www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411

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StoneCreek

2-26-2012

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Saul's army has deserted down to 600 men, armed only with hoes, axes, and such.

And the Philistines are encamped against them with a massive army -- 30,000 chariots, many

horsemen, multitudinous foot soldiers -- all with the best weapons.

God's people are in a seeminglyhopeless situation.

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1 Samuel 14 1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. Divine

Impulse

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Jonathan is a grown man -- son of the king.

What would have happened if he had told Saul what he was going to do?

Saul would have commanded him not to go.The nation would have missed God's blessing.

God's Best is not for the timid;It's only for those who, through faith, are

strong and courageous.

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2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

If he needs to make sacrifices,

Saul has it covered.

He won't have to wait on Samuel.

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Saul seems to have been quite at a loss, and unable to help himself. Those can never think themselves safe who see themselves out of God's protection.

Now he sent for a priest and the ark. He hopes to make up matters with the Almighty by a partial reformation, as many do whose hearts are unhumbled and unchanged.

Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

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This is the case of most backsliders:

They would like God's blessings, but are unwilling to humble themselves and fully repent.

They live in fear, because they are not confident that they are under God's protection.

James 4 7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

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Just as Saul sent for another priest, because Samuel told him God's Truth,

And was expecting too much of Saul,

Many backsliders will seek out a preacher who will tell them what they want to hear,

And a church that will expect very little.

Saul's son Jonathan is a better man than his daddy.

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4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

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6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. 7 And his armor-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. Courage FAITH.produced by

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There is no restraint to God to work through many or few.

We are not depending on our own talent, wisdom, charisma,

or any natural abilities.

The Hand of God

Is our only Source of any ability to have a church here,

that does the Work of our Lord.

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8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

Where is Jonathan getting these instructions?

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11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing.

ridicule

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12b And Jonathan said unto his armor-bearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

Jonathan saw the potential of two men who are submitted to the Power of the Most High God.

Has that changed?

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Jonathan didn't wait to see what happened;

He spoke the Word of Faith before he saw.

To speak the Word of Faith, we must be living by faith.

We live by faith as we willingly obey

every Word of God.

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13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armor-bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor-bearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

Two killed twenty in the first attack.

In their own strength?

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The enemy held every advantage.

But Jonathan had his faith in the True and Living

God.

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How can we have access to such amazing Power?

We can be

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