KSB Youth Conference 2001

Friday morning, 14 December 2001

The youth week closed officially yesterday evening and many left during the night and this morning.

Ferny Jaegle

1 Sam 14:6 - 23

What was it like in Jonathan's time?

The Philistines filled the country. They bore rule over Israel. His own family were lukewarm and disobedient to God. The priests made compromises. They only had an outward form of religion and tradition, but did not know the power of God in prayer and to live victoriously. In chapter 13:19 we find that the Philistines made sure that no black smith could be found in Israel. Israel had to be their slaves without any weapons in the day of battle. This is the same strategy the devil uses in our day. Just look at the rock music the devil uses to rule the world. All over the world you find the same beat, words and influence. There is no such thing as Christian Rock. If there is such a thing then there is also such things as Christian prostitution, Christian divorce, Christian pornography and finally Christian hell. For those that do these things will go straight to hell.

But a different spirit was found in Jonathan. In the midst of all these circumstances, he said 'No' when the whole Israel turned from God and his own father too. And because of his father's sin, the kingdom was stripped from him and given to David. And even in this, he did not rebel, but recognized God's anointed one, and was a close friend to him.

Let us examine the three secrets of Jonathan:
- He kept his sword, which is a figure of God's Word. I've seen many men of God staying faithful to God. When I've asked them what their secret was, all of them without fail said: "God's Word keep me".
- He chose his friends wisely. Paul said that 'bad company corrupts a good character', and this is very true. Just look at the spirit of his armourbearer, who said in the battle 'I am with you heart and soul'. And this even though he knew he could die.
- He and his armourbearer fought as a team. The Bible says that Jonathan injured the Philistines and his armourbearer killed after him. This is also how I became free from sin in my life, when I was still a young Christian. I battled for years with specific sins, until I went to an elderly child of the Lord and confessed my sins (injured them so to say), and was completely freed from them one by one as he prayed with me (killed them).

Today God is looking for one man totally devoted to Him through whom He can work. When DL Moody heard that God was looking for such a man, he said to himself, "It's not an intelligent, or gifted man, but an ordinary man. I want to be that man" and God greatly used him.

Will you be this man?