SERMON
BY BRO. SETH A. ARYEE
LOCAL PREACHER, BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH, DZORWULU, ACCRA-GHANA
THEME: OVERCOMING THE AMALEKITES IN OUR LIVES
EXODUS 17:8-13
TEXT: “THEN CAME AMALEK, AND FOUGHT WITH ISRAEL" - EXODUS 17:8
This morning, I want us to ask ourselves some simple questions. Is Ghana a nation after God’s heart? Are we actually children of God? Are we daughters and sons of God? Are we heirs and joint-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of God? Do we really feel deep down our hearts that we will be counted among the number in Heaven when the saints go matching in?
If we are truly "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9) then we should at all times have Christ as our Banner
Many committed Christians who have really tasted the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living will testify profusely that the Christian life, although unique, is not a bed of roses
The moment you surrender your entire life to God is the time for Satan to buffet you with ill health, failing finances, loss of job, and marital problems. Satan knows that “For whatever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). The purpose of Satan is, therefore, to draw us from faith in the Lord
In spite of all these failings, Our God is not unaware of our physical and spiritual disabilities for which He is there to support us. We are in a world in which we are constantly fighting spiritual battles: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12)
This situation should be frightening. A fight in the spirit? Then we need spiritual eyes. Do we have them? Even in our dreams we are not able to see beyond our human powers to allow the good things we dream of come to reality or to cause the negative things we dream of not to come to reality. How then do we fight to be victorious?
But “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)
The Israelites experienced a similar situation after the Lord had delivered them from the 400 years bondage in the hands of Pharaoh and Egypt
During Israel sojourn from Egypt to the Promised Land - the land flowing with milk and honey - they had their very first battle encounter with the Amalekites. Amalek was the grandson of Esua (Genesis 36:12) who hated Jacob because of the birthright and blessing and this battle was an effort of the hereditary enmity
Esau was a man who preferred the physical to the spiritual. We are told in Hebrews 12:16 that he was a profane and an irreligious individual who cared not for God neither the things of God. By this act, he lost the blessings that were due him, and in return, this is what he received: "By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother, and it shall come to pass when you become restless, that you shall break his yoke from your neck" (Genesis 27:40)
Esau hated his brother and swore in his heart to kill him so as to break the yoke from off his neck. Amalek was, therefore, an old enemy whom Israel had robbed of blessing
The Israelites had been delivered from the attack of the Egyptians at the Red Sea. When they entered into the wilderness, they had miraculously been provided with water - to quench their thirst and to give to their flocks to drink; those who had not bathed washed their bodies and the women washed their clothes. What a great joy! The signs were there to show them that the Promised Land was for them for the taking
Moreover, they were fed with manna in the wilderness. For a second time, the Israelites were given water when Moses cast a tree into the bitter waters to make it drinkable. Amalek and his men owned that piece of land and had no source of water for many years
So when Israelites began to receive their divine blessing in that same land, the Amalekites moved in to resist them; they attacked Israel without notice. They did not see why the Israelites should prosper in the land. The shouts of joy suddenly turned into screams and fearful cries
Moses was alarmed. Amalek had already slained a few of the Israelites from behind. Moses immediately appointed Joshua as Commander-in-chief and commanded him to mobilise some men, though unskilled in warfare, to resist the attack. Meanwhile, Moses went up to the mountain top with Aaron and Hur
Here, Moses raised up his hands to heaven and invoked divine intervention because here was Israel without any preparation for war in terms of training and arms against the might of the Amalekites
When you come to the point where you are helpless, it is time for you to lift up your eyes to the hills and ask for help (Psalm 121:1). It is time to raise up your hands, not in surrender to the problem, but in calling upon the Name of the Almighty God to come to the rescue. The Lord assures us thus: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Empirical studies have taught us that the basic instinct of man is survival. Immediately Israel was attacked, they realised that they had to survive the onslaught. They were determined to survive. One of the first steps to spiritual victory is determination. But "no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17)
Yet we have more effective and sophisticated weapons because all power from heaven is at our disposal by virtue of our position in Christ Jesus. "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37)
Moses recalled what the Lord did for Israel at the Red Sea when Pharaoh and Egypt pursued them: "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:13,14)
When Moses realised that this new confrontation was beyond his natural strength, he turned to the Lord for deliverance. To the top of the mountain he went with the rod in his hands.
The rod symbolised the Cross of Christ: "when I am lifted up, I shall draw all men to Myself". The preaching of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved, it is the power of God. See the Cross and live. When Moses help up his hand, the power of God made Israel to triumph in the battlefield; and when the hand came down because of tiredness, the tide turned in favour of the Amalekites
The rod was the anchor and sign of victory. This was the same rod which Moses had used at the Red Sea encounter. This was not the time for God to forsake His own people. When Moses hand had become heavy, they took a huge stone and put it under him to sit on whilst Aaron and Hur held up his hands steadily till the evening. In order to teach the lesson of the power of prayer, God made the fortunes of the fight to vary according to the motion of Moses’ hands. Victory was entirely regulated by what went on at the top of the hill
Your victory over ill health, financial problems, business failings, broken marriages, etc. will principally depend on how you go down on your knees to seek the intervention of God in the your affairs; for "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16b)
The good generalship of Joshua - first mentioned here -was entirely useless aside from the uplifted arms of Moses, which indicated the recognition of God’s part in the conflict. In this miraculous victory, the power of intercession is symbolised. Israel’s defeat of Amalek illustrates the feebleness of a fighting arm against the praying hand. When God is on your side, you are "more than a conqueror" (Romans 8:37). And "If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
This was a spiritual warfare and it typifies what you and I go through in life daily. But Israel prevailed over Amalek and Moses erected an altar and named it JEHOVAH-NISSI, meaning "THE LORD IS MY BANNER" because the Lord had sworn to war with Amalek from generation to generation
We should see God as our Banner and trust Him to fight our battles for us. A banner is a flag usually carried on two poles, bearing the slogans or principles of the group concerned. It always goes before a procession and anybody who sees the banner immediately knows who the members of the group are. The Lord is Our Banner who goes before us with the inscription KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS boldly written on His chest (Revelations 19:16)
He moves ahead and fights for us. This is what He did for the Israelites when they encountered their first battle with Amalek. From then on, He kept fighting for them from victory to victory. He is the same JEHOVAH-NISSI and will be our Banner too
Balaam had prophesied of Amalek in Numbers 24:20: "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever"
God has not changed since the Old Testament days: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8)
Saul was requested by God to annihilate the entire nation of Amalek. But Saul was disobedient and he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and spared the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good. He lost his kingship as a result (1 Samuel 15). When we are to be victorious, God demands of us obedience to His Word "If you be willing and obedient,ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah 1:19,20)
In Esther, we find also another descendant of Esau - Haman, an Amalekite. The king took a fancy to him and made him his favourite, his confidant, his prime minister of state. But Mordecai refused to bow to Haman - a kind of prostration which implies the highest degree of reverence that can be paid to God or man, lying down flat on the earth, with the hands and feet extended, and the mouth in the dust.
We do not have to bow to our enemies whatever the circumstances. God is able to keep us safe "I remember that which Amalek did to Israel --- and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" (1 Samuel 15: 2,3). Haman sought revenge and thus to eliminate all Israel. He sought the king’s permission to do just that. But God intervened through Queen Esther and Israel was saved
God is on the throne and no matter how things appear, it is His purposes that eventually hold sway. Let me be absolutely frank with you. We are in a storm. The people of God are being subjected to extreme pressure not only from Satan but also from an increasingly hostile world. If we are to keep our sanity in a world that is seemingly going mad then we must have some concrete convictions to guide us
We see clearly why Mordecai and Esther were in the royal city of Susa, and not in Jerusalem, the capital of their own land, where the walls still lay in ruins and the comparatively small numbers of Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon were dispirited. There they could have served a useful purpose, but they became part of a greater and wiser plan - to save the Jews from extinction in Persia
Remember, the next time your personal plans are overturned - God allows our own plans to be broken so that we, with Him, can build bigger and better ones
When unregenerate people who carry within them a hatred of God meet those whom God has marked out for a special purpose, they often transfer the feelings of hatred they have towards God to the people who represent Him
In his position as second-in-command to the king, Haman received from the community a good deal of respect and obedience. Wherever he appeared in public, people would bow before him, but there was one man who refused to this - Mordecai
As a Jew, he would bow to no one but Jehovah. He refused to listen to the voice of expediency, believing it right to honour God no matter what the consequences. Expediency can quickly ensnare the soul; it says: "When in Rome do as the Romans do". If there is ever a clash between principle and policy stick to your principles
Haman planned to annihilate the Jews but he was exposed by Queen Esther to King Xerxes. The king was so angry at this discovery that he went out into the garden to reflect on the situation. While he is there, Haman throws himself at Queen Esther’s feet in order to plead for his life. Esther was reclining on the couch, and when the king returned and saw Haman crouching at her feet he assumed that he was attempting to seduce his wife and ordered his immediate death
Who can feel sorry that Haman had the table turned on him? He died that day on the very gallows that he had constructed for Mordecai. "Whosoever diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him" (Proverbs 26:27).
Elijah came under spiritual warfare. Jezebel, in a fit of rage unleashed a flood of witchcraft and demonic power against Elijah that put fear in his heart. Elijah ran. The spirit of Jezebel overwhelmed this great man of God who fell prey to fear and discouragement
When you war against the principality of Jezebel, even though you stand against her lusts and witchcraft, you must guard against the powerful demons of fear and discouragement; for she will send these against you to distract you from your warfare and your victory!
So if Elijah is coming before Jesus’ return, so also is Jezebel. Indeed, do you not see her in our land in the abundance of witchcraft and harlotries? Do you not hear her brazen voice rejecting God’s authority and exalting her rebellion in feminism? Have you not beheld her causing even God’s anointed to commit acts of immorality? (Revelation 2:20)
See how God destroyed Jezebel. We read this in 2 Kings 9:22-33. There was something in Jehu’s spirit that we must possess today in our war against Jezebel. While we must be compassionate toward those captured by Jezebel, Jehu had no mercy, no hope for reform, no compromise or sympathy whatsoever toward this demonic spirit! Jehu "trampled her under foot". So also with us, we must have no tolerance whatsoever for this spirit! There can be no peace, "no relaxing under our ’fig tree’", until Jezebel is slain!
Some of you have been made eunuchs: slaves to this evil spirit. The eunuchs cast Jezebel down. Today, right now, God is giving you the privilege of participating in the eternal judgement against Jezebel. You cast her down!
Under the power of the Holy Spirit, let us arise in the indignation of Jehu and cast Jezebel down! Having been washed in the Precious Blood and having been cleansed from any defilement of sin, we shatter and plunder the stronghold of Jezebel
The challenges of life come for various reasons and times. That’s why you need the touch and edification of the Lord
This morning, if there’s nothing to ask say: "Lord, touch me, lift me up, feed me, because Jezebel is after me"
To face Jezebel’s challenge, you need the touch of the Lord, the lifting up of the Lord, and the strengthening from the Lord. As God touches you, lifts you up, and feeds you, you will have a new direction and focus in your running. You begin to run closer to God
May be the enemy came against your finances, marriage, some aspect of your life and you do not know why. Today, God’s strength is coming to you. You can determine how long you stay in the valley. You can be in the valley today, and you will come out of it tomorrow. You can also decide to stay there forever. The decision is yours
If you allow God to touch you, you come up quickly from it. If you allow God to lift you with His glory, His presence will be with you. If you allow God’s word to feed you, you will be strong enough to run towards God’s mountain where He will speak to you
When jezebel speaks against you, you need another voice to speak to you - the voice of God - to draw nearer the mountain of God so that you will rise up and face Jezebel’s challenge
This morning, some of us may have had the threat of Jezebel facing us. Jezebel may be physical human being, some may be circumstances - you feel lonely, tired (you have been fighting and fighting and are tired), when people encouraged you, you lose hope because you have given up
As you hold on something, for so long, your hands become weak. Then what is important is that you are no longer able to hold on but plan how to fall. Some of you are in the valley; you begin to destroy your life because at that time, nothing is important; life has no meaning to you
If Jezebel has come into your life to challenge you:
° You need the touch of God this morning
° You need the lifting up of God this morning
° You need the strengthening of the Lord this morning
Let this thought enter your soul right now, and carry it with you through the rest of your days on earth - God may permit the devil to push us right to the edge of disaster, but He will not allow him to push us over. The three Hebrew boys – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – were delivered from the fiery furnace. Daniel was delivered from the lions’ den
When we are linked to God and His purposes then we may have some very frightening moments, but these ought only to intensify our intercessions and deepen our trust. In the Christ-linked life everything that happens works towards divine ends. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)
Amalek is the representative of the Devil to wipe out Israel and destroy the seed of David - The Messiah. Amalek is still confronting the Sons of God today: "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted (1 Corinthians 10:6)
When the devil raises up his flag, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a BANNER. So go and fight the good fight of faith. Are you persuaded that you have a God who is going to see you through? Remember that Amalek is still alive. The spirit of Amalek is still battling your marriage; seducing you, and making life more difficult for you because you are a seed of David
David said to Goliath: "I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel---" (1 Samuel 17:45). Whatever battle you are in, remember that the Lord will fight for you
Who is going to tell me that the Father is going to deny His sons? “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). This assurance is further accentuated in 2 Kings 6:16 “Fear not, forthey that be with us are more than they that be with them”
But how can we overcome the Devil and his representatives in this spiritual battle? How do we defeat the Amalekites in our lives? When do we find victory in all our endeavours?
Are we weak and heavy laden? Are we cumbered with a load of care? Have we trials and temptations? Do your friends despise, forsake you? I dare to say that it is prayer and supplication with thanksgiving! Take it to the Lord in prayer. (Reference to the Methodist Hymn Book No. 538)
The power of the victorious Christian is in the knees and lifting up holy hands. Be a kneeler and become a winner! That is our power, our weapon, our strength and our only sure way to victory. For, the prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian
The enemy will use people to bring up your past. Leave them to rake the past and move forward. Remind them that the old has passed away; now you are in a new dispensation with Christ in the vessel. The past is no longer with you; it is in the grave - it is down there! You don’t carry it any longer. As a child of God you have a right to all of God’s Covenant with Abraham: "For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ’Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you"’ (Hebrews 6:13,14).
Again, "The Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be liked a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not" (Isaiah 58:11)
When you pray, your past wastelands shall be turned into fruitful land. Somehow, there is a hand behind us taking us to places. The doors that have been opened to us; the difficulties we have overcome; the sicknesses we have been healed of. Yes, the Lord God Almighty is in control. The devil thought he has destroyed us. When he raises up his flag, the Lord raises His Banner
God and God alone desires our praises. In the spirit, people want to destroy your life. But God takes you from the trap door. Say: "Thank You Lord". Some of you have been in a bad relationship, but God lifted you up. There is one person who loves you more than anybody - to take you through the valley, a shoulder to lean on
"Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice ---" (Joel 2:21). It is time to get your joy back. Before you experience the promotion, be glad and rejoice. No matter how tight you are, be glad and rejoice because the Lord will do great things. It is my joy and gladness that will make God open doors for me
In Habakkuk 3:17, 18, we read: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation"
When plans of God come to pass in your life, tell them - those who said it will never happen - what God has done for you: "And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it" (Jeremiah 33:9)
The devil cannot conquer my joy; he fears the voice of joy and the voice of gladness; that is the reason why he tries to prevent and discourage you. God is saying something like this: "I am ready to bless those who are going to arise above their circumstances and be glad and joyful". If you continue to rejoice and be glad, God will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first (Jeremiah 33:11)
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25)
There has been a missing voice in our prayer life. When we pray and rejoice, the anointing comes. God is telling you: "If someone steals from you what I gave to you, come back and I will give you more and better things". The Israelites did not need weapons; it was only a rod in the hands of Moses
This morning if there is nothing to ask, say: "Lord touch me, lift me up and strengthen me because Amalek is after me". As God touches you, lifts you up, and strengthens you, you will have a new direction and focus in life
RISE ON THE WINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
MOUNT UP WITH NEW WINGS
WHEN PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS IS THE END, ANNOUNCE TO THEM THAT YOU HAVE JUST STARTED
COME OUT OF THE BOX OF PEOPLE’S OPINIONS FOR RECONCILIATION, RECOVERY, REDEMPTION, RESURRECTION, REVIVAL, AND RENEWAL WITH AND IN THE LORD
MAY YOUR BUSINESS BE RESURRECTED
MAY YOUR MARRIAGE BE RENEWED
MAY YOU OVERCOME ALL YOUR PROBLEMS
MAY YOU FACE THE WIND OF CHANGE
MAY YOU BE SUCCESSFUL IN ALL YOUR ENDEAVOURS, AND
MAY YOU BE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR
AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD SHALL SAY:AMEN & AMEN - LET IT BE
BENEDICTION
FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT; IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE, AND IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS
NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US, UNTO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS THROUGHOUT ALL AGES, WORLD WITHOUT END
THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU
THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE
