A Vineyard and the Inheritance Part 2

2 Samuel 23:9-12 He’s not distracted that his hand is cramped onto the sword. This is not the time for quitting.

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

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.

Last week Naboth’s stood his ground and refused to give up the inheritance received from his fathers. This inheritance connected to God’s promises was important enough for Naboth to die for. Everything battle you face in life is not worth dying for, but Eleanor, Shammah and Naboth knew when it was time.

Romans 8:37

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Ahab and Jezebel’s approach symptomatic... the serpent deceives. The dragon takes by force. Ahab asked permission. The initial approach was not to take but to entice Naboth to yield. Satan cannot take whatever he wants. 3 problems people have spiritually:

1. Unsaved and blindly walking towards the edge of eternal destruction.                                  Through the word

2. Say, “I love God,” but have no desire to know Him.

3. Know His word, just disobey—not that big a deal

Snake and a plan

Underestimated is the exercise of free will and the trickery of Satan. Satan slithers w/ his traps and tricks into position. His venom paralyzes. He wraps, squeezes and his constriction wraps and entraps. Once the trap is set it’s never as easy to get out [Psalm 91]. One last thing to say about the free will, deception and the strike. A snake repeatedly flicks its tongue many times before it ever sinks its fangs. It’s sensing both the prey and the environment. It’s sensing and adjusting as needed.

Like a snake, Satan hides his real intent until he’s ready to strike. He hides in the shadows watching our responses to situations and circumstances. Satan will put people and situations in our path to position us for the strike.

A Rat and a grape

Believer’s are not supposed to be vulnerable prey. They have access to the truth. He has the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives discernment. The more a person yields to the Holy Spirit and focuses on God’s truth, the more discernment they receive. The more a person yields and focuses on what life has brought, the more distracted they become—the more vulnerable they are.

Examples:

1. Two single adults. Both desire companionship. Both love God. It starts innocent. It starts as a friendship. It starts slow. Talking turns to texting, and before you know it texting turns to kissing. And well from there not much more needs to be said. How dare you preacher. I’m an adult, and I am allowed to kiss or make out with someone if I want to! Yes, you can do what you want with your free will. That’s the point. He flicked his tongue, sensed you were ready for a nibble, the paths converged…

2. There are a lot of people who want a new life. Tired of drugs, tired of men or vice versa, just looking for fellowship—need some good social companionship. They seek out fellowship with other believers, and end up in a church full of false doctrine. You think demons of lust are bad? You don’t want to get caught up in doctrines of devils. That serpent will slowly constrict the life out of you.

Jezebel and Ahab are types of spiritual darkness infiltrating the kingdom of God. Adam allowed the serpent into the garden, Ahab allowed Jezebel into the kingdom and Christian’s, have been known to allow darkness into their lives:

But Paul warned

KJV Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

NASB Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

NIV Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Eleazer the son of Dodo and Shammah were examples of God’s people taking a stand against darkness, not giving into it:

Ephesians 6:10-11

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.

Ephesians 6:13

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.

NASB Ephesians 5:8-14 a teenage girl whispers to her friend about what her and her boyfriend did 2 nights ago

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Sometimes we feel too weak to stand

David’s men came to serve him before he was given His crown. When they first arrived, they looked weak and pitiful:

1 Samuel 22:1-2

1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

Think about that. They were distressed and in debt. David wasn’t on the throne yet, but he was the rightful king and they came to serve him. After spending time serving him, this is how a couple of these men were described:

Eleazer’s hand grew weary in the battle, but his hand clung to his sword. Paul learned in (2 Cor 12:9) “In my weakness, His strength is made perfect.

God’s word tells us not to grow weary in well doing when everyone else ran away, in fear, God helped Eleazer grip the sword tighter.

Why you want to fight over a patch of peas Shammah? Because these peas don’t belong to the Philistines. This pea patch belongs to God, He gave it to us and the people of God don’t give up their inheritance to the devil.

If New Testament Christian’s would spend more time learning what the scriptures say, so they could believe what God says about them instead of what the world says, they, too, would become kingdom warriors:

This thing we’re seeing with Israel is big. This thing with America is big. The vineyard was big, the pea patch was big, but you do understand that there is something bigger, than the conflict in Israel and what we’re experiencing in America? The snake is flicking his tongue and he’s trying to gain an angle on people’s souls, and more than anything he wants the souls of God’s people:

Luke 17:21

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Satan wants the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God is in God’s people and people think that they’re ready, and I so hope that we are.

But just as the devil offered Adam and Eve a lie, he offers people lies today and wants them to trade their eternal inheritance for something temporary. He tried to do that to Jesus also:   

Luke 4:6-8

6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Satan told Jesus that the kingdoms and their glory were delivered to him, and that now, he can give them to whomever he wills. Who do you reckon gave Satan the kingdoms?

Adam yielded his authority to Satan, as a result, Satan has power on earth.

Deliver- to surrender or yield.

God gave it to Adam, but Adam traded his authority to Satan for a lie.

Jesus doesn’t yield to Satan or His friend’s:

Luke 4:8

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 16:23

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

There is no time to get snared in Satan’s traps

Both Peter and Satan were trying to get Jesus to focus on temporary kingdoms. You might get caught up in temporary problems, but Jesus said that the offense is a trap, the trap is a temporary promise, and he’s telling Satan to get behind him. What is the trap in front of you?

Jesus came from heaven to earth to give us back our power and our inheritance, so that He can resume His plan of filling the earth with His glory.

Inheritance from God

Satan wants to steal what God has given you. In Christ, God has given us great power and an inheritance, and its important that we understand what we have in Christ:

Ephesians 1:17-19

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

Throughout the Bible, the people that failed God and received a bad testimony from the scriptures are those, who didn’t care about God’s word, didn’t believe God’s word or were somehow deceived related to God’s word.

• Adam, was deceived & delivered his power to Satan

• Esau didn’t care & sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils

• The 10 spies didn’t believe and said they were grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants

• Israel cowered in fear and unbelief as Goliath ridiculed God’s people

• The prodigal son spent his inheritance on prostitutes and pig slop

• Adam failed but Jesus said, “It is written Satan”

• Esau sold out but Jacob wrestled with God until finally his name was changed to Israel

• The 10 grasshoppers died on the other side of Jordan but Joshua and Caleb crossed over and killed giants

• Israel cowered. But then David showed up and sunk a rock in Goliath’s head and fed his flesh to the birds.

• The prodigal woke up one day, lost his taste for pig slop and prostitutes and said I’m going home to serve my father and there, unexpectedly, received again his authority with a ring and a robe

Satan tries to convince us that he has something better.

Better wife

Better husband

Better job

Better car

Lies and distractions he uses to get an entry and keep us away from our purpose for God’s kingdom. There are 2 questions that must be asked before making the deal:

1. How will this affect my eternal inheritance or purpose?

2. Is this decision consistent with the written word of God

The more time that we spend w/ God, the more sensitive to His Spirit we should be, but if we are already distracted, [RAT w/ a grape] it’s easier for him to slip in and take something that doesn’t belong to him.

Conclusion

2 Kings 9:30-33 what does she think, she can seduce the new king? Isn’t that what the devil does though? Tries the same old tricks. How many times does he get the same person w/ the same thing time and again.

30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. 31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? 32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. 33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.

The serpent is still looking for an entry. Ahab wants the vineyard. If you won’t give in Jezebel is going to try to kill you to take it. Jesus refused to give up the kingdom of God for an earthly counterfeit. Naboth refused to sell the land. The Eunuch said, “Enough!” And threw her out of the window.

I can’t prove what I’m about to say, but it’s hard for me to believe that at least one of these eunuchs didn’t hear what Jezebel told Ahab her plan to set up Naboth. I believe they heard her wicked plan. I believe they heard the news that Naboth died standing up for the inheritance, and I believe that they were ready for a new king!

A Vineyard and the Inheritance: Part 1

1 Kings 21

Jezebel is a foreigner/ she is outsider to the Israelites, which are God’s people on the earth. She enters into the kingdom bringing her ways and beliefs which are against the ways of God. She is a spiritual intruder and she wants to affect God’s plan by introducing her ways into God’s people.

God’s whole plan on the earth hinges on having a people that carry His truth, His image, and His glory upon the earth. It’s because of His love and His grace that He created us to be part of His plans. He did it because He is love and there is no better place for love than within a family unit—God wants an eternal family.

He wants to have a relationship with us. So He created this physical realm as a place for the physical to exist, but the physical journey is a test, and the response in the physical, has a direct impact on the spiritual/ eternal inheritance that He has planned for His children.

In Adam, God gave man power and authority over the physical realm. This was God’s creation and He entrusted its well being to Adam. The spirit of the serpent was already in existence, and like Jezebel in the story, his plan was to intrude. Whether this fallen angel, as a spiritual being possessed the serpent or transmuted into the image of a serpent, I do not know and don’t really care. All I know is that he was a spiritual creation that had rebelled against God at a time somewhere in the past. He was not content as a creation of God and instead wanted to be above God, and so he rebelled against God. Through his rebellion, he brought about his own spiritual death and now, he sees Adam and this new creation. He sees Adam’s authority and he wants it, so he takes on the form of the physical enters, so he can steal the spiritual. He failed his test and now he wants Adam and us to fail ours. Snake analogy from last pm.

Flesh and blood cannot and will not inherit the kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:50); therefore, we will be tested in the physical before entering into the eternal.

So the story has a setting, a physical place where a spiritual battle is taking place—like a garden, a vineyard, a church, a workplace, a home, a family. And then a spiritual intruder disguised in a physical body with plans to steal, kill and destroy.

And the only way that it can enter and cause trouble is if the will in the natural gives permission to the demonic in the spiritual and Adam does, and Adam brings in death, chaos, confusion and rebellion into the narrative of God. The serpent was an outsider, looking for a way into the plan of God. The serpent is always looking for a way into the plan of God and Jezebel is the opening of the serpent’s intrusion into God’s kingdom on earth during this time of Israel’s history. We must remain vigilant:

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

God has a plan for the human race and He is looking for people that will be His people and help Him bring His plan to fruition. There will be opposition, there will be tribulation, but praise God, He is worthy of it all. For from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory….

We’ve talked enough about Jezebel recently. She isn’t the topic of this message. But she, like the serpent is the intruder on the outside given permission to come on the inside to cause trouble in the kingdom.

The topic of this message is Naboth’s inheritance. God has a plan for His people. His people are His family. According to the New Testament, the son’s of God have received an inheritance.

Matthew 21:33-41 is a good parable to describe what I mean by inheritance and the intrusion by evil to steal it. READ

The direct context is that God entrusted Israel with His vineyard, but religion killed the Son and tried to steal His inheritance. The serpent will use Jezebel, false prophets, Pharisees, false doctrine, the enticements of the world…whatever he can use to steal the inheritance and to spoil the harvest of God.

If you’re saved this morning, you have protection from the deception Satan plans. If you’re truly saved, you’ve experienced God’s entry into your physical realm. He spoke and you responded and invited Him in. He is there now and wants to protect you from the intrusion of the enemy.

Something happened in your heart and like Jesus told Nicodemus, you may not know where a specific breeze originated from but you can feel it’s effects, so it is when a person is regenerated, when a person is truly cleansed by the washing of regeneration and their life is transformed, it is the result of a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains:

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away:

If this person continues to grow in truth, and protects the presence of God and God’s will for their lives, the spiritual transformation will be manifest outwardly by the fruit of the Spirit being produced in their lives. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, self control, patience, kindness, … these are outward, physical manifestations of a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. In our new life with Christ, the word says that we’ve been healed, delivered, set free, sanctified. The blood of Jesus cleanses us and makes us a completely new person.

That is really my message this morning. As new creations in Christ, we have received an inheritance of promises. These promises include the future, but they are also true for today. It’s important that we understand that Jesus came to restore to us what Adam lost in the fall to Satan.

This is important! Just as Ahab wants to steal Naboth‘s vineyard and inheritance, Satan wants to steal the inheritance of the saints. He wants to make a deal and if that doesn’t work Jezebel through seduction or violence will try to steal. They want to steal God’s plan for the church and they want to steal, God’s plan for our individual lives. Satan wants to offer Christian a deal. He wants you to serve yourself and trade in your inheritance, exchange what you want in place of the Lord’s plan for your life.

Both Naboth’s name and his home town have spiritual significance

Naboth= fruits

Jezreel= sown of God

To be sown of God means that God planted the seed. This means that the land was God’s, that Naboth was called by God to bear or bring forth fruit for God, and in the story, Ahab wants to take from Naboth what belongs to him. Look at Naboth’s response:

1 Kings 21:3

And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. REPEAT

The land is very important to God. There is a scripture in Leviticus where God tells His people not to sell the land:

Leviticus 25:23

The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

There is quite a statement being made here.

1. The land is God’s and His people Israel are instructed not to sell it.

2. He explains to them that they are fellow strangers and travelers in the land with Him.

3. While the land belongs to God, He refers to Himself as a stranger

4. The context is God created it and gave it to Adam. Adam lost it, and now God, finding others that will trust and obey His word, is taking it back one piece at a time. His creating the nation of Israel was a plot of land that He used as territory to produce an inheritance through Jesus and says, “Do not sell my land.”

5. The land He is giving them a land has been invaded by inhabitants that were polluting it with their occult practices, and it’s still going on today. He is sending them in to conquer and take over control of the land Leviticus 18:25-27.

6. Adam allowed a deceptive lie to bring darkness into the realm that God had given Him to have authority over. The result of Adam’s decision not only caused a personal problem with sin, but it also brought sin into the land

7. Now, thousands of years later, God is giving land back to His people Israel and He is saying, “Right now, we are strangers together in our own land [it’s bigger than this. It’s bigger than Israel. It’s the whole world, the whole Earth, but it starts here with Israel, it starts here with Naboth’s vineyard, it starts here with Shammah’s pea patch (2 Samuel 23:11), it starts here with your house and family, it starts here with this church and anyone willing to join us in this area and hopefully we will be able to help other churches see it also,  but we’re taking it back one piece at a time, one step at a time. God would say, “You have to trust me. I have a plan. Don’t sell the land. The land is mine. I’m taking back what belongs to me, and I’m allowing you, my people, to work with me, while I’m taking it back.” But you can’t let the snake into the garden and you can’t let Jezebel into the kingdom.

8. Now, Ahab wants Naboth to do what Adam did. Ahab wants Naboth’s vineyard, he wants Naboth’s fruits, he wants Naboth’s inheritance, but Naboth’s said: 1 Kings 21:3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee

• Adam gave Satan a foothold  through disobedience

• Ahab gave Jezebel a foothold when he transgressed the written word of God and married an unbeliever.

• Paul said don’t give place to the devil, which means a foothold to the devil

Satan infiltrated God‘s kingdom, but God is reclaiming it all through the lives of His people.

His plan includes partnering with people that He has given authority and dominion on the earth to occupy until He comes. When you, as a born again believer with the Spirit of God in you, believe God and pray God’s will, it has power on earth. When you, a Spirit filled believer work with God by planting seeds of truth on earth, it has the power of heaven behind it, it’s going to bring a harvest, you don’t have to see it, you just need to believe it. Story of what Stephen told me

I believe that true Christianity is us walking with God and reclaiming the land, advancing the Kingdom of God, learning His word, believing His word and doing His word. If Jesus said:

Matthew 28:19-20

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.

Then that is what we believe, teach and do

If Jesus said:

Luke 10:19-20

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Then that is what we believe, teach and do

If Jesus said:

Mark 16:15-19

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Teach it, believe it, do it

God created Adam and Eve in the image and likeness of God. And God told them to reproduce after their own kind and to have dominion over the earth and to spread His glory over the earth. Sin may have changed man’s image (Genesis 5:3), but it didn’t change God’s plan. Sin may have caused them to lose their authority and stripped them naked of God’s glory. But Jesus gives believers His glory (JN 17). Sin may have left them banished outside the presence of God in the darkness of night, but God has a plan of grace, and He’s looking for a people that will finish the race.

He started showing us the plan by clothing Adam and Eve with the skins of an innocent animal:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God created the earth for Adam to reproduce and replenish the earth with the image and glory of God. Satan offered light and life but his lie brought death and darkness. Now, with the power that he’s taken from Adam, he fills the earth with his plans. Then comes Jesus:

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

READ John 1:1-13

And conclude w/ the Luke 19:11 parable