(Extensive inspiration and quotation for this sermon taken from "This Day We Fight" by Francis Frangipane.)
All right. . .here we go. We have been building block upon block over the past three weeks. Taking steps towards a declaration that this year we win!
Week #1 – We followed up Christmas by beginning to make the transition from Matthew chapter 1 to Revelation. From the infant, baby Christ child, to Jehovah-Sabbath. We began reconnecting with the pre-incarnation revelation of Jesus to Joshua as the mighty warrior, sword drawn, ready for battle. The Lord of Hosts. The God of Armies. The one who contends with those who contend with you.
Week #2 – With the Lord of Hosts ready to fight for him, with the prophet Elisha prepared to pour out a blessing upon him, we saw King Joash take on the role of the passivist. The wimp. The man that the history of kings say that he was. A man who lacked character. Who failed to live obedient to God. And who at his divine moment responded with three wimpy strikes of an arrow. The result? Three partial defeats of the Syrians, but never full victory.
We have seen a significantly different picture in Psalm 18. A picture of King David pursuing his enemies, and not just until he had them beat. Until he had consumed them. Struck them through. Destroyed them. Put them in his past with full, complete, decisive victory.
This is the kind of victory that I hope and pray each of us are striving for in those areas of our lives where Satan has nagged us, annoyed us, hounded us, even oppressed us. Those areas in our lives where it is time to turn, face our enemy, get angry with Satan, and in an unrelenting show of force with the Lord of Hosts as our strength – strike him through.
That’s the recap. If you missed any of it, go to stonewallwesleyan.com and download the message manuscripts. Or get a copy of the tapes, and listen to them on your way to work. Two critical messages towards making 2007 a year of victory in our lives.
However, you may remember that at the end of last week I indicated that there was another option. And this week, we are going to look at that option, and the potential results of choosing that option.
I think there is an old saying that goes something like, “the less said, the better.” Right? Ever heard that phrase or cliché used? “The less said, the better.” Well, never has that probably been truer than in one particular time of David’s life.
Turn with me to I Chronicles 20. I Chronicles 20, verse 1 (read through verse 3).
The less said, the better. I guarantee you that King David would agree with that saying in this case. As we have it in I Chronicles 20, it is time to go to war. So Joab leads out the armed forces while David remains in Jerusalem. When the victory is complete, David shows up on the scene, tries on the crown, likes the fit, gathers all the spoils of war, enslaves the enemies people, and marches back to his palace in Jerusalem.
Enough said, right? Well, maybe not. How about the same story. . .different location. Turn over to 2 Samuel 11. 2 Samuel 11, verse 1 (read). Sound familiar?
Now jump ahead to chapter 12, verse 26 (read through verse 31). Have you heard this anywhere else? Same battle we saw in I Chronicles.
There is however, one problem. One fairly large problem. One almost two chapter problem. The problem would be 2 Samuel 11:2 through 2 Samuel 12:25. That would be the problem that probably makes King David a great deal fonder of the Chronicles account versus the Samuel account. That would be the problem that would probably make King David very fond of the cliché, “The less said, the better.”
Unfortunately, that problem is there. 2 Samuel 11:2 (read through verse 27).
This is a big mess, with plenty to unpackage. A big mess that includes the death of this baby. A big mess that is just the beginning of the unraveling of King David’s reign, and more importantly, King David’s household and his failure as a husband and father.
But there are plenty of places where you can hear plenty of sermons about all that. Today’s message is much easier than that. It is option B.
Remember, option A is going to war against the enemy with the Lord of Hosts at your side. Or, to be more accurate, the Lord of Hosts going before you to slay the enemy. That is option A. Today is about option B.
And option B is found right there in 2 Samuel 11:1 (read).
You see, this is how it worked. Back in the ancient Middle East, the spring time was a great time of year to go to battle. There was much better weather. There was an abundance of food along the way as the trees and plants sprouted out with harvest. With the harshness of winter behind them. With the plans for battle all mapped out and ready. When spring broke, kings headed out to conquer new territories and lands.
History books show us that many mighty battles began during the spring of the year. When the troops could march over grass, and encamp in the fields. In fact, as late as this past century, we have seen the folly of generals or rulers who attempt to launch major offensives in the fall or winter of the year. Spring is the time to move.
And in that day, the king led the way. In another text we can see King David lead the way against the Syrians, and they are victorious, but not this time. This time, King David, selects option B.
If Option A is the Lord of Hosts, Option B is the Spirit of Passivity. A passive spirit. You see, we have plenty of examples of David’s valor and passion to fight. It reveals itself as just a young man coming against Goliath. But on this occasion, David is controlled by a spirit of passivity, and the results are devastating.
Oh, they won the battle. They collected the spoils. As a nation, there was still great victory and triumph. But personally. Inside David’s soul. In that place we are most responsible for guarding and tending, this passive spirit weakened David’s resistance, and sin, upon sin, upon sin soon followed.
Whenever you hear the story of David and Bathsheba. Whenever you hear the story of David and Uriah. Whenever you hear this story of lust, adultery, murder, and infant death. Please remember this terrible sequence of moral failures did not start with David’s lustful eye or hostile temper. It began when a passive spirit entered into David’s life, and when it was time to arise and fight. . .he stayed in bed.
This is a very simple, practical life lesson to learn. The moment you accept a passive spirit as the governing force of your life, you should anticipate that the enemy will jump on that time of weakness with great temptation. If you drop your guard and relax when it is time to fight, the enemy will not say, “Oh, okay. I guess Chip isn’t up for the fight today. I’ll just leave him alone.”
Wrong, he will smell blood in the water, and will attack with a full vengeance. That is why we are warned in I Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Put yourself in Satan’s position for a moment. A very short moment. If you are a dirty rotten, enemy of God. Constantly breaking the rules, and not playing fair. Who are you going to go for? The opponent that is armed and dangerous with the Word of God as their sword, and the Lord of Hosts as their leader? Of someone lying in bed, knowing it is time for battle, but controlled by a passive spirit?
Let me highlight a couple important points about this spirit of passivity –
1. A PASSIVE SPIRIT IS DIFFERENT FROM A QUIET PERSONALITY.
Some people might say, “Well, I’m just not the fighting kind. I don’t like to debate, or even disagree with people. There isn’t an aggressive bone in my body. I can see how pursuing the enemy would work for some people, but that just isn’t my personality.”
Understand this morning, this isn’t about personality. This is about being prepared to go to spiritual battle when the season is upon us. Do you think Satan cares about your personality? Do you think he only goes after the fighters?
Are you kidding me? Think about it again. If you are a ruthless enemy, looking to destroy God’s children, would you rather fight someone who is up in arms, or sleeping in bed? If you sit back and simply say, “That just isn’t my personality.” I’ve got bad news for you. The spiritual warfare is coming anyway. You just have to decide whether you will take option A, or option B. And God’s word provides us clear results for both options.
Secondly, we need to understand this morning that a. . .
2. A PASSIVE SPIRIT IS NOT FROM GOD.
Look how Romans 12:11 defines the type of spirit that is to dwell in believers. Let’s read it together: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
What kind of spirit are we to have? (Fervent.) Anyone know what fervent means? (Strong. Ardent. Showing feeling. Passionate.)
I love that kind of a spirit. Not because I drink 32 ounces of Mountain Dew, and eat 15 chocolate bars a day. But because that is the type of spirit that God stirs in the hearts of His children. A fervent spirit that combats slothfulness. Awakens us from passivity, and prepares us for battle.
You know. Only in a fallen world of pop-psychology and spiritual oppression could we come up with a condition known as passive aggression. Only in today’s society could we suggest that such opposite terms could actually combine together. Lord knows that isn’t a Biblical condition.
Look again at our Hebrews passage from last week, “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (6:11-12)
Nothing passive aggressive about that. Be earnest. Do not be sluggish. Alert and ready, not passive. Option A, not option B.
Do you think the Islamic movement believes in option B? Do you think they believe in being passively aggressive? Globally we are currently in the midst of what is referred to as the “third great jihad.” Holy war. The first took place during Mohammad’s life. The second during the Ottoman Empire.
And now the movement is spearheaded by Al-Quida. It is a movement of terror. Violence. The work of the hosts of spiritual darkness. And it scoffs at the soldier looking to do battle in a passively aggressive way.
In the midst of such spiritual attack and aggressive behavior from our enemy Satan, I do not believe that God’s answer would be a passive spirit. That isn’t the Lord of Hosts that I read about in this book.
3. THE PROPHETIC FUTURE DOES NOT RELEGATE US TO THE SIDELINES.
Okay. . .that one probably sounds confusing. But it is quite simple, and goes something like this. A very common view as we read the Scriptures is that the flow of evil in our world, the influence of ungodly living is going to continue to expand. Things are going to get much, much worse before they get better. And they are only going to get better when Christ returns. I buy into that view. I think it is Biblical.
But, there are factions of Christians who figure we just have to ride out the storm. We have to just hang out on the side lines until the rapture comes, and the tribulation ensues. It can’t be stopped. It is the prophesied future of our world.
Only problem is, no where in God’s Word does it indicate that the impending doom relegates us to the role of spectators. Nowhere does it suggest that you can’t beat it, so adopt a passive spirit, and weather the storm. Simply survive.
Rather, we are called to be salt and light. We are called to be children of righteousness. We are called to engage the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ, take up our shields and swords, and answer the battle cry that rings out from Jehovah-Sabbath.
You can choose option B. But it is not God’s plan for the church, and the results in David’s life should provide a pretty compelling argument against it.
Look at one more verse with me. 2 Samuel 11:2 (read). Or many translations say something like, “that David arose from his bed.”
Let me ask you this morning –
- When did David get out of bed? (When the evening came.)
- Anything wrong with that picture?
- What has he been doing during the daylight hours? (Sleeping. . .or lying around)
- What have his soldiers and generals, and Joab been doing? (Fighting for him. . .dying for him)
- And he is doing what?
That’s the spirit of passivity.
(Common Example: Individuals suffering from depression – can’t/don’t get out of bed.)
The spirit of passivity is an immobilizing spirit. It is a defeated spirit. It is a spirit that opens the door to great spiritual oppression, demonic influence, and temptation. It is option B.
Many of you are familiar with The Lord of the Rings, in recent years renewed in fame through the big screen adaptations of the novels. It is a trilogy which highlights common men attaining uncommon levels of valor and victory over evil. Well, common men with very large, tough, amazingly terrain enduring feet. But common never the less.
But in the third installment, “The Return of the King”, it appears that all is lost. Hell’s legions have amassed before the good guys. Aragorn’s fighters are tired, weakening, and ready to give up the fight. But as Aragorn rides along the front lines of his gathered, all be it rather lowly army, he shouts –
“I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. . .this day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bed you stand, men of the West!”
If you are tempted by option B, or if you have been living option B. I hope you will put down the passive spirit, arise from your bed of discouragement, depression, immobilization, and pick-up the sword of the spirit. A day will come when the world will give in to the forces of evil. But this is not that day. This is not that year in your life. This is the year for victory. And I pray that you will choose option A, and this day you will fight.
(Prayer)
