The Spirit and the gift are ours,
To give to with a sighted. Let good and kindred go, With
mortal life also. The body they may kill, God's
truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever. I like that, well I like all
of it, but the line particularly, one little word shall fail him. Get the, not from us, mind you. But from Christ, get thee behind
me, Satan. All right, let's read the text
again. 1 Samuel 17, verse 29 is our
text and subject. David said, What have I now done? Or what fault do you find in
me? Is there not a cause? This statement by David has been
with me all over a week now, ever since I read it again. Is there not a cause? Now, I want us to look at three
things in there. I want us to look at the actual
story behind this. And then I want us to look at
the story within the story, the real reason why this happened
and what this means and how it applies to us. In
other words, we're going to look at David's cause. David had a
cause, Roy. That's what he said. And he stood
for it. And the story within a story
is the cause of Christ. Christ's cause. Whom David represents. And then how this applies to
us. We have a cause. This is our cry also. Is there not a cause? David's
cause. Now turn with me to Judges chapter 2. The book of Judges,
chapter 2. Brother John, you love the book
of Judges, don't you? Brother John Sheasley has always
wanted me to preach from the book of Judges. I've done a couple
of messages, but not much. But the book of Judges, chapter
2. Now, God's chosen nation, Israel,
was always under attack from various enemies. They had many
enemies. Still do. You know, Israel is
still a token of God's sovereignty. The nation of Israel. It was
a symbol in the beginning of God's absolute sovereignty. And
He chose that nation, He said, not because you're greatest,
but because you're fewest. But not all Israel was Israel,
but He had a remnant, He said. All those people weren't God's
people, but nevertheless, God did have an elect people out
of Israel. But anyway, Israel has always
been a symbol of God's sovereignty. That nation, though the whole
world is against it, and they are, everybody hates Jews. Some
brazenly say so, but everybody does and won't admit it. But Brother Darnell, they cannot
destroy that nation. Why? Not very big, is it? Because God said that they can't
and won't. Another symbol, just a symbol
of God's sovereignty. But anyway, Israel has always
been under attack from various enemies. And you can read between
the lines as I say these things. But before David, there were
several men who were raised up by God for the cause, for this
cause. Judges chapter 2, verses 1 through
3, And Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochum and
said, He said this to Israel, I have made you to go up out
of Egypt and brought you into the land which I swear unto your
fathers. And I said, I will never break my covenant with you. You
shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land. Don't
join with them. You shall throw down their altars,
that is, their idolatry. But you have not obeyed My voice.
Why have you done this? Wherefore, I also said, I will
not drive them, or that is, these nations, out from before you.
They shall be as thorns in your sides, and their God shall be
a snare unto you." See, Israel brought this on themselves,
but God in judgment left these nations. Go down to verse 20
and 21. I'm building a case here, OK?
You've got to stay with me. The anger of the Lord was hot
against Israel, and he said, Because this people has transgressed
my covenant, that is, his law, his word, which I commended their
fathers and have not hearkened unto my voice, I also will not
henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which
Joshua left when he died. That through them, through these
nations, I will prove Israel, whether they will keep the way
of the Lord to walk therein as their fathers did keep it or
not. They're mingled with God's people. Are you reading between
the lines yet? They're everywhere. They're surrounded.
There are more of them than Israel. Look at chapter 3, verse 1. These
are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them.
As many of the Israelites had not known all the wars of Canaan,
the children of the children of Israel who didn't know anything
about Moses or Joshua, didn't know anything about war, didn't
even know there was a war. They were getting along just
fine with everybody. Are you with me now? Are you
catching Spiritual meaning. Only that
the generations of the children of Israel, verse 2, might know,
that they might know to teach them war. There's a war going
on. Not peace, peace. It's a war,
Samuel. "...that the least such as before
knew nothing thereof, and namely, the Philistines, the Sidonians,
the Hivites, and so on and so forth." Verse 4, "...and they
were to prove Israel by them to know whether they would hearken
unto the commandments of the Lord." Verse 5, the children
of Israel dwelt among Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites,
Hivites, and Jebusites. And the children of Israel did
evil on the sight of the Lord, forgot the Lord their God, served
Baal and the Groms and Asherah and all these other gods, gods
of the people, round about. Gods of the, the Methodists,
Baptists, it doesn't say that, but that's exactly what it's
talking about. At any rate, they were everywhere.
Enemies all around. But God had true men. God always
did have His true men. And a few women next to Him there. Didn't He, John? In the book
of Judges, there was a woman. There was no man, apparently,
but a woman. God raised up a woman to be a
judge. Do you know her name? She's a member of this church.
Deborah. She was a judge. Apparently,
they'd run out of good men. But the Lord raised up mostly
men. Joshua. It began with Joshua. It started with Joshua. Joshua
was the one that began to wage war. That's interesting, isn't
it? Another Joshua ended it. That's no coincidence, is it,
John? Joshua started it. Jesus, which is the Greek name
of Joshua, finished it. Caleb, Gideon, Deborah, Barak,
Samson. Samson fought with a ballistic,
remember? He's always fighting with a ballistic. He married
that woman who was a godless woman and that was almost his
downfall. It was eventually his downfall.
But God spared him and remember put him between those pillars. Samuel. Samuel. Remember Samuel. And now David. Go back to the
text now. They all had the same cause.
Every one of these men and women had the same cause. Is there
not a cause? Yep. What is it? The cause of
God and truth. The cause of God's name, God's
glory. That's being blasphemed among
the heathen and God's truth, God's word, which not only did
the world not believe, but the so-called people of God were
not following them. The cause of God and truth. John
Gill has a book written with that title, The Cause of God
and Truth. Great book. They all had the same cause.
Look at David, what he said here, 1 Samuel 17, 26. David spake
to the men that stood by him and said, what shall be done
to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the
reproach from Israel? This man is reproaching Israel.
He's bringing reproach upon it. He's mocking up. Who is this
uncircumcised Philistine? He called him a dog is what he
called him. Who is this dog? Remember when he goes to face
him, Darnell, That's what Goliath is going to say to him. He'll
say, am I a dog? David said, yes, you are. Who is this uncircumcised Philistine? Who is this godless, proud, haughty,
loud-mouthed giant of a man, boasting, bragging, taunting
Israel and tempting God? He's defying the armies of the
living God. And over in verse 40, Verse 45,
he said, I am come to thee in the name of the Lord, a host,
a God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. So David, a man after God's own
heart, upon hearing this defiant fellow, This loud-mouthed, proud,
big, godless worldling, boasting and bragging all about himself,
his exploits, and defying God's people, and tempting the God
in whose hands he is very abreast with, it sickened David's heart
to hear this man spat off. And folks, we've got a hundred
million Goliaths around us now, don't we? Now, I'm getting ahead
of myself. But David, his heart was sickened
by what he heard, and his anger began to arouse in him. I'm sure
he gritted his teeth. And his zeal for God's name,
that's what encouraged him, that's what emboldened him to do this,
his zeal for God's name. He feared God, Jeanette, more
than he did Goliath. And boy, the man that does that
need not fear a man. He feared God more than man,
and he loved God's people and was defiant against anybody
who defied him. And he said, Who is this fellow?
Who does he think he is? And in spite of his cowardly,
hypocritical brother, These brothers, you know, had on all their armor,
and these brothers who professed allegiance to Saul, these brothers
who stood around the fire and talked big talk, you know, like
so many so-called victorious Christians today. Talked big
talk, but they did nothing, Ron. They did nothing. They were cowards.
They were hypocrites. They were all talk. They did
nothing. But they were critical of a man
who was about to do something. And they thought him beneath
them, and they accused him. Why neither? They accused David
of what they were guilty of. One time they said to the Lord,
and I am getting ahead of myself, but I don't care. They said to
the Lord one time, something derogatory, and He said, Is thine
eye evil, because mine is good? Don't accuse me of being what
you are. That's what evil men do, don't
they? They find fault with others and they themselves do nothing.
Not in the cause. Beware of those who do nothing
and critical of others who try. And David said, what have I now
done? What have I done wrong? David was faultless. David the
man was faultless. And he said these words, Is there
not a cause? Aren't you glad God raised up
men like David? We wouldn't be here today. We wouldn't be here. Well, that's
David's cause. And you know, literally by this
one man, God by this one man saved Israel by David. By this one man, this ruddy youth
with a sling and a smooth stone. He saved all of Israel by one
man. Now, do you know the story within
the story? Do you know really why this story
happened? Why this was written? Do you
know who David represents? Sure you do. A greater story
and a greater cause. You want to hear it? A much greater
cause, though similar, very similar. This story testifies, as do all
the scriptures, Christ said, they are they which testify of
me. And I believe Christ may have
preached this to his disciples when he began at the books of
Moses and the Psalms and all the prophets, expounding unto
them the things concerning himself. David was a prominent figure
in Israel. Everybody loved David, loved the Psalms of David. I
know Christ preached from them, and I know He probably told them
who David represented. Why God raised up David. He's the son of David. This story
testifies of the Christ who came to this earth, why? For a cause. the cause. He said that one day,
didn't he? Christ said that one day. He
said, for this cause came I unto this hour. Turn with me to Romans chapter
5. Romans chapter 5, the cause of Christ. Let's look at that.
The cause of Christ. Now Romans 1, 2, and 3 tell us
about man and his sinfulness and his utter depravity, don't
they? Romans 1, 2, and 3 tell us about
sinful man. It began with Adam. God made
man, but man rebelled against him. And man became a sinful,
vile, and wicked creature, a depraved creature, from the sole of his
feet to the crown of his head, no soundness in it. His loins
filled with a loathsome disease called sin. Born in sin and dead
and trespassed in sin. That's what Romans 1, 2, and
3 tell us. Man who was created by God for
God. For God's glory. Man sinned and
came far short of that glory. That's why God created man. For
God's glory. God didn't create man for man
to enjoy himself. God didn't create the world for
man to have a big time and waste it on himself, but for God's
glory. And beginning with Adam and on
down through his race, man has come far short of that glory. And he's dead in sin, he has
no... Scripture says he doesn't even
have any thoughts of God. Not only does he not glorify
God... Let me see if I can put this in plain
language. Folks aren't interested in God, unless you tell them
what God can do for them. Unless you tell them how God
can help them out, make them rich, and keep them without disease. Isn't that right? They're not interested in God. Young people are not interested
in God. Unless God has mercy on them. Unless God saves them. Not interested
in the God that made them. Why did God make us? Why do we
live? Why are we allowed to live? What is our purpose? I said before,
you don't have to spend 40 days trying to find out what that
is. It's all about God's glory. Whatever and whoever doesn't
give God the glory, He's going to destroy them. That all men,
mankind, young and old alike, are guilty before God and waiting
to die. Waiting to die. Look at Romans
5, verse 12. This is what Scripture plainly
tells us. And Sherry, religion doesn't believe any of that I
just said. They don't believe. They quote verses all of sin
and come short of it, but they don't really say what that means.
They sure don't say Man is a vile creature to do the same. I don't
believe that. Preachers wouldn't have a hearing.
Well, they'd have about 45 people. That's about it. That's right. People don't believe that, but
that's the truth. That's the truth. Verse 12 of Romans 5 says,
By one man sinned into the world, and death by sin. All men have
suffered the consequences of Adam's sin, original sin. So
death passed upon all men. Babies die because they're sinners. That's what verse 14 says. Death
reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned
after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Who's that? Babies. They don't willfully sin. But
they're born sinners, and the consequences of sin is death. And you and I believe, based
on the Word of God, that Christ died for infants. And the blood
of Christ put away their sin. But they're still sinners. Born
sinners. Find that out real early, don't
you, parish? Real early. But God. As worthless and sinful
as man is, God is rich in mercy. As worthless as man is, as sinful
as man is, God is infinitely higher in mercy, in love, and
in grace. For His glory, He purposed to
save a bunch of these worthless beings. Now that's just a fact. None of them are worth saving.
Starting with me. Now look down at verse, God chose
a remnant. Now you've heard all these things
before, haven't you? But God chose a remnant. And you know, and I know, that
he shouldn't have saved anybody. Anybody. Let alone numbers, stars,
and sky. Huh? Would you have put up with
Israel? Nah. But God made a covenant. And he's going to stick by it.
And God loved a bunch of those worthless people. They're the people only God could
love. God chose a remnant. out of this
fallen race to save them. And one man is going to save
them. You know that story of Israel
back there with David. Do you remember? They followed
Saul. They didn't like Samuel. Remember?
They were a bunch of worthless people. They weren't happy with
Samuel. Why not? They didn't. They didn't listen to Samuel.
They got what they deserved in the king. And they never did. They were, Moses said, he summed
it up, he said, you've been a stiff necked people ever since I've
known you. They had the greatest man born of woman leading them,
Moses, and they didn't listen to him. And then Joshua, they
didn't listen to him. And the same going on and on. That's us. But God raised up
David, and this one man is going to save him. And look at that. Go to Hebrews 2. No, I didn't
read verse 17. Romans 5, 17. Now, if by one
man's offense, death reigned by one, that is Adam. Much more. Now, look at this. They which receive abundance
of grace. You see, salvation is by grace.
God chose. Electing grace. Sovereign electing
grace. Whoever is saved, whoever God
saved from this eternal death and gives eternal life, it's
a gift. It's by grace. It's abundant
grace. Where does it come from? What
is it? It's the gift of righteousness. It's a gift. You can't earn it.
You can't obtain it. It's a gift. given to you, salvation given
to you, righteousness imputed to you, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. For this cause,
Christ came into the world to save a bunch of no good sinners. All right, let me look at it
a little more fully, all right? Hebrews 2. I'm not tired of telling this. Oh my, Hebrews 2, look at this
quickly, very quickly, I've got to hurry. Hebrews 2, Christ the
Holy One of God, the righteousness of God, the surety of God, the
covenant, surety of the covenant. God's servant, God's Lamb, God's
King, came, sent by God, raised up by God to save a sinful people. Look at Hebrews 2 verse 10. It
became him, how becoming it was to our God, for whom are all
things, by whom are all things. See, this is a salvation becoming
to God. Becoming to His glory. Becoming
to His wisdom. Becoming of His love. Becoming
of His mercy. Becoming of His grace. Becoming
of His purpose. His mind becoming. It became
Him in bringing many sons unto glory. How did He do it? He sent
a captain to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
suffering. Who's that? Christ. Read on. Both He that sanctifies, that
is God, and they who are sanctified are all of one. Christ, for which
cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Here's what Christ
said. He said, I will declare thy name unto my brethren. Does
this sound like David to you? David came and saluted his brethren,
didn't he? David, I'm sure, always saluted people in the name of
God. In the name of the living God, I salute you, my brethren.
How fair thee this day, this glorious day. You reckon? I will declare thy name, verse
12, unto my brethren in the midst of the church, will I sing praise
unto thee. And again I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold, I and the
children which thou hast given me, God hath given me. For as
much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that
is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death are
all their lifetime subject to bondage." What's the cause? Similar
to David's, but much greater. A people beset behind and before
and within by sin. The glory of God, a cause. All
have come short of it. The Lord Jesus Christ came for
that cause. God's glory and salvation of
His people. And He came. Christ, zealous
for God's glory, came in love to God's glory, to glorify God
as a man. And he did. And the scripture
says God's well pleased, Isaiah 42, He's well pleased for His
righteousness sake. God couldn't contain Himself
twice. He just said it. You hear it? Look twice. The world just thinks
it's thundering. We just heard God say, this is
My beloved Son, and I'm well pleased. He's well pleased for
His righteous Son. Thank You, Lord. Zealous. Christ was zealous for
God's glory. As a man, Christ came as a man,
zealous for God's glory that nobody seemed to be interested
in. Christ was. And He fulfilled that glory. Glorify God perfectly in thought,
word, and deed. For this cause, the cause of
the law that was against us, the handwriting of ordinances
that were against God's people, all of them come short. The law
has a claim on us just like Ruth. There's a kinsman nearer than
Boaz that has a claim on us. Somebody's got to face him, take
off his shoe and throw it at him. Do you know that story? Christ faced the law and fulfilled it perfectly for
us, for His people. Christ faced sin, sins ever before. Christ faced it without temptation,
without folly. Christ faced Satan, that giant
who has us captive. Faced him without fear and crushed
his head. We're going to see later on how
that David cut the giant's head off with his own sword. And we're
going to see what that represents. It's amazing. This is God's Word. Absolutely. God's Word. It's absolutely amazing. And
Christ endured hell, which is God's wrath against sin and separation
from God, but he did not suffer corruption. And he came out of
the grave and said to his people, it's over. For this cause, Christ came.
The cause of God, the cause of His people, the cause of God's
glory and the salvation of His people. And he came out of that
grave victorious over sin, Satan, hell and death. Sin is put away. Satan vanquished in chains. And
the people who were all their lifetime subject to fear and
death, Christ said, He delivered them. Did not fear. And say unto them, the warfare
is accomplished. Who did it? One man. By himself. Iniquity's pardon. Received of
the Lord's hand, double for all their sin. A bunch of no good
rebel. The son of David did that. Is there not a cause? Well, what about us? How does
this relate to us? Give me a few more minutes. Is
there not a cause with us? Or us? The same cause as David. If we belong to Christ, it's
Christ's cause. Isn't it? The world, as we said,
like that philistine, mocks our God. Don't they? They mock those who believe the
God of the Bible. Just like Isaiah 59 says, you
know, truth has fallen in the street, equity can't enter, and
those that depart from it make themselves a prey. That is, those who believe the
truth and don't want anything to do with this lie, this religious
lie that's being believed everywhere, they're the prey. They're the
ones everybody's after. And I say, is there not a cause?
Now more than ever, Barbara, is there not a cause? This world mocks our God. Every
corner of this globe is mocking God, defying the living God. The glory of God, I say Ichabod
should be written over the doorpost of nearly every so-called church
in this land. I say that without hesitation,
without reservation. You know what Ichabod means,
don't you? The glory hath departed. The glory of God, that is. Preachers
aren't interested in God's glory. They're not preaching it, Irene.
People aren't interested in God's glory. They're interested in
whatever. The glory hath departed. Ichabod. God's name is not important. They're blaspheming it. God's
power is not believe in a form of godlessness, but deny the
power thereof. And I say now more than ever, is there not
a cause? Sometimes I wonder, should we stay on the radio?
Yep. Is there not a cause? This gave me more resolve than
ever. Somebody has got to say it, don't they? I challenge you,
turn it on. If you'll find me somebody saying
something, anything, well, no, I want them to tell the whole
truth, not just close. Find me somebody, we'll try to
have fellowship with them. We really will. I can't find them, can you? So
is there not a cause? Is there not a cause? The Word
of God is being maligned. Very few people use the King
James Bible anymore. Why? They don't believe in a
king. God's Word, the old book, is
too plain, isn't it? Isn't it? It's too plain. Practically
done away with the Old Testament. Aren't you glad we still preach
from 1 Samuel? Oh, my. God's Word. He said in
Psalm 50, He said in verse 16 of Psalm 50, our Lord said, Who
is this to take My covenant upon their filthy lips? They've got
God's Word in their mouth. They have no business using it.
Because they don't believe it. That's what he went on to say.
They don't believe it and they're not preaching it. Is there not a
cause? And the loud, proud giant called
religion today, that's the big giant. Satan's behind it. Loud and proud. Doesn't that
describe religion? Loud and proud. Do you know what the chief characteristic
of a true believer is? Meekness and loneliness. Does
that describe the average modern Christian to you? Loud and proud. And that big loud and proud giant
called religion today mocks us and our God. And Paul said to
young Timothy, he said, their mouths must be stopped. I'm determined If you've been listening to the
radio, you may have noticed that the messages are just about as
forthright and basic as they can be. And I'm determined in
nearly every message to say the same old things, the basics,
the foundations. To say election is just as loud
as I can say it. Why? Not for John Calvin's sake. Because
that's God's glory. Is there not a cause? Yes, it
is. It's God's glory at stake. It's God's right to be God. This is the whole thing in a
nutshell, people. Men and women religion defies God. and doesn't believe he is God. So somebody's got to stand up,
Brother Roy, and say, listen, God is God. Is there not a cause? Somebody's
got to say that Jesus Christ actually saved the people. Doesn't
it? Is there not a cause in Christ's
glory at stake? In that precious blood? The efficacy
of that blood at stake? Is there not a cause? And let me ask you this in closing.
What about this little assembly here that we have? This church
is, folks, I don't think we fully realize what we have here. This little assembly, as little
as it may be, this little remnant, this little flock, is something
special now. It's something special. I don't
know of a people anywhere like you people. I don't know of a
church anywhere that's enjoying the unity and the fellowship that we have here. And as long
as we've had it here. And I've been to a lot of places.
I have. I've preached to nearly all the
great churches we know of. And I don't know of another one
like it. And there's other men that say the same thing when they
come here. Now is this not worth something? Is this not a cause
worth supporting, giving ourselves to? What about our children? Do your
children need this place? Do we need it? Do you want your
grandchildren to have a place like this? Isn't it worth standing up to
anyone? and against anyone or anything
or anyone that threatens the unity and peace of this fellowship? Huh? I don't care who it is.
Is it not a cause? What are we willing to sacrifice
for this? What are we willing to face? David, that's a true
story. Don't ever forget. You know,
see, the world... Margaret, the world misses the
story of Christ, and they just tell the story of David, an underdog
facing a giant foe and how you can overcome insurmountable odds.
That's a moral story. They tell the actual story of
one man's courage. Well, we preach Christ and him
crucified. That's the greater story and
the chief story. But you know, David, that's a real story. It's
a real man. That's a real man, Barbara, named
David. And the whole place was shivering
and cowering. And David stood up and said,
Isn't that God? He did. And after David went out and
fought, a little fella went out and fought with that giant and
slew him. Then the rest of them got courage.
And we, you know, when we see how that Christ has put away
sin by himself, and our foe is not loose, but he is in chains,
that emboldens us. How that sin shall not have dominion
over us, that gives us courage. So is there not a cause? Yeah,
I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I can face
anybody. I have one man alone. Everybody
hates you. They'll hate you. Is there not
a cause? No? I'm sure there is. Let me
tell you something. Let me give you a good illustration
of something that kind of certified this to me. You have family. Some of you enjoy, Nancy's not
here, but Sam and Hannah and Stephen and Mary and the children.
You all go over to Mama's house on Sunday afternoon. What brought
all that about? All of you love the gospel, love
each other, and have a family unity and fellowship that very
few families have. What's that all about? Where
did that come from? Every Sunday, and these three
people can attest to that, every Sunday at the service, we go
to our house and Mama fixes dinner. And we sit around that table,
Gabe and Hannah, Mindy, and we talk for nearly two hours about
the Word and the Gospel. Other than this right here, isn't
that the most blessed time? What brought all that about?
What's the cause of all that? God saved this rebel and wed
him to a Ruth. who had a, had a, who met a fellow
from way down in Moab and brought it all, same as the Old Testament,
brought them all together and we sit around, is this, is there
not a cause? I don't want anybody or anything
to disrupt that. This is something worth giving
all for. Margaret, you and Mac, the Lord
saved that giant of a man. Isn't that the greatest thing
that ever happened to your family? And if he reveals himself to
your children and they marry, believe me, this is why I say,
young people, if you don't know the Lord, seek the Lord. I hope
he will reveal himself to you. And if he does, don't even think
about marrying someone that doesn't know the same Lord. You won't
know the peace and the joy and all that. I've never known disunity in
the family. I've never known it. Tammy, I've never known it.
Go to my in-laws. My in-laws loved me. Always did. Why? They both knew Christ. And
my parents loved her. They're just one big happy family.
Why? Grace of God. All came about
from the power of preaching the gospel. And I'm telling you right now
that it can happen. It can happen. It has happened and it is happening. Without, listen to my warning
now, that when the Lord is is winnowing his threshing floor
as we speak. It hadn't really hit this place
much, but it's going to. And you heed this word of warning,
and this clarion cry, this rallying cry, would you remember this? Is there not a cause? Don't forget that. Okay, let's pray that the Lord
will keep us true to the cause. And let us not be coward and
face any foe by His grace. And the Lord will bruise Satan
under your feet shortly. Right shortly. But listen to
what I say, and I'm your watchman. Okay, let's stand. Our Father, we thank You so much
for Your Word. Again, we say the same things
over and over, but we really mean it, that Your Word is Your
power and it's our strength, our food, our everything, our
wisdom and knowledge and all things. This is what You use,
and Lord, if You will open our eyes If you will open our ears by
your Word, if you will quicken our understanding by your Word,
enlighten our darkness by your Word, if you will make us watch
through prayer in thy Word, then we will not be overcome, but
rather overcome. Who is he that overcometh the
world? That which is born of God, and he that believeth. Followeth
the Lamb. Understanding to give us courage,
we pray, in the face of a world that is increasingly evil and
wicked, and defying our God. Make us courageous and bold for
Thy glory and Thy truth's sake. In the cause of Christ and for
His name's sake, we pray and are met here tonight. Amen. All of us now stand.