Standing in the Pea Patch 9-26-99 Intro; -- We are living in the very last days before Jesus Comes -- It is a very exciting time as we see Scripture fulfilled before our very eyes! -- In this time we are His Church will be continually challenged as we STAND for the WHOLE TRUTH of GODS WORD -- Our Faith will be TESTED and TRIED -It our Faith isn't TESTED and TRIED it will not STAND -- Our very Belief structure will be challenged! -- We must be sure we are BASING OUR BELEIFS with a THUS SAITH the LORD!! we must have Chapter and verse --This is the only way we will STAND in these last days ---- Be sure today that your FAITH your Belief Is FOUNDED in the WORD of GOD -- Be Sure what you believe is BASE IN THE FACT of the WORD not in HOW YOU FEEL!!! --feelings and emotions Will Let you DOWN God and HIS Will which is HIS WORD will never let you DOWN -- Let's let GODS Word say what it means and MEAN what it says! - Today we will see if we are REALLY COMMITED TO GOD and HIS WILL Or NOT -- I am a MBC By Conviction not Preference Text: 2 Sam 23:11-12 11 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. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. Points 1. Preference 2. Do you have Conviction to STAND I. Preference / History a) Shammah was a mighty man of Valor for GOD - He was a mighty man in King David's Court - He Alone STOOD in the midst of this Lentil Garden -- Lentils and Peas are in the SAME FAMILY -- He stood HIS ground in the PEA PATCH when others fled b) He had a CONVICTION this is the LORDS pea patch -- He was committed to the WORK of GOD -- He was going to DEFEND it with HIS LIFE --No POWER on EARTH was going to take this PEA PATCH away from HIM ~ It was the LORDS ; He was the LORDS SERVANT! -- He stood FAST~ He wasn't GONNA MOVE --He slew the Philistines by GODS POWER -THE PEA PATCH WAS DEFENDED and GOD WROUGHT a great Victory! c) WE have a Pea Patch -- It is not a Big patch by world standards -- It is GODS and it is HOLY UNTO HIM -- He Bought and Paid for it with His own Blood --This Church is HIS are we Are the Workers in HIS Field --Thankful for all who come and STAND in this PEA PATCH Who Stand every SERVICE Who Stand 168 week -- We must STAND and Defend HER --WE must Battle with our last breath * JESUS has Already won THE VICTORY! D) Notice some of the GODS PEOPLE Fled for the PEA PATCH HOW COME What causes a person to FLEE // What cause a person to STAY? --Why do some stay and fight the battle through sickness disease stress strain anxiety strife tension discord suffering --Why do SOME BATTLE even when they are OUTNUMBERED --When the ENEMY had them SURROUND- even as Shammah was Why Did He stand HIS GROUND??? Why did He fight the GOOD FIGHT Why did He **** Answer lies in the difference between PREFERANCE and CONVICTION 1. PREFERANCE a) The People who fled had a PREFERANCE to the PEA PATCH Preference ( Webster) = A act or attitude of liking better -- They Liked the idea of RUNNING from the BATTLE more than STANDING in the BATTLE -- Those that Ran like the FLESH over the SPIRIT * they were walk by SIGHT not by FAITH --Their FAITH was WEAK -- They FELT like they were lost to the enemy / NO matter what GOD SAID -- They Felt like the PEA PATCH was LOST ** they were BASING their FAITH in FEELING not FACT --FACT 1. It is GODS PEA PATCH 2. He Bought it with HIS OWN BLOOD 3. He is our Refuge and Strength in time of Trouble 4. He has NEVER LEFT OR FORSAKEN HIS PEA PATCH 5. HE gives all that will BATTLE For HIM STRENGHT 6. He will lend us GRACE if we will step out in FAITH 7. He already has the VICTORY ~ Now we must stand our GROUND as SHAMMAH DID!!! ** See Shammah STANDING IN THE PEA PATCH "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had promised to deliver us He has said it ~ It will be done I will stand in this PEA PATCH and Defend it He is ABLE to DELIVER US * Even if we were to lose this battle / God had Already won the WAR and in our DEATH We will RECEIVE GLORY form GOD!!! ** Would you Stand in the PEA PATCH OR RUN??? 2) CLOSER LOOK at PREFENCE - the Attitude of those who fled a) The US Supreme Court in 1972 came up with a test that DETERMINES Preference or Conviction --see if you have a PREFERENCE Or Conviction/// would you have stayed or FLEED?? b) THIS IS IMPORTANT as we Stand in the PEA PATCH IN THE LAST DAYS -- This is what the Supreme Court would Judge you by if you were on TRIAL FOR YOU FAITH!!! --If you were on trial for standing in the PEA PATCH -- we will see why SOME FLED and Shammah stayed!! -- we will back up the difference between PREFEREANC and CONFICTION with the WORD! 3) The court TEST a) A man can not hold to a belief he cannot describe " I FEEL like" " It seems to me" " the thing of it is" WILL NOT CUT IN IN COURT!!! -- THEY SAY " the problem with these statements is that they are based in FEELING not FACT~ Feelings change rapidly situations change. we will not honor FEELINGS" b) A person MUST be able to orally break down why they hold a belief -- It doesn't have to be eloquent -- You must have " First HAND" knowledge of the Belief -- You cannot hide behind a TITLE Or SOMEONE ELSES Belief " My Pastor says " I a LMBC~ will not do THEY WILL NOT HEAR YOUR CASE~ You have a preference ** That's why we all NEED to have a THUS SAITH THE LORD ~ Know what you believe and WHY Then you can TRUELY DEFEND THE PEA PATCH c) We must let GODS WORD be our Defense and Final Authority -- Then God will wrought a great victory in our Battle -- Be READY to EXPLAIN WHY you STAND in the PEA PATCH ~ Explain it to every man that ASK!! 1 Peter 3;15 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: ** that's one reason you are here today to LEARN THE ALL THINGS SO you will be READY to stand in the PEA PATCH~ so you wont run for your life! 4) A Preference is the Start of a CONVICTION --we are to GROW THUR them to MATURITY -- 1st step in believing is WANTING to BELEIVE --we must DESIRE TO GROW --we must Desire to CHOOSE and CHANGE so we can STAND IN THE PEA PATCH WITH CONVICTION 1 Peter 2:2 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: Heb 5:12-13 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. --to grow form BABES to MATURE you must Choose -- Is your Belief Structured in feelings or FACT IN sight or FAITH Are you STANDING or Fleeing Do you have a Preference to Stand or Flee?? 5) The COURT SAYS a) A Preference is a very very strong Belief -- SO strong you could even go into to it full time Matt 26:33-35 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. -- Peter and ALL the DISCIPLES had a strong belief here! Yet when the time came to STAND IN THE PEA PATCH they fled! ( at least for a while) -- Pastors; preachers; teacher; Christian School workers Missionary; members ALL have a STRONG BELEIF but they will FLEE if it is only a PREFERENCE!!! 6. Court Says a) You can hold so strong a belief that you will give all of you wealth to it- and it is still only a PREFERANCE Matt 12:42-44 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. -- The WIDOW had a CONVICTION the other a PREFERANCE --The Israelites gave money to till plant and harvest the PEA PATCH -- Yet they still FLED! b) Your Preference can be so strong that you CONVERT Others to it Matt 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. -- You can stand on the street corner and preach GO to the Mall and hand out Bibles Be in a Discipleship program you Can Lead all you come into contact with to Jesus AND STILL ONLY HAVE A PREFERENACE * Did the Israelites that Fled encourage others to come and work and enjoy the harvest of the PEA PATCH?? c) They Say you can be so CONVINCED your belief is Good and RIGHT that you will teach your children * We are to teach our Children! Eph 6:4 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. --- Did the Israelites that FLED show their children the PEA PATACH? Show them how to work in it Did they teach them the importance of toiling and work ethic YET THEY FLED! d) the Court says you can have all these and still Flee you only have a PREFERANCE Preference = Belief that will change according to FEELINGS and CIRCUMSTANCE!!! --Under Pressure you will flee from the belief! You gonna die , they have surround the PEA PATCH so you flee --Preference will not HOLD UP in SUPREME COURT you will FLEE the Pea Patch if you only have PREFERANCES --- PRAY TODAY GOD SEARCH My Heart ; try it; Make my Preferences CONVICTIONS!!! 1 Chron. 28:9 9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Shammah STOOD and Defended the PEA PATCH Other with a very very strong Belief Fled Shammah had a CONVICTION!!!! II. Do you have the CONVICTION TO STAND? a) Conviction ( Webster) = AN act of declaring guilty, a firm belief -- Is there enough evidence in your belief to declare you GUILTY of STANDIND FIRM IN THE PEA PATCH?? b) The Court says= 1. Conviction Very Very Strong Belief that will NOT change due to any pressure 2. A Conviction will do all above listed for a preference 3. A Person with a Conviction believes that GOD has ORDERED the Belief 4. A Conviction is a HEART FELT Purpose that a person is willing to lay down his life for! -- This maw will believe with all his HEART GOD COMMANDS the Belief! -- A man with a Conviction will stand in the PEA PATCH no matter the TEST ! c) Court Ruled that Preferences are NOT PROTECTED by the Constitution Convictions ARE! -- Jesus says that we are to be CONVICTED to GOD Matt 22:37-38 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. -- Shammah stood even though he was outnumbered Other fled/ Even though they had been SERVING FOR YEARS -He stood his ground - This was GODS PEA PATCH and HE was Convicted to it - GOD COMMANDED HIM to Stay and Defend it - This was the Very heart of Shammah belief system * He could not NEGIOGATE HIS FAITH / He had a CONVICTION not a Preference d) Remember Peters had a very strong faith so did ALL the Apostles --they said they were willing to die for JESUS --they said it out of a pure heart of PREFEREANCE -- When the Battle came they FLED! E) GOD DIDNT KILL THEM FOR THEIR LACK of Conviction! -- He allow them to Carry THRU by Faith and Grace -- When they were CONVICTED they stood their GROUND in the Pea PATCH/ after the RESURRECTION they realize their call -- But they had to GROW into the CONVICTION They had to CHOOSE to GROW and BELIEVE --Jesus KNEW that they would run from the PEA PATCH HE also knew they would EVENATULLY STAND! Luke 22:32 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 2. A Conviction will Show up in a Persons Lifestyle Consistently! a) Now only can they give you C&V they LIVE C&V ~ (chapter-verse) * remember a Conviction is GOD ORDERED! --Shammah lived the FAITH - he was willing to DIE for it James 2:18 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. b) Shammah Lips matched HIS HEART!!! He was who he was by CONVICTION not Preference DO our lips match our HEARTS? Matt 12:34-35 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Matt 15;8 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 3. Shammah Stood HIS GROUND in the Pea Patch --He recognized and Believed in GODS POWER to Deliver from the HANDS OF THE ENEMY -- He was LIVING by faith in the ONLY GOD that is ABLE -- He was walking by FAITH not SIGHT --Walking by SIGHT is SIN Knowing to do good and doing it not is SIN!! 4. Where do you stand today?? can you EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE Christian/ LNTC Can you Explain with C&V DO you believe your Convictions are GOD ORDERED b) Is there enough EVEIDENCE by the way you live your life to CONVICT you of being a LMBC??? Would you STAND or Flee from the PEA PATCH We must STAND FAST in this LAST GENERATION gal 5:1 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. --Pray GOD will help you turn your PREFEANCES into CONVICTIONS -- Let God have FULL CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE Base EVERYTHING YOU BELIEVE in FACT not FEELING and you will STAND in the PEA PATCH Gospel callllllllllll