Title: Victory through Prayer/Exodus 17:8-16
Contents Victory through prayer/Exodus 17:8~16
Key Verse: “Moses built an altar and called its name Jehovah Nissi” (verse 15).
Word: Israel's wilderness life after the Exodus was, in a word, a series of trials. At the end of one trial, another awaited, and when one was deflected, another came in their march. Through these trials, God trains Israel. It is training to overcome hardship. This also applies to us. In order to live in a harsh world, you must be trained to overcome hardships. Above all, we must learn to pray. No matter how difficult a task may be, if you can pray, you will be able to overcome it. George Mueller says: “Anyone who has not learned the battle of life on the knee still does not know the ABCs of the Christian faith.”
Through this text, we realize two facts about prayer. First, prayer is the ability to resist the devil. Israel's battle is against the "Amalekites" (verse 8). Amalek, a descendant of Esau, attacks God's weary people and opposes God (Deuteronomy 25:18). Even today, Satan attacks the saints when they are tired. Prayer not only provides strength in all areas of our religious life, but also becomes the driving force to overcome evil forces and the devil (Ephesians 6:11?18, Mark 9:29). Second, we need a prayer network. When the war breaks out, Moses divides the ministry. While Joshua leads Joshua to fight Amalek, he takes Aaron and Hur to the top of the mountain and raises his hands and prays (verse 9). The decisive factor that enabled Joshua and the warriors to win the battle was Moses’ “intercession” (verse 13).
An employee who was forced to retire at a sawmill in the United States tells his wife in despair. “Honey, I want to die. I've tried everything I've tried, but nothing works." The wife holds her husband's hand and says: “You haven't tried one yet. I have never seriously prayed about this situation or problem.” My husband receives great emotion and challenge and succeeds in recovering by winning through prayer. This is Kemons Wilson, the founder of Holiday Inn. Wilson answers the question about the secret to success. “Prayer changes all things.”
Prayer is acknowledging God as God. God helps us. Finally, he makes us confess. “Jehovah Nissi-The Lord is the banner of victory, the Lord has made us victorious!”
Prayer: Help me not to become a fool who regrets losing opportunities, but to become a wise man who takes advantage of the opportunities you have given me. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Lord's Prayer