THE QUALITY OF FAITH
1 Samuel 14:1-16
Before
looking at the text, it good to review the events that led to Jonathan’s
decision to go against the Philistines without his father’s knowledge and his
army.
Jonathan was the oldest son of Saul. He joined his father as
one of the commanders of the army of Israel. Saul was selected as the first
King of Israel after the nation rejected the rule of the judges in favor of a
king to look like their surrounding enemies.
The nation of Israel
made a choice o depend on the rule of man rather than the almighty God who
brought them out of slavery.
The Nation of Israel rejected the living God who gave them
the Promised Land and promised victory over all the inhabitants of the land. Their
obedience to God’s commands was the condition for victory. 400 years later, they
were still fighting for victory in the promised land because of their continued
disobedience.
Saul lost favor with God. In his last battle against the Philistines,
He did not wait for Samuel to come and make the sacrifice before the battle. After
waiting seven days, Saul performed the battle sacrifice himself in violation of
God's command. The sacrifice could only be offered by the Priest.
Samuel rebuked Saul and told him because of his foolishness, the
kingship had been taken from him.
In this lesson, we see a comparison of the disobedience and
faithlessness of the father with the obedience and faithfulness of the son. Jonathan
loved the Lord and trusted Him with his success in battle. Saul called on the
Lord by religion, but not
By faith.
TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE
V:1. One day Jonathan said to his armor-bearer,
"Come on, let's go over to where the Philistines have their outpost."
But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.
2 Meanwhile,
Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the
pomegranate tree at Migron. 3 Among Saul's men was Ahijah the priest, who was
wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod's brother
Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord who had served at
Shiloh.
SERVE BY
FAITH
No one
realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4 To reach the Philistine
outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called
Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one
on the south was in front of Geba. 6 "Let's go across to the outpost of
those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor-bearer. "Perhaps the Lord
will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he
has many warriors or a few.
A. There are times when God has placed
you in charge, you have to exercise your authority.
1. After seeing the failure of the army
to subdue the enemy, God gave Jonathan the
Insight to do something
different.
2. Perhaps, not to disrespect his
father, Jonathan thought it best not to involve the king.
B. To follow God’s commands to success
requires wisdom and effort on our part.
1. Jonathan took only his armor-bearer
down a rocky cliff to do battle with Philistines
2. He was armed with only the faith that
God would give him victory.
3. Jonathan understood that God was more
than the whole Philistine army against him.
4. The lesson here is that you should go
into any confrontation for God with the assurance that he will fight the
battle.
5. Serving the Lord requires us to show
up at the battle site.
SERVE
WITH UNITY
V:7 "Do
what you think is best," the armor-bearer replied. "I'm with you
completely, whatever you decide."
8 "All
right then," Jonathan told him. "We will cross over and let them see
us. 9 If they say to us, 'Stay where you are or we'll kill you,' then we will
stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come on up and fight,' then we
will go up. That will be the Lord's sign that he will help us defeat
them."
A. So that you are on the same page,
discuss your plan with those involved.
1. When you rely on God, He will give
you the wisdom to approach the enemy.
2. Jonathan looked for a sign from God
that it was the right thing to do,
B. Every step we take should be ordered
by the Lord.
1. We don’t know what the enemy is
thinking, but God has planned their action.
2. When God is on your side, His power and
strength outweigh the enemy.
PUT YOUR
FAITH IN ACTION ON THE BATTLEGROUND
V:11 When
the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, "Look! The Hebrews are
crawling out of their holes!" 12 Then the men from the outpost shouted to
Jonathan, "Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!"
"Come
on, climb right behind me," Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "for
the Lord will help us defeat them!"
A. When facing the enemy, don’t waver in
your faith in the Lord.
1. Express confidence in the Lord and
the victory to those around you.
2. Confidence in the Lord is a force
that cannot be defeated,
B. The job of the enemy is too excited
fear in your heart.
1. The enemy will threaten you with
defeat.
2. The enemy will devalue your worth.
3. You have to block all negative
thoughts out of your mind
Because God is your success.
CLIMB THE
LADDER OF FAITH TO VICTORY
V:13 So they
climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan,
and his armor-bearer killed those who came behind them. 14 They killed some
twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.
A. We never know how God will act on our
behalf.
1. What we know is that His actions will
be extraordinary.
2. Notice Jonathan and his armor-bearer
were climbing up a cliff and the
Enemy at the top fell
before them.
a. That seems strange because the enemy
could have easily cut their heads off as they came to the top.
b. But God caused the strong surefooted
soldiers to trip and fall.
B. Once on top of the cliff, Jonathan
and his armor-bearer killed 20
Strong Philistines soldiers.
a. Two against twenty!! God is your
strength over numbers.
b. God made the enemy defenseless and unable
to escape.
c. Strong faith stands in the face of opposition
with God’s help.
SEE THE
GLORY OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE
V:15
Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the
field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an
earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
A. One thing you must remember is that
God is in control of your circumstances.
1. God can put fear and confusion in the
strongest person.
2. Notice, a whole army panic because of
the efforts of two men following
The will of God.
B. God confounded their fear with a localized
earthquake.
1. Not only was the Philistine army in a
state of panic but they were terrified.
2. God can use nature to fight your
battles.
3. When you serve God faithfully, your
resources are unlimited.
THANK GOD
FOR VICTORY
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst.
Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West
Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston,
Texas 77041
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