Choosing the Right Banner: God as Our Guide
Summary
In exploring the name Jehovah Nissi—“The Lord is my banner”—we are invited to consider what truly defines us and leads us through life’s battles. Just as ancient armies rallied under their banners for identity and direction, we too live under many banners: our families, our jobs, our heritage, our passions. Yet, the question remains: which banner is primary? Which one are we willing to go to battle for, and which one shapes our choices and direction?
Looking at Exodus 17, we see the Israelites, freshly delivered from Egypt, facing the Amalekites in the wilderness. Despite God’s repeated provision—parting the Red Sea, providing water, manna, and quail—the people were quick to forget His faithfulness. In the battle with Amalek, Moses stands on the hill with the staff of God, and as long as his hands are raised, Israel prevails. When he tires, Aaron and Hur support him, and the victory is won. Moses then builds an altar and names it Jehovah Nissi, declaring that the Lord is the true banner over His people.
This story teaches us several things. First, we must ensure we are on God’s side, not simply asking Him to bless our own agendas. Second, we should only enter the battles God calls us to, discerning His direction rather than being swept up by every cause or conflict. Third, victory belongs to God; even when we are active participants, it is His power that brings success, not our own strength. Fourth, perseverance is essential, and we are not meant to endure alone—community is vital, as seen in Moses’ need for support. Finally, we must remember and recount God’s faithfulness, building reminders in our lives so we do not forget His goodness when new challenges arise.
The battles we face today are often spiritual rather than physical, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6. We are called to put on the full armor of God, to stand firm, and to trust in His strength. The Lord must be our primary banner, above all other identities and allegiances. When we struggle to trust or to make Him first, we are called to seek help, to be honest in community, and to remember that faith is strengthened together. May we each examine our hearts, ensuring that the Lord is our banner, guiding and defining us in every circumstance.
Key Takeaways
- The Banners We Live Under: Every person lives under multiple banners—family, heritage, career, passions—but only one can be primary. The banner we choose to go to battle for reveals what truly shapes our identity and decisions. It is easy to let secondary banners take precedence, but only the Lord’s banner offers lasting purpose and direction. [03:15]
- Being on God’s Side, Not Just Our Own: It is tempting to ask God to bless our plans, but the real question is whether we are on His side. True faith means seeking God’s will and aligning ourselves with His purposes, even when it challenges our preferences or comfort. This requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own agendas. [16:18]
- Entering Only the Battles God Assigns: Not every conflict or cause is ours to fight. Discernment is needed to know which battles God is calling us into, lest we waste energy or become distracted from His true mission for us. Prayerful pause and seeking God’s guidance are essential before engaging in any struggle. [18:24]
- Victory Belongs to the Lord: Even when we are active in the fight, it is God who brings the victory. We must guard against pride and the illusion of self-sufficiency, remembering to give God the glory for every success. This posture of dependence keeps our hearts humble and our faith anchored in His power. [21:20]
- Perseverance and Community in the Battle: The journey of faith is long and often exhausting, but we are not meant to endure alone. Like Moses, we need others to support us, and we are called to support others in their battles. Perseverance is sustained by community, prayer, and the continual remembrance of God’s faithfulness. [23:54]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Ancient Banners: Identity and Purpose
[03:15] - The Banners We Live Under Today
[04:53] - Community and Camaraderie Under Banners
[11:38] - Israel’s Forgetfulness and God’s Provision
[12:22] - Patterns of God’s Faithfulness
[13:08] - The Battle with Amalek: Jehovah Nissi
[16:18] - Being on God’s Side in the Battle
[17:26] - Only Entering God-Assigned Battles
[18:24] - Discerning God’s Direction
[19:05] - God’s Responsibility for Victory
[21:20] - Guarding Against Pride in Success
[22:03] - Perseverance and Support in Battle
[23:13] - The Power of Community and Prayer
[23:54] - Supporting and Being Supported
[25:35] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
[29:44] - The Armor of God: Spiritual Battles
[33:18] - Self-Examination: Is the Lord My Banner?
[37:05] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is My Banner
---
### Bible Reading
- Exodus 17:8-16
The story of Israel’s battle with the Amalekites, Moses raising his hands, and the naming of the altar “The Lord is my banner.”
- Ephesians 6:10-18
Paul’s teaching on the armor of God and the nature of spiritual battles.
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Exodus 17, what role did Moses, Aaron, and Hur each play during the battle with the Amalekites? How did their actions affect the outcome? ([13:08])
2. According to the sermon, what did the “banner” represent for the Israelites in the context of their battle? ([13:08])
3. In Ephesians 6, what are some of the pieces of the “armor of God” that Paul lists, and what are they meant to protect us from? ([29:44])
4. The Israelites repeatedly forgot God’s faithfulness after each provision. What were some of the things God provided for them before the battle with Amalek? ([11:38])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Moses named the altar “The Lord is my banner” after the victory? What does this say about where he believed the victory came from? ([13:08])
2. The sermon mentioned that we all live under different “banners” (family, job, heritage, etc.). Why is it important to identify which banner is primary in our lives? ([03:15])
3. Paul says our struggle is “not against flesh and blood” but against spiritual forces. How does this change the way we think about the battles we face today? ([29:44])
4. The sermon emphasized the need for community in persevering through battles. Why is it significant that Moses needed Aaron and Hur to support him? What does this teach us about faith and support? ([23:54])
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon asked, “What banner are you willing to go into battle for, and which banner guides your choices?” Take a moment to honestly reflect: What banners are most visible in your life right now? Are there any that have taken priority over God’s banner? ([03:15])
2. When facing a difficult decision or conflict, do you tend to ask God to bless your plans, or do you first seek to be on God’s side? Can you share a recent example where you did one or the other? What was the result? ([16:18])
3. The sermon warned against fighting battles God hasn’t called us to. Are there any “battles” (arguments, causes, conflicts) you’re currently involved in that you haven’t really prayed about or discerned God’s direction for? What would it look like to pause and seek God’s guidance? ([18:24])
4. Think of a time when you experienced a “victory” in your life (big or small). Did you give God the credit, or did you feel it was mostly your own effort? How can you practice giving God the glory in future successes? ([21:20])
5. Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms. Who are the people in your life who support you when you’re weary? Is there someone you need to invite into your struggle, or someone you could support right now? ([23:54])
6. The Israelites often forgot God’s faithfulness. What practical steps can you take to remember and recount God’s goodness in your life? (e.g., journaling, sharing stories, creating reminders) ([25:35])
7. The sermon encouraged honesty about struggles and doubts, especially in community. Is there an area where you’re struggling to trust God as your banner? What would it look like to share that with someone this week? ([33:18])
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group make Him their primary banner, to give discernment about which battles to fight, and to strengthen the group’s sense of community and support for one another.
Devotional
Day 1: The Lord is Our Banner—Our True Identity and Refuge
To be under the Lord’s banner means to find our primary identity, allegiance, and security in Him above all other affiliations or loyalties. Just as Moses declared “The Lord is my banner” after the victory over the Amalekites, we are called to gather under God’s standard, letting Him define who we are and where we belong. In a world full of competing banners—family, heritage, politics, or personal interests—it is vital to examine which banner truly guides our choices and direction. The Lord’s banner is not just one among many; it is the one that leads, protects, and unites us as His people. [13:08]
Exodus 17:8-16 (ESV)
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord is my banner, saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Reflection: What is the primary “banner” you live under—what most shapes your identity and decisions—and what would it look like to let the Lord be your true banner today?
Day 2: Only Enter the Battles God Sends You
Not every battle is ours to fight; discernment is needed to ensure we are engaging in the struggles and causes to which God has truly called us. The Israelites did not fight at the Red Sea—God fought for them—but at Rephidim, God called them to take up arms. In our lives, it is easy to be swept into conflicts, causes, or arguments that are not ours, or to ask God to bless our own plans rather than seeking His direction. True faith means pausing, praying, and asking, “Lord, is this the battle You want me to fight?” so that we are not manipulated or distracted from God’s purposes. [18:24]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: Is there a “battle” or cause you are currently engaged in—big or small—where you need to pause and ask God if He is truly calling you to it?
Day 3: God Alone Brings the Victory
It is tempting to take credit for our successes or victories, forgetting that it is God who brings deliverance and blessing. Just as the Israelites might have thought their own strength won the battle, we too can fall into pride or self-reliance, especially when answers to prayer come after a delay. Remembering that God is the source of every victory keeps us humble, grateful, and dependent on Him, giving Him the glory He deserves rather than claiming it for ourselves. [21:20]
Romans 8:31 (ESV)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Reflection: Think of a recent “victory” or answered prayer in your life—have you truly given God the credit, or have you slipped into thinking it was your own doing?
Day 4: Persevere and Support One Another in the Battle
The journey of faith is often long and exhausting, and perseverance is required to see God’s victory. Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms when he grew weary, reminding us that we are not meant to fight alone. God provides community—friends, family, small groups—so that we can support and encourage one another, carrying each other through seasons of weakness or struggle. Likewise, we are called to come alongside others, offering strength and prayer when they are weary, just as others do for us. [23:54]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Reflection: Who in your life needs you to “hold up their arms” right now, and how can you practically encourage or support them this week?
Day 5: Remember and Celebrate God’s Faithfulness
We are prone to forget God’s past faithfulness, especially in times of hardship or uncertainty. Moses built an altar as a memorial so that future generations would remember what God had done. Likewise, we need tangible ways to recall and celebrate God’s provision and answered prayers—whether through journaling, sharing stories with family, or other creative reminders—so that our faith is strengthened for future challenges and others are encouraged by our testimony. [25:35]
Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV)
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally remember and share God’s faithfulness in your life with others this week?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jun 29, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?