Jonathan Project

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Jonathan Project

• 1 Samuel 146

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1. Israel at war with the Philistines

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

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2. What was Saul doing? 142-3a

• Under a pomegranate tree!
• Saul represented the political leadership.
• Armed forces represented the military leadership.
• Ahijah represented the religious leadership.
• The designated leadership was totally out of
  position to what God wanted to do!

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

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3. Jonathans Faith! 146-14

• Jonathan and his armor bearer looked at exactly
  the same situation, but responded completely
  differently. Why?
• Jonathan saw that the situation was inconsistent
  with the character of God and the plan of God for
  his people Israel!

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Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, come,
lets 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.
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4. Faith produces ACTION! 149-14

• The strategy was not to ask God to reverse the
  situation!
• God maintaining a position of weakness on the
  part of man, was Gods indication to move
  forward!
• God honors faith . . . . . . in Him! - Mk.1122

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Sauls Religiosity prevented him from joining in
Gods work!

• V.18 Saul called upon Ahijah to perform a
  religious act to discern the will of God.
• God was already on the move and Saul was left
  behind. Blessing lost!

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5. Result of Jonathans Faith

• It Sparked a Movement!!

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Four fold MOVEMENT

• v.15 In the unbelievers camp! Philistines
  destroyed!
• v. 20 In the leadership. Saul joins in what God
  is doing e.g. the battle.
• v. 21 Among the disgruntled e.g. Hebrew
  mercenaries.
• v. 22 Among the people of God! Global CHURCH!

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What Sparked the Movement?

• Faith?
• No!!!

FAITH IN GOD! 1423
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How many in the Church are Jonathan types?

• As a percentage of the Church, maybe 2-3!
• In raw numbers, THOUSANDS!
• Were looking to God to send just a thousand our
  way!

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Colossians 31 (Message)

• So if youre serious about living this new
  resurrection life with Christ, act like it.
  Pursue the things over which Christ presides.
  Dont shuffle around, eyes to the ground,
  absorbed with the things right in front of you!
  Look up and be alert to what is going on around
  Christ, that is where the action is. See things
  from His perspective!