A Banner Worth Lifting - Sheldon Pryor

Jehovah Nissi, a banner worth lifting.

King James Version Chapter 17

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 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. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. 15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:

We know God as Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Will Provide.

God provided for Abraham and Isaac a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. God has provided for you and I a savior, his only son Christ Jesus, to come as fully man that we might be saved.

We know God as Jehovah Rapha, The Lord That Heals.

God heals the unbeliever, the sinner, the unworthy. God heals you and I.

We know God as Jehovah Shalom, The Lord Is Peace.

Fear flees at the mention of his name. Indescribable, overwhelming peace fills the room at the mention of his name.

However, today I have come to preach on none of these.

Today I want to preach to you about another name– Jehovah Nissi, The Lord My Banner.

When an altar was built for a memorial, the purpose would be helped by a name. This would keep the covenant in remembrance.

Jehovah Nissi, “The Lord My Banner”, would tell all who heard the word that there had been a struggle, and that a people who worshipped Jehovah had been victorious.

I can imagine walking up to that altar of stones. I can hear the footsteps of someone walking towards me. I hear a questioning voice cry out, “Stranger, do you know what these stones mean?” In confusion, I would respond “No.” I can hear them rehearsing the story of how God, Jehovah Nissi, fought for the Israelites that day against the Amalekites.

How when Moses, the man of God, let down his hands the Amalekites would advance upon the Israelites in a tide of chaos and destruction, but oh…

They would surely speak of how when Moses lifted his hands back up. When Moses raised that banner a little higher, the Israelites would gain back their ground.

How when Aaron and Hur made up their mind they wouldn’t let the hands of the man of God fall down, that they wouldn’t let the authority of God fall short, that they wouldn’t let that banner fall, the Israelites utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

Let me tell you today… You need to be praying for your Pastor.

You need to be praying for his strength.

You need to be praying for his endurance.

Because when the hands of Moses were raised, the Israelites saw the victory.

Likewise, a Pastor held up in prayer will allow God to lead this church to victory. To lead your family to victory. To lead you to victory.

Don’t let the man of God fall. Don’t let the authority of God fall. Don’t let that banner fall.

In ancient warfare, great armies would proudly carry their own banner or flag on the frontlines of battle.

These banners gave their soldiers hope, identity, and were to serve as a point of direction for the stratagem of warfare.

So our God is to you and I today.

Jehovah Nissi, a focal point of hope

The hope of the Israelites was not found in Moses, nor any outward symbol, man, or thing, but only in God. Therefore, we are to look away from the externalities of our warfare and put our hope in God.

When God is on the scene, the bankruptcy notice ceases to matter.

When God is on the scene, the prodigal comes home.

When God is on the scene, the doctor’s report is rendered void.

Jehovah Nissi, the cornerstone from which we derive our identity,

Banners would serve as identification markers for the cause for which an army fought or the commander whom it followed. So Moses, by the name which he gave to that altar, was impressing upon the minds of the Israelites that they were now God’s soldiers, and that the warfare which they waged was not for themselves, but that the will of God might prevail.

Jehovah Nissi, the master strategist from which we find our direction and get our battle orders.

It was in ancient warfare that the banner moved in front of the host and determined the movements of the army. By the piling of the stones and the name which he gave them, Moses was teaching Israel that from this day forward they would be under the command of God.

So when I preach to you about the banner today, when I preach to you about Jehovah Nissi… I’m preaching to you about the power of God in which the battle is won. The banner which we fight under.

If the Lord be my banner, what can I not do?

It is with this confidence that David writes in Psalm 18:2­–

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

And in boasting David writes in Psalm 18:29–

“For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”

If the Lord be my banner, what can I not face?

Isaiah 59:19 says “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

I’m preaching to you today about a banner worth lifting.

Psalm 60:4 says “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.”

Displayed why? Because of the truth.

This truth is worth fighting for.

The salvation of a soul is worth fighting for.

The revival that God has in Orange County is worth fighting for.

Isaiah 11:9 says “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

That means that the adversary has no power to hurt or destroy. That means that God’s not done with the work yet. God’s not finished until the earth is full of the knowledge of truth.

In what measure shall the earth be full? As the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:10 says “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”

That word “seek” refers to an applying to God for instruction, guidance, and salvation; or to apply to Him as a nation looks to its deliverer to protect it.

Jehovah Nissi, The Lord My Banner

Jehovah Nissi, the ensign of the people

This banner must stand. This banner must be lifted up. Because we are the people that need the instruction, guidance, and salvation of God.

We are the nation that must turn back to its deliverer to protect it.

Great empires have lifted their banners high and have fallen low.

Great movements have raised their banners loud only to be silenced by history.

But, the banner that we have in God will never fall and will never go quiet.

Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

Jehovah Nissi, a banner worth lifting up.

Yet, many today look at me weary and tired…

The past months have been hard enough.

It’s been hard enough making it without the security of your job.

It’s been hard enough making it without being inside the walls of your church.

It’s been hard enough not being able to get to an altar and lay your frustrations, worries, and doubts at the feet of God.

Yes sir, yes ma’am… It’s been hard enough.

Perhaps some of you find yourself struggling with sin today.

Pornography, alcohol addiction, drug abuse…

Many would ask the question today, am I even worthy to carry this banner in my weakness?

My answer to you is this…

Song of Solomon 2:4 – “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

Jesus loves you.

He didn’t give you this banner because you were worthy.

He gave it to you because He first loved YOU.

He didn’t give you this banner because you were perfect.

He gave it to you because he trusted his creation.

I would encourage you today to recall the story of Jehoshaphat.

It was in the weakness of King Jehoshaphat that he found strength.

It was in his vulnerability that he found victory.

Facing the threat of a vast army, Jehoshaphat unfurls his banner, shakes the dust off, and cries out to God.

2 Chronicles 20:6 – “O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”

He finishes his prayer with this statement… “Our eyes are upon thee.”

If I look before me, I see an insurmountable army.

If I look behind me, I see retreat, devastation and failure.

If I look to my right, I see the worried faces of my counselors and generals.

If I look to my left, I see the responsibility of the kingdom I am supposed to lead.

So, God… my eyes are upon you. It is up to you do the work.

I can’t stand to look at the bills I have to pay.

I can’t stand to look at the medical reports.

I can’t handle the look on my wife as I try and explain what we’re going to have to do to make it one more week.

God, my eyes are upon you.

The Lord heard the prayers of Jehoshaphat that day and told Jehoshaphat in verse 17 –

"ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. “

Standing in the wilderness of Tekoa, Jehoshaphat commands the people to believe in the word of their Lord.

To exercise the armaments of their faith.

To make ready the banner of their praise.

In verse 22, “when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

Judah, don’t forget what makes you Judah.

Don’t forget your praise.

Don’t forget how to shout.

Don’t forget how to dance in the middle of a pandemic.

Jehoshaphat, I’m about to show you that I’m still Jehovah Nissi.

As long as you’ll lift up the banner of praise, like Moses lifted up the rod of God, I will give you sure victory over the Ammonites.

I’m talking about a banner worth lifting up.

Like Jehoshaphat, we must not let the excuse of our weakness become the crux of our defeat.

We must gird up the loins of our mind, prepare ourselves with the armor of God, get to an altar of prayer in our homes, and dust off our dancing shoes.

Yes brother, yes sister… Even in your weakness God is still calling for you to lift the banner high.

I get it, your hands are heavy. You’re a little tired. It’s getting a little uncomfortable. Your hands are starting to droop.

In Exodus 17:12, Moses’ hands were getting heavy.

Aaron and Hur knew the critical nature of keeping the banner lifted. They devised a two-part solution:

First, they found a stone for him to sit on.

I want to encourage you today to get back to the rock.

Psalm 144:1 (NIV) – “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”

Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve got to get back to the rock.

Young person you’ve got to get back to the rock.

Second, they got on his left and his right side and lifted up his hands.

You need your brother and your sister.

Weariness does not excuse isolation.

This is not a time to be excluding yourself from your brother and your sister.

You have to reach out! Call out, before your fall out.

This banner we’re fighting for is too important to let fall!

We must be quick to remember Ephesians 6:12–

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The enemies of our warfare are not flesh and blood, but they are no less real.

They are after your ministry, they are after your giftings, they are after your life.

In ancient Chinese military campaigns, the flags of one’s enemy were always monitored for signs of weakness. It is suggested that when an army presented a flag that was lowered, tattered, or in disarray it served as a signal that they were ready to be taken and destroyed.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would present to you today that your adversary is watching you very closely.

You must become hypersensitive to the signal that your proximity to your banner is sending your adversary.

When is the last time you opened your Bible?

How long has it been since you pushed back the plate and decided to fast?

Can you remember the last time you let yourself go freely in praise, dancing before the Lord?

Is your banner tattered and in disarray?

Is your banner falling to the ground?

Or, is your banner lifted proudly above your adversary?

Don’t let the banner fall. Pick it up again.

Moses, don’t let down your hand. Jehoshaphat don’t stop your praise.

This banner is worth lifting up.

Exodus 17:14 says “… and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua.”

It is of interest to me that God calls out Joshua in this verse.

Joshua is the next generation. Joshua is the man on the battlefield.

God was telling Moses– this banner is too important to let die with your generation.

You’ve got to remind Joshua, that the glory is mine. That it was the banner of the Lord that led him to victory against the Amalekites.

Moses, there is coming a moment where Joshua struggles to remember the name of the altar of stones you laid that day.

There may come a day where Joshua begins to trust in his hands more than the hands of the authority of God.

There may come a moment where the walls seem to high, the armies appear to great.

He’s going to need to be reminded, Moses, of my name… Jehovah Nissi.

That it is the Lord who is his banner.

That it is the Lord who is his hope.

That it is the Lord whom his identity is founded upon.

That it is the Lord who directs him.

That it is the Lord who he owes the glory.

Sir… Ma’am… Don’t let 2020 steal your testimony.

Don’t let 2020 silence your victory.

Don’t let 2020 stifle your shout.

He’s still Jehovah Nissi… The Lord My Banner.

To Him… All creation must bow.

Through Him… All things are possible.

With Him… We have the victory.

I don’t care how practiced David might have been with the sling, I don’t care how perfect the stones David might have gathered, it was useless without the rock.

Jehovah Nissi, The Lord David’s Banner towered over the physical stature of Goliath.

It was in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, which David approached Goliath and would overcome him who had defied the Holy One of Israel.

I’m preaching to you today about a banner worth lifting.

I don’t know about you, but today I choose to raise the banner high.

Why lift this banner? Because of the truth.

At whatever cost, whatever sacrifice… I’ve found a banner worth lifting.

People across the world have lifted banners for many reasons and causes, but I know of only one banner worth lifting today.

I don’t care what the world would attempt to persuade you, the only banner worth lifting is Jehovah Nissi.

Jehovah Nissi an eternal banner.

Jehovah Nissi an everlasting banner.

Jehovah Nissi, MY banner.

I’m preaching to some people of promise.

I’m preaching to a church with filled to the brim with destiny.

This banner is too valuable to be hidden.

This banner wasn’t intended to be folded up in a box in your basement.

Unfurl the banner, shake it off, and get ready to march into your promise.

Get ready to march into your miracle.

This little light of mine… I’m going to let him shine… Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

I’ve found a banner worth lifting and I refuse to hide it in the dark for one more second.

I’m challenging you today to lay the banners of this world aside.

You’ve been living under the banner of fear for too long.

You’ve been living under the banner of stress and anxiety for too long.

You’ve been living under the banner of sin and lust for too long.

You’ve been living under the banner of sickness and disease for too long.

Just as Jehovah Nissi led the army of Israel against the Amalekites,

Just as Jehovah Nissi led the army of Judah against the Ammonites,

Jehovah Nissi is tearing down the banner of cancer.

Jehovah Nissi is tearing down the banner of financial struggle.

Jehovah Nissi is tearing down the banner of stolen promises and wasted time.

Jehovah Nissi, The Lord My Banner, is leading His children against this pandemic.

You and I are precious cargo and He’s not throwing anything overboard in the middle of this storm.

You’re going to look back and declare that it was Jehovah Nissi who not only protected but prospered your family in the middle of this season.

That it was the banner of the Lord which was over you, your family, your business, and your church.

I echo the words of David in Psalm 20

20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

I’m trying to stir the hearts of some apostolic, holy-ghost filled warriors today.

I’m reaching for a prodigal today that’s had their voice silenced for too long.

I’m after some lost shields and fallen swords today.

This world has nothing for me.

The movements and causes of this world have nothing for me.

They cannot satisfy my needs. Their banners do not answer my prayers.

There is only one banner worth lifting today…. Jehovah Nissi.

It’s time that we pick up the armaments of our warfare, equip ourselves with the armor of the Lord, and raise our banners a little higher.

I believe that if every home represented in our livestream audience tonight would choose to raise their banner, that we would begin to see a holy ghost outpouring like we’ve never experienced before.

That we would see thousands baptized in the precious name of Jesus.

That we would see the lame man walk, the wheelchair bound leap, and the blind eye opened.

(Keep exhorting the people if Ending A…)

**ENDING B**

I wonder if some people today would get on their hands and knees.

Start seeking after the banner tonight. Get into the attic of prayer. Move aside all of the boxes until you get to the banner.

Get that banner out and start waving it in every situation.

The doctor said…. But Jehovah Nissi.

The credit report said…. But Jehovah Nissi.

The news said… But Jehovah Nissi.