Christ Our Banner

Community Group Questions: Exodus 17:8-16 "Christ Our Banner"

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1. This text highlights the principle of spiritual war, something that the Bible explicitly speaks about (see Ephesians 6:12). In your opinion, is spiritual warfare something about which, as Christians, we have a proper awareness? Is everything bad in our lives a result of spiritual warfare? If not, how do you differentiate between what is and is not a result of spiritual war?
    
2. Discuss again the role of a military banner within the context of the Old Testament. What did it symbolize? What purpose did it play in battle?
   
   
3. When we identify Christ as our banner, what do we mean? (See Isaiah 11:10, John 3:14-15, and Hebrews 12:2)
   
   
4. With Christ as our banner, we should anticipate attack from the enemy. The Apostle Peter admonishes us several times to live ready (see 1 Peter 4:12, 5:8). As a follower of Christ, do you live ready for the inevitable spiritual attacks that will come? Are there areas of your life that are unprotected and vulnerable to attack?
   
   
5. With Christ as our banner, we should engage (the enemy) physically. The Israelites engaged the Amalekites not only with prayer, but with the sword. It is a picture of us of taking any physical steps necessary to find victory over sin and Satan. Are you guilty of over-spiritualizing the spiritual war, without ever ‘drawing the sword’ to fight back? What physical resource has God placed in your hand that you need to leverage in the war against sin and Satan?
   
   
6. With Christ as our banner, we should engage (the enemy) spiritually. All battles ultimately are won in Christ. Yet we also know from experience that waging war against the enemy is exhausting, and we are subject to fatigue. Who is the Aaron or Hur in your life that is helping ‘hold up your arms’ in the spiritual battle?
   
   
7. With Christ as our banner, we should anticipate victory. The war wages on, but as followers of Jesus, we can confidentially anticipate victory if Christ is our banner (see Hebrews 2:14 and Colossians 2:15). Is there something else in your life right now that you have substituted for Christ as your banner (a relationship, your career, money, etc.)? What steps do you need to take today to replace that banner with Christ, enabling you to have victory over sin and Satan?