Victory on a Half Acre of Land

VICTORY ON A HALF ACRE OF LAND

This is a very simple message of encouragement to anyone that is fighting a battle of what may seem like overwhelming odds.  God gave me this message back in 1988 when I was going through tough personal battle.  This message gave me strength then and has helped so many others over the years in the revivals that I have preached.

1 Samuel 14:4-14

4And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

8Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

9If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

11And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

12And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

14And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

Jonathon and his armour-bearer found themselves between a rock and a hard place.  The path to the Philistine Garrison was between two sharp rocks.  One rock was named “Bozez” which means, “Bleached white” (as in a skull).  The other rock was named “Seneh” which meant “Thorn”.  They were between the Skull & the Thorn.  Isn’t it just like the devil to maneuver us between a rock and a hard place?  We may bemoan the hardships but we can see God’s best work in us during the hard times. 

Are you between a rock and a hard place?  Is it tough at home?  This is just the atmosphere that God works best in!  Instead of trying to find an easier way, go ahead and take the battle to the devil and see if God will not come through for you.

THE GARRISON

The Philistine Garrison was the headquarters of the Philistine army in that area.  It was the Stronghold!  It was where the General and the Captains planned their strategy.  It was the place where their weapons, supplies, food, and horses were stored.  This was the strongest place in their army.  It was the key to their whole campaign.  Because of the apparent strength of this location it would be the least likely place to attack, especially for only two men.  This is just the place that Jonathon wanted to attack.

A garrison is defined as a fortified place of defense for troops, supplies, weapons, food, and commanding officers.  So you see, this is not the ideal place to attack.  Often we wait for a good opportunity to attack.  Why wait?  Attack the devil at his stronghold.  Two things will happen: One, you will catch the enemy off-guard, and two, you will put yourself in a position to see the power of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

The garrison, the stronghold of the enemy, is exactly where Jonathon decided they needed to attack.   If you are going to do anything for the Lord then you are going to have to be bold.  John the Baptist said, “The axe is laid to the root of the tree.”  We would get better results if we went to the root of the problem.  Often we find ourselves just trimming limbs when we ought to be attacking the root!  Jonathon and his armor bearer went to the root of the problem in Israel.  Instead of attacking the effect they went to the cause.  Instead of treating the symptom they went to problem. 

A bold plan is what is needed today.  Instead of waiting for the enemy to come and attack our churches we need to go out of our buildings and take the battle to the devil.  True victory will never come to the timid.  True victory is achieved by the bold.

Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

JONATHON & HIS ARMOURBEARER

The way a professional soldiers fought in that day was to send his armor bearer ahead holding up a shield as the warrior came behind.  Jonathon did things differently, he turned tradition upside down.  Instead of coming behind his armor bearer, Jonathon went before him.  He must of said to his armor bearer, “I’ll knock them down, and you come behind me and finish them off!”

This is so much a type of Jesus and His Church.  Instead of Jesus sending us ahead into danger, He went ahead and led the way.  Jesus knocked the enemy down now we must come behind and finish him off and enforce the victory of Calvary.  The Church is most definitely the armor bearer.  Look at what the scripture says:

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Jesus is the Warrior and he went before us, we are the armorbearer and we are coming behind.  Jesus knocked the Devil down and we are to finish him off!  Jesus has already defeated the enemy at the hill he climbed.  Now we climb up that hill and enforce the victory of the cross.

JONATHON’S PLAN

Jonathon had a plan.  It was to “Discover themselves” unto the Philistines.  Has the Devil discovered you yet?  We must reveal ourselves to the enemy by attacking the enemy at his garrison, at his stronghold.

There is a Stronghold in your city!  There is a stronghold in your area.  We need to attack the Devil’s Stronghold and bring it down!  Don’t hide yourself!  Show yourself brave!  Reveal yourself unto the devil.

Paul revealed himself to the Devil and the devil cried out, “Paul I know and Jesus I know!”  Only through bold warfare will the devil ever fear the Church.  Jonathon and his armor bearer brought the battle to the enemy and today we read and preach it.  Why?  Because they revealed themselves to the enemy.

Two men attacking a Garrison!  This was unheard of.  It was the audacity of their faith!  They were willing to take on the impossible!  They were willing to do what no sane person would have ever considered.  They took on the stronghold and overcame the insurmountable odds.

When we finally quit crying and take on the impossible then we will see the impossible done!  It takes daring faith to commit daring acts!

Not only did they attack the fortified garrison but also they had to climb uphill to do so!  The one with the “high ground” always has the tactical advantage.  This military advantage meant nothing to God.  God will always be able to turn the worst situation into victory.  All God needs is someone bold enough to step out and do His will.

“COME ON UP AND WE WILL SHOW YOU A THING”

This was the sign that the Lord had given to them that the Garrison would fall.  When the soldier cried out to Jonathon and said, “Come on up and we will show you a thing”.  Jonathon said to his Armorbearer, “Let’s go up and show them a thing!”

Then they began to climb.  Jonathon went before and knocked the enemy down and his armorbearer came behind and finished them off!  God was with them!  They made it to the top victorious!  Against all odds and against all tradition, these two men were given the victory.

I am glad that Jesus has already climbed to the top of the Hill (Calvary) and knocked the Devil down!  I am his Armorbearer and am coming behind him with victory!  We must go up and show the devil “a thing”.

VICTORY ON A HALF ACRE OF LAND

All of this took place on a “Half Acre of Land.”  Do you know what Jonathon said, “That is Israel’s Half Acre!  God deeded this land to us way back when he forged a covenant with Abraham.  Those Philistines are Squatters on our land!  We are going to take back what is rightfully ours!”

Jonathon and his Armorbearer defeated the enemy and had “Victory on a Half-Acre of Land”!  The devil was a squatter on God’s property.  Jonathon and his armor bearer knew this and they dared to take back what was theirs.

Is the devil on your half-acre?  Then run him off!  I promise you that Jesus will go before you!  You will come behind with victory!  Go home and tell that Devil to get out of your house!  No, not your husband, but the Devil!  Go home and tell the devil, “This is my half-acre!  I pay the rent!  I pay the electric bill!  I pay the taxes!  You are not welcome here!”  Take the battle to the devil and stand on the word of God. God will bring help to the faithful.  God will strengthen the cause of the righteous.  You can have victory on your half-acre! 

Pastor, you can have victory on our half-acre of land at the Church!  March around it and run the Devil off!  Stand in the pulpit that God ordained for you and preach the Word.  Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  Be bold, be firm, and be faithful.  God will give you victory on your half acre!