Prayer Battles

Exodus 17 v 8 - 16 Prayer Battles

I. The Battle Fought 8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

A. Their Past Blessings Were Undeniable

B. Their Present Battle Was Unavoidable

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

This Battle was Undesired, Undeserved, & Underhanded.

(1) There are some who are in a fitness battle. (Sickness)

(2) There are some who are in a family battle. (Rebellion)

(3) There are some who are in a financial battle.

(4) There are those who are in a faithfulness battle. (Obedience)

D.L. Moody said, “I’d rather be able to pray than be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.”

General Douglas MacArthur once said, “The greater the knowledge of the enemy, the greater the potential of victory.”

Fighting keeps you strong. Fighting keeps you vigilant. Fighting keeps you humble.

2 Cor 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

II. The Burden Felt 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Dr. James Merritt, “If you pray, but you don’t go to war, you’re a fool. But if you go to war without praying, you’ll be a failure.”

A. The Vitality Of Prayer 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

The word “prevail” in the Hebrew language literally means “to be given strength”

This prayer was important because as long as he prayed, victory was won.

B. The Value Of Prayer 10 and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Joshua didn’t go into battle by himself; and Moses didn’t go and pray by himself.

Moses represents a great leader, Aaron represents a Great High Priest.

But Hur was just an ordinary man. 12 and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

C. The Victory Of Prayer 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

III. The Banner Formed 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

This is the first time in Scripture we are told that God told anyone to write anything down. God wanted to make it clear that VICTORY CAME FROM HIM. Joshua fought; Moses prayed - BUT IT WAS GOD THAT GAVE THE VICTORY!

A. Victory Was Precious 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: “The Lord is my banner”.

B. Victory Is Promised 16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

C. Victory Is Protracted 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.