Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

And Moses built an altar and named it “The Lord is My Banner.”
— Exodus 17:14-15

Joshua had a very good beginning. He was committed to the Lord, and he gave himself to fight. His victory, however, was dependent upon others fighting behind the scenes. Read more…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

From the day we begin to wholly pursue Christ, we raise up Christ as our a banner, declaring that He alone is our focus and boast. He is our unique center. Read more…

Even though today the race of Amalek is gone, the inward Amalek remains. Outwardly it is over, but inwardly it continues. One day, however, it will be utterly blotted out, even within. Joshua needed to know this.

After Watchman Nee’s martyrdom in 1972, little was done to care for the churches he established in China, yet they continued to grow. When I saw this, I realized that, apart from the Lord’s blessing, our labor really is in vain. Even if He does bless, we too easily take the honor from Him. Compared to Watchman Nee, we have done little, yet even that can cause us to feel worthy of honor.

I have raised up many saints and many churches, and yet that “book” is always there, whispering to me that Amalek has to go. Until then, Amalek is always ready to rise up and lay claim to the honor that belongs to the Lord.

Adapted from Joshua: A Life of Service, page 15.

Tomorrow: “The Lord is Our Banner”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
— Exodus 17:14

It seems these things were written particularly for Joshua after he triumphed on the battlefield and returned from battle to great fanfare. Moses then may have spoken in his ear, “Joshua, the Lord has required that I write something in a book and read it to you. Do you think you won the victory? It is God who won the victory!” Read more…

So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed….So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
— Exodus 17:11, 13

As with Joshua, the first lesson we must learn as we begin to serve the Lord is this: every spiritual blessing initially comes from Christ and from those interceding for us. Read more…

So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed….So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
— Exodus 17:11, 13

The Bible credits Joshua with the victory even though it was Moses’ prayer that assured it. Is this fair? Joshua’s army either retreated from the Amalekites or prevailed against them due to Moses’ prayer. Within the last few years, some young people have moved to cities in the Cleveland area to raise up new churches. They may seem prevailing as they do this, but their success is only through the prayer of the churches, and particularly the prayer of the older ones. Still, God says, “The young people won the victory!” Read more…

But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
— Exodus 17:12

As Moses’ hands grew heavy, Aaron and Hur placed a stone under him for him to sit upon and supported his arms until the going down of the sun (Exo. 17:12). Joshua’s job was to chop off the Amalekites’ heads, but it was Moses’ prayer that caused the Amalekite’s necks to become exposed to Joshua’s sword. Read more…

Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek Tomorrow. I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”

So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
— Exodus 17:9-11

It was not that, as Joshua prevailed, Moses lifted up his hands in praise. Neither was it that Joshua and his army won the day through their own valiant effort. This became the first lesson impressed upon Joshua. He had committed himself to follow the Lord and went fearlessly to the battlefield to fight, but it was Moses who was really doing the fighting. Read more…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
— Exodus 17:14

Joshua may have defeated the Amalekites outwardly, but a greater Amalek still lurked within, coveting the glory of the victory the Lord had given them. Read more…

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel….

Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.
— Exodus 17:6,8

Water in the wilderness would have been a thing to covet. When the Amalekites saw that the Israelites had water, this probably spurred them on. To destroy all of Israel would have been too difficult, but to cut the Israelites off from their source of water would have seemed possible. Thus, Amalek sought to cut Israel off from its life supply. Read more…

And all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was Christ.
— First Corinthians 10:4

The children of Israel were encamped at Rephidim (Exo. 17:1), a name which means places of rest (Hitchcock). They were in the wilderness, but they were at rest. It was here that the Lord provided water out of the smitten rock (v. 6). Read more…

When we first love the Lord and give ourselves to Him, we often find ourselves in victory. When I first believed in Jesus and told others they also had to believe, they would agree with me and pray to receive the Lord. Today, if I tell people they need to believe in Jesus, they ask me to leave them alone. Read more…

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth.
—2 Timothy 2:15

For the equipping of the truth, you should first know the facts of the Bible. Second, you must enter into the riches of Brother Nee and Brother Lee. Third, you have to employ everything the Lord has given to us and not be a narrow or self-complacent person. Fourth, you have to learn to use the reference tools. Read more…

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth.
—2 Timothy 2:15

A certain brother taught Greek at a theological school. He left Christianity and met with us after receiving the vision of the Lord’s recovery. I often invited him to visit the nearby churches so we could have some fellowship. Read more…

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth.
—2 Timothy 2:15

We must tell the Lord, “We want to learn from Brother Lee. We want to learn how he has received, entered into, enjoyed, experienced, and developed the riches of Brother Nee. We want to do the same with the riches that You have delivered unto him. Have mercy on us, Lord. We want to go forward.” Read more…

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching.
—2 Timothy 4:1-2

If we don’t cultivate a broad and open mind while we are still young, we will not be able to build upon Brother Lee’s riches. Without the determination to advance, Brother Lee would not have been able to go beyond the riches of Brother Nee. Read more…

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching.
—2 Timothy 4:1-2

We must learn to have Brother Lee’s exercise to be faithful to the ministry and not be satisfied with the revelation we have received thus far. We should never consider that we have already obtained, but we should always keep pursuing and advancing. Read more…

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and teaching.
—2 Timothy 4:1-2

Without revelation, we will feel that it is hard to go on in our reading of the Bible. I was told 40 years ago that Brother Lee had exhausted the riches of the Bible. But now, 40 years later, Brother Lee is still ministering. This is because he is constantly receiving fresh revelations. Read more…

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
—2 Timothy 3:16

In order to be equipped with the truth, you must have some skills. You should know how to apply the truth of the Lord in the church skillfully and in life. Read more…

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
—2 Timothy 3:16

If you were to spend time to survey all the books being published today, you would discover that not many current preachers know their Bible. Instead, they are limited to their particular specialty. They may know 50 verses very well, or perhaps at most 80. Outside of their area of expertise, however, they don’t quite know the Bible. Read more…

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
—2 Timothy 3:16

After you acquire various kinds of Bibles, you must read them! You should read the Bible over and over again until you become familiar with what is contained in it. Read more…

But you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from which ones you have learned them. And that from a babe you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
—2 Timothy 3:14-15

When Watchman Nee encouraged people to purchase two different Bibles, it was difficult for people to afford two Bibles. Today, however, most can easily afford many Bibles. We should have a Recovery Version, a King James Version, and a Darby Translation. Read more…

But you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from which ones you have learned them. And that from a babe you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
—2 Timothy 3:14-15

Before you can be equipped with the truth, you must know the facts in the Bible. You must be richly equipped with the facts of the Bible and familiar with what is contained in Scripture. Read more…

But you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from which ones you have learned them. And that from a babe you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
—2 Timothy 3:14-15

The first thing we think of when we hear the word “equipping” is the truth. Yes, equipping ourselves is related to truth. But before we get into the truth, we have to pay attention to our person. Read more…

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
— Psalm 130:7-8

Praise the Lord for His redemption! The Lord is the one who redeems us from all our corruption and iniquity. Individually and corporately, the Lord redeems us from everything that is not of Himself. The church will be free from all its iniquity because the Lord is the church’s Redeemer. Read more…

My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
— Psalm 130:6-7a

While we wait on the Lord, we are also watching ((Psalm 130:6). We have seen that Israel represents the Lord’s testimony. Not only should we wait, hope, and watch, but we must give ourselves to the Lord’s testimony.
Read more…

I wait for the Lord; my soul waits,
and in His word I hope
— Psalm 130:5

Because we see who we are we learn to wait on the Lord (Psalm 130:5). We used to be so confident in our ability to serve the Lord. Now we realize, “I am a hopeless, useless person. There is no way for me to build up the church, to help the saints, or to please the Lord. All I can do is wait for His mercy.” Read more…

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
— Psalm 130:1-3

The realization of who we are should not bring us under condemnation. The Lord’s light should cause us to trust in the Lord’s forgiveness (Psalm 130:4). We should not overly dwell on our sinfulness, but on the Lord’s salvation. Read more…

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
— Psalm 130:1-3

For the church to be built up, we don’t need to be so “right.” Instead, we need to be more “wrong.” Whenever we think that we are right, we are filled with opinions and self-justification. Read more…

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
— Psalm 130:1-3

How can we be built up with others in the church life? First we have to go through affliction from the Lord’s governmental hand. As He plows over our person we need to spend much time with Him in prayer. Read more…