The Power of Prayer
The God Who Is... • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 9 viewsConflict, both internal and external, is inevitable. God as our Banner is glorified when we turn to him in prayer and he is faithful to rescue.
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Transcript
Summary:
Summary:
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
We’ve been on a journey discovering/rediscovering God’s names, in an effort to know God better, and discover his activity in our lives.
Names are a gateway to who you are
We bear many names because one name can’t capture the totality of who and what you are
We see that God reveals himself in new ways in the context of human problems.
Sickness- Jehova Rapha
Chaos- Jehova Shalom
When we are in need/Waiting- El Shaddai
This week we see in our Conflict he is Jehova Nissi- The Lord is our Banner
Banners are Physical Representation of who or what you are committed to
Banners are Physical Representation of who or what you are committed to
Story of “We”
We fly flags, we wear jerseys, we watch on the edge of our seat and cheer way too loud at the tv for our favorite teams.
True Fans
Bandwaggoners/Fair weather Fans
We find In chapter 17 that Israel is a bit of a bandwagon.
You see Israel was thirsty. They were in the desert and in need of water. You’ve heard of days of our lives [Soap Opera] it was like Days of our Exodus in Exodus 17
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
Israel had a problem, and like all problems when they get to the boiling point they create conflict.
Once a problem reaches the point of Conflict, the problem is no longer the problem? You know what I mean?
Things had gotten so bad that they were ready to stone Moses.
They were ready to kill him for manslaughter
[Write this down] The Problem isn’t the Problem
[Write this down] The Problem isn’t the Problem
It’s not the dishes
It’s not the dishes
[Marriage Story] How can being frustrated about the dishes turn into an hour long fight about how you and your wife are each the worst people on the planet? because it’s not about the dishes. It’s never the toothbrush. It’s never the shoes that you trip over.
Conflict Boils over when our situation lies to us.
Israel’s real problem was a question. A question they knew the answer to, but didn’t feel it in the present circumstances.
Exodus 17:7 (ESV)
And he called the name of the place Massah [Testing] and Meribah [Quarrelling], because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Conflict arises in relationships when we doubt the integrity of the other.
Problems are inevitable and if problems are inevitable…
1. Conflict is Inevitable
1. Conflict is Inevitable
6988 Life without conflict is impossible.
Oswald Chambers
There will always be another problem
just when you finish paying a bill, another one pops up
just when you replace your dishwasher all of a sudden your refrigerator stops running.
When it rains it pours.
This is exactly what happened to Israel.
Conflict is inevitable because problems are inevitable, but our response is optional.
Moses Remembered, and Responded Differently.
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Moses understood that there were two realities to their problem.
Two Dimensions of Amalek.
Amalek The Nation
Amalek Representation of Evil
The Banner of Amalek was Evil
The Banner of Amalek was Evil
There are two dimensions or two realities to every problem that you face
There are two dimensions or two realities to every problem that you face
God brings the Mountain and the Valley into perspective, but we struggle with making extremes of the two realities.
B. Action is not a substitute for prayer. [Mountain]
B. Action is not a substitute for prayer. [Mountain]
Don’t go out and get a relationship and assume God doesn’t care or want anything to do with it.
Israel wasn’t capable of winning this battle independent of Prayer. (V 11)
2. Prayer Has the Power to Change Our Situation
2. Prayer Has the Power to Change Our Situation
But even when our situation doesn’t seem to change on our timeline...
3. Prayer Has the Power to Change Us in Our Situation
3. Prayer Has the Power to Change Us in Our Situation
Action isn’t a substitute for prayer.
A. Prayer is not an excuse to avoid taking action [Valley]
A. Prayer is not an excuse to avoid taking action [Valley]
If you want a relationship but aren’t willing to get off your couch turn netflix off and get a job, you’re probably not going to be in a relationship anytime soon.
Never excuse responsibility in the name of God, but never make responsibility sufficient for all that God wants to do
Never excuse responsibility in the name of God, but never make responsibility sufficient for all that God wants to do
brings me to our third point.
Moses had a responsibility to prayer, but he wasn’t capable of praying the victory alone.
But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner,
A Banner isn’t just the Physical Representation of what you’re committed to, it is the Standard by which we measure our reality.
A Banner isn’t just the Physical Representation of what you’re committed to, it is the Standard by which we measure our reality.
Inception Illustration
Jesus is the standard by which we measure our reality
Jesus is our Banner
Jesus is our Banner
Numbers has an interesting Story
Moses Staff Bronze Snake
5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”
9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
The true reality is: When look to Jesus as our Standard We Live
The true reality is: When look to Jesus as our Standard We Live
Jesus says when you look to me, I will be your victory.
Jesus is the solution for the reality of the valley and the mountain.
If Jesus is an idea or a means to an end but isn’t the standard for you life, then you are just a good woman or good man doing the best you can!
So when You face your Amalek, remember that Christ the Lord who is our Banner hasn’t just forgiven your sin, he is defeating evil once and for all.
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
Homiletic Thesis/Big Idea restated
Homiletic Thesis/Big Idea restated
The "Big Ask" - tell the congregation that you expect a response to the truth of the text.
The "Big Ask" - tell the congregation that you expect a response to the truth of the text.
