05
May '20
How to Win When You’re Losing
05
May '20
Text: Exodus 17:8-13
“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”
Introduction: Have you ever thought or said, “I can’t WIN for LOSING? ….. IRS for example? Did you hear about the man that told his wife to cremate him when he died… to take his ashes, send them in an envelope to the IRS, and write, “NOW you’ve got EVERYTHING!” How can we WIN when we’re LOSING? Moses had a breakthrough with (3 steps):
1. We all go through BATTLES! (Exo 17:8)
“Then came Amalek”
Amalek were descendants of Esau (his grandson) and archenemies of Jacob and the Jews. Throughout Scripture, their hatred is demonstrated, i.e. (Agag, Haman, Herod – modern day Palestinians).
“Then came Amalek”
Amalek were descendants of Esau (his grandson) and archenemies of Jacob and the Jews. Throughout Scripture, their hatred is demonstrated, i.e. (Agag, Haman, Herod – modern day Palestinians).
- Battles of bad attitude
- Battles of the flesh
2. RECOGNIZE that we all go through BATTLES we seem to be LOSING! (Exo 17:9)
“Moses said, Choose us out some men, and go out, and fight with Amalek…. tomorrow I will stand on the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.”
- Problem of having the RIGHT People
- Problem of being in the RIGHT Place
- Problem of being the RIGHT Time
3. REJOICE because if someone will hold up our HANDS (prayer line), we can WIN! (Exo 17:10-13)
“When Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed…. Moses hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him… and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands… until the going down of the sun… and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the edge of the sword.”
“When Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed…. Moses hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him… and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands… until the going down of the sun… and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the edge of the sword.”
- Spiritual battles wear us down (family, finances, future)
- Spiritual reinforcements are needed
Conclusion: Do you feel overwhelmed because of spiritual battles (FLESH VS SPIRIT)? Fatigue brings weariness. Consequently, our spiritual hands drop due to heaviness. Would you hold up someone’s heavy hands right now? This will make the difference of WINNING when you’re LOSING!
Thanks for holding up my hands… praying for you, too.
Love y’all,
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
25
Apr '20
Armed for Battle
25
Apr '20
Text: 1 Samuel 14:1-14
“Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; and Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.”
Introduction: Are you up against some battles? Battles for the mind, battles with evil forces, all of us are facing battles! We need help fighting these battles! There are (3) steps proven effective in winning the battles:
1. Who is your PRAYER PARTNER – “ARMOR-BEARER” (1 Sam. 14:1)?
“Jonathan said unto the young man that bare his armour, come, and let us go over to the Philistines garrison.”
A “garrison” (mat-tsawb) is a military post.
“Jonathan said unto the young man that bare his armour, come, and let us go over to the Philistines garrison.”
A “garrison” (mat-tsawb) is a military post.
• Jonathan needed an ARMOR-BEARER
• He must be brave and dependable
• He must be brave and dependable
2. Why do we need a PRAYER PARTNER – “ARMOR-BEARER” (v. 4-6)?
“Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines garrison…. and said to the young man that bare his armour…. the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few.”
• Battles with strongholds
• Taking back the ground the enemy has taken
“Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines garrison…. and said to the young man that bare his armour…. the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or few.”
• Battles with strongholds
• Taking back the ground the enemy has taken
3. What will we – and our “ARMOR-BEARER” believe God to do (v. 7-14)?
“His armourbearer said… do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold I am with thee according to thy heart.”
• Jonathan and his “ARMOR BEARER” pressed forward
• God gave the Victory
“His armourbearer said… do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold I am with thee according to thy heart.”
• Jonathan and his “ARMOR BEARER” pressed forward
• God gave the Victory
Conclusion: Just like Jonathan, an “ARMOR-BEARER” (Prayer Partner) is needed to fight and win the battles that are raging all around us. In looking back, Praise God for the battles that have already been won (Jesus our Lord – Prayer Partners)! Yet, it appears on the horizon, there are other battles that will need to be fought & won!!
Calling all Prayer Partners!
Love y’all,
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese