If anyone has a problem in my church, it can be shared and we will uphold each other in prayer. We have a Messenger group where needs are posted, as well as different church groups that focus on prayer throughout the week. You can grab a member of the Prayer Ministry Team after The Gathering on a Sunday, and just about anyone would be willing to pray with you at any point for any issue. Church is family and family care for each other and support one another in times of need.
Moses was in need in Exodus 17 when the Amalekites attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. He was supporting Joshua and the Israelite army as they fought in the valley below by raising the staff of God above his head whilst standing on the hill higher up. Joshua was fighting hand to hand while Moses was providing air support in the form of spiritual warfare.
Trouble is, if you’ve ever raised your arms above your head for any length of time, you know they begin to ache after a while…and then burn. When Moses’ arms were raised, Joshua’s army had the upper hand in battle but if his arms grew tired and he lowered them, the Israelites would begin to lose.
So, Moses’ brother, Aaron, and his nephew, Hur, found a rock, sat him on it and held his hands up, one on each side so that they remained steady until sunset when the Amalekite army was defeated.
We learn a lot from the few verses that contain this story. Firstly, when undertaking any battle, you need prayer support from those willing to wage spiritual warfare on your behalf. We fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6: 12). When part of the battle occurs in the high places, someone is needed in those same high places to provide air support for the troops on the ground.
Secondly, Aaron and Hur seated Moses on a rock. Our rock is Jesus and we need to be positioned firmly in Him. Christ is our cornerstone (Ephesians 2: 20), a foundation that cannot be shaken (Luke 6: 48). Just as Aaron and Hur wanted Moses to rest on the rock, so we should rest in Christ allowing him to relieve our burdens and ease our aching bones.
Thirdly, Moses’ family, his brother and nephew (according to Rabbinical tradition), supported him as his strength began to fail. They held his arms up so he could continue waging spiritual warfare in the high places. One became three in that spiritual battle. Jesus said when two or three gather in my name, I will be there in the midst of them (Matthew 18: 20). Waging war in the high places is often too much for one person. We need prayer warriors who will support us, hold us up when we waver and take over from us if we tire.
Moses had family members who would do this for him and while some of us have blood family in the church, many do not. Even so, we are brothers and sisters in Christ; we have been adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1: 5). Church IS family. So, if one of us is struggling, the others are there to take up the slack; to hold up arms, to lift up prayers and to sit us firmly back on The Rock when we try to stand in our own strength.
Church is not a place to struggle on your own. Your brothers and sisters are always there to help. Maybe find a couple of other church folk to form a trio with and daily hold each other up in prayer, provide air support and encouragement to be firmly rooted in Christ. In this way, battles will be won, armies defeated and faith strengthened. Don’t worry, we got you fam!
-Lara
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