Is there not a cause?

[Dr. Thomas Galt]

The Warfare



4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ; 2 Cor 10:4-5 (KJV)



What would happen if there was a battle and the opposing forces didn’t show up? Or they
were there and they were hiding like the armies of Israel were against Goliath in 1 Sam 17:24 (KJV)

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled
from him, and were sore afraid.



Here is a great battle that was going on between the Philistines and the armies of Israel. Saul had given a
promise that whoever went out to meet Goliath and defeat him would receive a
great reward. “the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him
his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.” 1 Sam 17:25 (KJV).
Out of Goliaths own mouth he stated that if the Israelites were to defeat him
then the Philistines would become their servants. But the Israelites were very
afraid of just one man. Goliath. “When they saw the man, fled from him, and
were sore afraid.” They forgot who they were and the power that had been shown
in their midst by almighty God. They looked at what was going on around them
and in front of them. They were full of fear. So they hid.



In today’s world I feel the same thing is happening to the body of Christ. With all the turmoil that is going on
with the economy, families, etc. the church has done the same thing. A vast
majority of them have gone into hiding in fear of what is happening around them
and in front of them. I for one will admit that there are times that I have
done the same thing. Worry about is this bill going to be paid. Is this going
to be done. What happens now. Fear grasps itself to a man’s or woman’s heart
and holds them back. Fear of the unknown. Fear of are we going to be able to
survive. Many have gone back behind the rocks to hide away from what is
happening.

Scripture
states in 2 Tim 1:7 (KJV) “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear. The Greek word stated here is “deilia”
(fear) which comes from the word “deilos” (timid, faithless) translated into
our word, FEARFUL. This worry, this
fear, this fearfulness does not come from God. So if it doesn’t come from God,
then where does it come from? There could only be one other source. That same
fear that gripped the children of Israel. From our enemy. The devil and his
crowd. He has placed this fear, this doubt, this unbelief if you will with in
the body to destroy what God is wanting to do. We are the head not the tail.



I had this bad habit when I would read a book. I would look at the end and see
who done it. I know. Some would say that that ruined the book, but not for me.
I have looked at the back of this book, the bible, and have seen that WE WIN.
We are the victors in Christ. God has not given us this spirit of fear, but
POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND. What power? His power. When we
stand in the word, and get that ever powerful word
inside of our hearts, we stand strong as David did. Look at this little man. A
boy of about 18 years old was not fearful. He stood strong and rebuked the
children of Israel saying “29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there
not a cause?” 1 Sam 17:29 (KJV). The verse I love is this one, that David used
to rebuke the children of Israel, after his own brothers put him down,
“for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Sam 17:26
(KJV) David knew who he was. David knew that God himself would back him up
standing against the mighty Goliath. The same with us. 4 (For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor 10:4-5 (KJV)





We are in a warfare. For our very survival. “and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:20 (KJV) Jesus Himself made this
powerful PROMISE to us. He is with us even to the end of the age, as another
translation says. We have His promises to us found in the Holy Scriptures. I
could sit here and list all those scriptures but that would take volumes. When
Goliath seems to confront you as you live your daily life, take the scripture
and find His promise and stand on it. No matter what. He did for David and God
is no respector of persons. If He would back up David and his five smooth
stones, how much more do you think He will do for you and I when we stand on
His Holy Promises? We are under a greater covenant than what David had. We have
His weapons with which to fight and win with. We walk not under our own power,
with our own armor. 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand. 14 Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield
of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. 17 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints;

Eph 6:10-18 (KJV)

[Christopher R. Dockrey]

Brother Alonzoe',

You touched on something that I've been considering lately, and that is the proper place of subjective experience in relation to biblical revelation. I think we must certainly have both; we should "taste and see that the Lord is good", but we must know the Scriptures if we are truly to know how good God is. I haven't read enough on the Great Awakenings to give much of an analysis, but if assuming what you said is true (and I have no reason to doubt that it is), the first Awakening seems to have been more balanced in that regard. The experience drove people into a life of spiritual discipline in a Christian culture that placed value on the Holy Scriptures. In my reading of the early American Christians, I think this is more than evident.

In Rick Nañez's book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, he writes about this Americanization of Christianity that you spoke about. It is not an exhaustive history, but he charts the progression of key influences that brought this mentality into being. I have also heard that another book, The Democratization of Christianity is a good book to read to get a better grasp of this trend. That one is on my list of books to read.

[Alonzo E Thornton, D.Min.]

Dear Dr. Galt,
Most recently I did a revisionist veiw of the 1st and 2nd Great Spiritual Awakenings here in America. In this review, there were two major truths that are somewhat appropriate to the content that you presented. Mind you, this very brief analysis is for this well-placed and well-timed blog. The 1st Great Awakening focused on God seeking out sinful humanity in need for not only repentance from sin, but those who experienced the power of regeneration committed to the discipline of the faith, as well as maintaining a high regard to the Objective aspects of what God promised to His faithful believers. The Holy Scriptures were taught and practiced. At the apex of the 2nd great Spiritual Awakening, man/women became more concerned with feeling God [subjectively as opposed to faithful obedience to what the Word of God actually stated]. Many researchers are looking back at this 2nd Great Spiritual Awakening in America to begin pin-pointing that our Judaic-Christian which was giving by God to all nations, was somehow "Americanized into a religion to be obtained, practiced and maintained by culture and the desires of individuals. Why is this such an essential point? Because many Americans equate their spirituality by their material abundance as opposed to objective spiritual truths that transcend our conditons and situations. Many of the major cults or non-traditional religious belief systems come about during this time-Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses. As long as many believers maintain this notion that as long as I'm in control of one's life, fear will rule the soul. My deepest prayer and concern for the Body of Christ is that she return to the foundation of its origin-Biblical Absolute Truth and the Power and influence of the Holy Spirit of God in the ministry of regeneration of the souls of God's people.
Charis-Shalom
Brother Alonzoe' Thornton, M.Div.

[Dr. Henry, President of the AOCI]

Amen.

[Bishop Otha Bell]

Thank you Dr. Galt for this very timely word of encouragement and reminder that we are winners, "more than conquerors"!