A Field Worth Fighting for

Caleb Morgan
Jun 4
9 min read

Updated: Jul 1

There are some things in the Kingdom of God that are worth fighting for! These things are non-negotiable. These are things that have been established long ago and will never change. They are settled. They may seem small and insignificant to some, but there is no doubt that they are essentials.

There is a very familiar story concerning one of David’s mighty men. This story is focused upon his actions over a lentil patch. To Shammah, this field meant enough to put his life on the line. According to some research, the Philistines were seafaring people, and when the Israelites were just about ready to harvest a crop, they would invade the land and take the crop so that they could have food they didn’t have to work for. Maybe Shammah had simply had enough of this. If this was his field, he was tired of putting in the work to get a crop ready to harvest, only to have it stolen. Study also told me that this lentil patch was possibly strategically placed on the outskirts of the Israelite territory. Shammah knew that if he allowed the Philistines to take this lentil patch, the next thing they were coming for was the inner fields of the Israelite territory. And after they had taken the fields, they would come for the main city of the Israelites and wipe them out. Whatever the reason, Shammah knew he could not allow the enemy to come in and take what generations had labored for.

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. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. ~ 2 Samuel 23:11–12

We find a very similar story unfolding in Jezreel. Naboth had a vineyard that was “hard by” Ahab’s palace. The mighty King of Samaria would look on this vineyard and desire it. He approached Naboth one day with an offer: “Naboth, give me this vineyard. I want to make it something different—something beneficial to MY purpose. I’ll give you a better vineyard. It will be bigger, contain better soil, and produce better.”

Naboth would not compromise what had been passed down to him. Ahab then made him another offer: “I’ll pay you the value of this land.”

Naboth would not be bought. He would not trade in nor sell what had been passed down to him. The end of the story is that he died with this belief.

As Apostolics, there are things that have been passed down from generation to generation—doctrines, traditions, beliefs—and WE CAN NEVER let Satan come in and take these things. Satan will come to us and offer us “something bigger and better” if we will compromise and trade in this truth. He will strive to put things in our life that will cause us to question if it really takes new birth to be saved. He will endeavor to put doubt in your mind that Jesus is the Mighty God in Christ. He will try to convince you that holiness is not a requirement for salvation. He is the enemy of our soul, and he will do what he can to cause us to give up the fight. These things are items that are in our field. We must fight for these things.

But these are not things someone just thought up and passed down out of tradition—these are truths founded in the Word of God. New birth. Jesus Name Baptism. The Oneness of the Godhead. Holiness. These are not man’s ideas—they are God’s—and they are worth every ounce of our fight! We cannot forsake the essentiality of the salvation plan. We cannot trade holiness for crowds. We cannot compromise truth to gain popularity. We must never back down on the Name of Jesus in baptism. We must never waver on the Oneness of God. These are the pillars of apostolic identity—and no matter the cost, we must stand our ground.

Salvation Plan

You must be born again to be saved! Death to the old life is through repentance, burial is through baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, even dance by speaking in other tounges, is New Birth.

John 3:1-3

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5-6 - Nicodemus did not understand and asked Jesus further about it…

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Acts 2:38

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Water Baptism Must be Done in the Name of Jesus Christ

Acts 10:48

48 And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Matthew 28:19

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:

Name of the Father

John 5:43

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Name of the Son

Luke 1:34-35

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:21

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Name of the Holy Ghost

John 14:26

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Infilling of the Holy Ghost

Acts 2:1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44-47

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Oneness of the Godhead

There is but one God. The Old Testament and the New Testament lay this out plainly.

Old Testament

Deuteronomy 4:35

35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

Deuteronomy 6:4

4 Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God is one Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:39

39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me…

1 Samuel 2:2

2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

2 Samuel 7:22

22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

1 Kings 8:60

60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

Psalms 18:31

31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

Isaiah 37:16

16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 45:21

21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Hosea 13:4

4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

Joel 2:27

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Malachi 2:10

10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?…

New Testament

Mark 12:29

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

John 1:1-5, 14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

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 8:58

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

1 Corinthians 8:6

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Colossians 2:9

9 For in Him dweles all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

1 Timothy 3:16

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Revelation 19:11-16

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Holiness

Not only is new birth essential to salvation, so is holiness. We can never forsake it!

Hebrews 12:14

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Peter 1:16

16 For it is written, Be ye holy, for I am Holy!

2 Corinthians 7:1

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.