Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. (Isaiah 62:10)

The Standard Bearer

Raising the Flag of Heaven and Equipping You with the Sword of the Spirit.

As we start the New Year, or whenever you land on this page and read these words, it is so important we understand that prioritizing our study of the Holy Scriptures is paramount to living for Christ and winning every battle we face. When we learn the Word for ourselves we become grounded in truth, and are able to win each battle we face, and gain the skills needed to stand in the gap for others.

God's Word, his Bible, is the Sword of the Spirit.

The truth is, we are all in a spiritual battle, whether we recognize it or not, and so many Christians have no idea how to engage in the battle. It is important to understand that we are not fighting against other people, or against ideologies, or against political agendas.

Our fight is against powers and principalities in high places.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

It is for this reason that we must equip ourselves with the Word of God. We must become spiritual warfighters for the Kingdom of Heaven. We must know how and when to use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to engage in this battle and win.

This is the goal of The Standard Bearer.

The Standard Bearer weekly Bible study will equip you to become that spiritual warfighter God has called you to be. Many will sit on the sidelines. Many more will close their eyes and pray and hope for the best. Few will answer the call and begin to equip themselves for the battle.

It is my sincere hope that you will stand up and join the fight.

Join The Standard Bearer each week and become a spiritual warfighter for the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Standard Bearer Weekly Bible Study

The Plan

The Standard Bearer aims to equip the believer in Christ with a systematic study of 52 chapters of the Bible. This is one chapter per week and can be started at anytime. Our goal is to raise the banner of Heaven and equip you with the knowledge you need to be a spiritual warfighter in your place of employment, in your own home, and in your sphere of influence.

It all starts with God's Word.

The Method

The Standard Bearer is a weekly study of God's word.

Each week a chapter of the Bible will be presented in the Newsletter and on this page. Sign up for the Newsletter and have it delivered directly to your inbox, or check back here for the next weekly study.

It is then your task to:

1. Read the chapter for yourself.

2. Write a summary of what you've read.

3. Underline any key words that you find important.

4. Write down any questions you have.

5. Memorize one scripture through the week.

You will find that reading the Bible yourself builds your knowledge and equips you to handle the Sword of the Spirit correctly. Writing a summary helps solidify what you've read. Underlining key words will drive you to dig deeper into their meaning. Writing down questions will make you want to find the answers. And memorizing a scripture each week will help ready you to correctly handle the weapon of our warfare, which is the Word of God.

The Study Guide

Each weekly study will be in the following format.

Week 32

John 1 (KJV)

The Beginning

(Genesis 1:1-2)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The Witness of John

(Malachi 3:1-5)

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made His Dwelling among Us

(Psalm 84:1-12)

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20)

19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22)

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.