On this page we want to express to you our beliefs on the freedom of worship we should all be able to experience as we worship our God. We here at Living Word Interdenominational Church believe that there should be a freedom to worship your God, and that it is our responsibility to provide that atmosphere of freedom to worship. In attempting to provide this atmosphere we encourage the waving of flags and banners which symbolize the Glory and Honor to God, as well as warfare and praise. We encourage and believe that children should worship with their parents, and we believe in the blowing of the Shofar as outlined in scripture. It is our desire to create an atmosphere where God's people are free to express their love for their Savior and Heavenly Father. Below is a small explanation of the meaning of these types of worship to give you a better understanding as to what to expect here at Living Word Church.
Children:
When it comes to children we feel that all children should stay in service for the entire worship service in order for them to see the example of their parents and other adults as they worship their God. We feel that the best example for the child is to see their own Mother and Father lifting their hands, waving a banner and worshipping God with all of their might! When the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord visits, everybody, including the children, will be worshipping in one accord. We should train up a child in the way they should go....
Why Flags and Banners:
- It enhances our worship to God and it is an extension of praise to Him.
- It is an encouragement and blessing to others
- It is a visual art--as worship, praise, dance, music, and colored flags all seem to flow together as one in the spirit realm
- A flag is a way to tell the troops what's going on and what to look out for--a tool used to identify, proclaim, and glorify the Kingdom of God. It is a tool used, called forth by the Holy Spirit, to give glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
- Unity comes through flag waving
- It is all about HIM
We believe God is looking for worshippers and warriors who will display His excellence as they minister to Him alone or in the assembly of a congregation. One way to express our faith and love to Him is through the waving of banners or flags. This is a powerful visual tool for the army of God as it advances on the enemy, but it is also an expression of loyalty and submission to Jesus, Who reigns as king and chief shepherd of His church. The lifting of the banner is also a wave offering to the Lord, and is praise in the purest sense. In times of intercession, each flag could be waved for different purposes. Our flag colors represent the kind of worship or prayer need we wish to express.
Colors
- Red - plead the Blood of Jesus, Matt. 26: 28. Military might, atonement - Nah. 2:3, Is 63:2
- Black - Warfare, famine
- Black with red cross on a silver shield, gold sword - "The Shield of Defense" Ps. 59:9,16,17; Ps. 62:2, Heb. 4:12
- Green - Rev. 4:3, Life and healing of this world, nation, state, city, church, family, friends, and self
- Dark Blue - Foundations of prayer
- Teal - River of Revival to flow in us, in others - life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit - river of God
- White - Robes of righteousness, Rev. 19:8, "white unto harvest," the bridegroom, priestly garments, Es. 28, Victory, Reb. 6:2
- Pearl White - Wind of the Holy Spirit
- Iridescent white - Glory of God falling on us, unity
- Pale yellow - souls in the Fox River Valley to be saved, also the light of Christ shining on our region, glory, temple of God
- Orange/red/yell - Fire of God, Ex. 9:24; Holy Spirit, Acts 2:3
- Purple - royalty, as we enter His royal present, Mark 15: 17; clothed Jesus in purple and called Him, "King of the Jews"
- Silver - Deut. 22:29, Matt. 27:6, Es 3:9, Zach. 11:12 redemption, praying for those in great financial need
- Bronze - repentance, fires of testing, judgment upon sin
- Gold - Lev. 4:2, holiness, majesty, divine light, mercy, glory, honoring Jesus as King, victory
- Bright iridescent yellow - Light of Jesus piercing stony hearts, Eze 11:19, 36:26
- Fuchsia - Heart of flesh, joy, right relationships, Ez. 11:19
- Burgundy - long for the new wine in ourselves and in the souls we are burdened for, Eph. 5:18
- Gold/Black - Warfare, intimacy (to have intimacy with God can be warfare)
- Red/White - Christ's robe dipped in blood, Rev. 19: 11-16
- Blackish Green - jasper, colors around the throne of God, new Jerusalem, Rev. 4:3
- Pale Sea foam Blue - pray for the great multitude of people coming to Christ, Rev. 7:9, and the "rest" Heb. 4
- Lime green - "I will make everything new"
- Blueberry (deep blue/purple) - "Jesus Christ our High Priest of the good things to come" Heb. 9:11
- Harvest colors (forest green, gold, red with white ribbons) "The wheat fields are white unto harvest" John 4:35, Joel 3:13
- Positions
- Quick back and forth movement above the head: praise. Ps. 21:13
- Smooth back and forth movement, shoulder height: worship and unity, bonding together. Ps. 29:2
- Circular movements over the head: declaring the glory of God. Ps. 19:1
- Circular movements from opposite direction in front: might warrior king. Jer. 32:18
- Wave with a ripple effect: river of God. Isa. 58:12
- Whip or pop flag over head, making an "X": warfare, tearing down strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:4
- Slice and dice or wave flag in an "X" at arm level, then above head, back to arm level: destroys enemy and clears the air of demon activity. 1 Jn. 3:8
- Holding banners straight up: the Kingdom of God is here. Matt. 10:7
- Twirling: Joy and anointing.
- Wave gently, horizontally, back and forth in front of you, both flags together, one in each hand, moving in the same direction: ushering in the Present of God. Ps. 16:11
- Let God lead you in other ways of waving
Shofars
The Shofar is mentioned over 80 times in the bible as either a ram's horn or trumpet. The ram's horn is most commonly used, second most commonly used horn is the Yemenite Shofar taken from an African antelope called the Kudu. The first time the Shofar is mentioned is in Exodus 19:16-19 when the Israelites had gathered at Mt. Sinai. The “voice of the trumpet (Shofar) sounded exceeding loud” and “waxed louder and louder”. According to the Torah in Exodus 20:18 the sound was so penetrating that the people could actually “see the sounds”!
The Shofar is the ritual instrument of the ancient and modern Hebrews, the only Hebrew cultural instrument to have survived until now. Of martial origin, the Shofar was a priestly instrument in Biblical times. According to the Mishnah, two different forms of Shofar were used in the Temple: one made of ibex horn, its bell ornamented with gold, was sounded at New Year and during the Yovel Days; one made of ram's horn, with silver ornamentation, was sounded on fast days. We learn from the Mishnah and the Talmud that in the Hellenistic period no improvements or modifications that might affect the tone were permitted: no gold-plating of its interior, no plugging of holes, no alteration of its length (the minimum permissible length of a ritually approved horn was 3 handbreadths); the Shofar tone was to be preserved unaltered. Nor was the process of steaming or boiling permitted. Apart from its liturgical uses the Shofar was closely connected with magical symbolism. Its blast destroyed the walls of Jericho, and in the Dead Sea scrolls we read that during battles Shofar blowers sounded a powerful war cry to instill fear into the hearts of the enemy while priests blew the six trumpets of killing. Historically the Shofar has also served in a number of popular usage's: it was sounded during rites to bring rain, in the event of local disasters, and so on. In our times its liturgical use is restricted to New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Biblical references
Ex. 19:13; 20:18
Num. 10:10
Numbers 29:1 (Yom Teruah, "the Day of Blowing".)
Josh. 6:4, 6, 8
Judges. 7:16, 18
1 Sam. 13:3
Amos 3:6 ("Shall a Shofar be sounded in the city, and the people shall not be afraid?")
Joel 2:1
Psalm 47 ("... sound the Shofar to God with a cry of joy")
Psalm 98:6 ("With trumpets and the sound of a Shofar make a joyful noise before the Lord... ")
The use of the Shofar in the Bible
The references to Shofar, trumpets, rams’ horns, coronets, etc. are extensive and prominent
throughout the Bible and God's dealings with His people.
The list below is by no means complete.
1) The ram's horn, the Shofar, is a reminder of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac and God's provision
of a ram as a substitute. Genesis 22:13
2) The Torah was given to Israel with the sound of the Shofar from heaven. Exodus 19:19
3) The Shofar was blown at the start of the year of Jubilee on Yom Teruah. Leviticus 25:9-10
4) The trumpet was blown to announce the beginning of the festivals. Numbers 10:10
5) Israel conquered in the battle of Jericho with the blast of the Shofar. Joshua 6:20
6) Gideon and his army confused and scattered the enemy with the Shofar. Joshua 7:15-22
7) The Shofar was blown to signal the assembly of the Israelites during war. Judges 3:27, 6:34, II Samuel 20:1, Jer. 4:19, 51:27, Neh. 4:20, Amos 3:6
8) Seven Shofar were blown before the ark of God. 1Chr. 15:24, 2Sam. 6:15
9) They took an oath before the Lord…..with trumpets and rams’ horns. 2Chr. 15:14
10) The Shofar was used for the coronation of kings. I.e. King Solomon. I Kings 1:34, 39
11) The Shofar is a reminder that God is sovereign. Psalm 47:5
12) The Shofar was blown to celebrate the new moon each month. Psalm 81:1-3
13) The Shofar was used to accompany other musical instruments during temple ceremonies in Jerusalem and in praise and worship. Psalm 98:6, 150:3-6
14) The Shofar will be blown at the time of the ingathering of the exiles to Israel. Isaiah 27:13
15) The blowing of the Shofar is a signal for the call to repentance. Isaiah 58:1, Hosea 8:1
16) The Shofar were blown as a warning. Ezekiel 33:3-6, Numbers 10:9, Isaiah 18:3
17) The blowing of the Shofar ushers in the day of the Lord. Joel 2:1
18) The Shofar is blown to call the sacred assembly. Numbers 10:3, Joel 2:15
19) Israel will be advised of the advent of the Messiah with the sound of the Shofar. Zechariah 9:14, 16
20) The Shofar is sounded at the resurrection of the dead I Thess. 4:16
21) The Shofar (trumpet) is the sound of God's voice. Revelation 1:10
22) John was taken up to Heaven in the Book of Revelation by the sound of the Shofar. Revelation 4:1 .
23) Seven trumpets (Shofar) are sounded when God judges the earth during the tribulation. Revelation 8-9
