'And Then Came Amalek'

Our Sunday morning sermon, brought to us by our senior pastor, Dr. Larry Crawford, was entitled, "And Then Came Amalek."

We stood for the reading of God's Holy Word. Dr. Crawford's lesson was from the book of Exodus, Chapter 17, with special emphasis on Verse 16: "For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Today and next Sunday morning I am going to talk to you about a man called Amalek."

All the names in the Bible mean something, and along with studying the Bible, you need to study what folks names mean, but more on the meaning of that particular name in a moment. Amalek of the Old Testament is an example of the New Testament's sin nature, also called, the flesh, and, the old man.

"In our own personal lives it is some of the dumbest things that cause us the most problems. Why? Sin nature. And when we are given much by God, instead of being content, we gripe for more. Why? Sin nature. No one even has to teach a little child how to lie. Everyone of you who has a child running around here know they are nothing but a little sinner. The Bible in Psalms says they come out of the womb speaking lies. Don't look at me that way; God said it, not me! We are born with a sin nature. This is why it is so hard to get up on a Sunday and go to church. Why it is so hard to pray, as we need to. Why it is so hard to read your Bible every day. It is difficult...because of Amalek!"

You have no problem reading any book or magazine, from cover to cover, if it is something that is of interest to you. You may even stay up very late to finish a good murder mystery or a romance novel. Yet you can't read four or five chapters of the word of God morning, or evening?

"Amalek. It is Amalek that keeps you from doing even the simplest thing for God."

Some time this week regarding, your sin nature, look up the following verses: Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Matthew 26:41; Romans 7:14-18; Romans 8:8; and Galatians 5:17.

But until then, I have four main points I want to share with you this morning. Who Amalek? How Amalek...? Why Amalek? When Amalek fought.

So exactly who did Amalek fight? Deuteronomy 25:17 says: "Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;"

"Amalek in a word fought everyone. Every person who fled from Egypt. Men, women, children. He went after the weak, the infants, the sickly, those who were in their decline. Those who could only put forth a feeble effort. Ones who would try, but who would ultimately fail. Those imperfect of heart or of mind. Those not as learned." Sound like something you might know?

So how did Amalek fight? Deuteronomy 25:18 says: "How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God."

"He fought by deceit. He met them, 'in the way', as they were traveling. He fought dastardly. He attacked them from behind. He fought in a deplorable fashion. Attacking those without an adequate defense."

So why did Amalek fight?

To begin with, his name means, "Vale Warrior," or "Warlike in the Valley." He was one of the 12 sons of Esau. And Esau and his descendents have always been at war with God. Amalek, like his daddy, was warlike. It is in his nature to fight. Not like the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites and others who were warring because of fear, or political, or economic reasons. His reason was no reason, just his nasty disposition."

So when does Amalek fight?

"Constantly! Israel tempted and tested the Lord without end. Just do it our way. When all God wanted from them, was for them, to have faith in Him: to trust and obey Him. The Lord tested His people, from time to time, to see if they would be true to Him. But God was tested daily. What they wanted was a God who was "on call" for whatever they wanted." Sound familiar church?

"Because of Amalek, being married is tough; being a parent is tough. But being a Christian is double tough, because now, at the beginning of your walk with God, Satan will put a target on your back."

But in the end, Amalek "is the equal enemy of both the lost and the saved," because of how we came into this world. And Amalek will fight you, no matter what your Spiritual condition is... "from generation unto generation, until you meet eternity."

Golden Living Center services are every Saturday afternoon from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

The church pantry is accepting food and sundry items every third Sunday. See Kenny and Bobbi Bowers if you have any questions.

We offer infant care, nursery and children church -- through the third grade -- on Sunday mornings.

We also offer transportation for all church services, as needed, for all ages. Please call 417-223-4433 or 417-223-1070 to get on one of our four bus routes.

Our church library is available to all during all church services. See Mrs. Pat Anders for help.

Please tune in Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on 100.3 FM KURM for a message of love, inspiration, support, and duty, by our shepherd, Dr. Larry Crawford.