Is There Not a Cause?
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.
Title of the message: Is There Not a Cause
a: a reason for an action or condition: MOTIVE
b: something that brings about an effect or a result
b: something that brings about an effect or a result
“When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Let’s look at David and some key people
Let’s look at David and some key people
8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 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.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
The Philistine giant, Goliath, taunted the armies of Israel daily.
The Philistine giant, Goliath, taunted the armies of Israel daily.
16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
The Philistine giant, Goliath, taunted the armies of Israel daily.
When David came to deliver food to his brothers, he heard the haughty giant and was grievously offended.
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
II. Who is He that is in Us? The Holy Spirit of God (vv. 12, 13). God dwelleth in us. (1) The Spirit of wisdom. (2) The Spirit of truth. (3) The Spirit of power. (4) The Spirit of holiness.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons.
Point #1 “Your gifts and talents are needed for the cause”
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him,
And bringeth him before great men.
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
Look at your neighbor and tell them: “Your gifts and talents are needed for the “cause”.
Point #2 “Disobedience works against the cause”
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
God removed his Anointing from Saul
14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
God’s Spirit departing from Saul means that he is no longer divinely empowered to act as God’s anointed king over His people and fight His enemies. Saul has rejected the guidance of the Spirit throughout his reign, and now the Spirit leaves him for good
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord
refers to rejuvenation, recalling OT promises of the restoration of all creation in the days when God’s kingdom comes
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Point #3 “You Are Qualified for the Cause”
Point #3 “Your past Victories will Fuel your Cause”
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
Let’s look at a few People that have had a cause....
The book of Esther shows us that God is present even when He seems distant. In the course of the story, Esther—a Jew living during the time of the exile—becomes the queen of Persia. However, an official named Haman plots to kill the Jews throughout the empire. Esther and Mordecai, her cousin, expose the attempted genocide. Mordecai’s cunning, Esther’s bravery, and God’s unseen hand unite to save the Jewish exiles from destruction.