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Why Worship With Flags

"He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel;

he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth."

Isaiah 11:12

      Many people ask why some Christians worship with flags. Is it Biblical they ask? Although the word flag is not in scripture, the word banner or standard is found several times in scripture.
      Much like our flags today from many countries or states, the people of Israel had a banner that marked the territory where they lived. Other people had banners that marked what tribe, kingdom or country they belonged to. These banners were carried into battle when fighting their enemies. The Israelites often sent their worshipers out before their army of warriors, to give praise and honor to God before the battle. God responded by helping them win the battle. That tells me that worship and banners (flags) go together for intersession and warfare.
      The Israelites also danced in celebration with veils, tabrets and musical instruments. Perhaps banners were also used to celebrate what God had done for them and for victories in battle. This is much like how we worship with flags today.
      In Joshua 17:8-16, after an attack by the Amalekites on the Israelites, Moses ordered Joshua to gather an army and go fight the Amalekites. The next day Moses, along with Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill and raised the staff of God in his hands. As long as Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning. When Moses grew tired and he let down his hands the Amalekites were winning. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur held up his arms. So Joshua overcame the alekite army with the sword.
Then (vs. 15) Moses built an alter and called it The Lord Is My Banner. (vs.16) He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord.” Jesus was sometimes referred to as our “Standard” or “Banner”
      I believe that the heavens respond to the flags/banners as well as the music we offer to the Lord. God is the Creator and loves colors, movement and music. We are to worship God in spirit and truth. We should offer all of our gifts up to God as worship.
      I do not dance very well, but I can use my flags to dance for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

   "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."  Isaiah 43;2

In the book of Exodus, Moses recounts the story where God delivered his people out of 430 years of slavery in Egypt.

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the shortest route. They were to be tested many times on their journey to see if they would trust God.

After the Israelites had left Egypt, Pharaoh realized they had lost the services of the Israelites. Pharaoh then took over 600 chariots and his troops to bring them back to Egypt.

As Pharaoh’s large army approached the Israelites camped by the sea, God’s people became terrified and cried out to the Lord.                                                                                                              Ex. 14:15-29    

15. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.

16.  Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through on dry ground.

God protected the Israelites from Pharaoh’s army as the people went.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all night the Lord drove back the sea with a strong west wind and turned it into dry land.

The waters were divided,  22.and the Israelites went through on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

In verses 23 through 28 the Egyptians pursued them and followed them into the sea. Then the Lord commanded Moses again to stretch out his hand and the waters flowed back over the Egyptians and they were all drowned.

God loves us and everyone wants to be loved. There is no love in acts of the flesh, only destruction.  

                                                     Practices of the flesh

                                                         Galatians 5:13, 19-21

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.”

“The acts of the flesh are: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, fractions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”

Why does God warn us not to indulge in these things? Because God is holy and cannot tolerate sin, but also because these things will destroy us. They may feel good at the time or seem harmless, but in the end they cannot satisfy.

In my painting “Out Of Egypt” I show the Bride of Christ (Christians) crossing over on dry ground, with the waters being held back. In the waves of the sea are words representing mindsets and sins that keep people in bondage (slavery).

The bride is raising a banner (much like Moses staff) to keep the waters from overtaking her, as she pursues God and moves toward the light and a life with him for all eternity.

                                                                                                         Why Worship ?     

When life seems to go from bad to worse as we saw in 2020 with the COVID-19 crisis, many people became fearful.

So what do we do in a crisis? Do we abandon God or turn our hearts to the Lord? When I am tired, fearful or feeling down I turn to worship. Our soul needs worship. It is what we were created for. God is worthy of and desires worship. He alone is worthy to be praised.  

In Revelation 4:1-11 and again in Revelation 5:9-14 scripture tells us of the heavenly throne room, where worship to God is practiced by the angels, elders and the living creatures day and night.

Revelation 4:8-11

8. “Day and night (the four living creatures) never stop saying:

              “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

vs.9-10 says that when the four living creatures give honor, glory and thanks to our Lord, the 24 elders cast their crowns before the throne and say:

11. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

We all have gifts to offer to God for worship. Worship is more than a voice or an instrament, it might be dance, clapping, shouts of praise or a special gift of quiet reverence to offer to the Lord. Worship is for everyone in the church to participate in. No one can offer up worship to God for you.

Worship is about connecting to God. It is our sacrifice of praise and worship that we to bring to the alter.

Psalms 150:1-6

1. 1.     “Praise the Lord in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2. 2.     Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3. 3.     Praise him with the sounding trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
4. 4.     Praise him with tambourine and and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,
5. 5.     Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6. 6.     Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

So if you are feeling weighed down by the things of the world, put on your favorite worship music and sing, dance, clap, pray, shout, paint or pick up your favorite worship tool and worship the Lord.   

                                                                                                      ~ Judi Jordan~

KING OF KINGS

I chose to paint the lion in the midst of the universe, as a symbol of Jesus Christ as creator.

“The heaven’s declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands.” Psalms 19:1

1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.”
2. “He was God in the beginning.”
3. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
4. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
5. “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”
12. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
14. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-5,12,14

In Revelation 5 it says that in John’s vision that no one was found worthy to open the scroll, in heaven or on earth.

6. Then one of the elders said to me, “do not weep! See the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and it’s seven seals.”

Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He has overcome death and the grave for those who choose to accept his gift of salvation provided for us at the cross and his resurrection.

IT IS FINISHED

Before Christ came into the world, the laws were given to Moses to govern God's people. These laws are known as the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20: 12-16.  At this time, sacrifices were given to God as atonement for sin, such as a lamb without blemish.

Naturally man tends to embellish on what God says and begin making a few rules of our own. The people couldn't always follow the ten laws from God to begin with, let alone all the laws added by priests.

God, knowing that man would not be able to keep from sinning against God's laws, provided a way for man to be made righteous through a different sacrificial lamb. Jesus Christ came to become that sacrifice for man kinds sins. In John 1 verses 29 and 36, the Apostle John spoke of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

"There is none righteous, no not one."  Romans 3:10

"Neither is there salvation in any other (but Jesus); for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Acts 4:12

This tells me that man cannot become righteous or save himself through his own efforts and the keeping of the laws.

At just the right time in history, God sent his son to be born of a virgin. He grew and taught the things of God, he healed the sick and worked to bring the lost (in darkness) to a new covenant with God through Jesus Christ, who is the Light. Jesus had come to bring salvation to man kind, by becoming the sacrificial lamb offered to God as payment in full for our sins.

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Acts 2:12

For 33 years Jesus walked on earth, growing in relationship with the Father (God) and taught with such wisdom that he astonished the temple priests. In time he was rejected, as he was teaching a new Gospel and covenant that was not based on following a set of laws, impossible to keep.

"He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him."

Isaiah 53: 3

The chief priest and elders of the Temple brought accusations against Jesus, though he had committed no sin he was flogged and crucified.

In His final hour, Jesus knowing that all he was to do had been completed and scripture fulfilled, Jesus said he, was thirsty. He was given vinegar to drink and after He had received it Jesus cried out "it is finished." With that, he bowed  His head and gave up His spirit.

Jesus was buried in a tomb, but on the 3rd day He was raised from the dead. After He appeared to many He later ascended to heaven and is seated with God on His throne. He had conquered sin and death for all who would receive Him. This small part of the story was taken from the account found in John 19 and 20 in the Holy Bible.

There is so much more to Jesus story, but you can see how Jesus was represented in scripture as a lamb, and how Jesus was crucified wearing a crown of thorns (as a mockery), but what of the Lion?

1.  "And I saw lying on the open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back closed and sealed with seven seals;

2.  And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll?

3.  And no one in heaven and earth was able to open the scroll or take a look at it's contents.

4.  And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or inspect it.

5.  Then one of the elders said to me, Stop weeping. See, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has won! He can open the scroll and break it's seven seals."

Jesus Christ forever reigns as King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords.

Scripture taken from AMP and NIV

From the cradle to the cross, from the cross to a kingly crown.

Although Jesus in a cradle with the star of Bethlehem is a prominent image in this painting, it is not as much about his birth as his entire purpose.

The Cradle

In the days of Caesar Augustus a decree was issued that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world and everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child (though she was a virgin).

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-6 (NIV)

The star of Bethlehem to me, represents the cross before him. The star as painted by artist’s, seem to have a cross within the star that is prominent.
 
 After a brief ministry on earth that revealed the true purpose of Christ’s birth, he was destined to bear our sins upon a cruel cross. Man could not become righteous in their own power, so a savior was needed to prepare us to one day live with a holy  God.

The Cross

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.                                                                                                      
45 For the sun stopped shinning. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

When he had said this, he breathed his last.
 
The Resurrection 

After Jesus had died, a man named Joseph asked Pilate for his body. He took him down, wrapped him in linen and placed him in a tomb. Some women followers from Galilee, brought spices and perfumes for him.

 When they arrived at the tomb on the first day of the week, they found the stone rolled away and his body was gone. Then two angels appeared and told them he had risen. The women went to tell the apostles the news, but they did not believe it.

After this Jesus appeared to his disciples and even ate with them.

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 48 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 49 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power on high.”

The Ascension

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

 10 “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

 11 “For as the soil makes a sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness spring up before all nations.”                                                    Isaiah 61:11 (NIV)

“Bride Of Nations” was inspired by the many testimonies shared by missionaries around the world; not only their struggles but also what God is doing in the hearts of the people.

So many people in nations where the gospel of Jesus Christ has been suppressed feel unfulfilled and even hopeless, as they see no power or love of God in their religion. They are in bondage to false religions and many are seeking truth.

I guess we could use the term “Looking for Love in all the wrong places”, as the well known country song is titled.

We must listen and act according to our ability to carry out the great commission in Matthew 28:16-20, where God called every believer to share the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. If we cannot go, we must send others.

Scripture clearly states that God’s promises to the Jewish people are for all time. When we as gentiles receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we are grafted in and also receive the promise of life with God for all eternity.

God’s word does not change and he cannot go back on his word.

10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you, declares the Lord.

11  Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.”  Zachariah 2 10-11 (NIV)

Please consider your responsibility and place of involvement in world missions. As Christians, each of us is called to help bring in the harvest of souls for God’s Kingdom.

  Christ Overcomes

     After that I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse (appeared)! The One Who was riding it is called Faithful and True, and He passes judgement and wages war in righteousness.

     His eyes (blaze) like a flame of fire, and on his head are many kingly crowns; and he has a title inscribed which He alone knows or can understand.

     He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in blood, and the title by which He is called is The Word of God.

     From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite the nations. He will rule with an iron scepter

     And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Rev. 19:11-16  NIV

     This horseman is our savior, deliverer and the one who overcame death and the grave. He is Jesus Christ the victor over the Prince of darkness. He will defeat the darkness, because he is Love and Light.

     By putting our faith in Him and walking with Christ, we can overcome the grave and have eternal life with God.

     In Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. All things were created by Him and for Him. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our avenger, our place of refuge, the great High Priest, our personal Prophet and the King of Kings who reigns forever and ever.

     All literature, philosophy and doctrines of theology began with Him. His love is unlimited and was written on a wooden cross 2,000 years ago.

     He heals the sick; binds up the broken hearted; forgives all our sins. He is our strength, our protector, our rewarder. He brings justice by punishing the wicked

     He is all goodness and righteousness, His grace is sufficient and His mercy is everlasting. His Love never changes, His light is matchless and His Word is more than enough. He is indescribable.

Behold The Pale Horse---

     So I looked, and behold, an ashy pale horse and it's riders name was death, and Hades (the realm of the dead) followed him closely. And they were given authority and power over a fourth of the earth to kill with sword and famine and plague (pestilence, disease) and wild beasts of the earth.  Rev. 6:8  NIV.

     At this stage famine leads to sickness and disease, which leads to violence out of desperation to gain what's needed to survive.

     Governments will obtain virus samples, culture them and use them in biological attacks against their enemies. Dictators will use these tactics to rid countries of undesirables.

     Terrorism increases and guns or bombs are not the only weapon. Biological weapons are added.

This is the fourth blog explaining the symbolisum in my new painting "Christ Overcomes" It will be released April 30.

Behold the Black Horse---

     And behold, a black horse, and in his hand a rider had a pair of scales. And I heard a voice saying, A quart of wheat for a denarius (day's wages); but do not harm the oil and the wine. Rev. 6:5  NIV

     As governments continue to debase currency and create money out of thin air, inflation rises. The money we earn buys less goods and services. Prices rise as a result of  inflation. Government entitlement programs require more money to pay for the programs for those who do not work and pay for goods and services given. Governments cannot afford to do this without taxing their people more or printing more money to cover these expenses.

      Famine can begin to set in and is often compounded by natural disaster or disease that destroys food supplies. Trade deficits between countries compound the problem. Many people will die.

 Sound familiar?

This is the third section of a large painting to be released on April 30, 20115. Each blog explains the symbolism in each section.

Behold the Red Horse---

     And another horse came out, flaming red. And it's rider was empowered to take the peace from the earth, so that men slaughtered one another; and he was given a huge sword. Rev. 6:4  NIV

      And except those days should be shortened, there should be no flesh saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Matt. 24:22.

     And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerursalem: Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. Zach. 14:2 

Could this be describing destruction by nuclear bomb?

This is the second blog in a series of blogs to explain the symbols in a large painting to be released April 30, 2015.

 Behold The White Horse---  

     And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer. Rev. 6:2 NIV

     This rider will resemble Jesus Christ, making peace with Israel, but will break the covenant. He wears a wreath, where Christ wear's a Kingly crown. Where he appears to be Christ like, it is false. 

     This coming world leader will make a peace treaty with Israel but will withdraw it in a short time. His goal is to overthrow the law of God.

This is the first blog in a series of five, which will explain the symbolism for a large painting.

At that very moment the veil was torn---

Unveiled

Mathew 27

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          45  From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the land. 

50  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split  52  and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  53  They came out of tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people

54  When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!  Matt. 27:45, 50-54 (NIV)

Until Christ's death upon the cross, a curtain (veil) in the temple separated the people from the Holy of Holies, in which only the high Priest of the land could enter into and offer prayers and sacrifice's unto God for the sins of the people. The veil represents separation from God's presence.

When the veil in the temple was ripped in two, I believe it showed us that we no longer needed an earthly priest to intercede for us for forgiveness of sin. We now can go to God, thru Christ with 0ur prayers. This is seen in Hebrews 10: 18-22. (NIV)

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

19  Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  21  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Paul teaches in 2 Cor. 3:6, 17-18

6  he has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Heb.7:17-28 (NIV)

In this passage it is clearly evident that Jesus, a new priest arises who bears the likeness of Melchezedek, a priest who had no successor.

17  For it is declared:

               "You are a priest forever,

                   in the order of Melchizedek."

18  The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless  19  (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20  And it was not without oath! Others became priests without any oath,

21  but he a priest with an oath when God said to him;

                "The Lord has sworn

                    and will not change his mind:

                    'You are a priest forever."

22 Because of this oath, Jesus became the guarantor of a better covenant.

23  Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office:  24  but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.  25  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God thru him, because he lives to intercede for them.

26  Such a high priest truly meets our need- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  27  Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.  28  For the law appoints as high priests men in their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

In my painting "Unveiled" the Bride represents the Church who is made blameless before God, by the righteousness of Christ. Jesus as King lifts the veil (as with torn curtain) to indicate a way for us to personally enter into God's presence with our petitions and to have relationship with Him.

The Hebrew written behind the veil represents the 10 commandments or the Law, in which the obedience to it was to bring salvation. God knew that man could not always follow the Law, so His plan of salvation was for Jesus Christ to become the perfect (unblemished) sacrifice for our sin.

When we confess our sins, receive Jesus as our Savoir and Lord and continue to walk in His ways, we will spend eternity with God.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              This painting, which was recently purchased by Jean Lee for the purpose of gifting it to the newly appointed Pope Francis of Rome. When she saw it in Grabriel's Landing in Show Low, Az., she felt in her heart that it belonged there and I felt the same. This painting began with a thought of painting a ballerina set against ancient ruins, both of which I am facinated with. While painting the colliseum, an artist friend (Laurie Acree) who has visited the coliseum came to see me. She commented that she didn't like this place because of the many Christians, who were killed there because of their faith. At that moment I knew why I was to paint it. Following the promptings of the Holy Spirit of God, the painting seemed to take on a life of it's own. The painting was painted in acrylic paint on canvas. The collage elements were adhered and sealed with acrylic mediums. The quoted prayer found in the beam of light was  a prayer spoken by the 17th century Archbishop William Laud (1573-1645), who was beheaded for his faith. Praise God for it's journey.

This painting shows how the freedoms in America set in place by our founding Father's are slowly falling apart. Many places around the world and even in USA our flag is being disrespected (burned). Americans need to learn more about the truth of what our founding Father's put in place to ensure our freedoms and hold accountable elected leaders in government. We cannot count on the next election of another politician to fix things, when they all follow the same trend. Two opposite views will never make a good compromise. A Republic is run by rule of law (our constitution) not by popular trends, which are changeable.