Lifting Heavy Hands

Genesis 17:12
“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.”

Israel found themselves at war with Amalek. While Israel fought with Amalek, Moses stood at the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. Israel prevailed as long as Moses held up his hands, but they retreated as his hands were lowered. The outcome of the battle and God’s blessings on Israel were dependent on Moses’ arms being raised. When Aaron and Hur noticed that Moses’ hands were heavy, they held up his arms until Israel won the battle.

Aaron and Hur would have never noticed that the battle they were winning depended on Moses’ arms becoming heavy had they not studied him or were being critical of him. Imagine the outcome of this story and the rest of Israel’s history had these two men chose not to keep their eyes on the man of God. If these two men had not studied their man of God or held up his arms, Amalek would have prevailed and God’s name would have been marred in the eyes of the nations that were watching.

My friend, God’s blessings on your church depend on God’s blessings on your pastor. God always blesses a man, and the blessings of God on your church are dependent on His blessings on your preacher. God’s blessings could fall in your church if you did all with your power to encourage your pastor. Many pastors have given up because their hands became heavy because of a lack of encouragement from God’s people. It may not be right that the pastor gave up, but it is also not right that the people don’t encourage the pastor who leads them. Let me give you a few thoughts on how you can be an encouragement to your pastor.

First, don’t be critical. Whether or not you know it, your pastor is bombarded with critical attitudes. A critical spirit will weigh down the spirit of your pastor. Being complimentary is as easy as being critical; it just comes down to which you choose to do and what you choose to focus upon.

Second, don’t be negative about everything. Negative opinions about how you think things should be done will frustrate and wear out your pastor. Have you ever thought about being positive about God’s blessings? Why is it that you are always negative about God’s blessings to your pastor instead of rejoicing that God is blessing? My friend, you will wear out the spirit of your pastor if all you do is point out the negative that you think could have been done instead of rejoicing with him over the positive of God’s blessings.

Third, pray for your pastor and let him know how he helps you. Praying for your pastor helps you to have a thankful spirit towards him and how God is using him to help you. A word of encouragement to your pastor goes a long way into encouraging him. Praying daily for God’s continued blessings on his life will help you to continue to enjoy God’s blessings on your life as well.

Let me ask you, are you holding up the hands of your man of God? I hope so! Encourage him. Pray for him. Realize that God’s blessings on your church are dependent on God’s blessings on his life. Don’t let his arms get heavy with your negative, but lift up his arms by being positive and encouraging him through word and prayer.

Author: Allen Domelle