Anointed for Justice

By Adrian Lopez

Do you believe that God can change things? Do you believe that God can use you to change things? The world as we know it is filled with social, political, and economic disaster. This is because people far too often refuse to operate by God’s divine standards and disobey Him. Yet, despite the calamities we face in the world today we can nevertheless be hopeful knowing that God does indeed have a plan. By answering the call of God, you will experience the joy of building a relationship with Him. As you grow in maturity you will also encounter the bliss of guiding others back into fellowship with Him. Every journey starts with just one step of faith. Anointed for Justice is based on the biblical book of Judges. It brightly illuminates the relevancy of scripture and offers powerful insight to the truth of God’s word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664266018

Adrian Lopez

Adrian Lopez grew up in the small town of San Rafael, New Mexico, where he was introduced to crime and drug addiction at an early age. From juvenile hall to the state penitentiary he suffered many years of incarceration. In the darkest moments of his life he sought the light and experienced a life-changing encounter with God. It was then that he made a decision to side with God and battle with sin.

Book preview

1

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

T he book of Judges took place at a point in time when there was no king in Israel. A time when the people of the land governed themselves and did what they saw fit. It was a time so relevant to our present day. Those days were parallel to the ones we live in.

Keep in mind, Israel is a nation that God chose for His own inheritance. It consists of God’s chosen people. When the Bible makes mention of Israel it is also making mention of you because you are one of God’s chosen people.

The king of Israel should be no one other than God Himself. The people in general, at that point in time, did not know their God. Therefore they had no guidance from Him. To have no relationship with the Lord is to have no king. To have no king is to have no hope.

When we read the words no king in Israel we can also get a clear understanding that there was literally no crowned ruler sitting on the throne. Nor was there a throne that one could sit on. This also goes to show that there was no real leadership in Israel.

After the death of Joshua, there was no longer anyone to influence the people in the ways of the Lord. Without God and without any real leadership in the land, the people did what was right in their own eyes. What seemed right to the people of Israel, however, was evil in the sight of the Lord. The Bible says, There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12). There is a big difference between the way that seems right and the way that is right.

Jesus is the only right way. Scripture says, Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life (John 14:16). It is His teachings that we must learn to apply to our lives and His example that we must follow.

As we take our journey through the book of Judges we will find that the people of Israel were not living in accordance with God’s will. They fell into idolatry, homosexuality, violence, discord, and many other sinful acts. We will be discussing their behavior as we proceed with the revelations that God gives us throughout our study.

As we study the book of Judges we will find a repetitive cycle where the Israelites do evil in the sight of the Lord, God hands them over to their enemies, they cry out, and the Lord raises a judge to deliver them from their oppression. When the judge dies the people go back to doing evil and the cycle repeats itself. The cycle is that of sin, bondage, repentance, and devotion, followed by sin, bondage, repentance and devotion. Time and time again this cycle repeats itself.

The cycle was repetitive in the times of the judges and it has also been repetitive throughout history. The word of God is alive and active or should we say, live and in effect. As it is written so shall it be. If it was a cycle then, than it will be a cycle now. The scriptures are still as relevant as ever in our present day.

Take a look around you and see for yourself. It isn’t hard to recognize the turmoil and chaos going on in the world today. Idolatry, witchcraft, homosexuality, etc. Everything that took place during the time of the book of Judges is taking place at this very moment.

One of the most important pieces of information that we can get from this book is that God does not let sin go unpunished. Those that disregarded His laws were disciplined for their wrongdoing.

He disciplined Israel by using the hand of their enemies to dominate them. During the chastisement the people were pushed into a position to cry out and return to the Lord.

God is still actively using this same strategy today to bring His people back to Himself. This is why you see so many people living lives that have been dominated by the enemy. Overthrown by sex, drugs and alcohol. Stripped down to the bare minimum and suffering poverty because God has handed them over to their sinful desires.

This is God’s way of getting our attention when we get out of line. It is when we hit rock bottom that we finally realize how much we need Him. He allows disaster to come our way so that we can cry out to Him.

The beauty of these scriptures is that God hears the cries of His people and does something about it. He raises up judges to deliver the people from the same oppression that He allowed to overthrow them in the first place.

The judges were imperfect people who God anointed to bring justice to His people. They had flaws and made many mistakes but in the process they carried out a noble task. They fought for the people and brought deliverance to them.

We all know that Christ alone is our Savoir. It is Christ alone who redeems us from sin and death and it is Christ alone that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Yet Christ in all His glory will use some of the least likely individuals to introduce Himself to the world. He does bring deliverance to His people by the hands of a chosen vessel.

Although there has always been a sense of the Lord’s existence within our hearts, we never really got to know Him until a certain man or woman came into our lives to lead the way. The same way He used that man or woman of God to pray for you and fight for you on a spiritual level is the same way that He wants to use you to help others.

As we look at all the chaos and the ruckus in the world today, we can see how things are out of order. We can see the relevance of the scripture but we can also be optimistic knowing that God has a plan.

God always has a soldier to raise up. Perhaps that person is you. Perhaps He can use you for something greater than you have ever imagined.

There are so many lost sheep needing guidance in the world today and knowing this should make you want to rise up and be the leader you were called to be.

Perhaps you have heard the calling of God in your life but you didn’t know how big of a deal it really is. You have been hand-picked by the Creator Himself. You are chosen to do so much more than you could possibly fathom. God wants to use you in such a way that He can be glorified through you. You were called to do great things. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these (John 14:11 NIV).

Maybe you’re still in a place of struggle or maybe you are encountering a bit of suffering at the moment. These are things that we all have to go through. Maybe you’re still fighting an addiction, or going through a divorce. Perhaps the storms of life have brought the tidal waves against your house and you wonder if it’s possible for God to actually use you for something great. Continue to seek His face. He will heal you, and He will use you in ways that you could never imagine.

Getting involved in the work of God is to get involved in something bigger than yourself. If your heart is in the right place and you believe that God will use you to make a difference, then He will. As your faith is let it be done unto you. Find your purpose and allow the Spirit to guide your life. Do something for the King of kings and it will be remembered throughout eternity.

God is calling you to fulfil the purpose of an upward calling. In order to meet the challenge of this upward calling you will have to rise above your circumstances. Part of your calling is becoming an overcomer. If you can overcome your demons then you will influence others to do the same. God wants to use you to bring a great victory to His children.

As we continue our study in the book of Judges we will find that the people God chooses to do His work are the ones that are least likely to get the job done. He chooses men and women who most of us can relate to. These are flawed individuals who answer the call of God to bring justice and deliverance to Israel.

When we hear the word judge, most of us picture a man or woman with black robes and a gavel sitting in a courtroom dealing with criminal cases. Although the judges in biblical times served a similar purpose in bringing justice, they were quite different from the judges we see today.

They were more like military leaders who fought to bring justice to God’s people. Every judge that God raised up had the same problems as all the rest of Israel’s lawbreakers. They struggled with the same sin and they were dominated by the same evil as everyone else. Therefore, it wouldn’t make sense for any of these judges to pass judgment on the people. The Bible says, judge not and ye shall not be judged (Luke 6:37). Instead of criticizing or condemning the people from a position of assumed moral superiority, they fought for them. They rose out of the ashes of their own defeat to bring justice to those who suffered with them.

This is exactly what God has called you to do! He has called you to fight against the evil that has dominated your life and the lives of others for so long. In the process of overcoming you will become an inspiration to others who have struggled with the same sin you have.

There are people who refuse to listen to preachers who have not been in the same darkness they have endured. If you have not felt their pain then they might not want to hear you out. But if you have been in the same kind of darkness, and have encountered the same kind of evil then perhaps they will listen to you.

There is always a possibility of reaching people with no common background but sometimes it is a lot easier to reach an addict if you were addicted too. It would be a lot easier to reach an inmate when you have sat in the cell next to them for the last nine years. It would be a lot easier to reach the gang member if you have a history of gang violence as well. Sometimes this is just the way it works.

There is a reason for everything you have ever been through in your life. There is a reason for everything you are still going through as we speak. It is all a part of God’s divine plan. There is so much power in your testimony alone. It gives hope to those who have been in the same darkness as you. It brings inspiration to those who are struggling with the same sin you once did. It brings light to those who live in dark places.

Your testimony is not limited to reach only those who have lived a similar lifestyle as you. Those people are just the most likely to relate. Your leadership will be influential regardless. God can use you to have a major impact on the world around you. He can bless you with influence. He can endow you with a spirit of inspiration.

2

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: Judges 2:11

T he children of Israel did evil by making a league with the inhabitants of the land and dedicating service to their false gods. They served Baalim which is plural for Baal. Baal was worshiped under many different names and attributes. This false god was known as Baalberith, Baalzebub, Baalzebul, Baal-Peor, Baal-Hadad, and Baal-Hammon. Therefore, the scriptures tell us they served Baalim or in some interpretations the Baals.

There were many images of this false god. In one particular image he was wearing a helmet with bullhorns to represent his so-called strength and power. He also held a spear that represented his control over nature. He was considered to be a deity associated with fertility, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, and crops.

In reality the Baals were nothing more than worthless Idols carved from stone. They had no strength nor power. They had no control over nature. They were unable to bring life or give life.

The people of Israel believed that the Baals had power and they served them. They offered sacrifices like sheep and bulls to Baalim. They even sacrificed their first born children to this false god in times of crisis. This is a detestable thing in God’s eyes.

It seems that we have arrived at the very same place today where people refuse to acknowledge that the attributes of deity belong to the God of the Bible. He is the only being who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is sovereign. The giver and the taker of life. Infinite and eternal. Full of wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. The God of the Bible is the one and only true God. We should always acknowledge Him as such.

Prayer Call.

Lord Jesus, we come before you this day to ask you for an accurate interpretation of the scriptures. We ask that you can be our teacher as we search your word for understanding. Enlighten us to the knowledge of your will. Show us how these very scriptures are relevant to our lives. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen.

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The second chapter of the book of Judges gives us a general idea of how the cycle goes. Sin, bondage, repentance, and devotion.

The first thing we have to understand about mankind is that we were created to worship. God created us to worship Him. Worship goes a lot farther than mere words. It is the dedication of one’s life in service. Man will always worship something or someone because that is what man was created to do. Sadly, some have dedicated their lives to serve false gods like Baalim who were really no gods at all. They were merely statues or carved images.

Others, in like manner, have dedicated themselves to money, sex, drugs, fame, video games, and even their bellies. This is also known as idolatry.

Idolatry is the worship of something or someone other than God, as though it were God. It continues to be an issue with God’s children today. In these modern times, Idolatry has a way of concealing itself to where some may not even recognize it. Anything that a person prioritizes, loves, or values more than God is an idol. It could be a relationship, a job, an activity, an idea, or even a thing. In some cases people have fallen into idol worship by thinking too highly of themselves.

If we take so much time for the things that we are interested in we should also be taking time for Jesus. If we seek fulfillment, comfort, and satisfaction outside of God we are guilty of idolatry. We must learn to guard our hearts against the craving and the wanting. Understand that running to money, sex, and drugs, or anything else for that matter will bring about the chastening of the Lord. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:1-2.NKJV).

And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. Judges 2:12-13

The children of Israel departed from the covenant God. They turned their backs on Him and set their hearts after other gods. In doing so they were in violation of the first and second commandments: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them (Exodus 20 1-5).

They had completely forgotten all that the sovereign Lord had done for them when He brought them out of Egypt. They discarded the miracles He performed at the Red Sea. They pushed aside the memories of how He had brought their forefathers through the wilderness with an outstretched arm and how He led them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

The question is have you forgotten all that God has done for you and all that He has brought you through? Have you pushed aside from your memory the miracles He has performed on your behalf and the victories that He has given you? If so, now is the time for repentance for the kingdom of God is at hand.

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the