"A fascinating story is told in Exodus 17. Many will recall the account of the battle of Rephidim in which Joshua defeated Amalek.
Joshua's name has been entered permanently into military history as the general who won the battle of Rephidim.
But the Bible tells us the rest of the story.
A strategy conference before the battle had determined that while Joshua would lead the troops out to the battlefield, Moses would go up on a nearby hill and intercede for Joshua.
So Aaron and Hur came to help, propped Moses up with stones, and did everything they could to keep Moses' hands in the air.
As a result, Joshua won the battle (see Exodus 17:8-13)
This is a simple story and has a great principle for us to grasp. Joshua is fighting while Moses is praying. Joshua gets the credit for winning the battle, but we know who really won it.
Ultimately, of course, it was God's power that won the battle, but the human agent most directly used as a channel of that divine power was the intercessor, Moses, not the general, Joshua.
As my friend Walter Wink would say, 'history belonged to the intercessor.'
As I apply this to real life, I see Joshua doing the 'ministry.' It so happened that his God-given assignment at the moment was to fight a battle.
I wonder just how much Joshua was prying throughout that day in the Valley of Rephidim.
Probable not much, if at all. Yet the battle was ultimately won by prayer, the prayers of the intercessor, not the prayers of the minister.
Not that Joshua was unimportant. The battle could not have been won without him either.
Many Christian leaders today are like Joshua. They are activists in the ministry. They are winners.
People see them as successful servants of God. Day after day they see God's power operating through them for the blessing of others.
And where does this power come from?
It is released through intercession."
Today’s post -
#2 How God's Power is Released, in the series
taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How
to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. [pgs. 24,25] By Regal Books
The next post is to be 6/25, from C. Peter Wagner’s book, #3 Revival in Hereford, Texas
Let’s pray: Father, as we think of what was shared with us, may we begin to understand the importance of our praying for our spiritual leaders. Help us hold up their hands, as they do their part in studying, praying, counseling, preaching, and everyday living. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Today’s Bible verse: (Ps. 85:6) "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"
Today’s quote:
Dennis Fisher – “Stormy circumstances are inevitable. Although our first reaction may be to run from the problem, we can instead ask God to teach us how to trust Him to navigate us through the storm.”
Our thought today:
Jesus ministers to our hearts! We are to minister to others with His guidance and help.
A popular post: Gospel for Asia
#2 How God's Power is Released, in the series
taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How
to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. [pgs. 24,25] By Regal Books
The next post is to be 6/25, from C. Peter Wagner’s book, #3 Revival in Hereford, Texas
Let’s pray: Father, as we think of what was shared with us, may we begin to understand the importance of our praying for our spiritual leaders. Help us hold up their hands, as they do their part in studying, praying, counseling, preaching, and everyday living. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Today’s Bible verse: (Ps. 85:6) "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"
Today’s quote:
Dennis Fisher – “Stormy circumstances are inevitable. Although our first reaction may be to run from the problem, we can instead ask God to teach us how to trust Him to navigate us through the storm.”
Our thought today:
Jesus ministers to our hearts! We are to minister to others with His guidance and help.
A popular post: Gospel for Asia
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