Sunday, May 24, 2020

Stand Your Ground

Scripture: King James Version 

2 Samuel 23:12   " But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory."                                 


                                  
Israel at the time of our text lived under great fear of the Philistines army.  Every year the Israelites would toil and labor in sowing their crops.  The Philistines would then often come in and steal the harvest.
Friends, the enemy of our souls, the devil loves to steal.  He loves to rob us all all that we work and toil for. (John 10:10)

The Israelites were in the lentil patch (verse 11) again when the Philistines army gathered for battle against them.   As they assembled and swarmed in to take the crop, the Israelites dropped everything and ran for safety.

But this time the enemy, the Philistines, received a surprise.  There was one man by the name of Shammah who refused to run.  
He was a mighty man of valor!
                                                   

#1 -  Our text in verse 12 says........Shammah stood
 Shammah stood in the midst of the ground. 
 He knew he was outnumbered but knew what was right. 
 He was protecting what belonged to God.
God is looking for people today who will take a stand.
Snakes creep, crawl or slither on the ground and many animals go about this earth on four legs. Man stands!


Paul tells us in Ephsians 6:13 - "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

There are two things that are necessary to STAND.
                                                   

1st -    Firm Convictions
2nd -   Faithful Courage
Shammah 's conviction would not allow him to turn over to the enemy what was Gods.

#2 -              Shammah fought and defended.
Sometimes in order to stand we have to fight.
We are reminded of the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

Paul - FAITHFULLY FOUGHT
THE FIGHT UNTO THE FINISH

There is only one way for God's people to stand.....
        Fight the good fight of faith!

A - Fight with the Word of God.  
     The Word of God is our Sword of the Spirit.        (Ephesians 6:17)
B - Fight with Prayer.      
     "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto         with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;(Ephesians 6:18)
C - Fight being Full of The Spirit.  
     The fruits of The Spirit being love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)
                                                              

#3 -           Shammah was VICTORIOUS!  
Shammah slew the Philistines and the Lord wrought a great victory!


How can you and I be victorious in our battles against the enemy?
**Stay on the Lords side.  
Our text in 2 Samuel 23:12 reveals to us exactly what can happen when just one person will take a stand for our Lord Jesus Christ.

**We must give God all glory.  
                                                 The battle is the Lord's. 
                                                             


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