Hold Him Up

Hold Him Up

Exodus 17:8-13

Under the leadership of Moses, God delivered Israel from Egypt and was led into the wilderness in route to the Promised Land. In their journeying, Israel came to Rephidim. There at Rephidim, the Amalekites, nomadic descendants of Esau, began to conduct assaults against Israel. According to Deuteronomy 25, Amalek's tactic was to attack Israel's rear ranks, all those who were too weak to keep pace in the desert with the their fellow Israelites, the stragglers, the ill, the weak, the young, and the wearied. Moses sent Joshua to choose out men and go out and fight Amalek, while he would go up on the hill, overlooking the battle, with his shepherd's staff, the rod of God, in his hand. As long as Moses could hold his hand up with the rod of God, the enemy was not able to prevail against Israel. But when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. As long as he lifted the rod with his hand, the enemy had no power over Israel; they could not prevail against them. Not too many us could hold our hands up for long before our arms would become weak and tired. In order to keep his arms held high he needed help. Aaron and Hur got a stone for Moses to sit on, and stood alongside Moses, one on his right, one on his left, holding up his hands. Through their support of Moses, God enabled Israel to prevail over their enemy. By Aaron and Hur doing their part Moses' hands were steady until victory was won.

Here we see a great truth, that can be applied to the church. Like Moses, God has appointed His leadership within the Body of Christ - your pastor. Like Moses, your pastor cannot and is not expected by God to do the work by himself. Like Moses pastors need others who will hold his arms high that they may be steadied and that he may be able to lead as God would have him do. God’s leaders have always depended on and need others to support them in their work.

I Support your pastor by praying for him

A 1 Timothy 2:1-2 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority..."

B 1 Thessalonians 5:25 "Brethren, pray for us."

C Gardener Spring who lived in the 1800s, wrote about the need to pray for pastors. He penned, "If a people are looking for rich sermons from their minister, their prayers must supply him with the needed material. If they seek for faithful sermons, their prayers must urge him by a full and uncompromising manifestation of the truth to commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God. If God's people are going to expect powerful and successful sermons, their prayers must make him a blessing to the souls of men. Would they have him come to them in the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of peace with a pounding heart and a burning eye and a glowing tongue and with sermons bathed in tears and filled with prayer? If so, their prayers must urge him to pray and their tears inspire his thrilling heart with the strong yearnings of Christian affection. It is in their own closets that the people of God most effectively challenge their beloved ministers to take heed to the ministry they have received from the Lord Jesus."

D The memory of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been cherished among evangelical Christians for over the past 100 years. Many Christian leaders consider him to be the greatest preacher England ever produced. He is commonly hailed as the "Prince of Preachers". Over 63 volumes of published sermons still bear witness to the richness and success of C. H. Spurgeon's ministry. Though known as a great preacher, it was not preaching that made Spurgeon great. Mr. Spurgeon repeatedly acknowledged his success as the direct result of his congregation's faithful prayers. "It has often been remarked that the whole church helped produce Spurgeon." When visitors would come to Spurgeon's church he would take them to the basement prayer-room where people were always on their knees interceding. Then Spurgeon would declare, "Here is the powerhouse of this church."

E 2 Thessalonians 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you."

F William Carey a simple cobbler who knew that he was not his own but God's possession, changed the history of world missions and the face of India over 200 years ago. However what is little known is that William Carey’s sister was paralyzed and bedridden for 50 years and unable to speak much of that time. Nevertheless she allowed herself to be propped up in bed to write encouraging letters to her brother. And even more powerful is the fact that she prayed for her brother several hours per day during that 50 years! Her body may have been paralyzed but not her soul and spirit.