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Champions for God

Isaiah 40:3-5

By Robert D. Pace

(Definition)  A champion "fights for another's rights or honor;  He captures first place in competition;  He's a militant advocate or defender." It is always an honor to carry the distinction of being a champion!

 

Champions are found throughout the pages of Scripture.  God always had heros to establish His purposes.  In the Old Testament Prophets, judges, warriors, kings and statesmen championed God's causes.

 

Perhaps the most recognizable champion was David whose slingshot toppled Goliath and who singlehandedly bested a lion and a bear when they attacked his sheep.

 

There's Abraham who believed God and because of his faith he became the father of ours.

 

Moses, without military might, thrashed Egypt with God's rod until Pharaoh grudgingly expelled Israel from its borders.  Moses then provided Israel with sustenance, heat, and shade for forty years in the wilderness.  The greatest miracle-worker of the Old Testament.

 

Joshua took command and halted the sun and moon.

 

Gideon rallied 300 men and routed over a 120,000 troops.

 

Elijah singlehandedly delivered Israel from idolatry, overthrowing 450 false prophets at Mount Horeb.  His one prayer shut the heavens for over three years and his other prayer brought soaking rains.  Yet James carefully apprised us that  "Elijah was a man just like us."

 

The New Testament had an array of conquerors too.

 

There was Simon Peter whose sermon at Pentecost brought 3,000 conversions and whose shadow raised the sick from the curbside.

 

There was Paul whose praise shook the prison and whose preaching made Felix tremble.

 

There was Philip, the evangelist, who revived the city of Samaria until even its sorcerer was converted.

 

There was John the beloved whose expatriation to Patmos did nothing to suppress the book of Revelation.

 

And throughout the ages God has continued to raise up champions.

 

When there was Scripture to translate John Wycliffe made his impress.

 

When there was heresy to fight Luther drilled his ninety-five theses against the wall of time.

 

When America's moral climate plunged John Wesley's message of morality scorched the apathy.

 

When the infirmed needed healing Wigglesworth, Coe, Kuhlman, Roberts, and others applied the healing balm.

 

There have always been champions that"conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of the lions, quenched the fury of the flames and waxed valiant in fight."  God will always have heroes of the faith.  And it's His sovereign prerogative to choose whom He pleases. But as far as the human element is concerned, what qualifies people to champion Christ's cause?  When the answer is reduced to its fundamental factor it is this: Submission to Christ's Lordship.

 

S.M. Lochrage properly articulated it when he said:  "The hinges of human history have turned on the strength of the insignificant man who has linked his life with the lordship of Christ. Rivers of civilization have cut new courses because of the courage of many who have come under the loving lordship of Jesus Christ."  I agree wholeheartedly with that.

 

The degree one surrenders to Christ's lordship is the degree one is enabled to champion His causes.  There are three classes of men:

 

Those not confessing Christ's lordship nor obeying His commands.

 

Those confessing Christ's lordship but ignoring His commands.

 

Those confessing Christ's lordship and obediently responding to His commands.

 

This third classification grooms champions.  And here's a warning:  The tenure of God's champions is often determined by their willingness to diligently follow Him.

 

It's no wonder only one successful endeavor is recorded concerning the sour‑hearted Prophet Jonah.

 

Samson was unmatched in valor and power, so valiant he slept in the Philistine's camp.  But he performed only eleven exploits.  A man as uniquely gifted as Samson should have had countless wonders attending his name but he wasn't wholly committed.

 

(Transition)  But on a more positive note let's investigate John the Baptist, one of Scripture's great Prophet-champions.

 

 

John the Baptist, God's Prophet-Champion

 

(Definition)  What is a prophet?  A prophet "speaks God's words.  He's an anointed messenger qualified to receive and communicate relevant words from God."

 

Consider two things concerning John's ministry. First, notice Isaiah's portrayal of John's ministry and second, observe how Christ summarized his ministry.

 

 

1.      Notice Isaiah's portrayal of John (ISA 40:3‑5).

 

"A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.   Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.    And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 

This prediction portrays John as having a complicated ministry.  The nation of Israel was spiritually bankrupt ‑‑there had been no national prophet for 400 years.  Religion was a sham ‑‑it was all outward profession and no inward possession. The Temple was filled with merchandizing.  Widows were being robbed by the Levites. John was not indulgent of the religious and the religious were not indulgent of John.

 

The impetus of John's ministry was preparing people for the coming of the Messiah. It was directed at 'straightening the highways, raising the valleys, lowering the mountains and smoothing the rough places.'  Did he do it?  Christ said he did.

 

2.      Here's the Lord's assessment of John's ministry.  Turn to Luke 7:24-28.

 

Luke 7:24 says:  "After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?  (25)  If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.  (26)  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (27) This is the one about whom it is written: "`I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' (28) I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

 

 

Verse twenty-four identified the desert as John's dwelling-place.   He wasn't a cosmopolitan socialite mixing with the multitudes.  The implications of John's arid dwellings infer He was uninfluenced and undistracted by a degenerate society.

 

Verse twenty-four states He wasn't  "a reed swayed by the wind".  He wasn't spineless and vacillating whose prophetic message was skewed on pleasing the masses.  This was a man that ate bugs for breakfast.  His body hair was as dense as the camel fur he wore.  And his preaching blasted the ecclesiastics in a manner that would have made a sumo wrestler tremble.

 

Verse twenty-six notes John wasn't a fashion dresser. Don't get carried away with this because John wasn't establishing a pattern for prophetic attire his dress was simply corresponded with his desert environment.  A Wall Street executive doesn't dress like a western cowboy they adapt to their environment. And John wasn't making a fashion‑statement for Prophets.  John was simply a wilderness man dressing in keeping with the wilderness.

 

This discloses a key to successful ministry:  Be yourself!  There's no value in mimicking anyone.  There are times when Elisha is trained by Elijah, but there are still variances between the ministries.  Moses' ministry and methods differ from Joshua's.  Paul confronts kings while Timothy confronts common people.  Peter preaches demonstratively while Apollos teaches soft-spoken and methodically.

 

There are some bold words in Joshua 1:2: "Moses my servant is dead."  God was saying to Joshua and Israel:  'It's a new day, and things will be different.  Joshua won't resemble Moses in ministry or methods.  Only the Law will remain the same.'

 

Do you know why your personality, appearance, and disposition are peculiar to you?  Because God made you that way.  God fashioned your DNA, character, and intellect so you could accomplish His purposes and achieve your destiny.  (Let me insert a parenthetical assertion:  Don't blame your carnal, fleshly explosions on God.  "This is the way God made me"  is no excuse for an undeveloped spiritual temperament. The Holy Spirit was sent to tame that Philistine nature.)

 

Psalm 47:4 says:  "He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom he loves"  (NAS).

 

Ephesians 1:11 says:  "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

 

Some might argue:  "But God, I don't know whether my ministry will be accepted."   The minister isn't responsible for that.  The Jews appraisal of the cosmopolitan Christ and desert‑living John was the same:  "John has a devil . . . [and] "Jesus is the prince of the devils."   Your job is to remain faithful.  Faithfulness develops the champion.

 

Luke 10:8‑12, 16

 

I trust your desire is to achieve God's highest intention.  Who, with the prophetic anointing, desires to champion Christ and challenge this generation with God's double-edged sword?  Who, like John, will answer the desert-call or who, like Paul, will minister in the palace or will unhesitatingly warn Ninevah or accept exile on Patmos or will journey God only knows where with Abraham?

 

Christ summarized John's ministry by saying: "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" (LUK 7:28).  John was truly a champion‑prophet.  (Adam was the only prophet of the old dispensation greater than John.  He was created perfect, uncontaminated from sin.)

 

How does a person realize a destiny of championing a cause for Christ? Judges 6 provides the evidence for this.

 

 

JUDGES 6:11‑14

 

1.     God will recognize you (6:12).

 

2.     Humbly recognize your need of God (6:15).

 

3.     Explicitly follow the Spirit's leading (6:34).  This is where so many mighty men of God stumble.  They fight battles they're not commissioned to fight.  They decry issues God hasn't called them to cry against.