God Is Lifting Up His Standard!

In the Old Testament economy, a standard was the identifying colors of an army or kingdom. It was necessary to be able to identify allies and enemies. God's promise to Israel was that He would stand with them against His enemies. This is a necessary principle in our spiritual warfare today.

God will set apart (sanctify) and identify as His the believers in His Kingdom. How is that going to happen? It is happening at this present moment! God is, by His Spirit, lifting His Standard and His obedient followers are flowing to it, as the enemy comes in like a flood. We are currently living in the time Isaiah described in chapter 59. In verses 16-21, Isaiah writes by the inspiration of the Spirit of God concerning the last days restoration of the nation of Israel. God brought salvation at the first Advent of Christ but Israel rejected Him. At His second Advent or second coming He will judge His enemies and restore salvation to Israel. The restoration of Israel is at hand. The deliverance of the Body of Christ is even at the door.

The enemy has come in like a river over running its banks and causing great destruction and distress where ever it flows. The flood gates are open and just as Aaron and the priesthood were co-conspirators in the disobedience and idol worship of the Israelites at Sinai, the leadership in Christianity must share the responsibility for where we are today. The strong emphasis placed on the doctrine of inclusion in the religious world has lead to a departure from the faith which was delivered to the saints of the New Testament. This doctrine must be reversed in the churches. Instead of inclusion, separation of the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world must be preached again from our pulpits. Although the gospel message is one of inclusion and is to all men, there always has been and always will be the Divine standard to be achieved. His holy standard can still be achieved in the heart of the submissive, obedient believer through the work of the Holy Spirit living within us. Jesus said that He (Holy Spirit) will lead and guide into all truth. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The Truth is the standard but can not be achieved apart from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the heart of the professed Christian.

Difficulty has arisen because of a departure from the leadership of the Holy Spirit. How can we be lead by Him if we are not first possessed by Him? How can we be possessed by Him unless we believe that He exists as the third person of the Godhead fulfilling Jesus' promise to be our comforter? John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The promise of the Comforter was as such to provide a Paraclete to lead and guide the Church as Christ's Advocate or on His behalf. The Holy Spirit is to lead the Church just as God lead Israel and Jesus led the New Testament Church. (continued)