Sermon: Is There Not a Cause?

1 Samuel 17:1- 51

It’s popular now to look back at the church we were raised in and say, “I was abused in that church – that preacher yelled every Sunday. He pounded his pulpit. I feel like I’ve been abused. I’m offended by the way that I was raised in church.” The culture we have today has grown soft. We do, though, need to be open, sensitive, aware, and wise in the way we treat people, but if we’re not careful, we’ll continue to perpetuate and breed generations of entitled people who feel like they can’t be told anything by anybody in authority, and especially in spiritual authority.

But, we should appreciate the fact that someone will stand toe-to-toe with us and tell us, “Run through the tape! Stay the course – Finish strong – Get it together!” If that’s offensive to us because of how we may have been raised or hurt, we need to, we need to suck it up – stay the course – run through the tape! It’s not going to kill us if someone calls us up – and then calls us out to be all we can be.

If we hear strong things, it’s not meant to berate or hurt us but to call out the potential that’s within us. It’s tiring to tip-toe around people and worry about hurting their feelings because we need to obey the Word of God. That’s not abusive – that’s called discipleship. As God continues to speak and to call us up and out, he’s beginning to speak very loud and clear.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NKJV). Our heart’s cry should be to see God, and to hear his voice – to know him better – to draw closer. What does it mean to be “pure in heart”? It means to embrace holiness, or that our “leaky buckets” may also have rocks in them – things that ought not to be there – and there’s no room for anything more. There are things in our life that actually cross-cut the heart of God and the will of God in our lives.

We’ve become a culture that is very “me-centric” – very ego-driven – where we want what we want when we want, and where it’s convenient for us. We have convenience stores. We now stream movies instead of going to the movies. We have microwave popcorn – we want it fast, but the interesting thing about the Kingdom of God is that it doesn’t function on the timetable of the world.

1 Samuel 17:4 NKJV

“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. [or nine and-a-half feet tall]”. The Philistines sent out their champion – their best, mightiest, and strongest – to fight whomever the Israelites would choose – in one-on-one combat, winner take all – the Philistines and the armies of God being on each end of the valley.

1 Samuel 17:10-11 NKJV

“And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

1 Samuel 17:23-25 NKJV

“Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”

1 Samuel 17:26-29 NKJV

“Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.” Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”

David was incensed at what he heard from the giant Goliath. Looking at our world, our nation, culture, and society as we know it today – it’s not the country we grew up in. Things are being eroded away at a frightening rate – rights and privileges – our constitution – telling kids it’s okay for them to choose their gender, without even their parent’s knowledge or input – and the government enforces that, putting the child’s feelings above the authority of the parents. For most of us growing up, we were taught character – how to take a hit, give a hit, how to play fair, right, and strong – not crying because our feelings were hurt or we were offended.

We are grateful to have learned to be resilient and strong and to be able to take what comes in this world. As we read the Bible, we see more coaching than pampering – the apostle Paul calling Christians up to be exactly who God called them to be. There’s not a lot of room for feelings in terms of, “That doesn’t feel good for me today. I’m not feeling that.”

This world culture is not even in the realm of reality. We can’t be silent and sit back and do nothing. We can have a voice here in our community – within our own family. Speak the Truth in love – and call up the generations – ours, the next, and the previous – to say, “Don’t quit yet! Don’t retire spiritually – even if you’ve retired from your vocation, don’t give up! We need you to teach us – we need you, 70 – 80 – 90 year-olds to show us what passion looks like – fervor – spiritual strength. We need you to lead us in what it means to make a difference in this world. Don’t quit too soon. Don’t stop before the finish line …is there not a cause?”

If we want to change our world, we can forget Washington right now and get involved here. We have city council meetings for a reason. They are open to us to speak and share our thoughts and concerns – our heart – our vision. We need more people showing up and speaking up because to stay silent means we’re complicit by not speaking out. When are we going to say, “Enough is enough” and “We’re not going to leave it to the next guy. I’m not going to leave it to them.”

When are we going to speak up, and say that God has given us a responsibility to be a change agent in this world? Maybe we can’t impact the State of Texas or D.C., but we can make a difference right here where we live. At the end of the day, this is where it matters – where we live – and we do have a voice. We must use our voice and use it wisely. When we’re Spirit-directed, God can speak into us and through us into the very culture in which we live.

David stood up, and said, “Is there not a cause?” He stepped up and went to the king saying, “I am well able to take this giant out because God is with me!” A kid – standing up because no one else would – he did – and God was with him. He picked up five smooth stones, but he only needed one – and he buried it in the forehead of Goliath who then fell like a tree being felled in a forest. Then David picked up Goliath’s sword and, filled with the power and might of God, cut his head off with it.

Why is that story in the Bible? Why would God take such a gruesome, brutal example, and say, “Someday, millions of people will read this story that inspires us to the greatness that’s already in us in Christ.” We have a voice – is there not a cause? If we’ve been sitting on the bench, watching the game, hoping the coach wouldn’t call us in the game, and saying, “God, I don’t think I’m worthy to be in the game or have what it takes to even be in the game.”

Saul – a king – a mighty warrior – didn’t feel like he had what it took to be in the game. The whole trained army didn’t feel like they had what it took to take out Goliath – but David went in with a different vision and said, “The same God that helped me kill the bear and the lion will help me take out this Philistine.” He understood that his source wasn’t his skill – it wasn’t his stature – or anything about him. He was a boy who believed in a big God, and he walked out with a big God and a big vision, a little sling – and one shot took out a giant.

Is there not a cause?

As Christians, we believe that God wants to introduce spiritual awakening into our culture. He’s concerned about our culture, and it’s time for the sleeping giant – the Church in America – to wake up. Right here in Fredericksburg, Texas, is it possible that God wants to release revival over Bridge Church, and bring in the multitudes, one by one? May we be reminded of that “one more” to be reached with the Gospel …is there not a cause?

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

So, how much authority does the devil have in our lives? – zero. He has been defeated. (the lie he speaks is the only power he has in our life). The Great Commission is God’s will for our lives. It is our call and mission where we live, work, and play. Jesus has given every one of us the same commission and command that he gave the disciples – that is our call. Our challenge is to get back “on mission”. Covid is over – it’s now full-steam ahead – not cutting ourselves off by worrying what people around us hear or think, but by engaging people wherever we are, speaking the Truth in love and kindness, but not holding back who we are.

We talk about Jesus – because he is always the first thing on our minds – because we’re seeking first the kingdom of God …is there not a cause? There is – it’s the cause of Christ and his kingdom – and of the Great Commission – to go and make disciples. That is our job – our assignment and our responsibility. When we walk in obedience to that, God will empower our witness – wherever we are …is there not a cause?

Prayer

Father, we love You. We honor You, and it’s our privilege to step up in the spirit of Isaiah before the Throne and say, here am I – send me, Lord – send us – into our spheres of influence – into our environments – to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whether directly or while sitting in the back of in an Uber – where we are – constantly leaking out the kingdom of God. Is there not a cause? There is – for Your glory and honor, we’re stepping up to the plate, saying, here we are, Lord – send us – where we live, work, and play to not only leak but overflow – even bursting with Your goodness and grace.

Holy Spirit, we’re asking You to arrange divine encounters and opportunities so people can hear about You, and see that we look to You, and our faces become radiant with Your presence, and people will see and be drawn to Christ in us the Hope of glory. Father, we give this to You and consecrate ourselves to You for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen