Overcoming the Spirit of Injustice
I. Introduction
· Every person experiences unfair or unjust treatment at times
· Injustice can leave a deep impact upon our hear and mind and relationships
II. The Story of Jephthah
Key Passage: Judges11:1-11
Jdg 11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.
Jdg 11:2 Gilead's wife bore sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman."
Jdg 11:3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.
Jdg 11:4 It came to pass after a time that the people of Ammon made war against Israel.
Jdg 11:5 And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.
Jdg 11:6 Then they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon."
Jdg 11:7 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"
Jdg 11:8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the people of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
Jdg 11:9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them to me, shall I be your head?"
Jdg 11:10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words."
Jdg 11:11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.
· Vs1.Jepthae ..was a mighty man of valor,
· “Mighty Man”….Warrior, Champion,Giant, Man of Courage
· “Valor”……………..Strength, Force, Substance
Strength of mind and spirit that enables a person to face and overcome danger and
opposition with firmness and courage
· He was not born a might man of valor…He became a might man by the choices he made
He became a mighty man of Valor by the battles he fought and overcome
· The biggest battles in life are unseen by people…….but seen by God
· They are the battles within….the battles of the heart and mind to overcome hurts and setbacks
· The battles within are seen by God……He uses them for our maturing and promotion
II. The Spirit of Injustice
What is Injustice?
· Injustice is the violation of the rights of a person, treating them unjustly and unfairly
· Jephthah was subject to injustice all his life………He was powerless to prevent it
· When people rights are violated their life is deeply impacted by grief, rejection, hatred, shame
The Spirit of Injustice is an Evil Tormenting Spirit
· It affects how you see people,
· It affects how you interpret their actions,
· It stirs up ongoing pain, conflict and cycles of suffering in relationships
Three different Areas Jephthah experienced injustice
1. Personal Injustice
Jdg 11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite ………but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.
Jdg 11:2 Gilead's wife bore sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman."
· He was the result of an unwanted pregnancy because of adultery by his father with a Ammonite prostitute
· Rejected and Abandoned by his Ammonite mother….an unwanted mixed race son
· Rejected by his step mother ………………..an unwanted mixed race son
· Rejected, and abused by his stepbrothers…………………an unwanted mixed race brother
· Rejected and hated by the community …………………….hated the Ammonites
· Jephthah suffered shame, rejection, hatred, and abuse by those who should have nurtured and loved him
2. Systemic Injustice
What do we mean Systemic?
· Systemic is a problem affecting the whole community, or organisation. Every part of the system or community is affected by the same problem. It is encountered everywhere!
· Everything in the community right through to the legal system was biased against Jephthah
Honor/Shame Community:
· The whole social structure of the community was built around the value of Honor and Fear of Shame
· Honor = The community places a high value of worth upon a person
· Shame = The community treats a person as having no value or worth, to be avoided and looked down upon
· The three main sources of honor in such a community are:
Family of Origin, Bravery in Battle, Generosity to the Poor.
· The main sources of dishonour:
Family of Origin, Cowardice, Poverty, Immorality, Failure to conform to community expectations
· Jephthah was clothed in community shame and dishonour
Eg. Mother an Ammonite….they were hated oppressors, descendants of Lot by Incest
Eg. Born from adultery, mother an Ammonite prostitute, Conceived out of wedlock …Rejected by law
Eg. Mixed Race/Colour…Half Ammonite and half Hebrew
3. Economic Injustice
· The community would look down upon him and resist trading or doing business with him
· His brothers conspired against him to ensure he received no inheritance
· Jdg 11:2 Gilead's wife bore sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman."
· The Legal system sided with his stepbrothers and ensured he received no inheritance
· Jdg 11:7 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"
IV. Respond to God’s Transformation Process
Jdg 11:3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.
Jdg 11:4 It came to pass after a time that the people of Ammon made war against Israel.
1. You Can Run, But you Cant Hide
· “Jephthah fled from his brothers”…….He ran away or was forced to leave by brothers and community
· He fled as a broken, empty man……..emptied of all honour, value and worth by his continued abuse
· He carried with him deep shame, injustice, grief, bitterness, loss of all hope and was very angry
· He attracted others also suffering form injustice…..
“Worthless”……empty, no worth or value, emptied out of value by life’s experiences
People suffering rejection, injustice, bitterness are attracted to one another
· Wherever you run…you are there ……with all your pain and injustice and reactions
· Time does not change you…your choices do
2. He Became a Mighty Man of Valour
Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
Heb 11:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises,
· Jephthah became honoured by God Himself and listed in the Faith Hall of Heroes
· He is selected for special honour by God from among multitudes who have lived in every generation
· He is honoured by God as a man of faith who overcame in his generation, and fulfilled Gods purpose
· We may not be able to choose what happens but we do choose how we respond
· He was not Born a Champion…He Became a Champion under the transforming process of Father God
· Psa 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
3. How did He become a Mighty Man of Valour?
· He encountered God personally and entrusted his life to Him
· He processed the pain, shame and injustice he had experienced in his past
· He developed the gifts God had given him
· He stood up in his identity, not as a victim of injustice, but as a Man of God
· He embraced God’s purpose to become a Deliverer, and Head
· Psa 118:21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
Psa 118:23 This was the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
· Jephthah life was a prophetic picture of Jesus Christ Himself
4. Beyond your Problem lies your Promotion
· Joseph… would never have come to the throne without brothers betraying and selling him
David would never have become King without Goliath challenging him
Some giants and enemies are purposed by God to prepare you for promotion
· Jdg 11:5 And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.
Jdg 11:6 Then they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon."
Jdg 11:11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.
· They appointed Jephthah to be the leader in their Fight for Freedom
V. The Cross is The Power of God to Save
· 1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
1Co 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
· Jesus lived also in an Honour/Shame Culture
· Crucifixion was the Roman’s method of removing all honour and publicly shaming
· Every aspect of Jesus crucifixion was designed to publicly shame him
· At the cross Jesus represented us…..
He carried our Shame, injustice, abuse, bitterness, rejection, griefs, sorrows, curses, sin, iniquities
· Jesus had every reason to curse, to fight back, to punish his betrayer, false accusers and the system
· Instead He forgave them
· He lived out what He taught:
Mat 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
VI. Steps to Freedom From Personal Injustice
1. Come to Jesus…
Come to the Cross where the Power of God can break the chains of oppression and Bondage
2. Face what has happened to you and how it has affected you
3. Grieve over your pain and suffering and release it to Jesus by an act of faith
4. Forgive …...Release your offenders one at a time from your anger and bitterness and judgments
5. Repent……..Confess the hidden hatred and bitterness, and desire for revenge
6. Renounce….Break all agreements with lies and judgements against people and inner vows to protect yourself
7. Resist Demons….Verbally command spirits to depart from you
Shame, bitterness, hatred, fear, rejection, self rejection, addictions
8. Renew your Mind in the Word of God daily…Resist old thoughts
9. Be Filled with The Holy Spirit daily
10. Trust God to raise you up and Honor you
VII. Questions for Personal Consideration:
1. What has the Holy Spirit spoken to you during this study?
2. How do you react when you personally experience some form of injustice or rejection?
3. How do you react when you see or hear of others experiencing injustice or rejection?
4. What unresolved heart issues does the Holy Spirit reveal that you need to resolve ?
5. What will you do about this?