Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, July 31, 2005, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of outlines from previous years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

JESUS HAS A MESSAGE FOR YOU

By Michael D. O'Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church
Albany, Georgia


Scripture Reading: Judges 3:15-30

Text: Judges 3:20

Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

Introduction: For some time now I have been bringing messages from the Old Testament, showing you that those scriptures testify to Jesus Christ. The Lord said that this should be done:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Here in one of my favorite passages in the book of Judges, I want to show you how that the judge God raised up to deliver Israel, Ehud, is a type, or prophetic picture, of the Lord Jesus Christ. It may not seem like it to the extent that Ehud kills a man without resurrecting him, but I think we will see some similarities between this story and a New
Testament conversion that will cause us once again to see Jesus on the pages of the Old Testament.

I. HIS POSITION

Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

Notice above "raised ... up a deliverer"

Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Acts 13:23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob

    A. His position was providential

    B. His position was purposeful

II. HIS PECULIARITY (lefthanded)

Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

    A. Jesus was peculiar in doctrine

    B. Jesus was peculiar in delivery of His message

    C. Jesus was peculiar in deed

III. HIS PRESENT

Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

    A. It was a prepared gift

    B. It was a personal gift

IV. HIS PACKAGE

Judges 3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

    A. It was created by him
       1. The Bible is GOD'S word
       2. 2 Tim. 3:16

    B. It was concealed to the king
       1. 2 Cor. 4:3-4

V. HIS PURSUIT

Judges 3:17-20 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. 18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. 19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

    A. He sought him personally

    B. He spoke to him privately

VI. HIS POWER

Judges 3:21-22 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.

    A. The blade stuck far

    B. The blade stuck finally

VII. HIS PRODUCT

Judges 3:22B ... and the dirt came out.

    A. Removal was performed (of "dirt")

    B. Resurrection was needed - ye must be born again