When The Enemy Presses In

TAKE YOUR STAND (Ephesians 6:10-24) Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.(2Samuel 23:11-12) "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18-20) Thirty-seven loyal and fearless chief warriors led David’s army (2 Samuel 23:1-17). Known here as “the Thirty” (vv. 13, 23-24), God used these men to fulfill His purpose.(1 Chronicles 11:10) just like He will use you and me today, as He calls us, to fulfill His purpose. In our scriptures today, we have a group called “the Three” (2 Samuel 23:8) who were called by God to be David’s top elite commanders. Josheb-Basshebeth killed eight hundred men at one time (v. 8). Eleazar struck down the Philistines after the rest of the Israelites had abandoned him (vv. 9-10). And Shammah stood his ground against the Philistines and was victorious through God’s power while the rest of Israel’s troops fled (vv. 11-12). AS we are willing to go as God has commanded us, He promises to go with us and will help us do mighty things in His name. In Ephesians, Paul likens the faith of believers in Jesus, simalar to these mighty men, when we go to battle with the armour of God on. We are to be in a warefare against the enemy, this is why Paul urges us to on a dailey bases to “put on the full armor of God” in order to “stand [our] ground against the whiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:13). As we go, God will give us courage as we share the gospel and as we fight our battles he will enable us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (v. 10). We need to learn to stand our ground in the power of the Lord, no matter where He has placed us. We will be in the face of the enemy where ever we go, so we need God's power, we need the armour of God to protect our spiritual and physical lives. If we are not prepared we will be shot down and we will be shut down. The scripture for today, tells us of a man who stood up to a challenge, when many were afraid. His name was Shammah, a military warrior of David, came to the future king from difficult circumstances (see 2 Samuel 23:11-12), but God used him to defeat the Philistines. As he stood against the Philistine Army in a field full of lentils, the rest of his army fled from them” (v. 11). But he, Shammah stood his ground, he wasn't going anywhere. He was determined to defend Israel’s food supply, was willing to stand for God and to put his life on the line. Because as he stood alone against the Philistine army, he was very likely to die. But just the same Shammah “took his stand in the middle of the field. And with the strength of the Lord He defended it” He was victorious. (v. 12). Yes, God helped Shammah defeat the Philistines (v. 12). It may have seemed to those involved, that this was a crazy man, standing alone against an army. But he wasn’t alone—God was with him, he knew the battle belonged to the Lord, and God gave hin a great victory that day. Friends, there may be, and very likely will be times when we’re called to stand up to a challenge that everyone else is avoiding. Like Shammah, wi,ll we be the one to take our stand, and rely on God, and on his promises to go with us. We need not be afraid, for He has promised to go before us.. He will be present to helpin the person and power of the Holy Spirit. I challenge each one, to know the fact, that God has called you to go. Will you be willing to go and to make your stand? Are you ewilling to trust God in everything and to rely on Him for help in your day to day wittness for Him? Dear Father, please give me the courage to speak up for you and to take a stand when the enemy presses in. It is in your name I pray AMEN