Sermon Snippet – The Battle Banner of Our Blessed and Beloved Savior
INTRODUCTION – In Isaiah 18:1-3, we read of an “ensign” – a fighting flag or a battle banner of God. Although this passage predicts the fall of the Assyrian Empire (“Ethiopia” was an ally) – a prophecy that was fulfilled about seventy years after Isaiah’s death – the application is universal to “all ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth.” If we choose to fight against the Almighty, we will lose, as Isaiah 30:17 clarifies: all that will be left behind will be whatever “ensign” we stood under. All of life is a choice: will we stand with God and fight for what is good and right, or will we support our godless culture? You have probably heard it said that people who stand for nothing will fall for anything. In our current limp-wristed, hand-wringing, jellyfish-backbones society, we can add that people who stand for nothing will kneel for anything, including autocratic and authoritarian government. Remember, of course, that our battles are not physical but spiritual, “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (II Corinthians 10:4).
1. WE NEED THE BATTLE BANNER OF OUR SAVIOR IN OUR CHURCHES
Psalm 74:4 pictures the enemy taking over Israel’s Temple (their place of worship) and flying “their ensigns” there. We have not quite reached the point where our churches have been closed by the authorities, although we had a trial run recently. Even more concerning is the influence that our culture has on us and that can easily infiltrate the Church. It is fashionable – and heretical and blasphemous – to embrace postmodernism. Some leaders of churches openly call themselves “postmodernistic Christians”; they might as well speak of “unholy saints” or “demonic believers.” The continuing fascination with open or process theology – the aberrant idea that God changes based on our actions – is an evil corollary. II Timothy 4:3-4 warns that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Titus 2:1 kindly commands, “But speak thou the things which become [are fitting for] sound doctrine.” Nothing else is appropriate in a church. We must stand under the battle banner of “sound doctrine.”
2. WE NEED THE BATTLE BANNER OF OUR SAVIOR IN OUR FAMILIES
Numbers 2:2 speaks of the necessity of “the ensign of their father’s house.” Just as we must protect our church, we must guard our families. For example (and I am not trying to be controversial), I am a man, and my wife is a woman. Furthermore, I am a male, and she is a female, just as God said in Genesis 1:27. The world can pretend otherwise, but we know the truth, and the truth shall set us free (John 8:32, 36). There are always Assyrians ready to pounce (Isaiah 5:26), but they are destined to ultimate failure (Isaiah 31:9). Psalm 73:19 confirms, “How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.” I Corinthians 10:12 wisely warns, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” The way of the world is destructive, but it will be destroyed. Meanwhile, we must place God’s battle banner over our families and stand firm there.
3. WE NEED THE BATTLE BANNER HIMSELF – THE SAVIOR, GOD THE SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Isaiah 11:10-12 promises a Messiah. “The root of Jesse” is Jesus (Matthew 1:6; Romans 15:12; Revelation 22:16-17); He is the One Who “shall stand for an ensign of the people.” If our trust is in Him, we will experience, as did Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea, the words of Exodus 14:14: “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
CONCLUSION – All of life is a choice: will we stand with Jesus or against Him? The poet James Weldon Johnson wrote, “Young man, young man, your arm’s too short to box with God.” Indeed, young or old, man or woman – yes, man or woman, male or female! – we will lose a battle with God. Why fight Him, especially when all He wants for us is His best, His eternal best? May each of us be certain that our trust is in Jesus for His forgiveness and everlasting salvation. May we put down our battle banners and stand underneath His.