1Ch 10:7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
David ran into battle with a sling and stone and by faith slew Goliath, and all the armies of Israel were emboldened by this act of faith to run on and pursue the Philistines and overcome. Jonathan climbed a cliff on his hands and feet and fought the enemy and the rest of the Israelites in hiding came out and fought. Men of faith led the way to victory, emboldening the rest of the nation to be warriors. Likewise, when leaders fall they encourage men to run away. When did they flee and forsake the cities they were sworn to protect? "When all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled." When they saw Saul and his sons dead they gave up hope and forsook their post and the enemy came and dwelt in the houses and cities that belong to God.
The Bible has never been outdated and these verses today hold as much practical meaning and instruction as they did thousands of years ago when they were written. We have seen and are seeing this same tragedy unfold before our eyes at this very hour. The things the church has been sworn to protect are being forsaken and men who are called to "contend for the faith" are fleeing and the enemy is setting up shop in the church house.
How does this happen? Great men lead us into a place of weakness and compromise. Saul had run to the devil's shop to gather supplies for the battle. God had stopped talking to him, so he consulted the witch of Endor, and it was for that very sin that this chapter says he died. He had led thousands of men into this battle and it was destined to fail the whole time. We have many leaders in the church of this hour who have run to the devil's workshop for their armory, and guidance and behind these leaders are thousands of unsuspecting Christians running headlong into a battle that requires the protection and provision of God and all they are equipped with are the world means and methods. If these leaders have not fallen they soon will and when they do great will be their fall and great will be the ruin of thousands of their followers. The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation, So why are we running to Social Media campaigns, Concerts, means and methods that the world uses to fight the Lord's battles? Preaching the Word worked then and works now and is all that has ever worked. The Gospel doesn't need any help, just preach it! Some have long forsaken the power of God for the promotion of the world and now the church is grown by marketing techniques instead of the drawing power of God.
We have plenty of instances to research, here is one, even in modern times, and through personal experiences, we can examine this downgrade. I was part of a church whose Pastor got involved in a lifestyle of sin and continued to build and pastor until he fell, and great was his fall, many homes and families and even the testimony of the church suffered great loss. Look at the denominations that once stood on the authority of God's word, and the power of the gospel. Their leaders a long time ago left the authority of the word of God, they ran to higher criticism, Intellectualism, and oh how these movements have fallen and thousands if not millions have been destroyed. Where churches used to preach the gospel, now they are nothing more than a glorified concert hall. Their song service couldn't be told apart from a John Mayer concert and their preaching couldn't be told apart from a TedTalk. The enemy has overrun our church and is overrunning the churches! All through the influence of Leaders who have fallen.
What can we do? Well, if you are in the camp with Saul there is nothing you can do. The only ones who were not affected by this fall were those warriors who were with David. David didn't have the biggest group, nor the wealthiest, they were refugees and outcasts in Israel at this time. So it is with us, we who hold to the authority of God's word, and believe in the fundamentals of the Faith we are considered outcasts, extremists, and rebels. All of these things are unfortunate but not as unfortunate as where Saul is taking his followers. If you are in that camp, or your eyes are set on that camp, be warned, it's headed to an awful end. The enemy is in it and soon will rule over it. When great men fall they take great numbers with them.
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