TEXT:  Psa. 60:4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      FLAGS HAVE MANY USES.

          1.       Identifies army, a rallying point.

          2.       This text is a call to open acknowledgment on our part.

B.      WE OFTEN FAIL TO UNFURL OUR BANNER.

I.      WHAT IS OUR BANNER?

A.      OUR BANNER IS CHRIST ( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

          1.       His death is our rallying point ( 1 Cor. 1:23;  2:2 ).

          2.       We are to lift him up that all may be drawn to him.

B.      IN OUR FAITH JESUS CHRIST IS:

          1.       The chief object of the enemies attack.

          2.       The symbol of defiance.

                   a.       Jesus is defied by the devil ( 1 Cor. 1:18 ).

                   b.       But Jesus is the victor ( 1 Cor. 15:55-57 ).

          3.       The emblem of victory ( vs. 57;  2 Cor. 2:14;  Rom. 8:37 ).

II.     BY WHOM IS OUR BANNER GIVEN?

        ( “Thou hast given …” ).

A.      JESUS WAS SENT BY GOD ( 1 John 4:9-10 ).

B.      HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR US

          ( Acts 2:22-24;  1 Pet. 1:18-20;  Eph. 3:11 ).

C.      THE SACRIFICE OF GOD SHOWS GOODNESS THAT COMPELS ( Rom. 2:4 ).

III.    TO WHOM IS THE BANNER GIVEN?

        ( To them that fear him – Ecc. 12:13-14 ).

A.      FEAR IS COUPLED WITH OBEDIENCE.

B.      WHY FEAR GOD?

          1.       He is a consuming fire ( Heb. 12:28-29 ).

          2.       He is our judge ( Heb. 10:30-31;  Matt. 10:28;  1 Pet. 1:17 ).

IV.   FOR WHAT PURPOSE WAS THIS GIVEN?

        ( That it may be displayed. )

A.      WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO PREACH THE WORD, LIFT THE BANNER?

B.      HOW DO WE LIFT IT UP?

          1.       By word of mouth ( Acts 5:42;  8:4;  Mark 16:20;  Col. 1:6 ).

                   a.       This is God’s plan ( 1 Cor. 1:21 ).

                   b.       How else can sinners become believers ( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

                   c.       We must be ready to give an answer ( 1 Pet. 3:15 ).

          2.       By manner of life ( 1 Pet. 2:11-12 ).

                   a.       Something ought to be seen in our lives that is not seen in others

                             ( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

                   b.       What does Jesus say if that something is not there ( Matt. 5:13 ).

                   c.       Our manner of life ought to motivate others to obey ( Matt. 5:16 ).

V.    WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT OF LIFTING OUR BANNER?

A.      OTHERS WILL BE ENCOURAGED, PERHAPS EVEN SAVED

          ( Rom. 10:17;  James 5:19-20 ).

B.      GOD WILL BE MAGNIFIED ( Matt. 5:16 ).

C.      WE WILL HAVE OUR REWARD ( 1 Cor. 15:58;  Gal. 6:9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      IS JESUS THE BANNER UNDER WHICH YOU FIGHT?

B.      JESUS LEFT US AN EXAMPLE IN HIS DEATH ( Phil. 2:5-8 ).

C.      HAVE YOU HUMBLED YOURSELF?  WILL YOU OBEY? ( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

D.      WILL YOU LIFT HIGH HIS BANNER?