Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Psalm 60:4.
My husband, during the second year of his ministerial internship, was called under the supervision of his senior pastor to prepare for a four-week public evangelistic effort. We had been married only seven months. This would be our first public evangelism meetings.
I was very fearful. The area in which these meetings were to be held had never had a public pastoral effort. In addition, this community was known as the “forbidden territory” in the town. Many crimes took place in this community. I knew there was not anything we could do on our own to guarantee the success of the meetings. We had to depend on our Lord.
Our months of preparation included revivals, seminars, training programs, prayer sessions, and many other events. Then, the day of the meetings arrived. This being my first meeting as the pastor’s wife, I eagerly welcomed this day. Yet the strong fear about this area did not go away, for I knew we were a part of a great battle. I prayed, Lord please help us.
When we got to the venue of the meetings my eyes looked up at the banner that had been erected to notify the public about these meetings. It was beautifully done. It was tall with beautifully-colored paintings. Then the words, “The Truth Be Told. Gospel Explosion 2013. Evangelist Pastor Mark McPherson. Features—Dynamic Preaching, Bible Seminars . . . .” As I kept reading, I felt a peace come over me. I remembered one of the purposes of a banner. When used in conflict, military companies use it as a signal for the battle trumpet to be blown. I recalled a biblical account (Exodus 17:8-16) of a battle in Raphidim between Israel and Amalek, the first enemy nation to war against them after leaving Egypt. Moses held up the rod in his hand as a symbol of the presence of God to help His people win the victory. They won the victory, not so much because of the “banner,” but because of the presence of God.
The message of Psalm 60:4 comforted me as God had also given me a banner. I smiled and thanked Hm. During the four weeks of meetings the battle was great, but—praise be to God—we endured the battle. God was our banner. At the end of the fourth week, ninety souls accepted the Lord as their banner too. God wants to be your banner. Will you allow Him to be?
Jenel A. N. Campbell McPherson
First published in Notes of Joy (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press), 2018.
Carolyn R. Sutton, editor
