What battle(s) are you facing, and how is your doubt in God’s plan for your life keeping you from being part of a bigger movement?
That was the heart of Warren Gasaway’s sermon, “Climb the Hill” on Sunday at Trinity Baptist Church.
What is a movement?
Simply put, a movement is a group of people working together to advance a cause. Christianity is a movement to advance people to God’s Kingdom.
In 1 Samuel 14, Israel’s king, Saul, declares a battle against the Philistines without seeking God’s wisdom first. It doesn’t go well. The army ends up hiding in fear from the enemy. Saul is paralyzed because of his fear, so his army remains hiding in the same state.
Saul’s son, Jonathan, hatches a plan to go over to the enemy. His armor bearer (assistant) follows him. God guided Jonathan to a strategic place where two men would have a chance to fight off a lot of people. They would have to climb up a hill to do it. They were able to fight off a large group of men. Then others, who had been hiding, started to come out and join the battle. Saul, unaware his son had started the battle, led his army into the fight as well. There was mass confusion, but in the end, Saul’s army, and the thousands of people who came out to fight because of Jonathan’s willingness to step out in faith, is victorious.
That’s how a movement of God works.
3 Leadership Lessons from 1 Samuel 14
1. Strong Spirtual Leaders Make Decisions of Faith
Saul sat under a tree feeling defeated. He was so focused on his past mistakes, that he missed the opportunity to move forward.
Jonathan walked into battle in faith. He had complete confidence and trust that God would lead him through the battle he was facing.
In life, you can’t be so afraid of losing that you do nothing and thereby lose everything.
2. Strong Spiritual Leaders Inspire Others
In verses 6-7, we read, “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.’ So his armor bearer said to him, ‘Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.’”
When we step out in faith, we can inspire others to do the same. It took only two people to start the movement against the Philistines.
3. Strong Spirtual Leaders Envision God’s Plan
How often do you ask yourself these questions…
…Why not me?
…Why not right now?
…Why is this happening to me?
Why do you not trust in God’s plan for your life?
As you get closer to who you are in God, you are better able to envision the plan He has for your life.
Victory is reserved for those who are willing to walk to the best of a different drum. When you’re faced with a decision to make, will you stay with the crowd or climb the hill in front of you?
In order to catch a vision and make a decision, you have to let go of the things holding you back.
-Are you living with a sin that has you paralyzed?
-Is your fear of change holding you back?
-Is your unwillingness to march to a drum that goes against modern culture keeping you from becoming more Christlike?
Whatever it is that is holding you back, it’s not too big for God when you walk by faith and remember He is a promise keeper.
Read 1 Samuel 14 at this link:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2014&version=NIV&interface=amp
Watch the full sermon here: