Defiance
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26 NKJV)
Definition of defiance: The act or an instance of defying : disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight.
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26 NKJV)
Definition of defiance: The act or an instance of defying : disposition to resist : willingness to contend or fight.
In the account of Goliath before the Armies of Israel, we find this giant defying Israel, mocking, taunting their very existence. This was Israel, the Army of the Lord, yet they cowered back in fear. Not daring to go forth and fight against this giant, a warrior, that challenged them they drew back from the battle.. I read this and I think of what is happening today. We live in such days, we Christians are being taunted and challenged from all sides from the giants of pride, immorality, perversion, sodomites, false religions, humanism, atheism, and a host of other dark empires that stand before us. The church is doing very little. We try to organize, socialize, and fraternize with the gimmicks of the very world that fights against us. We think we can vote them out, but each year their heart waxes worse, growing bolder, more challenging. We cannot use this kingdoms armor to fight the enemy, adorning ourselves in their garments. As David would not wear King Saul's Armor, because it did not fit, we too cannot adorn ourselves with the things of this fallen world to combat darkness. It does not fit, it cannot fit, it is hewn out by the hands of men. Our weapons are not carnal: I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:3-5 NKJV) To much of the church has adopted the way of the world. We want to wear Saul's armor, because it shines with the best of mans ability. However, it will never do. It is from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We can never win the battle this way. Only that which comes from the Tree of Life will equip us with the strength we need. All that stands proud before us, defying the Lord, we must run out to meet them in battle in the power of His might. Just as David ran out to confront Goliath we too must be encouraged to do the same. To resist this evil, can only be done in the Spirit of the Lord. Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands." So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:45-48 NKJV)
Tolerance is the word of the hour, the Trojan horse that is amongst our midst. It is amazing how many Christians use the word love, to cover up their compromise. They fear reprise, so they rally around the flag of tolerance, claiming they are loving all men. This is not love, this is cowardliness. How is it love, when we do not defy that which stands in perversion, undermines God's righteousness, mocks truth, and demands that all submit to them? Money changes in the church, at the hands of false prophets, from one end of this world to another. Where are the warriors of Light? Where are the David's who cry out: For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me. (Psalms 69:9 RSV) How can we sit back while the giants of darkness taunt the army of the Lord? We must stand for truth. If we do not, than we are not in the love of God. I am not talking about some loud mouth, who screams out repentance like a lunatic, that has no grace about him. We are to be true to the Lord. If we are on our knees before Him daily, than we will be able to arise in His Spirit, run the race before us. We will be able to gather from His word the weapons we need. Our weapons are not carnal. Fear cannot set up residence in the heart of the one who walks in faith and trust in Jesus Christ. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV)
Tolerance is the word of the hour, the Trojan horse that is amongst our midst. It is amazing how many Christians use the word love, to cover up their compromise. They fear reprise, so they rally around the flag of tolerance, claiming they are loving all men. This is not love, this is cowardliness. How is it love, when we do not defy that which stands in perversion, undermines God's righteousness, mocks truth, and demands that all submit to them? Money changes in the church, at the hands of false prophets, from one end of this world to another. Where are the warriors of Light? Where are the David's who cry out: For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me. (Psalms 69:9 RSV) How can we sit back while the giants of darkness taunt the army of the Lord? We must stand for truth. If we do not, than we are not in the love of God. I am not talking about some loud mouth, who screams out repentance like a lunatic, that has no grace about him. We are to be true to the Lord. If we are on our knees before Him daily, than we will be able to arise in His Spirit, run the race before us. We will be able to gather from His word the weapons we need. Our weapons are not carnal. Fear cannot set up residence in the heart of the one who walks in faith and trust in Jesus Christ. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV)
The church today calls for toleration, when she should be defiant! We live in such times as there has never been before. Each day darkness increases, while the church hides its light under their bushels. David faced Goliath even when his country men criticized him. His own brothers thought him insolent. They would rather cower in fear than see one younger than they, stand for truth. They did not want to be overshadowed by one so bold and confident in the Lord., they claimed they believed in. They would rather face defeat, than be embarrassed. They questioned his boldness, trying to shut him up. When I read David's response to them, I cannot help but feel it is the same response of the faithful, to all those within the church who would have us be quiet, to lay back and settle into the lukewarm spirit of the hour: Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" (1 Samuel 17:28-29 NKJV)
Is there not a cause? Has there not been a wake up call to us all, to arise above the complacency that surrounds us? Have we not heard the trumpet blast from the kingdom of God, calling us to stand an fight the good fight of faith? How is it we can be so easily lulled asleep into a spirit of compromise, in the midst of a raging war? The world tells us to stay within the confines of our camps. They tell us not to venture out beyond the borders of that which we hold dear. They want us to be shut in, shut up, to lay down our weapons before them. Peter and John were commanded by the leaders of their day to hold it in, not too mention the name of Christ. These were religious folks, the Pope's of that day. Though they were commanded by these who sat on their thrones of authority to not mention the name of Christ, Peter responded the only way he could: And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. (Acts 4:18-19 NKJV) Peter and John were persecuted for their stand. Through it all they did not compromise. They did not hold back. They knew they belonged to Christ alone. God was their source, not the wisdom of the age. Even after they were beaten, told not to speak the name of Christ, they left the presence of their persecutors proclaiming the name of Christ. They did not cower back from speaking Christ. They counted all as loss for the upward call. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV)
There are those amongst our midst who claim Christ name, but they are enemies. They often control much of the activities which we call the church. We cannot and must not draw back from the battle, because they tell us to be tolerant, hold back proclaiming the name of Christ. Truth belongs to God alone, and no man can bind it up. There is no easy battle. We will face persecution. The Word tells us we will face such adversity. Stand in the light. Do not draw back at whatever cost. Never let it be said that we have been silent in the proclamation of the gospel. And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42 NKJV)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32 KJV) We are not called to rally around political causes, raise banners to proclaim our identity with some sect or movement. There is so much noise amongst us, banging cymbals, loud belligerent, and arrogant babble, that does not lead to the Light. It is Christ alone that needs to be lifted up. By His Spirit, in the proclamation of His wondrous truth of the gospel, men our drawn to Him. I do not need anyone to join my group. I need to lift up Christ, so they too can be born again into the church of Christ. The true church is made up of every true born again believer on the face of the earth. We do not need another movement, another Pentecost. This all has been poured out into us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What we need is to return to our First Love. If you are out of sorts with the true source, you will not be the vessel filled with His Living Water. One thing I have found out all these years in mission, it is not the hands of man I need. I cannot look to them for any answer, it is Christ alone. He works through His body, it is those who long to be in right standing in Him. We are no longer our own. When we abide in the Vine, we will produce the fruit we need to bear. There is no formula, no set pattern, except that we are right with the One we claim we love. He is the light. Christ is what darkness fears. They fear not our pet doctrines, our formulas, our gimmicks that we have borrowed from the very ones that war against us. We need no shows, we need Holy Ghost glow. Preach Christ and Him crucified. Tell them of the law of God, let them know that their is none righteous, no not one. Take their eyes off religion, let them see the cost of the cross. Preach repentance that leads to the cross, this alone will cause the searching heart to see Christ. When He is lifted up in our hearts, our lives, our speech and action, this alone will draw men unto Christ. The defiance of the Christian is not in arrogance, or pride, or violence. It is the life abandon to Christ that shines the brightest.. The pilgrim of grace will not be swayed away from Christ alone. When we walk in Him, we will be a distinct sound, a tune that can be heard in clarity, not confusion. David knew what side he was on, this is why he could stand in boldness and proclaim: "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (1 Samuel 17:45 NKJV)
True love defies the lies of the enemy. Stand in Christ alone, the world will war against you, those who compromise will despise you, but the searching heart will be drawn to the ones who lives out what they claim they believe. Truly the line is drawn of those who claim it, and those who live it. Christianity is not a title, but a life lived out in the fullness of His grace. Now is the time, now is the hour, for the Christian to run to the battle. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV).
In Christ
T. M. Faunce
Is there not a cause? Has there not been a wake up call to us all, to arise above the complacency that surrounds us? Have we not heard the trumpet blast from the kingdom of God, calling us to stand an fight the good fight of faith? How is it we can be so easily lulled asleep into a spirit of compromise, in the midst of a raging war? The world tells us to stay within the confines of our camps. They tell us not to venture out beyond the borders of that which we hold dear. They want us to be shut in, shut up, to lay down our weapons before them. Peter and John were commanded by the leaders of their day to hold it in, not too mention the name of Christ. These were religious folks, the Pope's of that day. Though they were commanded by these who sat on their thrones of authority to not mention the name of Christ, Peter responded the only way he could: And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. (Acts 4:18-19 NKJV) Peter and John were persecuted for their stand. Through it all they did not compromise. They did not hold back. They knew they belonged to Christ alone. God was their source, not the wisdom of the age. Even after they were beaten, told not to speak the name of Christ, they left the presence of their persecutors proclaiming the name of Christ. They did not cower back from speaking Christ. They counted all as loss for the upward call. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV)
There are those amongst our midst who claim Christ name, but they are enemies. They often control much of the activities which we call the church. We cannot and must not draw back from the battle, because they tell us to be tolerant, hold back proclaiming the name of Christ. Truth belongs to God alone, and no man can bind it up. There is no easy battle. We will face persecution. The Word tells us we will face such adversity. Stand in the light. Do not draw back at whatever cost. Never let it be said that we have been silent in the proclamation of the gospel. And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42 NKJV)
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32 KJV) We are not called to rally around political causes, raise banners to proclaim our identity with some sect or movement. There is so much noise amongst us, banging cymbals, loud belligerent, and arrogant babble, that does not lead to the Light. It is Christ alone that needs to be lifted up. By His Spirit, in the proclamation of His wondrous truth of the gospel, men our drawn to Him. I do not need anyone to join my group. I need to lift up Christ, so they too can be born again into the church of Christ. The true church is made up of every true born again believer on the face of the earth. We do not need another movement, another Pentecost. This all has been poured out into us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What we need is to return to our First Love. If you are out of sorts with the true source, you will not be the vessel filled with His Living Water. One thing I have found out all these years in mission, it is not the hands of man I need. I cannot look to them for any answer, it is Christ alone. He works through His body, it is those who long to be in right standing in Him. We are no longer our own. When we abide in the Vine, we will produce the fruit we need to bear. There is no formula, no set pattern, except that we are right with the One we claim we love. He is the light. Christ is what darkness fears. They fear not our pet doctrines, our formulas, our gimmicks that we have borrowed from the very ones that war against us. We need no shows, we need Holy Ghost glow. Preach Christ and Him crucified. Tell them of the law of God, let them know that their is none righteous, no not one. Take their eyes off religion, let them see the cost of the cross. Preach repentance that leads to the cross, this alone will cause the searching heart to see Christ. When He is lifted up in our hearts, our lives, our speech and action, this alone will draw men unto Christ. The defiance of the Christian is not in arrogance, or pride, or violence. It is the life abandon to Christ that shines the brightest.. The pilgrim of grace will not be swayed away from Christ alone. When we walk in Him, we will be a distinct sound, a tune that can be heard in clarity, not confusion. David knew what side he was on, this is why he could stand in boldness and proclaim: "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (1 Samuel 17:45 NKJV)
True love defies the lies of the enemy. Stand in Christ alone, the world will war against you, those who compromise will despise you, but the searching heart will be drawn to the ones who lives out what they claim they believe. Truly the line is drawn of those who claim it, and those who live it. Christianity is not a title, but a life lived out in the fullness of His grace. Now is the time, now is the hour, for the Christian to run to the battle. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV).
In Christ
T. M. Faunce
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