Prayer Partners Series
By
Dr. Elmer Towns
Lesson 2: Helping others in prayer
A. INTRODUCTION: EXODUS 17:8-14
“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 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. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 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. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 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.”
B. HOW WE CAN HELP OTHERS IN PRAYER?
1. Challenged to prayer by an attack. What was the great motivation for intercession? “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel” (v.8).
2. Some battles are constant. Why did Amalek attack Israel? They were old enemies. “And Abraham reproved Amalek because of a well of water, which Amalek’s servants had violently taken away” (Gen. 21:25). Just as the enemy attacked Israel for water 400 years earlier, now they returned to fight again over water.
3. Some battles come after great spiritual victories. What had just happened? Israel had sinned by doubting God’s ability to provide water (17:2). Moses struck the rock and water came out.
4. Your present prayer challenge may be greater than your past challenge. What was the previous prayer challenge? The people would die from lack of water. Now the people faced an attack from the enemy.
What is your greatest prayer challenge?
For God to supply your need?
For God to give spiritual protection?
5. Use people according to their usability. How were the people organized to face the problem? “Moses said unto Joshua, ‘Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek’” (v.9).
6. The leader must lead spiritually. What was Moses going to do? “Tomorrow, I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand” (v.9).
7. Victory comes to the spiritually active. What did Moses do to get a victory in battle? “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (v.11).
8. Leaders need help. Moses was not able to do the job alone, what was done? “Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill” (v.10).
9. We lose when we stop praying. What happened when Moses could not intercede? “When he (Moses) let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (v.11).
10. The flesh is naturally weak. What was the cause that stopped intercession? “But Moses’ hands were heavy” (v.12).
11. We need physical help. What did the helpers do when the intercession stopped? “They took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon” (v.12).
12. Leaders need help in holding up arms of intercessors. After the helpers looked after Moses’ needs, what else did they do? “Aaron and Hur stayed his hands, the one on the one side, and the other in the other side” (v.12).
13. Leaders need constant help. How long did Aaron and Hur help Moses? “And his hands were steady until the going down of the Sun” (v.12).
14. Victory is a team effort. Who won the victory? “Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword” (v.13). Joshua fought, Moses prayed, Aaron and Hur helped. “For we are workmen together with God” (see I Cor. 3:9, II Cor. 6:1).
15. No final victory till Heaven. Did Joshua completely destroy Amalek? “Joshua discomfited Amalek,” i.e., he caused the enemy to retreat.
16. God used tools. What did God use beside human instruments?
a. The sword in the hands of soldiers (v.13).
b. The rod of God in the hand of Moses (v.9).
c. The stone (v.12).
d. The tools He uses today: prayer list, books on prayer, daily devotionals, prayer closets, prayer meetings, posture, etc.
17. Keep a written record of your prayer ministry. What did God tell Moses to do after the victory was won? “Write this for a memorial” (v.19).
18. Your answers to prayer will encourage you. Why did God tell Moses to write down this victory? “Write this for a memorial . . . and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua” (v.14).
19. God loves symbols. Why did Moses build an altar at the place of victory? “And Moses built an altar and called the place of it, Jehovah-nissi (the Lord Our Banner)” (v.15). A symbol is an outer evidence of an inner reality.
20. God gave us the victory. What was the meaning of Moses’ sacrifice upon the altar after the battle? “Because the Lord hath sworn . . . the Lord will have war . . .” (v.16).
21. We must be continually on guard. What lessons about prayer can be found from this Scripture? “The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (v.16).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
**PowerPoint files have been created to coordinate with this lesson. If you would like the file emailed to you, contact eltowns@liberty.edu.
