IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
IS THERE NOT A CAUSE?
Introduction:
“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
When David arrived at the battle, he could not believe Israel stood still in the face of Goliath’s taunts! After also hearing about King Saul’s great offer of rewards, he was confounded by their fearfulness. Eliab, his oldest brother, ridiculed his status and accused him of laziness, pride, and naughtiness. David asked what he has done to deserve such treatment, and he declared that Goliath warrants anger! David loved Israel’s God and all that pertained to him and would not put up with this Philistine dog. How much do you love the Lord Jesus Christ, and how much does your love of Him drive your life? We have been called to a conflict and form of worship far superior to Goliath and the Old Testament.
1. THERE IS A CAUSE
1. THERE IS A CAUSE
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10 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. 14 Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said. 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. 7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. 11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Most men live without a cause: Their lives are empty of purpose and provide only worm food: getting up for work, providing for your family, and hoping to retire is no more than beasts. The rest of men live for causes that are at best nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit–like the spotted owls of Oregon, world peace, universal literacy, wealth, health, education, etc.!
If Japanese kamikaze pilots would die for an effeminate emperor and island of rock in a lost cause, then there is overwhelming cause for baptised believers to live for the King of kings!
If Muslim terrorists would blow themselves up for the moon god of the Arabians and an infantile book composed by an illiterate nomad, surely, we can live for the Lord of lords!
If priests and nuns can take vows of celibacy and poverty for the devilish lies of Roman Catholicism, how much more should we be zealous for the true gospel of Jesus Christ!
Consider along with David the zealous responses of other men of faith. these were men of courage; men of vision; men of faith; men of resolute determination; men of strong conviction; men of resolute determination for the cause of God; men who undertake risky endeavours for the sake of the cause of God.
(i) Phinehas the son of Eliezar had a burning zeal for the glory of God’s name; and in that zeal he quenched the burning anger of God which would have consumed many more Israelites! God personally elevated Him and gave him the Covenant of Peace.
(ii) Caleb wholeheartedly followed the God of Israel and was enabled at 85 to strong enough to fight the Battles of the Lord.
(iii) Jonathan was the gift of God to king Saul; a young man full of courage and zealous for the Lord God of Israel. He and his servant put to flight the army of aliens who surrounded Israel in mortal combat.
(iv) Haniah; Mishel and Azariah would never bow to any idol made with hands; an enraged Nebuchadnezzar attempted to cremate them and incinerate them alive! But they would not burn! God was waiting for them in the fire! Their decision changed the decree of the King in favour of the God of Israel.
But the greatest cause, the one that should grip us, is the cause of Jesus Christ (; ; ; ). It is good to be zealously affected in a good cause, and the greatest is Christ ().
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Paul, the greatest apostle, was most zealous for Jesus Christ (; ; ). Paul communicated that zeal for the cause of the kingdom to Timothy his son ().
2. THIS CAUSE IS GLORIOUS
2. THIS CAUSE IS GLORIOUS
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Our cause is the true Jehovah God, His glorious Son Jesus Christ, the truth of the universe, redemption, adoption, immortality, eternal heaven, final and ultimate victory, etc., etc.! Jesus was so gripped by the cause of God and truth that it ate Him up (; ). Paul wrote extensively about the cause and its constraining effect on him (). If someone died for you, how would it affect you toward him? What if the person were important? What if he gave you an enormous promotion? What if it is Jesus Christ? There is no greater cause than serving the Lord Jesus Christ – the perfect God-Man. Consider the resume of Paul ()! How did he do it? Is there not a cause?! Paul wrote about the effect that God’s mercies should have in our lives (). John wrote about the effect that our adoption should have in our lives ().
3. THIS CAUSE IS DIVISIVE
3. THIS CAUSE IS DIVISIVE
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A. Simeon told Mary that God had appointed Jesus to reveal men’s hearts ().
The Lord Jesus Christ caused a division in the nation of Israel (; ; ). The Lord Jesus Christ is precious, or a stone of stumbling and offence (). Jesus Christ did not come to bring peace: He came to bring a testing sword (). The perilous times of the last days exalt a form of godliness, so that those contending for apostolic religion make themselves a prey to other Christians (; ).
4. THE CAUSE IS EXCLUSIVE
4. THE CAUSE IS EXCLUSIVE
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Just as with David in the face of Israel and Eliab, you will be exceptional and different from the crowd, and those you think friends will ridicule and accuse you of pride (). The blessed God sought a man, not a crowd, who would stand before Him (). Wide is the gate, broad is the way, and many are the travellers on the way to destruction; the strait gate, narrow way, and seldom travelled way leads to life (). Both John and Jesus were ridiculed by their generation, which envied them (). Consider how Festus accused Paul of being crazy and mad during his testimony ().
5. THE CAUSE IS EXTENSIVE
5. THE CAUSE IS EXTENSIVE
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To zealously pursue any cause means that you must sacrifice other goals or interests for it, as Paul’s examples of athletic competition indicates so clearly (; ). The Lord Christ was very open about the cost of discipleship in His cause (). The rich young ruler could not part with his wealth to follow Jesus Christ (Mark10:20-27). The possibility of living peacefully, especially in this generation, is fully false (). If you live for the cause of Jesus Christ, the world will count you very strange ().
6. THE CUASE IS PERVERSIVE
6. THE CUASE IS PERVERSIVE
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1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
part of the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.
Christianity is not a form of godliness for Sunday morning – it is a comprehensive lifestyle that affects everything you think, say, and do; it reaches every aspect of living in the world. It is perilous times of the last days that has Christians loving pleasures more than God, having only a form of godliness (ritual only), and rejecting sound doctrine (). If you believe on Jesus Christ, everything you do should be for Him (; ). Every word of Scripture and every command of God is part of the cause of God and truth, part of the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.
Christianity is not a form of godliness for Sunday morning – it is a comprehensive lifestyle that affects everything you think, say, and do; it reaches every aspect of living in the world. It is perilous times of the last days that has Christians loving pleasures more than God, having only a form of godliness (ritual only), and rejecting sound doctrine (). If you believe on Jesus Christ, everything you do should be for Him (; ). Every word of Scripture and every command of God is part of the cause of God and truth, part of the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.
The true disciples of Jesus Christ are those who keep His commandments in all things. What caused Joseph to resist Potiphar’s wife’s warm embrace? Is there not a cause?! Training children is not just a good idea: it is the perpetuation of truth through children! Loving brethren and serving others are more than nice sounding words. They are our life. Any and every Christian duty takes on a life and purpose of its own when seen this way. Working in order to have money to give for the cause becomes a motivation (). Hospitality is no longer a burden or an expense but rather a blessed privilege for Christ. Forgiving others to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is a sweet delight. Great delight in singing, contrary to most worship, is part of the cause (; ). How could Anna give her life to fasting and prayer in the temple? Is there not a cause?!
7. THE CAUSE HAS CONSEQUENCES
7. THE CAUSE HAS CONSEQUENCES
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If you lose your life for Him and His cause, you will find it; but if you try to save your life for yourself or some other cause, you will lose your life in this world (; ). There is no respect for those who mind earthly things and neglect the cause ().
Conclusion:
Peter denied Jesus Christ and His cause, and he wept bitterly over it (). Are you like this? Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ and His cause later (; ,). Be like this! Is your life motivated, structured, and executed toward God’s kingdom and righteousness ()? There is a cause – a glorious cause – but to be like David you must step forward in faith and zeal!