The Lord is our banner. He is Jehovah Nissi. His banner is an identifying flag that represents His LOVE. God is Love! His very nature is love. God lives, moves and has his being in love. He responds to his children through a heart of love.

A word of the LORD came to me a few days prior to writing this cassia.

I have set my banner of love over you. For I say the Victory is yours. I say today, I am the Victor! The battle has been one! Open your eyes! Look up; look up, your redemption is drawing close. Do not fear what is going on in the world, walk only in the Fear of the LORD.

Exodus 17:15-16
Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, “For hands were lifted up to the Throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

The Amalekites were a nomadic people who came against the Israelites to destroy them. Moses called for Joshua and told him to choose some men and go out and fight the Amelkites. Moses would stand on top of the hill with his staff raised to God. As long as Moses kept his hands raised the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered them the Amalekites were winning. So, when Moses tired he sat on a rock and Aaron and Hur held his arms up. Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

The battle and the victory is the LORD’s. He shows us through this amazing story of His plan to defeat the enemy in our life. We do not fight with swords as they did. Our battles are against the enemy of our soul, the devil.

Ephesians 6:12
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Our battle is against the evil one. The earth was handed over to his control and dominion at the fall of man. He was defeated through the cross, but we still struggle against him in this world. So, we have an adversary much like Israel’s enemy the Amalekites. He wants to destroy our lives. Jesus is Jehovah Nissi. The LORD is our banner. We fight under that banner. It is recognized by our enemy and he hates it. It represents “For God so loved the world that He gave his Son to atone for our sin.” We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

God defeated the enemy through giving his Son, because He deeply loved His creation. We are not to walk in fear of the enemy. We are only to walk in a holy reverence or the fear of the LORD. God has called his children to walk in this same kind of selfless love we see being poured out by our Father in giving Jesus Christ as our atonement. We are to love the world into relationship with Jesus.

We walk under this banner of love. We personify the love of Christ!

Song of Songs 2:3-6
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to his banquet hall and his banner over me is love. Strengthen me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

The above reference is a beautiful picture of Christ and His bride, the church. Jesus stands out among all created. He is above every name. He is beautiful and I love to sit at his feet and learn from him. The revelation we receive and the words he speaks over us in our quiet times is sweet to our taste. A banquet was a formal meal held in honor of a person or a special occasion. So, when we see Christ taking his bride to his banquet hall, it signifies a celebration in her honor. Jesus loves his church so much he wants to lavish on her finery. He has prepared this special meal with meat and wine in her honor. To make this gathering even more special, He says, His banner over us is his love. He has not only set us apart to honor us, He declares His love for us! It is his pleasure to raise high the banner, the flag declaring, “My love is over my church, my bride.” He upholds us with His righteousness! He will not let us fall. He embraces us as a gesture of his everlasting love.

Isaiah 25:6-7
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations.

The LORD himself will prepare the feast for his bride. The best meats and wines will be served to his beloved. All people are invited to this banquet. He is the manna from Heaven; he is the Bread of life, he satisfies the hunger and thirst within all people. This is an invitation to the Nations to come and feast. He will remove the veil that has hidden the mysteries of the times; Christ in you the hope of glory. Jesus will be LORD over the Nations. He is the Desire of the Nations.

Haggai 2:7
I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord Almighty

Mankind is created and formed in God’s image; we have an innate desire to be like him. We hunger for love but can only be satisfied with God’s perfect love. Men thirst for greatness, purpose and destiny but even with the very best the world can offer they still feel empty. God wants to come into our lives and take up residence. When this happens we become the temple or house for Holy Spirit. He says,” I will fill this house with my glory! “

Glory in this passage actually means to, honor, glorious, abundance,riches, splendor, dignity, reputation. I would like to be filled with all of those amazing things. To be honored for whom you are. To be so God filled that we radiate glory and splendor. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds. The fruit of this is honor, dignity and good reputation. The abundance of riches comes in many ways; monetarily, spiritually, relationally, and emotionally. In all aspects of my life, I feel blessed!

This past Sunday as Nate and I led worship; I looked out at the congregation and I saw many flags waving as the people worshiped. It was so beautiful. It actually imparted courage to me. I know what those flags represent. They are banners of love, and freedom in Christ. They are being waved before their King. His banner over us is love!