The Jonathan Factor

Living for GOD isn’t easy.  As we are reminded by Jeremiah’s frustration in

Jer. 20:7-8…

Jer 20:7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. (KJV)

Jeremiah had done everything that God had asked and his reward was a life of misery and anguish, of pain and disappointment.  Did he ever experience a crisis of faith and wonder if he had missed his calling?  Jeremiah was following the REAL GOD and what he was experiencing was real life in GOD. 

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (KJV)

This reminds us that even though the beginning and end of our life are certain, the middle can be full of turbulence and instability, of persecution and trial and tribulation. 

Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (KJV)

Before Jeremiah was formed in the womb, he was known by GOD. 

Jer 20:11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. (KJV)

Before Jeremiah was born, he was set apart, chosen by GOD for a unique and divine purpose…GOD’s purpose.  Divine moments are not ways into a world untouched by hardship. The certainty that GOD has called you and the confidence that HE will work His victory out in your life are guarantees of a safe and secure journey. 

GOD has invited us into a great adventure and into His purpose…at whatever the cost.  You need to explore the experience if you are seriously considering engaging in this divine journey.  If you misunderstand you ARE in for a battle, you might give up before you fully realize GOD’s true work in your life.    The misconception is that living for GOD is easy, but we all know that when you REALLY start living for GOD, the battle is ON!!  Life is full of places to hide and feel safe and secure (your home, your church, your job or career).  We should instead be running TO GOD!  We are influenced by GOD’s character, and gain strength for the battle because of our close and personal relationship with GOD…. because we have seen first hand, and know exactly how GOD works.  We then can pass on this divine influence to others.

Ex 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (KJV)

This brings us to Jonathan…who decided not to cower or hide, but to courageously step through the open door that GOD provided.  He had no idea whether GOD would show up, he just knew who GOD was.  GOD had already revealed to us and to Jonathan who HE was.  These stories (from Moses’ day) had been handed down from generation to generation to Jonathan.  So in the middle of the night Jonathan remembered the great

“I AM”.

Jonathan, King Saul (Jonathan’s father), and his 600 men found themselves in Gibeah of Benjamin faced with the Philistines encamped in Michmash before them.  Jonathan, Saul and his men were either going to have to starve to death with no water, or they would have to face the HUGE army of the Philistines and defeat them.  They were faced with such a FEAR of the enemy—a huge battle, they stayed where they were, and cowered into the caves covered by the Pomegranate (small prickly) bushes, afraid to MOVE…paralyzed.

Do you know who GOD is today??  Jonathan knew that if he would seek GOD, he would live!  It is kind of ironic that we run to GOD to keep us safe, even when he calls us to a dangerous faith walk.  HE will “shake loose” everything in which we place our trust OUTSIDE of HIM, and teach us how to thrive in a future unknown.  To place our trust in anything other than GOD is …a lack of faith.

1Sam 14:1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.  (KJV)

Jonathan stepped out and said to his armor-bearer only these few words, “Come, and let us go….”, even when his Father, the King was paralyzed with fear. 

1Sam 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, 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. (KJV)

No one knew that Jonathan had left…not even Samuel.  Jonathan stepped out and said “it may be” that the LORD will work for us”.  In other words, Jonathan took a HUGE step of faith…knowing the great I AM, and said maybe GOD will show up.  I believe because of Jonathan’s courage and heart, he had a great influence over his armor-bearer.  His armor-bearer believed in and trusted Jonathan, and agreed with his approach or strategy.

1Sam 14:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.  (KJV)

Jonathan had a huge sphere of influence.  Jonathan also did not wake his father Saul, because he understood his mindset… because of Saul’s proven “inaction” …or “apathy”.  Saul stayed under the pomegranate tree….hiding out.  Jonathan knew he could not convince Saul to change his mind

1Sam 14:2 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; (KJV)

It was a hopeless cause….Saul remained unmoved.  Many times we conclude we do not have the power to change the way things are.  Those who hold positions of power and authority simply will not see things our way.  All too often when we cannot change things, we automatically feel sorry for ourselves, and start to tell ourselves that we “cannot change anything”.  If Jonathan accepted this way of thinking, he would NEVER have SEIZED his DIVINE MOMENT!  He also did not try to persuade six hundred men who were under Saul’s leadership.  Jonathan was not inciting a treasonous riot!  He did not try to win King Saul’s soldiers into the warriors of Prince Jonathan.  He did not overstep that boundary.  He still respected his Father’s position.  How many times have we almost given up because we do not have the resources available to us?  How many new and fresh emerging leaders have been frustrated when those over them no longer demonstrate the level of urgency that moved them to their original place of authority?  How many times have those in leadership abdicated (given up) their responsibility to lead simply to hold on to what they have?  Saul was paralyzed because he had too much to lose.  This mentality cost Saul everything in the end.

Two roadblocks that often mislead us are lack of authority and lack of resources.

1Sa 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. (KJV)

 Jonathan could have just decided to do nothing, he could have accepted these “lack-of” signs that GOD did not want him to advance.  How many times have you been afraid to move because GOD doesn’t immediately give you the provision or plan ahead of time??  Jonathan only had ONE sword, and it was his right to use it.

He had placed under his authority one person, and he called him to follow him…he never commanded him…he CALLED HIM.  This was more than a relationship with authority…just like GOD has a relationship with us in HIS authority.  When GOD calls us, he waits for us to be influenced by HIM, to follow HIM because of our LOVE for him, and our RESPECT for HIM.   GOD doesn’t force himself on us by simply using HIS authority.

2Chron 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. (KJV)

The armor-bearer, as a servant was required to obey his master, but he expressed more than obedience…he expressed LOYALTY!  Title, position, and authority may hold power, but influence travels through relationships…influence is the fountainhead of power.  I believe GOD has the essence of influence, to win our heart and soul through the strength of his character.  Authority can shape what a person does, but influence shapes who a person becomes.  Influence is born out of trust, and finds its strength in the connection of heart and soul.  Like Jonathan, we must step into the full extent of our appropriate influence if we are to seize DIVINE MOMENTS!  We must NOT be afraid to call those who would listen to follow us into an uncertain future.  Jonathan’s commitment was to do what was right, to seize this divine moment, and expand his sphere of influence to an unexpected level.  Influence is defined as “a power affecting a person, thing, or course of events”—especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort. 

Character is the resource from which influence draws.  Relationships are the venue through which influence travels.  GOD’s invitation to us to seize divine moments is found in the needs of other people’s lives.  To fully live, we must recognize the centrality of relationships.  James tells us the royal law of Scripture is love.  Jesus attached this call to relational living to His command that we love GOD with all of our being.  When we have a right relationship with GOD, this results in right relationships with others.

Jesus Christ is the greatest example of true influence reaching into the heart and soul of a person, changing him from the inside out. 

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

GOD does the miraculous work of transformation. 

Deut 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

GOD wins our hearts, earns our trust, and we long to be at His side. 

This is the model and the challenge that is set before us—that we not only take initiative, that we not only move with confidence into the reality of uncertainty, but also that we maximize our sphere of influence as we grow in depth of Christ-like character. 

Mark 6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. (KJV)

Mr 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (KJV)

SO…I admonish you today…to count the cost. It won’t be easy being a disciple. It will require…DENYING SELF…a dying to selfish needs, wants ambitions in order to follow HIM. Only then can we WIN people…make disciples… who will also follow….will take up the cross….it JUST MAY BE…so…

JUST GO!

Message within the message:

1Sam 14:4 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. (KJV)

The two rocks were situated one northward looking toward the garrison of the Philistines—the enemy’s camp… and one southward towards Gibeah—where Saul’s camp was—looking towards home—safety. 

Jonathan had to pass through these two rocks.  He had to make a decision to WALK AWAY from the certainty of safety – and WALK INTO the uncertainty of the battle — and into the VICTORY GOD had promised him—all done on FAITH! 

…it may be that the LORD will work for us

The two sharp rocks were…Bozez, (which in Hebrew means “white-bleach- or shining”) and Seneh (which in Hebrew means “thorn – prick-bramble”).    Bozez was a rock facing Michmash (“store away-memory”) and Seneh was a rock facing Gibeah (“hill”). 

Jonathan had to PASS THROUGH a process of being washed “white” as snow, having all his old thinking or memories bleached or wiped away, and then he allowed GOD to convict him “prick”– his spirit of his old ways, and accepted redemption from the Son, who sits on the right hand of the Father whose salvation was given to us on the hill.

BEFORE stepping into the HUGE battle, and before GOD gives you your VICTORY, GOD wants you to go through a sanctification process.  Allow GOD to bring you into a close and personal relationship with him, through HIS divine influence over you.  In turn, you will also be able to have a GOD like influence over others!

Step out of your COMFORT ZONE and into the FAITH ZONE!!