Sunday, September 23, 2012 am
IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?
1 Samuel 17:29
There are details to this account recorded in 1 Samuel 17 which are
worthy of note. Israel was
being oppressed by the Philistines.
As a way of taunting Israel, they but forth a mighty warrior that
mocked them day and night for 40 days.
Goliath was a giant – about 9½ feet tall, and very strong.
As he taunted Israel, he blasphemed Jehovah God and exalted their
gods. The people of Israel
were afraid and they could not find a warrior to challenge Goliath.
One
day, David, the youngest of 8 sons of Jesse, was sent to the place where
the armies were at a standoff to bring supplies and inquire of his
brother’s well-being (his 3 oldest brothers were in Saul’s army).
While there he heard Goliath’s blasphemous rants and was angry.
He tried to rally Israel reminding them that God was on their
side. His brothers rebuke
David and call him prideful and insolent of heart.
This prompts David to respond, “What
I done now? Is there not a
cause?”
Following this, David volunteered to go up against Goliath himself.
He trusted in God to deliver him.
King Saul dressed David in his own armor but David refused to
wear it because, “I have not tested it.”
He then goes and gets 5 smooth stones from a brook and takes with
him his sling. When Goliath
sees him, he mocks. But
David responds, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin.
But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of
the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will
strike you and take your head from you.”
(vs. 45-46) He
concludes that when he has defeated Goliath, “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save
with sword and spear; for the
battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
David then charged toward Goliath and with a single stone struck him
between the eyes and killed him.
He then beheaded the giant with his own sword and the Israelite
army with renewed confidence charged the Philistines and drove their
army back. It was a great
victory for Israel. BUT, as
David said, “the battle belongs to the Lord.”
a.
Notice how David saw God
being blasphemed and It provoked him to stand up and do something about
it. He loved the Lord
too much to stand by and let such go on without acting.
b.
David was not afraid.
Cowardice often stops us from saying or doing what we need to do.
Yet the Bible says we are to not in any way be terrified by our
adversaries. (Phil. 1:27-28)
Paul challenged the Corinthians to “Be brave, be strong” (2 Cor. 13:5)
c.
David trusted in God.
Notice his response to Goliath, “The battle is the Lord’s.”
Like David, we need to trust God – Prov. 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understand.”
Sometimes, the reason we don’t stand up when we ought to is that our
faith is not as strong as it ought to be.
d.
Why can these things be
said of David?
Because there was a cause.
A cause greater than himself that he stood for.
That cause involved serving God.
e.
This is something we
need to ask just as much today as in times past.
There are giants that are looming around us, mocking God and His
will. Will we like David
face these giants? Let us
consider some of these giants today.
a.
Ungodliness is all
around us. Our freedom of religion is being threatened by our government
and an activist society that hates God.
Our homes are being attacked with an attempt to redefine what the home
is and by preaching “the new normal.”
IT is seen in media and news reports, often with a bias
attempting to villainize so-called fundamental Christian values.
And as times grow worse and worse, it seems like a giant that cannot be
stopped.
b.
Is there not a cause?
As Christians will we stand up and speak up for that which is
right?
i.
Let us realize that if
change is going to happen, it will not be from the top down, but from
the bottom up. In other
words, it begins with you and me doing what we can do.
ii.
In the New Testament we
read of very little (if any) activism.
In fact, following Biblical patterns there is NO place for such
in the church.
BUT what we do find is courageous men who spoke up for what is right.
Peter told the Council, “We ought to obey God rather than men”
(Acts 5:29);
Paul spoke to Agrippa and Felix (Acts 24:25, 26:24-28).
He was influential in converting some in Caesar’s house (Phil.
4:22), etc.
iii.
The best thing we can do
is to be a godly example which is so desperately needed.
1 Pet. 2:11-12 speaks of us
having conduct honorable, so that in the end, even if they malign us,
God will be glorified.
1 Pet. 3:15-16 challenges us to defend the reason for the hope that is
in us, “having a good conscience,
that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good
conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
NOTICE how our example is our best “weapon.”
BUT also consider in this text, that our defense of the truth
involves confronting those in society who are defaming you as evil
doers.
Phil. 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing,
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without
fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
shine as lights in the world,…”
There is no better way to change society than one person at a time.
iv.
WE can also engage in
activities to make our society better.
Gal. 6:10 calls for us, “as we have opportunity to do got for
all.” If we are seeking to
make our neighborhood and society a better place, it is certainly a good
work. BUT, we need to use
caution as we consider this.
For example: We must maintain complete honesty in our efforts, we must
avoid arrogance, spite, bully tactics (i.e. emails that challenge the
integrity of others, etc.) disrespect (including the king – with no
distinction as to whether he is good or bad), and be careful before we
pass judgment on others, including our brethren.
I am firmly convinced that you DON’T have to be involved in
politics to be a Christian.
v.
We can also pray for our
leaders – 1 Tim. 2:1-4
vi.
Brethren, there is a
cause in our midst. Will we
fight for it?
a.
Rom. 3:23 says, “For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
As noted above, we are living in an ungodly and immoral society.
And as such, its elements have an impact on our lives.
We are all influenced by our environment. And when we do sin,
quite often our environment is a contributing factor.
For some, the grip of worldliness is so strong that it is like a
giant that seems invincible.
b.
But that doesn’t change
the consequences of sin.
Rom. 6:23 says, “The wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus in Luke 13:3 said, “But
unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
God views sin as so terrible that it required the blood of Jesus to
provide forgiveness – Col. 1:14, Eph. 1;7, Heb. 9:12-14
c.
Is there not a cause? In your life, if you want to
go to heaven you have to take care of your sins!
i.
First you need
forgiveness – if you have never obeyed the gospel, “Why are you waiting?
Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)
IF as a child of God, you have again been overcome with sin – repent,
confess and pray (1 John 1:9, cf. Acts 8:22, etc.)
ii.
Contrary to the
teachings of many, you must remain faithful – Rev. 2:10, 2 Pet. 2:20-22,
Luke 9:62, etc. The majority
of scripture is directed toward the way Christians are to live their
lives. It is NOT just a book
of suggestions. There are
consequences to rejecting His word.
iii.
Understanding this, we
need to take measures to keep ourselves pure.
(Is there not a cause?)
1.
Avoid ungodliness – flee from it – 2 Tim. 2:22sd, 1 Cor. 10:18.
Jesus illustrated this with strong words in Matt. 5:29-20 where He said
to cut off your hand or pluck out your eye if it keeps you out of heaven
(this is a context dealing with lust and adultery).
2.
Avoid the ungodly – James 4:4, 2 Cor. 6:14, 17.
3.
BE alert -
“Do not be deceived.
Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33)
1 Pet. 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith…”
4.
Seek the strength of godly brethren
– Heb. 3:12-13, 10:24-25
5.
Stay close to God
– Col. 3:1-2. Seek
Him. Pray often.
Study His word. Etc.
a.
The church has been
compromised at every aspect.
The message has been weakened, the work has been changed, the
worship has been modified, her organization has been corrupted, and her
purity has been stained. And
with each passing day, as churches become increasingly progressive and
tolerant, it gets worse.
The problem is that our society has become more tolerant and less
convicted in its standards.
WE have raised a generation that prefers compromise to truth.
And it has been interwoven into the fiber of churches that want
to attract the crowds. And
it works – numerically! In
fact, such efforts have become so large you could call them gigantic!
b.
Is there not a cause?
Should we not seek to maintain the integrity and purity of the
Lord’s church.
Jesus gave His life for her - Acts 20:28 says that He purchased the
church with His own blood.
Ephesians 5:25 tells us that Christ loved the church so much that He
gave Himself for her, “that He
might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-27)
Notice that what Jesus died for was a glorious church without spot or
blemish of any kind. When we
change anything about the church, we have corrupter her.
She is no longer pure.
We need to ensure that we NEVER do that.
c.
Concerning Discipline: In 1 Cor. 5:1-8 Paul addressed impurity in the church there.
His answer was that the sinful person be withdrawn from.
Vs. 4 says, “In the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my
spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to
Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in
the day of the Lord Jesus” (vs. 4-5)
Friends, when there is ungodliness and impurity within the church we are
commanded to withdraw from such (Rom. 16:17, 2 Thess. 3:14-15, Matt.
18:15-17, etc.) and change our relationship with them.
Why? 1 Cor. 5:6 says,
“Your glorying is not good.
Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
There purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since
you truly are unleavened.”
WHEN IT COMES to maintaining the purity of the church and
discipline, IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?
a.
The great commission
(Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19-20) - while spoken directly to His apostles, it
applies to all of us! The apostles started the process on Pentecost, but
it was not completed without the help of thousands of brethren
throughout the empire carrying the gospel with them (cf. Acts 8:4, 1
Thess. 1:8, etc.)
b.
We need to appreciate
the blessing of bringing a soul to Christ.
We know that every Christian has a responsibility to try and
reach others – by example (Matt. 5:16) and teaching (1 Pet. 3:15).
IF we truly understand and appreciate our salvation, we will WANT to
reach the lost. And we don’t
have to look too far to realize that the need is GIGANTIC! Jesus said, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they
are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35).
He was speaking of the lost.
It has been said, Untold Millions are dying Untold!
I ask, Is there not a cause?
c.
As individuals let us
look for opportunities to reach the lost.
Let us do little things to invite conversations.
Let us live so that our lives are consistent with our message.
Our upcoming Gospel Meeting – can serve as an opportunity to
introduce the gospel to our friends and neighbors around us.
What will we do to see that they are invited?
There are so many things that could be said about personal evangelism
(and much has already been said -
cf. Joshua’s lesson earlier this month).
I just want us to know that there is a cause for which we need to
stand up and be counted.
Will we?