Dear Friends,

From a bit of history in Exodus 17:8 -- 16 I would like to share with you two thoughts on Prayer. On the one hand the praying of Jesus for us; and on the other hand our intercession for the church.

The history is the battle between Israel and the Amalekites during Israel's journey through the wilderness of Sinai. The Lord had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. They were now journeying through the Sinai peninsular on their way to the promised land.

The Amalekites attacked Israel. Moses told Joshua to choose some men to defend Israel and defeat the Amalekites. Moses himself, with Aaron and Hur, went to the top of a hill, and Moses held up his hands. In verse 16 we are told the significance of this action. He was lifting up his hands to the Lord. In other words he was coming to God on the throne and seeking God's power to defeat the Amalekites and deliver Israel.

The story tells us that when Moses had his arms lifted up to the Lord, Israel was winning the battle. When his arms drooped or fell, Israel was being defeated. Aaron and Hur, we are told, stood either side of Moses, and held up his arms, and so the Amalekites were defeated.

This history illustrates the spiritual conflict the church and Christians have with sin and Satan.

We are told in the letter to the Hebrews that Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us. The Apostle is speaking about Jesus and his priestly work for us in heaven. He is ever before the throne of God for us who believe on him.

If Jesus ever failed in this continual heavenly prayer for us, we would be defeated and overcome by Satan and sin. It is not possible to suppose or imagine that Jesus could fail in any work he engages in. He completed redemption on earth, now he is ascended he will never fail in his heavenly intercession.

It is difficult to understand exactly what this praying of Jesus involves, but we can't do without it. Our victory depends on it. As Israel won when Moses lifted up his arms to the Lord, so we win in the spiritual battle through Christ's heavenly intercession. Just as Moses did not cease lifting up his hands until the Amalekites were completely defeated, so Jesus will not cease his intercession until we have been brought in triumph to glory. Our perseverance and triumph is thus secure in Christ and by Christ. Our winning in the spiritual battle is sure because he ever lives as to make intercession for us. What a wonderful Saviour we have, and what a complete salvation he provides.

Let us be encouraged and reassured by Christ's continued work for us. Having given his life for us he will never let us go.

But there is another spiritual application of this incident in the history of Israel. It is the application to our own praying as Christians, and particularly in our corporate praying as a church.

I want us, by this spiritual application, to see the importance of lifting up our arms to the Lord in prayer for the victory in the spiritual battle we are engaged in as the church. The spiritual battle is won only as we lift up hands to God in prayer.

The spiritual growth of our church; our outreach to the unconverted; God's blessing on our services and weekly activities; need our lifting up our hands to the Lord beseeching him for his blessing.

As the Israelites won the battle as Moses lifted up his hands, and lost it when his arms fell; so the spiritual battle in our church depends on our prayers to God. We can't defeat any spiritual foe in our strength, our sufficiency is of God. Prayer is crying to God and putting our trust in God, and seeking and relying on his aid.

We must grow as a praying Church. We must find times when we can gather together for prayer. The prayer times we have must not be missed. Our attendance at these prayer times, and the prayers of us all, are needed in the spiritual battle.

By such prayer we renounce our trust in self effort. By such prayer we put our trust in the Lord's power. By such prayer we call down God's power and direction that the battle might have continuous victory.

Look at Moses. How important that he never ceased to raise his arms to the Lord. See the spiritual parallel in our praying. See how much you and your prayers are needed. Come and join in prayer.

Your servant for Christ's sake,