The Power of Perhaps | Bryan Woodson
Sunday, March 16
Key Scriptures:
1 Samuel 14:6-11; Isaiah 40:31; 2 Kings 7:3-5
Laying the Foundation
The most devastating losses in life aren’t failed attempts, but things we never tried out of fear of failure. Indecisiveness and fear paralyze us, robbing us of God’s potential for us. Though we know God’s desires from His word, ‘human logic’ or the world’s view can make us double-minded—wavering, inconsistent, unable to trust God fully.
James warns us in 1:6-8 - But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Yet God has more planned—to prosper us, not harm us. We must trust Him and His voice. James 1:5 promises: If any lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously without finding fault. His promises overpower doubt, but we need prayer, studying the word, godly counsel, and fasting to confidently hear Him.
- In what areas of your life do you struggle with being double-minded?
- How do you listen for God’s voice/guidance? How do you know you heard it?
Introduction
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
8 Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 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.”
11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” 1 Samuel 14:6-11
In this week’s message, Pastor Woodson explores the story of King Saul and Jonathan, highlighting their contrasting attitudes and character. Frustrated that the Israelite army hid in caves fearing the Philistines, Jonathan stepped out in faith to confront them. Saul, however, withdrew, sitting under a pomegranate tree, second-guessing and avoiding decisions. His lack of trust and doublemindedness left the majority of his army hiding, his indecision proving toxic.
Jonathan didn’t rally the army or seek his father’s approval—he inquired of the Lord. He knew that his strength would not come by the hand of men but only by the hand of God.
Aware of Saul’s fear, he avoided that negative input, not allowing it to plant the seed of fear. His boldness brought God’s success and inspired Israel to rise as a conquering nation. Pastor Woodson noted Saul’s doublemindedness led to poor leadership and opportunism—seeing Jonathan’s victory, he rushed to claim credit for what God and Jonathan’s faith achieved.
This week, we’ll examine the power of ‘perhaps,’ the importance of faith-filled risks, and confidence in God’s leading, unlocking His power and provision for things we couldn’t do alone.
This week we will dig into:
- The Power of ‘Waiting on God’
- Move In Faith and the Enemy Flees
From Perhaps to Victory
In 1 Samuel 14:6-7, Jonathan and his armor-bearer find themselves up against some pretty impossible odds with the Philistines. But instead of backing down, Jonathan steps up in faith and says, "Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." His armor-bearer doesn’t hesitate—he’s all in, responding, "Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."
What’s powerful here is that Jonathan didn’t have a guaranteed outcome. He didn’t wait for a clear sign or a perfect plan—he just trusted that God could do something big. His perhaps wasn’t about doubt; it was about confidence in God’s power.
So often, we hold back, waiting for certainty before taking a step of faith. But faith isn’t about knowing every detail—it’s about moving forward, trusting that God is in control. And the armor-bearer’s response? That’s a challenge for us too. Are we willing to stand by and encourage others when they step out in faith, even if we don’t know how things will turn out?
Something to Think About:
- Who can you encourage to keep going, just like the armor-bearer did for Jonathan?
- What would it look like to fully trust that nothing can hinder the Lord, no matter what’s ahead?
Let’s be people who step out boldly, knowing that God is able, and let’s stand beside those who do the same!
The Power of Perhaps
Isaiah 40:30-31 also contains directives—actions we can take to participate in and strengthen our faith as we trust in Him.
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV) “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
‘Perhaps’ you are waiting for some evidence before you step-out into what you believe God has given you to do. Maybe you are waiting for another person or on a circumstance to take place before you move forward? Could it be that you might be dependent on yourself to make it happen?
Pastor Woodson explained that this scripture contains a call to action:
- If you wait, you will receive renewed strength.
- If you engage or mount up, you will have wings like eagles.
- If you run, you won’t grow weary.
- If you walk, you won’t faint.
Our action is a key that unlocks the provision of God’s power. You’ve heard the cliché: You can’t steer an anchored boat. Likewise, when we decide to step out in FAITH to what the Lord has put in our hearts, it moves Him to bring about the completion of the call.
- Pastor Woodson said, “If your strength isn’t building while you wait, then you’re not waiting on God.” What do you think it looks like to truly wait on God, and how can we tell if we’re waiting on Him versus waiting for something else (like evidence or circumstances)?
Scripture clearly states when we wait on God- He renews us! Waiting feels like sitting back and doing nothing. But ‘those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength’.
Waiting
The Hebrew word for "wait," Qavah, means to wait, look for, hope, and expect. It’s a verb implying patience and enduring with anticipation that God will act. It’s like standing ready for action—both God’s and ours. Waiting might feel like wasted time, but it should spark faith, leading us to trust and worship Him.
Like Jonathan preparing for war, he observed his surroundings and his father’s response, learning and listening. The Holy Spirit builds leadership and courage in us, equipping us to say, “Let’s Go!” as we look to the Lord for victory.
Earth has many waiting rooms. In a labor waiting room, feet tap, people pace, and excitement buzzes—it’s active. Awaiting exam results, hearts race and anticipation grows. In hospice, those trusting God wait for Him to take loved ones home, free from pain and tears. When we trust Him, our waiting rooms become busy places.
- Defining Moment: Tell us about a waiting room you have been in before, what you learned and how you came to see victory.
- What kinds of things do we wait for? (finances, health, employment, deliverance)
- What are you personally waiting for at this time in your life?
Pastor Woodson summed up this portion of his message by stating:
- If you wait, you will receive renewed strength.
- If you engage or mount up, you will have wings like eagles.
- If you run, you won’t grow weary.
- If you walk, you won’t faint.
Let’s pursue the Father’s work and boldly declare: Let’s Go!
Sharing the News of God’s Victories
God’s deliverance is too good to keep to ourselves—we must share it with others.
In 2 Kings 7, we meet four men with leprosy living outside the city gates during a desperate time of famine and siege. Cut off from society due to their condition and facing starvation, they decide to take a risk by approaching the enemy camp of the Arameans.
“Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.” At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there,” 2 Kings 7:3-5 NIV
To their shock, they discover the camp abandoned—God had caused the enemy to flee, leaving behind food, supplies, and victory. Their lives were spared in a miraculous way, but at first, they kept this incredible news to themselves, enjoying the spoils while their fellow citizens starved inside the city walls. Eventually, they realized the good news couldn’t wait—it had to be shared.
The men’s discovery wasn’t just about their own survival; it was a victory meant for everyone. Similarly, the Good News of Jesus Christ—God’s ultimate victory over sin and death—isn’t something we can keep to ourselves. Like the lepers, we might be tempted to focus only on our own faith or blessings, but there are people around us starving for hope, and we’re called to share what we’ve found.
- Desperation and Decision (v. 3-4): The lepers faced a dire situation—stay and die, or risk going to the enemy. What risks have you taken in your life that led to unexpected blessings from God?
- Discovery of Victory (v. 5): The lepers found the camp empty because God had already won the battle. Where have you seen God bring victory in your life or others’ lives that you didn’t expect?
- Sharing the Good News: At first, the lepers didn’t tell anyone about the victory. Why do you think we sometimes hesitate to share God’s work in our lives with others
- Urgency of the Message: The lepers realized their news couldn’t wait until morning. Who in your life needs to hear about God’s victories—big or small—right now? What’s one step you could take to share it?
Application
God’s victories aren’t just for us—they’re for others too. This week, take time to reflect on a way God has worked in your life (a “victory” like answered prayer, peace in a storm, or salvation itself). Then, look for an opportunity to share that story with someone who needs encouragement or hope. It doesn’t have to be polished or perfect—just honest. Like the lepers, don’t let the good news wait until morning.
Conclusion
Pastor Woodson made the statement that “When we step out in faith, the enemy flees in fear.” The key to this whole truth is that we ‘step out.’
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.”1 Samuel 14:8-10
It was not Jonathan’s idea that God blessed, it was his action. There is an old adage that says, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Saul knew what the directions of the Lord were and yet he was too doubleminded to carry them out. Jonathan on the other hand, felt the stirring of the Lord within him and decided to act on it. It was not until he stepped out in faith that he got the confirmation of the Lord that He would grant Jonathan the victory. It was when Jonathan and his armor-bearer showed themselves to the Philistines that he would find out that they would call him to come up to them. That was the sign that God would be with Jonathan.
As is always the case with our Lord, God exceeds our expectations. Jonathan was looking for the ability to kill a few members of the enemy’s army and take out an outpost. God, on the other hand, used the 20 soldiers that Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed to start widespread panic among the Philistines and then by divine presence cause the earth to shake and provoke the Philistines to killing one another in the chaotic panic. The result was an incredible route of the enemy limited only by the rashness and doublemindedness of Saul that causes him to withdraw from pursuit of the enemy.
We too are called to be bold in our choice to follow the Lord. When we are stirred by the Lord to be passionate about something we must resist the urge to give into the doubts and negativity that would make us be doubleminded. It is acceptable to put out a fleece to the Lord to confirm that we are hearing correctly, but that comes as we make efforts to step out into action for that which God calls us to.
- Stepping Out in Faith: Jonathan acted on God’s stirring rather than waiting for certainty, unlike Saul who hesitated despite knowing God’s will. What’s one area in your life where you feel God stirring you to act, and what’s holding you back from stepping out?
- Seeking Confirmation: Jonathan used the Philistines’ response as a “fleece” to confirm God’s plan. Have you ever “put out a fleece” to seek God’s guidance? How did it help you move forward in faith? ("Putting out a fleece" is a phrase that comes Judges 6:36-40, where Gideon asks God for a sign to confirm His will. Gideon placed a wool fleece on the ground and asked God to make it wet with dew while keeping the ground dry, and then the reverse—dry fleece, wet ground—as proof that God would deliver Israel through him. God did both, confirming His promise. Today, when people say "put out a fleece," they mean asking God for a tangible sign or confirmation to clarify His guidance on a decision or action.)
- God’s Bigger Plans: Jonathan aimed small, but God delivered a massive victory. When has God exceeded your expectations after you took a step of faith, and how did it shape your trust in Him?
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