The Bramble King

1. The Bramble King In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Jud. 17:6). Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you” (Jud. 8:22-23).

2. The Bramble King Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone” (Jud. 9:1-2).

3. Abimelech’s Appeal • The Imagination • Emotion • What do you think? • How do you feel? • Speak of Utopia • All have money, equality • Security • Health • Tell audience what they want to hear

4. False Teacher’s Appeal is the Same 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Tim. 4:2-5).

5. False Teacher’s Appeal is the Same You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only (Jas. 2:24). And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven (Matt. 7:21). And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 Jn. 2:17). He who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mk. 16:16). • Some believe in the doctrine of “faith only” • Article 9, Methodist Discipline says it is a comfortable doctrine. • Children learn from parents--believe it! • Preacher comes along & preaches it. • People believe its right, because that’s what they want to believe. • One day--Hear Truth! • Jas. 2:24; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21; 1 John 2:17 • No longer comfortable, but disturbed!

6. Remember: Truth is revealed in Words NOT Emotions! It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (Jn. 6:63). Examples: Desires? • Marriage Situation Scriptures? • Church Discipline • Church support of human institutions

7. Jotham Responds to Abimelech 7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you. 8 Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’

8. Jotham Responds to Abimelech 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Finally all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’ 15 The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon’ (Jud. 9:7-15).

9. Dissatisfaction With God’s Way When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed (Acts 14:23). 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising over-sight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock (1 Pet. 5). • For Abimelech to have power: • Someone had to give it to him • Accept him as their leader • Sit back, do nothing, & let him take over • Always those who want to organize local churches--not content with God’s plan: • American Christian Missionary Society • Sponsoring church arrangement • Church sponsored human institutions • God’s Organization: Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:1-3

10. Church: • Body of saved people • Helps me grow • Helps me do the best I can • Not Given: • To cure social ills • To cure world hunger, racism, etc. • To provide entertainment for me & my family • If we needed more of an organization to be what God wants us to be--God would have provided it!

11. I Need To Be Like… • Olive tree…fig tree…grape vine • Find out what I can do & do it (Rom. 12) 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

12. Application: Reap What You Sow Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Gal. 6:7). 16 “Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves 17 for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; 18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother (Jud. 9).

13. Application: Reap What You Sow Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Gal. 6:7). 19 if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!” 21 And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother (Jud. 916-21).

14. Application: Reap What You Sow Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Gal. 6:7). • Church support of orphan homes • Fellowship halls • Bus ministry • Ball teams • Gyms: multi-purpose rooms • Instrumental music • Fellowship with denominations They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hos. 8:7).