Sermon Cloud

    Heaven’s Champion
    I Samuel 17
    (Song: Beautiful Savior by Casting Crowns)

INTRODUCTION:

The last Olympics there was a runner who was attacked by a spectator.  At that point in the race he is defenseless.  He needed someone else to take care of him.
A man (Cameron Hollopeter) fell onto the subway tracks with a seizure.  Another man, Wesley Autrey saved his life.

1.    The enemy is powerful – We are not called to fight the devil, but to resist him.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.   James 4:7b
    a.    The enemy’s activity
        i.    He shows no respect for you or your God
        ii.    In reality he is afraid of your God
        iii.    He will work against Jesus and his people.  John 13:2 (Satan is behind Judas’ betrayal; therefore, Satan is against Jesus.  Satan deals in betrayal.)
        iv.    TV & other media.  Fox refused to pay a fine for profanity.
        v.    The music our kids listen to is vulgar, demeaning of women and violent.  Satan is behind that.
    b.    The enemy’s reign (?)
        i.    As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  Ephesians 2:1-2
        ii.    John 16:11 – Jesus calls the devil the “prince of this world”
        iii.    “The god of this age” 2 Cor. 4:4
2.    We need a champion (who will)
    a.    Fight the enemy we cannot defeat – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
    b.    Bring glory to God – This is the goal of all creation.  The only part of the creation that won’t do this is humanity. Those who reject Jesus.  Although at the 2nd coming even they will bring glory to God.
        i.    When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.  Col. 2:13-15
    c.    Who will represent us. – We cannot do it on our own.
3.    Jesus is our champion
    a.    Fights the enemy we cannot defeat
        i.    He has defeated sin – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin Hebrews 4:15
        ii.    He has defeated death – But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep – 1 Cor. 15:20-28
        iii.    He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. I John 3:8
        iv.    He has defeated Satan, though the defeat isn’t fully in place. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  Revelation 20:10
    b.    Brings glory to God
        i.    When he (Judas) was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. John 13:31-32
        ii.    "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. John 17:1b
    c.    Represents us – His victory becomes our victory
        i.    Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  Hebrews 2:14

CONCLUSION: We have a champion.  That means the most important things in life are guaranteed for us.  
1: Our greatest enemies are defeated – sin & death (really just tools of our real enemy Satan who is also defeated.)
2: God is glorified
All without us.  What do we do?  Trust the champion.  Try to become more and more like him.