Judah Went With Simeon

When Simeon inherited their lot within Judah’s inheritance, Judah went with Simeon to drive out the inhabitants of the land.  They drove out everyone until they came to the inhabitants of the valley.  These people had chariots of iron, Jud 1:17-19.

They could have driven out these inhabitants.  They only had chariots of iron, whereas God had chariots of fire, 2 Ki 6:17.  However, God wasn’t helping Judah and Simeon because they had disobeyed him, Jud 2:20-23.

When we think about Bro Sehmish’s message from last night, we have been given the task of working in our lot.  If our lot is Corpus Christi, for example, there are still inhabitants here that we need to reach with the gospel.

We could be like Judah and Simeon and become comfortable with our current situation and not go with the gospel to reach these folks.  However, we would be disobeying God to not try to reach them, even though it may be more difficult these days than it was in our beginning.

How should we approach this task?  We should do this work the way that Judah and Simeon started their work.  Judah went with Simeon and we should go with each other.

In the New Testament, Paul went with Barnabas, Acts 13.  On the next journey, Paul chose Silas, and Barnabas chose Mark, Acts 15:39-40.  Along the way, Paul added Timotheus, Acts 16:1-3, who was with them in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, yet in the background, Acts 16:19, 23-25, 17:10, 14-15.  Nevertheless, Timothy became the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians.  Paul also went with Priscilla and Aquila, who later had a church in their house, Acts 18:18, 24-26; 1 Cor 16:19.  And Paul took Titus, Gal 2:1-3, who eventually became the first bishop of the church of the Cretians.

Do you see?  We help each other with the lot of our inheritance.  Some we help will be bold witnesses right away, like Silas.  Some will hang back in the background for a while, like Timothy.  And some may be couples working together, like Priscilla and Aquila.

We must go and fight the good fight of faith in the valley, Jud 1:19, seeking to find the inhabitants who will receive Jesus Christ.  We can’t stop working in our lot and be complacent to just stay on the “mountain” we currently occupy, Jud 1:19.

We must not disobey God, Jud 2:20-21.  He is not willing that any should perish, 2 Pet 3:9.  Those who will believe on him must hear.  And to hear they must have a preacher, Rom 10:14-15.

We must go together, Jud 1:17.  Judah went with Simeon.  I am committed to go with you to reach those you have heretofore not been able to reach with the gospel.  And others who know how to preach to the lost can take someone with them.