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Holding Up the Hands of Moses and the Members of Christ’s Body Exodus 17

Perpetual or intermittent victory? What shall it be for thee?

May Christ’s body abandon our own things and hasten to the edification of the members of His beloved body. We are lifting up the brothers and sisters of our Savior today (Hebrews 6:10). Upholding Christ by holding up our relentless worship, our praise to Him, seeking His face continually, assures eternal glory with Him, His victory over sin, Satan, hell, and the grave!

Holding up the hands of leaders, of others, is an ancient practice and represents true worship. When Moses’ hands were upward (represents true worship) God’s people prospered in fighting the good fight of faith. When Moses’ hands were allowed to fall down (represents backsliding, lukewarm, apostasy) the people of God were losing the war. Selah beloved of God.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 

Only those who worship Him now will have the privilege of worshipping the KING forever!

Moses and the people of God had just been refreshed by the LORD, via the waters that flowed from the smitten rock in the desert (Exodus 17:1-7). Now they faced their attacking enemy, Amalek. Amalek represents the relentlessly attacking enemy of the flesh which dwells in us after we’ve received “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” and which must be crucified (Titus 3:5-7; Galatians 5:16-25). After Jesus saves us, at the point of initial salvation, from that point forward, we are confronted by the bent, the iniquities, the deeds of the flesh, and accountable to put them away, to crucify them (Romans 6-7, etc.).

A wise man has observed that:

“Either you will crucify the flesh or the flesh will crucify Christ out of your life.”

“When planting a tree, the longer it has support stakes around it, the less it can sway to the left or right; and the deeper the roots will take hold. Discipling the new converts is exactly like that. 🙏🔥” Michael Neff

Israel Defeats Amalek (Amalek represents the flesh)

“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek (represents the flesh): to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah nissi: 16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:8-16

“Rephidim” means “a place in the desert.” Does this not remind us of Jesus being tempted of Satan in the wilderness, the desert? (Matthew 4; Luke 4)

“War with Amalek from generation to generation” represents the ongoing need to put down, to crucify the flesh till we’re in Heaven. As long as the life of the born again saint is heavenward, is seeking the face of the LORD, setting the heart affections on things above, not on things on the earth, the power of Heaven will be present to keep the flesh crucified, being raised up by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12-14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Colossians 3:1-10, etc.).

The flesh, Amalek, cannot be cast out. No, it must be crucified “daily” till we are with the LORD in Heaven (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 15:31).

Amalek represents the flesh which can only be defeated via the crucified Savior and cross life He instructed us to participate with Him in daily (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

Holding up my hands and heart in worship to the LORD, putting Him first and not myself, is essential to victory in my personal life and in helping others of His saints.

“We got all those little demons, picking at us, wearing us down, then just one brother or sister comes rolling up, then it’s over.” Phil Butler

If Christ is not my “first love,” I am committing spiritual adultery on the LORD (Revelation 2:4-5).

Joshua is a type of Christ here who conquered all sin, death, hell, and the grave. As children of God, as we keep our hands and hearts upward in worship-filled obedience to the LORD, we will defeat, discomfit the flesh and the evil one! (Romans 6-8; James 4:6-10, etc.).

“And he (King Uzziah) sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.” 2 Chronicles 26:5

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

“I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 30:21

Of this chapter, Exodus 17, F.B. Meyer notes:

“From the smitten rock flowed the water for the thirsty hosts. So the Rock of Ages was smitten, and from His riven side has flowed out blood and water, for the sin and thirst of the world. He that eateth His flesh and drinketh His blood, spiritually, hath eternal life. Such refreshment is in preparation for warfare. Then came Amalek! When our physical needs are satisfied, there is always the fear of Amalek, who, in the typology of Scripture, stands for the flesh. Between this wilderness tribe and Israel the conflict was long and bitter. The old Adam, said Luther, is too strong for the young Melanchthon. But let the Lord fight for you! Lift up your hands with opened palms to Him; He will not fail. See R.V. margin and Mat. 1:21. But guard the rear, and ask that Jesus shall beset you behind as well as before. See Deu. 25:17-18.”

Concerning Exodus 17:11 Donald Stamps writes:

“MOSES HELD UP HIS HAND. By holding up his hands to the LORD Moses reveals His dependence on God and His faith in Him. (1) Israel’s strength and victory lay only in a continuous drawing near to God in prayer, faith, and obedience. When the prayer of Moses ceased, the flow of divine power to His people ceased. (2) This divine principle continues to operate under the New Covenant. If we fail to call upon God daily in prayer, then the divine life, protection, blessing, and grace will begin to cease flowing toward us. Our only hope of victory lies in continually drawing near to the throne of grace through Christ, that we might receive the power and grace of God to help us in times of need (Heb. 4:16; 7:25).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 119

Exodus 17 – Moses stood at the river, and on the rock, and on the hill.

“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb (means desolation); and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” Exodus 17:6

Moses stood “upon the rock in Horeb” which means desolation. After the fall of man into sin, man being now alienated from the life of God, desolation reigned (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 1-3; Ephesians 2:1; 4:18). When Jesus our Rock was smitten, cleansing and refreshing (His blood and the Holy Ghost) flowed forth from God’s throne of grace.

Aaron and Hur upheld Moses. They did not seek to replace him in order to elevate themselves. This meant that there were at least 3 of God’s people in agreement and the victory was won! (Matthew 18:19-20) Satan uses false leaders to turn the affections of people’s hearts away from Christ. Study Colossians 2:18-19 closely saints. We see this with David and his son Absalom where his son sought to replace David with himself. “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6). David was a type of Christ and Absalom is a type of false teachers and the antichrist. Anti means in place of. Absalom sought to put himself in place of his father David – to replace him in order to be esteemed, popular, worshipped, to be rich in this world (Colossians 2:18-19).

“Rephidim (Chap. 17)
17:1-7 At Rephidim the people contended with Moses because of a shortage of water. The Lord instructed Moses to proceed to the general area known as Horeb (meaning the desolate place) and to strike the rock with his rod. When he did, water flowed from the rock—a picture of the Holy Spirit, who was given on the day of Pentecost as the fruit of Christ’s being struck on Calvary.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary

Perpetual Prayer Communion is Essential to Eternal Glory – to Preventing Falling Away

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 
The simplest definition of prayer is that it is communing with God. And, those who do not “pray without ceasing” will “fall away”, they will not be full of Heaven’s fuel to “endure to the end.” (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13; 25:1-13; Luke 8:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 4:1-2, etc.).
Beloved, the LORD is calling you today to realize that you are personally in a war for your own soul, for the souls of others, and that you must lay down your life in this fleeting world, to “fight the good faith of faith” or you will faint in the way (1 Timothy 6:12).
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
The lifting up of the hands toward Heaven, God’s throne, is the sign of surrender, of worship to our God.
 
“Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I LIFT UP MY HANDS toward thy holy oracle.” Psalms 28:2
 
“Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will LIFT UP MY HANDS in thy name.” Psalms 63:4
 
“MY HANDS ALSO WILL I LIFT UP unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.” Psalms 119:48

Raising the arms of Moses teaches us that we must have God’s presence, power, and people to walk in His victory.

The difference between the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins in Jesus’ teaching, was that the 5 wise virgins stayed before the Bridegroom, and kept the affections of their hearts on Him and no other! Read Matthew 25:1-13.

As we seek the LORD, He is going to uphold us.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

The wayfaring saint must keep his heart with all diligence and the way to do that is to keep that heart full of God’s Word:

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20 

Mark 2

“And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 
2  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 
3  And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 
4  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 
5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. …
9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 
10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 
11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 
12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” 

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Abiding

Victory Over “Evil Concupiscence” and Every Sexual Sin [podcast]


“Flee fornication”

“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

“Concupiscence” appears 3 times in God’s Word and speaking of having a secret desire for that which is forbidden, namely in sexual lust.

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” Romans 7:8

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:5

“Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:” 1 Thessalonians 4:5

Revelation 19:7-9

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” 

Colossians 3:1-6

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:”  

Memorize Colossians 3:3

“Submerge yourself deeper and deeper into Jesus until you sink out of sight.”!! Unknown

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” 

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Read Psalms 51 and Romans 6 each morning.

PRAYER: Holy Father, please forgive my many sins. Please touch this vessel all the way to the core of who You made me to be. Do Your work in this life You gave. Please unite my heart to fear Thy name and purify this heart O LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Return of Jesus and Being Ready

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Abiding

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]


Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12

Exhorting God’s People “Daily”

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

“Feed my sheep”

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”  John 21:15-17

Simplicity in Fellowship

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”  Acts 2:42

They “continued steadfastly in …

  • “the apostles doctrines”
  • “fellowship”
  • “breaking bread”
  • “prayers”

“Great podcast. Thank you. As I was listening I was thinking about all the many churches we have attended through the years. And the one thing missing was love for Jesus. Everything was robotic. Hands raised in singing but no hearts raised. All scripted. You follow the script then go home. No honesty about their lives! All fake. Nothing more than a religious gathering. The disciples of old turned the world upside down because of their love for their Savior! They were willing to die for Him and they did! All these fake Christians do is wear outward religious garb and somehow think Jesus doesn’t know – as in Matthew 23. How refreshing it is to be around people who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind! (Mat 22:37). Even if it is mostly online and as they live their daily lives. At least it is all about Jesus and not self! And I want to be with people who are Christ-centered not self-centered!” Karen Cochran

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please do Your work in this vessel that is Yours. Help me to love You more and to live to serve others as You did LORD Jesus. Make me holy as You are holy. Let this life be crucified and raised up by You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Abiding

Fruitfulness is Found in Abiding in Christ [podcast]


“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

Jesus is the True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:1-7

“The understanding is, if I am truly abiding in Christ (the Vine, my first love) then the fruit will come from Him, and not from me—of my own making—but through me. Again, it’s relationship with Christ that is the root of the matter, and not just outwardly keeping a list of rules (living under the law).

‘Abiding fruitfulness’—so loaded with meaning!

    1. for your own state of abiding in Christ
    2. for the fruit that is brought forth because you are abiding in Christ (the Vine) Who gives life to and bears the fruit
    3. that the fruit itself (fruit of the Spirit, souls of men and all good works that are born of the Spirit) will abide (remain) and flourish in God’s kingdom on earth and in eternity.” Debbie L.

IF JESUS is purging you, rejoice—because that means He’s born good fruit in your life and wants to bring forth more! Boom.

“Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2

*Read that again.

IF you are not a DOER of God’s Word, it proves you are not saved and are a lukewarm hell bound rebel. Repent now and bring forth fruit to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10; 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 2:26, etc.).

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern ourselves and others?

The FRUIT of our lives (Matthew 7:16,20).

The root determines the fruit.

Are you rooted in Christ?

Our works are the good fruit born out of Christ’s salvation and present work in our lives. Those good works do not save us but are a mere outworking of His great salvation in us.

FRUIT vs GIFTS

There are lots of people bragging about their GIFTS which alone tells you they are not in Christ who taught that the greatest among us will be the SERVANT of all—the FRUIT of God’s love in the true remnant disciple (Matthew 20:24-28; 23:8-12).

Gospel Hint: God is interested in a real relationship with those who choose Him. That relationship will always bear good fruit. FRUIT is the crop of an abiding relationship with Jesus which is the stated reason that God the Father sent His only begotten Son (John 15:1-16; 17:3). Anyone can operate in or even fake gifts. Gifts are glitter. Fruit is foundation! The root determines the fruit. What fruit is being born, produced in your life? Are you asking God to make you one with Him? Read John 17.

In the divine economy, FRUIT is much more important than GIFT because good FRUIT can only come out of relationship.

GOD is interested in FRUIT that only comes from a ROOTED abiding relationship! See Matthew 3:7-10; John 15, etc. Jesus foretold that on Judgment Day “MANY” will call out to Him with “Lord, Lord” as they boast of the GIFTS they operated in. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:19-23).

Taking up the cross, suffering the death of self, is not earning us salvation… it’s simply rendering worship-filled “obedience to the faith” (Romans 1:5) – faith in the ONE who bled on that cross to earn salvation for us, all by Himself!

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