Spiritual Leadership - Overcoming Lifestyle

"These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; and after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn. He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword, and the LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain. Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory." (II Samuel 23:8-12)

Have you ever felt as if you have resisted the devil to the point that you don't know if you can resist anymore? Perhaps you have felt that having done all to stand, you have stood, but you just don't think you can stand any longer? Have you started praying, God, I don't care if I overcome, just let me survive? I think that most of us have reached that place at one time or another. We have all faced a midnight hour at some point in our lives and it's important what we do at midnight. If you've never faced a midnight hour in your Christian life, there is a good possibility that you will. In the midnight hour, we are called to be good soldiers. Good soldiers face the enemy head on. Good soldiers certainly do not point their weapons or their words toward their Commander and Chief or at headquarters. It is always a mistake to start saying, Oh, God, why did you do this to me? Oh, God, why did you wreck my car, tear up my washing machine, or cut off my power? Why did you make me sick? When the shield is heavy and you are having trouble keeping the belt of truth pulled up, it is no time to attack your source of strength and power. God is not the problem! He is the answer! It is time to get a firm grip on the Sword, tighten up the belt of truth, and begin to speak the Word. You don't have to panic and you don't have to fall. There is a road to victory in every area of your life. The key is being a MIGHTY MAN IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR! A midnight hour is defined as the middle of the night. It is a difficult time in the midst of great darkness and difficulty. It is a lonely time.Three of David's mighty men are illustrations of how to overcome great odds in the midnight hour.

Standing Against Overwhelming Odds with What is in Our Hands

Have you ever felt out numbered? Verse 8 says Adino stood against 800 with only his spear. These do not sound like the kind of odds that we would desire. The only thing Adino could do was fight with what he had in his hand - his spear! Too often, we face great odds without ever fully recognizing the weapon that God has put in our hand. Because of this lack of recognition, we discount what can be done. With the gift of God and a faith that fights with passion, no army despite it's size can overcome a child of God.

More with Us than Against Us (II Kings 6:14-17)

Elisha lived this revelation out. Though he and his servant were seemingly alone facing the entire Syrian army, Elisha used the weapon that was in his hand - the gift of discernment. Elisha saw into the spiritual realm and the hosts of heaven's army that were at his disposal. He then called down the power of God against the Syrians causing blindness.

Greater is He that is In Us than He that is in the World (I John 4:4-6)
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

The abundance of difficulty that comes against us seems too much to overcome. But the power of Christ that is within us comes against the powers in this world. Lesser is he who is against me us than he that is in the Word!

Fighting Against Spiritual Weariness by Clinging to the Word

II Samuel 23:9 says Eleazar's hand became weary in battle, but his hand clave to the sword and the Lord gave a great victory.

Holding On for Dear Life

The Word of God is the Sword of the Lord. Like Eleazar, we must cling to it to the point that it becomes one with our hand. Eleazar's hand was melded to the sword because of the grip he had on it. Our actions and our warfare will depend upon our grip on the Word of God. A loosely held sword will not bring success or victory.

Handling the Living, Active and Sharpest Sword (Hebrews 4:10-13)

The writer of Hebrews speaks of rest just prior to the verse about the powerful Sword of the Lord - the Word of God. I wondered how these verses fit together. The Lord brought to mind my experience as an athlete. I learned over the years that the most successful athletes are those that can relax in the most intense battles. Swinging a bat is best when done in fluid graceful rhythm without tension and stress. Shooting a basketball is best under control and in fluid rhythm without pushing and pressing. Rest speaks of being in that place of harmony and oneness with the moment. It is having the peace of the Spirit in the most pressurized moments and being able to handle a weapon with great precision.

Defending Against the Enemies Attempt to Dispossess the Believer

II Samuel 23:11 says Shammah stood in the midst of a piece of ground full of lentils (peas) and defended it. Everyone else ran away. Everyone else fled from the Philistines, but Shammah was not affected by what everyone else did. It's important that we don't let what everyone else does affect what we do. Shammah's attitude was: This is my pea patch. It may not be much in anyone else's eyes, but it is mine. I won't surrender it to the enemy.

He was Determined

How determined are you today to hold on to what God has given, and to claim the blessings that are rightfully yours through the shed blood of Jesus? Maybe Satan is trying to overrun your pea patch where health is concerned. Take the sword to him. Let your hand or heart cleave to the Word of the Lord. Maybe he's trying to overrun your pea patch where finances are concerned. Satan is a thief. We must be determined to defend our heritage of faith. If we don't defend our blessing, the thief will come to steal.

What did these 3 men have in common? They didn't throw down their weapons in the day of battle. Scriptures tells of the children of Ephraim how they turned back in the day of battle. It says,

"Being armed and carrying bows they turned back in the day of battle." (Psalms 78:9)

Many times in our Christian lives I believe most of us could look back and see a time when being armed with the Sword of the Spirit and clothed in the armor of the Lord, we let Satan cause us to panic and turn back before victory came. They didn't give up because they were out numbered. They were not moved by what those around them did. They defended what was rightfully theirs. When they fought, God wrought the victory. Isn't it time we took a stand where our family, our health, and blessings from God are concerned? Isn't it time we let our hand cleave to the Sword and say, "Devil this is my pea patch. You're going to have to leave in Jesus name."

"Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)

I want to encourage you today to not turn back, but to fight the good fight of faith. Let your hand and your heart cleave to the Sword. Stand in the name of the Lord and defend your pea patch and OVERCOME!