and Deuteronomy 20:1-4

How to Deal with Daily Hassles

Introduction

All of life’s hassles and battles are spiritual battles. However, we do not fight these battles under our own power–the battle is the Lord’s.

God taught Israel that they must depend on Him to win their battles, not their own strength or ingenuity. That does not mean we don’t have to do anything. We have to obey and follow God’s instructions. God is the One Who will make Israel victorious over their enemies.

Thesis: Our daily hassles are spiritual battles that only God can win.

How are our daily hassles won by God?

This passage teaches that our hassles are either won by prayer or lost by prayerlessness. Here are 4 important lessons about prayer.

Prayer Is a Spiritual Effort

A. Exegesis, vv. 8-10

1. General Joshua in battle
2. Pastor Moses on the hilltop with the staff of God
3. Deacons Aaron and Hur supporting Moses

B. Illustration

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

C. Application

Every Christian needs a pastor and deacons to pray for them each day and to remind the Christian that he is dependent on God for victory.

Prayer Is a Cooperative Effort

A. Exegesis, vv. 10-13

1. General Joshua, supported by prayer, fights the battle.
2. Pastor Moses, holding up the standard in prayer, shows the way to victory–the battle is the Lord’s (Jehovoh-Nissi, the Lord our Banner).
3. Deacons Aaron and Hur pray with Moses for victory.

B. Illustration

Matthew 18:18-20  “Verily I say unto you, ‘Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ 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. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.'”

C. Application

1. Christians are to support each other through prayer and provisions.
2. In particular, Christians are to support the spiritual leaders who pray for them.

Prayer Is an Exhausting Effort

A. Exegesis, vv. 11-12

1. Pastor Moses held up the standard, straining against gravity.
2. The spiritual is always against the natural.
3. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” said Jesus.

B. Illustration

Luke 22:39-46   Jesus and the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told them, “Watch and pray”; but the disciples fell asleep. Christ’s sweat was like drops of blood.

C. Application–>Physical activity is sometimes easier than spiritual activities.

Prayer Is a Christ-like Effort

A. As Moses interceded for Israel, so Christ intercedes for us, John 17.

B. As Moses help up out-stretched hands with the staff of God, so Christ held out His hands on the Cross of Calvary.

C. As the staff of God symbolized God’s presence and power, the Cross symbolizes Christ’s presence before God as He intercedes for us, and the Cross symbolizes Christ’s power over death, hell, and the grave, 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4.  To illustrate, the movie, Gettysburg, the flag-bearer.

Conclusion

All our battles are spiritual battles that only God can win.

Are you fighting your battles only through the flesh of your effort and ingenuity? You will lose, because Satan is more powerful than you.

Are you supporting other Christians through prayer? If not, you are fighting against the Lord through the sin of prayerlessness.

Are you bathing everything you do in prayer? If so, Jehovah-Nissi will either help you fight the battle or will win the battle for you. We are completely dependent on Him to win our battles.

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