Representing Christ or Culture
I Sam. 17:14-50
There are visual and verbal characteristics of personhood used to represent a person or a company or a system.
As Christians young and not so young our lives are being used by someone or something to represent them or it whether we know it or not.
The question for our consideration is who are we representing Christ or Culture?
Now our conversation and lifestyle answer the question.
It was the thing to do while I was in school, middle school, high school, and college. To represent your Alma mater.
And even today young people are quick to represent their high school and their college.
I’ve heard it being done here from our youth and adults.
Is Vanguard in the house?
Is Forrest in the house?
Is West Port in the house?
Well, let us try the adults!
Is F.A.M.U.in the house?
Is Cookman in the house?
Are there any Gators in the house?
Are there any Seminoles in the house?
But from a spiritual perspective, it is vitality important that it is crystal clear to all who are watching, know that we are representing Christ and not this culture we are living in.
Satan’s worshippers dress in all black to let you know they represent the darkness of this world.
And we are to put on Christ to let the world know that we are on the Lord’s side!
David wanted to make sure his family, all Israel and the Philistines knew he was representing Christ and not the culture of his day.
Three things involved in representing Christ!
I. We must speak up for Christ- vs. 26.
II. We must stand up for Christ- vs. 32-36
III. We must show up for Christ- vs. 37-50
Now it takes faith and courage to represent Christ is a world that is hostile toward God and everything that is godly.
It takes courage and faith to say no, to the ways of this world.
It takes courage and faith to represent Christ in the world of academia!
It takes courage and faith to represent Christ in the world of athletics!
It takes courage and faith to represent Christ in the social setting of this life!
But listen carefully there is no neutral ground we are either representing Christ or the culture we live in.
And this is the litmus test when people see or hear us does it reflect Christ or this world?
David wanted everyone to know who he was representing. What about you?
An undercover Christian is no Christian at all.
I. We must speak up for Christ. vs. 26.
If the world is speaking loud representing all that God calls sin, then the people of God ought to be speaking louder for the causes of Christ.
Not only should we speak up for Christ we must stand up for the Christ as well!
II. We must stand up for Christ. vs. 32-36.
III. We must show up for Christ- vs. 37-50
c. David showed up the show the Philistines that there is no body like our God!
As Christians young and not so young our lives are being used by someone or something to represent them or it whether we know it or not.
The question for our consideration is who are we representing Christ or Culture?
Now our conversation and lifestyle answer the question.
It was the thing to do while I was in school, middle school, high school, and college. To represent your Alma mater.
And even today young people are quick to represent their high school and their college.
I’ve heard it being done here from our youth and adults.
Is Vanguard in the house?
Is Forrest in the house?
Is West Port in the house?
Well, let us try the adults!
Is F.A.M.U.in the house?
Is Cookman in the house?
Are there any Gators in the house?
Are there any Seminoles in the house?
But from a spiritual perspective, it is vitality important that it is crystal clear to all who are watching, know that we are representing Christ and not this culture we are living in.
Satan’s worshippers dress in all black to let you know they represent the darkness of this world.
And we are to put on Christ to let the world know that we are on the Lord’s side!
David wanted to make sure his family, all Israel and the Philistines knew he was representing Christ and not the culture of his day.
Three things involved in representing Christ!
I. We must speak up for Christ- vs. 26.
II. We must stand up for Christ- vs. 32-36
III. We must show up for Christ- vs. 37-50
Now it takes faith and courage to represent Christ is a world that is hostile toward God and everything that is godly.
It takes courage and faith to say no, to the ways of this world.
It takes courage and faith to represent Christ in the world of academia!
It takes courage and faith to represent Christ in the world of athletics!
It takes courage and faith to represent Christ in the social setting of this life!
But listen carefully there is no neutral ground we are either representing Christ or the culture we live in.
And this is the litmus test when people see or hear us does it reflect Christ or this world?
David wanted everyone to know who he was representing. What about you?
An undercover Christian is no Christian at all.
I. We must speak up for Christ. vs. 26.
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living?"
a. When we are quiet when Christianity is under attack it is a disgrace to the grace God has given us.
- Jude 3c,” Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
b. As a teenager, David could not be quiet when the God who loves him was being disrespected by the ungodly Philistine.
- David could have remained quiet like King Saul, Eliab and all the rest.
c. Why did David speak up? Because of his relationship with God. An enemy of God was challenging the people of God.
- Circumcision was a sign of identification.
- Uncircumcised was to be in the camp of the culture.
- Circumcision was to be in the camp of God.
If the world is speaking loud representing all that God calls sin, then the people of God ought to be speaking louder for the causes of Christ.
Not only should we speak up for Christ we must stand up for the Christ as well!
II. We must stand up for Christ. vs. 32-36.
“And David said to Saul, let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
a. Talk is cheap, but actions are what matters.
b. It takes faith and courage to stand up and be seen.
c. If you stand up for Christ, He will stand with you and stand in you.
- A teenager encouraged all of Israel, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him.”
- David said I will go and fight this, Philistine.
d. Sometimes when you stand up, people will try to sit you down.
- Vs.33, “And Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him for thou but youth and he a man of war from his youth.”
- Vs. 34, “And David said unto Saul, thy servant kept his father’s sheep and there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock.”
- David’s testimony is that God gave his power to kill the bear and the lion.
III. We must show up for Christ- vs. 37-50
a. David’s preparation to face a giant.
- Vs. 40, “And he took his staff in his hand and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had even a scrip; and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.”
b. David used what he was a custom to using to show up for Christ.
- Children and teenagers use Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok to represent Christ.
- Technology is a gift from God to be used for His glory.
1. Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok are great tools to evangelize.
2. They are great tools to share your faith and introduce Jesus to your peers.
3. They are great tools to display your spiritual gifts and talents.
4. They are great tools to represent Christ in unchristian like culture.
3. They are great tools to display your spiritual gifts and talents.
4. They are great tools to represent Christ in unchristian like culture.
c. David showed up the show the Philistines that there is no body like our God!
1. The Philistine was larger and had weapons of mass destruction.
2. the Philistine had a man with a shield in front of him- vs.41.
3. The Philistines was talking real bad about David- vs. 42-43
2. the Philistine had a man with a shield in front of him- vs.41.
3. The Philistines was talking real bad about David- vs. 42-43
Vs. 45, “Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of host, the God of the armies of Israel whom thou has defied.”
