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No Greater Cause There is a story found in I Chronicles 12. It is the story of a man named David. He was to be the second King of Israel. The first and present King was aware that David was to succeed him and King Saul was filled with jealousy. In fact he was eaten up with jealous rage and often would spend time hunting down David to kill him.

David was a fugitive. He was rejected and on the run. The one thing he did have going for him was the fact that God had ordained and promised him that he would be king someday. I Chronicles 12 is an historical record of the men who came to David while he was a fugitive from King Saul.

The Bible is full of stories some of which can be interpreted in different ways. For this lesson I want to use David as representative of Christ.

David was God’s anointed and appointed king but only a few accepted him as such. The majority gave their allegiance to Saul, who was rejected by God. They thought they were on the winning side but it was in reality the loosing side.

Jesus Christ is the rightful King. God anointed Him and appointed Him. He was given, “a name above every name.” (Phil.2:9) The trouble is in today’s society many people do not accept Him as King in fact they have rejected Him.

A majority of people today are willing to follow the popular way which the Bible clearly states is a broad way with many people and it leads to destruction.

During his rejection time David needed men who not only believed in him from a distance but men who would come boldly and be his followers and helpers.

That is exactly the kind of allegiance that Christ is looking for today. Men and women who are willing to be branded as His followers.

Men and women who will go where many would fear to walk.
Men and women who will hear His call and respond in their weakness.
Men and women who will take up the cross of Christ and men and women who will take up the cause of Christ.

People take up all kind of causes. . . (refer to metaphor on platform)

Today I want to give you seven characteristics of the people who choose to be on God’s side. Those who pick up the cause of Christ.

Characteristics of those who choose to be on God’s side.

1. God is looking for diversity. V.24-37

In David’s day they came to him from many different tribes. If you read in these verses you will find that the kind of men who came to him were very diverse.

Read some of the verses. . . .

When some of us hear the word diversity we automatically have come to think of some form of political correctness. I am not talking about diversity in terms of political correctness.

The message of the Bible is very clear. God can and will use all kinds of people. It doesn’t matter what race or what background someone has come from. He will use rich and poor. Tall and short. Quiet people and loud people.

Too often we limit God to only liking people who are just like us. People who share our little corner of the world.

Please understand that God is doing his work in every nation. He has followers in places where it might seem hard to believe. Iraq has a Christian population. There are Palestinian Christians. God is doing incredible things in other countries where people are under the threat of loosing their lives for their faith.

I say of this to remind you that no matter your background or history you can become a follow of Christ. You can accept Him as Savior of your life and follow Him.

2. God is looking for individuals who will walk a different path. V. 8

Verse 8 says, “Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. . .”

The word that is used here literally means that they separated themselves to David.

God is looking for followers who will truly separate themselves for His service. Too often we are weakened by the world around us.

Too often we become so mixed up with the world and culture that we live in that the lines become a bit blurry.

I Cor. 6 is a stirring call to the life of separation that we are called to walk.

“ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers . . . what communion has light with darkness? . . . I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people, Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean.”

I am very fearful that this nation in particular has accepted a watered down version of what it means to be Christ follower.

Maybe in an effort to have growing churches we have softened our tone and hoped that it would make it easier for people to follow Christ.

There was a lot of harshness in bygone years but I am afraid the in our attempt to correct the abuses of the past we have sometime overcorrected until the life changing message of the gospel doesn’t seem to be very life changing!

We are called to be different than the world we live in. We are called to walk a different path. We should judge ourselves by the word of God not the world in which we live.

3. God is looking for people who are equipped for danger and warfare. V. 2, 8, 38

It is a foolish thing to think that being a Christ follower is going to be an easy-going life.

It is not a life of walking down flower strewn pathways into golden sunsets It is not balmy breezes and cool refreshing rains always just when we want them.

It is no accident that much of the language of the Bible is militaristic in nature.

In David’s case he had men, “. . . armed with bows who could use both right and left hands in hurling stones and shooting arrows, men of might, men of war fit for battle that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles. . .”

Ephesians 6:11-12 , “Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We are encouraged in the rest of Ephesians 6 to arm ourselves with faith, the word, salvation, righteousness and prayer.

4. God is looking for people who are dead to life. V. 15

The battles David men fought were very costly ones. They were committing their lives to the cause. In verse 15 we read about some men, “. . .who crossed the Jordan river in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all those in the valley, to the east and the west.”

It is really hard for us to conceive the concept here in the United States of America. We do experience freedom of religion. We have rights that at least at present are still intact. We do not fear loosing our lives for our faith.

Please understand that it is not out of the ordinary for followers of Christ to loose their life for their faith.

Eleven out of twelve of the original disciples lost their lives for the cause of Christ. Hundreds of thousands of people are murdered for their faith each year around the world.

I would recommend taking a look at the website, www.persecution.com

God is looking for people who don’t count there life dear but give everything to Him.

5. God is looking for people who rely on divine strength. V. 8, 21

These men were mighty men of valor.

God wants you and I to rely only on His divine strength for what He call us to do and be.

What you must remember and I would suggest you write it down, “one with God is a majority.”

David and his sling against Goliath.
Gideon and his 300 men.
The apostle Peter who was a coward one day but under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit stood and preached a message that resulted in 3000 people following Christ.

The critical need today is for men and women who are full of faith and reliance on God’s strength.

6. God is looking for people who are free from division.

Verses 16 and 17 are really fascinating. “Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, ‘if you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment,’”

God is looking for a people who will not be sidetracked to one side or the other.

Unity of purpose and cause is vital.

We are called to be loyal to Christ and each other.

7. God is looking for people who are driven by one desire. V. 23, 33 and 38.

The mighty men who gathered themselves to David had one desire and that was to make him king.

Our desire is all about the causes of Christ. We are called to follow our King. We are called to make disciples and teach about Him. We do this with our mouths our lives our very existence.

Christ followers live to tell the story.
Christ followers love to tell the story.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made--I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, worldly-talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, hired away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, give up till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes my banner will be clear!

2003/02/09