Prayer Warfare

PRAYER WARFARE

Exodus 17:8-13

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. I remember the story of the lady who locked her keys in her car. She was parked right along a street. She didn’t know who to call, so she just prayed, “Dear Lord, I need you to send someone to help me get into my car. And if you can, send them right away!”

2. Only moments later a guy in an old truck pulled over and said, “What’s the problem lady?” She said, “Could you help me get into my car? I’ve locked my keys in.”

3. He walked to his car, got a “slim jim,” and had the door opened in about a minute. She smiled and said, “You’re such a nice man. Thank you for helping me!”

4. He said, “I’m not a nice man, lady! In fact, I just got out of prison a month ago for grand theft auto!” She replied, “God is so good! He not only answered my prayer, but He sent me a professional!”

B. TEXT

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Ex. 17:8-13.

C. THE ORIGIN OF THE CONFLICT

1. We’re starting our new series on spiritual warfare today called “Kung Fu Warrior,” playing off a cinematic theme. In our universe, there’s a conflict raging between the forces of evil and the forces of God.

2. The Israelites, the people of God, had just been delivered from Egypt and the wrath of Pharaoh. The Red Sea had parted and they were now on their way to the Promised Land. (We too are headed for the Promised Land of Heaven.) Everything seemed to be going well for them – UNTIL – Amalek.

3. Amalek was the Grandson of Esau, the older brother of Jacob. Esau didn’t value the things of God. When he was hungry, he sold his spiritual heritage as the firstborn son, to Jacob – for a bowl of beans!

4. A TERRIBLE EXCHANGE. During the early days of the Canada gold rush (1909) a man named Sandy McIntyre found a gold vein and filed a claim on the property. Later, thirsty for a drink of liquor, he sold his claim for $25. The gold mine still had his name on it when it produced $230 million in gold. For years afterward he could be found in saloons crying over his terrible choice! [Paul Tan, Encyclo. Of 7,700 Illus., #53]

D. THESIS

1. Esau’s descendants became people who lived only for this world and were enemies of God’s people. They represent the world which tries to get us to join them and give up our pursuit of doing God’s will. We must resist fleshly desires!

2. This story was put in the Bible to demonstrate to us the power of prayer – that it’s by intercession that we can influence physical events by God’s invisible power.

3. The title of this message is “PRAYER WARFARE.”

I. THE POWER OF PRAYER DEMONSTRATED

A. ONLY BY PRAYER DO WE PREVAIL

1. In this story, God made success and failure dependent on whether Moses prayed or not. The message is...when we're praying, we're winning. When we're not praying, we're losing. When Moses held up his hands in prayer, Israel prevailed; but when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed.

2. “But Pastor, The battle is the Lord’s!” Yes, but we have a part to play in it. He will do HIS part, but He won’t do YOUR part! “You have not, because you ask not” James 4:2. Their success was not in their swords, but in dependency on God.

3. We can see here THE MANIPULATION OF PHYSICAL THINGS BY SPIRITUAL MEANS. The battle was not determined by who had the superior force or the best trained men. The battle was decided in the spiritual realm. It’s the same with us.

B. NOTHING IS MORE TRANSFIGURING THAN PRAYER

Prayer doesn't always change God, but it always changes us.

1. IT CHANGES OUR VIEW OF GOD

*Isaiah prayed & saw a vision of seraphs & God’s throne.