The Lord: Our Banner of Victory
Throughout the Old Testament, whenever God reveals His name, He reveals victory. One of the covenant names that we feel is particularly important for the church to grasp in these days is given in Exodus 17:15, after Israel defeated the Amalekites: “Moses built an altar and called its name, Jehovah Nissi, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner.” In ancient times, and even today, as in the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, the banner was a rallying point for war. This name, The Lord is My Banner can be understood to mean "The Lord is My Banner of Victory!" The greatest banner is the banner of the Lamb of God, Jesus. We believe that the Lord is saying to us today, “My end-time army is going to get greater victory as they have more revelation of Me as Jehovah Nissi.”
Right now our nation faces a challenge and a battle. The destiny of America is being decided in what may be the most important mid-term elections yet. We stand at the brink of a tipping point that will determine the direction of our nation, our culture and the future of our children for years to come. We need to pray that God will establish godly leaders who will honor our foundations, our constitution, approve righteous judges from the Supreme Court on down and who will uphold life and godly marriage.
These are not political issues that we are speaking of; they are spiritual. We are in a time that the spirit of anti-christ is out to destroy our children, our Judeo-Christian foundations, the strength of our nation and ultimately Israel. We are in an ongoing battle. Two years ago we were battling for the elections, but the devil doesn’t quit. America is important for the end-time plans of God and she is important in her stand for Israel. When politics touch us, we have the right and the obligation to say, “This nation is going to be a nation that God can bless.”
The Spirit of Amalek:
One of the most significant strategies of the enemy in this day has been the attack on our Judeo-Christian heritage. This becomes pronounced beginning in the 1960s, when a counter-cultural wave of rebellion surged through the nation. It continues to this day, attempting to erase from every vestige of our culture the memory and honor for our Judeo-Christian heritage: History books have been rewritten, holidays renamed and God rejected from society. Some call it political correctness, others, pluralism or the separation of church and state, but God calls it the spirit of Amalek.
Who is Amalek? In Genesis 36:12 we find that he is the grandson of Esau: “Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.” His spiritual heritage reflected that of Esau who did not value his birthright and inheritance. Thus, the spirit of Amalek is the spirit that does not treasure the blessings, inheritance and favor of God. We are to hunger after the blessings and inheritance that God has for us; Esau hungered after something else. This is the same spirit that tried to come and destroy Israel just as she was embarking on her journey to take hold of the blessings and inheritance first promised to Abraham, her father.
We first see the attack of this spirit in Exodus 17 verses 8-16, “Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, ‘Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
God takes this attack personally. Not only does He give Israel the victory, but He promises to wage war against Amalek from generation to generation. The spirit of amalek causes us to despise our own blessing, and attacks us with weariness and lethargy to discourage us from taking hold of our inheritance. This is what we are seeing in America today. On the one hand, this spirit has crept into our nation, chipping away at the foundations and asserting itself into our media, our schools and universities and our government in an attempt to weary and overwhelm those who would uphold our biblical foundations. On the other, the spirit of Amalek is attacking our weakest members, the children of America, attempting to cut them off from all remembrance of their inheritance! This is the spirit that attacked Israel in the wilderness. This is the spirit that caused Saul to lose his kingdom. This is the spirit that was behind Haman’s decree in Persia. This is the spirit that threatens us today, not only in the U.S., but in Europe, Canada, Australia and other nations that were formed in Judeo-Christian traditions.
When people disdain their inheritance and do not treasure their blessings, they open the door to this spirit. Not being grateful, thankful or honoring allows this spirit to come in. This is the spirit behind much of our news media. We often feel like we need a bath after listening to some of the reports that are on the television. With only a few exceptions, much of what we hear as “news” is tainted with the spirit of Amalek. It seems at times that the media is taking delight in the negative light that they are able to cast on this great nation. But Scripture promises, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, God raises up a standard against him.” God has given us the ultimate standard, Jesus Christ. He is our Banner, and God is calling us to the battle.
We need to rally to our banner. God instructs us to “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget” (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). It is time for the church to arise and take the offensive against this spirit in our land.
Overcoming the spirit of Amalek:
We have been given the rod of authority to exercise authority over spiritual darkness. Jesus told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Moses was the key to the victory in the first battle against Amalek. Joshua was on the ground, doing the physical warfare, but the authority that extended the victory was in the hand of Moses. This is the spiritual authority that we have as the Body of Christ – the church. When we extend the rod of authority in the in the name of Jesus, every devil has to bow.
One of the key areas to exercise this authority in the next few weeks is over our media! First of all, let us caution you: Be careful of what you are consuming. There is so much pollution in our reporting that you can easily get swept away by the atmosphere of depression and negativity that is like raw sewage pouring out of various networks and reports. Be informed, but be aware of what you are ingesting. Don’t consume too much of the sewage in the next few weeks. That is why it is good to stay connected with other Spirit-filled believers in this battle. Be with Holy Ghost filled people who see clearly, see eye to eye and who gather to worship the Lord. Moses was not alone on the hill during that battle; his hands grew heavy and were supported by Aaron and Hur. The spirit of Amalek will try to wear you down. We need to stay in community with other believers, like Aaron and Hur, who will hold up our hands in the battle. Demonic forces drained Moses of his strength. We need each other, the body of believers, in the battle against Amalek. Psalm 137:2 says, “By the rivers of Babylon…we hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.” If your only source of news is the river of the world, and especially the polluted waters controlled by the spirit of Amalek, you will be like the exiles in Babylon. You will lose your song. That is why our main job is to edify each other, encouraging and building each other up.
Secondly, we need to bind the lies and deceptions coming from the media. Extend the rod of authority over every media outlet that is slandering our nation, our foundations and God’s purposes in these elections. May we as committed Christians keep this nation strong. It is our determination, courage and commitment that will keep this nation. If we can find a good remnant that will pray, fast and watch for this nation and believe for the breakthrough, this nation is going to remain strong and mighty and fulfill its destiny.
Third, we need to stay in a place of worship. Worship Him who is The Banner Over You! This is not a time to be despondant, but to declare the victory that is ours in Christ. When all the slander and bad reports are coming to you – you need to begin to praise. You can agree with the reports or see what God is doing. He has given us the victory. In this hour prioritize worship. In the midst of the sludge of battle, we sing and we worship the Lord who has declared the victory. 2 Chronicles 20:22 says, “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people…who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” The Amplified Bible says that they were “self-slaughtered.” When the people of God begin to sing and praise, the Lord sends His own kind of ambushes against their enemies. Their singing and praising brought the pathway to victory. Don’t let discouragement, oppression, depression, fear, or worry get you down. The battle is not yours, but God’s. These principles apply not only for national issues, but to our own individual challenges. If you are under attack emotionally, physically or spiritually, let us encourage you, “God wants to give you victory.” He is Jehovah Nissi for you and your family.
Don’t allow yourself to get isolated. You will find that the true weapons for the end-time battles in the heavenlies are in the sanctuary where God’s people gather together. Look at 1 Samuel 21:8-9: “And David said to Ahimelech, ‘Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me…’ So the priest said, ‘The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod…’ And David said, ‘There is none like it; give it to me.’”
Often people will try to wage war on their own, using their own weapons, but they will get slain by the enemy. We need to come to the house of the Lord, the church of Jesus Christ, the local body where the glory dwells, where the people pray and worship. The glory is there, and therefore the weapons. You will get the weapons for your battles in the house of the Lord. And these are exactly the weapons that we need to slay the spirit of Amalek and every other force that is coming against us.
David did not bring his own weapon. Regular weapons won’t do. He gets the sword that is wrapped in the cloth behind the ephod. The sword is the weapon that God has provided for victory over any and every kind of enemy. It signifies the battle and the victory. God wants to give us the victory in every area of our lives. The sword was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. The ephod is what the priest wore to minister to the Lord. It is the garment that signifies worship, prayer and thanksgiving. It represents our worship. Usually, the priest would wear the ephod, but for some reason, Ahimelech had taken off the ephod and laid it down where it covered the sword. The sword is the victory of the Lord over our enemies, but it was covered by the ephod. What we want to say to you is, “Your victory is hiding behind your worship!” When we worship, God reveals more of the victory to you and me. Many people wait for God to move before they offer up praise, saying, “If God gives me the victory, then I will praise and worship Him.” But God is saying, “I’m waiting for you to lift up your praise and worship to me, so that I can give you the victory.” Our sword of victory is behind the ephod of praise. Until we lift up our worship, we will be limited in accessing the weapons in His sanctuary.
We must put on the ephod of worship before we walk into apostolic victory. This is what we see in the Book of Acts when Paul and Silas are jailed. When they lifted up their worship in their place of physical bondage, the earth moved and they were released. This is a model for us today. No matter how depressing the circumstances or impossible the barriers, there is victory behind our worship. In these coming days, don’t take off the garment of worship.
One of the titles of Jesus is “Chiefest of 10,000.” Only used a few times in the King James Version, it is an unusual word that means “the ultimate standard bearer.” In ancient Israel, when the standard was raised, trumpets would sound and all the warriors would gather around the banner for the great battle. Jesus bears the standard like no one else. He is the One Who raises the banner, and He Himself is the chiefest banner. In these last days, Jesus is raising up that banner, and we are going to see some of the greatest exploits and some of the greatest outpourings of the Holy Spirit because the battle is at hand. The powers of the enemies of Christ are gathering, and God, the Lord Jesus, the Chiefest of 10,000, is blowing His shofar. He is gathering the army of the Lord. He is calling you to battle.
For the next two weeks, we are calling watchmen to the battle stations.
Help us extend the rod of authority of the church of Jesus Christ over these elections and America. We are calling the Watch of the Lord to a corporate fast on Monday, November 6, 2006. May we see the cause of Jehovah-Nissi victorious.
