Exodus 17:8-13 “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.”
When William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army, felt the call of the Lord to go into the streets of London and begin ministering to street people, he stood in a Methodist Conference meeting and requested permission from the presiding bishop to be released from his church to go into the streets and preach. The bishop heard the request and denied it telling Booth that they would not waste a man of his education and talent on the people of the streets. Upon hearing this, Booth sat down, resigned to defeat. His wife was seated in the balcony, because women were not allowed on the first floor. She stood up and leaned over the rail. She called to her husband and told him to listen to God and not to man. She vowed to stand with her husband against every foe. She came down from the balcony, Booth took her by the arm and they left the building to go into the streets to win people to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was ready to quit, but his wife, a lady who usually stayed in the background, stepped out of the shadow of her husband to hold up his arms at a critical time in his life!
This is a practical example of one like Aaron and Hur. Hur is recognized in the Word of God for what he did here with Moses, but I’m sure there were other times when Hur served the Lord but got no recognition for his efforts.
In our first CHALLENGING CONCEPTS on this passage of Scripture, we notice that THESE SERVANTS ARE ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE. Last week we noticed that THESE SERVANTS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED. Now, let’s go further with our thoughts:
III. THESE SERVANTS ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE
Notice verse 13 “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” There is no mention whatsoever of Hur, Aaron or even Moses. In fact, the only mention is that of Joshua. Hur is not mentioned before this incident. And even more importantly, he's not mentioned but a couple of times afterwards. He's kind of like living his 15 minutes of fame. But that's alright. That's what he is supposed to do. He lived in the shadows but when he was supposed to act, he did so. He was willing to be invisible as long as the will of God was accomplished.
Hur was invisible to the crowd, and so are so many, many others who are serving behind the scenes in local churches and other para-church organizations. These unsung heroes make the ministry turn as the spokes do the wheel. Nothing would be accomplished, humanly speaking, without them.
Here are some thoughts about the SERVICE OF THE INVISIBLE VOLUNTEER:
1. It’s A Thankless Task
Who got the credit for the victory at Rephidim? It wasn’t Hur. Joshua got the credit but there would have been no victory without Hur being in his place.
I remember when I was in Bible College that the Highland Park Baptist Church was always decorated so beautifully. Dr. J.R. Faulkner was always given credit for the auditorium being so lovely at all seasons and for all major events. Dr. Faulkner was credited with what took place, but he would have been the very first to point out that Tom Kilpatrick was the one behind the scenes that made it come together. To most people, Tom was invisible but he was very important.
When Grace and I were in Germany, I had many military pastors and missionaries comment about how pretty the bulletin boards were in our buildings. I was given the credit for having such lovely and attractive boards, but the real invisible hero behind the scene was a very sweet lady named Vickie Raymer. She labored hour after hour, many times with little recognition, to fulfill the responsibility that had been given to her. Mrs. Raymer never truly knew how much her ministry meant to Grace and me and we’re glad that she and her dear family continues to be a dear friends of ours to this day.
2. It’s A Task That Has To Be Done For The Lord
Godly servants do not operate with sinful motives. They do not serve because they are seeking recognition and appreciation from fellow human beings. They have no desire for power or prestige. Their feathers do not have to be smoothed because they were ruffled by not having their name called at the end of a banquet. They are doing what they do for the Lord and not man.
The volunteers who are serving for the Lord are ones who do their best. They are examples of what Paul wrote in Romans 12:11 “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
Sometimes new believers are quick to volunteer for a position behind the scene but are sometimes too immature to handle being an invisible servant. The bumps in the road cause many immature volunteers to end up in the ditch. The service of volunteers must be done for the glory of God.
God wants the believer to serve Him and further the cause of Christ whether there is human affirmation or not. Godly servants need the toughness that only comes from denying one’s self and picking up his cross to follow Christ. No recognition for a job well done is little suffering compared to what our Savior faced.
The question we must ask ourselves is, “What kind of servant or volunteer are we? Why do we do what we do?”
Hur didn’t have to have human praise. He had a job to do and wasn’t offended because he did not get recognized. His purpose in holding up the hands of Moses was that he was a servant and a servant did what was needed.
There is a reward but that’s the subject of next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
THANK GOD FOR VOLUNTEERS – Pt 2
Exodus 17:8-13 “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.”
Hur is a man who you don’t hear much about. I’m sure he was involved in more than is recorded in the Word of God, but this event here in Exodus 17 is what might be called his “fifteen minute of fame.” The incident here is not long but it was very valuable. Nothing done in the will of God goes without notice in His sight. You may not read of other great feats contributed to this great man, but every time you read this account you are challenged with his servant’s spirit.
In last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we explored the subject of the servant and his or her value to God and his leader. This week we are going to delve into the subject of the involvement of these unsung heroes who volunteer to get involved in the service of the Lord. Let’s take a look at it:
II. THESE SERVANTS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED
Notice verse 10 “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.” Notice also verse 12 “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.”
You do not read of Hur being a great leader like Moses. He was not a great General like Joshua. He was not even a High Priest like Aaron. He was just Hur. From the eyes of the world he was just a servant, but he was a servant in the hands of a sovereign God Who had chosen him for this task on this day.
There’s a song I use to sing years ago that says it best:
In the harvest field now ripened,
There’s a work for all to do.
Hark, the voice of God is calling,
To the harvest calling you.
Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, my child well done.”
Chorus:
Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.
I have been around some very talented people in my life. I have had the opportunity to sing in groups with people who had far better voices that I have. I played in bands with those who were far more talented than. I have been on church staffs with those with more administrative abilities; more speaking skills; and much greater personalities. But there is one thing I could do and that was be faithful to the task that was given to me. I could hold up the hands of those who were my authorities. I pray one day I will hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You held up their hands very well.”
A person never knows the impact they have for the Lord no matter how little the talent or how small the task. On this one day in the life of the nation of Israel, there was one thing Hur could do and that was to hold up the hand of God’s man. And he did it faithfully. He put his heart and hands to the work and was actively doing what he could for the cause of God. He did the best job he could.
In the cause of Christ there’s a great job to be done and there’s room for every individual who will just be faithful. What task needs to be done at your church or Christian ministry? What could you do to help your pastor or other Christian leader? Get involved! There’s always room for one more.
I walk in church on Sunday morning and am greeted by someone who says, “Good morning.” They give me a bulletin as their way of holding up the hands of the pastor. An usher shows me to a seat as his way of holding up the pastor’s hands. The choir sings, the musicians play, the ushers receive the offering, my fellow believers give me a hardy handshake and the pastor preaches. All this is part of fulfilling the calling that God has given to do kingdom work. We all have a part and the best way to accomplish this is under the power of the Spirit of God and for the glory of the One Who gave Himself to redeems us from our sins.
You that are involved in the service of the Lord; I want to thank you and encourage you to continue to serve the Lord. Paul exhorted in Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” God doesn’t expect you to do everything everyone else can do. If you see a new believer or a new member of your church or organization, take them under your wings and help them to get involved. God will bless you for your encouragement to those individuals and He’ll reward you for your effort. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Next week’s CHALLEGING CONCEPTS will highlight THESE SERVANTS ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE.
That’s my view; how about you?
Hur is a man who you don’t hear much about. I’m sure he was involved in more than is recorded in the Word of God, but this event here in Exodus 17 is what might be called his “fifteen minute of fame.” The incident here is not long but it was very valuable. Nothing done in the will of God goes without notice in His sight. You may not read of other great feats contributed to this great man, but every time you read this account you are challenged with his servant’s spirit.
In last week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we explored the subject of the servant and his or her value to God and his leader. This week we are going to delve into the subject of the involvement of these unsung heroes who volunteer to get involved in the service of the Lord. Let’s take a look at it:
II. THESE SERVANTS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED
Notice verse 10 “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.” Notice also verse 12 “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.”
You do not read of Hur being a great leader like Moses. He was not a great General like Joshua. He was not even a High Priest like Aaron. He was just Hur. From the eyes of the world he was just a servant, but he was a servant in the hands of a sovereign God Who had chosen him for this task on this day.
There’s a song I use to sing years ago that says it best:
In the harvest field now ripened,
There’s a work for all to do.
Hark, the voice of God is calling,
To the harvest calling you.
Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, my child well done.”
Chorus:
Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.
I have been around some very talented people in my life. I have had the opportunity to sing in groups with people who had far better voices that I have. I played in bands with those who were far more talented than. I have been on church staffs with those with more administrative abilities; more speaking skills; and much greater personalities. But there is one thing I could do and that was be faithful to the task that was given to me. I could hold up the hands of those who were my authorities. I pray one day I will hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You held up their hands very well.”
A person never knows the impact they have for the Lord no matter how little the talent or how small the task. On this one day in the life of the nation of Israel, there was one thing Hur could do and that was to hold up the hand of God’s man. And he did it faithfully. He put his heart and hands to the work and was actively doing what he could for the cause of God. He did the best job he could.
In the cause of Christ there’s a great job to be done and there’s room for every individual who will just be faithful. What task needs to be done at your church or Christian ministry? What could you do to help your pastor or other Christian leader? Get involved! There’s always room for one more.
I walk in church on Sunday morning and am greeted by someone who says, “Good morning.” They give me a bulletin as their way of holding up the hands of the pastor. An usher shows me to a seat as his way of holding up the pastor’s hands. The choir sings, the musicians play, the ushers receive the offering, my fellow believers give me a hardy handshake and the pastor preaches. All this is part of fulfilling the calling that God has given to do kingdom work. We all have a part and the best way to accomplish this is under the power of the Spirit of God and for the glory of the One Who gave Himself to redeems us from our sins.
You that are involved in the service of the Lord; I want to thank you and encourage you to continue to serve the Lord. Paul exhorted in Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” God doesn’t expect you to do everything everyone else can do. If you see a new believer or a new member of your church or organization, take them under your wings and help them to get involved. God will bless you for your encouragement to those individuals and He’ll reward you for your effort. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Next week’s CHALLEGING CONCEPTS will highlight THESE SERVANTS ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, February 7, 2011
THANK GOD FOR VOLUNTEERS – Pt 1
Exodus 17:8-13 “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.”
This is a very important moment in the life of the nation of Israel. As they journey toward the Promised Land, they faced their first encounter with an army that is their enemy. They come face to face with Amalek.
The Amalekites were nomadic people. They occupied the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness between the southern hill-ranges of Palestine and the border of Egypt. I Samuel 15:5 mentions a “town” but being nomadic people, that probably was only a station or nomadic enclosures. They were a constant thorn in the side of the nation of Israel. This attack here is the first contact between the two groups of people.
Here in this account we find the mention of Moses, Aaron and the first mention of Joshua. All these were great leaders in the history of Israel. They played an important role in the lives of the people of God.
However, there's another man who's mentioned here in this passage that deserves just as much attention. That man is Hur. He steps out on life’s stage, actually out of nowhere. He performs a great game-changing work and then disappears into the same shadows from which he had appeared.
When you think of great men in the history of Israel, you recall men like Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Elisha, and many others. Even in this story we think of Moses and Joshua, but let me remind you that there two other men who played a significant role in God’s plan. Those two great servants are Aaron and Hur. When the hands of Moses were raised to the heavens, there was victory. When the hands were dropped toward the ground, there was defeat.
After a while, Moses became too weary to hold his own hands up and Aaron and Hur stepped up and held Moses hands up until the battle was finished and victory was won.
In my mind, they are the true heroes in our saga. Of these two, Hur seems to stand out in my mind. Here is a man about whom we know next to nothing, yet he enabled an entire nation to see a great victory over a group of people they would see time and time again. That's what I call success. One man who dared to make a difference.
In the next few weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS, I want to pay tribute to every Hur who is serving God somewhere in a local church. I know there are para-church organizations that are doing good work for the Lord and they have some fine volunteer and paid staff. I’m not discrediting those great servants. But my ministry has always been connected with a local church and I believe every child of God should be involved in a good Bible preaching local church.
In this blog I want to honor and thank the volunteers. I’m thankful for every person who has surrendered to full-time occupational ministry. God is using them in a great way, but every pastor of a local church knows how important it is to have an army of volunteers that in their service holds his hands high.
The “Hurs” are the ones who're willing to take the second seat, play second fiddle and not always be recognized for what they do. They're the real heroes.
Allow me to share four things that make them important to the work of the Lord. And if you one of those “Hurs” in your local church, thank God for you:
I. THESE SERVANTS ARE ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE
Notice verse 12 “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.”
In verse 12 Moses has stood holding his hands up but he can’t do it any longer. So what happens? Aaron and Hur step up to the plate. It might not sound like a great task to some people, but Moses knows how important it is. And don’t let anybody kid you; God knew how important it was.
As I look back on my many years in the ministry, I recognize the value volunteers were to my service. When I graduated from Bible College and headed south with my wife, two children and all our belongings in a U-Haul trailer, we were setting out to turn the world upside down; or at least South Florida. My wife and I had no idea what we would face in the service of the Lord. I thought I was going to serve as Music Director but learned very quickly that I would have the position of Youth Director along with my musical duties. I didn’t even know how to spell “Youth Director” but now I are one. I had no training to work with youth. I didn’t even know where to start. Even in my duties with music I learned they wanted me to start a school band. I hadn’t expected that but did start a band program there at that Christian school, and went on to start two more band programs in other schools.
The thing that helped me the most, outside of the Lord, of course, was lay people in the church and school that gave of themselves tirelessly to hold up my hands. They were the real heroes. In our third church the youth group was averaging 75 each Sunday when we arrived. In less than four years God was bringing in 200 young people every Sunday morning. I could not do justice to start naming the people that worked side by side with me in the service of the Lord. We had countless young people come to know Christ as their personal Savior. Many went off to Christian colleges to prepare to make a difference for the Lord Jesus Christ in churches, Christian schools, and in the business world. They were the true heroes.
In my ministry at First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake, Clearlake Baptist of Cocoa, Calvary Baptist of Lakeland, Tri-City Baptist Church of Kansas City, Eifel Baptist of Herforst Germany and then back to Calvary Baptist of Lakeland, so many people held up my hands. Notice what Jesus said in Mark 15:40-41, "There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem." They held up His hands.
Thank God for the ones in every ministry around the world who serve the Lord and hold up the hands of the pastors and staff. They are the true heroes. They are invaluable in the service of the Lord.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I will deal with THESE SERVANTS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED.
That’s my view; how about you?
This is a very important moment in the life of the nation of Israel. As they journey toward the Promised Land, they faced their first encounter with an army that is their enemy. They come face to face with Amalek.
The Amalekites were nomadic people. They occupied the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness between the southern hill-ranges of Palestine and the border of Egypt. I Samuel 15:5 mentions a “town” but being nomadic people, that probably was only a station or nomadic enclosures. They were a constant thorn in the side of the nation of Israel. This attack here is the first contact between the two groups of people.
Here in this account we find the mention of Moses, Aaron and the first mention of Joshua. All these were great leaders in the history of Israel. They played an important role in the lives of the people of God.
However, there's another man who's mentioned here in this passage that deserves just as much attention. That man is Hur. He steps out on life’s stage, actually out of nowhere. He performs a great game-changing work and then disappears into the same shadows from which he had appeared.
When you think of great men in the history of Israel, you recall men like Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah, Elisha, and many others. Even in this story we think of Moses and Joshua, but let me remind you that there two other men who played a significant role in God’s plan. Those two great servants are Aaron and Hur. When the hands of Moses were raised to the heavens, there was victory. When the hands were dropped toward the ground, there was defeat.
After a while, Moses became too weary to hold his own hands up and Aaron and Hur stepped up and held Moses hands up until the battle was finished and victory was won.
In my mind, they are the true heroes in our saga. Of these two, Hur seems to stand out in my mind. Here is a man about whom we know next to nothing, yet he enabled an entire nation to see a great victory over a group of people they would see time and time again. That's what I call success. One man who dared to make a difference.
In the next few weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS, I want to pay tribute to every Hur who is serving God somewhere in a local church. I know there are para-church organizations that are doing good work for the Lord and they have some fine volunteer and paid staff. I’m not discrediting those great servants. But my ministry has always been connected with a local church and I believe every child of God should be involved in a good Bible preaching local church.
In this blog I want to honor and thank the volunteers. I’m thankful for every person who has surrendered to full-time occupational ministry. God is using them in a great way, but every pastor of a local church knows how important it is to have an army of volunteers that in their service holds his hands high.
The “Hurs” are the ones who're willing to take the second seat, play second fiddle and not always be recognized for what they do. They're the real heroes.
Allow me to share four things that make them important to the work of the Lord. And if you one of those “Hurs” in your local church, thank God for you:
I. THESE SERVANTS ARE ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE
Notice verse 12 “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.”
In verse 12 Moses has stood holding his hands up but he can’t do it any longer. So what happens? Aaron and Hur step up to the plate. It might not sound like a great task to some people, but Moses knows how important it is. And don’t let anybody kid you; God knew how important it was.
As I look back on my many years in the ministry, I recognize the value volunteers were to my service. When I graduated from Bible College and headed south with my wife, two children and all our belongings in a U-Haul trailer, we were setting out to turn the world upside down; or at least South Florida. My wife and I had no idea what we would face in the service of the Lord. I thought I was going to serve as Music Director but learned very quickly that I would have the position of Youth Director along with my musical duties. I didn’t even know how to spell “Youth Director” but now I are one. I had no training to work with youth. I didn’t even know where to start. Even in my duties with music I learned they wanted me to start a school band. I hadn’t expected that but did start a band program there at that Christian school, and went on to start two more band programs in other schools.
The thing that helped me the most, outside of the Lord, of course, was lay people in the church and school that gave of themselves tirelessly to hold up my hands. They were the real heroes. In our third church the youth group was averaging 75 each Sunday when we arrived. In less than four years God was bringing in 200 young people every Sunday morning. I could not do justice to start naming the people that worked side by side with me in the service of the Lord. We had countless young people come to know Christ as their personal Savior. Many went off to Christian colleges to prepare to make a difference for the Lord Jesus Christ in churches, Christian schools, and in the business world. They were the true heroes.
In my ministry at First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake, Clearlake Baptist of Cocoa, Calvary Baptist of Lakeland, Tri-City Baptist Church of Kansas City, Eifel Baptist of Herforst Germany and then back to Calvary Baptist of Lakeland, so many people held up my hands. Notice what Jesus said in Mark 15:40-41, "There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem." They held up His hands.
Thank God for the ones in every ministry around the world who serve the Lord and hold up the hands of the pastors and staff. They are the true heroes. They are invaluable in the service of the Lord.
In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I will deal with THESE SERVANTS ARE ALWAYS INVOLVED.
That’s my view; how about you?
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