HOLDING UP THE HANDS OF GOD’S SERVANTS

Winifred. L Kakumba

Exodus 17:8-13 (NKJV)

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so 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 the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword”

Holding up someone's hand, simply means; offering support to that person’s hands. Support can be defined as; assistance given, help, aid, or a thing that bears the weight of something or keeps it upright. As Christians, we are not only supposed to support the gospel and  church but we are required to support the men of God that do a good work in us i.e. morally, spiritually and financially, to  enable them to be fully dedicated to God's service steadily. This is an area that we often neglect and do not consider yet they have families and operate in the same economic environment like us.

Our guaranteed Victory is embedded in supporting the servants of God. Every time their hands remain raised up in prayer, we overcome and defeat all challenges before us. Like in the war between Israelites and Amalekites in Exodus 17 above. Supporting the servants of God requires that you stand with them in their day to day responsibilities, welfare and overheads. Just like Ruth told Naomi in Ruth 1:16 (NLT) that: “Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you live, I will live; Your people will be my people, and your God, and your God will be my God.” That is how we should stand with the men of God; supporting their visions and following them unquestionably.

It is true that God can take care of his anointed, however, if you don’t obey to be used, he will use someone else and you will miss out on a great blessing, for you and many generations to come. Let us therefore accept the administration and leadership they put in place to help them fulfill God’s commission.

If they delegate someone responsibility, let us receive them as we would receive God’s servants themselves. If we do so, we receive all the benefits we would receive from the men of God themselves because the delegated persons come in the name of the leader. If we do this, we are able to free their hands from other responsibilities and they will be able to dedicate more time in prayer and hence our success. However, this doesn't mean that we completely replace them with the people that they have delegated to help us and cut them out of our lives. We should keep our hearts open to them so that the next time they are available they will be able to come to us or help us themselves. The senior Pastor may not be available today to attend to you but instead sends someone to attend to you, that person comes in his/her name and therefore take it in good faith, the next time he is available, he will attend to you.  

Philemon 1:8-20 (MSG) says;

 “8 In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, 9 I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.  10 while here in jail, I fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter-Onesimus! 11 He was useless to you before; now he’s useful to both of us…………………..………17 So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. 18 If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. 19 This is my personal signature-Paul-and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) 20 Do this big favour, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.”    

In the book of Philemon above, Paul was in prison, held up and could not come to the people in person but he sent Onesimus, however he had hope that he would be out of jail at some point and therefore requested them to welcome and accept him with open arms. It's very possible for someone to be tied up with other responsibilities especially since the body of Christ is big, there many people who demand their services and may not be available at a time you need them.  It doesn't mean they will never be free, therefore keep your hearts open. In Philemon 1:22 (NLT) he says;  “One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.”     

Serving and supporting His servants is not in vain, there inherent blessings in what we gain in the kingdom of God when we support the men of God:

1. The men of God remember you and always pray for you. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NKJV) “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father". Every time they keep us in prayer then victory is assured

2. Through them, we are blessed. God told Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed. Abraham is the patriarch of our faith likewise the men of God are God's representatives.  Genesis 12:3 (NLT) says; “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who treat you with contempt. And all the families on earth will be blessed through you.” They therefore bear our blessings

3. You will never lack your reward if you welcome a servant of God (Prophet) because by receiving him/her, you receive God himself. Matthew 10:40-42(NKJV) “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

4. So that we receive what may abound to our accounts, and when we provide for them, then their God supplies all our needs. God is able to take care of his servants because He owns everything. Psalms 50:12 (NLT) - “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and everything in it.” Paul acknowledges in Philippians 4:15-19 (NKJV);
“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

5. They cause us to inherit or enter into our blessing. The bible says in Joshua 1:6(AMP) “Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”

When you hold, you will surely see victory!