Growing Season – Week 6
August 7, 2022
Pastor Ricky Smith
Sermon Notes
I. The Weak Link
Exodus 17:8
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.
Deuteronomy 25:17-19
“Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the journey after you left Egypt. They met you along the way and attacked all your stragglers from behind when you were tired and weary. They did not fear God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, blot out the memory of Amalek under heaven. Do not forget.
Soul-care and self-care are ways to avoid becoming the weak link
II. The Way to Look in War
Exodus 17:9-13
So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
God continues to work by His power and according to His will
A. Simplicity of our role
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
B. Support from others
The Christian life is meant to be lived in community
III. Worship the Way of the Lord
Exodus 17:14-16
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Christ is a force that cannot fail
Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Next Steps
- I confess my sin and turn to Jesus as my King for the first time.
- I commit to engage in a group to build community.
- I choose to point others to God by telling stories of His faithfulness.
Deep Dive
- Share a story of God’s provision or answered prayer in your life.
- How does Romans 8:37 offer hope when we are enduring trials?
- What are ways we can build altars to remember God’s faithfulness?
Springboard
- What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
- Read Proverbs 19:20 and discuss the value of Godly counsel.
- Read 1 John 4:1 and discuss the importance of filtering advice through the Bible.
