Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 17 05/06/2007
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 17 05/06/2007
The apostle Paul warns that in the last days perilous times shall come. II Timothy 3:1 Paul's use of the word "perilous" means "dangerous, fierce and violent times that sap away all strength." Those times are here!
As tempting as it may be, running away is contrary to everything in God's Word! Besides, if you seek to save your skin you’ll loose it!
Jesus is not coming back for a cowardly people on the run!
Jesus knew what our times would be like. He was aware of all the horrible violence that would take place. He foresaw the outbreaks of wickedness, the school killings and the terrorism . And still He commanded, Go to all the world! Preach the gospel, baptize, heal the sick - I’ll be with you at all times!
Noah lived in a society that had become totally corrupt - a world so violent that God could no longer endure it! God saw the wickedness of man was great and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, it grieved him at his heart. Genesis 6:5-6,11-13
For 120 years Noah watched his society grow more evil, people consumed with violence, corruption, murder, rape and incest, but he stood in the midst of it, preaching righteousness. Kept by the power of God! He never wavered! All he feared was the Word of God!
I believe God has a role for you in these evil times and it is not just to survive. And it is definitely not just to attend church!
May God find those among us able to say, I am going to do what God wants me to do. I will not run and hide! I’ll stand for God in this wicked hour, even if I stand alone. Jonathan, son of Saul, is a great example of this kind of faith! He too lived in a time of moral and spiritual decay. In the midst of an evil society, Jonathan represents what God is looking for in His people today!
God is looking for courageous men and women who will stand in the gap for their family and for their communities.
Here is the scenario: Israel in seeking to have a human ruler over them appoint Saul as king, but, Israel under Saul became morally wretched. Soon their enemies began to make inroads against them. The Philistines surround Israel with 30,000 iron chariots, 6,000 horsemen and an army as numerous as the sands of the seashore! I Samuel 13:5
When the Israelites saw the enemy's massive power they fled for their lives. They ducked into caves, thickets, among rocks, in pits and high places. Those with Saul followed him trembling I Samuel 13:7 Saul hides under a pomegranate tree along with 600 soldiers, completely confused, not knowing whether to run, surrender or go on a suicide mission!
Totally overwhelmed. Nobody in that tiny group had a plan. They were helpless, powerless - with all hell about to break loose upon them!
Only holiness provides boldness! Only a godly, praying people can stand unshakable in the face of the enemy! The righteous are bold as a lion Proverbs 28:1
In I Samuel 14 we see that Jonathan had a plan, and running wasn’t a part of it!
He decided to undertake single-handed warfare. Good thing he didn’t say anything to the other tree huggers. They’d have laughed him to scorn! You? Alone? Going to fight the enemy territory, just you and your armor bearer?
Yet Jonathan said boldly in faith to his armor-bearer, There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few! I Samuel 14:6 In other words, "I'm going on the offensive. Numbers don't matter to God!"
Every change involves a letting go of one thing to reach out for what is next.
The victory that is needed in your family depends on you! You must step out from under the tree and fight single-handedly, or else the enemy will get the upper hand.
Jonathan's plan had two options: "Stand still," or "Charge!"
I Samuel 14:9-10 Insanity - 600 under a tree 2 swords/spears
I can picture Jonathan standing on a rock, waving his sword and crying out, Hey You! And in mockery the Philistines answer, "Come on up. We'll show you a thing or two!"
I wish I could’ve heard Jonathan praying as he climbed up the side of those sharp rocks: Glory to God, victory is in You! No more running! No devil in hell can destroy my family, my community, my country! O God, fight for me!
Friends, one little victory threw the enemy into confusion and brought them down completely in defeat: I Samuel 14:13-16 Jonathan won only a half-acre victory - twenty dead soldiers. But this small battle steamrolled into a mighty victory.
Remember this: It is the Spirit of God coming on men that makes them dare to step out in faith to do battle! Verse 15 says, There was trembling in the host... and the earth quaked: a very great trembling. The devil panicked!
There were three divisions of Philistines, and the word spread like wildfire, "There's a mighty army coming!"
If we only understood the mighty force with us when we pray, we’d intercede and do battle in faith much more!
Jonathan's sword became lightning-quick and powerful because the Spirit of the Lord was on him. And so it is with every saint who declares war on satanic strongholds: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God II Corinthians 10:4-5
Men and women just like you through faith subdued kingdoms... quenched the violence of fire... waxed valiant in fight Hebrews 11:33-34 This power is available to us today!
Through faith and prayer, we can quench the fiery darts of the devil! We can shut the mouths of the lions! May God remove all fear from your heart, so you can stand up by faith and go against the strongholds Satan has established in your family.
What scares the devil more than anything is a persevering Christian, one who keeps coming back and saying, I'm not giving up, I'm not moving. I'm standing on this rock until I see my Lord's victory! Holy boldness filling your heart!
Will you dare to step away from the pomegranate tree? Are you willing to, simply take God at His Word. Then, "Stand fast, and see the salvation of the Lord!"
I Samuel 14:7 And his armor-bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart: go ahead; behold, I am with you according to your heart.
Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
The victory that is needed in your family depends on you! You must step out from under the tree and fight single-handedly, or else the enemy will get the upper hand.
Jonathan's plan had two options: "Stand still," or "Charge!"
I Samuel 14:9-10 Insanity - 600 under a tree 2 swords/spears
I can picture Jonathan standing on a rock, waving his sword and crying out, Hey You! And in mockery the Philistines answer, "Come on up. We'll show you a thing or two!"
I wish I could’ve heard Jonathan praying as he climbed up the side of those sharp rocks: Glory to God, victory is in You! No more running! No devil in hell can destroy my family, my community, my country! O God, fight for me!
Friends, one little victory threw the enemy into confusion and brought them down completely in defeat: I Samuel 14:13-16 Jonathan won only a half-acre victory - twenty dead soldiers. But this small battle steamrolled into a mighty victory.
Remember this: It is the Spirit of God coming on men that makes them dare to step out in faith to do battle! Verse 15 says, There was trembling in the host... and the earth quaked: a very great trembling. The devil panicked!
There were three divisions of Philistines, and the word spread like wildfire, "There's a mighty army coming!"
If we only understood the mighty force with us when we pray, we’d intercede and do battle in faith much more!
Jonathan's sword became lightning-quick and powerful because the Spirit of the Lord was on him. And so it is with every saint who declares war on satanic strongholds: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God II Corinthians 10:4-5
Men and women just like you through faith subdued kingdoms... quenched the violence of fire... waxed valiant in fight Hebrews 11:33-34 This power is available to us today!
Through faith and prayer, we can quench the fiery darts of the devil! We can shut the mouths of the lions! May God remove all fear from your heart, so you can stand up by faith and go against the strongholds Satan has established in your family.
What scares the devil more than anything is a persevering Christian, one who keeps coming back and saying, I'm not giving up, I'm not moving. I'm standing on this rock until I see my Lord's victory! Holy boldness filling your heart!
Will you dare to step away from the pomegranate tree? Are you willing to, simply take God at His Word. Then, "Stand fast, and see the salvation of the Lord!"
I Samuel 14:7 And his armor-bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart: go ahead; behold, I am with you according to your heart.
Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
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