And so it was,

when Moses held up his hand,

that Israel prevailed;

and when he let down his hand,

Amalek prevailed.

(Exodus 17:11)

Victories are won in prayer

The effectiveness and vital place of prayer is one of the essential truths God seeks to teach…and teach…and re-teach His kids.

True Spiritual victories and battles are won in prayer.

Consider the very first battle Israel ever faced as a nation.   This battle is recorded for us in Exodus 17:8-16.  Let me put that entire account right here in this devotion.  Please take time to read these verses and don’t just skip down to the next comments.

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

First notice this is a continual battle.   Although this was Israel’s first battle, it was a battle God said He would be fighting in every generation – God swears he would have this war from generation to generation – continually. 

Second notice who the enemy is.  Amalek was a real enemy Israel fought against – yet they also form a Biblical type for us.   Amalek in the Bible is always a picture of the flesh, of the battle we have with the flesh.  With this insight…we can see how the reality really fits – this is a battle God is waging in every generation – a battle against the flesh, helping His people battle their flesh. 

Third notice how the victory was and is won in this battle.  Joshua takes the soldiers into the valley to fight against this fierce foe.  Moses is up on the hill with hands raised up, in a picture of prayer.  When his arms are up – they are victorious! When his arms are down…they are defeated.  Victory did not depend on the skill of the soldiers, their organization, their teamwork, their training or their weapons. Victory depended not on the swords in the valley, but in the raised arms on the hill.  Victory depended on prayer. 

The sad reality is that although most Christians say that prayer is important, when it comes down to it – we depend on other things for success in our lives and ministries…to our own hurt.

Victory in churches, in lives and against our flesh is not found in money.    More money invested and given will not bring success, success is found in prayer.

Victory in churches, in lives and against our flesh is not found in numbers.  Having more volunteers, workers and helpers will not bring success, success is found in prayer. 

Victory in churches, in lives and against our flesh is not found in personality or human smarts.   Having smart, witty, or powerful personalities will not bring success, success is found in prayer.

Victory in churches, in lives and against our flesh is not found in great strategies or powerful tools. Having great knowhow or the fanciest gadgets and greatest tools will not bring spiritual success, success is found in prayer.

Can you picture this?

Would you take a moment and try to picture this battle Israel fought in Exodus 17.   Seeing this picture in your mind is truly worth a thousand words.  

In the valley they are fighting, faithfully, using their skills and putting all they have into it.  Yet what causes them to be successful is actually over on the hillside in prayer.  When Moses hands are up in prayer, they are winning.  When Moses hands fall down., they are losing. The battle depended entirely on prayer.   The soldiers still had to fight, activity was still necessary – but ultimately the victory was not in them, but in prayer.

History shows us the truth, when a church and a people prayed…God moved.   As a pastor this is humbling but also exciting.  I long that God’s church would understand His ways and pray!    Prayer is the powerhouse, the place of victory.  If we are not seeing victory in a life or in a church, instead of redoubling our efforts in getting better skills, more numbers or greater wisdom – what we need is more prayer.

For me – I have been thinking about this a lot.  I fear we are living in days where prayer has fallen on bad times.  I fear we are living in a day when people look to money, to numbers, to skills, to strategies, to personalities and more to our own spiritual poverty.   I find myself praying more and more that God would wake us up to look to Him for our source and our victory.  I find myself praying that God would make us a people of prayer, that He would cause us to lift up our hands in prayer – and in such dependence on Him – see great victories.  For real victory is found in prayer. 

And so it was,

when Moses held up his hand,

that Israel prevailed;

and when he let down his hand,

Amalek prevailed.

(Exodus 17:11)

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

 (Galatians 5:16–17)

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 (Matthew 26:41)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

 (1 Timothy 2:1)

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

 (1 Timothy 2:8)

when Moses held up his hand,

that Israel prevailed;

and when he let down his hand,

Amalek prevailed.

(Exodus 17:11)

Jim