SPEAKER: Pastor Larry Hasmatali
DATE: June 29, 2025
SERIES: Our Messes, God's Faithfulness
TITLE: When your Past feels Bigger than your Purpose
TEXT: Judges 11

Four Responses:
1. We need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
2. God uses the rejected.
3. Don't let bitterness lead you.
4. The Spirit of the Lord is enough.

Bible Study Questions
1. How does God use rejection as a setup for leadership? Jephthah was rejected by his family and marginalized by society. Yet his leadership was forged in the wilderness.
Application: Have you experienced rejection in your life that you now see God used to develop strength or leadership in You? Write down an area of your past where rejection left a mark. Ask the Lord how He wants to redeem that part of your story for His purpose today. Let your scars become your platform, not your prison.
2. How do we respond when people who hurt us ask for our help? Jephthah could have chosen revenge, but responded with purpose. His willingness to serve despite past wounds revealed maturity and vision.
Application: Is there someone in your life who once rejected you but now needs your help or leadership? How would Christ call you to respond? Identify one person you may be holding bitterness toward. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you release it and look for a redemptive way to respond with wisdom, not emotion.
3. Why must we base our confidence on God's promise, not our performance? Jephthah already had the Spirit of the Lord, yet he felt the need to make a vow to secure victory. We often feel like God's promise isn't enough unless we do something extra.
Application: Are you trusting God's Word, or are you trying to bargain with Him for assurance? Think of one area where you feel the need to 'do more' for God to bless you. Let that area be surrendered in prayer this week. Say aloud, "Lord, I trust Your promise more than my performance."
4. What are you sacrificing that God never asked for? Jephthah's rash vow cost him dearly. In ministry, parenting, or life, we sometimes make sacrifices in the name of success that God never required.
Application: Is there anything you're sacrificing (family, rest, integrity, relationships) in pursuit of a 'victory' that God may not be calling you to? Review your weekly commitments. Are you sacrificing your marriage, time with children, or your spiritual health for something that feels noble? Realign your life around what God values - not just what you think will please Him.