RIGHTEOUSNESS REVIVAL EVANGELISTIC MOVEMENT
PRESENT
DESTINY IMPACTATION
TOPIC: SON OF A STRANGE WOMAN
FOCUS: USEFULNESS
CASE STUDY: JEPHTHAH
CHARACTERISTICS:
MATURITY AND HUMILITY

TEXT: Judges 11:
1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
2 And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

Jephthah was a young man with great potential that the bible described him as a mighty man of valor, if you check dictionary you will notice that the word “valor” means ” value, and worth”
When you are a person of value you will never mind what inscription people describe you with, notice in vs 2 how Jephthah brethren described him? “son of a strange woman” meaning a stranger.
The truth is that Jephthah never recognized himself to be a stranger but a mighty man who’s vision is based on leadership

Definitely, Jephthah brethren knows his strength but they didn’t value it and so thrusted him out of the house depriving him his own share of his father’s inheritance, “to know you is one thing to value you is another thing”.
Jephthah himself knew his worth and then he fled from his brethren
Many of us would want to consider cultism or visit native doctor to fight but Jephthah consider fleeing from his desperate brethren as the best option
Who dare tag some Nigerian guys with such an inscription? Son of a strange woman, aromate will locate you but Jephthah based his confidence on God knowing that God will definitely fight for his stead

A safety personnel during our departmental safety lecture said, “never try to fight a fire you cannot fight, if the fire is bigger than your fire fighting gadget run for your life”
That is exactly what Jephthah did, he ran for his dear life
Jephthah fleed from a desperate treat you also must run.
Don’t wait to ask why you must run from your own father’s inheritance, if you are reading this I encourage you to run for your own benefit.
Notice what you stand to benefit if you run:

1. Running saves you from desperate danger -1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
1 Kings 19:3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba,…………..

2. You must run if you want to be useful in to God and the society -Acts 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
Notice in vs 5 how the elders of Gilead, Jephthah brethren went to fetch him to be their head?
I speak to someone who will focus on, those that reject you will surely find you for good

3. You must run because by strength shall no man prevail- Hannah says in 1 Samuel 2:9 “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail”. I pray for you reading this, all your battles the Lord will fight for you in Jesus name
Now let’s discuss on the characteristics of Jephthah

1. Maturity
2. Humility

1. Maturity: What? The state of being mature, ready or ripe
It important to note that Jephthah became famous not because of his strength and power or ability but because he possessed this qualities as his character you too must possess it
It was based on his level of maturity that he developed the idea of fleeing, a matured man will silently walk out of an argument just to avoid unnecessary and unavoidable issues

When you are matured you know and observe ‘the does and don’t’
For you to be useful you must be matured in all ramifications

2. Humility: What?
*The characteristic of being humble; humbleness in character and behavior
Had it been Jephthah was a stubborn type he wouldn’t have fleed nor returned with his brethren when they came back for him, knowing his worth, he turned his maturity to humility
He was humble to mankind and God
In Judges 11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
This was because Jephthah humbled himself before the Lord, if you read down to vs 32 and 33 you will notice how God gave him victory over his enemies (usefulness)
He was useful to God and his people, God used him tremendously, however you too can be useful if you consider Jephthah qualities.

The are a lot of vaccines both in Christendom and the society waiting for your manifestation, you might not be useful in fighting battle just like Jephthah but you can be useful your own capacity by spreading the word of God, taking rules of leadership, impacting life’s just as I did.
I decided not to kill my God’s given talent and I invest it in such a way that you reading this can benefit from
What are those gifts and talent that God has planted in you?
How are you utilizing your talent?
Are you killing or investing it?
Remember we will all give an account of our life
Remember the topic of this morning devotion? TRANSFORMATION
Take a bold step and transform a life today
Further Reading: Matthew 5:13-16; 25:14-46
See you next week same day same time
God bless you.