The Color of Worship - Red

 Colossians 1:13, 14

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

    The first stone set in the ephod of the high priest is a sardius (carnelian, ruby, garnet); a bright red hue engraved with the tribe of Rueben. This is the first stone foreshadowing redemption and atonement. 

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,

according to the riches of His grace. 

Hebrews 9:12

He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

Revelation 5:9

And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

Acts 5:31

God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Acts 13:38

Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

Acts 26:18

'To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ [from Paul's testimony to King Agrippa] 

    The color red is woven into the garments of the high priest and the curtains of the tabernacle of God. Exodus 25:4; 26:1; 28:5; 36:8. It represents the atoning sacrifice to not only cover sin, but remove it entirely and completely. These scarlet threads foreshadowed the ultimate atonement for sin: the blood of  The Lamb of God Which Takes Away The Sins of The World. This blood of His only begotten Son is applied to our hearts when we repent of our sins, confessing them to God, whereupon He, through the power of His Holy Spirit, applies the blood to our hearts, showing us we are forgiven. This is the redemptive process that happens by putting our faith into action:

    Romans 10:8-10, 13

But what does it say? “The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, The Word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

    Who is a whosoever?

    Romans 10:11, 12

It is just as The Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him.

    Romans 3:22, 23

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

    Joel 2:32

And everyone who calls on The Name of The LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as The LORD has promised, among the remnant called by The LORD.

    Acts 11:17, 18

So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”  When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." 

    Who is a Gentile? Anyone who is not a Jew. Every person who ever lived had the possibility of obtaining the salvation of God, even in OT times. Because when Jesus rose from the grave, thousands and tens of thousands rose with Him. First, Jesus lets us know that that event will occur, and that even at that time of His ministry, the dead who died in faith believing will hear His voice and rise and live eternally.

    John 5:25 (prophetic)

Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of The Son of God, and those who hear will live. 

    Matthew 27:52, 53 (first fulfillment of the prophecy)

At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. 

      Revelation 20:5, 6 (second fulfillment of the prophecy)

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

    

 

 

    

The Color of Worship - Orange

 

Ligure, or Jacinth, is the ninth stone used on the breastplate of the high priest. On this stone is engraved the tribe of Issachar. It is mainly of an orange to orange-red shade, a brilliant bold orange. This gemstone is the eleventh foundation in the wall of the new Jerusalem. 

    The color of this stone is associated with warfare, though Issachar's name means, "God has rewarded me" or God Rewards". His blessing from Jacob states that he would choose to farm the land given him, have a desire to settle down and work hard to achieve stability, and have a willingness to serve others. In Judges 5:15, Issachar follows on the heels of Barak, as they both run together into the fray, into the battle. His lack of selflessness (desire to serve others and not himself) and determination to overcome Israel's enemies were a result of his blessing from Jacob. 

    1 Chronicles 12:32 tells us that 200 men of the tribe of Issachar were politically savvy: "they understood the times". They were aware of their enemies and prepared in advance how to defend Israel and how to attack Israel's enemies. They paid attention to the moral, political and cultural changes and challenges around them. These men of Issachar are men of spiritual discernment and godly wisdom. They are men of strategic thinking, always alert and watchful. They are the example of how the Christian should be prepared for spiritual warfare. 

Ephesians 6:10-20 describes the armament of the Spiritual Warrior in the order in which it is applied to us.  

1.  Be Strong in The Lord {Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 41:10} and in the power of His might {Ephesians 1:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Isaiah 40:29-31}, the tunic under our armor [vs 10]

2. Put on The Full Armor of God, which enables us to stand against the wiles (the deceptions and calculated treachery) of the devil. [vs 11-13]

3. Girdle ( belt, sash) of Truth around our waist, preparing ourselves for action[vs 14]

4. Breastplate of Righteousness, akin to the breastplate of the high priest, which for the believer symbolizes the righteousness of Christ over our hearts, making it possible for enter into God's holy presence [vs 14]

5. Shoes of the preparation of the gospel of Peace on our feet, showing our preparedness {1 Peter 3:15, 16} in obeying Christ's command in Mark 16:15 to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every living creature." 

6. Shield of Faith which quenches fiery darts [vs 16] 

7. Helmet of Salvation [vs 17] {1 Thessalonians 5:8}

8. Sword of The Spirit, which is The Word of God [vs 17]

9. Praying always in The Spirit, Watching with perseverance [vs 18]

10. Speak the words which tell of the mystery (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) of the gospel in boldness, [vs 19]

~birth of Christ foretold-Isaiah 9:6, 

~Jesus is born - Matthew 2:1, 2. 

~Crucifixion foretold - Isaiah 52:14-Isaiah 53:9

~Jesus' trial and crucifixion - Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John Luke 18:28-19:30

~Resurrection foretold - Isaiah 27:19, Matthew 16:21;26:32, Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22, John 5:24-29

~Jesus walks out of the grave - Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-9, Luke 24:1-12, John 20

11. Preach freely and boldly,  fearlessly and without care for one's self, but with the goal to share Jesus with as many people as we can before our days end [vs 20] 

             

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.