We All Are Going To Need Some Help
Psalm 130 Galatians 6:1-10 Text Exodus 17:8-16 July 15, 1995
How many of us here have discovered that life is full of opportunities in which we are going to need some help? Jesus faced this reality, one dark and lonely, evening as he prepared to go into the garden to pray the night in which he was betrayed. It is very significant that Jesus took the time to ask Peter, James and John to accompany him. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus began to be sorrowful and troubled, and then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
It would be great if two things could take possession of us. The first is to have the honesty and humility of Jesus to admit, I’m hurting and I need some help. The second is to have a few friends that we could go and tell it to and they would be willing just to listen. Jesus told the disciples on his last night, I no longer call you servants, instead I have called you friends.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. In our Scripture reading in Galatians again we are encouraged to bear each other’s burdens. Jesus put the ultimate price on the kind of relationships we should strive to have as Christians. He said, There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.
During World War 1, much of the fighting was done in trenches with each side separated by an area called "No Man’s Land" in between. This is where the dead and the dying would lay after making a charge at the other side. One soldier by the name of Jim, asked his officer, if he could go into no man’s land and bring in one of his friends who lay grievously wounded.
"You can go" said the officer, "but it’s not worth it. Your friend is probably killed and you will throw your own life away." But the man went. Somehow he managed to get to his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and bring him back to the trenches.
The two of them tumbled in together and lay in the trench bottom. The officer looked very tenderly on the would be rescuer who was now also bleeding and then he said, "I told you it would not be worth it. Your friend is dead, and now you are mortally wounded." It was worth it though sir, Jim said. "How do you mean it was worth it. Your friend is dead. "Yes he is, the soldier answered, but it was worth it, because when I got to him, he was still alive, and he said to me, "Jim, I knew you’d come."
That’s the kind of friend Jesus will be. He will come when we need Him, because He’s already paid the cost to love us. That’s the kind of friend Jesus wants us to be to each other in the face of our trials and difficulties. He wants us to come to the aid of others even when it means its going to cost us something. Is there someone that we know we can depend on when things get rough? Better still is there someone who know they can depend on us when things get rough for them.
Moses was a man that faced many struggles in his life, and often times he did not have anyone to talk to about it. For those of you in leadership positions in the church, on your job, or as a parent, you know that being on the top can often times be a lonely place. But God has a way of sending a friend at the time one is needed the most. Often times before the friend arrives, God sends the Holy Spirit to be the comforter in our lives.
One of the early challenges in Moses’s role as leader of God’s people from Egypt, came soon after the parting of the Red Sea. The story is found in Exodus chapter 17 verses 8-15.
It is estimated that there were around 2 million people under Moses leadership. He felt a strong sense of responsibility for each of them. One mark of a good leader is that he or she hurts, when those entrusted to him or her hurt.
With such a large number of people, there were stragglers in the rear who just could not keep up with the others. We are told in Deuteronomy that while Moses and the Israelites were weary and worn out, the Amalekites attacked and killed the Israelites who were lagging behind. Word comes to Moses of those who in the rear had been slaughtered. No doubt Moses felt that he was somewhat responsible since he had asked them to leave Egypt and follow him to the promised land.
There are points in our lives in which we make the same mistake as Moses did. Have you ever blamed yourself for something that went wrong in the life of another person? Sometimes we may have been responsible, but many times we are not. Often times things that go wrong for others are things that we have no control over, yet we somehow feel responsible.
If only I had of done such and such, perhaps this would not have happened. We can all think of one thing in our lives in which we feel this way. My friends, we can only do the will of God, in one place at one time. And that’s all that God asks of each of us. We have not been called to save the world. The reality is, we can not even save our own family. We’ve been called to enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, in which we will say, "yes, Lord, today I will do your will for my life." That’s the best way to make a difference in the right direction for those around us.
Now Moses could have gotten his sword, and went to stand in the rear with the stragglers so as to protect them. He could have been their personal defender. But if He did He would not be doing the job that God called him to do. So often we get caught up in meeting some immediate need that we forget, God has called us to something more. He does not call us to do it all. That’s why we are to be friends in the kingdom of God.
Sometimes we convince ourselves that our presence is more critical than it truly is and we end up taking on huge responsibilities for others and push ourselves to the breaking point. We are unwilling to give up our role is protector and defender, because we feel, If I don’t do it, it won’t get done, or it won’t get done right, or the whole thing is going to fall to pieces. Tell the person next to you, "if you die today, the problem will still go on."
My friends, what’s going to happen if Jesus calls us home. This world is not going to even stop, to take notice of our funeral. When we are the only one capable of doing a task, then we are missing the will of God for our lives. God always expects us, to be investing in someone else, to carry on what He called us to start so that we can be free to move on to the next task that He has for us. God does not seek to put us in traps t o keep our lives miserable.
Look at verse 8 in Exodus 17:8-15 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." I want you to notice, that Moses realized that even though God was at work in his life, he needed someone’s help to solve this problem with the Amalekites. He was strong enough and humble enough to recognize this.
God’s word tells us that we are in spiritual warfare. We forget that Satan is out to destroy us. Your marital problems aren’t due solely to you and your husband. Have you ever had some little disagreement about nothing turns into a major fiasco in your marriage? Why do you think a minor problem with your kids turns into a huge fight? It’s because spiritual forces are determined to destroy our relationships and keep us from receiving the life that God had in mind for us. We can’t fight Satan except through submitting ourselves quickly to the will of God and putting us in line to receive help from above. The work is too great for us to do it alone.
Every problem that exists within the church is continually fed by the forces of darkness. Now we cause the problems ourselves, but once it gets going, Satan simply adds fuel to the fire. We are going to become a great church as we begin to discern, what’s of God and what’s of the enemy hindering our paths. That means we need the help of the Holy Spirit.
When Moses saw a problem, look what he did. He said to Joshua, choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with staff of God in my hand."
Moses is saying "this is something we all have to get involved in order to win. It’s going to take some soldiers in the battlefield, and it’s going to require some time with God on the top of the hill. Moses also had to be willing to let Joshua be the leader of the army, without be worried about some of the people thinking Joshua might be a better leader than Moses.
This is the first mention of Joshua in the Scriptures, and Moses does not know it at this time, but this young man is one day going to be chosen by God to take over where Moses left off. Train those behind you well, one day your life’s work may depend on it.
Now let’s just suppose Joshua had the attitude, "Why don’t Moses get out there and fight like the rest of us. Why should I risk my life, when He’s going to be up on the top of the hill safe from the battle." The important things about friends is that they realize the need to work together, in order to reach a common goal.
Two men were riding a bicycle built for two when they came to a big steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to complete what proved to be a very stiff climb. When they got to the top the man in front turned to the other and said, "Boy, that sure was a hard climb." The fellow in back replied, "Yes, and if I hadn’t kept the brakes on all the way, we would certainly have rolled down backwards."
The body of Christ needs to work together. We are in spiritual warfare and everyone has a part to play in it. Our single reason for existence is to be the body of Christ to each other and to be a light for Christ in the world. When was the last time you made a new friend within the church? When was the last time you tried?
You know the greatest instruments you are given to guide you in being an effective minister and friend in the building this church are your church bulletins and the newsletter, the New Life Times. They tells you exactly what the needs of this church are. It gives you names of people you can call to wish a happy birthday. Some people get no calls, no gifts, no nothings. Friends do things like that. It tells you how many people are drifting away. It tells you how much more we love things, than we do God in our giving. It tells you what we need prayer for.
We all know that any army whose soldiers fail to show up for duty is going to be in trouble. We are an army here at Glenville. But many of our soldiers are missing and out of action. Some of us have signed up for things, and never do them. When you don’t show up for the Nursery, that means someone else who may have needed to have heard the message preached has to take your place.
If you are a guest caller and you don’t call, you’ve let down the church. If you don’t show up your night as a Pioneer teacher, or youth worship teacher, you’ve let down the church. If you skip out when you are to be an usher, you’ve let down the church. We don’t need names on the paper, we need people taking their ministry serious for God. You are not being a friend if you’re not sharing the load.
If Joshua’s army had come together in the way that the army of Glenville comes together, would they have been victorious in their battle with the Amalekites? If each saint in here served the church in the way that you do, would they church be better or worse off. Thank God for each of you that’s responding to the call of God in your life to go ahead and move forward.
Joshua responded to the call of God for his life. In verse 10 it says {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."
Now I want you to notice how this partnership of obeying God worked. When Moses did what he was suppose to and Joshua did what he was supposed to they were victorious. Now Joshua could have fought his heart out in battle with his men, but if Moses did not keep up his hands toward God, their fighting would have been in vain.
They would not have won the battle, because Amalek was more powerful than they were. Moses could have held his hands up like a champion, but if Joshua and his men had decided not to show up, there would not have been any victory.
We cannot take Glenville or the city of Cleveland or even Helena Avenue without the power and strength of God, and the willingness and availability of the people of God to be used by God.
If we each gave 15 minutes a day to use our bulletin or newsletter for prayer or for calling and encouraging one another, friendships would develop that would make us into a mighty army for the Lord. It’s one thing for us a pastors to be in prayer with God lifting up our hands, but we need people down on the battlefield making a difference.
Joshua’s part was every much as critical as Moses’s. I want you to also notice that Moses did not go up there on the hilltop to be seen. He took Aaron and Hur up on the hilltop with him. "Now I know somebody complained, why are they going up there with him. We need them out on the battlefield." The problem with this attitude is the failure to realize that every part of ministry is part of the battlefield. The Bible says, whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses was smart in taking a couple of others with him, because the battle was much more fierce and demanding than he thought it would be. Moses was going to need some help in doing what God was telling him to do. Look at verse 12. " When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.
Thank God for friends that can see when we need some help. Notice they did not tell Moses, aw just give it up. They tried to make it more comfortable for him to complete the will of God for his life at that moment.
We appreciate it when people tell us, you all are working too hard and need to slow down. But our hearts leap for joy when someone says, "you know I think I can help you out in this area so that you can get some rest." Not only do we need to hear that as pastors, but your brothers and sisters who are working hard in the church need for you to say the same thing. People in your home need to hear you say the same thing. Honey I can help you do that. Mom, I can take over that job. That’s what a friend does.
Aaron and Hur didn’t just stop there. When they saw that making him comfortable was not enough, the Scriptures says "Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. It’s great that Moses did not say," oh that’s all right I can handle it."
My friends when the load gets to heavy, be a friend. When the load gets to heavy, let others be a friend to you. Together the three were able to accomplish something that none of them could have done alone. They remembered that they were all working for the same end. To defeat Amalek. Because of their willingness to work together we have verse {13} " So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. "
Now Moses is the one God used to write this book in the Bible. Now we just saw how it said that Aaron, Hur, Moses kept the power flowing by holding up Moses arms together. Yet Moses is able to write, Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Do you see how humility and meekness is more concerned with getting the job done, than it is who gets the credit. Moses is not afraid that the people will think that Joshua had a bigger part to play in the battle than he did. Even if he did, so what. Is it not God who gives gifts, talents, and power as He chooses? Do we not recognize that when the kingdom of God advances in one area, all of the kingdom of God has moved forward?
Friends are not jealous of each other. We are all going to need help at some point. Should it not come from those whom we have built up through words of encouragement. Not only are hard times going to come, for most of us hard times are already here. I encourage us to be friends to one another, and to let others be our friends.
Jesus said, You are my friends, if you do what I command. We can only call Jesus friend, if we first know Him as our Lord. We can only know Him as Lord, if we have surrendered our lives to Him, and asked him to be ruler of the decisions that we make. I remind you again, we are going to need some help. I invite you to join in with the greatest friend the world has ever known.
