The Battle Belongs To The Lord
Exodus 17
We have some great lessons in this story that may be learned and applied to God's people today. If there has ever been a day when God's people are engaged in a deadly spiritual battle with the forces of darkness and the enemy of men's souls, today is that day. We do not guess what is the ultimate and primary objective of Satan in every age. Since the ultimate and primary objective of God is to spread the Good News of salvation to every creature, then it can be assumed that Satan's objec- tive is to defeat that plan. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (II Cor. 4:3-4)
Since His detailed plan for doing this is outlined in the Great Commission and He gave that Commission to His New Testament Churches in every age, we can assume Satan's grand strat- egy is to hinder and interfere with the only institution that has been commissioned to do this work of God on earth. It is clear that he has in the past, and continues to do so today, focused on hindering and destroying the ministry of any sound, solid, soul winning church. Just let a church begin to come alive spiritually and stand for the whole truth and then really get burdened for lost souls to the point they will go into the highways and byways with the soul saving gospel, and you can expect Satan to begin to cause trouble and disunity. Let them begin to take John 4:35, seriously, and you can be sure Satan will not sit idly by while the work of the gospel goes on. You can reasonably expect the battle to intensify. He has no reason to be concerned about the modernistic and apostate crowd. You can expect Satan will begin to infiltrate the people of God. He will find a way to stir up murmuring and whinging against those who are going out and out for the Lord.
It is all too often true that good and sincere people can be unwittingly enlisted into his cam- paign. I have heard of situations when those who had no interest or part in doing the hard yards in the building program, both physically and spiritually, being the first to jump on the band wagon when murmuring occurs. I think it is appropriate to state for the record that as someone who has spent thousands of hours in building here, both physically and spiritually, that I would fight to my last breath to protect the flock in this place. The investment of the lives and finances of hundreds of people are tied up in this light house of the gospel.
I can surely identify with Paul's emotional and heartfelt message to those pastors and the people involved in the churches at Ephesus when he said: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:28-30)
That Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth and is fully engaged in this warfare is evident for all to see. He is described as the adversary of the committed Christian. Peter warns that he goes about as an hungry old lion, crouching and hiding in ambush to pounce upon the unwary combat- ant. Paul speaks in clear and concise terms about the deadly nature of the combat involved. (Eph. 6:10-18)
There is a real concern about an obvious need for unity reflected in this story. When the people began to bad mouth the spiritual leader God has set over them, they were headed for trouble. God had a way of using those around them to sort them out. Even using ungodly nations and people to do so. This has always been the case and always will be the case. It remains a serious matter of concern today.
Just what is the unity Christ spoke of in John 17:17 and what is real Christian unity today?
To say the least, the unity to be sought today is based upon the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It is to be based upon all the faith as it was once delivered to the saints. It is to be based upon all parts of the Great Commission our Saviour gave as His marching orders to Scriptural New Testament Churches in every age.
It is certainly not the sort of unity sought by some. I read not too long ago about an interdenominational seminar on church unity and harmony. The one presenting it had been associated for eight years with a church that has had at least two major splits during those years. He had been associated with the Uniting denomination, the Anglican denomination and was at present associated with some so-called Baptist group. The question fairly arises: “Unity with whom based upon what?”
But let us get back to the original story. A story in which a unity of plan and purpose based upon the instructions of the Lord resulted in the winning of a great battle for the Lord. A battle that clearly belonged to the Lord. Here we have presented the importance of real spiritual unity in the Lord and for His cause. In the end, we have vividly presented a portrait of a perfectly unified effort. How each individual involved functioned in his proper place as a part of a God-ordained, God-directed and God-blessed effort.
We have Moses stepping up boldly to accept the awesome responsibilities entailed in real spiritual leadership. We have the two men that God placed on either side of him functioning in absolute harmony with God's plan and God’s man. It seems neither was concerned about leadership position or challenges. Here we have God's divinely inspired illustration of two second men holding up the hands of the spiritual leader God has called and placed in position to lead this terrible battle.
Then we have the soldiers in the field. Fighting their hearts out - at Moses commands. Re- sponding to his leadership. Then, most importantly, we have the POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD! Do you think that God's POWER WOULD HAVE EFFECTIVELY BEEN BROUGHT TO BEAR TO WIN THE BATTLE WITHOUT ALL THE ELEMENTS IN THIS UNIFIED EFFORT FUNCTION- ING IN PROPER RELATIONSHIP TO HIS PLAN?
Paul in Chapter 12 of his first letter to the Corinthian Church urges such unity upon all the members of one of the Lord's local churches. God's plan is always the very best. Man tends to want to improve upon it. Improvise, expand, extrapolate, interpret and adapt God's perfect plan to his whims and fancies. Doing so is a great presumption. It is treading on very dangerous ground. Who are we mere mortals to improve or change God's great and perfect plan?
The Bible has something say about change for the sake of change: "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.' (Prov. 22:28 "Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:" (Prov. 23:10) Why this caution? We can be sure God is not pleased when the landmarks of His faith are shoved all over the landscape! This is why some have not been dis- pleased to be called Landmark Baptists. The importance of doing things exactly God's revealed way is made clear by the writer of the Hebrew letter: ". . . .Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Heb. 8:5)
But let us look at this Battle That Belonged To The Lord and try to identify the elements that could be helpful and useful to us today as we fight the good fight of faith.
BATTLES ARE WON WHEN PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY GET INVOLVED IN THE ON- GOING FRAY. Volunteer armies are always the best. (II Tim. 2:1-15) The draftee many times has a certain reservation and reticence about his service. No matter what might be said about the armed forces of Australia and America, it is conceded even by those who are critical of their involvement in certain conflicts that their armed forces have a level of efficiency and professionalism that far exceeds any non-volunteer army.
Many times God's men seem to spend their time trying to draft people into the service of God. It seems it is all too often bordering on the impossible to even persuade them to show up for roll call! I cast back in my mind to my days in basic training and shudder to think what might have been the outcome if anyone dared to defy the drill sergeant with the excuses given for dereliction of duty today. Can you imagine when a unit is getting ready to ship out for duty in Afghanistan a large part of the unit deciding to give it a miss?
I am sure God has His fill of noncombatants in His army, the local church. I'll use the old cliches' once more. "Like a mighty army moves the Church of God, brethren we are treading, where we've always trod." "Come weal come woe, our status is quo."
I mentioned not long ago the elderly couple surveyed in our church census many years ago who listed their status as: "retired Baptist." When I visited them later I found they literally meant what they said. They had pensioned themselves off early in the Lord's battle for the souls of men!
The need is great today for those who will volunteer to be active combatants in the Lord's army. It is said in an army many years ago a soldier became disoriented and disconnected from his fighting unit in the chaos and noise of battle. As he was going up and down the lines trying to find his outfit, he kept crying out the name of his unit. Eventually an officer yelled out, "Fall in any place. There is fighting all along the line.” The same is true spiritually in our battle today.
BATTLES ARE WON WHEN THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IS GIVEN FULL AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL. Moses is clearly a type of Christ. As the Founder and Head of His Church we are to follow His Marching Orders And Battle Plan. Battles are won when people are marching in unison and in step with the right music played by the right drummer. Trouble comes when some want to march to a different drummer. The drummer of this world. There is terrible confusion in the ranks when some are marching to Satan's tune of worldly living. There is a break- down of discipline when some become apathetic and unconcerned about the cause and commands of the Saviour. Trouble comes when there is mutiny and rebellion in the ranks and each one seems to want to do what is right in his own eyes; which is normally wrong in God's eyes.
BATTLES ARE WON WHEN FELLOW-LABORERS WALK AND WORK TOGETHER WITH CHRIST. Jesus Himself told us we are to be yoke fellows with Him as we walk in this world today. " Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30) Paul elaborates by telling us we not only have the duty and honour of being individual yoke fellows with Christ, but that we are to be a unified team as well. "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building." (I Cor. 3:9) If all are walking lock step with Christ then THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD! If all will recognize the glory and privilege of it and then accept the awesome responsibility of it, great battles can be won for Him today.
The need for all to be involved is clear. But this is not always the case. I remember many years ago the hard work that a group of volunteers did in constructed their own church building. Of course, everyone was very pleased and proud of the result. But there was one couple in the church that just never did seem to be able to show up for work days and as far as I know they did not dirty their hands at all during the project. I'll never forget them coming around with their visitors from out of town after all he work was completed, proudly showing them to building "we built.!"
It is not uncommon for pastors to discuss at conferences and meetings how those who seem to do the least and give the least have the most to say about how things should be done or how things are not done up to their standard!
BATTLES ARE WON WHEN THE HANDS OF GOD'S MAN ARE HELD UP AND THE MINISTRY SUPPORTED. This story is an illustration of the advice Jethro's gave his father-in-law a bit later. (Exodus 18:14) It is also a practical illustration of the rationale' for the setting aside of the first deacons (servants). (Acts 6)
When I served as founding Pastor and then Principal/Pastor of a 12 grade Christian School for 10 years ,I found the art of delegation is not an easy art to practice. In some of the training we had in our school system an analogy about monkeys was used to illustrate the art of delegation. Delegating was equated to giving a monkey to someone and hanging the monkey around ones neck. All sorts of things could happen to the monkey. It could die of starvation. It could be passed off to someone else. It could be brought back to you . I experienced all variations of the analogy as I was daily responsible for overseeing 12 to 15 people. But occasionally a monkey would be delivered to its proper destination well cared for. Mission accomplished. I can recall two assistant pastors in particular who served the Lord with me for a few years and who always carried out their helping tasks humbly and efficiently.
BATTLES ARE WON WHEN THE BURDEN'S OF SERVICE ARE LIGHTENED AND EQUALLY SHARED BY UNIFIED SERVICE. In the Lord's work, it is important that everyone does his share. There should be no slackers in the Lord's business. It seems that it is difficult for some to understand that when someone fails to lift his part of the load that weight may become nearly unbearable for some other faithful worker. It is sad but true that it has been often truly said, "If you want someone to do an important job successfully and completely, don't look for the person is doing nothing. But look for that person who is so busy that it would seem he could not possibly do anything else!"
An early Roman coin had the image of an ox with a yoke on one side and standing by and altar on the other. The slogan read: Ready for either, service or sacrifice.
BATTLES ARE WON WHEN THE LEADER FOLLOWS THE LORD.
It is clear in this example that Moses and his assistants are following the leadership of the Lord. The first obligation of spiritual leaders of our day is to also follow the instructions of the Lord and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He is to preach the Word above all else. I have never attended an pastoral ordination service that did not first focus upon:
“I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (II Tim. 4:1-5)
Thus saith the Lord is a first obligation of every prophet or preacher. He must square every- thing with the Word of God. If the sheep are going to follow the shepherd, it is important that he is headed in the right direction. Normally the sheep can trust the shepherd because he has an elevated position of outlook; especially as related to lambs. This should be true of under-shepherds as well.
Sometimes it is not in our natures to be followers. That is why some young preachers are equated with WASPS. They seem larger when they first hatch out than at any time thereafter. I have known of those who are relative novices in the ministry acting as if an older, battle scarred veteran of many spiritual frays has passed his use by date and just didn't measure up. I have known a few who viewed themselves as being called to be church policemen; to keep the pastor in his place and the people on the right track. One man I met actually told me he felt he had been called to keep pastors in line with the Word of God! I remember another lady who always seemed to take copious notes when I or a visiting minister preached. I was really pleased about this. I thought, "Here is a sister who is really interested in the Word of God." Later on, I found she took such notes to catch the preacher out on a scripture he may have misquoted or misinterpreted, in her opinion!
In this story we see two men and an army placing into practice the principle the writer of the Hebrew letter places so clearly and concisely: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you." (Heb. 13:17)
We also see a leader who is willing to give his all in the battle for the Lord. Who knew what the saying means: "If you are going to lead the orchestra, you must first turn you back upon the crowd."
There is a story about a young concert pianist who had the privilege of giving his first con- cert in a famous hall. His playing was professional and inspiring and, at the end, the crowd stood to its feet in enthusiastic applause. But after his bows, the pianist was seen looking anxiously off stage. It was later revealed that he was looking for a nod of approval from the mastreo, his teacher. Only then could he feel he had done a good job. In the end, the approval of our commander-in-chief will be the ultimate accolade for those who serve in His army,. If we desire to be on the winning side we must be willing to follow our Leader and His Battle Plan, the Word of God, even as the evening draws nigh and the battle is dangerous, long and hard..
