JEHOVAH-NISSI
INTRO
1. Read Exodus 17:8-16
[KEY VERSE 15].2. We come to the third of the compound names of God.
3. Only a few weeks have passed since god revealed Himself to Israel at the waters of
Marah as Jehovah-rophe (the Lord that healeth).
4. Now they are come to Rephidim:
a) This is the place where Moses strikes the rock and water pours forth.
(Ex. 17:5-7).b) This is the place where Israel fights the first of the human enemies of God,
the Amalekites.
5. Who are the AMALEKITES?
#1. Amalek, the father of the Amalekites, was the grandson of Esau, whose father
was Isaac.
(See Genesis 36:12)#2. They were the FIRST to oppose Israel.
(See Numbers 24:20)#3. God had ordained the destruction of the Amalekites.
(See Deut. 25:17-19)#4. King Saul was commanded to wipe out the Amalekites
(I Sam. 15:3).a) But Saul disobeyed.
(15:9)b) Saul was finally slain by an Amalekite
(II Sam. 1:8-10)#5. King Hezekiah centuries later destroyed the Amalekites.
(I Chron. 4:43)********
I. MOSES’ ROD: SYMBOL OF THE BANNER OF GOD, BRINGS VICTORY
A. Note:
1. A banner in ancient times was not always a flag.
2. Usually a banner was a pole with a shiny ornament on top.
3. Literally, the word "banner" means TO GLISTEN (nissi).
4. The rod of Moses was God’s banner:
a) Stood for His
CAUSE.b) Stood for His
BATTLE/POWER........it was a pledge of God’s presence.
5. When Moses lifted up the rod, Israel prevailed. When Moses let down the
rod, Israel began to lose.
6. PRINCIPLE:
THE BATTLE IS GOD’S.
B. Illustration:
1. Read Deut. 20:1-4.
2. Could you have made it if God had not been beside you fighting?
3. God’s presence is what gets us through the difficult times.
*******
II. THE APPLICATION TO BELIEVERS TODAY
A. The Battle Symbolizes The Spiritual Warfare of The Christian
1. Exodus 17:9 says...
"And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men,
and go out, fight with Amalek:
to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill
with the rod of God in mine hand."
2. It is a battle
WITHIN.a) Galations 5:17 says...
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
3. It is a battle with
UNSEEN FORCES OF EVIL.a) Ephesians 6:12 says...
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places."
4. It is a battle with
THE WORLD.a) I John 2:15,16 says...
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world."
B. Every Christian Who Is Spiritually Mature Is To Be Actively And Willingly
Engaged In Spiritual Warfare.
(Exodus 17:10)1. Every church member should have a job in the church; something that
promotes the SPIRITUAL Kingdom of God.
2. We are NOT saved by works, but WE ARE SAVED TO WORK.
*Read Ephesians 2:8-10.
3. We are admonished to fight.
a) The Christian life is a FIGHT.
b) We must go into battle with Jehovah-nissi.
*II Timothy 4:7.... "I have fought a good fight..."
*Jude 3.... "...ye should earnestly contend for the faith..."
*Ephesians 6:11-17.... "...redeeming the time,, because
the days are evil."
C. The Very Name Jehovah-nissi Teaches us That We Cannot Win In Spiritual
Warfare In Our Own Strength.
1. Only when the rod was held up (representing the presence of God) could
the battle be won.
(Ex. 17:11)2. Read II Chronicles 20:15....
"And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah,
and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat,
thus saith the LORD unto you,
Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude;
for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
3. Read Zechariah 4:6....
"...he answered...saying,
"This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel saying,
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
4. Read Psalm 118:6....
"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:
what can man do unto me?"
5. Read Romans 8:31,37....
"What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us."
D. The Rod (the banner) Was A Symbol of Jesus Christ Himself and His Cross.
1. The cross of Christ is the banner of God’s redemption power.
(Jn. 3:14)2. Jesus is Jehovah-Jesus, the rod of Jesse.
(Isaiah 11:1)
JESUS IS OUR JEHOVAH-NISSI.
OUR GREAT BANNER.
THE CROSS IS OUR BANNER.
Whose CAUSE are you holding up each day???