WEBVTT 00:00:01.319 --> 00:00:04.139 I mean, more or less play, not more or less myself. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:08.880 Well, maybe that too. Would you open your Bible, 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:14.740 please, to Exodus, chapters 17 and 18, as we 00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:17.699 come once more to the deliverance of the people 00:00:17.699 --> 00:00:21.679 of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. Today 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.640 we're going to be looking at both of these chapters, 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:25.960 so we don't have time really to read the full 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:30.179 text. But we'll be dealing with it all. As we 00:00:30.179 --> 00:00:32.719 think about Israel's experience in Rephidim, 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:36.539 you may recall that following their redemption 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:40.820 and deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites faced 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:44.439 a series of experiences which served as tests 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:49.340 for them. Immediately after they were delivered 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:53.140 by God's mighty power at the Red Sea, they went 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:56.340 into the wilderness of Shur, you may recall. 00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:59.479 And there was no water there in the wilderness 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:02.600 of Shur. It seems to me that the name of the 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:07.019 wilderness indicates to us that these were Norwegian 00:01:07.019 --> 00:01:11.379 Jews. As they entered in, they said, Yah, Shur. 00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:15.760 And through the centuries, the Yah has been dropped 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:20.659 and just leaving the Shur behind. There was no 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:23.930 water there, and eventually they came. to a place 00:01:23.930 --> 00:01:28.569 called Merah where there was bitter water. And 00:01:28.569 --> 00:01:30.609 so after having no water, they had water, but 00:01:30.609 --> 00:01:34.409 they couldn't drink it. It was brackish, a severe 00:01:34.409 --> 00:01:38.109 test of their faith, which they didn't pass with 00:01:38.109 --> 00:01:41.629 flying colors. And yet God directed that a tree 00:01:41.629 --> 00:01:43.870 should be hewn down and thrown into the water, 00:01:44.090 --> 00:01:46.750 and it sweetened it. God provided for their needs. 00:01:48.549 --> 00:01:50.569 From there in chapter 16, they went on into the 00:01:50.569 --> 00:01:55.799 wilderness of sin. There they suffered hunger, 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:58.959 so much so that they longed to return to Egypt 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:03.219 with its onions and leeks and garlics and melons. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:05.439 Some of that sounds alright to me, some of it 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.080 doesn't sound too good. But that was the part 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:10.379 of the diet that they were missing, the spices, 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:15.219 the taste of that food down there in Egypt. They 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:17.360 said, did you bring us out here in the wilderness 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:19.680 to die? Weren't there enough graves in Egypt? 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.400 Again, they didn't pass the test very well as 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:28.340 God put them to the test, and yet God provided 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:31.639 for them, didn't He? Graciously, God gave them 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.159 manna, that bread from heaven, and He sent quail 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:37.780 to them so that they would have that meat to 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:42.300 eat. When you and I don't learn our lessons the 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:44.759 first time around, what do you think God does? 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.800 Well, that's right. He designs new trials or 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:54.610 tests. Sometimes, with strikingly familiar circumstances, 00:02:54.729 --> 00:02:58.610 it's almost deja vu. And the purpose of it is 00:02:58.610 --> 00:03:03.189 that He might test us again. Keep in mind that 00:03:03.189 --> 00:03:05.969 the trials that God puts us through are trials 00:03:05.969 --> 00:03:10.189 to test us. But more than that, they are sent 00:03:10.189 --> 00:03:16.310 to train us at the same time. God is not so concerned 00:03:16.310 --> 00:03:19.830 with the comfort of His people's circumstances. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:26.979 as he is with the maturity of their faith. While 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:30.599 Israel was encamped at this one site in Rephidim, 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.219 there were three significant trials that surfaced, 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:38.120 each of them providing a lesson for us to observe. 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:44.199 The one trial dealt with a physical need. And 00:03:44.199 --> 00:03:46.080 there's some similarity here, isn't there? For 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:48.419 there is lack of water in verses one through 00:03:48.419 --> 00:03:52.280 seven. It says at the end of verse 1, there was 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:54.379 no water for the people to drink, therefore the 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:57.159 people quarreled with Moses and said, give us 00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:00.300 water that we may drink. Moses said to them, 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:02.979 why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the 00:04:02.979 --> 00:04:06.120 Lord? But the people thirsted there for water 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:10.400 and they grumbled against Moses and said, why 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:12.580 now have you brought us up from Egypt to kill 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:15.860 us and our children and our livestock with thirst? 00:04:16.250 --> 00:04:18.670 So, Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, what 00:04:18.670 --> 00:04:22.209 shall I do with this people? A little more and 00:04:22.209 --> 00:04:24.550 they will stone me. So, you can see how serious 00:04:24.550 --> 00:04:27.810 the situation actually was. Here is the trial 00:04:27.810 --> 00:04:31.089 of physical need. And then beginning in verse 00:04:31.089 --> 00:04:33.990 8 through the end of the chapter, there is a 00:04:33.990 --> 00:04:36.170 trial that comes from an enemy attack. It says 00:04:36.170 --> 00:04:39.410 in verse 8, then Amalek came and fought against 00:04:39.410 --> 00:04:43.949 Israel at Rephidim. So, Moses took some action. 00:04:44.459 --> 00:04:47.160 And then in chapter 18, there's a third trial 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:50.800 of a different sort. It is the trial of overloaded 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:54.339 leadership. Now with God's help, we want to look 00:04:54.339 --> 00:04:56.300 at each of these trials this morning and see 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:59.399 what lessons we can glean for our lives. The 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:02.839 first one deals with the smitten rock, for that 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:05.180 was how God provided the water on that occasion. 00:05:06.019 --> 00:05:08.720 The Lord said to Moses, verse 5, pass before 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.800 the people and take with you some of the elders 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.939 of Israel and take in your hand your staff. with 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:17.959 which you struck the Nile and go. Behold, I will 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:22.319 stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:25.500 And you shall strike the rock, and water will 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:28.040 come out of it that the people may drink. And 00:05:28.040 --> 00:05:30.639 Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:33.839 And he named the place Massah and Meraba because 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.959 of the quarrel of the sons of Israel and because 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:38.620 they tested the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:45.529 us or not? The smitten rock. We see here once 00:05:45.529 --> 00:05:49.649 more the sad tendency of the human heart, a heart 00:05:49.649 --> 00:05:54.170 like you have and like I have, to distrust God, 00:05:55.350 --> 00:06:01.370 even after He has done so much for us. God here 00:06:01.370 --> 00:06:04.370 graciously provided for the physical need of 00:06:04.370 --> 00:06:08.550 His people, even though again their complaint 00:06:08.550 --> 00:06:15.819 exposed their lack of faith. In providing in 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:20.240 the way he did by the smitten rock, God also 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:28.399 gave a type or a picture of Jesus Christ. For 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:33.160 the smitten rock pictures to us our Lord and 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:36.819 what he did that he might provide for our thirsty 00:06:36.819 --> 00:06:41.259 souls, that he might provide salvation for our 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:45.129 spiritual need. Keeping your finger here, would 00:06:45.129 --> 00:06:47.350 you turn into the New Testament, please, to 1 00:06:47.350 --> 00:06:57.129 Corinthians, the 10th chapter. In this passage, 00:06:57.949 --> 00:07:01.389 the Apostle Paul draws upon the experience of 00:07:01.389 --> 00:07:04.970 Moses and the Israelites to warn the Corinthians, 00:07:06.089 --> 00:07:08.949 to warn them about unbelief, about failing in 00:07:08.949 --> 00:07:16.660 the test. He reminds them of the spiritual privileges 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:19.480 of the Israelites in verse 1. He says, I do not 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:23.220 want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:26.500 were all under the cloud and all passed through 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:30.560 the sea and all were baptized into Moses in the 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:34.920 cloud and in the sea. Here we see baptism used 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:39.139 in a non -literal sense. The word means to dip 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:42.139 or to immerse. Thus we practice what we do in 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:45.329 our church. But the word has a metaphorical meaning, 00:07:45.870 --> 00:07:48.589 to identify with, or to unite with. And that's 00:07:48.589 --> 00:07:51.310 the thought here, where it says that these Israelites, 00:07:51.529 --> 00:07:53.649 by the experience of coming through the Red Sea, 00:07:53.750 --> 00:07:57.050 were united to Moses as their earthly leader. 00:07:59.550 --> 00:08:02.410 And it says in verse 3, and all ate the same 00:08:02.410 --> 00:08:06.209 spiritual food. The word spiritual here should 00:08:06.209 --> 00:08:08.930 probably be understood in the sense of supernatural. 00:08:09.790 --> 00:08:11.889 And so obviously he's talking about the manna. 00:08:12.009 --> 00:08:15.170 the quail that God provided. All ate of the same 00:08:15.170 --> 00:08:20.730 supernatural food and all drank the same supernatural 00:08:20.730 --> 00:08:23.350 drink, that is the water that God supernaturally 00:08:23.350 --> 00:08:26.889 provided. For they were drinking from a supernatural 00:08:26.889 --> 00:08:33.789 rock which followed them. Now this was a tradition 00:08:33.789 --> 00:08:38.309 of the rabbis of that day. That is that the rock 00:08:38.309 --> 00:08:43.450 that Moses hit in the wilderness actually followed 00:08:43.450 --> 00:08:46.190 them then throughout the wilderness journey. 00:08:47.230 --> 00:08:49.710 Now there is no historical evidence of that. 00:08:49.730 --> 00:08:53.009 That is merely a legend that the rabbis were 00:08:53.009 --> 00:08:56.429 teaching at that time. But Paul here is sort 00:08:56.429 --> 00:08:59.470 of picking up on that thought and he's saying 00:08:59.470 --> 00:09:03.570 yes in a sense that rock did follow them. It 00:09:03.570 --> 00:09:08.970 was with them because he says the rock was Christ. 00:09:11.069 --> 00:09:13.429 Now we believe in the literal interpretation 00:09:13.429 --> 00:09:16.429 of the Bible, but that doesn't mean that our 00:09:16.429 --> 00:09:21.690 Lord is a rock, like a piece of stone. The literal 00:09:21.690 --> 00:09:23.669 interpretation of the Bible means you take it 00:09:23.669 --> 00:09:27.110 in its normal sense. Obviously here the normal 00:09:27.110 --> 00:09:30.090 sense is a metaphor. Paul is speaking of our 00:09:30.090 --> 00:09:34.370 Lord as though He were a rock, indeed the very 00:09:34.370 --> 00:09:36.529 rock that Moses smote. He is saying that there 00:09:36.529 --> 00:09:40.049 is an identification factor. between what happened 00:09:40.049 --> 00:09:44.269 there in the wilderness at Rephidim in Exodus 00:09:44.269 --> 00:09:49.450 chapter 17 and the Lord Jesus Christ. He says 00:09:49.450 --> 00:09:52.490 the rock was Christ. He was that supernatural 00:09:52.490 --> 00:09:56.990 rock. Now let's think of some parallels and think 00:09:56.990 --> 00:10:00.590 of how that rock was like our Lord. In the first 00:10:00.590 --> 00:10:05.850 place, that rock at Horeb was there by God's 00:10:05.850 --> 00:10:09.610 sovereign plan, His design. He is the one who 00:10:09.610 --> 00:10:12.610 put that rock there and then who led the people 00:10:12.610 --> 00:10:15.769 to that rock which Moses smote and then which 00:10:15.769 --> 00:10:19.049 burst forth with water. So I would suggest to 00:10:19.049 --> 00:10:24.110 you that likewise the rock, Christ our Lord, 00:10:25.210 --> 00:10:28.070 was provided for us by God's sovereign plan. 00:10:29.389 --> 00:10:34.110 He was not created by the fanciful imaginations 00:10:34.110 --> 00:10:38.009 of some of his disciples or the Apostle Paul. 00:10:38.789 --> 00:10:41.950 He was provided as the Lord and Savior come down 00:10:41.950 --> 00:10:47.850 from heaven by God Himself. Secondly, that supernatural 00:10:47.850 --> 00:10:51.590 rock that God provided on both occasions had 00:10:51.590 --> 00:10:55.669 to be smitten. That rock in Moses' day had to 00:10:55.669 --> 00:10:59.870 be struck by the rod, by the staff of Moses, 00:11:00.049 --> 00:11:07.389 by God's divine order. Likewise, the rock, Jesus 00:11:07.389 --> 00:11:13.129 Christ, had to be smitten by divine order and 00:11:13.129 --> 00:11:18.190 for Him to give forth eternal life. Isaiah the 00:11:18.190 --> 00:11:20.769 prophet says it beautifully if you would turn 00:11:20.769 --> 00:11:35.330 there to Isaiah 53. He says in verse 4 of that 00:11:35.330 --> 00:11:40.950 53rd chapter, Surely our griefs he himself bore, 00:11:41.990 --> 00:11:47.330 and our sorrows he carried. Yet we ourselves 00:11:47.330 --> 00:11:54.049 esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." 00:11:54.049 --> 00:11:56.429 And that agrees with what it says in verse 10, 00:11:56.470 --> 00:12:00.669 but the Lord was pleased to crush him, putting 00:12:00.669 --> 00:12:05.129 him to grief. If he would render himself as a 00:12:05.129 --> 00:12:07.669 guilt offering, he will see his offspring. He 00:12:07.669 --> 00:12:10.409 will prolong his days, and the good pleasure 00:12:10.409 --> 00:12:14.049 of the Lord will prosper in his hand." Isaiah 00:12:14.049 --> 00:12:16.669 is saying regarding the suffering Messiah that 00:12:16.669 --> 00:12:20.009 he describes in this chapter, that he was smitten 00:12:20.009 --> 00:12:24.370 by the divine order of God, just as Moses took 00:12:24.370 --> 00:12:29.710 that rod which spoke of God's judgment and God's 00:12:29.710 --> 00:12:35.049 power in his hand. and struck the rock. So by 00:12:35.049 --> 00:12:38.690 God's divine order, Jesus Christ was smitten 00:12:38.690 --> 00:12:44.549 and stricken by God, that as he suffered on that 00:12:44.549 --> 00:12:48.870 cross, he might suffer for you and for me, and 00:12:48.870 --> 00:12:54.049 bear our sins in his body on the tree. Then there 00:12:54.049 --> 00:12:56.490 is a third parallel that I see, and it is this, 00:12:56.529 --> 00:12:59.769 that the rock was the source of God's gracious 00:12:59.769 --> 00:13:03.620 provision. It was water in Moses' day, but for 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:08.320 us it is that water of life. It is salvation 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:11.840 that Jesus Christ provides for us because He 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:15.340 was smitten on our behalf. He, Christ, is the 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:19.279 only source of the water of life. In the Gospel 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.379 of John, on several occasions, He spoke about 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:25.519 Himself in that context. In chapter 4, you well 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:30.370 remember the woman at the well. to whom He offered 00:13:30.370 --> 00:13:32.789 water that if she drank of it, she would never 00:13:32.789 --> 00:13:37.990 thirst again. The water of life. In chapter 7, 00:13:37.990 --> 00:13:39.950 on a different occasion, He stood before the 00:13:39.950 --> 00:13:42.110 multitudes in Jerusalem on the last day of the 00:13:42.110 --> 00:13:46.889 great feast. And as they were accustomed to pouring 00:13:46.889 --> 00:13:49.889 out water as part of their ceremony on that occasion, 00:13:50.210 --> 00:13:52.409 He drew attention to the water and He said, He 00:13:52.409 --> 00:13:55.789 that believes on Me, out of his innermost being 00:13:55.789 --> 00:14:00.399 shall flow rivers of living water. talking about 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.340 those who believe on Him giving forth that water 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:08.440 of life from their spirits. But it goes on to 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:11.960 say there that Jesus was speaking in the future 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:15.919 tense because He had not yet been glorified. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:18.299 That is, He had not suffered for our sins, been 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:20.440 raised from the dead and ascended back to heaven. 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:25.059 And it says there that that water of life was 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:29.360 symbolic of the Holy Spirit. whom those who believe 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:35.340 on him would receive. That rock was Christ. I 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:37.659 want you to know today that that water of life 00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:42.259 that flows from Jesus Christ is flowing for you. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:47.100 He said, he who is thirsty, let him drink of 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:51.519 the water of life freely. That is his invitation 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:57.259 to all of us. Do you understand the parts? Thirst 00:14:57.259 --> 00:15:01.580 in your soul. If you're without Jesus Christ, 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:05.639 surely you're aware of that. That thirst within 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:09.639 you, that longing for reality, that longing for 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:12.840 something that you can't name, you can't describe, 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:18.779 but that emptiness is there. It is Jesus. And 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:22.399 because He is the smitten rock who gives forth 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.429 the living water. You may find that emptiness 00:15:26.429 --> 00:15:29.870 filled by Him if you will come to the water of 00:15:29.870 --> 00:15:34.710 life and drink." See, how do you do that? Well, 00:15:34.710 --> 00:15:37.669 obviously it's not H2O we're talking about. We're 00:15:37.669 --> 00:15:41.370 talking about a supernatural, a spiritual sustenance 00:15:41.370 --> 00:15:45.049 or provision. We receive that by appropriating 00:15:45.049 --> 00:15:47.730 it just as you take a glass of water and you 00:15:47.730 --> 00:15:50.990 lift it to your lips and drink it to make it 00:15:50.990 --> 00:15:54.100 a part of your body and to use it. So, you must 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:59.120 reach out by faith and appropriate Jesus Christ. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:04.000 Receive Him. Invite Him into your life as your 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.000 Savior and Lord. And in so appropriating Him, 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:12.940 you will find that inner need satisfied. Because 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:15.440 He has been smitten, there is water for you today. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:22.279 Have you drunk deeply of Him? Is there water 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:24.960 flowing out of you today because the Spirit of 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:33.139 God lives in you? As we return now to our text 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:36.639 in Exodus, chapter 17, let's think together regarding 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.480 the second trial which dealt with the uplifted 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:45.750 rod. Once more the rod is in view. As the enemy 00:16:45.750 --> 00:16:48.549 came to attack, Moses said to Joshua, choose 00:16:48.549 --> 00:16:52.210 men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. 00:16:52.529 --> 00:16:55.169 Tomorrow I will station myself at the top of 00:16:55.169 --> 00:16:59.169 the hill with the staff of God in my hand. Moses 00:16:59.169 --> 00:17:03.149 did as Joshua did, rather, as Moses told him, 00:17:03.529 --> 00:17:06.049 and fought against Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, 00:17:06.150 --> 00:17:10.029 and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so 00:17:10.029 --> 00:17:12.329 it came about when Moses held up his hand that 00:17:12.329 --> 00:17:16.380 Israel prevailed. And when he let down his hand, 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:20.059 Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy. 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.900 Then they took a stone and put it under him, 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:26.640 and he sat on it. And Moses, rather Aaron and 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:30.640 Her, supported his hands, one on one side and 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:33.359 one on the other. Thus his hands were steady 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:36.559 until the sun set, and Joshua overwhelmed Amalek 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.579 and his people with the edge of the sword." It 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:44.930 was a great victory for Israel on that day. Amalek 00:17:44.930 --> 00:17:50.190 descended from Esau through his son Eliphaz. 00:17:51.049 --> 00:17:54.269 And so these were cousins who were fighting, 00:17:54.690 --> 00:17:59.569 now quite distant cousins, but nonetheless related 00:17:59.569 --> 00:18:04.670 through Esau to Abraham. The Amalekites were 00:18:04.670 --> 00:18:09.029 a nomadic tribe, and they had the reputation 00:18:09.029 --> 00:18:14.339 of being the most savage and inhumane of all 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:18.619 of the Canaanites. They were persistent enemies 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:21.819 of Israel until they were finally destroyed by 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:27.000 David in 1 Samuel chapter 30. Here in this battle 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.440 that takes place, the first time now the Israelites 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:34.900 have gone to war, gone into battle, we see another 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:38.859 picture. It is the picture of spiritual warfare 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:43.660 that you and I enter into when we trust Christ. 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:47.759 Trusting the Lord Jesus Christ puts us on the 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:52.519 opposite side of Satan and his forces, and he 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:56.859 attacks. We learn in what happened here the secret 00:18:56.859 --> 00:19:01.720 to victory. That secret is found in what Moses 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:04.500 did when he lifted up the rod of God with his 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:07.539 hands. It says in our text that when he held 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:11.420 the rod up, Joshua and his soldiers prevailed 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:14.119 in the battlefield there in the valley. And when 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:16.700 that rod would slip down, then Amalek would prevail 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:20.980 and push back the troops of Joshua. Finally, 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:23.099 Moses' hands were heavy and they got a rock for 00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:26.519 him to sit down and then Aaron and her lifted 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:33.319 the hands of Moses so that that rod was up until 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:36.880 the victory was won. My friend, that uplifted 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:42.380 rod speaks. of nothing less than prevailing prayer. 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:50.619 It is a picture of intercession, of our lifting 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:57.000 our hands to God in prayer on behalf of our battles 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:01.200 and the battles of others around us. Do you find 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.559 yourself this morning in spiritual struggle in 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:07.920 your life? Then your answer, my friend, lies 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:13.140 in your prayer life. Do you know some who are 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:17.019 going through a difficulty? You can join the 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:21.279 battle on their behalf by upholding their hands 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:25.920 in prayer. Is there some missionary that you 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:29.460 have coveted to pray for daily and regularly? 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:33.160 You enter into the battle on that mission field. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:37.859 as you uphold their hands in prevailing prayer. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:42.640 This is the picture that is seen in the uplifted 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:49.799 rod. That rod was used on one occasion to impress 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:53.859 Pharaoh. On the very first time that Moses stood 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:56.839 before him and announced, let God's people go, 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:01.119 he threw down the rod and it became what? A serpent? 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:04.680 And he picked it up by the tail and it became 00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:08.319 a rod again. It pictured the power of God. Later 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:11.539 he smote the Nile River with it and it turned 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:15.680 to blood. And then he held it over the sea, the 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:21.579 Red Sea, and it parted. When you and I enter 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.599 into prayer, and as it were lift up that rod, 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:29.819 you and I enter into the power of God. I do not 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:34.359 understand that, I confess. I do not understand 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:38.660 how God's sovereign, eternally declared purposes 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:43.579 still need our prayers and depend upon our prayers, 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:52.140 but they do. God intends for you and for me to 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:58.420 enter into His divine purposes through our prayer 00:21:58.420 --> 00:22:03.690 life. Prayer is so much more than bowing our 00:22:03.690 --> 00:22:10.730 knees and asking God to do little things. Oh, 00:22:10.730 --> 00:22:13.630 that we could understand the dimensions of prayer. 00:22:15.369 --> 00:22:18.029 Oh, if only our eyes could be opened and we could 00:22:18.029 --> 00:22:23.150 see. We could see what takes place when we pray. 00:22:24.890 --> 00:22:29.049 I tell you that the enemy trembles when the weakest 00:22:29.049 --> 00:22:32.250 Christian is on his knees in sincere prayer before 00:22:32.250 --> 00:22:38.869 God. There is power in prayer. I have been reading 00:22:38.869 --> 00:22:45.210 the story of Ivan Moisevich in the book Vanya, 00:22:45.470 --> 00:22:47.009 which some of you may have picked up during the 00:22:47.009 --> 00:22:52.509 missions festival. The story of a Russian soldier, 00:22:55.029 --> 00:22:58.519 a Christian. and how he was willing to stand 00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:01.099 for his faith in Jesus Christ under the immense 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:04.380 pressure of that military system that tried to 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:08.619 break him. And so desperate were they to break 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:12.500 him that over the process of a couple of years 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:15.400 they finally turned him over to the KGB who tortured 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:20.119 him to death for his faith in Christ. And Vanya 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:25.519 never broke. I don't understand why God does 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:30.099 some things for some people and others he does 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:35.200 it differently, not quite as spectacularly perhaps 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:39.200 as we think of it. But I want to tell you that 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:44.059 Vanya had some unusual experiences. On one occasion 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:46.900 he was able to slip away and he prayed all night. 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:49.519 This was during a time of intense pressure and 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:54.079 persecution at the hands of his superiors. He 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:59.700 found a place that was normally empty. As I recall, 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:01.640 it was an area where they kept uniforms and that 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.960 sort of thing. And he found that he was able 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.240 to get back in there and pray, and pray out loud. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:10.180 And the clothing and the other items in that 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:12.539 room muffled the sound so that it didn't carry. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:18.519 That night he was so heavy. And he said, Lord, 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:23.220 I don't know if I can take any more. He began 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:25.240 to quote scripture to himself, and he glanced 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:28.700 up and looked out the window that was there beside 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:32.640 him where he knelt in prayer. And suddenly that 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:39.200 sky began to brighten. And he testified in a 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:41.420 tape recording that he made just two months before 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:44.839 he was finally killed when he went to visit his 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:48.500 family briefly. He testified as a 22 -year -old 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:50.400 young man that as he looked out that window, 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:55.940 He saw an angel who came nearer to him and brighter 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:58.759 and then more angels and more and more until 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:04.019 the whole sky was lit with angels of many different 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:07.099 hues and colors. It was a spectacular and beautiful 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:11.380 sight. And he found himself greatly encouraged 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:14.980 and strengthened by the presence of these messengers 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:17.579 and angels of God who encouraged him that night. 00:25:18.610 --> 00:25:23.069 And gradually they withdrew until the sky was 00:25:23.069 --> 00:25:26.410 dark again and then the sun rose and he began 00:25:26.410 --> 00:25:30.150 his day. Story after story like that in that 00:25:30.150 --> 00:25:33.329 book called Vanya. Look how God encouraged him. 00:25:33.430 --> 00:25:36.349 My friend, prayer, if you and I could only understand 00:25:36.349 --> 00:25:38.730 what happens in the realm of spiritual things 00:25:38.730 --> 00:25:43.809 when we pray and what does not happen when we 00:25:43.809 --> 00:25:50.240 don't pray. This rod that is lifted up is nothing 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:54.079 less than a reminder to us that prevailing prayer 00:25:54.079 --> 00:26:00.599 is essential for victory to be won. Would God 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:03.140 have allowed Amalek to defeat Israel on that 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:07.500 occasion? That is a question we don't have the 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:11.359 answer to, but this I know that as long as Moses 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:15.440 was in that position of prayer. trusting God 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.180 and waiting upon God, there was victory. And 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:20.299 I tell you that there will only be victory in 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:22.960 the ministry of our church when we as a people 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:25.779 lift up our hands in faith and prayer to God 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:30.339 and believe God. And when our hands are down, 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:33.660 God will allow us to experience whatever comes, 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:39.059 even defeats. Because you see, God is not so 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:42.640 concerned about our comfort as He is our maturity 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:50.579 of faith. We have to move ahead to a third area 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:53.420 of lesson that we see. We come now to Exodus 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:59.059 chapter 18. Moses receives some very important 00:26:59.059 --> 00:27:04.519 visitors. Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.940 father -in -law, heard of all that God had done 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:09.720 for Moses and for Israel as people, how the Lord 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:12.940 had brought Israel out of Egypt. And Jethro, 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:16.200 Moses' father -in -law, took Moses' wife, Zipporah. 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:20.160 after he had sent her away. And her two sons, 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:22.440 of whom one was named Gershom, for he said, I 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:24.380 have been a sojourner in a foreign land, and 00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:26.960 the other was named Eliezer, for he said, the 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:29.180 God of my father was my help and delivered me 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:32.519 from the sword of Pharaoh. In Jethro, Moses' 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:34.819 father -in -law came with his sons and his wife 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:37.599 to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:40.500 at the mount of God." So this is the same place 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:45.039 at Rephidim. Here we see a wise recommendation 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:50.640 given by this man whose name was Jethro, or Ruel, 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:55.720 as he is called elsewhere. You and I know that 00:27:55.720 --> 00:28:00.400 Moses' leadership was God -ordained, and generally 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:04.819 it was respected among the people of Israel until 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:07.319 they came into the times of crisis and trial 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:11.000 when they grumbled and rebelled. But generally, 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:13.240 when the provision was there, they looked to 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:20.319 Moses with respect. But eventually, Moses' leadership 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:26.920 became bottlenecked. He was overtaxed. What was 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:31.140 taking place was not efficient. Notice in verse 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:33.599 13, it says, it came about the next day that 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:37.380 Moses set to judge the people, that is to settle 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:42.759 their disputes. And the people stood about Moses 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:46.019 from the morning until the evening. That was 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:51.680 the situation. This was a benevolent dictatorship, 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:56.400 let's put it that way. Everyone looked to Moses. 00:28:57.140 --> 00:29:01.599 He had the final answer on everything. And so 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.660 if there was a dispute here and an argument over 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:07.509 there, They would all come to Moses and they 00:29:07.509 --> 00:29:09.710 would stand around him all day long until he 00:29:09.710 --> 00:29:14.329 could hear their case and settle the issue. Remember, 00:29:14.430 --> 00:29:16.730 we're talking about a population here of over 00:29:16.730 --> 00:29:20.970 two million people. He's trying to settle the 00:29:20.970 --> 00:29:22.710 disputes for all of them. And now when Moses' 00:29:22.910 --> 00:29:24.609 father -in -law saw all that he was doing for 00:29:24.609 --> 00:29:26.849 the people, he said, what is this thing that 00:29:26.849 --> 00:29:29.369 you're doing for the people? Why do you alone? 00:29:29.630 --> 00:29:31.890 sit as judge, and all the people stand about 00:29:31.890 --> 00:29:33.789 you from morning till evening." Moses said to 00:29:33.789 --> 00:29:35.849 his father -in -law, because the people come 00:29:35.849 --> 00:29:38.750 to me to inquire of God. When they have a dispute, 00:29:38.869 --> 00:29:40.970 it comes to me and I judge between a man and 00:29:40.970 --> 00:29:43.690 his neighbor and make known the statutes of God 00:29:43.690 --> 00:29:46.789 and his laws. And Moses' father -in -law said 00:29:46.789 --> 00:29:49.329 to him, the thing that you are doing is not good. 00:29:50.029 --> 00:29:52.990 You will surely wear out both yourself and these 00:29:52.990 --> 00:29:55.670 people who are with you, for the task is too 00:29:55.670 --> 00:29:58.990 heavy for you. You cannot do it alone. Now listen 00:29:58.990 --> 00:30:01.599 to me. I shall give you counsel, and God be with 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:04.539 you. You be the people's representative before 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:07.559 God, and you bring the disputes to God. Then 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:10.319 teach them the statutes, the laws, and make known 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.980 to them the way in which they are to walk and 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:15.000 the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:18.640 select out of the people able men who fear God, 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:21.500 men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:24.559 And you shall place these over them as leaders 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:26.920 of thousands of hundreds of fifties and tens, 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:31.609 and let them judge the people at all times and 00:30:31.609 --> 00:30:33.750 let it be that every major dispute they bring 00:30:33.750 --> 00:30:36.230 to you but every minor dispute they themselves 00:30:36.230 --> 00:30:39.269 will judge so it will be easier for you and they 00:30:39.269 --> 00:30:43.029 will bear the burden with you. And so we have 00:30:43.029 --> 00:30:46.869 here a provision of wisdom in this wise recommendation 00:30:46.869 --> 00:30:51.630 from Jethro. He accurately evaluated what the 00:30:51.630 --> 00:30:55.210 situation was and then counseled Moses to draw 00:30:55.210 --> 00:30:58.539 upon a plurality of leadership. He said, you 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:02.019 need to organize the people. And he gave certain 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:07.099 qualifications which were to be followed. And 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:11.759 to them, he was then to delegate various roles 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:15.400 in order to spread out the responsibility for 00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:19.200 the nation. This is a wise recommendation. I 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:22.039 have heard people dispute that, believing that 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:24.339 this was not the proper thing to do, that it 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:27.609 was fleshly wisdom, but I disagree. I believe 00:31:27.609 --> 00:31:30.029 that this was an answer to Moses and what he 00:31:30.029 --> 00:31:33.470 needed at that time. Moses could not see it himself. 00:31:35.549 --> 00:31:41.509 He needed someone to point it out to him. You 00:31:41.509 --> 00:31:46.250 and I, as we grow in leadership, whether it be 00:31:46.250 --> 00:31:50.829 in a small church or the church as a whole, or 00:31:50.829 --> 00:31:55.730 over that department that we work for or that 00:31:55.730 --> 00:31:58.809 corporation that we're employed by. As you and 00:31:58.809 --> 00:32:02.869 I grow in leadership, we have to adjust to a 00:32:02.869 --> 00:32:07.809 changing role. Now as is true in the business 00:32:07.809 --> 00:32:10.369 world, so it is true in the ministry as well, 00:32:10.470 --> 00:32:12.750 there are some leaders who thrive on being the 00:32:12.750 --> 00:32:17.329 center of everything. Every issue, every decision, 00:32:17.549 --> 00:32:22.680 every plan must be brought to them. I had to 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:26.539 have a pastor friend who is basically that way. 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:29.960 I don't fault him for it. That's just the way 00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:34.339 he's put together. He built a solid church. He 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:36.900 took a church that was about a thousand and over 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:40.200 a period of eighteen years it grew to a membership 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:44.059 of almost three thousand. With an attendance 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:48.220 of about two thousand. But everything had to 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:52.099 come to him. Eventually, as a result of that, 00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:55.799 two things happened. The work of the church became 00:32:55.799 --> 00:33:01.420 sluggish and bogged down, and he burned out, 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:07.880 and he finally resigned. Now whether it's in 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:10.299 the ministry or, as I say, in your profession 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:13.859 in the business world, as you grow in your leadership, 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.660 in your responsibility, you must adjust to a 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:21.319 changing role. and learn to delegate. There are 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:23.460 some principles that are seen here, and I want 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:27.700 just to give them briefly. Chuck Swindoll has 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:31.140 pointed these out to us. Number one, in every 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:35.299 responsibility, two factors are present, the 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:39.980 essential and the additional. Keep that in mind. 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:43.480 In whatever you're doing in your leadership role, 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:47.000 There are some things that are obligations for 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:51.519 you as a leader that you must do. And then there 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:54.339 are other things that are peripheral. They're 00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:58.740 extracurricular, so to speak. You as a leader 00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:01.279 must be able to discern the difference between 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:05.900 the two. What you have to do and what others 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:10.019 are able to do, if you let them. And that brings 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:12.179 us to principle number two, that as the workload 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:17.409 increases, The wise leader restrains his involvement 00:34:17.409 --> 00:34:21.989 and involves others more. The simple word for 00:34:21.989 --> 00:34:27.730 this is delegation. A wise leader learns to choose 00:34:27.730 --> 00:34:32.030 men and women that are trustworthy, to whom he 00:34:32.030 --> 00:34:36.250 can commit responsibilities. And with the responsibility, 00:34:36.309 --> 00:34:40.050 he's willing to give them authority to carry 00:34:40.050 --> 00:34:44.510 out what they need to do. He keeps them accountable, 00:34:45.510 --> 00:34:49.230 but he doesn't keep his fingers in all the pots. 00:34:51.449 --> 00:34:55.730 He withdraws unless those who are his delegates 00:34:55.730 --> 00:35:00.449 carry out what they are to do. That is a basic 00:35:00.449 --> 00:35:02.769 principle and I think Moses learns it here and 00:35:02.769 --> 00:35:05.869 he learns it well. Then there's a third principle. 00:35:06.250 --> 00:35:08.610 God's servants are not exempt from the penalties 00:35:08.610 --> 00:35:12.780 of breaking life's natural laws. In other words, 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:17.539 if we grow in our responsibilities, in our leadership, 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:22.920 and we refuse to sufficiently delegate, inevitably, 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:27.320 eventually, that will bring us to physical, emotional, 00:35:27.340 --> 00:35:34.420 or mental breakdown. It will. No one can continue 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:38.300 functioning under intense pressure and long working 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:45.019 hours without cracking in some way. God has designed 00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:51.099 us that way. You may feel that you are a servant 00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:53.920 of God and God gives you extra strength and grace 00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:57.559 and indeed he does. But he does not exempt you 00:35:57.559 --> 00:36:00.239 from the penalties of breaking life's natural 00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:04.199 laws. And then the fourth principle is this. 00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:08.989 Efficiency is increased not only by what is accomplished, 00:36:09.150 --> 00:36:13.230 but also by what is relinquished. Whenever we 00:36:13.230 --> 00:36:16.190 believe that we can or should do it all, and 00:36:16.190 --> 00:36:18.489 at the same time maintain a high standard of 00:36:18.489 --> 00:36:21.409 productivity and excellence, our mind should 00:36:21.409 --> 00:36:24.889 reflect, says Swindoll, long and hard on Moses' 00:36:25.230 --> 00:36:28.829 ineffective leadership methods. Not only did 00:36:28.829 --> 00:36:31.389 he exhaust himself, but he failed to meet the 00:36:31.389 --> 00:36:34.559 numerous needs of the Israelites. However, Moses' 00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:37.500 situation was remedied because he chose to apply 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:41.260 some sound advice. And like Moses, only when 00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:43.820 we began doing the essentials and delegated the 00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:46.920 incidentals will we experience both relief and 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:50.519 success. So some good principles for those of 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:53.019 you who are in leadership positions out there 00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:55.300 in the business world, seen here from the Word 00:36:55.300 --> 00:37:01.079 of God in Exodus chapter 18. Today as we camp 00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:04.289 with the Israelites at Rephidim. It may be that 00:37:04.289 --> 00:37:08.750 one of these trials is just where you're at. 00:37:09.969 --> 00:37:12.769 It may be that you are one who is here today 00:37:12.769 --> 00:37:15.690 struggling under a lot of responsibility that's 00:37:15.690 --> 00:37:18.989 been laid in your lap by promotion, and you're 00:37:18.989 --> 00:37:21.349 not sure how to handle it. Well, learn some lessons 00:37:21.349 --> 00:37:25.090 here. Here's a place to begin. Learn how to wisely 00:37:25.090 --> 00:37:32.590 delegate to others that responsibility. It could 00:37:32.590 --> 00:37:35.050 be that you are one who is struggling in your 00:37:35.050 --> 00:37:38.110 prayer life. Will you learn from what happens 00:37:38.110 --> 00:37:40.550 with Israel that you must lift up your hands 00:37:40.550 --> 00:37:43.769 in prayer if there is to be victory? If you would 00:37:43.769 --> 00:37:46.690 know spiritual victory in your life, in your 00:37:46.690 --> 00:37:49.710 church, in your Bible study, in your ministry, 00:37:51.010 --> 00:37:53.710 then it will come through the uplifted hands 00:37:53.710 --> 00:37:59.570 as we pray. Are you one who today is thirsty 00:37:59.570 --> 00:38:03.369 of soul? And within you, you long for something 00:38:03.369 --> 00:38:07.710 that would satisfy. Jesus invites you to come 00:38:07.710 --> 00:38:11.469 and to drink of the water of life which He can 00:38:11.469 --> 00:38:14.989 provide for you because He is the Rock who was 00:38:14.989 --> 00:38:19.909 smitten, the Savior who was crucified for you. 00:38:21.469 --> 00:38:29.590 Let's pray. Our heads are bowed. Our eyes are 00:38:29.590 --> 00:38:33.869 closed. And I wonder if in the quietness of these 00:38:33.869 --> 00:38:39.389 closing seconds, if in some measure the Spirit 00:38:39.389 --> 00:38:41.570 of God has ministered to your life and you need 00:38:41.570 --> 00:38:48.050 to respond today in a particular way. How about 00:38:48.050 --> 00:38:55.610 leader? How about it? Are you willing to learn 00:38:55.610 --> 00:39:02.480 how to lead more effectively? Will you ask God 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:05.780 to teach you to be a more efficient, more fruitful 00:39:05.780 --> 00:39:09.119 leader by applying the principles of His Word? 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:19.000 Certainly all of us need to apply what is said 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:23.699 about prevailing prayer. And is there someone 00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:29.000 here who needs the water of life? Drink of Him 00:39:29.000 --> 00:39:33.599 today. Right now, trust Him right where you're 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:38.900 seated. Receive Him, and you will never thirst 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:47.980 again. Father, I thank you for the sufficiency 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:51.980 of Jesus Christ, for whatever our circumstances 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:56.179 may be, whether we're in camp at Rephidim or 00:39:56.179 --> 00:40:01.739 Roseville. Jesus is that supernatural rock that 00:40:01.739 --> 00:40:06.320 is with us throughout the journey. Thank you 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:12.119 that we find in Him all that we need. Let's sing 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:34.780 that little chorus with our heads bowed. Christ 00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:50.539 is all I need. Christ is all I need. All, all 00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:57.579 I need. I know you believe that. You've sung 00:40:57.579 --> 00:41:00.239 it from your heart. Will you tell them, thank 00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:03.789 you? Will you appropriate him for what you need 00:41:03.789 --> 00:41:11.130 today? Lord Jesus, truly be all in all to us. 00:41:12.550 --> 00:41:15.110 Forgive us when we enter into the God -designed 00:41:15.110 --> 00:41:19.230 tests and fail them. Oh, thank you for your grace 00:41:19.230 --> 00:41:23.849 that meets us even there in our failure and leads 00:41:23.849 --> 00:41:27.949 us on. But oh, that we might pass the tests. 00:41:28.070 --> 00:41:30.630 Oh, that we might grow and mature in our faith. 00:41:31.150 --> 00:41:38.010 that we might trust you. Today may we find in 00:41:38.010 --> 00:41:41.250 Jesus the answer to our every need, each of us 00:41:41.250 --> 00:41:46.750 here. In His name we pray, amen.