Witness #17: Jephthah

1 December 2013

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The Outcast Hero

Jephthah, like many of the other examples in the “Faith Hall of Fame,” was not a perfect man. But, even though he made mistakes, he acted in faith toward God and delivered Israel from her enemies.

Jephthah was born by an adulterous relationship between his father and a harlot. His family rejected him and he became a vagabond of sorts. There were several other men like him that banded together and followed him in Tob. Israel came under attack by the Ammonites and needed a strong leader. They turned to Jephthah. He had obviously proven himself in the land of Tob, and now his home country needed him.

Upon agreeing to help, Jephthah made a rash vow before the Lord. He said that, if the Lord would deliver the Ammonites into his hand, he would offer up to the Lord the first thing that met him upon his return from victory. He fulfilled that promise on his only child, a daughter. But his true act of faith was in how he gained the victory over the Ammonites.

He was moved by the Spirit of God and gave a proper historical account as to why the Israelites should be inhabitants of the land that the Ammonites claimed. The king of the Ammonites would not listen to reason and ended up in defeat by the leadership of Jephthah.

Two main points should be gleaned from this example. The first is that it does not matter where you come from or how great your status is in society. God can and does use the outcast of the world in powerful ways. Secondly, when we feel the Lord leading and helping us, we should not make rash vows but simply trust that the Lord will deliver on His promises.

Tags: all-in, faith, hebrews

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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