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HELEN SANDERS
2-20-2025
A WARNING FLAG
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I grew up on the shore of Lake Michigan where there was a beautiful beach. It had a playground for children, and a park to have picnics. On the beach stood a lifeguard stand and a lifeguard was on duty from Memorial Day until Labor Day. It was his job to make sure people were safe in the water.
On the lifeguard stand was a place to put out a flag. Every day the lifeguard would put out a flag letting us know about the water. One flag color meant that the water was warm, and it had reached 70 degrees. There was also a different colored flag that meant the water was cool.
There was one other flag that was red with a black circle in the middle. It let you know that it was not safe to swim, because there was an undertow, which meant that a current of water would cause certain waves that would pull you out into deep water. If you got in that water, while the red flag was up you were risking your life. There were those that did not heed that flag’s warning and drowned.
We have all heard the expression, “Red Flag” and it means “caution” or “danger.” A red flag spiritually is that nudge from the Holy Spirit that says “warning” danger ahead. If we pay attention to that nudge, we may save our lives or someone else’s life.
Often people have not been taught how the Holy Spirit leads, and when that nudge comes, they ignore it, just like that red flag on the beach. When this happens and trouble comes, they often blame everyone but themselves for the trouble. It is easy to play the blame game, just ask Adam and Eve.
I like to think of the five-fold ministry, which are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors as the “flags” given to the church. They are gifts given by the Lord to the church to equip the saints. This equipping helps us learn when something is right or if something is “off” or is a “red flag.” We can learn from these gifts [the fivefold ministry] that were given to the church or ignore their teachings and warnings and live with the consequences.
Thankfully, I grew up knowing what that warning flag meant on the beach. Later in life I was instructed and now am teaching what the “warning flags” spiritually are. These “warning flags” are not sent to control us, but to protect us. But, like the one on the beach, we have the choice to listen or not. Revelation 2: 7; 11; 17; 29; 3:6; 13; and 22 say, “He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
We can read these two chapters and see what God was trying to say to these seven churches and what “red flags” to avoid, or we can go on our merry way thinking we will be okay.
In closing today, I suggest that we be thankful for those that are bold enough to put out a red flag so others can be protected from harm. In doing so, they are saving lives.
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