Sermon #40 Series: Isaiah

Title: Christ Our Ensign

Text: Isaiah 11:10

Subject: Christ As the Standard Of His Church

Date: Sunday Morning - April 1, 1990

Tape #

Introduction:

Illus: My experiences as a 13 year old boy in

Washington, D.C. The first time I saw the

War Memorial - Those soldiers raising the

Standard, the stars and stripes upon the

conquered ground - They all gathered around

the Ensign. Every hand was united to raise

the flag of our country.

Today, I want to talk to you about our Ensign, not the stars and stripes, but Christ Our Ensign, the Standard of his church. I want to raise him high before your eyes. May it please God to pour out his Spirit upon us, reveal Christ in our midst, and cause everyone here to gather round him. (Read Isaiah 11:10).

The Root of Jesse, of whom Isaiah speaks, is the Lord Jesus Christ, who came according to the flesh from Jesse, the father of David. As a man our Savior was a Branch which grew out of Jesse’s roots (v. 1). But as God he is the Root from whom Jesse had his life and being.

Our text is a prophecy of Christ’s coming into the world and of his being lifted up as and Ensign for the gathering of God’s elect throughout the world unto him in saving faith. “And in that day,” this blessed gospel age, “There shall be a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for an Ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”

Proposition: The Lord Jesus Christ is the Ensign, the Standard, the Banner, to whom all God’s elect are gathered in faith - Christ is the Ensign of His Church.

What is Isaiah’s meaning? How are we to understand this prophecy of Christ’s being an Ensign? An ensign is a standard, the banner, or the flag of an army. And an ensign is a standard - bearer, the soldier who carries the flag, leads the brigade, and directs the battle. Our text declares that Christ is both to his church, the standard and the standard-bearer. But what kind of Ensign is our Savior? That is the question I want to answer this morning.

I. CHRIST IS AN ENSIGN FOR WAR.

An ensign is usually associated with war. The church of God has no insignia for peace in this world, because the church militant, the church in this world, is always at war. And Christ is an Ensign for soldiers at war. He is called a “leader and a commander to the people” (Isa. 55:4). He is called “the captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10). And here he is called “an ensign of the people.”

You see, Christianity is a warfare. Christ and his people are warriors. He is our Captain, our Commander, and our Ensign. And we are soldiers under his command.

Our enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. And the cause for which we are fighting is the glory of God. When you and I were baptized in the name of Christ, we enlisted as volunteer soldiers under the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, we must “endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ” (II Tim. 2:3) and stand fast, having our “loins girt about with truth” (Eph. 6:14).

· In the face of satan’s temptations.

· In the teeth of the world’s opposition and charm of its allurements.

· In opposition to the desires, inclinations, and pleasures of the flesh.

Whatever the cost, let us follow after our Ensign as good soldiers of Christ (Heb. 12:3-4; Eph. 6:14-18).

II. CHRIST IS AN ADVANCING ENSIGN.

Other ensigns retreat. But not Christ. He is ever on the move through this world, constantly advancing, gathering the spoils of his victory by the gospel.

In our text he is said to stand, because he stands forever as an immutable Savior (Heb. 13:8). But as an Ensign, like the Tabernacle of old, Christ moves from place to place.

Christ is held forth in the preaching of the gospel. Where the gospel is preached there Christ is. When the gospel is taken away Christ is gone.

· Like the Gadarenes, many foolishly bid Christ depart rom them, not so much by their words as by their deeds - (Mark 5:17).

· While we are privileged to have the light of the gospel, let us take advantage of our privileges, and follow the direction of our Ensign (John 12:35-36).

III. CHRIST IS A GATHERING ENSIGN.

The purpose of an ensign is the gathering of soldiers. And the purpose of Christ our Ensign is the gathering of God’s elect from the four corners of the earth.

Through the preaching of the gospel, Christ, by his servants, says, “Come unto me, take up the cross and follow me, whosoever will, let him come unto me.” And when he speaks his people come (Ps. 65:4; 110:3). “To him shall the Gentiles seek” - (Read v. 12). (Cf. Gen. 49:10; Isa. 56:8).

By the gospel, Christ the King of heaven invites and commands all who will to come to him. You must answer for yourself. Will you, or will you not come to Christ? Come to him now in faith…

· As Sheep to their Shepherd (John 10:28; Song 1:7-8).

· As Doves to their Window (Isa. 60:8).

· As Noah to the Ark (Gen. 6-8).

· As the Manslayer to the City of Refuge (Jos. 20).

· As Chickens to the Hen (Matt. 23:37).

IV. CHRIST IS A GUIDING ENSIGN.

The flag shows the soldiers which way to march. Their duty is to follow the ensign. And as our Ensign Christ is our Guide. As the cloud and the fire led Israel through the wilderness, our Lord guides his children through this world. Where would we be without our Ensign.

A. He guides us by His Spirit through His Word (Isa. 59:20-21).

B. He guides us by His example of life (I Pet. 2:21; Matt. 11:29; John 13:13-14).

C. He guides us by His sovereign providence and irresistible grace (Ps. 37:23).

V. CHRIST IS AN ENSIGN SEEN ONLY BY FAITH.

To the world, he is unseen. The blind cannot see Christ. They can see his doctrine. They can see the facts concerning his life, death, resurrection, exaltation, and second coming. But they cannot see him. But those who believe see him who is invisible to the natural eye (Heb. 11:27). “We see Jesus!”

· Who He Is!

· What He Did!

· Why He Did It!

· Where He Is Now!

· What He Is Doing There!

VI. CHRIST IS A UNITING ENSIGN.

It is the Ensign that unites soldiers on the field of battle. That is their point of unity. Though they are many and varied, they are united as one. They have one commander. They are engaged in one cause. And they have sworn allegiance to one flag.

Do you see what I am driving at? Our great uniting point, our center of unity is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Ensign - we all profess to be one. Let us live up to our profession (Eph. 4:1-6). Christ is not, and cannot be, divided.

· Christ died to make Jew and Gentile one (Eph. 2:18-22).

· He prayed for the unity of his people (John 17:20-22).

· And his grace makes his people one (Gal. 3:27-29; Col. 3:10-11).

Note: Let all who would divide God’s saints be warned (I Cor. 3:16-17; Pro. 16:12-19).

VII. CHRIST IS AN EXALTED ENSIGN.

The ensign is lifted up high above all the heads of the people, lifted up upon a pole, or set upon a high hill, or upon a high tower. And Christ our Ensign is lifted up and exalted in three ways.

A. In the death which He died, the death of the cross (John 12:32-33).

B. In His resurrection and exaltation (Phil. 2:8-11).

C. In the preaching of the gospel (John 3:14-16).

VIII. CHRIST IS AN ENSIGN UNDER ATTACK.

Above all the officers and soldiers on the field, the ensign is the most constant object of attack, the man who carries the colors is in the enemies’ aim. If he falls the flag falls. If the flag falls the army is in disarray. Our enemies’ motto is, “Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the King of Israel.”

A. When our Lord was upon the earth, He was the object of satan’s venom.

· In His Birth.

· In the Wilderness.

· In His Crucifixion.

· In His Life.

· In the Garden.

B. After He ascended to heaven, satan continued to assault our blessed Lord in the persecutions of His church.

C. To this day, the primary object of satan’s attack is Christ our Ensign.

Satan, the Deceiver, sets the world, secular and religious, against Christ. He knows that he has but a short time and his wrath is great (Rev. 12:12).

1. The Church of God.

2. The Gospel of God.

3. The Son of God.

· His Sovereign Character.

· His Blood Atonement.

· His Efficacious Grace.

The more vehemently the enemy attacks our Ensign, the more vehemently we must rally to him.

Illus: Luther’s Statement.

IX. CHRIST IS A COVERING ENSIGN OF COMFORT.

As all the soldiers on the field of battle are concerned with the safety of their flag; so the flag is a means of safety to the soldiers. As long as the flag flies, they are safe.

Christ is to his church a flag of covering and safety (Isa. 4:5-6; 32:2). “His banner over (us) is love.” He hides his own elect in

· The Hollow of His Hand.

· Under the Shadow of His Wings.

· In the Secret Place of His Pavilion.

X. CHRIST IS A CONQUERING ENSIGN.

In every warfare many ensigns are killed. Many flags are taken. But Christ is an Ensign who lives forever. His gospel is a flag that cannot be taken.

A. Our great ensign always has been, and ever will be, Christ the conqueror (Rev. 19:11; 6:2).

B. His conquests are complete (Rom. 8:37-39).

Application:

1. We have gone forth into all the world under this banner for ten years - we want no other. Christ crucified is our Ensign.

2. I call upon you who are yet his enemies to surrender to our Master. Will you be gathered to Him?

3. Come to Christ, and you will find his rest glorious.