April 12
1 Chronicles 9:35-39; 1 Samuel 13:1-5; 1 Samuel 13:19-23; 13:6-18; 1 Samuel 14:1-52
The position of strength and power from an earthly standpoint that the forces of evil currently have over the positions and people of God is currently staggering. In charge of government, the media, the tech industry, our educational system, it seems as though every godless position possible is gaining momentum and increasing at unimaginable levels. This should not surprise us, who are in the faith, for what else should we expect from a world that is consumed with everything else other than God. The question is, what is our response? What do the people of faith do now? Do we gather together and complain? Perhaps place a clever mime on social media which gets a lot of likes? Have we placed limits around a limitless God? Do we see only gloom and doom because we have confined our supernatural God to the natural? William Carey, missionary to India in the early 1800's, lived by the motto, "Expect great things; attempt great things." He had a heart for overseas missions, but as a young minister, he was quickly put down by an older minister who said to Carey at a meeting, "Young man, sit down! You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he'll do it without consulting you or me." Living in poverty, along with family struggles including the death of his first child, he continued to be dismayed by the lack of passion for the unsaved, as he argued that the Great Commission from Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, applied to all Christians at all times, and he said to his fellow believers, "Multitudes sit at ease and give themselves no concern about the far greater part of the their fellow sinners, who to this day, are lost in ignorance and idolatry." He eventually made the trip to India, and spent the last 41 years of his life pouring into the people there. He translated the Bible into multiple dialects of the Indian language, started up an Indian Christian college, brought about social reforms including the abolition of infanticide, widow burning, and assisted suicide. His legacy inspired the next missionary movement with the likes of Hudson Taylor and David Livingstone.
With no comparison in terms of arms, the Philistines had 3000 chariots, were well armed, and vastly outnumbered the Israelite army, with only Saul and Jonathon who actually owned a spear or sword, fear set into the Israelite camp, the majority defected, leaving only 600 men left to fight against this massive army. From a human standpoint this was a slaughter in the making, and it would seem impossible that Israel could prevail. But that is when we place limits around a limitless God. We read in 1 Samuel 14:6-7, " “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 only a few!" “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”" They stepped out in faith, but rather than being presumptuous, they let God give them a sign. Once that sign was given, they moved forward in the face of impossible odds, as we read in 14:13-15, " 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. They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. 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." The battle was God's, but it started with the faith of Jonathon and his armor-bearer. God had done this time and time again in the history of Israel, as we saw in the battle of Jericho under Joshua (Joshua 6), the battle against multiple kings in Joshua 10, in which God allowed the sun to stand still, and we read in Joshua 10:11, "... the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword.", along with many of the battles in the book of Judges.
It is so easy to complain and be negative. It is so easy to stand on the sideline and wait for someone else to do something. It is easy to think if God wants to do something through me, He knows where to find me. But that is not what Jonathon did. He brought himself to the edge. He stepped out in faith. He didn't force it, but he made himself available. Though the godless trends in our nation and internationally certainly seem as though the end times are being ushered in, Jesus, Himself, said in Matthew 24:36, " “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." So, we are not to sit on the sidelines as spectators. Jesus explained to Peter, what stepping out in faith would look like and what could be accomplished in Matthew 16:18-19, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” God informed Peter that there are no limits to a limitless God. Nothing can stand against Him. God's story will continue to move forward according to His timetable, but we have a role to play. The question is will we stand on the sideline and be spectators, perhaps grumblers and complainers, or will we roll up our sleeves, stand at the door and take on a position of offense, rather than defense to the sea of godlessness that we find ourselves in. Even reaching out to one person with the hope of the gospel is a great first step.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: