Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
"Intercession for Victory” Exodus 17:8-16
REVIEW
There is no instant spiritual maturity. There is no instant fix for a lifetime of wrong choices.
Regeneration occurs in moment. Our ultimate transformation will happen in the twinkling of an eye; but spiritual growth or maturity develops over a lifetime. We achieve physical health over a period of time with consistent diet and exercise. Spiritual health can only be achieved with consistent “diet” (word of God) and exercise (faith and obedience).
“Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
God prescribes the necessary elements related to spiritual life and vital relationship with Him.
Over the centuries these elements have not changed. They have been packaged differently over the years but ultimately the core activities related to spiritual growth have not changed. These elements or consistent activities are to spiritual health as diet and exercise are to physical health.
The major spiritual directives illustrated in the wilderness walk between deliverance and victorious occupation of the Promised Land parallel the lessons we need to learn in our walk between salvation and spiritual maturity.
I. God Provided Deliverance from Egypt 1-15
II. God prepared for the Development of trust 15-18
A. Bitter water made sweet by the “tree” (The Cross) 15:22-27
We must learn to apply the cross to life’s bitter “water”. Romans 8:12-17
Refuse to pursue our own life. Entrust our souls to a faithful Creator.
B. Hunger Satisfied by manna (The Word) 16
Deuteronomy 8:3 John 6:63
The manna that appeared fresh each morning represented our need for daily interaction with the words of God. James 1:19-25
Commit to regular interaction with the Word of God.
It is life.
It is growth.
It is the foundation of faith.
It keeps you from sin or sin will keep you from it.
It exposes and cleanses the heart.
It protects.
It defeats the enemy.
C. Thirst quenched by the water (The Spirit) 17:1-7
Just as water came out of a most unexpected place when struck by Moses, so God decrees that His living water would spring up in the human soul and become a river of refreshment to the soul and those around us. John 7:37-39
The Holy Spirit who took up where Jesus left off refreshes and energizes our life when we listen to God’s truth and believe it and act upon it. When we obey despite the absence of immediate results or promise of a better life here, the heart looks to Jesus as the author and perfector of our faith. When we put our trust in the presence and promise of God, the Holy Spirit encourages and empowers us. It is up to us to drink from His well or ours. It is our choice to allow the Spirit to control our life or do our own thing. Paul commanded the Ephesians not to allow alcohol to control one’s life but be enlightened, sobered, controlled by the Holy Spirit. Driven like the wind in a sail. Refreshed like a fresh mountain stream or artesian well. The power of running water is unstoppable. The need for water to live is unquestionable. Find your life in Him.
D. Victory over the enemy through intercession (prayer) 17:8-16
1. Satan does not want us to occupy his territory
The Amalekites were nomads who freely wandered all though the territory God promised to Israel. They probably figured an early strike would prevent Israeli occupation and their annihilation. Just as life dispenses bitter water, hunger, and thirst situations, life also involves periodic attacks by our enemy.
Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Satan is nomad who attacks at various levels of our life to prevent us from reclaiming the territory promise by God. If He can’t have your worship, he will do everything he can to hamper your walk.
He may attack directly through his army of fallen angels. Acts 5:3
He may attack indirectly through other people. Mark 8:33 Luke 22:3
He may attack us by manipulating the circumstances of life (prince of the power of the air).
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18
Ephesians clearly identifies the war. Eph 6:12
2. Persistent intercession enables decisive victory
a) Intercession is critical
Moses modeled a powerful principle pertaining to victory over the enemy. He demonstrated the power of intercession when under attack. This would not be the first time Moses would powerfully intercede for the people. Psalms 106:23
Daily embrace the cross of Christ.
Daily interact with the word of Christ. (Let the word of Christ richly indwell Col 3)
Daily drink from the refreshing water of the Spirit of Christ.
The early church grew because they devoted their lives (committed to adopt and practice these things as a life style) the apostles teaching, fellowship, worship and prayers of all kinds. Prayer reduced to its simplest form is conversation with God. Prayer is the conversation between a dependent child and his loving Father expressing his admiration and gratefulness and entreating help for himself and his world. You cannot live a life of faith and trust in God without conversation with God. Talking with God (prayer) and trusting God (faith) are two wings of an airplane. One cannot function without the other. Deeper relationship (connection) cannot be achieved without deeper relating (conversing). An overwhelming number of Bible passages reinforce this point. Every aspect of life inspires conversation with God; none more so than the attack of the enemy. God put a prayer book right in the middle of your Bible for a reason.
This book of prayers contains a whole arsenal of prayers related to fighting the enemy. Jesus urged His disciples to intercede for Him during His deepest struggle. How deep was Jesus’ struggle? Luke 22:39-46
The intercessors behind the battle sustain the fighters in the battle.
No conquest waged by those on the front lines succeeds without support from those behind the lines. The major weapon in the battle for victory over the world, the flesh or the devil is prayer BY us and prayer FOR us.
b) Intercession is the ministry of Jesus
One overpowering activity permeated the entire life and ministry of Jesus while on earth and continues even to this moment in heaven – PRAYER; conversation with His Father!
Luke 22:31-32. The longest recorded prayer of Jesus in John 17 centers on intercession for us.
It is his present ministry on our behalf as well. Hebrews 7:25 Romans 8:34
c) Intercession is every Christian’s responsibility.
Even though Jesus is the ultimate intercessor, every believer is to take up the cause.
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2
Although there are many, one passage forcefully leaves no wiggle room.
With all prayer and petition PRAY at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephesians 6: 18
Jesus said…" I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matt16:18
This passage on intercessory prayer follows a description of armor provided by God to do battle against the forces of Satan. I can’t help but wonder the whole purpose of the amour is for doing battle in prayer for all the saints.
d) Intercession is strenuous
Moses needed help form Aaron and Hur to continue intercession. Persistent intercession is not for amateurs or the faint-hearted. It is difficult to be an intercessor alone. Even Jesus requested help in His intercession. Heb 5:7
e) Intercession is effective
Joshua’s victory was directly linked to Moses’ intercession. How many victories in the lives of those around me are linked to my intercession for them? How many defeats are because I gave up too soon, got tired or failed to enlist help?
Paul was convinced of the power of intercessory prayer. Philippians 1:19
Paul called those in Timothy’s congregation to intercede for all men. 1Timothy 2:1-2
James urges anyone feeling weak to call for elders to intercede. Jam 5:15-16
He wanted us to know that such a person is not a perfect person. James 5:17-18
John urged us intercede for those struggling in their walk. 1 John 5:16
I am again humbled, challenged, shamed by my own lack of prayer. I am also encouraged, inspired, excited to purse the development of this practice. The principles of practice of prayer run all through the Bible. I feel this is a subject to explore through the summer.
CONCLUSION
Imbed in your mind the image of Moses, Aaron and Hur persisting in their intercession on the mountain while Joshua and his men gained decisive victory on the battlefield.
Visualize your own persistent intercession enabling victory in the life of someone you love.
There is another image related to intercessory prayer I want to suggest this morning.
It is an image described by John found in God’s throne room.
Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. He came and took [the scroll] out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne. When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:1-8
God keeps our tears in a bottle and our prayers in a bowl.
You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Psa 56:8
The point is that our prayers are never wasted.
Even though they may not be answered immediately or like we want, they are continually on God’s to do list.
God instructs us not to worry and invites us to let our requests be made known to Him and to cast all our care on Him because He cares for us.
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens (to intercede for us)—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Hebrews 4:14-16
At the foot of God’s throne is a bowl which holds the intercessory prayers of the saints awaiting fulfillment.
Seated on that awesome throne is an awesome God of grace who delights in the prayers of His people (they are a sweet fragrance) and will respond to our presence with mercy and He will grant grace to help us at the proper time.
Your prayers may be the source of victory for someone.
Your prayers are a sweet fragrance to God.
Your prayers are continually before God’s throne awaiting His action.
Deliverance, life, protection, healing, peace, victory over the attacks of the enemy and occupation of territory promised by God.
