Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson

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Tell It Not In Gath

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II Samuel 1:19-20 (KJV)

19. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

When David heard that King Saul and Jonathan had been killed by the Philistines, he laments with these words, "Tell it not in Gath . . . lest the (enemies of God) rejoice." This is not a command of David; for he had no control over the people of Gath finding out that Saul was dead. Rather, "tell it not in Gath" expressed the wishful desires in the heart of David.

Gath was the capital city of the Philistines. It was the hometown of the giant Goliath. Goliath is a type in the Old Testament of Satan himself. He is measured in units of six (six cubits tall), he daily plagued the conscience of the people of God, and his head was crushed by the shepherd boy David (a type of Jesus Christ). Gath typifies the domain of Satan and his legions. Are there some things I wish hell would not hear about Emmanuel?

1. We are more concerned about the image we project than the reality we live in.
   One of the reasons you can trust the inspiration of Scripture is because the Bible gives us all the details of God's people -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. From Adam to Abraham, Moses to David, Solomon to the Apostle Paul, we see God's people fail. Emmanuel is not a museum for saints; it is a hospital for sinners. When the enemy tries to convince you to put on a show at church but keep reality hidden, reject it. The demons in hell dance with glee when we focus more on image than reality.
2. We are more comfortable with rules to live by than relationships with others.
   Religious rules are very subtle things. Often Christians don't even realize they have them for themselves or bind them upon others. When Jesus Christ takes over the life of a person he transforms them from the inside out. Religion attempts to transform a person from the outside in. You can't do that. The devil dances a jig when we put more emphasis on abiding by a certain standard than knowing a sovereign Savior.
3. We are more critical of change around us than the challenges we fail to meet.
   That which should drive us as a church is our purpose and mission. Emmanuel exists to strengthen people in their walk with God. When we cease to be a strengthening agent in your walk with Christ, then we cease to fulfill our God-given purpose. We should constantly evaluate why we do what we do, and if God's people are not being strengthened, then we should change what we are doing to better fulfill our mission.