2. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Hebrews 11:32

3. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Review (Heb. 11:32)
Necessity of faith for salvation (Heb. 10:)
Faith defined and illustrated with O.T. examples
Each faced different challenges and overcame
Mentions several other familiar names
By faith, Barak answered God’s call
By faith, Gideon stood for truth
By faith, Gideon answered God’s call
By faith, Jephthah and Samson _______

4. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Jephthah (Judges 11) – overcoming your situation
Gilead oppressed by Ammonites 8 years
Jephthah, a great warrior with a disadvantage
Son of a prostitute, kicked out by his family (Judges 11:1-3)
His people became desperate (Judges 11:4-11)
Jephthah knew his history (Judges 11:12-28)
Jephthah entrusted the dispute to God (Judges 11:27)
Jephthah struck the Ammonites (Judges 11:32-33)

5. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Jephthah (Judges 11) – overcoming your situation
In spite of his disadvantage, he overcame
Not our background, but our usefulness to God, defines us
(I Cor. 1:26-29)
Jewish nobility rejected and crucified Christ (Luke 24:20)
Even society’s outcasts can overcome (Matt. 21:28-32)
By faith, Jephthah went from outcast to deliverer

6. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Samson (Judges 13-16) – God is never out of reach
Israel oppressed by Philistines 40 years
Samson’s strength
Killed a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:6)
Struck thirty men (Judges 14:19)
Struck many Philistines (Judges 15:8)
Killed 1,000 with a donkey jawbone (Judges 15:15-16)
Relied on God to sustain him (Judges 15:18-19)
Uprooted and carried off gates of Gaza (Judges 16:3)

7. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Samson (Judges 13-16) – God is never out of reach
Samson’s weakness – bad women
Philistine, prostitute, Delilah (Judges 14:1-3, 17; 16:1, 4-21)
Samson’s final days
Tricked by his wife, blinded, enslaved (Judges 16:19-21)
Used for entertainment by enemies (Judges 16:23-27)
A prayer of faith from his pitiful situation (Judges 16:28-30)
Died trusting in God and fighting the blasphemers
By faith, Samson offered his life in God’s service

8. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Samson (Judges 13-16) – God is never out of reach
No matter how far he fell, God was never out of reach
Parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)
Sin is a desperate, terrible state (Eph. 2:1; II Peter 2:22)
“Return to me and I will return to you” (Zech. 1:3)
Draw near to God, he will draw near to you (James 4:8)

9. By Faith… Jephthah & Samson
Jephthah and Samson had unique challenges
Jephthah – circumstances beyond his control
Samson – circumstances he created
Both knew where to turn for the strength
The faithless give up on God
The faithful turn to God (James 4:7-10)
Humble yourself by repenting and submitting to God
Have faith in God’s promise that he will lift you up
Wherever you are, God can help