The Color of Worship - White

Revelation 3:5

Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels. 

Romans 13:14

Instead, clothe yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

CHRIST OUR COVERING

    White is the color of righteousness, for Christ Jesus is our righteousness. We are made right with God through the atoning power of the blood of God's Lamb. And when we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, we are taking upon ourselves Hisself. We are choosing to be His own people. Therefore, His righteousness is the white spiritual covering with which we are covered. 

    Galatians 3:27

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

    Colossians 3:9-11

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all. 

    Ephesians 4:17-32 speaks of how we are to be changed once the covering of Christ is upon us. For the purpose of this study, we go to verse 24 (Amplified Bible) "And put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of The Truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]."

CHANGED FROM GLORY TO GLORY

    2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of The Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from The Lord, Who is The Spirit. 

    2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His Light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

    Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

    1 John 3:2

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

    

Prayer Cards - Prayers of The Saints

 

Revelation 5:8

When He had taken the scroll,

 the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders

fell down before The Lamb. 
Each one had a harp, 

and they were holding golden bowls full of incense,

which are the prayers of the saints. 

    So much going on in this verse, but we are centralizing today's study on the last five words: the prayers of the saints. With that thought in mind let us first see what denotes a saint. We cannot use the dictionary for this, as it is opposed to what a saint is according to the Bible/Scriptures. 

    Strong's Exhaustive Concordance describes "saint" as: unlike any other, different (distinguished/distinct), likeness of nature with The Lord because [it means] different from the world, set apart (for God)

    Are saints only in the New Testament? No. Saints are mentioned in the Old Testament, as well. Here in Daniel 7:18 "saints" refers to "the holy ones (of God)", they who are set apart for God's purpose because they have chosen to believe in and obey The God of Israel, Almighty God. Following this definition there were many saints spoken of in the Old Testament. This verse is Psalms tells us best:    

    Psalm 64:10  The righteous shall be glad in The LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory (exult).

    ~The people whom God has chosen for His own are not always saints. Too many times people reject God as their God. They refuse to obey His Will, will not acknowledge His Word and rebel against His Spirit. They set up their own gods (idols) to worship and pray to. They bring their gifts and offerings to empty nothingness and their prayers will not be heard by The True God, The Living God.~

    God chose to send His only Begotten Son into the world to save the world, the whole world not just parts of it. But we need to choose Him back. It is not enough to say, 'I believe in God', we must also choose to be obedient to His Word and listen to His Holy Spirit, Who will lead us on the path of holiness and transform us into levels of holiness until we meet God face to face. It's not an easy life path to walk, but it's definitely worth the effort. 

    John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in The Name of the only begotten Son of God." 

    -The saints of The Most High reject evil, and love The Lord - Psalm 97:10

    -The holy ones sit at His feet and receive His Word - Deuteronomy 33:3

    -The blessed of The Father will inherit a kingdom He has prepared - Matthew 25:34

    -The blameless have an inheritance that will last forever - Psalm 37:18

    -A kingdom and priests who serve God - Revelation 5:10

    -Priests of God and Christ over whom the second death 

    has no power - Revelation 20:6

    -Sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus - Galatians 3:26

    What are prayers? A subject we speak of almost everyday. Forty-seven days and counting so far. We have learned thus far that prayers are our vital source of communication with our God. We commune with Him. 

    Psalm 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (KJV) 

    Other versions translate this word 'commune' as: search my soul (NLT), mused (BSB), with my heart I conversed (BLB), meditate in my heart (ESV), think very carefully (NET Bible), consider in my heart (New Heart English Bible). 

    When we pray to our God, we don't always use words. In fact, it isn't always just us speaking to God from deep within in our hearts: His Spirit within us reaches out to the heart of God in His own voice. Romans 8:26 'In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness (infirmities). For we do not know how we ought to pray, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.' 

    The prayers of the saints are the prayers that have reached God's hearing, gotten His attention and are motivated by the love of God within us. We desire to see His kingdom come. We long to see our families, our friends, and our communities filled with the knowledge of saving grace through faith in The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ. 

    Our prayers move mountains, obstacles we sometimes see as impassable, but know and believe that our Lord will move for us through our faith in Him. That mustard seed faith that makes mountains move from one place to another (Matthew 17:20); that causes mountains to be wet and sunken under water (Mark 11:23). 

    Our prayers are constant (1 Thessalonians 5:17). From our waking to our resting, our hearts and our minds are focused on interceding for everyone. These prayers are not just for people we know, but people we don't know. We pray that the gospel message is delivered everywhere, that all may know The Name by which all men must be saved. 

    I am a saint. And I'm praying for you. 

NOT IN A HURRY - Will Reagan/United Pursuit

    

 

The Color of Worship - Dark Green, Emerald

 

    Revelation 4:3 The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. 

    The darker the shade of green in an emerald, the more valuable it is. Shaded or lighter colored emeralds are usually referred to as beryl, not emerald.  

We are used to seeing cut emeralds,

 but imagine, if you will, an emerald rainbow. Many Christian artists have attempted this, some known (Botticelli, Dore, Chagall), most unknown. 

Ezekiel 1:28

The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of The LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking. 

    The closer we get to the living presence of God, the deeper our walk, the stronger our covenanted relationship is with Him. The emerald rainbow surrounding God's throne is reminiscent of the covenant He instituted in Genesis 9:12-16, in which He created a rainbow and set it in the first heaven: the sky and the clouds. 

    The emerald is the fourth stone in the ephod of the priestly garment. While there is much conjecture as to which tribe it represents, the Bible states that the names of the sons of Jacob are engraved on each in the order of their birth, read from right to left. Therefore, emerald represents the tribe of Naphtali, Jacob's fourth son. Also, in Revelation 21:19, the fourth foundation of the new Jerusalem's walls is covered in emeralds. 

    Psalm 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. Here emerald green testifies of trust in God's mercy because I have made God my Refuge, not material wealth and possessions (verse 7). Emerald green here is Abundant Living through Faith in God; a deep, expansive life in The Tree of Life: Jesus Christ. 

    

    

Names of God & Christ - Pistos Alethinos

 PISTOS ALETHINOS 

(pis-tos' al-ay-thee-nos')

FAITHFUL and TRUE

Revelation 19:11

Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called FAITHFUL and TRUE.

With righteousness He judges and wages war. 

Pistos/Faithful: trustworthy. Strong's writes: believing the faith God imparts. (wow) 

Alethinos/True: truthful. Strong's writes here that this word emphasizes the authentic unity between what is true and where truth originates. (how awesome is that!) 

And this Mighty Warrior is prophesied in Psalms and Isaiah, as well:

Psalms 45:3-5

Strap Your sword at Your side, O Mighty Warrior; appear in Your majesty and splendor. / In Your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may Your right hand show Your awesome deeds. / Your arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s foes; the nations fall beneath Your feet.

Isaiah 63:1-4

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained."

And, again, in Matthew 16:27 

 For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done. 

Jude 1:14, 15

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.” 

Revelation 19:12-13, 15

He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God.

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

His holiness demands a righteous people, a people who must choose to follow Him, The Word of God, now, on this side of eternity. There are no second chances after death. There is no limbo, no purgatory. There is now; there is heaven (for the righteous born again believer who follows Christ) and hell (for the unrighteous wicked who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord). 

As Jeremiah wrote thousands of years past, Choose this day whom you will serve..as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord. And in my house? We will serve The Lord. The prodigals will return to The Lord and He will receive them into His kingdom and into His dwellingplace. 

Do you believe? I do.

 

TELL ME THE STORY OF JESUS

Names of God & Christ - Revelation

 

REVELATION

Revelation 1:5 THE FAITHFUL WITNESS

Pistos Martus

Revelation 1:8 ALPHA AND OMEGA

ARCHE AND TELOS

The Beginning and The Ending

Revelation 1:8 PANTOKRATÓR

The Almighty

Revelation 1:11 ALPHA AND OMEGA 

PROTOS AND ESCHATOS

The First and The Last

Revelation 1:13 HUIOS ANTHROPOS

The Son of Man

Revelation 1:18 ZAÔ

Living One 

Revelation 4:8 KURIOS THEOS PANTOKRATOR

Lord God Almighty

Revelation 5:5 LEON PHULE IOUDAS

The Lion of The Tribe of Juda

Revelation 5:5 RHIZA DABID

The Root of David

Revelation 5:6, 8 ARNION

The Lamb

Revelation 15:3 BASILEUS HAGIOS

King of Saints

Revelation 17:14 KURIOS KURIOS

     Lord of Lords

Revelation 17:14 BASILEUS BASILEUS

                     King of Kings

Revelation 19:1 KURIOS HEMON THEOS

The Lord Our God

Revelation 19:11 PISTOS ALETHINOS

Faithful And True

Revelation 19:13 LOGOS THEOS

The Word of God

Revelation 19:16a BASILEUS BASILEUS KING OF KINGS Revelation 19:16b KURIOS KURIOS LORD OF LORDS

Revelation 22:16 HAVA’ RHIZA GENOS DABID

I Am The Root And The Offspring of David

Revelation 22:16 LAMPROS ORTHRINOS’ ASTE  

                                The Bright And Morning Star                     

Names of Christ - I AM Alpha & Omega

 Revelation 1:8

"I Am The Alpha and The Omega, The Beginning and The Ending," says The LORD God, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, The Almighty."

I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

EIMI AL-FAH O

(pronounced ay-MEE AL-fah O'-meg-ah)

    Christ's limitlessness -- without end/without beginning; always has been, still is, and always will be -- is without compare. For our Savior is The Living Word of God. John 1:14 "And 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." The Living Word. 

   As John also wrote in John 14:6: Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The LIFE. And, again, in John 7:39, referring the The Spirit of GOD, the believer in Christ would have Living Water flow out of them. 

    GOD is the only neverending GOD. He is above all gods (which are created by mankind) and is therefore Sovereign (Psalm 135:5). As the only GOD of any worth or value, He is to be feared (1 Chronicles 16:25), He is to be honored by giving Him ourselves (1 Corinthians 6:20) We are to love GOD wholeheartedly (Mark 12:30, Deuteronomy 6:5). We are to obey GOD (Job 36:11, Acts 5:29, Romans 6:16) faithfully. GOD is holy and requires holy people.

    GOD The Father Creates and Destroys. He sets up and tears down.  

    GOD The Son Saves through the blood He shed on the cross, gives New Life by conquering death for all who believe in Him, and Judges in righteousness when the time is given for judgment. 

    GOD The Spirit Breathes new life into the believer's body and soul, which begins the process of sanctification in making GOD's people holy, that we might remain in GOD's holy presence which demands holiness in return. 

    Before there was an Earth, there was GOD, there was JESUS CHRIST, there was THE HOLY SPIRIT. Before there were stars in the sky, before the sun knew existence, before the moon shined in the night sky, there was GOD, there was JESUS CHRIST, there was THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Genesis 1)

    After this Earth is obliterated, and replaced with a new Earth and a new heavens, GOD will be, JESUS CHRIST will be, THE HOLY SPIRIT will be. (Revelation 20-22).

    But now, while today is today, if you do not believe that JESUS CHRIST is GOD's ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, you still have time to choose to believe in your heart that HE IS SAVIOR and speak aloud with your mouth that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, thus announcing and declaring your faith in GOD through His Son JESUS CHRIST. AND in these days in which we live GOD IS, JESUS CHRIST IS and THE HOLY SPIRIT IS. 

Forever and ever. Amen. 

JESUS MESSIAH - Chris Tomlin