Rev Gideon Lee
Nowadays I feel so sad. Everybody just want to see my son Jayden. Everybody say he's so cute and wants to carry him. Nobody wants to carry your pastor. I feel so left out. (Laughs). If he is on Facebook, he will have more friends than me.
Yesterday in the car park I found a piece of paper on the floor. It was RM50. Wow, I thought this is bonus and I can eat better instead of eating at Batu Lanchang. But then I remembered the topic the cell has been teaching on Personal Integrity. So I thought I better try find the owner.
It could be one of the youth and that would be a lot of money for them. So I texted Bro Vive and told him if anyone lost some money to get it from me. I didn't tell him the amount. And later Bro Vive told me it was one of the youth and he told me the amount and it was RM50.
I want to say it is very good to attend cell. In church it's hi and bye and nobody knows you. But in a cell we can interact and know each other better. So I encourage you to attend cell. Amen?
Turn with me to the Book of Exodus.
Exodus 17:8-16
Victory over the Amalekites
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 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.” 10 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. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 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. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
14 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.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
I want to give you a little comment before I preach the word of God. The few words before this chapter talked about the Israelites who came to this place but there was no water. This place is called rest but they did not find rest here and the people were beginning to grumble. They said Moses has brought them here to die. They were ready to stone him. But the Lord always have a solution even before our problems occur. God already have a solution. God told Moses to strike the stone and water began to gush out from the rock. God's solution is a supernatural intervention.
If God can do it then, he will do it today. The bible says God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His character remains. Then we came to this portion when the Israelites faced another situation where the enemies were after them. And the Amalekites were no ordinary enemy. They were the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob. And you know what Jacob did right? He stole the birthright of Esau. So do you think they will treat the Israelites nicely? If you read in Deuteronomy, you'll know how sneaky they were. The bible says they have no fear of God. The Amalekites were big trouble. They prey on women and children. They don't care. They had no mercy.
So now that they are attacking the Israelites, they know what they were capable of. Maybe some of us is facing our Amalekites. But today that enemy is the devil. He is not going to play fair with you. He will bully the weak and the innocent. He doesn't care.
From this passage I want you to know we are in a spiritual battle whether we like it or not. The enemy attacks our marriage, our business, and our family. We have an adversary but I have good news for you this morning.
The Amalekites attacked them but Moses told Joshua to choose some men to go fight. They were not soldiers, mainly farmers and shepherd and had no experience fighting. Sure die wan. And Moses said he will go sit on top of a hill to see them. If I were Joshua I'll probably say "What!". You sent me to fight and you just go up there to sit and watch us die?
But Joshua obeyed Moses. And the story says that Moses was carrying the staff of God. It represents the power of God. He first used it when he confronted Pharaoh. The same staff that he used to part the Red Sea. The same staff he used to strike the rock.
You may be under attacked by God and you need God to come in a supernatural way. The bible says the Israelites prevailed. But when Moses got tired and his hands came down, the Amalekites prevailed. Moses had two others with him, Aaron and Hur and when they saw Moses got tired they let Moses sit on a rock and they held up Moses' tired hands. And Israel prevailed and won a great victory that day.
What does this tells me? Maybe some of us is having a difficult time and the only way to win is to lift the name of God up high. Learn to lift Jesus' name up high. The problem is that most of the time we look at our problem and forgot we have a big God.
If today you want God to intervene, lift the name of God high. As long as the staff of God is raised up the Israelites prevailed. Lift the name of God up high. Whatever is your problem, it cannot be as big as God.
As I looked at Moses' problem, friends, I want you to know we cannot go through it without friends. I am talking about good friends, not friends like Job's. Friends who will encourage and pray for you. Everyone needs an Aaron and Hur today. Do you have a friend you can go to to pray and encourage you? If not go and find your Aaron and Hur.
Your pastor also have his Aaron and Hur. Your pastor can also be tired. I need my Aarons and my Hurs. And where can I find them? Where? Everyone of you in this church can be my Aaron and Hur. And when I say pastor, I also say don't forget pastor Grace. And Lin Ken too ya. He needs a lot of prayer. I want you to know when we have each other, victory is on our side.
That day the Israelites got a very big victory. From farmers and shepherd against the Amalekites, it was God who brought about the victory. It was not the hands of Moses that brought the victory that day but it was the staff of God.
After that God told Moses to write it down as a remembrance. Too often we only remember our failures. That's all we think of. That's why the bible tells us to count our blessings one by one. Because they outnumber our failures. We forget the blessings of God sometimes. But when we didn't get what we ask for from God we remember it all our life.
The bible says the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking who to devour. He won't come to you nicely, no. The difference between defeat and victory is the name of Jesus in your life.
As God comes in and bring us that victory, remember to write it down. The bible says God told Moses to write it down as a memorial and Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah Nissi, God our banner. Banner means a standard, a military term. How many of you see in Chinese movies where there is this fellow who bears a flag, the standard.
Friends, aren't you glad that God is your standard? He is our Jehovah Nissi. When you go into battle, God has already gone before you. All you have to do is follow Him. Victory is assured. Today there is no such race as the Amalekites. If God is fighting on our behalf we cannot lose.
The problem is, are we following God? When God says go, are we going? God is fighting on our behalf and victory is certain and assured.
Today we are having our 30th AGM. We will celebrate our 35th Anniversary. If Jesus was not our banner, TOP will not be here. So I encourage you to continue to follow God. As we move in God's direction, support us. Victory is assured. Are you following God today? God has the final victory. Just as how Moses raised the staff of God, the staff represented God's power and presence. God gave them a big victory that day.
In the same way God raised His son on the cross. And he gave us victory over sin and gave us life and life abundantly. The cross represents the power of God. He has given us powers over sin. Victory is ours. God is on our side. Let's follow Him, He says left, we go left. He tells us to go right, we go right. He says stop, we stop.
Remember God is your banner, your standard. Whatever He tells you to do, you do and we will have the victory.
 |
| TOP's 30th AGM about to commence. We have a quorum. |
 |
| Group photo of TOP's incoming and outgoing board. |
No comments:
Post a Comment