Pastor Edgar Mayer; Living Grace Community Lutheran Church; Message on 2 Samuel 5:17-25; Date: 21 September 2008

For more sermons and other writings check out pastor’s homepage: http://www.geocities.com/mayeredgar

After The Breakthrough

When in a game of football is your team the most vulnerable to give the game away? During the course of the game what are the danger periods – when you are most vulnerable? (Invite comments.) The answer is – at least for soccer (the game I know best): Just after you’ve scored. Just when you’ve had success.

Imagine that you are in a final – take soccer, for instance. The game is played on a high level. Both teams are disciplined in the build-up and physical in their tackles. After 70 minutes of effort the game is still undecided – both sides zero goals – but then your team scores – hands go up in celebration, grown men hug each other. You are up 1:0. Yet, this is now your most vulnerable time in the game because – even if only for a moment – you relax – you take a breather after all the hard work – while the opposition at precisely this time is going to redouble their efforts to get that one goal back.

And – I’ve seen it many times – on the highest levels of the game – they may get their goal back – maybe right from the kick-off – and then the momentum swings against you – and you don’t get it back. What you need to do after you have scored is to lift your game. Send a clear signal to the opposition that their fight-back is doomed. Keep up the work-rate, tackle hard and look confident (mess with the mind of the opposition). Take ten minutes (or so) to break their spirit.

Now – transfering this lesson to other parts of life – as a Christian – when are you the most vulnerable in your faith? What are the danger periods in your life with God? Again – it’s not unlike football – the time to watch is just after you have scored. Just when you’ve had success – a breakthrough of some sort.

For a number of weeks now we have traced the life story of David in the Bible – how as a teenager (a shepherd) he was anointed to be the future king, how at that time he defeated Goliath – won favour with king Saul, how he came to live at court, married the king’s daughter, struck up a friendship with the king’s son, lost favour with the king (the king became jealous of him), was persecuted, driven from his home (his wife was given to someone else in marriage), forced to live in exile – caves even, more than once cornered by 3000 elite soldiers on his trail, suffered the exile of his family, heartache and despair (at one time everything was burnt down with wives and children being taken captive, his friends wanted to stone him) … We have traced all of that – one long year after another in the life of David – maybe 6–8 years. Now finally – after seven more years of only ruling the southern part of the country and a bruising battle for succession – now finally we read in the Bible – 2 Samuel 5:3: “ … all the elders of Israel had come to . David at Hebron … before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.”

David – at the age of thirty – had arrived – finally! – and this called for celebration and a breather. Finally – he’s made it. Good! Relax! Only – the same principle from before holds true again: You are in your most vulnerable state – most vulnerable to lose the game – just after you’ve scored – just after you’ve achieved some sort of breakthrough. Immediately after David was made king over the entire country, we read this in the Bible – 2 Samuel 5:17: “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him … “ The Bible actually says: “All of the Philistines went up to search for him … “ “All of them”!

The opposition redoubles their efforts just when you are tempted to slacken off a little. And who – ultimately – is the opposition? Who knows when to attack? Who is behind the Philistines and adverse circumstances that try to derail the plan and will of God? Hear what the Bible says – Ephesians 6:10-12: “ … stand against the devil’s schemes … our struggle is not against flesh and blood [not against the Philistines or anyone else], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

We have an opposition that is the devil himself with all of the demonic rulers and authorities under him. Therefore, watch the time when God is opening something new for you – a breakthrough of some sort – maybe a promotion at work or when you get into a new position of serving him (e.g.: leading an Alpha course, get involved in JFK, begin to lead worship, join the prayer group, … ) or when you resolve to step up in your faith (e.g.: read the Bible daily and pray, be regular in Sunday worship attendance, be more faithful in your financial giving, … ).

Watch that time because Jesus himself faced the same danger. Even before he started his saving work of preaching and healing and calling disciples, he – working as a carpenter at the time – he was hungry for the things of God and therefore – one day – he went to the Jordan river because there was a move of God under the leadership of John the Baptist. Then it happened for him. I read from the Bible – Luke 3:21-22: “ … as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”

Jesus finally had his breakthrough – at the age of thirty. The Bible adds – Luke 3:23: “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry … “ But immediately after the breakthrough – just after he scored – just after this high-point – the fightback occurred. This was not the time to take a breather because – according to the Bible – Luke 4:1-2: “Jesus … returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil … “

This is practical and unfailingly true. The devil will not let you advance – will not let a church advance – without redoubling his efforts when we are most vulnerable – just when we are getting into it – when (maybe) we are not yet used to the thought of winning – that this could actually be us doing these things in the name of Jesus. I don’t know what Jesus felt during the forty days in the desert but maybe he also faced discouragement: “Who am I to be anything special? The experience at the Jordan was nice but maybe this wasn’t meant to last – this was just a moment in time – one of these rare God-moments. I’m only good with wood and should stick to what I know – cut and polish timber.”

The devil works with discouragement. When Peter Steicke – the Lutheran pastor at Paravista in Adelaide – when he went on his second mission trip to Uganda in 2007, he became sick almost as soon as they arrived there. It was a fever – the same fever that he got on the last day of his previous trip to Uganda. He began to get the shakes, then tried to get to his prayer partner and ask him for a Panadol. However, his prayer partner said that this was not just a normal fever but an attack from the devil – from the same demonic forces which fought against his presence and preaching the last time.

They prayed together for about 1.5 hours and then Peter was by himself and God began to teach him a few lessons. Firstly, God convicted him of pride. For some reason the two mission groups from Paravista had things to do out of town and Peter said to them: “Yeah, you just go. I’ll be fine. I’m an island. I’ll be fine.” But God convicted him of spiritual arrogance. We won’t be fine on our own because when the demonic fever comes we need prayer partners and a church that rallies around us. None of us can do it alone – and interestingly: it was precisely at the moment when David became the king of a united Israel that the Philistines sensed the need for an all-out attack. Unity – church unity – is dangerous to the devil.

So God convicted Peter of pride but then he also revealed to him the identity of the demon that attacked him. It was despair – discouragement. The aim was to break down any confidence in him that he would be able to preach the Word of God with passion, conviction and authority. Who was he after all – an Australian Lutheran in Uganda? Yet, for others – looking in from the outside – any feelings of discouragement in Peter would not have made sense. He was one of our most gifted pastors – with years of good work behind him. Why should such a great man of God become discouraged? Because – even in our moments of triumph – this is where we are most vulnerable: doubting ourselves – or better: the call of God on our lives – and becoming discouraged. However, Peter got through this, the mission trip in Uganda was amazing and climaxed in a blind man receiving his sight with the president of the Lutheran church in Uganda functioning as an interpreter – witnessing revival.

Do we battle discouragement – even at this time? One of the greatest prophets in the Bible was Elijah. One day king Ahab went to meet Elijah. I read from the Bible – 1 Kings 18:17-19: “When king Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, ‘Is that you, you troubler of Israel?’ ‘I have not made trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals [other gods]. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah … ‘” Then – when the entire nation was gathered at Mount Carmel – Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a worship showdown. Both were to prepare a sacrifice – a bull each – lay it on wood but not set it on fire. Both were meant to pray to their gods – Elijah to his God and the others to their gods – and in Elijah’s words – 1 Kings 18:24: “ … The god who answers by fire – he is God … “

The prophets and priests of Baal were first. 1 Kings 18:26: “ … they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. ‘O Baal, answer us!’ they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.” Elijah saw that and was very bold in this power confrontation. 1 Kings 18-27-29: “At noon Elijah began to taunt them. ‘Shout louder!’ he said. ‘Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.’ So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.”

Then it was Elijah’s turn. Again – he was bold. He asked all of the people to drench his sacrifice three times with water until everything was dripping wet. Then he prayed – 1 Kings 18:37-39: “ … ‘Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord – he is God! The Lord – he is God!’ … “ Then the prophets of Baal were killed, Elijah prayed and rain broke the drought and again the Bible records – 1 Kings 18:46: “The power of the Lord came upon Elijah … “

Elijah – with amazing courage – on his own – stared down the king and hundreds of Baal’s prophets and priests with the nation watching. That was boldness – and he won – and he broke through – but just when this decisive victory was achieved the following is recorded in 1 Kings 19:1-5: “Now Ahab told Jezebel [his wife – the queen] everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.’ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life … he went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep … “

How could that happen? The whole nation watched Elijah’s stunning feat of calling down the fire of God on a water-drenched sacrifice. The whole nation witnessed the superior power of God over all the baals. What miracle! What breakthrough! But Elijah relaxed too soon – at the wrong time – and thus, when he was most vulnerable the simple threat of the queen struck him down with discouragement. “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors.” “Who am I?” The prophet Elijah, whom God used to perform the greatest miracles, was lying under a tree wishing his life away in despair.

If that happened to him, then let’s not be surprised when the same discouragement threatens to overtake us. After any breakthrough – or just when you step up in your faith and obedience – be prepared. Reject – rebuke – rebuff – resist – the negative voices.

God says in the Bible – Romans 8:1-4: “ … there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus … what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man [in his own Son Jesus Christ] … “ Romans 8:31-34: “ … If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … “

These words mean that any source of discouragement is not coming from God. If you are feeling crushed or hopeless or ready to give up as a Christian, then you can be certain that this feeling is not caused by God but is from the enemy. God will discipline you. God will convict you of sin. God is insistent on obedience but when he speaks, the words are giving life. They lead to repentance and joy. Therefore, when someone prophesies words from God, he always – 1 Corinthians 14:3: “ … speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” – even when God points out a need for repentance.

I still remember that a few years ago, someone came up to me and said: “God has given me a word for you. It doesn’t make any sense to me but the word is: ‘Make me your first love.’” I still remember how at that time I struggled with this very issue and I still remember how much I felt God’s love in these words. He cared enough to speak to me. He cared enough to correct me and warn me about the importance of following him. He knew what I was going through.

That is God. He may convict but he never condemns. As the Bible reading from before said: “For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are in Christ Jesus which means that he died for our sins – “ … what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man [in his own Son Jesus Christ] … “ – we are in Christ Jesus because however sinful our human nature is and whatever sinful deed we may have done in life – and keep doing in our ongoing failure to be perfect – God forgives everything on account of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross – on account of the life of his son that was given as a sin offering for us.

We are in Christ Jesus. We are forgiven. We are made righteous – justified on account of someone else paying the fine for our sin – Jesus Christ, our Lord. Therefore, when the devil comes and whispers in our ears: “You are no good. You are no better than your ancestors. Remember the past and how awful you were in the past. How can you forget the shame? You are not worthy. You will never amount to anything? Other people may receive from God, but you never will. Your motives are not pure. You are no good.”

We shut our ears to these voices. They are not from God. He may convict but he never condemns one of his children. Hear again a few verses from Romans 8:31-34: “ … If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … “

We can expect everything from God – any blessing which you can imagine and more. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” You and I – get used to being given all things. Yes, we don’t deserve them. Yes, none of us here is perfect but – on account of Jesus Christ – we that put our faith in him receive all things from God as free gifts which flow from God’s undeserved love and kindness for his children. Therefore, why not start dreaming? Why not start aiming high?

The same Bible chapter spells out what God wants us to be like – what he creates in us – a spirit which knows not condemnation but trusting love in him. I quote from the Bible – Romans 8:15: “ . you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear [to discouragement], but you received a Spirit of sonship [of daughtership]. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, [dear Daddy], Father.’”

Anything that desires to rob us of trust and love for our Father in heaven is not from God but the work of the enemy – the devil himself. The devil is an accuser but – Revelations 12:10 – I read from the Bible: “ … the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, he has been hurled down.” We can no longer be accused if we seek forgiveness on account of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Thus, King David knew what to do. 2 Samuel 5:17: “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him … “ But David had not slackened off but was ready for this fightback. Disciplined and eager he set off against them – I quote: “ … David heard about it and went down to the stronghold … “ He defeated them and when they tried the same strategy again – attacked him again after the first victory – he did not grow tired or weary or discouraged but struck them down with confidence. He was God’s king and God was with him. [2 Samuel 18-25: notice how God achieved the two victories and how the strategy for each victory varied which underscores our ongoing dependence on God.]

I come to a close. Breakthroughs are meant to happen and when they happen, we won’t let anyone rob us. We won’t slacken off in that vulnerable time after the victory – after we have just scored – but we stand our ground. We watch the devil’s schemes. We watch the discouragement. We watch the accusations. Because what God has given us – what he has set up for us – he means us to keep. Amen.