Oh to have faith that conquers! The two readings today encourage us to live like men and women who can conquer all enemies we might face! I love those stories of faith in the Old Testament. We have vivid pictures of men and women who loved God and their king. They had faith to conquer their enemies The mighty men of David were 37 in all. The first three were noted for their bravery in battle. Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah stood their ground where the Lord had them. They were willing to fight even to their death. The summary of the battle was beautiful: AND THE LORD BROUGHT ABOUT A GREAT VICTORY. When these three men heard the cry of their king to taste of the water of Bethlehem, they risked their lives and brought that water to him. They knew their king. They loved him. Nothing was too dangerous. He gave them great faith to do mighty things for king and country.

Paul brings us to our "Greater David," King Jesus Christ! Recall that we are to bend the knee and lift the voice and declare, "Jesus Christ is Lord!" The passage of Scripture before us unfolds the wonder of what all that means for you and me today. One thing is sure - with Christ in us, we will never be the same.

Two mis-conceptions need to be addressed as we begin. The first one is that we can earn our way to heaven, or make God pay up for our good behavior on earth. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our good works. The opening words sound like we have found our salvation and we are going to work it out ourselves. WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION. There are some who quickly point out that we have to earn our salvation. Paul did not forget his own teaching. We cannot work for the salvation of Christ. His salvation is a gift from God to us! "For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works that no one should boast." (Eph 2.8,9) God gives us His salvation. We do not earn it, nor do we deserve it!

Paul did not write these words right after his conversion. They took years and painful challenges to understand a simple truth: you can become a Christian instantly. But to grow a saint can take years. Slips, slides and stumbling along the way, often marks the life of followers of Christ. Always start at the cross. Jesus Christ died for people just like you and me. We were people who were HOPEless, HELPless, and certainly FAITHless. When we recognize and accept what He did for us on the cross, we welcome His life into ours. We move from spiritual death to spiritual life...from fear to HOPEFUL, HELPFUL, AND FAITHFUL! We welcome Him! None of us earns our salvation! But if we do not have His wonderful gift of salvation, we cannot work out from within us, what is not there! We will never know a faith that conquers.

The second mis-conception is to struggle with the words, FEAR AND TREMBLING.

I have had more people come to me and ask about this "fear and trembling" that Paul describes. One minister said, "I don’t even fear God anymore." Others, a little more honest admit that they too often see God as a rough, grumpy old man. So, consider this: If you have Jesus Christ in your heart and life, you are a child of God. Even if you misbehave, He will not turn you away!

Some of you recall the story of the man and woman just newly married in the country. A mule was pulling their wagon, carrying them to their new home. Suddenly the mule balked. No matter what the man did, the mule would not move. Finally, the man got down, went to the mule and shouted, "That’s one." The mule pulled the wagon a bit further. Then, he shied from a noise in the bushes. The man again went to the mule and shouted, "That’s two." It wasn’t long until the mule acted up again. The man took his shotgun and went to the mule. "That’s three," and killed him. The new bride was beside herself. Screaming and carrying on, she could not believe her new husband. The man calmly went to her side of the wagon and shouted, "That’s one."

When we have our Lord Jesus Christ within us, His heavenly Father becomes our own heavenly Father. He loves us, forgives us, YES, CORRECTS US, and encourages us! But He never lets us go! He holds us and lets us know we are loved by Him! He is the one who gave His Son for us...OUR SALVATION! Our God brings life-changing power for ourselves and for those whom we meet. We have His power to conquer any enemy!

So, let’s begin with ourselves! What do your enemies look like? Perhaps they are things about yourself that you seem helpless to change - unloving, impatient, selfish. Or, you find yourself always trying to please others, to meet their expectations. But you never do. You feel as though you have missed God because of this. Some of you are here and are discouraged with your Christian life. You might even be saying, "I quit. I can never match up to what others think I should be." Do you believe the words of Paul...that salvation you have is on the inside of you...work it out? "Christ in you, the hope of Glory!" (Col 1) Faith to conquer - that is what we want and need. Friends, that is WHAT WE HAVE! FOR OURSELVES...FOR OTHERS, TOO!

I

DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOURSELF! Remember it is GOD AT WORK IN YOU TO WILL AND TO WORK FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. He works out His salvation in each person His own way! By the very fact that you are in worship today says that you want to keep trying to grow. God has not given up on you! Here, I’ll show you what I mean. In this instant society, we feel some things are urgent - they must be done now. God works for eternal purposes in us to grow us...how is your attitude toward Him?

What is urgent is measured by the running clock.

What is important is measured by the growing spirit.

What is urgent clamors for attention.

What is important knocks quietly for attention.

What is urgent says, "Do this now!"

What is important says, "Put this first."

What is urgent may boost my career.

What is important may build my character.

What is urgent focuses on what I want to do.

What is important focuses on what God wants to do.

What is urgent matters most in time.

What is important matters most in eternity.

"He who began a good work in you will complete it..." (Phil 1.6) Don’t give up on yourself. The things that you are going through are for your strength and for His glory! Even if you cannot see what is happening, He is doing good things! Gutzon Borglum was the man who sculpted the head of Lincoln from marble. It is now in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. The house cleaner of Borglum watched the head take shape from the marble. "How did you see Lincoln in that stone?" "It depends on who you are looking for," was his answer.

I believe God is as delighted with us, as grandparents are when they show pictures of their little ones to captive audiences. He sees us as we are to Him...getting more beautiful with each day of salvation! There is always more grace in God than there is sin in us!

II

DON’T GIVE UP ON OTHERS! That is the second part of this message. ATTITUDE IS WHAT COUNTS! If God is at work in each of us who love Him, there is no room for "grumbling or disputing!" How easy it is to complain about where God has you, and miss what God wants to do with you. Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell. Rather than seeing walls and no hope, the difference between a prison and a monastery is just the difference between griping and gratitude. Prisoners often sit around griping about their life. Self-imprisoned saints spend their whole days giving thanks and praise. When a criminal becomes a saint, a prison may become a monastery. When a saint gives up gratitude, a monastery may become a prison!

One man sat dejected on a park bench. A policeman thought something to be wrong, approached him and asked the trouble. "My grandfather died two months ago and left me $85,000 and two oil wells." "You should be happy," replied the policeman. "Well," said the fellow, "last month my uncle died and also left me some money - $150.000." "Wow! I’m sorry those men died, but you have had good things happen. So, why are you sad?" "This month, so far, not a cent." He needed an opportunity from God to be given away for others! Look around! There are so many ways to encourage and strengthen others. When we do, our faith increases and we discover we conquer all sorts of enemies! That was what Paul meant when we would "prove yourselves blameless, innocent...as lights in the world...holding forth the word of life...I did not run in vain or toil in vain...being poured out as a drink offering for your faith...I rejoice and share my joy with you all!" (17,19) A life given for Christ and for others - that is worth it all!

Perhaps you feel as though you are truly caught in a difficult situation. You do not feel like you are going to have faith to conquer your enemy - he will conquer you. You do not want to give up on yourself, you do not want to give up on others...but the mess you are in is impossible even for God to straighten out. Consider this great little story.

A clothing merchant lost his shipment of goods from a storm at sea. He had no choice but to go to the local moneylender and ask for help. The moneylender gave him the money, and indicated also a desire for the daughter of the merchant. Neither the merchant nor daughter liked that! Well, the second shipment also was lost at sea. Now the merchant faced disaster and probably would lose everything and go to jail. The moneylender wanted to marry the daughter. He offered a bargain: give me your daughter and the debt is paid. Refuse and you go to prison. "I’ll even make it possible for you to be out of debt and your daughter may not have to marry me.

"I’ll pick one white stone and one black stone and place them in this bag. Your daughter can choose one stone. If it is white, your debt is paid and your daughter will not have to marry me. But if she chooses the black stone, your debt will still be paid, but she will have to marry me. Refuse this and you go to jail." The father and daughter did not like the idea, but they had no choice. The moneylender reached down and picked up two small stones. The daughter happened to notice that the man did not pick up one black and one white stone, but TWO BLACK STONES. She was doomed. She offered prayer quickly, then reached into the bag. As she drew her hand out of the bag, the stone tumbled out and back to the rest of the mixed stones. "Don’t worry, sir. If you look inside you will know by the stone that is left which stone I chose." She acted, but worked in her...for herself...and for the father she loved.

God can do the same for you and me! Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on others. He will always work within you to will and work for His great pleasure. That is the kind of God who lives in us who love Him! Who knows, perhaps you will be listed in that great list of heroes of our greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ. Conquering enemies within and beyond with a faith that is based on the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

That is the kind of God who still offers Himself to any one of you who feel that this is the last hope. He offers Himself...His salvation...and His wonderful life ahead...begin with Him. Welcome Him into your life...you will never regret your decision!