I Am With You Completely!

1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13
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Scripture

1 Samuel 14

1 One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.

2 Meanwhile, Saul and his 600 men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron. 3 Among Saul’s men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the ephod, the priestly vest. Ahijah was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh.

No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6 “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!”

7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”

8 “All right then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the LORD’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”

11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” 12 Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!”

“Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the LORD will help us defeat them!”

13 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. 14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.

15 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.

Observation

Jonathan had tremendous faith in his God, but Jonathan’s armor bearer is the one I want to talk about this morning. Can you imagine having someone so loyal by your side that they would be willing to die for you and go on a suicide mission with you?

The odds were 2 against the entire Philistine army. Ok let me correct that statement the odds were 2 men and one God against the entire Philistine army. It was amazing that Jonathan and his armor bearer would take off and fight the entire Philistine army by themselves.

I know that churches that thrive and grow do not do so just because of the preacher’s ability alone, but because of the armor bearers, the leadership that surrounds those pastors. Men and women who are able to say, “Do what you think is best,” ... “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.” When armor bearers surround pastors like Jonathan had at his side then pastors can lead churches to victory after victory.

How good are you and me at carrying someone else’s armor?

Application

I will thank those men and women that surround me and support me knowing that victory is only possible because of them.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be like Jonathan a person that people will want to follow. Give me the faith and the wisdom I need to lead our church. I pray that You continue to surround me with armor bearers that protect me and go with me in battle. Give me a servant’s heart like Jonathan’s. It made it easy for his armor bearer to follow him into battle.

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