Helping The Man Of God2

02/24/2008

HELPING THE MAN OF GOD!

Exodus 17: 8-13

            **This morning I want to address the subject of “Helping The Man of God by winning our wars with our Amaleks”!

            **We find an interesting statement in Exodus 13: 17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they SEE war, and return to Egypt!

            **Some times God does not allow a new Christian to see some of the battles early on in his or her life, because he or she may become discouraged or frightened and want to go back to their old way of living, even if it is in bondage to a cruel task master!

            **There are times when the Lord fights FOR us and there are other times when the Lord fights THROUGH us!

            **By preaching this message today, I hope to recruit many of you to participate in a ministry that will increase our effectiveness as a Church exponentially!

            **Someone once said that:

            **Leadership determines the Direction of the Church

            **Structure determines the Size of the Church

            **Relationships determine the Morale of the Church

            **Personnel determines the Potential of the Church

                                                But

            **Prayer determines the Effectiveness of the Church!

Why do we need to take our prayer ministry to another level as a Church?

There is:

I.       A WAR LEADERS WILL FACE!

            A.        The POWERS we face are STRONG!

            Exodus 17: 8 Then Amalek came and fought against Israel

            **In our text we are introduced to a group of people who descended from Esau through Eliphaz, (Genesis 36: 12, 16) and Esau was a person who lived for the things of the flesh instead of the things of the Spirit. As a matter of fact, he despised the things that God said were holy!

            **Amalek was a harsh ruler who seeks to gain authority over you through intimidation!

            **We find in our text a good example of the kind of WAR that Spiritual leaders will FACE and the POWERS that we face are STRONG!

            **We do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places! (Eph 6: 13)

            **Not only are the Powers that we face STRONG but:

            B.        The PLACES we fight are SIGNIFICANT!

            Exodus 17: 8 . . . at Rephidm!

            **Many times the enemy comes to attack us at a place where spiritual victories have been won. We are also attacked in places where God has done miraculous things in our lives.

            **Notice what happened at Rephidim in17: 5-6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go 6 Behold I will stand before you there on the Rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the Rock, and water will come out of it . . .

            **Not only are the Powers that we face Strong and the Places we fight Significant, but notice also that:

            C.        The PATTERNS we face are SIMILAR!

            Deut 25: 17 Remember what Amalek did to you along the   way when you came out from Egypt 18 how he met you           along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at             your rear

            **God told Moses to “remember” what Amalek did to him along the way. What is it that Amalek did to him and what kind of pattern do we need to be aware of today?

            **According to Deut 25: 17 Amalek met him along the way and attacked people who were straggling behind and he attacked them “FROM THE REAR”!

            **He still does the same thing to us today, he looks to see who is not really keeping in step with the rest of the Church. He picks out those who are straggling behind and sneaks up on them and attacks them from the backside!

            **Not only is there A War that Leaders Will Face, but:

There is:

II.      A WEAKNESS LEADERS WILL FEEL!

            **Did you realize that David and me actually experience seasons of weakness? What kinds of things causes us to experience seasons of weakness?

Sometimes:

            A.        The JOURNEY makes us WEAK!

            Deut 25: 18 he met you along the way . . . when you were    faint . . .

            **Notice what God reminded Moses of in Deut 25: 18, he met you along the way . . . when you were faint or weak!

            **Sometimes it is not just the journey that makes us weak, but:

            B.        The BATTLE makes us WEARY!

            Exodus 17: 12 But Moses hands were heavy . . .

            **In Exodus 17: 12 the Bible tells us that Moses hands were HEAVY . . . What was he doing that made his hands become so heavy?

            17: 9 Tomorrow I will position myself on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand . . . 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed!

            **Get up on the stage and hold the staff or rod up:

            **There are times when leaders get weak and weary “IN” the battle but not “OF” the battle.

            **Not only is there A War that Leaders Will Face and A Weakness that Leaders will Feel, but:

There are:

III.    WEAPONS LEADERS WILL FAVOR!

            **What kinds of weapons do Spiritual leaders prefer for fighting spiritual battles? Like Moses, I favor two kinds of weapons to Win The War With My Amaleks: First of all I prefer to have:

            A.        SOLDIERS who will FIGHT for you!

            Exodus 17: 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for     us and go out, fight against Amalek . . .

            B.        PARTNERS who will STAND with you!       

            Exodus 17: 10 and Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the    top of the hill

            Soldiers and Partners will:

            1)         SEE the NEED!

            Exodus 17: 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed and when he let his hand down,     Amalek prevailed!

            2)         SEIZE the MOMENT!

            Exodus 17: 12 But Moses hands were heavy! Then they        took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and     one on the other, Thus his hands were steady until the sun    set!

            3)         SHARE the VICTORY!

            1 Samuel 30: 24 . . . for as his share is who goes down to     the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the stuff; they        shall share alike!

______YES, I would like to become one of my Pastor’s SWORD and SHILED ministry. Please add my name to one of the four teams!

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