EXODUS 17:8-16

THE JOURNEY (Series)WINNING LIFE’S BATTLES ALONG THE WAY!

SPIRITUAL BATTLES!

“We live in a perpetual battlefield… This invisible spiritual conflict is waged

around us incessantly and unremittingly. Where the Lord works, Satan’s forces hinder;… All this comes

about because the powers of darkness press their counterattack to recapture the ground held for the glory of God… Satan never yields an inch, nor does

he ever pause in his opposition to the plan of God to redeem the ‘cosmos’

from his control.”

Billy Graham, “Angels” pages 66-68

BATTLE SPHERES(three different levels)LEVEL ONE: BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN

LEVEL TWO: BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD SYSTEM

LEVEL THREE: IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER BETWEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR OLD SELF

BATTLE SPHERES(in our own lives)

WHERE WILL SATAN ATTACK US:

1. CONCERNING THE PAST – THROUGH GUILT!2. CONCERNING THE PRESENT – THROUGH TEMPTATION!3. CONCERNING THE FUTURE – THROUGH FEAR!

EXODUS 17:8-12

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands. So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalakites were winning.”

EXODUS 17:12-16

“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. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of the Amalekite. Moses built an altar and called it, “The Lord is my Banner.” He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war with the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

DEUTERONOMY 25:17,18“Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God.”

THE TEXT:“THEN CAME

AMALEK…” VS. 8

WHO IS AMALEK?

WHO AND WHAT DOES AMALEK REPRESENT TODAY?

WHAT DID AMALEK DO TO ISRAEL?

YOUR BIBLE:AN AMAZING BOOK!

SCRIPTURE INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE!

THE OLD TESTAMENT MAKES PREPARATION FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT

THE NEW TESTAMENT INTERPRETS THE OLD TESTAMENT!

THE WHOLE BIBLE FITS TOGETHER LIKE A PUZZLE!

1. THE PROMISED

SEED (Genesis 22:18,19)

2. ESAU DESPISED

HIS

BIRTHRIGHT! (Genesis 25:34)

3. ESAU IS THE FATHER OF THE AMALEKITES!

(Genesis 36:12)

4. “THEN CAME AMALEK AGAINST

ISRAEL…” (Exodus 17:8)

5. THAT SEED OF ABRAHAM IS CHRIST!

(Galatians 3:16)

THE BOTTOME LINE!

*JESUS WOULD COME THROUGH THE SEED OF ABRAHAM

*ESAU REJECTED HIS BIRTHRIGHT THROUGH WHICH THE SEED WOULD COME!

*ESAU THEREFORE REJECTED THE MOST IMPORTANT THING GOD OFFERED TO HIM – PARTICIPATION IN THE COMING MESSIAH AND SAVIOR!

*THE AMALEKITES REPRESENTED HIS “I DON’T NEED GOD” SPIRIT!

WHAT DOES THIS TEACH US TODAY?

1. IT TEACHES US THAT WE WILL FACE OUR ENEMY ALONG THE WAY

2. IT TEACHES US ABOUT THE ENEMY ITSELF!

3. IT TEACHES US HOW WE ARE TO FACE THE ENEMY!

4. IT TEACHES US THAT WE CAN WIN OVER OUR ENEMY!

BATTLE TRUTH!

I. THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES WE FACE ARE INEVITABLE! “THEN CAME AMALEK…” (Ex. 17:8)

The enemy came out of nowhere!The enemy came with antagonism and opposition!The enemy came at a point of vulnerability!

THE WORLD! THE FLESH! THE DEVIL!

BATTLE TRUTH!

“So Joshua fought the Amalekites… and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 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….” (Exodus 17:10-12)

II. THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES WE FACE ARE SERIOUS AND THEY ARE EXHAUSTING – AND SO WE ALL NEED HELP IN THE BATTLE!

BATTLE TRUTH!

III. EVERY BELIEVER CAN HAVE GUARANTEED VICTORY IN THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES WE FACE!

“So Joshua overcame the Amalekite with the sword…” (Ex. 17:13)

HOW DO WE OVERCOME?

HOW CAN WE BE VICTORIOUS?

DEFENSE! DEFENSIVE PROTECTION FOR EVERY BELIEVER: EPHESIANS 6:10-20

“PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD…” Eph. 6:10

1. The belt of truth around your waist

2. The breastplate of righteousness3. The feet fitted with the gospel4. The shield of faith5. The helmet of salvation6. The sword of the Spirit

(The Word of God)7. Prayer on all occasions

OFFENSE!

TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY!

“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction… so you may fight the good fight. Some have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith.” I Timothy 1:18,19

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (WORD OF GOD):

PRAYER! PRAISE! OTHER BELIEVERS! A RIGHTEOUS LIFE!

BATTLE TRUTH!

IV. EVERY SPIRITUAL BATTLE YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IS VALUABLE! GOD USES IT TO PREPARE YOU AND MAKE YOU STRONGER FOR THE NEXT BATTLE!

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds….” 2 Cor. 10:3-5

BATTLE TRUTH!

V. EVERY TIME WE WIN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE IN OUR LIVES – IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY AND LIFT UP HIS NAME!

“Moses built an altar and called it: “The Lord is my banner”. He said, ‘For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord....”

Exodus 17:14

“NOW TO THE KING ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY GOD, BE HONOR AND GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN!” I Timothy 1:17