RAISING A STANDARD
25th May 2022
Isaiah 59:19 in NKJV says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him.”
We are living in very uncertain times, and the enemy is seeking ways to rob us of peace and to take away our victory. This happened to Paul and his companions, in 2 Corinthians 7:5 it says, “For when we came to Macedonia, this body of our had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn - conflicts on the outside and fears within.” It continues, “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us….”
We need to learn how to “raise up a standard”. Flags are very important, when a territory has been conquered, the first thing the victorious army does is pull down the flag of the enemy and raise their own flag, declaring who is now in control.
“Raising the standard” doesn’t necessarily bring about victory over the attack from the enemy, but it declares our position, it combats fear and the Spirit of the Lord rises within us taking up a position of confidence and faith.
In Psalm 138:2 it says, “I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name for your love and faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” We can have confidence in the power of the Name and the effectiveness of the Word.
Philippians 2:9 says that God has given Jesus the Name above every Name, “that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess the Jesus Christ is Lord.”
I remember singing a song at a Good News Crusade camp many years ago - “There is a flag flying high from the castle of my heart, for the King is in residence there. So let it fly in the sky, let the whole world know that the king is in residence there.” Other verses say, Love is the flag, Joy is the flag, Peace is the flag. As we sang everyone took their handkerchiefs and waved them over their heads which looked unusual, but was a great statement of faith in face of all the negative attacks of the enemy.
What is the enemy throwing at you today? Raise a standard, wield the Name of Jesus and the Word of God.
by Charles Sibthorpe
