The Banner

While waking a few mornings ago, I heard the following:   "JEHOVAH-NISSI."  

Very distinctly.  Very peacefully.  Very clearly.  Jehovah-nissi.

Yesterday evening, I sat on the couch - after our children were in bed - and told my husband what I heard the Lord speak to me during the early morning hours.  I, then, opened a Strong's Concordance website to discover the meaning of "Jehovah-nissi".  It took me a little longer than expected to locate its meaning because I had never, before this moment, actually attempted to spell "Jehovah-nissi".  

After a few minutes, the meaning of Jehovah-nissi was discovered:

The Lord Is My Banner

Upon reading the meaning of Jehovah-nissi, I cannot say that I understood what the Lord was revealing.  I remember thinking, "Lord, I still don't understand what that means."  What it really means.  What was His message to me and maybe others  . . .   Jehovah-nissi - The Lord Is My Banner...

My search of the meaning really stopped there.  I went to sleep, went to work the next morning, came home, and started mowing my yard, in all honesty.

It is my habit to listen to sermons on my MP3 while I mow the yard, and this evening of mowing was no different.    

I had been listening to a "random" (random to me - not to God) sermon and was just a few minutes from turning off my MP3, for it was getting dark.  

Just moments before I did this, however, the preacher unexpectedly used the term Jehovah-nissi.  

He made the following points:

• Exodus 17: 16  -   Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Am-a-lek from generation to generation.
•  God is fighting wars.
• In the previous verse Ex. 17:15, He called Himself Jehovah-nissi, which means the Lord is [my] banner.
• Have we ever seen an army go out with a banner flying in front of it?  The person carrying the banner would raise it, and all of the troops would know where to actually form up because the banner shows you where your particular battalion is, and you form up on the banner when you want to regroup in a war.
• They called the man a "standard bearer."  The Bible says, He'll lift up a standard before the enemy.
• When you see the standard lifted, you know that you (the army) have to converge on the standard in order to regroup in the war.
• God is about to lift a banner and regroup the church.  The church has been scattered, but He is about to regroup it. 
• What must happen to regroup the church?   Some people must make an "exodus."  They will have to make a pilgrimage back to where they are assigned to regroup.
• People must know instinctively to which "tribe" they belong and must regroup under 'this banner because that is where I am assigned.'
• This is a war arena.  An army is regrouping.
• People who have battle hardened souls -- they are armor-clad people according to Ephesians chapter 6.
• The banner is now raised -- Jehovah-nissi is now raising standards all over the world, and people are regrouping - resetting.  They are going back to where they belong.
• The church has been scattered.  Many wonder, due to the problems within so many churches, if the church is actually 'down here.'  
• But when God raises the banner soon, it will mean that "God is about to go to war."  

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While I re-listened to a portion of the sermon, in order to type the main points above, I paused his words several times, so that I could look up verses he was discussing or particular phrases, etc.  As I just told my husband, I am not sure if I can articulate in words how masterfully the Lord has confirmed several areas to me through the preacher's words above and through the Lord leading me to verses in Isaiah and 1 Samuel. 

I found myself sharing with my husband a verse the Lord had led me to; then, I would hear my husband share a verse he had just been reading.  -For he was sitting on the couch doing his own reading of the Word of God - unaware of the verses God was leading me to in those moments.  It was remarkable to hear my husband share his own verses only to realize that God had brought me to the same verses he was reading while I sat alone in my car reading the Bible earlier in the day...  It was remarkable to see how all of it-  my husband's reading, my reading, and the preacher's teaching were all pointing directly to the Lord's early morning message:  Jehovah-nissi  -  The Lord Is My Banner. 


Isaiah 59: 19  So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun.  When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. 

 standard-bearer noun-

a soldier who is responsible for carrying the distinctive flag of a unit, regiment, or army.

a leading figure in a cause or movement.

The Lord Is My Banner.  Jehovah-nissi.  The Lord Is My Banner.  A soldier who is responsible for carrying the distinctive flag for an army.   Standard bearer - to lift up a beacon.  To lift up a beacon, this is part of the Hebrew definition for a standard bearer. 

There was a time that I would have felt the need to articulate every ounce of the personal revolution surrounding Jehovah-nissi, but not this time.  It is enough that I have heard Him.  His direction.  I have seen my banner, The Lord.  It is time to converge in this battle and to regroup under the banner.  The Lord of Hosts is His Name, and I will war for Him while serving IN His army because it is by His Power that there is Victory.

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.  Psalm 60: 4

There is no time for fainting.  As Moses' held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but when he let down his hands, Amalek prevailed.  Fainting would have meant defeat; thankfully, the Banner of the Lord was held high that day and brought victory.  (Exodus 17: 11-16)

May we raise the Banner of the Lord and continue to fight the good fight of Faith.  And may we speak the whole Truth of God even during times of war.  The Banner will lead His army through the war, victoriously!

Laboring

Below, I share a dream the Lord gave me.  Originally, I didn't plan to do so, but there have been three definitive confirmations of this dream and its message.  

For all who are laboring for the Lord, use the Word of God and His Spirit to shine a light on what is false.  As intimidating as the foes may be, continue your journey on the road paved with affliction.  

Speak the Truth.  If the enemy is difficult to discern, the Truth of the Word has a way of illuminating the false from the true.  
 
A few nights ago (Saturday night into early morning Sunday), I had a dream that I believe the Lord gave me.  I am careful to say that because I don't believe everything that enters my mind while I am sleeping is from the Lord, but I do believe this dream was.  

The Dream:
 

It was very dark out, but I could tell that approximately 10 feet from me, off to my left, was a pack of about 4-5 wolves.  It was difficult to see them when there was darkness, but in my hand, I held a flashlight.  I felt that if I shined it the wolves' way, it would stun or cause them to freeze momentarily.  I shined the flashlight toward them, and the wolves that I could barely see in the dark were very evident to me then.  They were clearly what I had originally believed them to be: WOLVES.  
They stared at the light in an almost paralyzed manner.  Internally, I realized that the light from the flashlight kept them (the wolves) from attacking me ( and my children - who were also present).  I remember thinking that the wolves didn't realize it was simply "a human being standing behind the light".  The light I held kept the wolves from attacking.  I was fully aware that without the light, I (and my children) would have been destroyed by the pack of wolves. 
As they appeared to keep their distance, I then turned toward a door that represented safety in the dream.  However, right in front of the door and in front of me was another/different pack of wolves.  So, I had to shine my light on them, as well, to keep them from attacking.  I was able, with the light shining on the wolves, to make it through the door with my children.  When shutting the door, I felt as if the wolves were pressing close against the door, as if they had been right on our heels. 
 
Once inside, I realized the current room was not safe enough, for I was very pregnant in my dream and realized that the "laboring time" had arrived, so my children and I entered into another room that was more enclosed - and it had an adjoining bathroom.  While in this "more secure" room, I called my sister and began to explain to her how I had made several attempts to help my brother, yet he wasn't reachable.  I remember crying on the phone to her because I was so exasperated by my brother not accepting the help.  She appeared understanding, but deep within my spirit as I spoke with her, I could tell she was too preoccupied with problems in her marriage that she could not fully "hear" what I was saying. 
I woke up at this point.

After fully waking a few hours later, I wrote down everything while still upstairs in my bedroom.  After writing it, I did not feel that my sister represented my biological sister, or that my brother in the dream represented my biological brother- I believe they represented brothers and sisters in Christ. 
I walked downstairs with two pages in my hand (of the dream I had just written).   I placed laundry in the laundry room and began walking toward my kitchen table in order to place the papers detailing my dream on the table.  My hand was actually extended toward the table (with the papers) as the Lord very intentionally brought my eyes to an object on my kitchen table:  a flashlight. 
There have been times that the Lord has truly drawn my eyes to objects that I would not ordinarily pay attention to -  I believe He did so on this occasion.

Just a few minutes ago, I typed an email to a sister in Christ detailing this dream to her.  After I sent it to her, my husband, shortly thereafter, was walking down the hallway toward me.  He had picked up some laundry in my 7 year old's room. My husband held a flashlight in his hand - brightly shining.  He stated that this small flashlight had been in my son's shorts.  Only the Lord can time such events so perfectly.   

Yesterday morning after having this dream, I spent much of the morning studying the Word.  In particular, I studied the use of wolves in the Bible and the use of light in the Bible.  I even found myself pondering the verse:

Psalm 119-

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Later yesterday, when I went to church, the preacher taught on false teachers and used many of the verses that I had studied earlier that morning at home.  Toward the end of his teaching, he used verse 105 above.  Who orchestrates such events....  Only God.  Only God.

May we walk in the Truth.  Use the Truth to illuminate what is dark - even when the Enemy is intimidating, we must continue our journey.   The journey will be dark in this world - if that were not so, then why does the Lord provide His Word (His Truth) as a "lamp" for us.  Why would we need His Word to "light" our "path", if the path were not dark.  Do we carry flashlights around during the day?   

I knew the wolves were present in my dream, but they were difficult to see in the distance.  It was not until I shined the light toward them, that I saw them for who they really were, and they were very close.  Such is the case for false prophets and false teachers.  The Bible teaches that they are in the midst of the congregation making every attempt to lead followers of Christ astray.  There is a litmus test, however.  Do they accept the WHOLE Word of God?  Do they deviate from His Truth?  Do they argue against the Truth?  Do they seek to silence or destroy the Truth that is in you?   

In my dream, I assumed I was entering into the more secure room in order to begin the laboring process - literally birthing a child, but that notion immediately transformed into me calling my sister to discuss my attempt at reaching my brother.  The laboring/birthing process had begun - I believe it was a labor for the brethren IN Christ.  Yet, many are preoccupied with "worldly" problems.  Yet, some do not want to be rescued or further instructed in the ways of Christ.  I am reminded of the 10 virgins.  Who has fallen asleep and slumbers while the bridegroom's return quickly approaches???

Who is sleeping while Christ labors in Gethsemane before His crucifixion? 
 
There is much more I expect to learn from the Lord regarding this dream.  May all of us IN Christ have ears to hear.  

Below are some verses I studied yesterday, some of which were spoken of in church later that same day:

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ezekiel 22:27

Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

Acts 20:29

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Psalm 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.