His Heart, My Home

THAT AIN’T WORTH A HILL OF BEANS!

My roots go down deep into the sandy clay soil of Northwest Louisiana, and the Piney Woods of East Texas. I was cornbread-fed, and sunburned-red, always “barefooted as a yard dog” through the whole summer.

As kids, we would gather with the adults in the cool of the afternoon, on the front porch of Grandpa and Grandma’s house. There, we reveled for hours in stories, tall-tales, and jokes, well-worn, and well-seasoned, with plenty of down-home southern wisdom.

Recently, as I read a certain Bible passage,
I was reminded of a saying we commonly used “back in the day”. If something was considered insignificant or worthless, we would sagely deliver our evaluation of it by saying, “Ain’t worth a hill of beans”, often punctuating our pronouncement (if Grandma wasn’t looking) with a poorly aimed and badly executed attempt to spit on the ground in front of us.

Let’s look at that passage to which I just referred. It’s the account of a man named Shammah. He is identified as one of David’s “mighty men”.

Shammah valued his “hill of beans” so much that he was willing to give his life fighting for it. We are told that:

¹¹ “The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils (small beans). So the people fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he (Shammah) stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.” (2 Samuel 23:11-12)

STAND YOUR GROUND!

When the godless Philistine raiders showed up in Shammah’s hometown of Lehi, he was faced with a choice. He could flee in terror along with his friends and relatives, or stand his ground to defend his bean patch.

Shammah chose to fight. Our battle begins when we plant a “NO TRESPASSING“, sign right in the middle of our bean patch.

The Rotherham Translation says Shammah “took his stand in the midst” of the field. He ferociously defended that little bean patch like it was a gold mine! Shammah refused to surrender even one inch of ground to the enemy!

Very few Christians today, are willing to fight at all, much less with this kind of tenacity… that is, unless they’re fighting one another!

A bean patch? Really? Why would God honor Shammah as a “mighty man” and memorialize his “bean battle” by including it in scripture? Why is any of this important? Why is it such a big deal?

It’s because, just like David, against Goliath, Shammah fought the Philistines in the name of the Lord, the God of the armies of Israel.

Shammah was not fighting for beans. He was fighting for the Lord, and it was the Lord who gave him the victory!

“Give the devil an inch, and…” well, you know the rest…

Or, we could say it like this: “If you don’t fight for your beans, the devil will take your whole burrito!”

Or like this: “If you give up the beans from your bean patch, the enemy will just keep on advancing until he takes your gold.”

NO FOOTHOLD, NO STRONGHOLD!

● Any territory that we surrender today will become the enemy’s foothold for tomorrow.

● And if we allow the devil even a foothold, he will turn it into his stronghold.

That’s why we are given this warning in Ephesians 4:27, Amplified Classic Edition:
“Leave no room or foothold for the devil; [give no opportunity to him].”

Today’s surrender almost always becomes tomorrow’s disaster.

But today’s fierce defense of our little bean patch very often becomes tomorrow’s promotion, as we are recognized as one of the King’s Mighty Ones.

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
● Where is your “bean patch”?
● Are there areas of your personal or family life where you’ve taken an uncompromising stand for Christ, but feel pressure to give in?
● How long can you stand and fight in your own strength and willpower?
● How does Holy Spirit give us His strength?

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YOU + HOLY SPIRIT = MAJORITY!

Unlike Shammah, we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual foes, diabolical enemies, who are relentless in their determination to steal, kill, and destroy.

We must take our stand in the midst of our “bean patch”, and face our enemies with the same gutsy, gritty faith that animated and activated Shammah.

¹⁰ “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ STAND THEREFORE…”
(Ephesians 6:10-14)

Do you see how many “againsts” there are in the passage above? I count five, and that’s not all! I’m fighting against five “againsts”? It sure looks like the odds are against me!

Actually, the odds are in my favor! My ultimate victory is assured… if I won’t quit! I just have to stand!

STAND, STAND, AND STAND SOME MORE!

The word “stand” is translated from the Greek word “histemi“. And according to Abarim’s Theological Dictionary it is the “most potent” verb in the New Testament.

It means, “to stand unbowed in resistance; to rise in resurrection life and power; to set in order; to confirm”.

“So, what does all this mean? If God has determined to stand with us, tell me, who then could ever stand against us?”
(Romans 8:31, The Passion Translation)

Please look at Ephesians 6:13-14 once more!

“I’ve done all to stand (Verse13) Now what?”
“Stand“…(Verse 14)

“I’ve stood and stood… Now what?”
“Stand therefore…”

“But you don’t understand! I’ve stood, and stood, and stood! I’m exhausted!”

“What do I do now?”

“Stand therefore…”

“Stand therefore…+… ((ver))”

“Stand there ((fore))…+… ((ver))”

“STAND THERE FOREVER!”

HOW WE CAN “STAND THERE FOREVER”!

We make the “quality decision” to stand no matter what, to resist the enemy with every fiber of our being, to never give an inch.

Then, His resurrection life and power will rise within us, setting things in order, and confirming the enemy’s absolute defeat!

⁴ “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world – our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

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My wife, Grace, and I are very proud to be in partnership with Student Life Organization, Inc. We believe in the great work they are doing in Cebu City, and throughout the central part of the Philippines.

SLOI provides educational opportunities to
many physically disabled and financially disadvantaged children, helping them reach their God-given potentials.

Your generous giving will help co-founders Ian Rustia and Anne Ruiz, as they faithfully declare and demonstrate God’s love to these precious children and their families.

“I mention this not because I’m requesting a gift, but so that the fruit of your generosity may bring you an abundant reward.”
(Philippians 4:17, TPT)

Would you please give today? If so, please use this link: paypal.me/anaferuiz

Thank you! We pray that you will experience God’s richest blessings as you give freely and cheerfully in Jesus’ name!