A number of years ago, I remember listening to a message by highly respected Bible teacher and author, Dr Derek Prince, his text for the message being Isaiah 59:19-60:5. This has remained one of my favourite Bible passages over the succeeding years. When he first delivered the message so many years ago, the prophetic nature of the passage was being clearly worked out in the life of the Church. As at this writing in 2013, the prophetic fulfillment of these verses for the Church and the world in general is even more so amazing and relevant to our times.
I would encourage you to read all eight verses from the King James of New King James versions of the Bible.

Isaiah 59:19 states:
 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.

Derek Prince presented such a wonderful word picture of the significance of the second part of the above verse historically, which in turn has great significance to us today in the church as this and following verses from Isaiah are being fulfilled prophetically today on the Earth, and in the Church of Jesus Christ, the worldwide Body of Christ.

When the enemy comes in like a flood,
the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

In an ancient army, Derek Prince stated, the particular army would have a flag or banner, or STANDARD which, when preparing to face battle with an opposing army, would be raised or lifted up by the STANDARD BEARER. When the standard was lifted up, this was a signal for all those in the army to gather to the STANDARD in order to march out together in unity under that particular STANDARD.

Prophetically speaking of the Church, the STANDARD today is the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the Standard Bearer is the Holy Spirit.

As members of the Church, each one of us  has to make a decision. Either YES, that's my Standard, or No, that is not my Standard. Although the Church, the Body of Christ is made up of so many different denominations and different doctrinal emphases, all who agree with the universally accepted Biblical tenets of the faith, and who proclaim that Jesus is Saviour and Lord, are rallying to the Standard.

It should be the aim of every one of us who desires to please the Lord and to honour Him with our lives to always be "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".  Hebrews 12:2 I admit that I often fall short of this aim, but I am determined to, with God's grace and some discipline on my part, get closer to Jesus, so that I may hear His voice more clearly.

To be continued............................................