SERMON SUMMARY
The “perhaps” of faith is trusting both the power of God and the freedom of God to work for our good and His glory in each and every circumstance He brings into our lives.
Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:16-14:52
SERMON SCREENSHOTS & KEY POINTS
What is this story about? This story is about Saul’s battle with the Philistine army (chapters 13 and 14). It’s one more chapter in the downward spiral of the sad saga of Saul. Again, as we saw last week, it continues to show us how, by being off just by one or two degrees, we can end up miles away from where God intends for us to be. It shows us that not every victory is a true victory. It shows us that God isn’t looking for winners; He’s looking for disciples. Saul looked like a winner, but Jonathan was the true disciple.
What do we learn about God and life and faith from this story? It teaches us an important lesson about faith—what it is and how it works. The “perhaps” of v6 is the key. What feeds the “perhaps” of faith is your conviction of faith—your theology of God. Knowing who God is and how God works fuels the “perhaps” of faith. In this story, Jonathan knows God is all-powerful. He has a firm theological conviction of the omnipotence of God. He knows that God is not limited by our resources; He’s not limited by our lack; Our weakness does not limit him; He’s not limited by what seems to be impossible circumstances. And because Jonathan has the conviction that God is all-powerful and in no way limited by any circumstance, then, Jonathan’s faith was also not limited by what seemed to be an impossibly dangerous, deadly situation. However, he did not presume upon the Lord—that’s also built into the “perhaps” of faith.
There’s a difference between faith and presumption. Yes, faith does trust and ask God for good outcomes. Faith trusts God to work for us—to do things for us that we cannot do for ourselves. However, faith does not presume that God will do something for us just because we really believe He will. Faith is not believing that God will give us what we want. Faith is not believing that if we ask God for something—without doubting—that He will give us what we ask for—that God has to give us what we ask for. No, the “perhaps” of faith also factors in the freedom of God. The “perhaps” of faith rests on both the power of God and the freedom of God to do what He deems best (see Daniel 3:17-18 for another example of this). Biblical faith rests on God’s power and freedom to do what He knows is best. That’s the “perhaps” of faith—and that is what a walk of faith looks like—trusting both the power of God and the freedom of God to work for our good and His glory in each and every circumstance He brings into our lives.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.