Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armour, “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 armour-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”
Sometimes other people say what you want to say much better than you would have done. Sometimes they say what you wish you could but never would have said. Sometimes others exceed you. When they do it is an immeasurable blessing for they stretch you beyond the present confines of self.
Today was a day when I was blessed by someone exceeding my insight on this verse, which caught my attention. Keith Linkous’ insight was marvellous and I reproduce a slightly edited version below. See http://sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=38032 for a full transcript.
From: When All You’ve Got Is A "Maybe", by Keith Linkous
The future, the absolute direction Jonathan needed for the present time just was not clear. All he could say was "It may be..." He couldn’t be sure one way or the other. He seemed to, and probably did, feel that it was the right thing to do, but there is uncertainty revealed in his words. There seemed to be some doubt.
I believe that there are times when we have uncertainties and doubts when the enemy is not majorly involved. There are times when we are just unsure and unclear on the right step to take, and the right move to make. Sometimes, all we have is a sense, a feeling, and something abstract. We have nothing concrete and sure. Most of the time, in every area of life, we like guarantees. We like the sure thing. But the "sure thing" doesn’t require any faith. In Hebrews 11:6, faith is identified as a prerequisite for pleasing God. The truth is most of us will face more "maybe’s" than we will certainties in our walk with God. There will be times when we have a sense of what’s right, what God’s will is, but we will still have doubts and uncertainties.
Ecclesiastes 11 talks about "not watching the wind and clouds." What does that mean? I believe it means: Don’t get caught up watching the natural circumstances. Don’t get distracted by waiting for natural things to align themselves. Listen: If all we do is wait on the right time, on the right conditions, on the right people, or the right atmosphere, then all we will ever do is sit around talking about "how bad we need things to line up" so we can get things done!
The metaphor used in Ecclesiastes 11, relates this truth to sowing and reaping. "He who regards the wind will never sow, and he that observes the clouds will never reap." Whether sowing or reaping, you can’t sit around waiting on "perfect" conditions before you take action. Don’t wait on the wind, and don’t focus on the clouds. And if we wait to do anything for God, until we are absolutely sure that it’s the right thing, then we will only sit around and miss miracles!
Sometimes you have to move out on a "maybe." Now I’m not talking about senseless action, and trusting God to empower our every whim. But I do believe that there are times when you have to step out by faith, and that means that YOU WILL NOT BE SURE. To wait until you’re sure is not moving by faith. All you may have is a "maybe". But I believe the Lord would say, "If you will begin to move out on a maybe, I will transform your maybe into a MIRACLE!"
We are to walk by faith and not by sight. That means take a chance, move out even when you’re unsure. Move out on a "maybe". That means you can still have some doubts and reservations. You can still have questions, and not know the whole plan. But if you will move out on a "maybe," then God can do an awesome work, just because you stepped out in "maybe faith."
So, what are you going to do when you’re not certain? Are you just going to sit back and wait on the natural circumstances to align themselves? Are you going to wait for
conditions that are perfect to launch the ministry expansion God put on your heart?
Jesus said, "I am he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens." I believe that God can open and shut doors that we, nor anyone else, can do anything about. *HOWEVER, I also believe that there are doors that God unlocks, but leaves closed, seeing if we have the faith to try the doorknob! I believe we have often missed God’s movement and direction, because we wanted to see the entire panoramic view. But God may just be wanting us to "push on the door" a little bit!
I believe that God will draw you to an unlocked door, that is closed, and then give you a "maybe" condition, and see what your faith will cause you to do! Some people are worried about making a mistake. And it is a possibility. But I have come to know that you can not make a mess so big that God cannot turn it around. You can’t make a mistake so big, that God cannot erase it. If you give yourself permission to fail or falter, you give yourself permission to try. And sometimes, that’s all God wants. He just wants you to try!
Now, you may think that we are only to move out on a surety. But do you realize how many natural decisions we make, based on a "maybe"? What about marriage? What about fishing? What about these deer hunters that get up a 3:00 A.M. while it’s still dark, put on camouflage, go to the woods, get in a tree stand and sit for EIGHT HOURS? They are doing all of that based on a "MAYBE!" *And if people will do natural, menial things based on a "maybe," could it be possible that God wants us to incorporate that kind of faith into the realm of Spiritual matters?
A man brought his demon possessed son to Jesus, to get him to cast the devils out. Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible." But the man replied: "I believe. But help my unbelief." Now, that sounds like "Schizophrenic Faith." First he believes, then he doesn’t believe. But I believe that he was saying: "All I have hope in is a ’MAYBE!’ I know you can do it, but I’m not sure what you’re going to do." But Jesus moved on his behalf, and turned his "maybe" into a MIRACLE!
Now let me return to 1Samuel 14 very quickly. The scene is that of Jonathan and his armour-bearer coming to a place where they were facing a garrison of the Philistines. Some believe this to be up to 250 armed soldiers. So it was 2 against 250. What were they to do? Jonathan says, "Let us go over unto them, for IT MAY BE that the Lord will work for us." Now listen: An armour-bearer didn’t have his own weaponry and armour. He only bore that of his master. So there was only one sword among them, and they want to "attack!"
And the armour bearer proves that he’s just as "crazy" as Jonathan, because he says, "I’m with you. Do what’s in your heart!" Oh Lord, give us a church full of people like that. People who will move out on a maybe, and others who will say, "We’re with you!"
Look at what these men were missing. They were at a place of insufficiency. They had insufficient personnel, insufficient weaponry or equipment, and insufficient plans. They weren’t equipped, or able in the natural to do it. But they also had something else: THEY HAD "MAYBE FAITH." They didn’t have assurance, but they had faith in a "maybe"! And God intervened on there behalf, and wrought a wonderful victory!
I don’t want to excuse my inactivity any longer, nor the church’s inactivity, by giving lame excuses that are not full of faith, but full of doubtful reasoning. I don’t plan
on my last words being "It’s just not time yet." I think it’s time that we analyze our faith, and begin to step out on a "MAYBE", and trust God to turn that "maybe" into a miracle! When all you’ve got is a "maybe," MAYBE God is wanting you to move on out, test the doorknob, push on the door, and step out in faith. And what is faith? What is it really?
Faith is what moves you, motivates you, and ACTIVATES you, WHEN ALL YOU’VE GOT IS A "MAYBE".
Lord, I too don’t want to excuse inactivity any longer by giving lame excuses that are not full of faith but instead full of doubtful reasoning. Teach me to move on out, test the doorknob, push on the door, and step out in faith. Give me a faith that moves me, motivates me, and activates me, when all I’ve got is a "maybe".
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