Outreach

Facades… = create an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.

I love getting the church out of a building so that nothing is concealed… we break down all appearances and see the church… the people of God!

Today as we look at our passage we will see a facade (Grown adults, leaders… concealing a less than pleasant reality!!!)

Join with me in your Bibles as I read from… 1 Samuel 17:2; 4;8-11;16

There is a BATTLE!!!

Ephesians states that this battle “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, ...”

We use the word BATTLE and instantly think : (a combat between two persons)

Yet it also relates to a general encounter between armies, an extended contest, struggle

Our struggle is real… it is extended over each and every day of our lives

AND… IT IS GETTING GREATER!!!

The church as a whole and our young people face more obstacles than ever before. The struggle has grown in size, the giants our children face in coming generations are massive…

We encourage our kids they BELONG to the church...

We teach them what to BELIEVE according to God’s Word

But what about what we want and desire them to … BECOME???

If we want them to BECOME disciples… live out their faith

If we desire them to BECOME all that God has made them to be

If we desire them to BECOME victorious in their lives

THEN... we need to BECOME the best EXAMPLES we can for them…

I have chosen this passage of scripture today because it challenges me every time I read it in my walk with the Lord.

As leaders for our young people, as adults, parents, grandparents (THE CHURCH)…

I see some great lessons we can learn and implement into our own lives as we seek to BECOME the EXAMPLES to our youth!

I want to draw your attention to the adults, the leaders and then to the one youth!

Appearance vs Reality (FACADE)

We read those passages and it appears that there is an army… vs 2 says they got dressed in battle array!

We are so good at looking the part...

We say the right words, dress the part

We pray so eloquently, sing the songs

We even listen to the right radio station,

Post the neat sayings on social media… sometimes even scripture!!!

Not only did they look like an army… they were even camped on the battle-lines!

We make sure we are present at the church building

We are there Sunday AND Wednesday… some even TUESDAY!

We make sure we are NOT where those heathens are

Sometimes we even go on mission trips

HOW… can one who looks this way, one who is positioned for battle not BECOME a good EXAMPLE!?

Well, the reality sets in (The Facade breaks down) when it comes time to engage in BATTLE, when there is conflict, combat, struggle...

Verse 11 states they were dismayed AND greatly afraid

They somehow had “lost courage” the resolve that was there was lost!!!

What caused this loss of courage or resolve???

THE GIANT OBSTACLE!!!

There was an obstacle in front of them

It was scary, it could cost comfort, ease, safety, even this life

Goliath had legitimate reason to be feared…

He was massive over 9 feet tall

He was prepared and skilled

He was dangerous and wanted blood

THE REALITY IS: that our obstacles are no less scary, no less dangerous, and the world around us and our children is out for blood!

I noticed one other reality in this passage… verse 16 states where their thoughts most likely were...

Their day would start with this garbage

Their day would finish with this garbage

For forty days the last thing on their mind as they went to sleep was this scoffing and as they would begin each morning doubt, mocking, trash would be ingrained in their thinking!

For the forty days you could have let a man eating lion lose on that battlefield and the poor cat would have starved!!! Not a MAN would it have found… the only REAL MAN was a young boy, a youth… and well that young boy had already encountered a lion and the lion lost!

A young boy David comes, sees an army scared, trembling, even willing to invite him to join them…

IF THIS IS WHERE THE ARMY OF GOD IS AT…

Let’s NOT encourage them to BECOME US… BUT RATHER BECOME SOMEONE, SOMETHING GREATER!

A Right Focus

David has been in the fields. David has been in fellowship with the Lord. David has been starting his day with the Lord, singing His praises, watching the Lord deliver from the lion and bear. David has been focusing on his Great God!

Then he goes to the battle line and visits his brothers and the battle.

Verse 23 says that David heard the words of Goliath…

The army and leaders tremble… but this youth has the audacity to think that His God is bigger, stronger and greater

The audacity of our youth to think such things of our God!

Can’t they see the “REALITY” the “REAL LIFE SITUATION”

They have not lived enough life to understand that it takes more than “FAITH” in God

1 Samuel 17:26 shows this young mans heart...

With a heart and audacity like this we BECOME VICTORIOUS!!!

Becoming Victorious!

If we are to see our young people BECOME victorious I believe there are seen here

Two things NOT to do

Two things we MUST do

DO NOT tell our youth they can’t… 1 Samuel 17:33

2. DO NOT tell them they have to do it like we “did” 1 Samuel 17:38-39

WE MUST look to God in our battles 1 Samuel 17:42-49

God is doing the work, we are running to keep up with him

Keep our Obstacles, Struggles, Opposition in focus of OUR GREAT GOD

WE MUST rally around our young people

We may not have the energy, but be there

We may not have the crazy ideas, but support them

Give them more than lip service vs 37 (Saul)… Give them an example!!!

Church… it is TIME for us as the adults, the MEN & WOMEN to DROP THE FACADES… and help our young people BECOME...

BECOME the soldiers who with fight for the Lord

BECOME all that God has made them to be

BECOME victorious in the battles they face

BECOME a greater generation of the church than we ever were!!!