Isaiah 5:9: declares this powerful truth. "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him." Let's say this line again. When the enemy comes in like a flood, what does that mean? Think about a flood for a moment. It is sudden. It is forceful. It is chaotic. Floodwaters don't politely knock at your door. They rush in. They rise quickly. They sweep things away. And that is exactly how the attacks of the enemy can feel in your life.
One moment everything seems okay and the next you're flooded. By anxiety, by temptation, by bad news, by fear, by sorrow or confusion. It comes at you hard. It comes unexpectedly and it seeks to drown your peace, to wash away your faith, and to pull you under. But here's the hope. The spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. In biblical times, a standard was a banner or flag lifted high. Something visible in the midst of battle that rallied and united the people. It marked where help had come from, where the leader stood, and where the army was being gathered to fight back. So when the spirit of God raises a standard, it means he is rising to take action. God is declaring this far and no further. God is saying to the enemy, "you may have come in like a flood, but l'm stepping in now." It is God placing a divine limit on the chaos, pushing back the waters of destruction and lifting his people to higher ground. And that is why we can take heart even when life gets overwhelming. Even when it feels like we're barely keeping our heads above water, God promises to step in. He promises to lift up a standard, not just to defend us, but to give us the strength to rise above what tried to bury us. This promise is said again in Habakkuk 3 :19. "God the Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the deers. He makes me tread on my high places." Deer don't stumble in rocky places. They are known for their shorefootedness. They can climb steep, narrow, and dangerous terrain with grace and ease. That is the imagery God gives us. He will make us like the deer.
Not only will we survive the flood, not only will we be delivered, but we will be strengthened to walk on high places, to overcome, to stand where others have fallen. So, I want to speak to you directly, right now. If you are feeling overwhelmed, burdened, or surrounded by battles you don't know how to fight, trust in the Lord. Don't lean on your own understanding. Don't panic when the water rises. Instead, look up. God sees you and he is not late. His spirit is ready to raise the standard. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us again, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
God doesn't ask you to be strong in your own ability. He tells you to be strong in his spirit. God is telling you to be courageous because he is by your side.
Fear has no authority when you know who stands with you. And he is not a god who walks away when it gets hard. He is the one who draws nearer.
Psalm 59:16 says, "But I will sing of your power. Yes, I will sing aloud of your mercy in the morning. For you have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble."
Notice it doesn't say that there won't be trouble. It says, "God will be your refuge in the day of trouble." That means you have somewhere to run to for shelter. You have a shelter. You have a place of safety that no flood can wash away. And that place is found in Jesus Christ.
So let running to Jesus Christ become your first instinct. Before you reach out to people, before you cry into your pillow, before you try to fix it all yourself, go to Jesus Christ. Sit with him. Tell him. Let his presence calm you before the storm even calms. He is not just the savior in crisis. He is the shepherd every day. He knows the way through every storm and he walks with you in it. Make no mistake, the enemy will attack.He always does. Sometimes subtly or loudly. Sometimes through discouragement, through people, through situations that make you question your worth, your faith, or even God's goodness. But this is not a reason to fear because the Bible has already prepared you for this moment. When the enemy comes in like a flood, God's spirit will rise. So don't let fear take over. Don't let the enemy trick you into thinking you're alone or powerless. Don't believe the lie that God has abandoned you just because things are hard. Instead, plant your feet in the promises of God.
Let your heart be anchored in his truth. Let your battle cry be this. My God is with me. My God is for me. My God is raising a standard. And that standard is Jesus Christ, the risen savior, the prince of peace, the one who defeated death and hell and now lives in you. That is your standard. That is your victory. That is your strength.
Now, let's take a moment to pray together.
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以赛亚书 5:9 宣告了这个强有力的真理。“这样，人从日落之处必敬畏耶和华的名，从日出之处也必敬畏他的荣耀。仇敌如急流冲来，耶和华的灵必高举大旗攻击他。”让我们再说一遍这句话。当仇敌如急流冲来时，这意味着什么？想象一下洪水。它来得突然。它来势汹汹。它造成混乱。洪水不会礼貌地敲你的门。它们冲进来。它们迅速上涨。它们卷走一切。而这正是仇敌攻击你时你能感受到的。前一刻一切似乎都很好，下一刻你就被洪水淹没了。焦虑、诱惑、坏消息、恐惧、悲伤或困惑。它向你猛烈袭来。 它出其不意地降临，试图淹没你的平静，洗去你的信仰，并将你拉下水。但这里有希望。上帝的灵将举起旗帜对抗他。在圣经时代，旗帜是高高举起的旗帜或旗帜。在战斗中可见的东西，可以召集和团结人民。它标志着援助来自哪里，领导者站在哪里，以及军队在哪里集结反击。所以当上帝的灵举起旗帜时，这意味着他正在采取行动。上帝在宣告这一点，不会再进一步了。上帝在对敌人说：“你可能像洪水一样涌来，但我现在要介入。”这是上帝在混乱中设置神圣的限制，击退毁灭之水，将他的子民提升到更高的地方。这就是为什么即使在生活变得难以承受的时候，我们也可以振作起来。 即使感觉我们几乎无法将头保持在水面上，上帝也承诺会介入。他承诺会举起旗帜，不仅是为了保护我们，还给我们力量，让我们超越试图埋葬我们的东西。这个承诺在哈巴谷书3:19中再次出现。“主耶和华是我的力量。他使我的脚像母鹿一样，又使我稳行在高处。”鹿不会在岩石上绊倒。它们以岸边的脚步而闻名。它们可以优雅而轻松地攀登陡峭、狭窄和危险的地形。这就是上帝给我们的形象。他会让我们像鹿一样。
我们不仅会在洪水中幸存下来，不仅会得到拯救，而且我们会被加强，行走在高处，克服困难，站在别人跌倒的地方。所以，我现在想直接和你们说话。 如果你感到不知所措、负担沉重，或被不知该如何应对的战斗所包围，请信靠主。不要依靠自己的理解。不要在水位上涨时惊慌失措。相反，要抬起头来。上帝注视着你，他不会迟到。他的灵已准备好提升你的标准。申命记31:6再次提醒我们：“你当刚强壮胆，不要害怕，也不要惊慌他们，因为耶和华你的上帝和你同去，他必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。”
上帝并不要求你依靠自己的能力坚强。他告诉你要依靠他的灵坚强。上帝告诉你要勇敢，因为他与你同在。
当你知道谁与你站在一起时，恐惧就没有权威了。他不是那种在困难时就走开的神。他是那位靠近你的人。
诗篇 59:16 说：“但我要歌唱你的大能；早晨我要高声歌唱你的慈爱；因为你作了我的高台，在我遭难的日子作了我的避难所。”
请注意，经文并不是说不会有麻烦。经文说的是：“神必作你遭难的日子的避难所。”这意味着你有地方可以躲避。你有一个避难所。你有一个安全的地方，洪水不能冲走。而这个地方就是耶稣基督。
所以，让奔向耶稣基督成为你的第一本能。在你向人求助之前，在你哭泣之前，在你试图自己解决所有问题之前，先去到耶稣基督那里。与他坐在一起。告诉他。让他的同在在暴风雨平息之前让你平静下来。他不仅是危机中的救主。他更是每一天的牧羊人。 他知道风暴中的出路，并会与你同行。别误会，敌人会攻击。他总是会这样做。有时巧妙，有时大声。有时通过沮丧，通过人，通过让你质疑自己的价值、信仰甚至上帝的善良的情况。但这不是害怕的理由，因为圣经已经为这一刻做好了准备。当敌人像洪水一样涌来时，上帝的精神将会兴起。所以不要让恐惧占据上风。不要让敌人欺骗你，让你认为你是孤独或无能为力的。不要相信上帝因为事情困难而抛弃了你的谎言。相反，要把你的脚放在上帝的承诺上。让你的心在他的真理上扎根。让你的战斗口号是这样的。我的上帝与我同在。我的上帝支持我。我的上帝正在树立标准。 这个标准就是耶稣基督，复活的救世主，和平的君，战胜死亡和地狱并活在你心中的那一位。那是你的标准。那是你的胜利。那是你的力量。
现在，让我们花点时间一起祷告。
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