Jehovah-Nissi

JEHOVAH-NISSI

Isa. 59:19, Ex. 17:15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A pastor had a little kitten stuck up in a tree. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.

2. But as he moved just a little too far, the rope broke. The tree snapped upright and the kitten instantly sailed through the air and out of sight.

3. He felt terrible, but finally prayed, "Lord, I commit this kitten to Your keeping," and then went about his business.

4. A few days later he was at the grocery store and met one of his church members. In her shopping cart he was amazed to see cat food. She was a CAT HATER, so he asked her why she was buying cat food.

5. She replied, "You won't believe this but I’ve refused to get my little girl a cat even though she’d begged for one. I told her, “If God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it.”

6. "I watched her walk straight out into the yard, get on her knees and ask God for a cat. And Pastor, you won't believe what I saw with my own eyes; God dropped a kitten right down in front of her! What could I say?”

B. SIGNIFICANCE OF FLAGS

1. FLAG BURNING, is an emotionally charged issue. How do you feel when you’re watching TV and see someone burning the U.S. flag? Is it really a “constitutional right?”

2. HISTORY OF. The flag standard is highly prized in war. In ancient times the names of special victories were written, engraved in it. It was the last disgrace to lose the standard. In many battles, men have fallen in heaps around the standard attempting to preserve it.

C. TEXTS

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” Isa. 59:19 KJV.

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” Ex. 17:8-16

C. THESIS

1. We’re going to look 3 aspects of the Banner of the Lord; as a Banner of Resistance, as a Rallying Point, and as representing Jesus Himself and how we can wield His name to get the victory over the forces of hell.

2. The title of tonight’s message is “Jehovah-Nissi.”

I. THE BANNER: SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE

A. TWO PRESUPPOSITIONS. It presupposes…

1. We have an Enemy.

2. Our enemy will come at us ‘like a flood.’

B. TWO APPLICATIONS

1. UNIVERSAL.

a. When we see ungodliness pour into our society and world like a flood, will God just sit idly by?

b. No! He’s going to resist it! He’s going to raise His standard against it. It’s a prophecy!

2. PERSONAL.

a. Is the Holy Spirit in you? How are you responding to the ungodly deluge? Is there resistance in you? [Lot was vexed; Paul was grieved; Jeremiah was troubled, and Peter was emboldened.]

b. If God’s in you, there should be increasing resistance towards evil. If not, then He’s not in you!

II. THE BANNER: RALLYING POINT

A. BACKGROUND

1. Rephidim = “refreshment, rest” on the way to Mt. Sinai/Horeb.

2. Amalekites (grandson of Esau) attacked the stragglers of Israel at the tail of the nation; the weakest and worn down. It was a cowardly act.

3. Joshua & troops sent into the valley while Moses (& Aaron & Hur) stayed on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hands.