In Josh McDowell’s book More than a Carpenter he has a dialogue with a group when he says he hates religion to which they respond and he writes:

“I didn’t say religion, I said Jesus Christ!” She pointed out something I had never known: Christianity is not a religion. Religion is humans trying to work their way to God through good works. Christianity is God coming to men and women through Jesus Christ.[1]

Religion is works based.

Ray Ortlund Jr writes:

We were married to Mr. Law. He was a good man, in his way, but he did not understand our weakness. He came home every evening and asked, “So, how was your day? Did you do what I told you to? Did you make the kids behave? Did you waste any time? Did you complete everything I put on your To Do list?” So many demands and expectations. And hard as we tried, we couldn’t be perfect. We could never satisfy him. We forgot things that were important to him. We let the children misbehave. We failed in other ways. It was a miserable marriage, because Mr. Law always pointed out our failings. And the worst of it was, he was always right! But his remedy was always the same: Do better tomorrow. We didn’t, because we couldn’t.

Then Mr. Law died. And we remarried, this time to Mr. Grace. Our new husband, Jesus, comes home every evening and the house is a mess, the children are being naughty, dinner is burning on the stove, and we have even had other men in the house during the day. Still, he sweeps us into his arms and says, “I love you, I chose you, I died for you, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And our hearts melt. We don’t understand such love. We expect him to despise us and reject us and humiliate us, but he treats us so well. We are so glad to belong to him now and forever, and we long to be “fully pleasing to him” (Col. 1:10)!

Being married to Mr. Law never changed us. But being married to Mr. Grace is changing us deep within, and it shows.[2]

Christianity is all about Jesus. As we have looked at Romans we see that we have all broken the law. Last week we looked at a list of sins and a passage showing that we have all messed up. So, now there is a transition and Romans 3:21-31 is all about how we are made right by Jesus.

Theme: Jesus came to freely make us right with God

Application:

We must only trust in Jesus, not our own hard work in order to be right with God.

Let’s read Romans 3:21-31:

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in^[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

1. Let’s briefly look at the passage: Let’s look at verses 21-24:
   1. Verse 22-23:
   2. This is about the righteousness of God.
   3. How does this righteousness come?
   4. For all those who believe—- through faith in Jesus Christ.
   5. For there is no distinction.
   6. This means that there is no distinction in who can be saved.
   7. Verse 23 is like a tag line: for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.
   8. Verse 24:
   9. Justified: just as if I never sinned. This is a legal term. It means that God looks upon us and sees Jesus’ righteousness and not our sinfulness. This a legal term mixed with an accounting term that means that God adds our full sin debt to Jesus which He paid in full at the cross and then Jesus gives a full credit of purity, righteousness and holiness to us. To God we are holy. To God we are perfect. To God it is as if we never sinned. This is a loaded term. Notice this verse says that this happened as a gift, by His grace. Grace means unmerited favor. We are all justified freely. This is by the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. To redeem means to buy back.
   10. It is like buying back a slave. This passage is full of terms that are legal and have to do with salvation. AMEN!!!
   11. We could not earn salvation!!! Jesus gave it to us. Remember chapter 3:1-20 and what a mess we were all in? Now look what Jesus gifts us with?
2. No boasting allowed, we are saved by God’s grace.
   1. As we get into verses 25-31 Paul writes about boasting. Can we boast in our salvation? No way.
   2. This passage meant that the Jews cannot boast by being Jewish.
   3. This is all about Jesus.
   4. Imagine that someone out there is the child of a millionaire. As the child grows up he has a lot of pressure on him, but also a lot of privileges. So this young man is raised with the best of an education. He has the best college and grad school. After school he is very successful. He might have worked hard, but can he boast? No, he cannot. His father gave him advantages. His father gave him freely the best education.
   5. I was once talking with a family and a woman said, “My husband would say, ‘I worked hard for what I have.’” That may be true, but there are others in other countries or places in the U.S. who work just as hard for less.
   6. This is all about Jesus.
   7. Romans could end here. The rest of the book of Romans is illustrating and defending the idea of salvation for all by grace.

• Give glory to God
  1. How do we respond? Give glory to God.
  2. Do you ever think about God’s Glory?
  3. The term is used some 340 times in the Bible we see
  4. verses such as:
  5. Exodus 14:4: (see also 14:18; 16:7,10; 24:16; 24:17; 28:2; 28:40, etc.)
     1. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.”
  6. We fall short of God’s glory. We always will, there is no way that we cannot fall short of
  7. God’s glory, we always sin. So, Jesus made a way.
  8. We serve a God who is to be glorified and IS full of Glory.

Close:

I have shared this before but it fits so well:

In his best-selling book The Reason for God, Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhattan, shares the story of a woman in his congregation who was learning how the grace extended to us through Christ’s work on the cross can actually be more challenging than religion. He writes:

Some years ago I met with a woman who began coming to church at Redeemer and had never before heard a distinction drawn between the gospel and religion [i.e. the distinction between grace and what is often a works-based righteousness]. She had always heard that God accepts us only if we are good enough. She said that the new message was scary. I asked why it was scary and she replied: If I was saved by my good works then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be like a taxpayer with “rights”—I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if I am a sinner saved by grace—then there’s nothing he cannot ask of me.”

She understood the dynamic of grace and gratitude. If when you have lost all fear of punishment you also lose all incentive to live a good, unselfish life, then the only incentive you ever had to live a decent life was fear. This woman could see immediately that the wonderful-beyond-belief teaching of salvation by sheer grace had an edge to it. She knew that if she was a sinner saved by grace, she was (if anything) more subject to the sovereign Lordship of God. She knew that if Jesus really had done all this for her, she would not be her own. She would joyfully, gratefully belong to Jesus, who provided all this for her at infinite cost to himself.[3]

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] McDowell, Josh D.; Sean McDowell (2011-08-17). More Than a Carpenter (Kindle Locations 193-195). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

[2] Ray Ortlund, “Who are you married to?”The Gospel Coalition blog—Ray Ortlund (2-15-15)

[3] Timothy Keller, The Reason for God (Riverhead Books, 2008), pp. 189-19

Introduction:

In Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Grace he gives real testimonies of:

• Racists transformed by God’s grace
• Addicts transformed by God’s grace
• Murderers transformed by God’s grace
• The Abused transformed by God’s grace
• The Abusers transformed by God’s grace

From street children to death–row convicts, this book shows time and time again that grace can break through every circumstance, situations and darkness. It is an unstoppable force for good, one you can chose to revolutionise your life and others around you today.

I remember jogging up Georgetown road listening to one of the “Case for…” books as Lee writes about a man formerly on death row who had been transformed by Christ and is now a pastor.

How does this happen? How do people change? What is the big deal?

C.S. Lewis writes about our moral law and believes that this is evidence for a God. Without God, how can we know that there really is a right and a wrong?

I want to get into a passage about this very thing and my theme comes from Romans 1:18 and is:

God’s Wrath on us Points to Our Need for Christ

That is my theme. As we look at this passage and the messages over the next few weeks, we will see that we all, and everyone, need Jesus. No one is good enough.

Application:

Trust in Jesus and point others towards Him as well.

Read with me Romans 1:18:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness…

1. First let’s look at the context of this passage.
   1. From 1:18-3:32 the major point in Romans is that being Jewish does not give one salvation, nor does being gentile. No one escapes the consequence of their sin.
   2. Remember Romans is Paul’s great treatise on Salvation. This is called This is very important for us to take seriously.
   3. As we look at the following verses we see a litany of sins.
   4. As we jump ahead we see chapter 2 which is directed at the Jews and begins with: You, therefore, have no excuse.
   5. As we get into chapter 3 Paul begins with What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of Christ.
   6. In 3:10-20 there is a quote from the Psalm regarding Jewish unrighteousness.
   7. Then we come to 3:23: for all have sinnedand fall short of the glory of God,
   8. But check out verse 24:
   9. and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
   10. Do you see my point?
   11. Prior to looking at these passages and thinking, “How legalistic Paul is!” Prior to looking at these passages and thinking, “I cannot believe Paul would mention these political incorrect things!”
   12. Realize that Paul is pointing people to Jesus.
   13. Paul and the other Inspired writers of the Bible were not afraid to offend people and this is because we must be aware of our sin so that we realize that we need a Savior.
   14. Preach the Gospel
   15. I read somewhere: Nobody in hell says, “I’m glad my feelings were never offended.” Preach the gospel.”
   16. Spurgeon said: “I will not believe that you have tasted of the honey of the gospel if you can eat it all by yourself.”
2. I do wish to briefly talk about this passage. First let’s read it from the Message translation:

            But God’s angry displeasure erupts as acts of human mistrust and wrongdoing and lying accumulate, as people try to put a shroud over truth. But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand.

^24–25                So God said, in effect, “If that’s what you want, that’s what you get.” It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!

^26–27                Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.

^28–32                Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!^[1]

1. I recently read someone had said “the difference between God and us is that God never thinks He is us.”
2. This passage is about pride, Pride puts us in the place of God and makes us think we can do whatever we want.
3. Understand that God has set up a way in which we should live and we have all broken it. We all have dealt with pride in these ways. But this is no excuse to keep living in them.
4. Once you commit to Christ, live for HIM!
5. How many of you have committed to Christ?
6. Live for HIM.
7. This list of sins is not complete.
8. Additionally, though these lists are pointing us to Jesus this also means that Christ followers must work diligently to let the Holy Spirit reign with us and not live in them.
9. We have been bought with a price. (1 Cor. 6:20)
10. This passage is about the holiness of God and the wrath of God on sin. These are things that we do not understand, though we must. We must take these seriously.
11. It seems as though there are many sins in this list which we have tried to excuse and in so doing we are also excusing our need for a Savior. I will repeat that:
12. It seems as though there are many sins in this list which we have tried to excuse and in so doing we are also excusing our need for a Savior.
13. Look at verse 25:

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

1. God is to be praised, don’t exchange His Truth for the world’s lie.

• Let’s apply this:
  1. Trust in Jesus and point others towards Him as well.
  2. Who are you trusting in for Salvation?
  3. Are you recognizing that you need Jesus?
  4. Do you recognize that others need Jesus?
  5. Point others to Jesus?

Close:

There was an episode of the hit show The West Wing in which a lobbyist comes in to see the President and she is against something on Biblical grounds. The President responds using Old Testament Scriptures for example:

Lev 19:19

“‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

The problem with this is that then the West Wing is teaching Theology and Bible. But it is not only the West Wing. It is all of the world.

The writers of The West Wing are not Biblicist. They are not Theologians. They apparently don’t understand hermeneutics which is the science of interpretation. In the Old Testament They had civil and ceremonial laws. God was setting up a Jewish Nation state so when something is in the Bible one time in the Old Testament and not repeated it could, just maybe, be something for Israel. The Jewish dietary laws were settled in the New Testament in Acts 15 as was the rite of circumcision.

These things in the world cause us to question and step away from God’s way but understand where they are coming from.

God has a standard.

We need Jesus.

Don’t miss that.

Point people to Jesus.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

^[1] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Ro 1:18–32.

Introduction:

WHITE OUTS by Pastor Rick Sams

White outs come in the form of blizzards where you cannot see a thing. No wants to think about these after the brutal winter we’ve had.

Then there’s the kind we used before computers. Wite-Out dates to 1966 when an insurance-company clerk named George Kloosterhouse and a guy who waterproofed basements developed a correction fluid for typing mistakes. It was originally called “Wite-Out WO-1 Erasing Liquid.”*

Have you ever sent a text message that you regretted? Now you can electronically “white it out” by using Apple’s app called “Wiper Messenger.”**

Don’t you wish we had a “white out” for all your words and actions?

We try to use white out when we say we’ve “stretched the truth,” but we’ve flat out lied.

We call it “spin” when it’s actually false reporting.

“Re-inventing” products is really the same old stuff in a bigger package and bigger price.

“Revisionist history” is just bad research and recall.

“Pardon my French” is a cover up for swearing. I’ve heard French and what follows this phrase is not French.

“Bless their heart,” is often used right after we’ve smeared someone, as if this makes it right.

“Communication breakdown” is often a cover for laziness or somebody not doing their job.

“Mistakes” are too often sins.

“Affairs” are adultery.

“Issues” are really problems–usually big and bad.

But the Bible says there really are do-overs and white outs: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18b).

Jesus’ death on Good Friday didn’t just white out our sin. He took our pain and penalty on Himself, which was separation from God.

But you must RECEIVE this gift for it to “work.” You must receive HIM: “To those who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 1:12; 11:25).

What a Savior. What a white out.[1]

Okay, that is exactly what we are going to start talking about today. We are beginning a sermon series on Romans. We will go through Romans chapter 11 over the next few months. We will not hit every verse, but instead I will be picking out key sections in each chapter. Romans is all about our great salvation. This is Paul’s treatise on salvation.

Do you think about your salvation?

What are you saved from?

How are you saved? Are you saved by works? Can you earn your salvation?

We find a lot of those answers in Romans.

Today, I want to introduce Paul’s Thesis in Romans and give a little bit of background to Romans.

My theme and application:

Be Gospel Centric as Paul was Gospel Centric.

Read with me Romans 1:16-17:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Now, turn to Romans 15:20:

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

1. Let’s start with the point, person and time of the writing of Romans
   1. Over a million people lived in Rome at the time of this writing.
   2. Paul most likely wrote Romans from Corinth around A.D. 57.
   3. The theme of Romans is the revelation of God’s judging and saving righteousness in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the cross of Christ, God judges sin and yet at the same time manifests his saving mercy.[2]
   4. Let’s think more about Rome.
   5. What are some things that you think of from Rome?
   6. Anyone answer this.
   7. Has anyone here ever been to Rome?
   8. The Colosseum is estimated to have seated more than 45,000 for gladiatorial spectacles.
   9. Daily life in Rome could be luxurious for the wealthy but onerous for others. Multiple aqueducts and a huge sewer system provided for the immense water requirements of Rome, including the many bathhouses, fountains, and latrines. Food had to be imported to satisfy the needs of this thriving metropolis, and the emperor often directly oversaw the vital grain supply. Luxury villas in Rome were the privileged possessions of the wealthiest families (often of senatorial or equestrian rank) and especially of the emperors, but most of the housing in ancient Rome consisted of insulae(multistory apartment buildings often constructed above first-floor shops). Contemporary authors spoke of a severely overcrowded, loud, and smelly city—a place that provided every virtue and vice known to mankind. The residents of Rome were mostly pagan, although a sizable Jewish population also existed (as evidenced both by 1st-century literature and by later remains of inscriptions). The expulsion of the Jews under the emperor Claudius (d. 49) was a limited measure.
   10. Getting into Romans:
   11. Some specific theological topics include principles of spiritual leadership (1:8–15); God’s wrath against sinful mankind (1:18–32); principles of divine judgment (2:1–16); the universality of sin (3:9–20); an exposition and defense of justification by faith alone (3:21–4:25); the security of salvation (5:1–11); the transference of Adam’s sin (5:12–21); sanctification (chs. 6–8); sovereign election (ch. 9); God’s plan for Israel (ch. 11); spiritual gifts and practical godliness (ch. 12); the believer’s responsibility to human government (ch. 13); and principles of Christian liberty “(14:1–15:12).
   12. The Epistle to the Romans is, by popular consent, the greatest of Paul’s writings. William Tyndale, the great English reformer and translator, referred to Romans as

“the principle and most excellent part of the New Testament.” He went on to say the following in his prologue to Romans that he wrote in the 1534 edition of his English New Testament:

“No man verily can read it too oft or study it too well; for the more it is studied the easier it is, the more it is chewed the pleasanter it is, and the more groundly [sic] it is searched the preciouser [sic] things are found in it, so great treasures of spiritual things lieth hid therein.”

1. Martin Luther wrote the following commendation of this epistle. “[Romans] is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it
2. We find Paul’s purpose written in Romans 1:16-17 and I believe in 15:20:

So, as we look at Romans, that is Paul’s Thesis:

Romans 1:16-17:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

We will come back to this next week.

But I see another core belief in Romans:

Now, turn to Romans 15:20:

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

Paul wanted to go to Rome and use Rome as staging point to launch a ministry to Spain, wow!

But as we look at this passage, are you Gospel Centric? Paul was centered on the Gospel.

Next are you sure of your salvation?

Think about “white-out.” Have your sins been whited out?

Walking Down the “Romans Road” to Salvation . . . .

• Because of our sin, we are separated from God.
  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)
• The Penalty for our sin is death.
  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
• The penalty for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ!
  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
• If we repent of our sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins!
  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)
  …if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9,10)[3]

So, have you asked God to use the “white out” on your sin?

Pray

[1] * I read this in Rick’s Ramblings from Rick Sams. He referenced: “Forgiveness Is God’s Gift to ‘Wite-Out’ Mistakes,” John Ortberg, PreachingToday.com 8/5/14 **“Delete Your Conversations from Other People’s Phones,” Kim Komando blog (9-9-14)

[2] ESV Study Bible

[3] http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/about/becoming_a_christian.aspx

Intro:

Dottie Peoples: I see the Handwriting on the Wall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pseEVLE4ioU

So, today we look at Daniel’s faith and I am going to the passage about the handwriting on the wall. Listen, if you ever think God needs us, He doesn’t, He chooses to use us.

By Faith Daniel, let’s talk about Daniel.

My theme and challenge: Be Like Daniel: Daniel served the Lord all his days, he was bold and he was ready to give an answer.

Let’s read Daniel 5:1-31: Tonya reads:

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

⁷ The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

⁸ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. ⁹ So King Belshazzar became even more terrifiedand his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

¹⁰ The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. “May the king live forever!” she said. “Don’t be alarmed! Don’t look so pale! ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. ¹² He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar,was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”

¹³ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. ¹⁵ The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it.¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

¹⁸ “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. ¹⁹ Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. ²⁰ But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. ²¹ He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

²⁷ Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

²⁸ Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

²⁹ Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, ³¹ and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.

Be like Daniel: my sermon revolves around the applications.

1. First, Daniel is bold. We must be bold in what God calls us to do.
   4. Daniel calls out a king and the nobles in sin. Did you notice that? Think about it. There are 1000 nobles and their wives and concubines in this massive thrown room and Daniel is called in and he reads the writing on the wall. But even before that in verses 22-24 Daniel tells the king he is arrogant and he will have to learn a lesson in humility. In verses 17-21 Daniel talks about how Nebuchadnezzar had pride but God brought him down and that is in chapter 4. Then in Daniel 5:22-24:

 “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

1. That took guts. Does Daniel realize who he is talking to?
2. Does Daniel realize that he is out numbered?
3. It doesn’t matter because— Our God is so big, so strong and so might there is nothing that our God can’t do. The mountains are big, the valleys are big, the stars are his handiwork too. Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty there’s nothing that our God can’t do.
4. Daniel was bold because he knew that he served a big God, a strong God. In chapter 3:19-25 his friends are saved from a fiery furnace. In the previous chapter he watched God bring down the great Nebuchadnezzar. In the next chapter he will be delivered from the Lion’s Den. In chapters 8-10 he has visions from Gabriel. Yes, there were 1000 nobles and a king in front of him, but he knew that He served the true king.
5. We must be bold regardless of where we are or who we are talking to as well. We also serve the True King. We serve a strong God and we don’t need to fear. Remember God’s message to the Apostle Paul: Acts 18:9-10: One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
   1. There is a movie with Michael Douglas called, An American President. In the movie there is a lobbyist who was prepared to go into a meeting with the President and tell him exactly what should happen. However, she entered the Oval Office and entered another room at the White House and she is in a meeting and she cannot say it. She says, “I am a little intimidated by my surroundings.”
   2. Look we have no reason to be intimidated by our surroundings. We have Jesus with us.

• Daniel was not intimidated. But he was ready. He was ready to give an answer.

2. Also, Daniel is old. We must serve God all our days.
   1. Daniel was likely 80 years old and retired or forgotten, yet he was available and called out sin.
   2. We must live a life after Jesus and finish well. We must not give up.
   3. It seems obvious that Daniel could have known that Babylon was under attack, yet he still came and ministered. He could have known that Babylon suffered a crushing defeat north of their city. He could have thought this was too dangerous, he could have thought he was too old, yet he still came to minister.
   4. Daniel might have known that he was going to be ministering with people in deep sin. He could have known that they were participating in drunkenness and maybe, likely, sexual acts. It sounds like what was going on was actually a drunken orgy, but Daniel went right in and ministered. He could have said that he was too old for this. He did not. He ministered.
3. Daniel was ready to give an answer. We must be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15).

 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

1. Daniel knew the language of Aramaic.
2. Daniel had served the Lord and was in a position where God could use him.
3. Are we ready to be used of God?
   1. Notice how this passage, 1 Peter 3:15, begins with: “Revere Christ as Lord.” Some translations say, “Set apart Christ as Lord…”
   2. Are we doing this? Are we pursuing God? Are we setting Him apart as Lord?

• Is Jesus Lord of our lives?

1. How else are we to be ready?
2. We must study the Word.
3. We must study culture.
4. 1 Chron 12:32: men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…
5. We must study apologetics.
6. We must be ready.

There were a number of prophesies about all of this:

Isaiah 13:17:

See, I will stir up against them the Medes,
who do not care for silver
and have no delight in gold.

Jeremiah 50:14

“Take up your positions around Babylon,
all you who draw the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,
for she has sinned against the Lord.

Jeremiah 51:31-32:

One courier follows another
and messenger follows messenger
to announce to the king of Babylon
that his entire city is captured,
³² the river crossings seized,
the marshes set on fire,
and the soldiers terrified.”

Let me tell what happened to Babylon:

Having lost a brief skirmish outside the walls of Babylon, Belshazzar had retreated to the city and made light of the coming Persian siege. The Babylonians had 20 years of provisions, and the city was a seemingly impregnable fortress. Nevertheless, Darius diverted the waters of the Euphrates and entered below the water gates. He took the city that same night without a battle and killed Belshazzar. Xenophon noted that the city fell while the Babylonians were in the midst of a drunken feast. The kingdom of Babylon fell just as foretold by Daniel in his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue (2:39). The head of gold (Babylon) had fallen and was replaced by the chest and arms of silver (Medo-Persia) (2:40).

(2014-03-15). The Moody Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 53845-53848). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Close:

Daniel, he was ready. He was ready and available to be used of God and look how God used him. You know that I still hear the phrase about the handwriting on the wall? I still hear people saying, “they saw the writing on the wall.” That came from Daniel.

I believe that God wants to use you. I believe that God wants to use me. I believe that God wants to use us. We all have people who need the Lord. We can be like Daniel.

In your bulletin there is a piece of paper. I am going to give you a minute to fill this in. Please take it out and answer the questions:

Who have your family, friends and acquaintances needs Jesus?

How can you witness to them?

Do you need to be more intentional?

Pray for them…

Please take that home and stick somewhere in order to remind you to pray for these people. Pray that God gives you opportunities to witness. You never know: God may give you handwriting on a wall. Maybe you need to take advantage of what God gives you. Maybe you need to write some letters talking about your faith. Maybe you need to take them out to lunch and talk.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

Intro:

I heard about a Methodist Church that closed down. The church became a reception center and someone said with disgust, “They have the bar, right where the pulpit used to be!”

What is the big deal?

This is a big deal because the pulpit is usually viewed as representative of God’s Word being preached and because of the preaching of the Word happening there, the pulpit is considered

“sacred”

“holy”

“set apart”

We think the same things about our Bible, or we used to. I know of a missionary who was working in a country and she had her Bible on the floor under a chair and as she was sitting she casually allowed her foot to end up on top of the Bible. The people in that country were offended. They were offended because Bibles were hard to get and so they were set apart, holy.

The Bible is holy.

What is your view of God?

Do you view God as holy?

Do you view God as set apart?

Do you think that someday you will stand before God and you will cower in His presence?

I have a dog that is about 15 pounds and I have seen him chase deer. A few weeks ago I saw him chasing turkey. How dumb dogs can be. They don’t realize what they are trifling with. I would say the same with us. We trifle with the Holiness of God and it is a dangerous game. We chase sin, we condone sin, even corporately and we are messing with the holiness of God. Sin, is always, always, breaking the holiness of God. Technically sin is breaking relationship with God. Yet, we act like nothing is wrong. We don’t realize how awesome God is.

Just think of creation:

HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?

Tony Campolo was once confronted by an atheist who was one of his students. The young man told Campolo, “For me to believe in God, I have to have a God that I can understand.”

And Campolo replied, “God refuses to be that small!”[1]

Crazy Love, Francis Chan writes:

Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is? He didn’t have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but He did. He didn’t have to put three thousand different species of trees within one square mile in the Amazon jungle, but He did. God didn’t have to create so many kinds of laughter. Think about the different sounds of your friends’ laughs—wheezes, snorts, silent, loud, obnoxious. 

How about the way plants defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground into their stems and veins? Or did you know that spiders produce three kinds of silk? When they build their webs, they create 60 feet of silk in one hour, simultaneously producing special oil on their feet that prevents them from sticking to their own web. (Most of us hate spiders, but 60 feet an hour deserves some respect!) Coral plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies by even one or two degrees. 

Did you know that when you get goose bumps, the hair is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat? Or what about the simple fact that plants take in carbon dioxide (which is harmful to us) and produce oxygen (which we need to survive)? I’m sure you knew that, but have you ever marveled at it? And these same poison-swallowing, life-giving plants came from a tiny seed that was put in the dirt. Some were watered, some weren’t; but after a few days, they poked through the soil and out into the warm sunlight. 

God is awesome, God is great!

Remember the song I have used:

Our God is so big so strong and so mighty, there is nothing that my God can’t do.

The mountains are big, the valleys are big, the stars are His handiwork too.

Our God is so big so strong and so mighty, there is nothing that my God can’t do.
We sing that song not realizing the incredible implication. If God is big, strong and mighty and if He has a standard and we break that standard, then we better be more than afraid.

Prov 15:33

The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Prov 19:23

The fear of the LORD leads to life:

Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Rev. 7:11 and 11:16 the people fall on their faces before God. In the Old Testament we would see the same thing.

In John 18:6 the people came to arrest Jesus and they arrived and Jesus said, “Who is it you want?” They replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am He.” When Jesus said this they fell down. With just a breath of His nostrils they fell down.

In the Old Testament Moses wanted to see God’s glory:

Ex 33:18-20

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

No one can see God and live. God is holy.

Now, I want to look at David and Goliath and I want to show you something about this passage.

As we look at the passage I must talk about correct interpretation. Bible scholars will say it is improper to look at this passage and say that God is going to take care of your giants as well. That is not the purpose of the account. David is fighting for God. In similar ways it is improper to look at the passage in which Jesus calms the storm (Matt. 8:24ff) and say, “Jesus will calm the storms in your life too.” That is not correct interpretation. That is not the purpose of that account.

It seems clear that David is fighting for God’s army. But further, I believe that David is defending God’s honor. David is offended by what offends God and that is blasphemy.

Goliath is an enemy of God’s people and God uses David to take him down. Goliath has blasphemed God. Goliath is calling curses down on God’s people by his “pagan” gods. I believe this narrative is about the holiness of God.

In  1 Samuel 16 God wants to choose a king after His own heart and so David is anointed. In 1 Samuel 17 we see why. David could not sit by and watch this guy curse God’s people and blaspheme God.

I heard a story about a man hiking in Alaska and he got too close to some bear cubs. But momma bear as behind them. This man was mauled and barely lived.

Goliath is like a big man going against a little man, but he doesn’t realize the bigger Man behind the little man. The bigger Man is God.

God is behind David. Goliath thinks he is simply mocking the Israelite people, but he is mocking God.

God’s wrath is mentioned some 700 times in the Bible. Don’t trivialize this attribute of God.

Also, we are to pursue holiness. The Bible says: “Be holy for I am holy.” (Lev. 20:7; Heb. 10:26; 1 Jn. 3:6)

The theme:

David trusts God as he defeats Goliath when Goliath was blaspheming.

The application:

Simply: Don’t mess with the holiness of God as that is what Goliath was doing.

Be ready to be used of God even when confronting sin and remember God is really the One using you. God is really the One fighting the battle. Have no fear.

Read with me 1 Samuel 17:41-50:

 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴² He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. ⁴³ He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the  birds and the wild animals!”

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

1. I want to begin with an overview of the story. As we look at this, notice this is not simply against Israel but against God.
   1. 1 Samuel 17:1-19: Goliath’s challenge
      1. First we have an introduction to Goliath. He would have been about 9 foot and 9 inches tall. There is another interpretation dating back to Josephus that he would have been 6 foot 9 inches tall. In that day the average man was about 5 foot 5 inches tall. So, Goliath is still very tall.
   2. 1 Samuel 17:20-30: David accepts Goliath’s challenge
      1. 1 Samuels 17:20-23: Prelude: David sees the battle
      2. 1 Samuel 17:24-25: David hears the fear in the Israelites and the king’s reward for the one who kills Goliath

• 1 Samuels 17:26-27: David is shocked by the way this man is able to taunt the Israelites

1. 1 Samuels 17:31-58: David accepts the challenge and kills Goliath
   1. 1 Samuel 17: 48-49: Goliath is killed
2. By the way, who is the major player in this passage?
   1. Any guesses?
   2. We might think David, but I am inclined to think this story is about how God won the battle.

• I do not think that David won by his aim.

1. They do say that a man could hurl a stone with the slingshot at 100 mph and the stones would be the size of tennis balls, but I still believe it was God that did this.
2. God gave David the confidence.
3. God gave David the ability.

• God guided those stones.
• God allowed Saul to let David fight the battle.

1. God made that stone knock out Goliath.
2. God did it all.

1. Blasphemy is the major issue
   1. As David came against Goliath, Goliath mocked him first. Then Goliath cursed David by his gods. (verse 43) This means that at this point Goliath is using the pagan gods to curse David. This is not an issue of David, this is an issue of proclaiming a god other than the true God. This is an issue of blasphemy.
   2. By the way, by cursing one of Abraham’s descendants Goliath was bringing a curse on himself. Gen. 12:3: I will bless those who bless you,
      and whoever curses you I will curse;
      and all peoples on earth
      will be blessed through you.”
   3. Also: According to the Torah, any individual guilty of blasphemy—even a non-Israelite—must be stoned (Lev 24:16). Perhaps this was an underlying reason why David chose the weapon he did in confronting the Philistine;⁵⁹ even before serving as Israel’s king, David would prove himself to be a diligent follower of the Torah and thus a man after the Lord’s heart. At the same time, of course, David’s use of the sling and stone also must have been motivated by the fact that he was skillful in their use and the weapon was especially suited for exploiting Goliath’s vulnerabilities.^[2]

Lev. 24:16:‘Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.^[3]

1. David was provoked. David was provoked because this giant mocked God and committed blasphemy.
2. This was not only when David actually went against Goliath. We can go back further in the account. In verses 8-11 he is shouting out against Israel: Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” ¹¹ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
3. Then in verse 23 the Bible says that Goliath was speaking the same words and David was hearing them.
4. In verses 26-27 David responds: What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgracefrom Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?
5. Notice how David says “defy the armies of the ‘Living God’?”
6. David is defending God in this passage, but in reality David is really being used of God. Sometimes we think we are the ones making the moves, we are the ones fighting the battle, but if we are doing what God wants us to do, He is the one fighting the battle.

• Are we offended by what offends God?
  1. If this passage is about David defending the holiness of God, as I believe it is, are we bothered when God is mocked in our society?
  2. There is no big giant out there mocking God for you to literally and physically take out. But God’s holiness is trifled with.
  3. Jeremiah 6:15 and 8:12 says that the people do not know how to blush.
  4. The people are so caught in sin, so desensitized by it, it no longer causes them to blush.
  5. Does sin bother you?
  6. I am going to talk about sin in your life and in your family or friends, because if it is in your home and you are an adult you could maybe say something, but you are afraid. If they are your children or grandchildren you need to say something, you better. Let me repeatedly say that I am not talking about struggles , but condoned, repeated, sin with an “I don’t care attitude.”
  7. Are you bothered when your children or grandchildren use God’s name in vain?
  8. Are you bothered when the television is on at home and people are watching something that would offend God? Are you watching it?
     1. Pornography in the home?
     2. Shows that endorse sex outside of marriage?

• Shows that endorse adultery?

1. Shows that endorse homosexual behavior?
2. Shows, literature, radio that makes fun of people in homosexual behavior?
3. Racist shows?

1. Are we stuck in sin and not getting help? When I am talking about sin that needs taking care of I am not talking about sin that you or someone else is struggling with. No, I am talking about giving over to sin. I am talking about condoning sin.
2. What about addictions?
3. Are you, or do some in your home entertain lustful thoughts?
4. What about thoughts of murder and hate?
5. What about when God is mocked?
6. What about denying God as the creator, all powerful ruler?
7. What about denying God as the Savior? Does this bother you?
8. Pray and ask God to soften your heart to Him. Ask God to make it that you are convicted.
9. Listen, if I come to your house and make fun of your spouse or your children will that bother you? Then why does it not bother you when your Savior is mocked, made fun of?

1. Once you are offended, now slay the giant? This may be in your life or those closest to you.
   1. Now, don’t fear. If you are the one dealing with sin, you have a Goliath in your life. With God’s help we can knock it out. Talk with me, a prayer partner, seek God.
   2. If there is a repetitive condoning of sin in your family and this is a “so-called” believer talk to them.
   3. I am not saying, nor will I say, to excommunicate them, or cut off the relationship. I am saying talk to them. They may not know.
   4. I was in JROTC and the instructor said Jesus Christ in vain. He also talked laughingly about drunkenness. I later talked with him. He quoted the one verse that every pseudo Christian knows and often uses wrongly. He quoted Matthew 7:1 that says don’t judge. But the problem with that is that that particular passage is about over scrupulous judging, not talking to someone about sin. Later in the same passage Jesus talks about recognizing false prophets, so then we are judging. Also, when we use the Bible as our guide, God is judging through His Word. This NJROTC instructor later talked to the class about the dangers of drunkenness so there was a positive effect of our conversation.
   5. I have had to be involved in people abusing spouses verbally and in other ways, but I had to say something and work with the family.
   6. As you slay the giant, God is really the one doing the slaying.
   7. Some things may have waited too long, maybe it is past time to deal with this.
   8. Maybe you have family members that have the biggest GIANT, they don’t know Christ and you are there to share Jesus with them. Slay that giant.

I must say that in the Old Testament they were called to do drastic things like stone people to death for sin. We don’t need to even consider this. We must be full of grace and full of truth. They had to do that because they were setting up a Jewish Nation State. They had civil and religious laws in the Old Testament.

This also was showing the intense holiness of God.

God is Holy.

Ps 66:18

If I had cherished sin in my heart,

the Lord would not have listened…

Hab 1:13

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;

you cannot tolerate wrong.

Isaiah 6: even the angels cover their eyes at God’s holiness:

Isa 6:1-5:

 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

We are sinners in the hands of an angry God. The only way to fix this is to repent and turn our lives over to Christ.

Close:

How does this relate to today?

David conquers Goliath.

But why does David conquer Goliath. It is not so simple as that Goliath  was challenging the Israelites. No, he was challenging God. He was even committing blasphemy.

I always thought of this story simply about a common iron age battle. It is not a common iron age battle. I always thought of this story to be about fearless David who was simply not afraid to be the warrior they needed, but that is not the whole truth.

David was convicted to battle Goliath. David was provoked as a young child around 13 years old. He was provoked when the whole Israelite army was not.

David was called by God to confront the sin of blasphemy and he didn’t bat an eye. David was fearless because he feared God and defended God’s name knowing that he was on the Lord’s side, he stood firm in his faith.

In this passage David is confronted. David is appalled at the way the Israelites refuse to respond to defend God. So David responds.

Slay the Giant. This may be not tolerating sin in your life or others in your household. This may be confronting sin.

There was new recently of a pastor of a church in Canada who came out as an atheist some 12 years ago. For some 12 years her church has condoned having a pastor who does not believe in God. Be ready to be used of God to confront sin as David did, but not with a sling and a stone, but with the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

James 5:20

remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Gal 6:1

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Do you know Jesus?

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] (From a sermon by Jeff Strite, Trusting in Ravens, 8/8/2011)

⁵⁹ Whether or not Goliath’s blasphemy was the primary reason for David’s use of the slingstone to kill Goliath, the writer of 1, 2 Samuel has certainly gone to considerable lengths elsewhere in the presentation of David’s life to demonstrate that this king was scrupulous in his observance of Torah regulations—with one tragic exception (2 Sam 11:3–4).

^[2] Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 195–196.

^[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Le 24:16.

Intro:

Night time is way different in my house from say two years ago. Night time is different from three years ago and five years ago, wow! Sleep was easy then. Now, I notice every noise. I think about every noise. In seminary and college I would stay up late to work. It was no problem because I knew when I went to bed I could sleep. If it was two hours I knew that I could sleep soundly. Now, this is not the case. Now, I may head to bed at 1:00 A.M. and I lay down and start to go to sleep and then I hear footsteps. I look over and there is Mercedes, “Daddy, can I sleep in your room?”

Let’s travel back 2200 years and talk about another man and his night, just one particular night. This man was Eli and he was a judge and a priest.

Twas the night of Samuel’s calling and all through the Temple not a creature was making noise except Samuel.

Read with me 1 Samuel 3:

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

² One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

⁶ Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

⁸ A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

¹¹ And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. ¹² At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. ¹³ For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God,^[a] and he failed to restrain them.¹⁴ Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

¹⁵ Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, ¹⁶ but Eli called him and said, “Samuel, my son.”

Samuel answered, “Here I am.”

¹⁷ “What was it he said to you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you.” ¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

¹⁹ The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. ²¹ The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

1. Let’s talk about Samuel.
   1. It seems that in 1 Samuel 3 Eli and Samuel are laying down for the night.
   2. Samuel would sleep in a room near the Ark of God.
   3. It wasn’t that late yet because the lamps of God were still lit.
   4. In Exodus chapter 27:20-21 God had told them to bring clear oil to keep the lamps burning. The candlestick which was 7 branched was filled with just enough oil to burn through one night.
   5. The Lord gave the Israelites the instructions to make this candlestick in Exodus 25:31-39. Anyways, they were still lit and now God tried to communicate to Samuel.
   6. In 1 Samuel 1 his mother would come to the temple to pray. Hannah was a Godly woman. She couldn’t have children but she wanted to badly.
   7. She came to the House of God every year and would sacrifice and pray for a son. She was praying and wept bitterly. She made a vow to God that if He gave her a son she would give him to the Lord all the days of His life.
   8. Eli saw her praying and her lips were moving but she wasn’t talking. Eli thought she was drunk and rebuked her. It was then that she explained her great distress. She went home and God gave her a son. This son is now Samuel. Hannah weaned him and then dedicated him to the Lord’s service. (That is all from 1 Samuel 1)
   9. Now Samuel was ministering to the Lord with Eli.
   10. He is only 12 years old. Eli was approaching his 98^th year and his son’s are not godly men. (1 Samuel 2:22; 4:15)
   11. Verse 1 says that word from the Lord was rare at that time and so were visions.
   12. Think about this, this is critical. God had not communicated to the people.
   13. But on this night something miraculous happened.
   14. Eli and Samuel are both in bed.
   15. Samuel heard a voice calling his name. “Samuel!” thought it was Eli.
   16. Eli hears Samuel’s feet walking towards his room. Eli wonders what is going on.
   17. Samuel asked what Eli needed.
   18. I am sure that Samuel is used to helping Eli in the night.
   19. Eli told him, “I didn’t call.”
   20. It seems that Eli had no idea what this was. Again, remember the word from the Lord was rare in those days.
   21. Maybe Eli thought he might be dreaming.
   22. But Samuel heard it again. Again, Eli hears Sam’s feet entering to his room.
   23. Neither of them knew it yet but it was the Lord.
   24. The Lord said: “Samuel!!!”
   25. Eli told him to go lie down.
   26. Samuel didn’t know the Lord yet and God’s word was not revealed to him yet.(1 Samuel 3:7) That is why he didn’t know it was from God.
   27. The Lord called him again. Again, Eli heard his feet coming to his room. But this time Eli knew it was the Lord. Eli instructed Samuel to say, “Speak Lord for thy servant is listening.” Samuel went back to bed and this time the Lord actually came to Him. Samuel could actually tell that His presence was there. In fact verse 10 it says the Lord came and “stood” and called…” The Lord said, “SAMUEL!!! SAMUEL!!!” Samuel responded speak, for Your servant is listening.” The Lord told Samuel some awesome things that night. Then the Lord begins to powerfully use Samuel.
2. We must minister as Samuel ministers
3. Josephus says the boy was probably around 12 years old and he was serving the Lord through Eli. (Also, see Luke 2:42 and Jesus at the temple at 12)
4. His mom dedicated him to God. (1 Sa. 1:28)
5. Each time Samuel heard his name he jumped up to see what was needed. Are we that ready to serve?
6. Are we willing to be dedicated to God? Are we willing to dedicate our children? Are we willing to serve as Samuel served?
7. Samuel, being a servant and being dedicated to God was able to hear God. There was not a distraction.
8. What is distracting you from hearing God? Are you in the Word? Are you connected to the Body of Christ?

(The next point is because Samuel didn’t have any distractions He head God’s supernatural calling.)

1. We must be encouraged by Samuel’s calling
2. Samuel was called 4 times
3. The word for “call in verse 4” then in verse 10: on the fourth time God stood beside him.

God speaks through His Spirit in:

In His Word

Through the church

Conclusion:

On July 4 we did things backwards. I told you how Mercedes wakes us up. She comes in our room in the night and tries to sleep next to me. On July 4 I woke her up at about 9:15, so she had been asleep a little while. Then I said we are going to go see fireworks. It took her a minute to wake up and then we walked down the road to see the fireworks. Mercedes asked many questions. “I want to see purple,” she said. Then, “Is the sky going to burn down? Are the houses going to be okay?” But what was profound was the comment, “Everyone has a name.” I asked, “Every what has a name?” She said, “My teacher [Chrissy Rigney] told us that every star has a name.”

Wow! My thanks to Chrissy on that one. But that was Mercedes being aware of God’s presence. Mercedes at a young age is aware of God. We must be aware of God. Samuel was aware of God’s presence.

We must be like Samuel. Samuel was a minister already at age twelve. We must be encouraged that God spoke to Samuel. God will speak to us through His Spirit, by His word and His church.

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray