(7) Battle With The Amalekites

1. The wilderness journey wasn’t just a place of teaching and testing; it was a place of revelation and impartation.

a. To reveal Jesus as the Bread of Life the Israelites were given manna which they gathered, prepared, and ate every day.

b. To reveal the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus the Israelites were given water from the Rock.

2. Whenever the LORD gives His people a promise, revelation, or impartation the enemy always attacks! (To discourage & destroy)

Exodus 17:8–16

I. The Israelites Were Attacked By The Amalekites At Rephidim

A. The Amalekites Were Descendants Of Esau (Jacob’s Brother) And Lived In The Desert

1. (Genesis 36:12, NIV) Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. ...

Just as Esau was godless and had no interest in serving the LORD, so were the Amalekites.

2. The main Amalekite territory was SW of the Dead Sea; the Amalekites traveled far to attack the Israelites.

The enemy often comes out of nowhere to attack those who have received Blessings and Revelations from Jesus!

3. The Amalekites were the first enemy kingdom to attack the Israelites after the Egyptians.

They tried to hinder the Israelites from fulfilling their God-given destiny.

4. The place of revelation and impartation became a battleground!

B. Rephidim Was The Last “Classroom” The LORD Took The Israelites To Before He Took Them To Mt. Sinai

1. At Rephidim the LORD not only gave the Israelites physical sustenance but spiritual revelation and impartation.

(1 Corinthians 10:3–4, NIV) They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Spiritually speaking the LORD was imparting His life into the Israelites. (They were drinking from the spiritual rock!)

The Lord wanted the Israelites to live in the power of His life!

2. The enemy wanted to destroy what God was doing; i.e. making the Israelites into a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”

C. The LORD Allowed The Israelites To Be Attacked To See If They Would Function In The Power Of His Life

1. You’ve got to hold on by faith to what Jesus gives you!

(Proverbs 4:13, NIV) Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

2. Receiving a revelation from Jesus doesn’t mean that you have experienced its power!

(John 8:31–32) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“know the truth” = ginosko (γινώσκω) to know by experience

Jesus wanted the Israelites to know the victory that His life gives! (Manna & Water)

3. Those who partake of Jesus must learn how to function in the power of His life!

To really know the power and reality of what Jesus gives you, you’ll have to hold on to it when tested.

II. The LORD Gave The Israelites The Plan For Victory

A. Prayer & Action

1. (Exodus 17:11–12) As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

2. Prayer and obedient action need to be yoked together for God’s work to be accomplished successfully.

Prayer paves the way and keeps the heavens open for successful physical activity in the earthly realm.

3. While we all gravitate towards those things which Jesus has gifted us, we are all to be involved in prayer!

While Joshua was a warrior he was also very involved in prayer.

He was constantly with Moses in the Tent of Meeting (Ex. 33:11) and went with Moses on top of Mt Sinai (Ex. 24:13)

B. The Ministries Of Prayer And Action: Their Similarities, Differences, & Goals

1. Prayer and Action have several similarities:

a. They both involve hard work.

b. They both involve physical activity.

c. They both require spiritual sensitivity.

2. The main difference between prayer and action is the sphere in which they operate.

a. Prayer operates in the heavenly realm (Spiritual)

b. Physical activity operates in the earthly realm

3. The goal of both prayer and action is the same: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”

4. Some Christians lean towards one or the other as did Mary and Martha:

a. Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–40)

b. The ministry of God’s Kingdom is never prayer or physical action; God’s Kingdom always involves both!

c. Jesus is the perfect example of how prayer and activity are to be blended together!

(Luke 5:15–16, NIV) Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

C. Why Was Their Praying So Effective?

1. Powerful Prayer

a. Powerful prayer is based on one thing; faith in the victory that Jesus accomplished on the cross!

b. Moses held the staff with both of his hands; symbolic of Jesus on the cross!

c. Moses had to keep the staff lifted up! Keep the victory of Jesus in the forefront; declare it!

2. Persevering Prayer

(Exodus 17:11–12, NIV) As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

3. Corporate Prayer

a. The LORD assembled a group of intercessors: Moses = Leadership / Aaron = Priesthood / Hur = Body of Believers

b. Moses, Aaron, and Hur were united by the cross!

c. They prayed in agreement: (Matthew 18:19, NIV) “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

4. Steadfast Prayer

(Exodus 17:12, NIV) ... his hands remained steady till sunset.

In Exodus 17:12 the Hebrew means “to remain in one place” which implies that Moses, Aaron, and Hur were faithful, unmovable, and uncompromising in prayer!

D. Sinkholes That Lessen The Effectiveness Of Effective Ministry

1. Pride

a. Those who pray are tempted to think that they are superior and more spiritual.

b. Those involved in the physical activity are tempted to think their hard work accomplished the victory.

c. Unfortunately, those who do the physical activity are usually given all the credit for the victory. Beware pride!

d. It seemed as though it was the efforts of Joshua and his army that the Amalekites were defeated that day.

(1) (Exodus 17:13, NIV) So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

(2) Those who pray are often overlooked when victory is achieved.

(3) Don't ever underestimate the importance of intercessors. You need intercessors as much as you need those who are proficient with the sword.

2. Doubt

a. If you don’t see the victory physically manifest it is easy to think that you prayers or actions are in vain or insignificant.

b. (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

3. Weariness

a. (Exodus 17:12, NIV) ... Moses’ hands grew tired, ...

b. Moses needed the help of others!

III. Those Who Hold On To What Jesus Has Given Them Will Always Be Given More!

A. The Israelites Held On To What The LORD Had Given Them Throughout The Battle Until Victory Was Won

1. The strategy of winning the victory in that particular situation.

a. Prayer

b. Actiion

B. The LORD Responded By Giving The Israelites More Revelation And Impartation!

1. (Exodus 17:15–16, NIV) Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Conclusion:

· While prayer was an important part of today’s message it wasn’t the focal point.

· The main message is: “Are you holding on to what Jesus has already given you?”