Using flags in praise and celebration? Why do we wear flags in church? What are the benefits or what are the challenges?
And how do flags relate to reaching the lost? And then we talk about flags in spiritual warfare and intercession. Like what does Jehovah Nisi mean for us today?
Thirdly we'll talk about using flags in prophetic ministry. What is the language of the Holy Spirit? Does anyone know what is the language of the Holy Spirit and how do flags relate to that? And then tomorrow we'll do a little more practical teaching on the anointing on the flags the wave offering And we'll talk about keys to a successful flag ministry in your church Does your what if your pastor doesn't embrace that vision or what is the standard bearers assignment?
We'll do guidelines for flag bearers wind away when not to wave who can wave flags so let's talk about today's questions why do we wave flags what is their significance in the church what does the Bible say about flags what happens in the spiritual realm when flags are waved and what would be the fruit of using flags in your church or in your ministry is there a wrong way to wave flags or to colors how can we use flags in spiritual warfare intercession what is the relationship between flags and the prophetic anointing are there specific guidelines how can I start a successful flag ministry in my church Flags are all about many things They cover the whole realm of the Christian experience By their symbolism and by the message they send They're about rejoicing, about celebrating Jesus They're really a part of restoring that tabernacle of David type worship to the church They're about welcoming Jesus into our midst They're about being more radical for Jesus Thank you They are about not being ashamed for Jesus. They're about raising a standard against the enemy. About exalting Christ, proclaiming the love of God, bringing beauty into the sanctuary, knowing who Jehovah Nissi is. Flags are for rallying the troops, being a good soldier for Jesus Christ, for declaring victory, for invading the enemy's territory, for telling the world about Jesus, and for professing God's promises. Possessing the land, proclaiming the love of God.
claiming the truth, bringing unity into praise and worship, making a bold, clear statement. Now there are five Hebrew words in the Old Testament for flag, for banner. The word flag doesn't appear like in the King James Version.
However, those five Hebrew words, if you look them up, they all translate flag. So that's why I'm going to use flag. Now as I talk about the flag ministry, consider what doors that the Lord may want to open in your life in the realm of creativity, prophetically, and most of you here, probably everyone here, is already in the world of the flag ministry. into a flag or creative type ministry.
None of us can say that we're not creative because the creator has breathed life into us. So listen to the Holy Spirit to see what he puts in your heart about using creativity like flags as a catalyst to help your ministry or your church be where God wants it to be obeying the Holy Spirit in the area of creativity like flags can really change your life and I can testify that ten years ago in May the first time I did this I had a miraculous breakthrough and my life has not been the same from that moment it on maybe we'll get to that story tomorrow excuse me a flag has one basic function you know we've all heard a picture is worth a thousand words well a flag can also convey many ideas and thoughts and heart feelings without using words flags specifically represent something or they send a message Now here's a flag that sends a pretty strong message. Right?
We love it. 9-11 definitely brought out the use of the American flag and Americans love for it. It can evoke emotions, and there are people around the world who despise it. But that flag represents all of us, everything America stands for, the superpower nation, and probably more than any other.
The other sovereign nation flag would be the flag of Israel. The symbolism here is so awesome because this flag is a prayer shawl. It was made after the prayer shawl with the star of Israel. David added.
So when Israel became a sovereign state in 1948 and they said what shall our flag be? They said well we already have one. It's our prayer shawl.
Isn't it awesome for a nation to have their prayer shawl as their national banner? Our flags can effectively be used in the church to represent many things that we hold dear. Red represents the blood of Jesus, blue the Holy Spirit, green his healing power, and we'll get into the colors a little more later. Let's don't quench the Holy Spirit when he's leading us in things like flags.
There's a warfare that you have to break through to get into dance and flags. Many of us have to break out of old... traditions of religion that maybe we were brought up in that really war against an expression of worship that is similar to the worship in the tabernacle of David but there's a greater enemy than fear that keeps people people from raising a banner or from dancing. And that fear has to have a foundation.
And the foundation is a lie. I'm not holy enough to wave a flag in front of a group of people. I'm too old or I'm too awkward. I'm too young. I'm too timid.
I'm too proud. Or maybe I'm too humble. But in John 12, Mary found a creative way to worship Jesus. But she didn't believe the enemy's lie.
lie that she was being wasteful when she poured that expensive ointment on his feet. The lie, which came through an apostle, Judas, criticized her and said, you know, why wasn't that money used to help the poor? And the scripture says he didn't say that because he cared about the poor.
He said it because he was a thief. Well, that's interesting because I know a thief that comes to kill and steal and destroy, the same voice that we must resist when we get creative in worship and step out. You know, and I love Jesus'answer to that. He said, let her alone. Because Jesus loves the creative expression of worship that comes from your heart.
You know, nobody else had poured the ointment on his feet. That was something that the Lord put in her heart. And she did it as an outward expression.
And that's very similar to dance and flags. Something that can be seen or demonstrated in an outward way. Flags are a sign. sign. God is using flags as a sign to this generation.
The prophets and men and women of old did certain things that were signs to the people as they were led by the Spirit of the Lord. Remember Joshua piled up the twelve stones after they crossed the Jordan River. Rahab had the scarlet thread in her window.
Ezekiel used a frying pan. He shaved his head and divided the hair. Jeremiah... buried the linen belt.
Elisha struck the arrow, threw salt on the water. Jesus'followers waved the palm branches as he came into Jerusalem. In the New Testament, Agabus took Paul's belt to give a prophetic word. So all of these, like flags, are prophetic symbols of things that the Holy Spirit wants to do in our ministries, in our churches, in this end times. Well, let's talk a little more about praise and celebration in this Tabernacle of David type worship, because that includes many things, mainly the non-traditional, non-religious type of praise and worship, which is freedom.
And we know that the tribes of Israel carried flags or banners. David said in Psalm 20 verse 5, We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of God we will set up our banners or flags. Another version says, We will shout for joy when you are victorious, and lift up our flags in the name of the Lord. Another part of that tabernacle of David type worship is dealing with criticism. Remember David's wife when he worshipped with abandonment?
That type of worship that is out of that comfort zone can often reveal a religious spirit like flags.