Standing with God in a Pea Patch
Gary Hawkins - Creek Nation - Oklahoma - by Permission from Bro Hawkins 7/24/2017
from New Life in Jesus - Messages from Native Men to Native Men
2 Samuel 23:11-12 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the
Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the
people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew
the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
God’s people were experiencing a famine, and they were living in subjection to a powerful enemy (the Philistines), who had taken away their weapons: swords, spears, bows, arrows, knives, any and all things that could be used in defense against their enemies.
I) 2 Samuel 23 tells us about David’s mighty men. These were a group of highly trained soldiers who had fought along-side of David and aided him in his victories. Among these men were three who served as David’s personal bodyguards.
A) Shammah, one of David’s bodyguards is described as a man who took a stand against overwhelming odds and won a great victory by the help of the Lord.
B) Chapter 5:11 the enemy (Philistines) came at the time of harvest.
I) If we look at the enemies of our people we see impossibility, if we look at ourselves we see insufficiency but if we focus on God, we see possibilities, for there is nothing impossible with God. “He is rich in love, grace and mercy.”
• Discouragement is one of the devil’s most effective tools.
• Feelings of having little hope or no help leads many to despair (sadly our Native people lead the nation in some ‘all too familiar statistics;’ suicides, alcoholism, poverty), these leave a lasting imprint on the hearts of our tribal nations and cerainly leads many to feelings of despair and hopelessness.
2) 1 Peter 5:8, the devil walks around “seeking” whom he may devour (Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour). He is systematic and strategic in his approach.
• 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself ‘STRONG’ in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
• The thief (satan) comes only to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
3) Christ came to earth to fulfil the promise that the Messiah would come to proclaim, “Good News to all Mankind,” (Luke 4:18-19)
C) When the enemy came, all the people fled from before them (2 Samuel 23:11 ...and the people fled from the Philistines.)
• We need to realize that this is the reason many families are falling apart! Too few have the courage to stand up against the enemy and say,
“By the grace of God, you will not destroy this pea patch!”
II) Shammah’s Reason to Stand
A) Physical existence, tired of living in defeat, time to claim what rightfully belonged to his people and a willingness to allow God to use him.
• Without food and water people will die.
• There’s a time to flee, and a time to follow and a time to fight!
• Some things, physical and spiritual, in life are literally worth dying for.
III) Shammah’s Reward
A) Shammah experience seeing God do things through him to benefit his people that could only be explained by God’s presence, power and protection.
• Courage, like fear is contagious, our Native people need positive role models to help those “fleeing from those taken captive by the enemy.”
• People were blessed, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
B) Long after his decease, Shammah’s courage is used as an example of courage.
• Shammah’s legacy . . , only eternity will measure the full extent of what this single act accomplished.
• Today, many people only focus on their own selves without considering others.
IV) A Great Conquest (Verse 12b / 2 Sam 23:12)
A) The Lord Defeated the Enemy – the last part of verse 12 tells us the One who really won the victory was God! (He still stands alongside those who stand for HIM!)
• God gave Shammah the ability to stand,
• God gave Shammah the power to fight,
• God gave Shammah the skill to win,
• God gave Shammah the victory over his enemies,
• Shammah may have held the weapon but it was God who fought the battle!
B) Shammah learned the key to courage and victory was total surrender to God. “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I will try my utmost to be that man.” D.L. Moody.
• Big difference between commitment, re-commitment, and surrender!
• God gave HIS Holy Spirit to convict, convince and comfort those who, love, honor and obey HIM!
Conclusion: We must determine to yield our thoughts and actions to God.
A) Are you willing to stand idly by while the enemy ransacks your family, your tribe, even your very own sustenance for survival?
B) Surrender your life to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now & see what He can do !
Gary Hawkins has been a minister since 1980 and have served among the Creek in OK; Blackfeet in MT; Sac-N-Fox, Pottawatomi, Kickapoo, Absentee Shawnee in Central OK; and the Northern Pueblos of NM. He is presently planting a new church in Tulsa OK. Bro Hawkins is also the Director of the Fellowship of Native American Christ.
[ End note: Native Americans make up 1.7% of the nation’s total population. Those who study people groups say that those who make up less than 2% are to be labeled an “insignificant people group.” I assure you that God doesn’t label the indigenous people of the United States and Canada as . . . INSIGNIFICANT! ]
By permission - Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee - VMMTN.COM
Thanks for "Taking Five" - God bless and bless GOD