Get Out Of The Camp

1) VS 1- 2 Jonathan left the safety of 600 warriors for the unknown of Gods results

*It would have been easy for him to blow off that tugging that called him away from the camp, just to stay right there protected and comfortable.

*But Jonathan had a heart for God and a passion for adventure with God. He had a passion for getting outside of the box and looking for Gods result.

*God can and will give you seasons of rest, time in the camp, but most of your growth comes outside of that comfort zone.

*Your calling, your gifting, your vision is meant to lead you outside of the box. The victory with all of your battles and struggles......lies outside of the box, outside of the camp!

*Everything about the Christian life screams different! So where is your dependence? The comfort of the world (this comes in many forms), or the, or the unpredictable, sea splitting, water stopping, dead raising, loving power of God?

*When you stretch your boundaries, your experience and circle of faith grow!

*The Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Do you know how God told Abraham to start his journey to a new land, and his promise?

He said “ Get all your family together, and start walking, I will show you where to go”

Didnt pull up maps on his smart phone and share a drop pin with him, and say go there.

He said start walking and I will show you!

We all want Gods promises but most people dont want to start walking!

We all want miracles but show me who is stepping out of the boat!

Proverbs 14:23

23 There is profit in all hard work,

but endless talk leads only to poverty.

Want the truth? This might offend you, are you ready? Bumping your gums does nothing, Jesus said go!

I had about 30 people sign up as interested in prison ministry, 3 have reached out to me, 2 of those 3 are involved, and none of them have finished the training that I know of.

Get off the bench!

A) Jonathan didnt broadcast what he was doing to everyone

End of verse 1 and end of verse 3

Why?

Two reasons:

1st, He didnt need to bolster his pride or posture up to get the validation from others!

Hey did I tell you what Im going to do?

Hey did I tell you what Im going to do?

Proverbs 16:5

Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall.

2nd, He knew that not everyone had the same vision , passion, and faith that he did!

The words of doubt and criticism from others can plant seeds of doubt and complacency in you!

Ever been around negative people for any length of time? What begins to happen to your mind and spirit after a while?

Keep your eyes on Gods results not the obstacles of fear!

Quote:

“Obstacles are just the scary things you see when you take your eyes off of the goal.”

2) VS 6-Seek God in your circumstance

Notice he didnt say “We can beat them!”

But instead “ Lets go over there, perhaps God will work for us, nothing can hinder him from saving by many or few”

He was looking for Gods strength and Gods result, he was seeking God in the circumstance.

Hebrews 11:6

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 11

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Matthew 7:7-8

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 7

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 6:33-34

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

33 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

You know what I find interesting with Jonathan?

When he says “it may be that God will work for us....”

He was unsure of the results but he was absolutely sure that God could save by whatever way he wanted to!

He had faith in Gods character not the final outcome!

His focus wasnt the result but the relationship!

This situation reminds me of a verse in Job when Job says “Though he slay me, still I will trust him!”

God I dont care about the outcome like I care about our relationship! That is trust, that is faith!

Faith is heart posture, its relationship!

Mark 10:17-23

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”,

20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”

21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

He was focused on the result of losing all he had instead of the possibility of relationship with Jesus and eternity!

“Sell all your stuff and give to the poor, and follow me”

He was real good about no adultery, no murder, no stealing, honoring his parents because it was all outward appearance and it suited him but when it came to his real security, his stuff, he showed his heart. He cared about the temporal outcome instead of the life giving relationship with Jesus.

Seek God in your circumstances, not the result!

3)VS 6-7 Get a ride or die brother or sister in your life that will stand behind you and beside you in your walk with Jesus!

He says “lets go over to these uncircumcised “ (not from God)

What he said was this.....”hey brother, come with me over to this problem I need to deal with, its not from God and I could use your help!”

You gotta get one person in your life that will help you tackle the things in your life that are not of God! The things going on in your life, your head, and your heart that you dont want to tell anyone!

Your ride or die (urban slang for “ride to the end or die trying”)

The man said to Jonathan… “Do all that is in your heart, do as you wish, I am with your heart and soul”

No matter what you go through....here I am!

The flip side of the coin with an accountability partner is this:

Sometimes the encouragement and accountability will come in forms that you are not so comfortable with when they call you on the carpet.

Can you imagine if Jonathan got almost all the way to the fight then said “ I cant do this, Im scared!”

4)VS 8-13 Stay in a position of humility and trust.

“Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet and his armor bearer after him”

The position you put yourself in physically, speaks a lot about you spiritually.

Exodus 3:1-6 Moses removes his sandals

English Standard Version Chapter 3

3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

2 Samuel 6:14-15 David worships the Lord with no concern about how he looks.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

The ephod David wore was a garment usually reserved for priests and those ministering before the Lord. As David led the procession of the ark into the city, he humbly laid aside his royal garments and worshiped the Lord, in ecstatic joy, as the representative of God’s “kingdom of priests”

He laid aside his royal garments honoring God in humility as a servant.

1 Peter 5:5 Gods resistance or Gods grace?

1 Peter 5:5 CSB

In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Their problem was towering over them, they had the low ground, on their hands and feet, climbing, moving towards the problem....

I cant imagine the tension in the moment, I mean at any given time the philistines could have just thrown rocks down on them or kicked them as they were coming over the top but Jonathans faith was not in himself or his armor bearer and his security did not rest in what the philistines would or wouldnt do but rather in Gods ability to save!

Like David on the field of battle staring down Goliath, “GOLIATH!” He ran towards the philistine army with a slingshot and some rocks!

His humility said not in my power but in Gods, and his confidence said I know God can do anything he wants so here I go!

Jonathan on his hands and feet climbing and David by himself facing a giant and an army with only a sling and a stone.

Its confidence in humility, my littleness used by a mighty God becomes unstoppable!

Notice in the verses that Jonathan never said a word to the philistines? He didnt have to posture up or make a show to try to intimidate them, he just started moving with the intent that God was God and he was going to do something in Jonathans life!

He didnt walk around telling everyone how bad he was going to beat up the enemy, HE.JUST.WENT!

1.) Faith in God not the security of man

2) Seek God in your circumstances

3)Get a brother or sister that will walk through fire with you

4)Stay humble before God

THE WRAP UP

VS 13-14

Leave nothing undone, they slaughtered everyone in that area, every problem dealt with and put to rest!

Have you put your problem to rest? I know a man who can help you! Jesus!