Many of us went to Sunday School as children, learned stories from the Bible that were to give a lesson, yet entertain young ones. Many of us began to learn more about the Bible in our adulthood, whether we went to Sunday School and church or not.
Along with all this comes many misconceptions. One example is "we three kings of orient"; there were not "3" kings. Magi came and it is plural meaning 2 or more. We get 3 from the gifts. And we could go on, but will spare you more misinformation.
We all need to be as David, the little shepherd boy - - FAITH - - Faith beyond what we have now. David, this mere little shepherd boy, the least of his family, was sent by his father to take supplies to his brothers who were on the front line in a fight against the Philistines.
When David arrived he really could not understand why the Israelites did not fight against the Philistines and defeat them. Okay, let us look at this all carefully and let it relate to you, me, all of us today.
The soldiers called themselves Israelites, children of God; we call ourselves Christians, children of God.
Fear held them back, they saw Goliath and were afraid with fear they could not overcome. Fear holds us back, we see other objects and don't believe we can overcome.
They called themselves Children of God, yet did nothing. Today, we call ourselves Children of God, sit in pews and do nothing.
To simplify the above statement, the Israelites had religion; we have religion. So, the Israelites were sitting around waiting for something to happen; today, Christians sit around waiting for something to happen. RELIGION!
We don't need RELIGION, we need Jesus Christ, we need faith, we need to believe in the one true Living GOD.
Well, David came, saw, and was probably amazed by the lack of faith, the RELIGION, of the soldiers of Israelites. To read about David, the hero, go to 1 Samuel 17. As you read, you will notice both sides were camped on a mountain with a valley below. Often, when we fight for God we have to get into the valley (and out of our pews).
The Philistines had a champion, Goliath, who taunted the Israelites and challenged them. The Israelites remained in their pews; walking in their own strength, not from the strength of GOD.
Now numbers are important to God. Jesus went into the desert "40" days; the children of Israel wandered the wilderness "40" years. Notice in verse 16 the Philistine presented himself to the Israelites "40" days. (we'll talk about numbers another day)
Okay, I don't mean to linger, but feel this is all important. David took the supplies to his three brothers and the captain, then he heard of this Goliath who challenged the Israelites. King Saul offered a great reward for the Israelite who would slay the giant Goliath. David inquired about this, which angered his brother Eliab, who chastised David and basically told him to go home and tend to the sheep. David responds to his brother: 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
Saul heard what David had said and sent for him. David was not hung up on "RELIGION" as were the soldiers and Saul; David had faith in GOD. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
David's brothers, King Saul all believed David could not go out against the giant, Goliath. See what David says: 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. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.
David's F A I T H carried him forward. What I am driving at is this: do you see the difference between RELIGION and FAITH? The Israelites had religion and called themselves children of God; yet they did not walk in the faith. David had FAITH and walked with the Spirit of God on his side.
We can learn a lot about our faith if we study David more. Tomorrow, David faces Goliath; with what? why? what happened? The TRUTH!
Thank you for reading. Love you all. Are you sitting in your pew or walking in faith?
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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