We Should Have Jonathan's Qualities

STUDY: #902 (before #524) CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: June 28, @ July 4, 2016

TOPIC: “We Should Have Jonathan's Qualities” I Samuel 14:1-13 We must put our trust in whom we have believed. Saul, who was called to be king, was Jonathan's father. Saul had so much confidence in himself that he did not wait for the prophet Samuel to pray for him and give him advice. For this reason we must seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and not of ourselves so that we won’t feel so sure of our own capacities and not go on living and speaking what we shouldn’t speak. Are we filled with vainglory? God has to control our lives so that He can work in us and then we can live depending on Him for everything in our lives. We should always be in God for everything in our lives. Jonathan is an example of this. We must not put our strength in what can make us walk away from God. Things such as pride and vanity can never satisfy our lives or give us hope, but rather they can deceive us and make us fall. We must escape from them. Jonathan had no resemblance to his father Saul, although he loved him. He walked with him, but never imitated his person, but rather he took good care of his own heart with God. Jonathan possessed all the virtues that a righteous man could reach. He was very determined, he was a firm man, a warrior, brave, and he had a very clear concept of what friendship was. Jonathan was a spectacular son. He was a warrior for his nation, he even loved the people of Israel more than his own life. Jonathan knew that at any given moment he had to step aside so that David, who was God’s chosen king, could reach his calling. When a person steps aside it is because he loves. Jonathan never sought anything for himself but rather he gave himself completely without measure, he loved with passion, he fought with all his strength and never demanded anything from anyone, but rather he always walked confident and moved forward. We can see in 1 Samuel 13: 3 that Jonathan was a brave and excellent man. He was one of the friendliest men in the Holy Scriptures. He always showed love towards others. God called Saul to defend his people, but he didn't take the necessary steps to prepare the people for this. Then his son Jonathan, provoked by despair, prepared himself with weapons. We need to get dressed with our armor when we are going to battle in this life. Ephesians 6:13 Jonathan took advantage when his father gave him a thousand men and he intervened with the Philistines and took all their weapons. When we begin to fight for a town it is so that this town will live comfortably. As long as there are men and women who are willing to fight the people will be in peace. We need to gather the weapons; we have to prepare and be willing to do many things for God and for the people that we need to love very much. Jonathan undertook a daring attack against the Philistines. We can see here he was a courageous man. Jonathan took strength in Jehovah his God. Joshua 1: 7 The forces of evil against us do not come from one demon, but by legions, principalities and powers. Then, we must be fully dressed with spiritual armors because when the devil comes he comes to kill and if we are not armed then, how can we battle? And, how will we resist the thoughts that the devil brings us if we are not filled with the Word of God? What comes against us is no simple thing. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, because they are there just like the Philistines to siege our lives. Ephesians 6: 12

The people of Israel were filled with terror, with fear. Courageous believers are needed because people live terrorized. Those who are afraid accept everything as good and say yes to everything. When people live shivering and scared they have many losses. There are things that we should do and not be afraid. When we are sure, then God will speak because He sees in us a good desire. We sometimes leave and we walk away from God fearing the war that we have to face. Jonathan did a great job, of great courage. He fought face to face because there was a nation that was suffering. We are the maximum manifestation of God’s love towards others, but we sometimes live in caves trembling and fearful and we don't know what to do. Jonathan's bravery was not seen in the stones. His knight attendant did not see the power and strength of Jonathan but rather he saw his heart, his love and his surrender to God. The squire knew Jonathan’s heart, not for what he spoke but because of how he acted. When we become warriors, fighters in this battle of faith, those who surround us want to be like us. 2 Timothy 4:7 The enemy can fall under our feet, but we have to understand that we live in a war, that there is something that we have to obtain and a place which we must reach. The more we fight and struggle the victory belongs to Jehovah. There are qualities that we need to have, we must be diligent. God fought for Jonathan because of his faith, (Hebrew 11: 33) his effort and his love. Saul gave a death sentence to Jonathan. For whatever we are fighting this will bring us blessings. Everything can come against those who love, but nothing can stop them, nothing will kill them. Jonathan could not rise against Saul because he was his father, he was the king. There was a nation that knew how to admire a man full of passion and delivered him from condemnation. When we stop to discuss about vain things we lose the battle. Chapter 18:1 We must love our companions as we love ourselves, as Jonathan loved David. In this way there will never be a measure and we will be able to get far. Jonathan offered David his friendship. David learned from Jonathan what love was. Jonathan gave David an extraordinary gift; he gave him his mantel and his weapons. Jonathan was his father's legitimate successor, but when he gave his sword to David he gave him his place so that David would be crowned instead of him. Jonathan knew God’s plan and didn't oppose him, but rather supported him. 2 Samuel 1:23 Jonathan never separated from his father. He gave his life for his people. He was an example for us to follow. Let us be courageous, faithful and pure of heart and we will reach honor before God and before men. Amen.