Message Notes

(I) FACING THE BATTLES OF LIFE

1. The battle of the mind…doubts

a) When Israel did not have water, they began to contend with Moses and the Lord

“Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” Exodus 17:1

b) They questioned Moses for bringing them into the wilderness

“Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Exodus 17:3

c) Their contending was so serious that they were about to stone Moses

d) Even though the Lord did provide them water, they doubted the Lord’s presence

“So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:7

e) This is the battle of the mind

2. The battle in the physical realm

a) Israel had to battle against the Amalekites (Descendants of Esau)

b) We will have to face physical battles in life

3. The battle in the spiritual realm

a) Moses entered into spiritual battle in prayer

b) The battle of the spiritual is related to the physical battle

“And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.” Exodus 17:11

(II) FOCUSING ON THE LORD-IS-MY-BANNER IN OUR BATTLES

“And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:15, 16

1. The name… Adonai (Jehovah) nissi

a) Lord

b) Banner

c) The Lord is seen as the banner of Moses…of Israel

“The Lord is My Banner”

2. The significance of Adonai (Jehovah) nissi

a) Focusing on the Lord as his banner

b) The banner becomes the rallying point of Moses and of Israel

c) It is meant to strengthen the spirit of the person to fight

d) Proving the presence of the Lord

(III) FAITH IN THE LORD AS OUR BANNER

1. Remember the Lord is our banner

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Exodus 17:14-16

2. Faith on the Lord our banner in the battles of our life

3. Faith to pray in our spiritual battles…especially for the sake of others.