Protecting Freedom
Protecting Freedom • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsFreedom is preserved by those who are aware, protect truth and use their skills to defend it!
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Protecting Freedom
Protecting Freedom
Good Morning! What a privilege to be able, once again, to celebrate Independence Day as the 4th of July approaches!
I so appreciate each of the various sharing moments we’ve heard this morning:
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I also appreciate the opportunity to share just a few thoughts this morning about how important it is that we not only APPRECIATE the Freedom we have, but that we remember how we got it and, perhaps even more importantly today, how we must work to PRESERVE it!
Even though sometimes it does not always sound like we live in the greatest country in the world! We still do! And, it is the FREEDOM to worship our Savior is what makes the most signifigant difference!
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Pam and I recently returned from Israel where one stop was the Valley of Elah between the two mountains (actually small hills) where the Philistines taunted the Israelites for 40 days without a response to the 9’ Goliath from Gath that stood before them seeking 1 brave man.
It is fascinating to consider that for 40 days . . . NOT ONE Israelite evidenced the courage and motivation to act. They were ignoring the fact that Goliath defied God . . . and they also ignored Saul’s Bonus Plan which would be provided to the victor! These included:
It is fascinating to stand and consider the fact that NOT ONE Israelite was motivated to act - not only because Goliath defied God, but also they were further unmotivated despite Saul’s rich promise to the victor of:
Great Riches
Marriage to the King’s daughter
No Taxes for Life!
FIRST POINT: Protecting Freedom requires COURAGE.
FIRST POINT: Protecting Freedom requires COURAGE.
NONE . . . 100% of the Israelite “Warriors” . . . none of them showed courage. Instead, they wallowed in threats and fear.
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.
At his father’s instruction, David routinely brought food to his brave brothers who protecting Israel from intruders. He’d traveled over 30 miles from Bethlehem to refresh them with food from their home. On this round of arriving with rations, he eagerly greets his brothers and then observes the unfolding scene.
Think about David’s life . . .
David is a survivor. As a Shepherd, he’s constantly aware of what is going on around him. He is WIRED to be AWARE. Hence, he is predisposed to take in what is going on around him.
He protects dependent, foolish sheep from the harsh world around them. From every lion and every bear. Every day - all the time - every threat - no matter what predator . . . and this, is no exception.
David is dumbfounded. He even has them repeat the reward offer because it is inconceivable to him there is not one Brave Man willing to take out the giant and gain the fruit of reward.
And David said to the men who stood by him, “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 the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
Second Point: In order to Protect Freedom, we must first be WATCHFUL!
Second Point: In order to Protect Freedom, we must first be WATCHFUL!
SECOND POINT: Protecting Freedom means we must always be WATCHFUL!
SECOND POINT: Protecting Freedom means we must always be WATCHFUL!
Second Point: In order to Protect Freedom, we must first be WATCHFUL!
Second Point: In order to Protect Freedom, we must first be WATCHFUL!
We must be AWARE of the threats to our freedom and we must assess what has to be done to protect that freedom.
Eliab, David’s oldest brother witnesses his younger brother’s courage and immediately moves to belittle him before the others. He insults David despite the fact Eliab would know many stories about David’s bravery when protecting the sheep. Rather than to reward his brother’s potential, he belittles his life.
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
THIRD POINT: NAYSAYERS attempt to undermine the courage of those who are Protecting Freedom.
THIRD POINT: NAYSAYERS attempt to undermine the courage of those who are Protecting Freedom.
David barely pays attention to Eliab and seems quite accustomed to the criticism his older brother offers. He ignores Eliab’s ridicule and remains faithful to what matters - stopping Goliath - Protecting Freedom.
David sees REPROACH of Israel & Defying the LIVING GOD as the primary objective. He is aware of the rewards, but they appear only as a secondary interest to him. This is my own interpretation, but the rewards are like, “That alone would be enough to take on some risk, but the issue to David is that God Himself is being defiled by Goliath!
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.
And David said to the men who stood by him, “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?”
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FOURTH POINT: Protecting Freedom requires passion and persistence!
FOURTH POINT: Protecting Freedom requires passion and persistence!
Passion drives purpose. Passion provides strength.
There is no room in David’s mind for tolerating even one more hour of this kind of insubordinate attitude against the one and only Living God who provides protection and deserves to be honored by His chosen people and warriors!
David proceeds to take on the task and the entire Israel Warrior Team seem willing to let him “take the fall.” To some degree, they are worn out by their own impotence. They are intrigued by this young man’s attitude. They attempt to dress him in their confidence. Those clothes are NOT David’s competence.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
FIFTH POINT: The Tools Required for Protecting Freedom will come from your OWN competence!
FIFTH POINT: The Tools Required for Protecting Freedom will come from your OWN competence!
David depended on God. He KNEW who delivered him from the paw of the bear and lion. He knew HOW he was able to overcome them. God had used life’s earlier training ground to fully equip him for everything that David needed to deliver Goliath and the Philistines from taunting Israel.
David was already equipped with everything necessary to defend God and be Protecting Freedom for God’s nation and God’s people!
SUMMARY:
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
2
The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
I set your rules before me.
Psalm 199:97
And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
2 Cor
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
let me not be put to shame!
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
Jasmes 2:12
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
Passion
Competency