How banners are used

Here in the north east of England, while coal was being mined, there was a tradition of pit banners. These have the name of the pit together with one or more pictures on it. They were designed to both be displayed on a wall and to be carried at the front of a group of miners at events like Durham Big Meeting.

Church banners can be used in a similar ways. They can be carried through the streets as part of a praise march. They can be carried by the church group as part of the parade for the town gala. Then, afterwards they can be brought home and put on the wall and used as a decoration that people coming in from the street will recognise. They can also be carried around a church as part of the worship. For example, a banner like the one with the word Jesus on can be lifted higher during a song that includes words like "lift Jesus higher".

A good banner is not just decorative but gives out a message. As such, they can be used evangelistically so when a newcomer walks in they can read that Jesus loves them. This is one reason why they need to be divinely inspired, as only God knows what messages people need to be able to read when they walk into His House. Anyway, would you expect someone to decorate your house without asking you what you wanted them to do?

Banners are also means of provoking thought. As such, banners can be used to prompt prayer on a particular topic or for a particular place. Banners are not only one way of doing this as some people do this by having maps photos or even the flag of a particular nation on the wall.

Other reasons for using banners include

• to declare the attributes of God in the heavenlies
• to celebrate and honour God
• to lift the Name of God into the heavenlies
• to declare victory over our enemies
• to rally the troops in battle
• to identify who we belong to and what we are a part of
• to put the enemy to flight
• to declare the truth of the word
• to make his praise glorious