Lesson 9: Fighting in the Shadow of the Cross
Questions 5 and 6
The Man in the Middle
Friend, this battle was intense, the enemy started it but Israel ended it--victorious! But could they go home and boast to their families that they won the battle? The soldiers had learned warfare and must have fought valiantly, but did you notice who actually won this battle for them?
Look at this little statement:
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
Exodus 17:11
What a very strange way to win a battle right? I mean, here is Moses up on a hill, with men on each side of him, and if he raises his hands the Israelites win the battle, but if he lowers his hands, they lose!
Question 5. Do you see that God made the outcome of this battle dependent on what the man in the middle did? Please fill in the blank. “As long as Moses held up his , the Israelites were ..."
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Lift Up Your Eyes to the Cross
Imagine an Israelite soldier being in the heat of battle, fighting as a good soldier does. And in a brief lull in the battle, he turns and looks up on a hill, and there he sees three men, the one in the middle has his hands outstretched in victory. And that soldier knows somehow that what that man in the middle is doing is winning the battle for him, and so, he fights harder!
Do you see what I mean about fighting in the shadow of the cross?
Friend, sexual impurity is a very powerful temptation. The battle to overcome is intense. You will have to be smart in making a plan to defeat it and fight hard to overcome it. But stop for just a minute, and turn and look up to the hill of Calvary. There you see three men, and the one in the middle has His arms outstretched in victory. And what He is doing there has won the battle for you!
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
Like this soldier in battle, we must fight with our eyes on the cross, receiving grace from God, thanking Jesus for forgiveness and reconciliation through His death and resurrection.
...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)
Question 6. What did you learn in this lesson today and how will you apply it?
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