Distracted
Pastor Erickson preaches from 1 Samuel 17 on David at the battle with Goliath, showing how the devil uses a false enemy, like David's jealous brother Eliab, to distract God's people from the true enemy. He calls the church to stop fighting one another, turn the other cheek, and stay focused on the cause of reaching souls with the gospel.
The message in 6 points
Set your focus on God
He reads Jesus' words about turning the other cheek, Paul's call to set your affection on things above, and David's question, Is there not a cause. His title is Distracted, and he says distractions always take our focus.
1:00:55A false enemy
The devil will always present a false enemy to distract us from the true enemy. Goliath defied the armies of Israel morning and night for 40 days, but he tells the church a 41st day is coming for those tired of hiding and feeling defeated.
1:04:32Enter David
While everyone else, even tall King Saul, trembled, David the anointed worshipper walked onto the scene. Eliab was tall and kingly, but God told Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance and the Lord looks on the heart.
1:10:04Eliab is not the enemy
Out of jealousy, Eliab insulted David and called him proud, and an offended brother is harder to win than a strong city. People who talk about you, a spouse, a teacher or a teenager are not the enemy. The devil is in the room laughing while we fight each other, and Jesus taught us to break the cycle of revenge.
1:14:50Is there not a cause
David did not fight his brother; he turned to another and kept asking about the cause. God who empowered Samson could empower David, and David killed Goliath and held up his head for all to see, even Eliab.
1:24:38The cause of the church
The enemy wants the church to think a brother or sister is the enemy. The cause is Acts 2: repentance, baptism in Jesus' name and the Holy Ghost. He calls everyone to be a disciple maker, preach the word, love one another past their faults, and refuse to be distracted.
1:30:56
In his words
“Our adversary the devil will always present us with a false enemy to distract us from our true enemy.”
“I refuse to live my life worried about what other people think about me. I refuse to live my life worried about what other people say about me.”
“Eliab, you are not the problem. King Saul, you are not the problem. Goliath is the problem, and I'm going out and I'm going to take it by force.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Matthew 5:39
39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
King James Version.
Colossians 3:2
2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:29
29And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:22-24
22And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:8-11
8And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 16:7
7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:28
28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:30-31
30And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. 31And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
King James Version.
Proverbs 18:19
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
King James Version.
1 Samuel 17:50-51
50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
King James Version.
2 Timothy 4:2
2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
King James Version.
Romans 10:14-15
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
King James Version.
Ephesians 4:11-12
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
King James Version.
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