Is There Not A Cause

Ron Swaim

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Checkmate or Stalemate

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

A. There is a difference between checkmate and stalemate.

1 Samuel 17:28-29 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." 29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"

1. Stalemate happens when you allow the giant to call the shots.

1 Samuel 17:8-9

Goliath says, “…Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."

2. My fear is only working to the giants favor.

Philippians 1:28 …don’t be in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

3. Retreat is not the only course of action against giants.

1 Samuel 17:10-11 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 those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

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B. Every “cause” has the potential for a positive effect.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1. The church can no longer afford to remain uninvolved.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear involves torment. And he who has fear is not made perfect in love.

2. God has provided us with the power to make a difference.

Acts 1:7-8 Jesus said, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own power. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.“

C. The trenches are full of people waiting for someone to Stand-up!

2 Timothy 1:6-7 …stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1. Stop taking advice from those who do nothing.

1 Samuel 17:32-33 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

2. Religion can give answers, but God must be in the actions.

Matthew 23:2-4 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they speak, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

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