Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Today is flag day. Over 200 years ago we became a nation. As part of the British Empire, a Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 to end that domination. The 13 states of the union wanted no king. They wanted a government by the people and for the people. Our beginnings were based on the principles of God’s word.
It takes a lot to form a country. The Declaration had to be worded just right. A Bill of Rights was written. We needed a banner to identify us. This came in our flag. Other nations saw it as a standard by which we came to be. On June 14, 1777, it was brought before Congress and adopted that the stars and stripes would be the national flag. Because it represents our country it is important to us. It’s important to lift up the standard under which it came to be. Flown in the face of our enemies, our standard has been shown time and again.
As Christians we have a banner with the command to lift it. It’s not effective unless we do. When we are saved we are under the flag of Jesus Christ. By his death on the cross we have the standard for insurance and assurance. Lifted it tells us we made the right choice. It is a banner we cannot let down. Jesus said “if I be lifted up I’ll draw all men unto me.” Are we lifting up the standard to show the people which country we belong to? The devil hates to see Christians lift the banner. The victory is ours. We’re still on the winning side. “Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war.” This is who we are. We need to lift up the standard of God.
Jeremiah 4:6 states “Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.” Not only does a banner have to be lifted up, it has to be set up. We have a stand for our flags. They are lifted up and set in them. American flags are set up everywhere. It was planted at Iwo Jima. Amid the battle the weary soldiers found the flag and claimed the victory by raising and setting it in the top of that rocky mount overlooking the shore. It was a rough battle but the standard was set and lifted up.
God is on his throne and King Jesus is at his right hand. By the blood of the Lamb we are members of this banner. No matter what battle we find ourselves in, we can set up the standard toward Zion. This flag is offered to all who are lost. We are part of the nation of God that will live forever. Lift up the standard.
The people in Jeremiah’s day had lost all morale and were slaves to the forces of Babylon. They had seen their standard beat into the ground. How long will it be until we see our standard down? Our flag is in jeopardy everyday. How long will we see the standard of God? Don’t say there is no use to lift it. Don’t say you can’t lift it because you can’t be forgiven. The banner will last as long as we lift if up. We are the flag of Jesus Christ. When we live like we believe, we set up the standard. It needs to fly and be planted in our hearts. Do you need to come and ask God to help you lift again the standard of the banner of Christ?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 