January 12, 2016

Reinforcing Foundations: Prayer

By: Anthony Mathenia Topics: Uncategorized Scripture: Exodus 17

Reinforcing Foundations: Prayer (Exodus 17)
Sermon Link

Like water to fish, milk to an infant, and oxygen to our lungs, prayer is vital to the Christian. However, because we are so reluctant to humility, dependency, and honesty, prayer is the most difficult thing we will do in the Christian life. In John Bunyan’s words, “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectional pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, by the strength or assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to His Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God.” More simply, it is communion with the living God, acknowledging His greatness, confessing our need, praising Him for His goodness, petitioning Him to make up for our lack, and offering thanksgiving to Him.

Water at the Rock (verses 1-9)

Following the great rescue out of the land of Egypt from the misery of slavery, Israel has already seen the Lord provide for them in a multitude of ways. When the water was bitter and they complained, God made it sweet and they were satisfied. When they were hungry and complained even more, God provided them with manna and quail. He offers and commands them to rest on the Sabbath day, and yet they are ungrateful and worried about how they will be provided for. And again, in Exodus 17 while they are camped at Rephidim, they become thirsty and complain to Moses rather than taking their requests to the Lord based on His past provision.

– As you read over the descriptions of prayer in the paragraph above, can you say that your prayer life can be described in those terms? In what specific areas do you see need for growth in your communion with God?

A Battle on Two Fronts (verses 8-10)

Immediately after being satisfied by the water from the rock, as they are leaving Rephidim the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites from the rear, where those who were faint and weary were lagging behind (Deuteronomy 25:1). In contrast with the splitting of the Red Sea, the Israelites are not commanded to merely stand back and watch as God does a great work, but they are to take up arms and fight. This battle is to be fought on two fronts: Joshua is to fight with all the might he could muster down in the valley, and Moses is to pray with all his strength up on the mountain.

On the Mountain (verses 11-12)

As Moses grew tired and his hands began to fall, Aaron and Hur brought him a rock to sit on and held his hands in the air. They did not hesitate to employ practical measures to fix the problem. Unfortunately, many people are reluctant when it comes to taking practical steps in the fight for godliness and the battle against sin, believing that any form of practical means will somehow remove the spiritual benefit. Jesus could not disagree more when he says things like, “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it… If your hand or foot makes you stumble, cut if off and throw it… For it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” Moses was not hoping in the rock or his two helpers; his dependence was on God and he was completely convinced that divine intervention was the only hope. Nonetheless, he made use of the practical helps in order to pray, since without them he would be incapable of praying. It is not unspiritual to make use of every means at our disposal for our spiritual well-being.

– There are many practical measures we can apply in our fight against sin. What settings or circumstances lead you into temptation and sin, and what intentional steps can you take to avoid them? What are some practical measures you can apply to be more faithful in prayer and communion with the Lord?

On the Battlefield (verse 13)

It was insufficient to merely have Moses praying, Joshua actually had to unsheathe his sword, wield it well, and face the enemy in the battle. Prayer in itself is not enough, but it must be accompanied with action in order to see true spiritual victory. We are not to choose either prayer on the mountain or life down in the valley, but we must be faithful in laboring in both.

– Are you ever tempted to use prayer as an excuse for refusing to act? Are there any areas in your life now that you are delaying obedience under the pretense of devoting it to prayer?

Pictures and Shadows

As Moses sent Joshua into the battlefield and prayed faithfully for him on the mountain, so also Christ sent His disciples into the world with the Great Commission and prays for them faithfully at the right hand of God. Having Moses interceding on the hilltop was great for the Israelites of old, but we have One who was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, Christ the righteous, who ever lives to make intercession for us! It is Christ alone who is our Banner, our identity, our hope in the battle, and the One we lean on for the fight!