A. FLAGS HAVE MANY USES.

1. Identifies army, a rallying point.

2. This text is a call to open acknowledgment on our part.

B. WE OFTEN FAIL TO UNFURL OUR BANNER.

A. OUR BANNER IS CHRIST ( Heb. 12:1-2 ).

1. His death is our rallying point ( 1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2 ).

2. We are to lift him up that all may be drawn to him.

B. IN OUR FAITH JESUS CHRIST IS:

1. The chief object of the enemies attack.

2. The symbol of defiance.

a. Jesus is defied by the devil ( 1 Cor. 1:18 ).

b. But Jesus is the victor ( 1 Cor. 15:55-57 ).

3. The emblem of victory ( vs. 57; 2 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:37 ).

A. JESUS WAS SENT BY GOD ( 1 John 4:9-10 ).

B. HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR US

( Acts 2:22-24; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Eph. 3:11 ).

C. THE SACRIFICE OF GOD SHOWS GOODNESS THAT COMPELS ( Rom. 2:4 ).

A. FEAR IS COUPLED WITH OBEDIENCE.

B. WHY FEAR GOD?

1. He is a consuming fire ( Heb. 12:28-29 ).

2. He is our judge ( Heb. 10:30-31; Matt. 10:28; 1 Pet. 1:17 ).

A. WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO PREACH THE WORD, LIFT THE BANNER?

B. HOW DO WE LIFT IT UP?

1. By word of mouth ( Acts 5:42; 8:4; Mark 16:20; Col. 1:6 ).

a. This is God’s plan ( 1 Cor. 1:21 ).

b. How else can sinners become believers ( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

c. We must be ready to give an answer ( 1 Pet. 3:15 ).

2. By manner of life ( 1 Pet. 2:11-12 ).

a. Something ought to be seen in our lives that is not seen in others

( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

b. What does Jesus say if that something is not there ( Matt. 5:13 ).

c. Our manner of life ought to motivate others to obey ( Matt. 5:16 ).

A. OTHERS WILL BE ENCOURAGED, PERHAPS EVEN SAVED

( Rom. 10:17; James 5:19-20 ).

B. GOD WILL BE MAGNIFIED ( Matt. 5:16 ).

C. WE WILL HAVE OUR REWARD ( 1 Cor. 15:58; Gal. 6:9 ).

A. IS JESUS THE BANNER UNDER WHICH YOU FIGHT?

B. JESUS LEFT US AN EXAMPLE IN HIS DEATH ( Phil. 2:5-8 ).

C. HAVE YOU HUMBLED YOURSELF? WILL YOU OBEY? ( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

D. WILL YOU LIFT HIGH HIS BANNER?