What are we fighting for?

Exodus 17

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."

15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.


In this passage, we see a few characters. Moses, Aaron, Hur, Joshua and the Israelites and an object of focus, the staff of God. In this battle, there is only one goal. To obey God and defeat the Amalekites. Each of the mentioned character is given a role to play. Moses to keep the staff raised, Aaron and Hur to help Moses keep his hands raised and Joshua to lead the Israelites to fight. Different roles but one goal. None of them expressed the desire to do another person's role. Can you imagine if young Joshua wants to sit high up and raised the staff? Or old Moses wanting to show off by leading the army to fight?

When I heard this passage being preached and I thought of ASC Music Ministry and our involvement in church and XSY. I hope each of us keep in mind the reason why we are in MM for. I hope it is not to show off our skills, even more so that it is not because MM needs you. I hope it is not just for fun and to be associated with a group of 'talented' people. (If your image of fun is coming to practice tired after a long day, then I got nothing to say) But most important, that we see that it is an opportunity to serve His people and to be part of His salvation work to the mission field, i.e AHS students.

God doesn't need Moses to keep his hands raised to beat the Amalekites. He doesn't need Aaron and Hur to assist Moses. He surely doesn't need Joshua to defeat the enemies. They were given an opportunity to be part of His work and to express their obedience and their trust in their God.

God doesn't need MM to grow His church and to bring His people to Him. We've been given a privilege to come back on weekday nights to practice a few hours to serve His people. It's a time we can continually express our dependency and exercise our faith and trust. Serving in MM or anywhere else will be extremely difficult when we loose sight of the staff of God. Why are we spending so much time for? Why do I need to get up so early for? Why do I still need to play when I am tired or when I have exams or work to do?

I hope all of us, including myself, will ask ourselves these questions. Since we are already on the same boat, I think we should work towards the common goal. No doubt it is an ongoing spiritual battle. Do we know who's side are we on?

What are we fighting for?
Zhihao

Prayers

There was a time when we needed to balance our commitments between XSY and school.
There was a time when we needed to balance our commitments between XSY and studies.
There was a time when we needed to balance our commitments between XSY and serving the nation.
There was a time when we needed to balance our commitments between XSY and family and friends.
Now, there is a time when we need to balance our commitments between XSY and work, family, BG friends, other commitments, careers and many more.

I trust that everyone has observed the trend in all of us in MM. We are arriving later for practice and also getting more tired. This is the time that we need to kneel together in prayers.

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
Psalms 127:1

I believe it is never too late to pray, even short little prayers. I ask that we start now to pray, starting from ourselves. showing our dependence in our God.
Pray for a heart of preparation to serve God through this coming XSY. Not only serving there but even now as we start our practices.
Let us also serve one another in our actions so that we live out the love of our Lord Jesus, such that others see God through our actions.
I believe it will not be easy. Satan will be hard at work! All the more we want to be found, like soldiers of God, putting on all the full armour of God to fight this defeated foe!

Let's ask God in our daily prayers:
1) To have the strength and energy to do what is needed for the day.
2) To be able to make it on time for practice and the strength and energy to last through the practice.
3) To set aside time to pray for the team as well as the time of interaction during XSY.
4) The worship leaders, that God will help them lead the team and to know what to say relevantly and accurately to the students that are coming
5) For the camp committee and all aspects of the camp. (I believe it'll be updated along the way)

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Together on His Majesty's Service!
Zhihao