Abraham Kuruvilla - "Fighting the Good Fight"

[Applause] it's a delight to be here thank you very much for the introduction what a privilege it is to be here at southern scenario bring you greetings on my own behalf as well as from Dallas Theological Seminary one of the earliest reflexes to appear in humans is the moral reflects also called the startle reflex it's a response to an expected loud noises when the infant feels like it's falling and its present in babies even in the seventh month of pregnancy when they are startled there is an immediate spreading out of the arms followed by an immediate drawing in of the arms usually accompanied by crying don't try this at home on your little ones you see we are hard-wired for fear and yes there are all kinds of things for us to fear in our lives fires viruses tornadoes tanking economies terrorism imminent elections ministry issues but the biggest of them all I submit to you is this if you and I wear the t-shirt of Team God then we'd better watch out because the team Guard t-shirt has a target painted on its back terror is in order panic is called for here despite dr. Mahler's reassurances because Satan's got your number if you didn't know we were in a cosmic battle and we are partnering with God and this grand program to restore the cosmos into its pristine state and he chose to involve his team us in this glorious plan into in this great battle of the cosmos to consummate all things in Christ the war of the ages and so the big question is how do we fight this battle no better place in scripture to go to regarding battles than the mother of all battles David and Goliath so here we go please locate in your Bibles 1st Samuel Chapter 17 1st Samuel 17 how to fight those battles I'm gonna dive right into the story in verse 4 4 Samuel 17 4 then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath from Gath whose height was six cubits and a span 9 feet 9 inches at least in the Masoretic text he had a bronze helmet on his head and he was clothed with scale armor breastplate which weighed 125 tons he also had bronze Greaves on his leg likely leg protectors and a bronze javelin slung over his shoulders the shaft of a spear was like a Weaver's beam and the head of a spear weighed 15 pounds his shield carrier walked before him notice how the text lingers in detail over the Giants impressive wardrobe and armaments helmet Armour Greene's javelin sold and a lackey carrying a shield probably covering his whole body this is mr. universe Hercules and Tarzan rolled into one no ordinary sword wielding warrior in an age with our gunpowder could threaten this Hawk he was invincible penetrable impossible to touch there was no defeating this guy where stem the Philistines said I defy the armies of Israel this day and verse 11 when Saul and all Israel heard the words of the Philistine they were dismayed and greatly afraid who wouldn't be the Philistines outward appearance with this towering stature and his high-tech equipment was a horrifying sight no wonder the Israelite army was terrified then the scene shifts right after the description of this Philistine invincible impenetrable impossible to defeat and the statement that the Israelites were running scared dismayed and greatly afraid we now have a new character in the story verse 12 now David was the son of Jesse and he had eight sons the three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle and verse 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend to his father's flock in Bethlehem so here's David staying at home guarding his sheep this is no macho guy no red-blooded swashbuckling Rambo capable of engaging enemies just a sheepherder anyhow Jesse the father dispatches is the youngest boy to the battle front with food for his brothers verse 23 and as he was with them his brothers behold the champion the Philistine from Gath named Goliath was coming up from the army of the Philistines and he spoke these same words his defiant challenge and David heard them when all the men of Israel saw them and they fled from him and were greatly of fear afraid they are terrified of the potential disaster that is staring them in the face they are thinking about the danger to the lives and everything falls apart but the problem is they got it wrong this was not really about the army or Israel so what was it all about let's find out verse 26 then David spoke to the men who were standing by who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God and with that David speaks for the first time in the Bible the silence is broken David opens his mouth and he brings a whole new world view into the picture until this words God is not mentioned in this story at all until now the first time David speaks and that's the first time God appears injected into the situation of hopelessness David asks doesn't believing in the Living God make a difference in all of this he centers the threat the catastrophe around God not around the army or Israel God is at the center this is not about military or national honor this is about God I want you to notice this in verse 10 the Philistine said I defy the armies of Israel Goliath thinks he's defying the armies of Israel verse 25 the men of Israel said have you seen this man who is coming up surely he's coming up to defy Israel the men of Israel think he's defying Israel the nation not just the armies as Goliath thought but David he thinks differently verse 26 who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God no Goliath isn't just defying the armies of Israel or the nation of Israel this giant dares to defy the armies of the Living God God Himself everyone else is thinking in two dimensions giants armies defeats catastrophes favorite things in three he adds God into the picture and the picture changes this is about situations where God's name is at stake when his reputation is on the line at work when your honesty is ridiculous integrity is termed upon in ministry when your character is impugn then men attacks come unannounced in missions where hostility is palpable in business when you face hostility for making decisions that are moral at home where satanic addictions and sinful behavior main afflict loved ones situations where God's name and God's reputation and glory are maligned and disparage this is not about you or me this is about God being defined but you know when you think about it this means every situation big or small every facet of our lives every aspect of our days because everything affects God's glory what is not important for God's glory in life what does not affect his glory what in our lives can be removed from the realm of the sacred nothing everything impacts God's glory everything and so like David we must be concerned about God's glory in everything in our lives the driving concern of this chapter is the honor of God's name the honor of God's reputation the honor of God's glory and here's a man driven with passion for the honor of God overtaken by the glory of God who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God a group of pastors in the 19th century was discussing the possibility of having the famous speaker dl moody service and evangelist at a citywide campaign in the last century one younger Minister was reluctant to have moody speak why moody he said that they have a monopoly on the holy spirit the question was followed by hushed silence no one dared speak of mr. moody like that finally an older pastor spoke up and said no son moody does not have a monopoly in the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on mr. moody does God have a monopoly on you as he gripped your heart and captivated your passion so much that everything in life big or small important or seemingly inconsequential we look out for the name reputation and glory of God in everything fight for God's glory his glory should be our first part our last word who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God there he is David fighting for God's glory willing to risk ridicule willing to risk life willing to risk everything fighting for God's goal you know Goliath is named Goliath only twice in this story every other time he's just the Philistine 26 times that label echoes in this chapter and in verse 26 David adds yet another labor calling him an uncircumcised Philistine in Israel's eyes the Philistine was undefeatable in David's eyes the Philistine is merely uncircumcised come to think of it that's not very surprising kalila this is about nine feet nine inches tall and David's eye level that's about all David can see uncircumcised Philistine I hope this wasn't recorded in any case the fact that a living God exists gives one a whole different view of things who is this uncircumcised en't like thinking passionate about the glory of God fighting for God's glory but not everyone agrees verse 28 now le ab has older brother verse 28 heard when he spoke to the men and le abs anger burned against david and he said why have you come down with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart for you have come down here to see the battle what do you think you are you pipsqueak you whippersnapper you've got nothing no resources no muscles no testosterone your ear you're just a zero go take care of your little lambs with their fleece as white as snow get out of the battlefield we're real men like me belong but someone overhears David's bold words takes them back to King Saul - someone's the young lad verse 33 and then Saul said to David you are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with them for your brother youth while he has been a warrior from his youth you fight with this giant what are you going to fight with you have no experience no stature no resources you just a dumb kid so there are virtually three opponents that David is fighting here three there's mr. Philistine himself all armored and bronzed and nine for Hulk Goliath will later say your puny nose Chechen and then there is mr. big brother who rages at David telling the little squirt to get lost he says you're a zero you're nobody you have no resources and then there is His Royal Highness King Saul who disdains David as just an unqualified kid he says you're dumb you're no good you have no experience and that describes most of us doesn't it no stature no resources no experience how are we going to find but David's faith was not in stature of resources or experience he wasn't going to fight for God's glory with a flashy resume or a fancy degree or a glib tongue and the Papa rather verse 37 and David said to Saul the Lord who delivered me from the hand of the lion and from the hand of the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine he was going to fight for God's glory with God on his side so Saul reluctantly agrees to let go let David have a go at Goliath verse 38 then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head and he clothed him with armor what's that carefully now the similarities here with Goliath battle brass verse 5 bronze helmet on his head and he was clothed with scale armor verse 38 bronze helmet on his head and he clubbed him with armor the statements are virtually identical Saul here is trying to match armor with armor weapon with weapon because Goliath has all his stuff and the only way we can defeat him is by being equally armed the only way we stand a chance is to fight fire with fire bronze with bronze we need stat we need resources we need experience we need muscles and might and guts and grit and degrees and titles and assets and reputations guns and swords and uniforms that's the only way we are going to win that folks is the ideology of power the reliance on the obsession with might the world is full of conflict Israel versus Palestine Mac horses PC Republicans versus Democrats but let's get to the biggest battle of them all shall we at least in my humble opinion Batman vs. spider-man it's stupid even to wonder right because the Dark Knight would vanquish the webcrawler without even breaking into a sweat which hero do you think has the R&D budget to stay on the cutting edge of crime fighting the one with a secret hideout under his mansion or the guy who was trying to pay off his college loans spider-man disarms his foes with witty banter Batman thumbs them with batarangs bat grenades bat tasers other sundry bat weapons and he has a Batmobile back boat bat tub and even a bath cycle this guy clearly understands the importance of branding spider-man doesn't stand a chance because the guy with the most toys wins the fascination with tools and toys the obsession with status resources and experience resumes portfolios achievements the ideology of pop but we forget one thing just as the Israelites did just as salted we forget whose battle this is remember this is about God's name God's glory guards reputation we're fighting for God's glory and when we are fighting for God's glory we don't need toys and trinkets we don't need stature resources or experience so soil rejects David rejects all stuff verse 39 David said I saw I cannot go with these for I have not tested them and David took them off no more the ideology of weapons no more the ideology of force no more the ideology of power none of these things necessary to fight for God's glory instead verse 40 he took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook and put them in the Shepherd's bag which he had end up with a pouch and the sling was in his hand and he approached the Philistine can't those items with me will you stick stones bag pouch sling five guess how many pieces of armor Goliath had five through seven helmet armor Greaves javelin spear the giant has helmet armor Greaves javelin spear the puny dumb kid has a stick stones back pouch and sling the Giant is going to rip him into pieces verse 42 when the Philistine looked and saw David he disdained him for he was but a youth and ruddy with a handsome appearance which is to say pink sheet and fair complected this guy is a dermatologist dream but this little pipsqueak ruddy and handsome has one more weapon his real weapon verse 45 and 47 and David said to the Philistine you come to me with a sword a spear to javo but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts the god of the armies of Israel whom you have defied and the Lord does not deliver by sword or spear for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands there he is David fighting for God's glory remembering that God fights for him you know the rest of the story he kills Goliath because God doesn't need helmet armor Greaves javelin spear he needs one who is monopolized by God's glory who fights for block God's glory in every facet of life at home in school through ministry in everything and in case you're wondering how on earth God expects us to fight for God's glory statute less resources less experience less as we are powerless puny pitiful and weak as we are this story tells us God doesn't need the one with the most toys he doesn't need the one with the greatest stature the vastest resources and the most experienced rather God needs men and women who rely on him and on him alone fight for God's glory remembering God is your weapon he fights for you and that's why God expects you and me even you and me to fight for God's glory because God fights for me to remind us of that I'm going to hijack an ancient Christian custom and try to kind of sort of rehabilitate that back to its original focus the custom is the sign of the Cross a practice that arose in the early church the core meaning of that custom was to serve as a reminder that God three fingers came down from heaven the word motion to move me from the kingdom of darkness left to the kingdom of light right at least in some traditions I want us to make the sign of the Cross a daily habit but I want us to do it this way saying aloud God fights for me do it every morning as you lie in bed God fights for it simply serves as a jog to our memories God fights for me his love sustains me his grapes of Isis for me his presence surrounds me God fights for me the Barcelona Olympics of 1992 provided one of track and field's most moving moments Britain's Derek Redmond had dreamed all of his life of winning the gold in the 400 meter race and his dream was in sight as the guns under the semi finals in Barcelona he was running the race of his life and he could see the finish line as he rounded the turn into the backstretch and suddenly he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his right like he fell face forward on the track with a torn right hamster as the medical attendants were approaching David Derek fought his feet it was animal instinct he would say it later he set out hopping in a in a crazed attempt to finish the race and when he reached the stretch how to know where a large burly man in a t-shirt came hurling out of the stands pushing aside the security man ran onto the track and embraced David it was Jim Redmond Derek's father you don't have to do this he told his weeping son yes I do win sister Derek well then said Jim we're gonna do this together and they did fighting off security men the sons had sometimes buried in his father's shoulder they stayed in Derek's Lane as they hobbled together all the way to the end the crowd the crowd gaped and then applauded and then wept Derek didn't walk away with the gold but he left with an incredible memory of a father who when he saw his son in pain left his comfortable seat in his stance to help him finish the race that's our God the one who sent his son to the earth to die for our sins you cling to him he fights for you he will help you finish the race we can fight the good fight for God's glory because God fights for us that's our father who calls us to fight you are gracious to fight for us what a paradox what grace what tenderness what mercy what love as we live in fraught times and Satan's attention is directed towards us especially those of us who are in Bible College and Seminary seeking to talk to every attempt of God to restore his reign in a broken world particularly by trapping God's leaders like the men and women here we are grateful for the encouragement and example of King David yet even more we are grateful for the greatest king of all our Lord Jesus who as king of kings and Lord of lords is coming soon until he comes father would you through your spirit strengthen us to stand against the darts of the devil help us in grace us to fight with the confidence that you are fighting for us we ask in Jesus name you

Channel: Southern Seminary

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Keywords: SBTS, Southern Seminary, Chapel, SBTS Chapel, Seminary Chapel, Southern Seminary Chapel, Abraham Kuruvilla, 1 Samuel 17

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Length: 27min 30sec (1650 seconds)

Published: Tue Mar 10 2020