Grace Bible Church

Brian Fisher

“Operation Summer Growth”

Exodus 17:8-16

We have been called to engage in a divinely ordained battle. If we fail to plan or prepare we will be overcome by our adversary. Lessons learned by Israel as they battled the Amalekites serve as a model for us as we prepare to move forward with the Lord.

Three observations from this story to help us develop a plan for the summer:

I. Divinely ordained mission – 17:8

Background – Exodus; no land; no constitution; miracles; stretched their faith; no water

Intentionally impossible circumstances where only God can provide, rescue

Struggled with their attitude; trust in God

Struggled with a new enemy; will they trust in God?

Honor god in their response?

Dt. 25:17-18 (unafraid of God); Ex. 17:16 (hand against the throne of the Lord)

SENT into battle to defend God’s honor

You are being “sent” by God into battle – nothing in God’s plan for your life is accidental; home, vacation, new job, new classes, new roommates

John 15:16; 20:21

Easy to lose our sense of purpose and urgency; easy to use summer to rest rather than to push forward

II. Divinely ordained strategy – 17:9-12

A. The strategy demanded human participation – 17:9-10

Moses spoke for God, Joshua jumped

First appearance of Joshua, Israel’s greatest military mind

False dichotomy between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility

▪ Not explained to us; but we are told to participate

▪ Pray without ceasing; effective fervent prayer accomplishes much

▪ Do the work of an evangelist

▪ Work out your salvation

▪ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved

▪ Can’t save yourself

B. The strategy demanded dependence on God – 17:11

Staff represents power and authority of God; When staff is up, God’s power is at work; when staff is down, we are at work

Other places the staff was used – miracles before Pharaoh, parting Red Sea, providing water for Israel; preserved in Ark of Covenant

2 Kings 2:9-14; Elijah/Elisha transition

Have you taken up the mantle? This is your fight?

C. The strategy demanded a team effort – 17:12

17:9; I will stand on a hill; you will fight

Moses hands were “steady” (lit. “faithful”); Moses’ faithfulness depended on the faithfulness of his friends

Find fellowship with other believers

Elements of a strategy

• Find fellowship

• Commit your plan to writing

• Make it fresh, but keep it simple

• Study

• Memorization

• Evangelism

• Adopt a missionary

• Adopt a country

• Spend a day with the Lord

• Read

The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan, ISBN-10: 0849918480

Bruchko, Bruce Olson, ISBN: 0884191338

Gladys Aylward, Janet and Geoff Benge, ISBN-10: 1576580199

The Reign of the Servant Kings, Joseph Dillow, ASIN: B000S4BCUU; order from

http://www.faithalone.org/bookstore/reign.html

On the Incarnation, Athanasius, ISBN: 978-0-913-83640-8; order from http://www.svspress.com/

You don’t control the growth of your relationship with God.

You must participate.

III. Divinely ordained conclusion – 17:13-16

A. Enemy defeated – 17:13-14

recite it (place it in the ears) – God is adequate for any situation

B. God is worshipped – 17:15

The Lord is my banner; from root meaning “high, raised, conspicuous”

Memorial – this is who God is; this is how He defeats your enemies

Names of other places commemorate what happened there. Ex. 17:7

How will your summer be commemorated?

What will be written on the banner?