The Lord is my banner

The Winter Olympic Athletes are in action at the moment and you can easily identify each nation competing by their national flags. The competitors and their supporters wave their flags proudly as they represent and support their nations. The winners wrap themselves in their national flag and wave them aloft. At the medal ceremonies, whilst the national anthems are played, the flags of the winners are raised up high for everyone to see. The highest flag denoting the champion.

Yahweh Nissi means “The Lord is my Banner“.

This name for God was first used by Moses after the victory over the Amalekites in battle. We read the story of the battle in Exodus chapter 17 verses 8-16. The Israelites only defeated the Amalekites because the Lord God was on their side. God was the one who gave them the victory over their enemies. When Moses raised up the rod of God high then the Israelites prevailed but when the rod dropped the Amalekites started to win the battle.

In ancient times when troops went out to battle they carried these large banners which were like flags on poles with them. The banners would be lifted up high so that everyone could see them. The banners were a signal to the troops. The symbol or coat of arms of the King or the noble that the men were fighting for was designed and displayed on the banner. The troops would gather under their banners ready for their orders. There would be many banners flying across the battlefields as a sign of strength of numbers. They would strike fear into the enemy.

Moses declared that the Lord God, YAHWEH himself was the banner over the Israelites They rallied to His call. It was in the Lord’s name that they fought against their enemies. The reputation of the Lord went ahead of the people – God had defeated the Egyptians and now He had defeated the Amalekites.

As followers of Jesus we are assured of victory over sin and death through belief in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ who by his death and resurrection defeated the power of satan over us. Jesus has defeated our enemies. He is victorious. Colossians 2:13-15

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the ^[i]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

When the Israelites camped in the wilderness they arranged their tents according to their tribe and their family. Each family had a banner that they displayed to identify them.

We now belong to the family of God. We are adopted into His family. The banner we hold high is that of the Lord’s name which is now over us. We are part of the family of God. We identify with God. We identify with each other – we are of the same tribe and family. We are on God’s side and He is on our side. We are on each other’s side.

We are assured of God’s love as His banner over us is Love. Song of Songs 2:4

“Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
    and let his banner over me be love“

It was prophesied that Jesus would also be a banner for us – Isaiah 11:10:

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.”

Take encouragement today that the Lord’s banner is over you. God has raised his banner over you. It is displayed boldly for the enemy to see.

“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

So how can this revelation help and guide our prayers. Firstly, we can thank God that we are part of His family and His name is a banner over us and a strong tower for our protection. We thank God for His love and protection. We acknowledge that the battle belongs to God. God is all powerful, mighty and is undefeated. We take our stand under God’s banner as we rebuke our enemy, satan. We thank God and acknowledge Jesus Christ’s victory over satan at the Cross and over sin and death. Jesus took the keys of death and hell from Satan. We are victorious in Jesus. Christ is our champion. We rebuke a defeated enemy.

“We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God We will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfil all your petitions “ Psalm 20:5

On a number of occasions when we have prayed around our local area, we have taken a flag with us as the Holy Spirit has prompted us. One time we were prompted to take a red flag which I believe was for a reminder and declaration of the blood of Jesus which is powerful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and sin. There is power in the blood of Jesus. Do I understand fully each time the Lord prompts me by the Holy Spirit to do this in prayer – no but in faith and obedience I do it. I believe it is a public declaration to the powers of darkness that we believe in Jesus who has saved and delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is powerful and mighty to save. Amen

Since yesterday, Brother Alan drew my attention to the banners and flags of the Salvation Army. I have updated my post to include a picture of some of their flags.

Their website says “The crimson colour of the flag represents atonement, and the blue, God’s chosen emblem of purity. The motto ‘Blood and Fire’ stands for the blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit”

Blood of Jesus and the Fire of the Holy Spirit. What we all need. Praise God. Amen.