 GCO Mission and Goals | GCO Ministry Testimonials | Projects | Resources/Donations/Contact | SEARCH | |
Versus Goliath, Part 1 (of 3)
Helping Christian young people face extraordinary challenges
Presenter: Larry Kirkpatrick
Location: Mentone Seventh-day Adventist Church, CA, USA
Delivery: 2008-11-15 22:28Z
Publication: GreatControversy.org 2008-11-15 22:28Z
Type: Sermon
URL: http://www.greatcontroversy.org/gco/ser/kirl-vgoliathpt1.php
Being a Christian young person today is an extraordinary challenge. When have the pressures, immediate and future, been so high?
The challenges, both present and still on the way, are many. Unless God enters the fight, they are doomed. With Jesus on their side, our young people can be successful Davids.
God’s people were at war. When the armies met for battle, it was seen that the philistines had a champion: the giant Goliath. Israelite soldiers were afraid to go up against him. But God had not left Himself without witnesses. David, a young man, was prepared. We find the story in 1 Samuel 17. We all perhaps recall the story. It is the tale of one youth, a person of faith, prevailing against incredible, even insane, odds. Little David triumphs over mighty Goliath, and the philistines are routed.
How can we arm our young people against the challenges approaching today in rapid roar? How can we help them to be as those in the tribe of Issachar: persons who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32)?
In the second part of this two part series, we will explore (1) where we are in Bible prophecy, in the flow of earth’s history, (2) consider possible insights into challenges standing just before us; and (3) consider certain specific problems that seem to be drawing close. Our presentation today is only part one. Before we process those questions, there is something we need first to clarify: How much intervention does God intrude into our world? If we would understand His methods of intervention and how we might take advantage of opportunities provided to understand His recent workings, then we first must better understand what He does and does not do in the world.
How Much—and How—Does God Intervene In Our World?
The Christian worldview raises some very difficult questions. What is the degree of intervention that God exercises in the world? When does He choose not to intervene? He cannot intervene too much or He will be overruling free will. He would turn the conflict between good and evil into a script and all of us marionettes dangling off of strings.
But if He does not intervene, then no remnant is delivered from Egyptian slavery, then there is no return from Babylon, and then Jesus never incarnates, lives, makes sacrifice at Calvary, and rises again. Put simply, if He intervenes too much, He interferes with the very demonstration He is seeking to make: that unselfishness is the only viable method for governing the creation. If He does not intervene, Satan, who is uninhibited in the use of force, destroys the human race. Hence, the dilemma.
Intervention by God
Let’s consider some of what the Bible says concerning God’s rule. In Daniel 4:26 we are told that “the heavens do rule.” In Psalm 75:7, that God puts one person in authority down and sets up another. Jeremiah 18:7-10 reminds that
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it do evil in My sight, that it obey not My voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Amos 3:7 tells us that before He intervenes He tells His servants the prophets. And since the prophet’s job is to tell us, it follows that God foretells to us His interventions. In Mark 13:23 Jesus urges us to take heed what He says, for “I have foretold you all things.”
Clearly, God does intervene. How much He means us to understand that He will foretell in Amos is an interesting question in itself. He does outline general events, the rise and fall of empires (Daniel 2), but does not seem always to tell us what is coming with the degree of detail we would prefer. He tells us more about how to be prepared for what is coming than the fine print about the detail of what is coming.
Intervention by Satan
So God intervenes; what about Satan? Satan claims power over the earth and Jesus does not contradict the claim:
And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine (Luke 4:5-7).
Was this a false claim? If the root assertion here—that Satan has decisive authority over the earth—is not true, then how could this be a test for Jesus?
Paul says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus Himself calls Satan—and this is astonishing—no less than three times, “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Again, Paul says that before conversion we lived our lives “according to the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). Pilate, tells Jesus that he has power to crucify Jesus, but Jesus replies that Pilate would have no such power unless it were given him from above (John 19:11). Jesus is not talking about power from God; the power from above by which Pilate delivers the innocent Christ to death comes from the murderer Satan, who rules over all the kingdoms of this world (Luke 4:6).
Faithful Without Certainty
And so, God intervenes but when Adam sinned, direct authority over earth was ceded to Satan. Still, Job chapters 1 and 2 show us that God refuses to let Satan operate completely without restriction. And the story of Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace reminds us that we do not always know how God’s limited intervention is going to come out.
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3:17, 18).
Daniel’s three friends believed that God intervenes, but they could not know whether He would choose to intervene on this particular occasion. They trusted Him, not to intervene according to their desire to live, but they trusted Him to do what was best for His ultimate purposes and glory. They were content to die in the fire rather than violate the law of God. In this case, God did intervene and save their lives. Our young people today, and ourselves, need to be just as determined to accomplish God’s will no matter how it looks like it will turn out.
Human Intercession
We should, at this point, consider at least one more angle: human intercession. There are occasions—some, very large—when God intervenes unilaterally. Even then, before the epoch shattering event, there is virtually always a history of attempted attitude adjustment. God sends the flood but gives 120 years for change of heart. Or, an empire will be brought down in one night, but not before transgressions of its leaders have been carefully evaluated and there has been opportunity to change direction. Many in Jesus’ own generation rejected Him but God does not destroy the temple until nearly another 40 years have gone past. Even God’s most cataclysmic acts are tempered with enormous patience and mercy. But God often acts bilaterally (two parties acting together) or multilaterally (many parties acting together). This form of interaction should not be ignored, for here we can take a most decided step in advancing His kingdom.
There are numerous examples found in Scripture. We look here at just a few.
One that quickly comes to mind is that of God’s approach to Abraham in Genesis 18. We see here, as in other places, how God often invites us to advance His purposes by interceding for others. Because of the depredations and evils accomplished in Sodom and Gomorrah, and their unwillingness to change direction, their judgment draws near. But Abraham’s nephew, Lot and his family, have actually moved into Sodom. It is difficult to see how it could have been God’s will for this family to live in Sodom, but we do know that Lot was a righteous man according to what he knew and that his example was keenly felt there.
God approaches Abraham and tells him that He is about to make a moral evaluation of the city. The sin practiced in the city is not unknown to Abraham. He stands before God, humbly interceding for the righteous in Sodom. Starting with 50, he bargains incrementally downward to 10. God knows there is not sufficient salt left in Sodom to save it. Abraham’s intercession does not save the city, but saves Lot. God sends angels to evacuate him and as many family members as are willing. What is happening here? Bilateral action; God and Abraham (and a testing for Lot and his family) determine what happens.
Another example of intercession is found in Daniel 2. King Nebuchadnezzar is angry with his “wise men” advisors and because they are unable to reveal to him the content and meaning of the dream he has had, he declares that their services will be terminated—permanently. Young “wise” man Daniel and his friends were in training, and are told that the king has decided to kill all of them. He prevails upon the king, pleading for opportunity to seek the answer from God. Time is granted (2:16). Daniel and his three friends plead with God in prayer, asking Him to reveal the secret (2:17, 18). And He does (2:19-23)! Daniel returns to the king and reveals the content and the meaning of his dream. Their lives are saved. Here was a case of multilateral working. At least four persons were interceding with God.
Then there is Esther. Through the machinations of Haman a decree has been issued authorizing a genocide of the Jews. Its execution is imminent. Esther risks death to go in before the king and intercede for the Jews, but she first enlists a vast group to fast with her (Esther 4:8, 14-16). They do and she does and the king relents. Haman is destroyed, the Jews saved. It does not say here that the Jews were praying, but fasting and prayer always go together and it is implicit in the idea that they were fasting that they were also praying. This would be a case of multilateral intercession.
Another case of bilateral work occurs on Paul’s voyage to Rome. Paul is a prisoner on his way to trial. He offers counsel to the ship captain that would save lives and property, but it is not heeded. Finally the ship is in extremity. All on board her are in jeopardy. But Paul has been talking with God. Alone in the dark he has been interceding, and he is finally able to report that although the ship will be lost, every life will be saved (Acts 27:20-24).
Failed Intercession and Commands Not to Pray
We should consider a case of failed intercession: Peter, James, and John interceding for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is on the edge of a chasm of aloneness He has never before experienced. His sense of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit is being withdrawn from Him as the crushing blackness of all the sins of the world settles on Him. Jesus asks those closest to Him to join Him in prayer, but they fail. They fall asleep, just when Jesus could have benefitted the most from their intercession. Jesus prevails without their prayers, but for themselves, a powerful opportunity is lost. They themselves would have been strengthened by praying for Jesus. The story the New Testament tells of the next few hours of history could have been very different. Had they joined in prayer that night, would they have all turned and fled hours later? When the women reported that Jesus was risen, would they have doubted or believed? I say, one night of prayer could have changed history. The opportunity to intercede was lost.
God takes human intercession very seriously indeed. Sometimes He even asks His followers not to pray for others.
One place where we see this Jeremiah.
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble (Jeremiah 11:14).
Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for this people for their good (Jeremiah 14:11).
In Isaiah 6:10 the prayer is actually that the people not turn: “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”
There are occasions where hearts are set, committed to rebellion, and divine and human intervention would not be just. The tribe of Ephraim became settled in idolatry, therefore the command of God was, “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone” (Hosea 4:17). Why then would God instruct his people in some cases not to pray for others? Because people are granted free will, and when they have committed themselves irrevocably to wrong, then God does not force them to be good. If He will not force them to be good, then we have no right to force them to be good either. Then it becomes inappropriate to intervene further.
It should be recognized that although there are examples of God telling His servants not to pray for others, the examples are few. You and I do not know what is in someone’s heart. If we are unsure, then we should err on the side of patience and mercy and hope.
Now that we have considered somewhat the degree of God’s interventions in our world, we are ready to consider the second question: When He intervenes, how does He choose to do so? But that must wait until part 2.
Conclusion
Today, we may conclude that through His providences God does intervene in our world. Sometimes unilaterally, sometimes bi- and multi-laterally. He invites us to intercede for others, for family members, friends, leaders, those in authority. In some cases God will not proceed unless we do. Our plea for help in some cases releases God to help in ways that he otherwise would not. Remember, Satan charges that God is unfair and this very charge makes it especially important that God execute His interventions only under the most just circumstance.
God calls us into an urgent partnership with Him. Souls are at risk, hearts are at stake. Praying makes a difference. It evokes in us character traits that are like those of God. He wants us to feel mercy and compassion, to invest ourselves in the help and salvation of others. He wants us to understand how He is working, today. He wants us to have full advantage of His help in knowing what is coming. Our generation has an appointment with destiny and He means that we will meet it to His glory, not be overcome by events that we do not understand. Our young people especially need to know His reality, closeness, and care for them. And that will especially be addressed in part 2. We are not done with David and Goliath yet. There is much more. GCO
© 2008 by GreatControversy.org. GCO grants permission to individuals, wholeheartedly encouraging them to copy and reproduce documents and files appearing on this site, in an unaltered state, and for non-commercial use, unless otherwise noted. All other rights reserved. Other groups or entities wishing to reproduce these materials are encouraged to contact us with reproduction requests.
 |