Life on Mission

Matthew 28:19-20; James 4:17; 1 Samuel 14:1-10,13-20; Zechariah 4:6b

Be Part of the Solution

CIT: Jonathan and his armor bearer take on the Philistine outpost.

CIS: Be part of the solution

SO: The hearer will become more active in their faith

Follow along at d1.church/notes.

Intro:  Life on Mission

We have talked about our Co-Mission. It is found in Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Last week, we explored practical ways to embody our Christian values in our daily lives. If we see something, say something. James told us: If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17

We homeschool our granddaughter Bella, and to be honest, I am not usually a part of that process. Unless math is involved. But the other day, I was going through one of her modules with her, and it was about “How we can serve in our Community”. She had to list an example of how she serves in the community and draw a picture of it. The assignment was actually to make a comparison between volunteering for the greater good and working for wages. Bella loves to serve; she serves at the well, is a big helper in kids' church, and there are nights at home where she plans what we need for the night, or demands that we give her spa time. But honestly, she had a hard time answering the question when I asked her What do you do to serve the community? I don’t know, pick up trash? She said, You see, a child's motivation is to make their world a better place. They don’t see it as service; they see it as just something they do. 

Today we are going to talk about living our Christ as a child would. Making our surroundings better is something we do naturally. We are called to Be Part of the Solution.

Let’s turn to our bible to a story about one person and his friend who made a big difference for Israel.

1. Go to where the fight/cause is! (1 Samuel 14:1-7)

One day, Jonathan, son of Saul, said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north, toward Mikmash, and the other to the south, toward Geba. Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

EXP: The Israelites are in a war with the Philistines. Saul is the King, and the Philistines have really been in control of this province for a while, as they have ruled over Israel with fear and threats. God has a desire with Saul, the king, to reclaim all the land and establish a royal kingdom in Israel. The Philistines have broken their fighting forces up into three detachments. One is camping near where Saul (The king), Ahijah (the High priest), along with the ephod and Ark of the Covenant, and 600 fighting men. All the brain trusts have gathered together and are planning their next move. Inquiring or God, etc, then Jonathan decides he wants to go and see what the Philistine outpost looks like. He expresses fearlessness because he believes God will deliver them, no matter what happens. His armor-bearer tells him to “Do all that you have in mind, I am with you heart and soul.”

ILL: We all have a choice to make when something affects our community. We can gather everybody together and have a gripe session, in which we talk endlessly about the plan and what needs to be done, or we can act as part of the solution. 

One area that is affecting our community and future is education in Deming.

18% Math Proficiency, State of NM 24%

26% reading Proficiency, State of NM 38%

23% Science Proficiency, State of NM 34% 

Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Data Book: New Mexico ranked 50th in education for the eighth consecutive year in the 2024 report. 51st if you count Washington, D.C.

I am proud to say that we have several teachers and school staff members in our congregation. These people see a problem and are like Jonathan, willing to go and see and do things to be Part of the Solution. Thank you to teachers and those who work in DPS.

ILL: We have a member who has decided to run for a seat on the School Board. Jesse Anderson is running for a seat in District 1, located in the County. I have asked him if I could highlight him this morning and give him a couple of minutes to share. Would you help me welcome Jesse Anderson to the stage?

****Need a microphone for Jesse

APP: Thank you, Jesse, for running and making a difference. Jonathan sees what needs to happen and makes a move toward the Goal of the Lord. His armor bearer says, to Go, and we will be with you. Let’s tell Jesse the same.

T.S.: Our first point in this story is that you must go to where the fight is. You can’t sit back and watch and wait. God’s direction will be the next important step once in position. 

2. Ask God for direction (1 Samuel 14:8-10).

Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”

EXP: Jonathan and his armor bearer go over to the cliffs, where they can be near the encampment of the Philistine army. Jonathan puts the next steps into the Lord’s hands and tells his armor bearer the plan. If we are spotted (the goal is to get spotted), then if they say Come up here! We will go up there. If they stay, we will come to you, and then we will stay. *** Notice, neither gets them out of confrontation. But Jonathan is sure that if they say 'Come up,' then God is with them and victory is at hand. 

ILL: Jonathan is committed to being used by the Lord. Whether to live or die is not his call, but he knows that not going forward is a sin. 

I once worked with a pastor who had an issue with their car. He and his wife had just gotten married and were serving in ministry when her car broke down. They took it to the dealership, and it was determined that it would need a new transmission, which they could not afford. I remember having a conversation about what to do with this. It was a terrible blow to their new family. We discussed options, which included everything from completely giving up to asking parents for loans. We stopped in the office and prayed. We asked God for direction and guidance. They decided to wait on God and just try to prepare for what could come next. Over the next week, they gave God time to review the complete report. They began to save money and started making budget cuts. Then, out of the blue, the dealership calls and informs them that their VIN number was part of a recall, and the entire repair would be free. It is easy to spin into panic mode, but if you seek God, ask for guidance, and stay focused, he will provide an answer.

APP: Once we decide to be part of the solution and not focus solely on the problem, we can ask God and listen for His response. 

T.S.: Jonathan moves and waits for God’s response, and then he acts.

3. By your Spirit (1 Samuel 14:13-20)

Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there. Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time, it was with the Israelites.) While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest,“Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords.

EXP: Jonathan and his armor bearer climb up to the top of the cliff and immediately begin striking down Philistines. The bible records 20 quick deaths. The noises from battle did 2 things. The Philistine camp woke up in a panic. Not because of the attack, but the ground shook. God was in the battle with an earthquake. The Philistines began to run for their lives, and the lookouts informed Saul of the commotion. Saul ordered all the troops to form up and commanded the priests to inquire of the Lord.

 ****At this point, he knows Jonathan is missing, and he hears the sheer panic from the Philistine camp, and an earthquake has occurred, and Saul’s answer is to think maybe it is time to attack. Let’s get a clear head count and again deliberate on what the next steps should be. 

Finally, when the noises grow louder, Saul tells the priests that we are no longer stalling. “Remove your hand,” he says. This means that the priest would pull the urim or thummim out of the ephod to receive an answer from God. Then they go to battle and find the Philistine camp in disarray, with soldiers killing one another. God delivered them.

ILL: This story is about making a decision to act out as God’s people in God’s interest. 

Saul and Israel- The Priest has put his hand into the ephod, but will not pull it out. Praying and inquiring, but not willing to move.

Jonathan and the armor bearer- Willing to move and allow the Lord to guide them along the way. 

ILL: Colin Powell, a military commander in the Gulf War and later as Secretary of State, taught about making decisions to lead. He said you will never have 100% certainty before you act. If you wait that long, you will miss the window. The outcome will have already been decided.“When you have about 70% of all the information, you probably ought to decide, because you may lose an opportunity.” He says you can make a decision with 40% of the information, but never more than 70. 

APP: Being part of the solution for our community requires us to act and let God have the opportunity to win. When we stand up for God and His principles, He comes alongside us and guarantees victory. When we continue to wait in a lack of faith, we will miss what God wants to do through us. We need to remove our hand, because it will not be what gives us the victory.

The word of Zechariah, the King of his day, was this: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6b  If the battle we face is to be won, it will be by the spirit of the Lord. Not by our power or might. 

T.S.: Living a life on mission means we are going to choose to battle on behalf of the Lord. 

I want to pray for three groups today:

1. Some of you today just needed a word of encouragement. Like the Armor bearer of Jonathan, hear me when I say Do what is in your heart, the church is with you.
2. I pray that you will act as the Spirit directs, being part of the solution.
3. Some of us need to commit to God’s outcome for our situation. Whether we go up or they come down. We will have an answer from the Lord. 
4. I pray you will be committed to God’s plan for your life.
5. Some of you need to remove your hands. Quit waiting for 100% of certainty. Move. For some, that is salvation.
6. I pray for salvation.