Jonathan ProjectJonathan Project

1 Samuel 14:61 Samuel 14:6

1. Israel at war with the 1. Israel at war with the PhilistinesPhilistines

Saul, newly appointed king.Saul, newly appointed king. No weapons to defend themselves.No weapons to defend themselves. Got raided all the time.Got raided all the time. Non strategic positionNon strategic position WERE AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE!WERE AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE!

2. What was Saul doing? 2. What was Saul doing? 14:2-3a14:2-3a

Under a pomegranate tree!Under a pomegranate tree! Saul represented the Saul represented the politicalpolitical leadership. leadership. Armed forces represented the Armed forces represented the militarymilitary

leadership.leadership. Ahijah represented the Ahijah represented the religiousreligious

leadership.leadership. The designated leadership was totally out The designated leadership was totally out

of position to what God wanted to do!of position to what God wanted to do!

Saul looked at the situation and Saul looked at the situation and retreated. Essentially taking himself retreated. Essentially taking himself out of God’s orbit and what He was out of God’s orbit and what He was intending to do!intending to do!

3. Jonathan’s Faith! 14:6-3. Jonathan’s Faith! 14:6-1414

Jonathan and his armor bearer Jonathan and his armor bearer looked at exactly the same situation, looked at exactly the same situation, but responded completely but responded completely differently. Why?differently. Why?

Jonathan saw that the situation was Jonathan saw that the situation was inconsistent with the character of inconsistent with the character of God and the plan of God for his God and the plan of God for his people Israel!people Israel!

“Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, “come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows; perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

4. Faith produces 4. Faith produces ACTION! 14:9-14ACTION! 14:9-14

The strategy was not to ask God to The strategy was not to ask God to reverse the situation!reverse the situation!

God maintaining a position of God maintaining a position of weakness on the part of man, was weakness on the part of man, was God’s indication to move forward!God’s indication to move forward!

God honors faith . . . . . . in Him! - God honors faith . . . . . . in Him! - Mk.11:22Mk.11:22

Saul’s Religiosity Saul’s Religiosity prevented him from prevented him from

joining in God’s work!joining in God’s work! V.18 – Saul called upon Ahijah to V.18 – Saul called upon Ahijah to

perform a religious act to discern perform a religious act to discern the will of God.the will of God.

God was already on the move and God was already on the move and Saul was left behind. Blessing lost!Saul was left behind. Blessing lost!

5. Result of Jonathan’s 5. Result of Jonathan’s FaithFaith

It Sparked a It Sparked a MovementMovement!!!!

Four fold MOVEMENTFour fold MOVEMENT

v.15 – In the unbeliever’s camp! v.15 – In the unbeliever’s camp! Philistines destroyed!Philistines destroyed!

v. 20 – In the leadership. Saul joins v. 20 – In the leadership. Saul joins in what God is doing e.g. the battle.in what God is doing e.g. the battle.

v. 21 – Among the disgruntled e.g. v. 21 – Among the disgruntled e.g. Hebrew mercenaries.Hebrew mercenaries.

v. 22 – Among the people of God! v. 22 – Among the people of God! Global CHURCH!Global CHURCH!

What Sparked the What Sparked the Movement?Movement?

Faith?Faith?

No!!!No!!!

FAITH IN GOD!14:23

How many in the Church How many in the Church are Jonathan types?are Jonathan types?

As a percentage of the Church, As a percentage of the Church, maybe 2-3%!maybe 2-3%!

In raw numbers, THOUSANDS!In raw numbers, THOUSANDS! We’re looking to God to send just a We’re looking to God to send just a

thousand our way!thousand our way!

Colossians 3:1 (Message)Colossians 3:1 (Message)

““ So if you’re serious about living this So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which like it. Pursue the things over which

Christ presides. Don’t shuffle around, Christ presides. Don’t shuffle around, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you! Look up things right in front of you! Look up

and be alert to what is going on and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that is where the action around Christ, that is where the action is. See things from His perspective!”is. See things from His perspective!”