A Believer Out of Place
As a believer, it's essential to maintain Christian standards and avoid compromising with the world to avoid corruption and maintain good morals.
Theodore Epp discusses how God delivered David from a precarious situation in Gath, emphasizing the importance of maintaining distinct Christian standards in a worldly environment. The Philistine princes questioned David's presence, highlighting that even the world recognizes when believers are out of place. Epp warns against the misconception that compromising with the world can lead to winning others for Christ, particularly in the context of relationships with unbelievers. He illustrates how God intervened to prevent David from engaging in conflict against his own people, showcasing divine mercy in guiding believers away from ruin. The sermon concludes with a reminder that bad company can corrupt good morals, urging Christians to remain steadfast in their faith.
Text
1 Samuel 29
Now we can see how God delivered David from the dilemma sin had gotten him into in Gath. He must have been a troubled man when Achish told him that he and other Philistine princes were going against Israel.
But when those princes came, they were alarmed and indignant to find Hebrews in the army of Achish. They said, "What do these Hebrews here?" (1 Sam. 29:3).
That was a good question and is a question the world has a right to ask when Christians are out of place. Worldly people seem to know better than some of us who claim the name of Christ that we ought to have standards different from theirs.
We often think that we must mix with the world in order to win the people of the world. We think that by compromising we will win them to the Lord.
This is often an argument given by Christian young people who marry unbelievers. They feel that after they are married they will be able to win their mate to Christ. But it rarely works out that way. Disaster often follows.
God in His mercy has His way of keeping a person from going completely to ruin. David was dismissed from the army by Achish, and this dismissal was his way out. Achish was satisfied with him, but the other princes of the Philistines were not.
This was how God made it possible for David to escape from this great dilemma. God kept David from falling into the greater tragedy of actually fighting against his own people.
"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'" (1 Cor. 15:33, NASB).
Sermon Outline
- A Believer Out of Place
- Compromise and the World
- God's Way of Deliverance
- A Warning to Believers
- Bad Company
- Good Morals
Key Quotes
“Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Believers must maintain their standards and not compromise with the world to avoid corruption.
- God has a way of delivering His people from difficult situations, even when they seem impossible.
- Surrounding oneself with good influences is crucial for maintaining good morals and avoiding the corrupting influence of bad company.