Lord. [Jer. 1:19; 15:15.]

18. Elijah's Faith: Raised the dead.
- Hebrews 11:32,35
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[35][Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. [I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:25-37.]

- 1 Kings 17:17-24
[17]After these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.
[18]And she said to Elijah, What have you against me, O man of God? Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son?
[19]He said to her, Give me your son. And he took him from her bosom and carried him up into the chamber where he stayed and laid him upon his own bed.
[20]And Elijah cried to the Lord and said, O Lord my God, have You brought further calamity upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
[21]And he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord and said, O Lord my God, I pray You, let this child's soul come back into him.
[22]And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
[23]And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the [lower part of the] house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, See, your son is alive!
[24]And the woman said to Elijah, By this I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.

21 HEROES OF FAITH
Part 5.

13. Barak's Faith: Subdued Kingdoms.
- Hebrews 11:32
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]

- Judges 4:1-24
[1]BUT AFTER Ehud died the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the Lord.
[2]So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth-hagoiim [fortress or city of the nations].
[3]Then the Israelites cried to the Lord, for [Jabin] had 900 chariots of iron and had severely oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
[4]Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time.
[5]She sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.
[6]And she sent and called Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded [you], Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun?
[7]And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you at the river Kishon with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand?
[8]And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.
[9]And she said, I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the trip you take will not be for your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. [Fulfilled in Judg. 4:22.]
[10]And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and he went up with 10,000 men at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.
[11]Now Heber the Kenite, of the descendants of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses, had separated from the Kenites and encamped as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.
[12]When it was told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,
[13]Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him from Harosheth-hagoiim to the river Kishon.
[14]And Deborah said to Barak, Up! For this is the day when the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Is not the Lord gone out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.
[15]And the Lord confused and terrified Sisera and all his chariot drivers and all his army before Barak with the sword. And Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled on foot.
[16]But Barak pursued after the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoiim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.
[17]But Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
[18]And Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear. So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
[19]And he said to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink for I am thirsty. And she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.
[20]And he said to her, Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, Is there any man here? Tell him, No.
[21]But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent pin and a hammer in her hand and went softly to him and drove the pin through his temple and into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep from weariness. So he died.
[22]And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, Come, and I will show you the man you seek. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent pin was in his temples.
[23]So God subdued on that day Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.
[24]And the hand of the Israelites bore more and more upon Jabin king of Canaan until they had destroyed [him].

14. Samson's Faith: From Weakness made strong.
- Hebrews 11:32,34
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[34]Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. [Dan. 3.]

- Judges 16:28
[28]Then Samson called to the Lord and said, O Lord God, [earnestly] remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray You, only this once, O God, and let me have one vengeance upon the Philistines for both my eyes.

15. Jephthah's Faith: Defeated Armies.
- Hebrews 11:32,34
[32]And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [Judg. 4:1-5; 6:1-8, 35; 11:1-12, 15; 13:1-16; I Sam. 1-30; II Sam. 1-24; I Kings 1-2; Acts 3:24.]
[34]Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. [Dan. 3.]

- Judges 11:1-40
[1]NOW JEPHTHAH the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. Gilead was Jephthah's father.
[2]And Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when his wife's sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah out and said to him, You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.
[3]Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men gathered around Jephthah and went on raids with him.
[4]And after a time, the Ammonites made war against Israel.
[5]And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah out of the land of Tob;
[6]And they said to Jephthah, Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites.
[7]But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?
[8]And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, This is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight the Ammonites and be our head over all the citizens of Gilead.
[9]Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites and the Lord gives them over to me, [understand that] I will be your head.
[10]And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The Lord is witness between us, if we do not do as you have said.
[11]So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah repeated all he had promised before the Lord at Mizpah.
[12]And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, What have you to do with me, that you have come against me to fight in my land?
[13]The Ammonites' king replied to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land [which was not true] when they came up out of Egypt [300 years before], from the Arnon even to Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore, restore those lands peaceably.
[14]And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites
[15]And said to him, Thus says Jephthah, Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.
[16]But when [Israel] came up from Egypt, [they] walked through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
[17]Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Let us, we pray, pass through your land, but the king of Edom would not listen. Also they sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.
[18]Then they went through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon; but they came not within the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.
[19]Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, Let us pass, we pray you, through your land to our country.
[20]But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.
[21]And the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
[22]They possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan.
[23]So now the Lord God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel, and should you possess them?
[24]Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all the Lord our God dispossessed before us, we will possess.
[25]Now are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel or did he ever go to war with them?
[26]While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of the Arnon for 300 years, why did you not recover [your lost lands] during that time?
[27]So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong to war against me. The Lord, the [righteous] Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.
[28]But the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the message Jephthah sent him.
[29]Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.
[30]And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,
[31]Then whatever or whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites, it shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it or him up as a burnt offering.
[32]Then Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight with them, and the Lord gave them into his hand.
[33]And from Aroer to Minnith he smote them, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-cheramim [the meadow of vineyards], with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites.
[34]Then Jephthah came to Mizpah to his home, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances! And she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
[35]And when he saw her, he rent his clothes and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are the cause of great trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth [in a vow] to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.
[36]And she said to him, My father, if you have opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to what you have vowed, since the Lord has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, the Ammonites.
[37]And she said to her father, Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go and wander upon the mountains and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.
[38]And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months, and she went with her companions and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
[39]At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. She never mated with a man. This became a custom in Israel–
[40]That the daughters of Israel went yearly to mourn the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Deliverance Church International - Makueni South Region. Religious organization