In This War
Introduction: I would like to leave you with a lesson this morning of what it will take to make this church victorious going forward. Having many members does not mean you have an effective church. Having an emotional experience does not mean that you have repented of your sin. In this life we are engaged in a struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. And while all these are physical, the war we are engaged in is entirely spiritual.
Leonard Ravenhill once said "No man is greater than his prayer life, failing here, we fail everywhere."
(Read Exous 17:8-14)
Moses would soon turn the nation of Israel over to his young and mighty general Joshua. Moses wasn't allowed to go where Joshua was called to go because he had disobeyed the Lord. His calling ended as a great deliverer of God's people from Pharoah and leader of them through the desert but it was Joshua's calling to lead them into the promised land. This incedent was so significant that the LORD said to Moses to take special note of it and make certain that Joshua hears it!
Transition: Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we are in a struggle, a war of a spiritual nature and in this spiritual war we all have a part, I would like to point out three things that we should not forget in this spiritual war.
I. In this spiritual war, lets not forget that difficulty is inevitable
Shortly after Moses struck water from the rock to quench the thirst of a grumbling people we read in Exodus 17:8 & 9 - "The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
If given a choice neither Moses nor Joshua would choose to provoke any group of people to fight them. Every Christian wants peace (at least they should) but the war comes to us. Jesus said "I don't come to bring peace but a sword" Not because he was looking for a fight but because he knew that we are so contrary to a fallen world that hates him, that conflict is inevitable to which our only weapon is the sword of truth!
The question is will we be ready once it comes.
Ill. Craig Brian Larson shared an illustration from a National Geographic article about the Alaskan bull moose. The males of the species battle for dominance during the fall breeding season, literally going head-to-head with antlers crunching together as they collide. Often the antlers, their only weapon are broken. That ensures defeat. The heftiest moose, with the largest and strongest antlers, triumphs. Therefore, the battle fought in the fall is really won during the summer, when the moose eat continually. The one that consumes the best diet for growing antlers and gaining weight will be the heavyweight in the fight. Those that eat inadequately sport weaker antlers and less bulk. the lesson here is that Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now--before the wars begin. The bull-moose principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they're needed. (sermonillustrations.com)
The Amalekites were the descendents of Amalek, the grandson of Esau. They lived to the north of Egypt and as the Israelites were wondering from place to place in the desert looking for water wherever they could find it, it was only a matter of time before they would have a run in with them. The Israelites were attacked in the most cowardly way by the Amalekites who surprised them from behind and slaughtered those who lingered in the back, took all they could, and then ran away to try to finish the massacre they started the next day.
There is good reason why Paul instructs us to put on armor, not just a sword and shield but "the whole armor of God." As we wander through life there are more than a few armies that are marching our direction, and it isn't just to pass us by but to take us out and to destroy us. "The thief only comes to kill, steal, and to destroy" He doesn't want to make peace with you and he doesn't want to make a truce with you. His only goal is to separate you from God in the vapor of time he has left to do it.
Difficulties are like the ominous storm on the horizon blowing your way, it may be regretable but its still inevitable. It is coming whether we would have it come or not. In most cases in life we can avoid confrontation. But as Joseph learned even doing all the right things can not deliver us from the inevitable. Temptation has, and always will war against our souls. Jospeph literally ran when the wife of his employer tried to seduce him and told the truth of the incident and he still ended up in prison for it. The Amalekites did not care that the wandering Israelites were not looking for war, they did not care that they only wanted to live in peace in the land God had given them.
In such a case what can we do? We must prepare to face the difficulty. Knowing that war was coming, Moses, who was no longer in his fighting prime, sends instructions with the mighty man of God, Joshua to draft himself an army, while he plans to stand at the top of the hill with the staff of God in hand. Moses and Joshua had seen God send plague after plague on their Egyptian oppressors. They had see God place a pillar of fire to block the Egyptian army and open the sea in front of them and close it behind them on their pursuers, killing them all. They had seen food for angels fall from the sky to feed them every day and recently had seen water come from a rock. They had seen God miraculously save them, deliver them, protect and provide for them, why should they worry now?
Transition: The more you experience God's wonderful grace, his abundant blessing, his merciful instruction, his caring provision, and his powerful deliverance, the more you trust your savior and the less you fear your enemy. secondly...
II. In this spiritual war, lets not forget who the enemy is
"10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill."
Joshua may have physically taken it to the Amalekites but Ephesians 6:12 reminds us who our enemy is NOT "For our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
We are not called to fight against flesh and blood, we are not at war with any man; whether they're known as a sinner or a saint. We are here to fight for them both, by taking the sword of truth to every evil that stands against God and his law.
When we die, the worms don't concern themselves whether they are feasting on a rich man or poor man, whether they are black or white, male or female, young or old. The same evil that is in the unrepentant sinner is trying to make its way into your heart also, it doesn't care if you are a pastor or a rebel, a deacon or an atheist. We are fighting against all evil that would solidify itself in us all, we are not fighting against men, but against the things which we consider to be wrong according to God. And if our conscience can stand the sting of truth, we will all benefit from it.
Our enemy is not homosexuals, murderers, thieves, convicts, the democrats, republicans, conservatives, liberals, nationalists, atheists, communists, the KKK or Black Lives Matter, Muslims, or even Satan worshippers. Our enemy is the SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL behind all things that oppose our God. We can never be friendly with the sinner's sin, but the sinner themselves are our friends. We must hate error, we must abhor falsehood; but we must not hate men, because God's warfare is not against men, his war is against sin. "For God so loved the world " meaning every man that lives and breathes which was created in his image and he loves us all. Let's pray that God always helps us make that distinction.
Romans 12:21 says "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Paul said of the three goods: faith, hope and love, The greatest good is love.
Worship is more than a feeling it's a choice- You choose to worship, you may not feel like worshipping but you choose to because he is worthy To be worshiped whether we are in the mood to worship him or not. And in the same way, there are times we may not "feel" love or feel very loving. I may be unhappy, grouchy, or distracted with my own cares and concerns and my wife Kandy may not "feel" love toward me, but she chooses to love anyway. When she is moody and hormones are raging, I honestly don't feel the romance that we had when we were teenagers, but I choose to love her all the same. True love chooses to love even when the person is unlovable. Love is not just a feeling but a choice, and love is the root of worship. If Love wasn't more than a feeling how could we love our enemies? We could not.
The problem today is that we have a generation of children that think love is only a "feeling" and if they don't "feel" love constantly then they believe they are not loved. Remember the old song "hooked on a feeling" That's what's wrong with many people today. They are hooked on a feeling. People aren't addicted to drugs - they are addicted to the feeling they get from those drugs or the feeling they get from alcohol, or from sex, or from gluttony. This shows you how sensual and pleasure seeking our society is. We aren't surprised when we read in 2 Timothy that one of the characteristics of people in the last days is that "they will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God " They are eager to gratify their senses rather than their soul.
When we lift up our voices against sin we are justified. God wills it. There is no more noble cause than to fight in the war against sin. Moses prayed and Joshua fought! What good is prayer if we don't take action. Thats how we fight sin in this war - by hard blows and hard prayers. Telling the truth regardless if it wins you favor with your peers or not! Its for your benefit just as it is theirs.
Transition: Let's never forget that our enemy is not made of flesh and blood but the evil that is defined in God's word that tries to work itself in all of our lives. Finally...
III. In this spiritual war, lets not forget we need help
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 overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." -Exodus 17: 11-13
Joshua fights while Moses prays and Aaron and Hur assist but everyone of them share the victory. You may not be a preacher, but you are a teacher. I know of a man who called himself an atheist who avoided hells fire thanks to a little old woman who was his Sunday School teacher and after a near death experience he remembered her song "Jesus loves me" and he called upon the Lord and was delivered and now is a preacher himself. You may not be a teacher but a deacon. It was a faithful deacon that stammered his way through an awkward sermon when the pastor was sick on a cold winter morning, that led to the young Charles Spurgeon to Christ. You may think that just being a helper isn't that special but thanks to the help of Aaron and Hur victory was achieved! We ALL share in the victory
Moses held up his staff to encourage his warriors. Something to remind them who was on their side and what they were fighting for. But the longer he held it up the more tired his arms became. In this war, it makes no difference how emotionally or physically strong you are. The strongest men will still become tired after holding up any burden for a long period of time. Notice that Joshua's hands were never tired from fighting, But Moses' hands were tired from praying; The more spiritual any war is, the more likely we are to get tired in it.
Success rises and falls with Moses' hands. The church's purpose is only as effective as its faith and prayer. The Pastor will need your prayers. Sharing burdens and giving so much of yourself is a wearisome task. Who carries more than the Pastor? Over time he will become weary, and he must be humble enough to ask for help and there must not be a lack of people to give him the help he asks for. Aaron held up one arm and Hur held up the other and thanks to their help - by the end of the day, when the sun had set they were victorious.
God wanted to teach Moses and eventually his successor Joshua a lesson: that the prayer of one man did more for their victory than the many bloody hands Ever did in fierce combat. Everytime Moses hands fell down, the Amalekites would rally, and everytime Moses hands were lifted up Israel would prevail. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man does indeed avail much, he alone can do more with prayer than millions can do with all their knowledge, talents, abilities, ambition, and technology.
Moses, the man of God, is glad to get help. We can't be afraid to ask for help or give help to others whenever it is needed. Thanks to the help of his brother and brother in law The hands of Moses stayed lifted up, and they were steady till the sun went down.
It was a great encouragement to the people to see Joshua in the battlefield and Moses above them on the hill. Jesus is both to us; He is our Joshua, the Captain of our salvation, fighting our battles, and our Moses, constantly making intercession to the Father that our faith doesn't fail.
There is not one characteristic that the devil hates more in a Christian than faith-filled prayer. Praying saints literally change things all over the world, and the enemy knows it. Moses was determined to reach up to God in the midst of yet another war. The man or woman who habitually prays may very well suffer the fiercest and most brutal spiritual warfare that only he or she and others like themselves will ever know. However, they are the ones that are called "more than conquerors." It is the children of God, who are protected and provided for by God's mighty hands. Trying to defeat them is like trying to defeat the wind. It's futile. When we ask and call out to God, He not only delivers us time and again but blesses us after our deliverance.
King David wrote "You set a table before me in the presence of my enemies" The praying Christian will always have his enemies. He could never be like Jesus if he didn't. If we were without enemies we should be afraid that we're not friends of God, as Jesus said "beware when all men speak well of you" and as James tells us "friendship of the world is hostility to God." When you are favored by the Lord, you can be certain that you won't be by the world. You should picture a great feast being enjoyed on top of a mountain that your enemies can not climb, or a feast that is as delicious as it is luxurious being enjoyed inside an impenatrable glass banquet hall. God spreads out all good things before you and all your enemies can do is watch in harmless envy.
Conclusion: You may think that having a special relationship with God is only for other people. Perhaps you feel that loving God is not possible when he is not visible so it is a waste of time to invest love into one you can not see. If you can commit to praying to him as though he were literally right in front of you. I know you will notice a radical difference in your life.
Your relationship with God is not like the pastors, it is not like Moses, it not like your friends or your fellow church goers, or that one godly man that you know. Your relationship with God is like a snowflake. It is not only beautiful when it is closely examined, but it is incredibly complex and altogether unique. And the more you get to know him and follow him the more special and interesting your relationship with him becomes.
