Barak had the “I can’t do this on my own type of faith.”

Most of us walk in the footsteps of someone's else faith, but rarely if ever venture to stand outside the shadow of the great saints in our lives. Maybe for the fear of failure or being alone we hesitate to say, “Yes” to the Almighty.

You don’t need the stand in the wake of men. You don't even need to make your own wake. You need to stand in the wake of the Lord!

Talk It Over

1. Review the message and first read Judges 4 & 5. What stood out to you the most about the chapter and the message? What was God saying to you? What confirmed your walk with God? What challenged your walk with God

2. In Judges 4:8 “Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”” How do you relate to Barak’s “I can’t do this on my own type of faith?” Respond to this quote from Pastor Sean, “Most people walk in the footsteps of someone's else faith, but rarely if ever venture to stand outside the shadow of the great saints in our lives. Maybe for the fear of failure or being alone we hesitate to say, “Yes” to the Almighty.”

3. Judges 4:14 says, “Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” It was at this moment Barak knew the Lord was in control and His faith rose. Describe a time in your life when you saw God move and knew He was before you and your faith increased. How does that moment still impact you today? How do others react when you tell them that story?

4. Judges 14d-15 says, “So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. 15At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.” Why do think God moved only after Barak advanced? God would reroute the stars and the Kishon river to thwart Sisera’s army. Knowing God can do all things and nothing is impossible for him, what battlefield do you need to take your first step onto even before you see the Lord move?

5. Judges 4:22 says, Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.” Barak witnessed a typical Bedouin housewife kill the greatest known terrorist in the world. What lessons was God teaching Barak? What must be true about Jael for her not to hesitate to kill Sisera? What would it take for you not to hesitate at the command of the Lord?

6. God uses less than perfect faith. Surprising as it may be Barak made the Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11 (see above verses). Barak didn’t get it right the first time, but you can see his faith level increase. In Judges 4:24 Barak, “pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.” Barak moved past God’s promise given to him to over take the army, now He is “pressing harder and harder” to destroy the king. In what ways has your own increased faith moved your beyond what you thought was possible? How does your faith in one area spill over and effect your faith in other areas?

7. Spend time in prayer and pray the intercessory prayer of Barak and Deborah over yourself and others in Judges 5:31, “So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.”