Why It's Tremendously Important to Take Your Stand Genesis 1:26
Why is it so important for believers to take a stand against the enemy? From the very beginning of Scripture, God gave mankind dominion over the earth, yet Adam failed to exercise that authority in the Garden of Eden. In this episode of the Light on Life podcast, we explore why standing your ground is a central principle in the Kingdom of God. Looking at Adam’s dominion failure and the powerful example of David’s mighty men, we discover that victory often comes to those who refuse to retreat, hold firmly to the Word of God, and defend the territory God has entrusted to them.
This Week: Why is standing your ground so important in the Kingdom of God? In this episode we explore Adam’s dominion failure and the example of David’s mighty men to discover how believers can resist the enemy and defend the territory God has given them.
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Accept the Challenge
Each week's podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.
The scripture says having done all to stand, stand. That's plain enough. We must take a stand and value the ground the Lord has given to us.
Each week's podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believer's life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).This week's question is:
How has the subject of authority impacted your life? Would you please share your thoughts in the comments section below?
About Emery
Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.
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Podcast Notes:
Adam's Dominion Failure
Genesis 1:26 comes before Adam and Eve fell in the Garden.
Genesis 1:26 (ESV) — 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Adam's failure was a dominion failure.
Do we really want to make that mistake again?
God gave Adam dominion over all the earth.
So, here comes a serpent slithering into the Garden except it's not just any old serpent, it's Satan in league with a snake.
What does Adam do when his territory is encroached upon?
Does he defend his territory?
Does he drive out the intruder?
All he had to do was say 'No'.
All he had to do was to say to the serpent 'Get out of here.'
God had already said, 'I give you authority over everything that creeps.'
Look at all mankind has been through over the failure to use authority one single time.
The Kingdom of God is about authority.
Jesus said, 'If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, that's how you know the Kingdom has come upon you.'
The Kingdom is not this floating thing that people have thought, you know angels and harps.
Adam failed to defend his territory.
Will you make the same mistake?
David's Mighty Men
2 Samuel 23:8–12 (ESV) — 8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. 9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. 10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain. 11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory.
Did you hear what Shammah did?
There was a plot of ground full of lentils, you know lentils are beans and Shammah defended it.
Let's talk about defending your bean patch.
What does it take to defend a bean patch?
It takes a mighty man.
What does it take to become one of God's mighty men?
Let's take a close look at David's mighty men.
If you want to have a great victory, you need to take on the traits of the mighty men.
Traits of the Mighty Men: Don't Be Afraid to Fight Against Impossible Odds
David's mighty men were men of courage.
Look at Josheb-basshebeth.
He took on eight hundred men and defeated them.
It's your exploits of faith that prove you have faith not just you talking about faith.
Josheb-basshebeth had a backbone of iron.
No one would have blamed him for abandoning the ground he stood on.
Eight hundred to one, are you kidding?
Live to fight another day, as the old saying goes.
But you said, you wanted to know what makes a mighty man.
Mighty men are utterly fearless even though the odds are stacked against them.
Daniel 11:32 (KJV) — 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.Leviticus 26:8 (ESV) — 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.Psalm 91:7 (ESV) — 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
These Bible promises are your promises.
Their God is your God.
You can have all hell arrayed against you and you can still defend your bean patch.
You have to stand up to devils.
Stop trying to make excuses for them.
Quit trying to reason out why someone may not get healed or didn't get healed.
You may not be in the Garden of Eden anymore, but you still have your bean patch to defend.
Catch the spirit of the mighty men.
They stood their ground and refused to give an inch.
Ephesians 6:10–13 (KJV) — 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
If God said you can stand against the wiles of the devil, then bless God you can do it.
Traits of the Mighty Men: Tenaciously Defy the Enemy
The next mighty man in Davids army was Eleazar.
He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle.
The Hebrew word 'defied' in 2 Samuel 23:9 is a verb which means to mock, to treat with contempt.
What does defy mean?
It means NO FEAR.
Eleazar wasn't afraid.
Just like Josheb-basshebeth.
He didn't run and try to get help.
He grabbed his weapon.
He grabbed his sword and went at the enemy and he went at the enemy until his hand was weary and his hand clung to his sword.
Look at the phrase 'his hand clung to his sword.'
The Hebrew word for 'cling' means to hold firmly or tenaciously, usually with one’s hands.
Eleazar held on to his weapon, to his sword tenaciously.
So, it's not just stand your ground, it's stand your ground with an attitude.
Catch the spirit of the mighty men.
Hold tenaciously to your sword.
You know the verse.
Ephesians 6:17 (KJV) — 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
In the face of all that is contrary, mighty men hold to their sword.
Traits of the Mighty Men: Take Your Stand
Next, we come to Shammah.
Shammah took his stand against the Philistines when everyone ran.
In the midst of a plot of beans, he defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory.
Do you see what the Lord worked a great victory over?
A patch of beans.
How easy would it have been not to take a stand?
How easy would it have been to just walk away and let them have that old bean patch because, after all, it's just a patch of beans?
But, Shamma stood his ground in the midst of the plot and defended it.
He wouldn't let the enemy get away with even the small stuff.
He just took his stand and struck down the Philistines.
What makes a mighty man a mighty man is the willingness to take a stand.
The question is today, what are you waiting for?
How big does the problem have to be before you refuse the advances of the enemy?
How much will it have to cost you before you say this is it.
How many little foxes will you allow into your before you say enough is enough?
Song of Solomon 2:15 (KJV) — 15 Take us the foxes, The little foxes, that spoil the vines: For our vines have tender grapes.
It's the little foxes which spoil the bean patch.
Rise up against the small stuff.
Standing and refusing defeat, refusing to accept anything except the will of the King, is what allows the Lord to work a great victory.
Standing is what allows the hand of God to work on your behalf.
Standing is what allows the will of the King to be established.
Do you want to establish the Kingdom of God?
Then, defend the plot of ground which is yours.
That means your home.
Don't let devils in your house.
Don't let the works of Satan in your home.
That means your body
Don't let sickness up in your personal space.
That means your relationships
Don't allow strife and discord in your bean patch.
Defend your ground.
Defend your bean patch.
You're a child of the king.
You're an authorized one.
It's time for the mighty men to arise.
📖 Light Notes
If this teaching encouraged you, take a moment to read “What Is the Meaning of the Star in the Christmas Story?” This Light Notes article explores the biblical significance of the star that guided the wise men and what it reveals about the birth of Jesus.
Read the Article →