Joshua

THE BANNER OF CHRIST

Pastor Hope Flask

February 1, 2026

Main Scriptures: Joshua 5:9-15

Additional Scriptures: Joshua 1:9, 5:2, Numbers 14:1-4, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 58:1-3, Isaiah 58:6-12

POINTS:

• If you don’t stand for Jesus, then you will fall for anything.

• The Nicene Creed represents the basic tenets of our Christian faith.

• Banners were raised in battle.

• To be strong means to withstand great force or pressure. To be courageous means not be deterred by danger, pain, or grief.

• There is a battle in our grief that we are called to be courageous in. And our victory in this battle hangs on one thing: whose side are we on?

• Our natural response to the grief of change will be to blame, and blame is all about picking sides.

• Lie #1: If we have someone to blame, the pain will stop.

• Lie #2: If we surround ourselves with people who also blame that person, institution, or party, we will be protected from ever experiencing this pain again.

• The reason humanity chooses blame over courage is that humanity wants the Kingdom but not the King.

• Self-righteousness = our way of trying to have the Kingdom without the King.

• When we want the Kingdom without the King, we seize things in ways we shouldn’t, and a culture deteriorates.

• Before we can raise the banner of Christ, we’ve got to lower our personal banners of righteousness.

• Pride = your desire to have the Kingdom without the King.

• Humility takes you out of the center and puts God there.

• It is time for the people of God to start asking God, "What do You want me to do?"

• Humility only comes through repentance.