God Is Our Banner

"And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi." Exodus 17:15

Jehovah-nissi. The self-sustaining, ever existing God is the banner over His children. Do we realize what that means? 

In ancient times banners announced the coming of an important person. In times of battle the banner announced the identity of the combatants, who they belonged to and who they fought for.

In the Revolutionary War, dawn's first light revealed a battered and torn star spangled banner still fluttering over Fort McHenry. The onlookers saw and knew the outnumbered still prevailed against the mighty power of the oppressor.

During the Civil War major advances into battle were accompanied by the flag under which the soldiers would fight. Additionally they carried the flags of their regiments to indicate who they were and where they were from.

In World War II units continued the tradition of carrying the country's flag and their unit flag. It not only identified who was fighting, but their leader (think Patton's Third Army Tank Corps). Depending on the reputation of the leader and unit, the appearance of those flags would put fear into the hearts of the opposing forces.

When God revealed Himself to Moses and the children of Israel as "Jehovah-nissi" they were facing the fierce army of the Amalekites. It was the first recorded time when they were facing an army instead of fleeing (Pharaoh). Prior to this impending battle, God had answered their grumbling and complaining and lack of faith with the miraculous provision of food and water. Now He would show them victory in the first real physical battle of their lives. No longer were they slaves fleeing a harsh master. They could now fight and win because of Him who they served.

So it is with us as we stand under the banner of Jesus.

"He has brought me to His banquet hall, And His banner over me is love."                          Song of Solomon 2:4

Nothing can withstand the power of God's love, not even death itself. Under His banner we march from victory (though the battle may be bloody) to victory and glory unto glory.

Abba Father, thank you for unfurling the banner of Your Name over us. The children of Israel never lost a battle when they sought You first and marched forward at Your direction. Neither will we. We are Yours and the fierce power of Your reputation lifts us to victory over the enemies in our lives. You go before us and come behind us to protect our weak sides. Oh, Father, give us vision to see You in the midst of our trials. You give strength, You give rest, You give nourishment, You give power, You give protection, You give direction. You alone give the victory. Thank You.

"But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard." Isaiah 52:12
 

Thank God For Trials

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1:12

Trials are blessings for the Christian.

This makes no sense to those whose focus is on the here and now, namely, earthly reign. Our pride and desperation to hold on to our selves, our rights, our desires, our lives drive us to fight hard against adversity. 

This is natural. And good. God is the great preserver, and He has certainly imparted to us a strong desire to preserve life; and He blesses us with a will that fights to live. However, there is, even in our human nature, a physical and emotional life which shrinks from self-sacrifice, suffering, and surrender.  

I think what affects the glorious establishing of God's creation is the constant temptation to focus on the wrong thing. Living for this life is vital, but living now for the" life after" must be our ultimate purpose and end. 

Jesus said:

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." Mark 8:35
"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." John 12:25

This hard principle is revealed in all four of the gospels. But, what is Jesus talking about? It's simple if we will look to His life - before, during, and after His earthly occupation - and focus on what and who is gained. 

Did He not sacrifice Himself for love? 

Did He not give up His place in heaven knowing the hate, the ridicule, the rejection, and the utter brutality He would endure by those whom He came to love? 

Why? 

Because He was willing to lose to win.  Not only victory over sin and death, but us. Jesus has won us! We are His. Because of love. Because of mercy. Because of grace. By the power of God, He fixed His focus on His Father, His mission, and His prize. We are His prize! And He is ours! 

Isn't it obvious then, that the foundation of our glory be laid in suffering like Him? 

Trials usher in afflictions of various degrees. They aim to break us, teach us, protect us, even tempt us to forsake the One we love. Let us remember that trials, in God's economy, are meant to shape our desires, test and strengthen our faith, transform our worldview, work into us a greater weight of glory, and bless us with deeper intimacy with Grace.  

Abba Father, 
Thank You for trials. Without the trials You have prescribed for me, I would be quite ill-equipped for the call as Your disciple. Rutherford once wrote, "Grace withers without adversity and the devil is but God's master-fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons." I realize I must embrace hardship as a gateway to Your grace. Please teach me  to be humble and courageous, to give up my life to gain Jesus; just as He gave up His life to gain me. Thank You, Father, for this strange and mysterious gift. Thank You for trials that cause me to want more of Your grace, more of Your Son, and less of this world, less of myself. 
Amen. 

There Is No Other God

"I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no-one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these. 'Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it.' I, the LORD, have created it....It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands and I ordained all their host." Isaiah 45:5-8, 12

Thank You, God, for so clearly telling us there is no other God. Five times in the forty-fifth chapter of Isaiah you declare You are God and there is no other. You made this statement when you named Cyrus 200 years before he was born, when you foretold of the establishment of his reign for the sake of Jacob, Your servant, and Israel, Your chosen one. Cyrus would give permission for Your chosen ones to return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian Captivity.

You named another deliverer, Your Son, Jesus. This deliverer would not just give Your people permission to leave captivity for freedom, He would take them Himself. He handed us the ticket, His shed blood, His pure sacrifice. No other. One Holy sacrifice. One Holy God. Thank You.

"Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance." Isaiah 45:22-23

God Knows...Everything

"Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as His counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge, or showed Him the path of understanding?" Isaiah 40:13-14

Power rests on knowledge, therefore God is able to do all things because He knows all things. He can tell what is the measure of "the dust of the earth." He cannot be taught anything by any being, for all knowledge is His already. His also is perfect wisdom, the secret of right action, of the direction of both heavenly and earthly affairs, of prevision and provision, of ruling and overruling. All is at His command. 

His wisdom is incapable of increase because it is absolutely complete. And this all-knowing God knows you. He knew you since before He created the world. And He knew He would sacrifice His only Son, Jesus, in order to know you for eternity.

Thank You, God, for Your matchless gift of Jesus. Thank you that You know us, with all our flaws, and You still want us. Thank You that You don't want us to remain flawed and needy. Through Jesus and the transforming power of Your Holy Spirit cleansing us by Your Word, You have changed us. You bring forth the precious scent of obedience and praise through our life-changing trials. You alone bring forth the sweet fruit of our abiding in the Vine, Your Son Yeshua.

"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." Psalm 139:1-6

Thankful For Fellowship In Christ

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42

There are so many reasons to be grateful to God, especially during this beautiful season of Thanksgiving. On the top of my list of favorite blessings are the beautiful friendships I have made through the Ladies Bible Study at this church. 

I have attended many group studies over the years that have taught me God's word, but left me hungry for the sweet fellowship of Christian friends. The first day I attended the Ladies Bible Study here was a little intimidating since I was new to the church and didn't know a soul. I sat at a table by myself, feeling like the new kid on the first day of school. Thankfully, it only took a couple of minutes for ladies to join me, introduce themselves and immediately make me feel welcome. I now enjoy the blessing of having made life long friends who love, encourage, and support each other through all of life's joys and trials.

Thank you, Father, for the friendships we have in You. Thank You for our Bible Study's heavenly worship team, our incredible teachers and our sweet and devoted Becky, who always makes us feel so loved and special.