Doing Right in our Own Eyes The Natural Process in Finding our Way By Pastor Dan Kennedy © June 23, 2019 www.pastorkennedy.com Judges 2:10–19 10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress. 16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the Lord’s commands. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. Personal Perspectives Preferred When we look around to plan and decide our way, our perspective is very narrow, and primarily centered on ourselves. God’s perspective is considerably different. When He observes us – He knows our past, our present, our actual personality, assets, gifts, liabilities and benefits, our outward actions, our underlying motives, our valued accomplishments, all our circumstances, every failure, our hopes and dreams, and our real future…God clearly understands who we are – and what is going to happen to us! God sees us with total understanding! Unfortunately, our sinful human nature seeks to exclude God in our daily considerations and the most profound decisions of our life – even though God created us and knows us thoroughly …because, deep down, our carnal nature naively proclaims, that only we…can truly “know” what is best for “me.” And, it stubbornly insists on primarily pursuing what is right in our own eyes. Question: Could we find ourselves in our own “Promised Land” with God as our Enemy? The Example of Israel’s Cycle and Demise in their own Promised Land It was finally time for Israel to go into the Land that God had Promised to them, but it was only a matter of time before the depravity of their carnal heart overcame their desire and heritage to be true to God. There is a pattern that repeats itself throughout the book of Judges: · The people abandoned the Lord; · God punished them by raising up a foreign power to oppress them; · The people cried out to God for deliverance; and · God raised up a deliverer, or judge, for them.[1] The Book of Judges gives a brief description of the lives of the following Judges: Othniel, Shamgar, Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Tola and Jair, Gideon, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, Samson, & other individuals affecting Israel’s relationship with God… The final verse in the Book of Judges closes like this: Judges 21:25 25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. King Solomon echoes the same susceptibility resident in every human heart. Proverbs 21:2 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 16:2 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Proverbs 3:7 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 12:15 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 30:12 12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. Proverbs 14:12 12 There is a way that seems right… but its end is the way to death. Why does God allow trial, testing and even deception? God Allows Trial, Testing and even Deception in this Life to Teach, to Strengthen and to Reveal Authentic Faith Judges 3:1–2, 4 Now these are the nations that the Lordleft, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before…. 4 They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. Spurious Supernatural Events: A test to reveal those who truly love and follow God Deuteronomy 13:1–3 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lordyour God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lordyour Godwith all your heart and with all your soul.” Supernatural signs and wonders will also be true of the false prophet in the end times… Revelation 13:13–14 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. Factions in Church: To reveal those who are genuine, who have God’s approval 1 Corinthians 11:18–19 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. False teachers and the spirit of anti-Christ revealed: To Expose falsehood & Sustain those holding to Godly Truth 1 John 2:18–19 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 2 Peter 2:1 2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. Today’s Example of Cycle and Demise in our own “Promised Land” · Abandoning God; · Being punished by God; · Cries of Repentance to God for deliverance; · God Refines and God Deliverers (in this life or the next) “Doing Right in our Own Eyes” – the Natural Process in Finding our Way What fundamentally affects the way we make decisions? The wide dynamics of our Homelife, Experience, Tradition, Education and Spiritual Interaction affects our natural decision making. · How we were raised · What we were taught to be true · What we have experienced in life – good and bad · What spiritual dynamics have we been taught and have allowed to prevail in our being · What we perceive and “feel” is right and wrong, true or false (In our carnal flesh...emotions almost always prevail over actual truth.) · What we teach family or friends through example, distain, or approval How do we bring God into our decision-making process? Involving God in our Life’s Decisions 1. Establishing a Right Relationship with God · Belief in Christ: Accepting the Truth of “The Gospel,” personally receiving Christ’s Redemption (Romans 10:9-10) o The Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Messiah: God sent His Son to be the Savior of the World (John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:14) Our Redeemer from Sin: Jesus shed His blood and died to pay our penalty for sin (Rom. 3:23-24; 5:12; 6:23) The Resurrection & Eternal Life: Jesus died and was buried, but He rose again to affirm Eternal Life (John 11:25; Matt. 28; Mk. 16; Luke 24: John 20; Acts 2:31; 4:2, 33; 1 Cor. 15; John 3:15-16, 36; 17:1-3; Titus 3:7; 1 John 5:11-12; Jude 20-21) Acceptance of God’s Truth about Salvation and Redemption results in God’s Holy Spirit living in us (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19) · Transformation by the Holy Spirit:“New Birth” as God’s Child (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Peter 1:3; 23) John 3:3 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 2. Growing in our relationship with God Building a Stable Foundation on God’s Word What should be the basis for making good decisions so we can have a God-blessed life and future? Christ’s parable of the house with a foundation on a rock (Matt. 7:24-27). · Prayer: Invite God to be an integral part of our decision making (Matt. 18:19; John 16:23; Jas. 1:5; 1 John 5:14–15) · Reading, Meditating, Hearing and Discussing God’s Word: Seeking God through His Word (Josh. 1:8-9; Psalm 1:1–2; 119:97; 145:5; Romans 12:2; James 4:6-10) · Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: (Rom. 8:14; Luke 11:13; John 3:6; 6:63; 7:38-39; 14:17, 26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:38; 6:3,5; 20:28; Rom. 8 [all]; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:4; 10-14; 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 2:22; Gal. 5:22-23; etc., etc.) o If the Holy Spirit prompts us to be cautious, are we cautious? o If the Holy Spirit prompts us to do something, do we seek to comply, or do we resist? · Dealing with the “layers” of our life: o Sin, abuse, trauma and the forgiveness of sin (Col. 3:12-17; 1 John 1:9; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 2:37-39; 5:30-32; 10:43; 26:18; Eph. 1:7) o Embitterment, Forgiveness and Entrustment to God (Heb. 12:14-15; Matt. 6:12-15; 18:35; Eph. 4:30-32) o Remembering the source of evil and resisting the devil (Eph. 6:10-18; James 4:7) o Clinging to Godly good and Avoiding evil (1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22-26) · Re-adjusting our mind and heart toward God: Renewing our mind and Reestablishing our steps (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Titus 3:4-7) · Death to our Old Carnal Self (Gal. 2:20; 5:24; Rom. 6:1-8; 8:13) · Godly encouragement with others (Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 14:19; Phil. 2:4) · Waiting on God: If we have no clear direction, wait for God to clarify His will for our lives. (Ps. 27:14; 37:7; 130:5; Lam. 3:25-26; James 5:7-11; Jude 20-21) Conclusion Following the Old Path, Reaping the Same Outcomes “Doing Right in our Own Eyes” – the Natural Process in Finding our Way Following a New Path, in the Old World, as a New Person in Jesus Christ God has provided another wonderful way, “The Only Way” to God, and those who seek Him, will find Him. (John 14:6; Prov. 8:17; Jere. 29:13; James 4:6

Doing Right in our Own Eyes

The Natural Process in Finding our Way

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

Judges 2:10–19

10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the Lord to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.

16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to the Lord’s commands. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

Personal Perspectives Preferred

When we look around to plan and decide our way, our perspective is very narrow, and primarily centered on ourselves.

God’s perspective is considerably different. When He observes us – He knows our past, our present, our actual personality, assets, gifts, liabilities and benefits, our outward actions, our underlying motives, our valued accomplishments, all our circumstances, every failure, our hopes and dreams, and our real future…God clearly understands who we are – and what is going to happen to us!

God sees us with total understanding!

Unfortunately, our sinful human nature seeks to exclude God in our daily considerations and the most profound decisions of our life – even though God created us and knows us thoroughly …because, deep down, our carnal nature naively proclaims, that only we…can truly “know” what is best for “me.” And, it stubbornly insists on primarily pursuing what is right in our own eyes.

Question: Could we find ourselves in our own “Promised Land” with God as our Enemy?

The Example of Israel’s Cycle and Demise in their own Promised Land

It was finally time for Israel to go into the Land that God had Promised to them, but it was only a matter of time before the depravity of their carnal heart overcame their desire and heritage to be true to God.

There is a pattern that repeats itself throughout the book of Judges:

· The people abandoned the Lord;

· God punished them by raising up a foreign power to oppress them;

· The people cried out to God for deliverance; and

· God raised up a deliverer, or judge, for them.[1]

The Book of Judges gives a brief description of the lives of the following Judges:

Othniel, Shamgar, Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Tola and Jair, Gideon, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, Samson, & other individuals affecting Israel’s relationship with God…

The final verse in the Book of Judges closes like this:

Judges 21:25

25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

King Solomon echoes the same susceptibility resident in every human heart.

Proverbs 21:2

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

Proverbs 16:2

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

Proverbs 3:7

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 12:15

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 30:12

12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes

but are not washed of their filth.

Proverbs 14:12

12 There is a way that seems right…

but its end is the way to death.

Why does God allow trial, testing and even deception? God Allows Trial, Testing and even Deception in this Life to Teach, to Strengthen and to Reveal Authentic Faith

Judges 3:1–2, 4

Now these are the nations that the Lordleft, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2 It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before….

4 They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

Spurious Supernatural Events: A test to reveal those who truly love and follow God

Deuteronomy 13:1–3

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lordyour God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lordyour Godwith all your heart and with all your soul.”

Supernatural signs and wonders will also be true of the false prophet in the end times…

Revelation 13:13–14

13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

Factions in Church: To reveal those who are genuine, who have God’s approval

1 Corinthians 11:18–19

18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

False teachers and the spirit of anti-Christ revealed: To Expose falsehood & Sustain those holding to Godly Truth

1 John 2:18–19

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

2 Peter 2:1

2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Today’s Example of Cycle and Demise in our own “Promised Land”

· Abandoning God;

· Being punished by God;

· Cries of Repentance to God for deliverance;

· God Refines and God Deliverers (in this life or the next)

“Doing Right in our Own Eyes” – the Natural Process in Finding our Way

What fundamentally affects the way we make decisions? The wide dynamics of our Homelife, Experience, Tradition, Education and Spiritual Interaction affects our natural decision making.

· How we were raised

· What we were taught to be true

· What we have experienced in life – good and bad

· What spiritual dynamics have we been taught and have allowed to prevail in our being

· What we perceive and “feel” is right and wrong, true or false

(In our carnal flesh...emotions almost always prevail over actual truth.)

· What we teach family or friends through example, distain, or approval

How do we bring God into our decision-making process?

Involving God in our Life’s Decisions

1. Establishing a Right Relationship with God

· Belief in Christ: Accepting the Truth of “The Gospel,” personally receiving Christ’s Redemption (Romans 10:9-10)

o The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Our Messiah: God sent His Son to be the Savior of the World (John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:14)

Our Redeemer from Sin: Jesus shed His blood and died to pay our penalty for sin (Rom. 3:23-24; 5:12; 6:23)

The Resurrection & Eternal Life: Jesus died and was buried, but He rose again to affirm Eternal Life (John 11:25; Matt. 28; Mk. 16; Luke 24: John 20; Acts 2:31; 4:2, 33; 1 Cor. 15; John 3:15-16, 36; 17:1-3; Titus 3:7; 1 John 5:11-12; Jude 20-21)

Acceptance of God’s Truth about Salvation and Redemption results in God’s Holy Spirit living in us (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)

· Transformation by the Holy Spirit:“New Birth” as God’s Child (John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Peter 1:3; 23)

John 3:3

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

2. Growing in our relationship with God

Building a Stable Foundation on God’s Word

What should be the basis for making good decisions so we can have a God-blessed life and future? Christ’s parable of the house with a foundation on a rock (Matt. 7:24-27).

· Prayer: Invite God to be an integral part of our decision making (Matt. 18:19; John 16:23; Jas. 1:5; 1 John 5:14–15)

· Reading, Meditating, Hearing and Discussing God’s Word: Seeking God through His Word (Josh. 1:8-9; Psalm 1:1–2; 119:97; 145:5; Romans 12:2; James 4:6-10)

· Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: (Rom. 8:14; Luke 11:13; John 3:6; 6:63; 7:38-39; 14:17, 26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:38; 6:3,5; 20:28; Rom. 8 [all]; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:4; 10-14; 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 2:22; Gal. 5:22-23; etc., etc.)

o If the Holy Spirit prompts us to be cautious, are we cautious?

o If the Holy Spirit prompts us to do something, do we seek to comply, or do we resist?

· Dealing with the “layers” of our life:

o Sin, abuse, trauma and the forgiveness of sin (Col. 3:12-17; 1 John 1:9; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 2:37-39; 5:30-32; 10:43; 26:18; Eph. 1:7)

o Embitterment, Forgiveness and Entrustment to God (Heb. 12:14-15; Matt. 6:12-15; 18:35; Eph. 4:30-32)

o Remembering the source of evil and resisting the devil (Eph. 6:10-18; James 4:7)

o Clinging to Godly good and Avoiding evil (1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22-26)

· Re-adjusting our mind and heart toward God: Renewing our mind and Reestablishing our steps (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Titus 3:4-7)

· Death to our Old Carnal Self (Gal. 2:20; 5:24; Rom. 6:1-8; 8:13)

· Godly encouragement with others (Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 14:19; Phil. 2:4)

· Waiting on God: If we have no clear direction, wait for God to clarify His will for our lives. (Ps. 27:14; 37:7; 130:5; Lam. 3:25-26; James 5:7-11; Jude 20-21)

Conclusion

Following the Old Path, Reaping the Same Outcomes

“Doing Right in our Own Eyes” – the Natural Process in Finding our Way

Following a New Path, in the Old World, as a New Person in Jesus Christ

God has provided another wonderful way, “The Only Way” to God, and those who seek Him, will find Him. (John 14:6; Prov. 8:17; Jere. 29:13; James 4:6–10)

[1]notes on Judges