And the Lord gave a great victory

Tuesday, 29 June 2010 15:35

A great truth about the Christian walk is that when we make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, and when we will truly, problems or difficult situations in our life seem to multiply. That is, is when we lose our work, we die the cat, the dog escapes us, and she gets angry for any tiny thing and stop talking. This is of course not without first of all we burn the car and the bicycle is stolen.

I know I said foolish things, but unfortunately these are things that happen every day, and are things that if we are not aware of their true origin, they can get to weaken our relationship with God, and stop the blessings in our lives. So must be very aware of the fact that the bad situations or circumstances that arise in our lives, in almost all occasions, (I say that in almost every occasion for the devil is not completely responsible for everything that happens, we must take responsibility for our actions) are a well-planned and coordinated attack by our enemy. Also we can never forget that anyone who truly follows Jesus is in a constant battle. It is this same desire to speak on today. Today we are learning about the constant battle that we face as Christians. We discuss this aspect of our Christian life because as I have said on other occasions, we are the army of God. We were chosen by Jesus to defend and propagate the Kingdom of God here on earth. But to achieve these purposes as important, there is a quality we possess. We now turn to the verses that we are studying today and discover the quality of which I speak.

2 Samuel 23:8-12 - These are the names of the brave David had: Josheb-basshebeth the tacmonita, chief of the captains, and this was the eznita Adino that killed eight hundred men at one time. ⁹ After this, Eleazar son of Dodo, Ahohite, one of the three brave men who were with David when they defied the Philistines who had gathered there for battle, and led away the men of Israel. ¹⁰ This arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. That day the LORD sent a great victory, and became the town after him just to take the booty. ¹¹ After this was Shammah son of Age, Hararite. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a small field full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines. ¹² He then stopped in the middle of that field and defended him, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.

When we take the time to read this chapter as a whole, we realize that here David was reflecting on his past, and was considering how God had been manifested in your life. In other words he was remembering the difficult times that had happened, and all those who had helped him. But here in this small portion of the chapter we see that David mentions three specific people. Three very different from each other, but all three had something in common. What did these three men have in common? What they had in common was that they served faithfully whom they called King.

As we see, what David remembered more of these three men was the courage and military power that they showed. Take heed the Word tells us here when we read about Josheb, the Word tells us: "... the tacmonita Josheb-basshebeth, chief of the captains, and this was the eznita Adino that killed eight hundred men at one time ...." Mato eight hundred men at one time, no doubt this is a demonstration of courage and great military power, right? When we read of Eleazar, the Word tells us: "... Eleazar son of Dodo, Ahohite, one of the three brave men who were with David when they defied the Philistines who had gathered there for battle, and led away the men of Israel. ¹⁰ This arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck the sword. That day the LORD sent a great victory, and became the town after him just to take the booty ... "Can you imagine this?

This man fought so that his hand was stuck to the sword. Here again we find a demonstration of military power, and courage. But I want to concentrate on these two men today, but I want to concentrate on the third. I want to concentrate on what happened to Sama, because in this little section is where our lesson for the day to day .

Look into what happened, the Word tells us: "... After this was Shammah son of Age, Hararite. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a small field full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines. ¹² He then stopped in the middle of that field and defended him, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory ... "If you read this lightly, what happened at this moment we may look like something a little silly, right? I say this because here we find that this man was faced to fight against a group of men, to protect a field of lentils. In other words, something that in the grand scheme of life appears to be insignificant, right? But the meaning here is much deeper than just a field of lentils. Sama I say this because I was not fighting for a simple field of lentils, he was fighting because this area was surely support his family. Also note I want something that is very important, and this is the word here tells us that the ground was: "... full of beans ..." Why should we note this detail? It is important that we note this because this detail shows that the land was not one that was growing, but it was a land that was ready for harvest. In reality, the Philistines were well smart, I say this because they had not worked the land they had not sown the seed, they had not been maintained to the ground, but now he was ready for harvest, they would attack and rob it . Surely some are already getting that question: what does all this with us?

If we make a contrast between what happened here and what happens to the vast majority of believers, I think everyone here will agree when I say that our enemy works more or less like these Philistines. When we reflect on our lives, and things often happen when we truly choose to follow Jesus, I think we can all see that our enemy uses the same tactic used by the Philistines in our history. Let me explain. All here know that the enemy attacks on Christians, we all know that he mounts an attack against the people of God. But, have you thought about when the attack which began more intensive? If you think about this for a moment I think we all come to the conclusion that it was when we started walking. This is because our enemy's attack is intensified when we begin to serve God as God wants us to serve Him. In other words, the attack is intensified when we begin to bear good fruit, it is at this point that our enemy seeks to destroy and steal what is with much love God has planted in us.

What frequently happens is not very different from what happened here with the people of Israel. Unfortunately, once the attack intensifies once the attack comes to us, many we do what we did this people. What did this people? The Word tells us that "... the people fled before the Philistines ... "This unfortunately is something that happens often, many are running from the battle, instead of running straight ahead. Tell your brother that you have at your side: we can not escape. These people fled in fear, these people ran and neglect the blessings God had given him, and there are many who do the same. Many are those who allow the enemy to come and destroy what God has given him.

Something that is very evident in the event we are exploring today is that these people had not the courage to defend what was theirs. They did not have the courage to defend what had been so hard. I say this because when we think about where they were located geographically, it is difficult to discern that they were mostly a desert. This means that they could cultivate this land, they had to spend a lot of work. They first had to irrigate land, tilling the ground second, third plant the seed, and most importantly of all, they had to give maintenance to this area for several months to make the seed grow. One would think they would be unwilling to abandon what the sweat of their brow succeeded, but the people ran from the Philistines, and drop everything. In essence, what these people did was to surrender before fighting. Tell your brother that you have at your side: you have to fight.

Let us pause here for a moment and examine our life. Ask ourselves, Do we like this town? "We fled in certain situations or problems? Do we allow the enemy to steal the blessings God has given us? As God's people we are, we can not be equal to that town. We can not run and run because it means that we do not trust in the Lord of hosts. This means that our loyalty to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is not strong. I say this because when our allegiance to our king is genuine, then we act and act according to His Word, not our power or strength. When we act and act trusting in God, then He gives us the victory every time. This is something that is well reflected in the words of the Lord in John 16:33 we read: "These things I have spoken to that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world. "This is one of the most beautiful promises that Jesus gave to His people. Tell the person you have at your side: this promise is for you. And I want us to look good in a detail, I want us to look good in that here Jesus tells us clearly that we will be attacked, here Jesus tells us clearly that there will be struggles and battles, but through it all, and after all, He gives us victory. Tell your brother that you have at your side: you have to fight.

As God's people we are, we have to follow the example of Sama in this case. We must stand firmly on the rock of our salvation, and fight. Look into what happened, the Word tells us: "... The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a small field full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines. ¹² He then stopped in the middle of that field and defended him, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory ... "Sama stood in the middle of the field and fought. Sama did not run and hid, he faced the enemy's strength. Sama defended the blessing that God had given him, he complained, he does not critical to the people to flee, Sama acted quickly and accurately. Sama stopped in the middle of the ground and fought. The Word does not tell us how many fought against, and this is an indication that the important thing is not the number of men who fought against, the important thing here is that this did not allow Sama, the blessing that God had given him was stolen. Now ask ourselves: we do this?

Brothers, we also have to defend what is ours. We have to defend the blessings God has given us. It is time for God's people stand firmly to counter enemy attacks. It is time to say: "! Is my blessing and you can not remove me!" Defend what God has given us, and we act boldly. When we are brave, when we trust in the Lord, we see that happen in our life just as happened here. Sama killed the Philistines, the Lord gave him victory over his enemies, and He will do the same with us. God will deliver victory over any situation or difficulty. But for this to happen we must be brave. Tell your brother that you have at your side: you have to be brave. We must be willing to fight for what God has given us.

We have to take the example of Sama very seriously. Failure to do so, then the Kingdom of God will continue to suffer here on earth. Let me quote that I find alarming information to better understand what I say. Did you know that statistics show that 3,000 to 4,000 Christian churches close their doors permanently in the United States every year? ^[1] This is somewhat alarming, and something that shows us that the people of God there are many people like the people who ran the Philistines. This shows that there is a great need for brave men. Tell your brother that you have at your side: get up and fight.

I repeat, we are the army of God here on earth. We are the soldiers that he used to fight enemy forces, and as an army, we must fight together. An army fights on the side is an army that conquers all opposition, an army fighting with an army that conquers. But it is easy to be brave in a group it is easier to fight knowing that we have another on our side, but we also have to be willing to fight even when there is someone on our side.

We possess the most powerful weapon in the universe, we have the Word of God which is able to overcome all opposition. Now, I want it clearly understood that I am not referring to the Bible. Of course we all know that the Bible is the written Word of God, we all know where we can find the answers to our questions or concerns. But the Bible, if we do not know, then it is just a collection of old books. So the Word of God is much more than the Bible, I say this because I'm sure none of us walk with a bible over 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I can tell you that although I am a pastor I took my Bible with you at all times. But if I can say I took the Word of God. I have the Word of God in a place where it can not be stolen, in a place where you never lose or forget me, I take the word of God in my heart. But this is something that can only be achieved when you take the time to consider, when we take time to meditate on it. The people of God is the best armed army in the world, but not all loaded up his gun, and not all are willing to fight.

Let us remember always that we are in spiritual warfare, as we find in Ephesians 6:12 to read: "... we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against hosts spiritual wickedness in high places ... "Let us remember that the enemy does not rest in their attacks because they want to destroy what God has given us, we can not be just like the people at the time. We must follow the example of Sama trusting and knowing that despite the situation, however be apparent how large the opposition, Christ has given us the victory as we find in Revelation 2:10 we read: "... Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil will put some of you into prison to test you, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life ... "We must resist the attacks, we have to face and be ready to fight even if we can find themselves. We have to trust and be faithful to our King, we must submit to His authority and will, once we do, the enemy is left with no choice but to run from us is like the Word says in James 4:7 we read "... Submit yourselves therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you ..."

To conclude. Let us be courageous, we are the example to follow; fight against the opposition without worrying about what might happen, trust in God and receive his blessing. Trust in God and receive the victory. Sama not let the Philistines steal the blessing God had given him. Do not let the enemy steal what God gave us. It is time to defend our family, it's time to defend our home, and our congregation. The moment of truth has arrived, be brave and let us face the enemy without hesitation. Remember that Jesus always be with us. And this is another beautiful and powerful promise of our Saviour, as found in Matthew 28:20 we read: "... here I am with you always, even unto the end of the world ..." never forget this, but we know that in order to see his glory, majesty and power manifested in our lives, we must be brave! So, whom we faithfully serve the King.