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Series: Types of Christ
Title: Our Flag
Text: Exodus 17: 8-16
Date: July 4, 2010
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
I read an article recently by Brother Milton Howard, pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball, Louisiana. It caused me to start thinking of this study for today. Today is the fourth of July. We will see our flag flying throughout the day. As you see the flag flying, I hope you will think on the subject of this study.
Exodus 17: 15: And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it, Jehovah-nissi.
This name of the Lord means the LORD our banner. A banner is a flag--an ensign.
Proposition: Christ Jesus is the believer's banner.
Isaiah 11:10: 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.
Christ Jesus has been given for a Banner for the purpose, that God’s elect scattered throughout the world, might be gathered unto him. Christ is our glorious rest.
Psalm 60: 4: Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
Christ our Banner was given by God the Father. Christ is given as a Banner to them that fear God. God has given Christ to us as a Banner to be displayed “because of the Truth.” Christ is an "ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek:" The Son of man must be lifted up--in the heart he has made new, in the gospel that goes forth, in all our glorying before God--Christ must be exalted.
Now let's see in our text, why it is a necessity for the believer that the LORD our banner be exalted.
Exodus 17: 8: Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
THEN
Just before this, the rock had been smitten--Christ Jesus is that Rock. Christ was smitten upon the cross. The Water flowed out of the Rock. The Holy Spirit flows into the hearts of his people because of what Christ accomplished in putting away the sin of his people. You who believe on Christ do so because through the Spirit of God you have been made a partaker of the divine nature--made to drink of the Water of Life freely through faith in Christ.
Then came Amalek. The Amalekites were the descendents of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (of Israel.) The Amalekites hated Israel because of the birthright and the blessing which Israel had been given freely by God. This is why the believer's enemies wage war against us. You who believe know we have many enemies. The world and the devil are the enemies of the believer, as Amalek and his people were to Israel. And chiefly, our warfare is against the old, fleshly nature within us.
Moses was told to write this for a remembrance and to remind the children of Israel of it (v14.)
Deuteronomy 25:17: Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; 18: 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.
The children of Israel had been quarreling against Moses--they were feeble and faint and weary. While they were distracted by this quarreling Amalek took advantage. Now notice this in our text:
Exodus 17: 9: And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek:
THE BELIEVER IS CALLED INTO A WARFARE
The true Israel of God are God's chosen people called into God's light from the four corners of the earth. And we are called on by Christ our Savior to fight our enemy.
Exodus 17: 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.
THE ROD OF GOD
This rod represents our Banner. Christ is the Rod of God. He is the Power and Wisdom of God. Christ is the believer's Strength. As long as the believer beholds Christ through the gospel of Christ and him crucified, through the work of the Spirit, our confidence is in Christ alone and we prevail in this warfare. When Christ is not exalted the enemy begins to prevail.
Application: As believer's we must always keep our full attention on the Lord our Banner.
I Peter 5: 8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 9: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11: To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 5:16: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Colossians 3: 1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
THE LORD OUR BANNER IS STRENGTH TO US BECAUSE
1. The Glory of Christ’s Person. Notice here, that Joshua went into battle with them. Christ is God with us.
Matthew 28:20…lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2. The Efficacy of Christ’s Atonement--
Hebrews 1: 3:…when he had by himself purged our sin, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 9: 12:…by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
3. The Sufficiency Of Christ’s Righteousness--
Ephesians 1:6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Colossians 2: 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
4. The Power Of Christ’s Saving Grace--
1 Peter 1:5: Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
2 Timothy 1: 12:…I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
As these men fought they could see the rod of God on top of the mountain like soldiers in a battle behold the flag. We may be wounded but Christ our Banner is our never-failing strength as we fight this battle.
Illustration: Francis Scott Key
OUR NEED OF CHRIST
Exodus 17: 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.
How we see our need of Christ! The battle is long. We become weary. The enemy within and without is too mighty for us; often it appears the enemy will ultimately prevail. Yet,…
"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Corinthians 10:4)
All our enemies are conquered through the Sword of the gospel. God uses those he has called by his grace--our brethren--to encourage one another, to point one another to Christ Jesus, just as Aaron and Hur helped Moses. Through the word of his grace, Christ our High Priest through the Holy Spirit sets us upon Christ our Foundation Stone, as they sat Moses on a stone. Like the soldiers in the valley, we look up to behold Christ--the Rod of God--high and lifted up at God's right hand. And our gracious God strengthens our hands with a look to Christ so that we prevail over our enemies.
Exodus 17: 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 Jehovahnissi: 16: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Moses did not give himself the glory, nor any of the men with him, but he called the name of it--Jehovah-nissi--the LORD my banner. Our great God assures his children that in Christ we shall ultimately prevail over all our enemies, because Christ hath prevailed. He speaks in the heart made new, saying,
John 16: 33: Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 40: 1: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2: Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
As you watch the fireworks tonight just look around you. You will see people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all kindreds--but we are all united under one banner--the stars and stripes.
Christ is that union for all believers.
Galatians 3: 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29: And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Christ is the Banner of his Church. Under this Banner we fight. Under this Banner we prevail. And to this Banner we rally.
AMEN!