Stand Your Ground, Defend Your Patch!

II 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.


Shammah had a formidable task, those around him had fled.  The Philistines were coming at him in a troop.  He had two choices.  1) Flee as the others had or 2) stand his ground against insurmountable odds.  But Shammah knew something!  He knew that when God is on your side, you ARE a majority, you are able.


He didn't have an army, he didn't have conventional weapons. One preacher said he was probably fighting using a hoe handle while the Philistines had swords, spears and arrows.  All wisdom would say to run, but Shammah knew God!  He was not going to retreat!


He stood His ground and He fought!  He was victorious.  He had the victory.  Today's world has many formidable foes, it seems that no one wants to stand.  It seems that everyone around is coming after us.  But God makes any person a majority.


We may be called to stand in an impossible situation.  We may be asked to make difficult choices.  God is there and if we allow Him, He will give us wisdom, strength, courage and grace.  It will not be easy but He is able.  As Brother Ralph Sexton Jr. titled a message on this passage, we have to say 'Don't mess with my pea patch'.  The line must be drawn in the sand at some point if we are going to stand for Jesus.  This week I heard a missionary preaching on the same message.  He brought home how we have failed at defending our pea patch.


I don't know about you but when I look at war being declared on our police, I see CHILDREN killing their parents with no remorse, parents abusing and killing innocent children, I see perversion called an alternate life style and I see Christians being harassed for believing God's word, I believe the line has been drawn for us. 


Today is the day, the line is drawn!  I will stand by God's strength and grace.  I acknowledge I cannot do it on my own.  I plead the blood of Jesus to cover and protect His church as we stand and I pray for a hedge of protection around our families.  God raise'em up!  Raise up men of courage, women of character, teenagers with dedication!  Raise them UP!  For without that happening our country, our pea patch, is doomed!