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The FlagstaffVol.2, Issue 1 Spring 1999Why Are Flags Used In Worship?"Flags that talk" is a term used to describe signaling flags on ships. Just as each design silently but visually communicates a specific message from ship to ship, using flags in worship has become a language of the Lord. To Bestow Honor - Each Wings of Worship flag has been made to declare a name and an aspect of God's character. As we wave it, we minister in love to our King and proclaim the magnificence of Who He is. To Declare Our Allegiance - As we wave our flags in worship, we admit our loyalty as members of our Lord's army, in the presence of men on earth and before powers and principalities in the heavens. To Communicate - As a particular flag is raised, the prayer behind it is somewhat like a phone call. We are speaking to our Lord in the aspect of His character depicted in the flag, asking Him to reveal Himself and related matters of His heart to us. For example if a flag exalts Him as Jehovah Roi (The Lord Our Shepherd), we are asking to speak to Him as the One Who leads, protects, and comforts us. Perhaps our hearts are crying out to Him to bring us to that place of restoration, or to show us specific direction for a situation. We ask, then await His response. To Signal God's Presence - Lifting flags in worship follows the action of Moses as he lifted his rod (a shepherd's staff, a spiritual type or symbol of a flag) as a visible sign of God's presence, power and authority over the armies of Israel. To Rally the Troops - We know our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, powers and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph.6). Raising a flag stirs unity and loyalty in the King's army, gathers soldiers together for strategy and strengthens commitment to victory. To Direct Warfare & Praise - Early records show that in ancient Egyptian battles, soldiers looked to flags (ribbons or fabric tied to poles) to determine the direction of the wind, then shot their arrows accordingly to reach their target. In terms of spiritual warfare, a particular flag might be flown to say in the physical realm what is happening in the spiritual; it relates the direction of the "Wind" of the Holy Spirit on a particular day. To Put the Enemy to Flight - Isaiah 59:19 tells us, "...When the enemy comes in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." Flags are God-given, God-anointed, Word-based standards that display His truth. Truth and light cause the enemy to flee. "Nuwc" is a Hebrew word for "standard" which means "to cause to flee away, to lift up a standard." To Boast of Victory - Another Hebrew word for banner is "dagal" and the definition of it is "to flaunt, be conspicuous, set up with banners." Ps. 20:7 says "we will boast in the name of the LORD..." To Be a Touchpoint of Faith - God directed Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole as a focal point and promised that whoever would have faith enough to look on it would be healed of the deadly serpents' bites. As we look to the Cross in faith, we find healing in the blood of Jesus. Flags are not idols and do not contain healing, nor any another manifested gift of God, but serve the Body of Christ as visual reminders of His faithfulness as Jehovah Rophe, The Lord Our Healer, or Jehovah Shalom, The Lord Our Peace, or any of the wonderful qualities of El Shaddai, the All Sufficient God, God Almighty. To Herald an Event - Flags declare a specific event or season. Through the use of flags in worship, at such a time as this, the Bride of Christ is announcing in the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist, "The King is coming! Prepare the way for Jesus! The King is in the land! Flags are used during worship to:
Where Are Flags In The Bible?Ensign, standard and banner are the most common scriptural terms that are references for "flags". Here is a partial list to begin your own study journey:
Substantiating the purpose of flags in worship today are two key Messianic prophecies. Isaiah 11:10 foretells that Jesus is the New Testament fulfillment of Jehovah-nissi (The Lord Our Banner): "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as an ensign (banner, signal) to the people..." He is also the embodiment of the Beloved in Song of Solomon (5:10), referred to by the Shulamite as the Chiefest or Chief among ten thousand, her "Degel", her "Lifted up Banner". Jesus told us in John 12:32, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." Flag ProtocolAre flags for everyone? Numbers 2:2 tells us, "Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard..." We are all spiritually grafted into Israel. Perhaps all are not called to the prophetic, expressive worship that is taking place in some services these days, but this scripture clearly encourages us all to abide under the flag that identifies our tribe! We are to live and move under the symbol of God's power, presence and authority. Find your personal worship style, whether clapping, shouting, dancing, singing, playing an instrument, or waving a flag...and exalt the names of our God with all your might in spirit and in truth! Do not scorn or judge how others worship...remember what happened to Mical when she looked on David with contempt...her life was barren and fruitless. Those who are called to move out in worship with flags, be considerate of others in the congregation...parents oversee your children and make certain their instruments are of a proportionate size; ask before you borrow another's worship instrument and return it when finished; respect the value of the instrument as you would a costly musical instrument; make certain you have room to move and avoid any actions that would accidentally injure someone with "friendly fire" (sincerely apologize if you do bump someone - accidents do happen!); use flags only as directed by the Holy Spirit - ask our Lord how He would like you to worship Him and then follow His lead; keep in mind that the flag should always point others to our Lord and His presence, never drawing attention to ourselves; be alert that your clothing protects your modesty; follow local church order and protocol. Joyful, holy, liberating, powerful, intimate...all describe the experience of worship with flags. Is He calling you to be a part of His end time bride, awesome as an an army arrayed in banners? (Song of Solomon 6:4) Home | Newsletter | Prophetic |
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