I Chronicles 12:1 “Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war.”

There is always a leader in a war but a leader needs help in fighting the war … he cannot do all the fighting himself.  He would be vastly outnumbered.  

God had given David 600 men who were loyal to him … mighty men, strong men, armed with bows, could use both right and left hands in hurling stones and shooting arrows … the Bible calls them “mighty men of valor”.  Where David went, they went.  Where David fought, they fought.  If David said, “jump” they probably would have said, “how high”, on the way up!

You and I are in a war today.  I am not only speaking of America, although that is true but I am speaking of our families … our children, our grandchildren and our great grandchildren.  I am finding that I cannot fight this battle alone … I NEED mighty men and women of God who join me in this fight, who are my helpers in the war.  I am not speaking just of myself … but YOUR war as well.  We MUST hold up one another because our battle is not fought with swords, spears or guns and bombs but by INTERCESSORY PRAYER!

Look at Moses in Exodus 17:10-13.  The battle was going on in the valley, Moses was on top of a hill watching and I believe praying.  As long as his hands were up in the air Israel prevailed but when he became tired and let his hands drop the Amalekites prevailed.  So Aaron and Hur, who were with Moses atop the hill, sat Moses on a rock and they held up his hands and by the end of the day … Israel defeated the enemy!  It wasn’t Moses’ victory alone … it happened because he had “helpers in the war”.

Jesus had helpers also in the Garden but they failed Him.  Twice He found them asleep on the job.  We will never know how the story would have been different had they stayed awake and prayed with Jesus.  Yes, I know … Jesus had to face this trial alone, He knew He was going to be crucified but how would the story have changed … had His disciples prayed?

There was another near miss with helpers … read the story of Peter being released from prison by angels sent from above (I would LOVE to see this story repeated in today’s world!).  Acts 12:5-19 tells us that when Peter realized he was free he went to Mary’s house (mother of Mark) where “many were gathered together praying.”  I imagine they were praying for Peter!  Yet when Peter knocked and Rhoda answered the door (notice she did not open the door!) she recognized his voice, ran to tell the others and they didn’t believe her!  Oh, ye of little faith!  Maybe they didn’t really expect God to answer in such a dramatic way.  But Rhoda insisted it was Peter and FINALLY at Peter’s insistent knocking, they opened the door and “were astonished”!!Moral of this story is … pray BELIEVING for the answer and don’t be surprised how it comes!

Who are your “helpers in the war”?  As a female I have certain ladies I can call on when I need someone to join me in the battle.  But even that is not enough.

I read in John 14 that before Jesus left this physical world to return to heaven He promised to send the Helper, the Holy Spirit.  And further in John 17 we see that Jesus is praying for all believers … that includes you and me!  So as my husband often says, “we join in Jesus’ prayer meeting”.  I mean how powerful is that!  To know that Jesus is praying and interceding for YOU!

The Holy Spirit also prays THROUGH us.  Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”  It’s powerful praying when we pray in the language of the Spirit because then we KNOW we are praying in His will!

WOW … what better helpers in the war do we need?!  When we pray for our families, our cities and state, our country and the needs around the world … we are entering the prayer meeting with Jesus, the Holy Spirit prays through us and we have friends to call upon as we stand together in believing prayer.

Now the question to me is … who am I helping in the war?