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SPEAKING SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE©



[As worship artist, we are communicators.....we must know the language of the Kingdom in order to communicate truth through our art, and the language of the Kingdom is symbols.]



POWER OF SYMBOLS

(Hebrews 1: God spoke in many and varied ways....) God of imagery and spectacle: pillar of cloud/fire, parting of the Red Sea, fallen walls of Jericho, chariots of fire, the cross, the communion, star of Bethlehem, rainbow



SYMBOLS AS KINGDOM LANGUAGE



IMAGES COMMUNICATE through the eye-gate, bypass the abstract of intellect

Symbols allow spirit to communicate to flesh



SPIRIT TO SPIRIT Communication can happen without understanding. Virtue can be transmitted (healing-Paul's handkerchief, woman/blood-hem of garment)



IMAGE-the concrete picture(literal) Ex. water-wet substance, river, ocean, rain (Moses-rock)



SYMBOL- positive/negative, connotations associations and significance Ex. water (woman at well-salvation : wouldn't have the meaning with out literal life-giving properties of water)



METAPHORE-comparison (I Cor 3:6)Paul: I plant, Apollos watered/ figurative "planting")



SIMILE- uses "like or as" to make comparison: (Prov.25:25 "Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.")



TYPES: symbol that prefigures a personality: serpent on pole (the cross), incense altar (Christ as intercessor), Abraham's ram (Christ as Atoner), goat (sin-bearer) , cherubim & mercy seat (the Godhead), David (type of Christ as shepherd-king), Boaz (kinsman-redeemer)



ARCHETYPES: patterns, the universal elements of human existance. It is either an image, a plot-motif, or a character type.



Negative-PositiveArchetypes: angels-demons, bride-harlot, hero-villain, feast-famine, covenant-abandonment, kingdom gov't-anarchy,kings robe-filthy garment, strength-deformity, olive tree-thorn tree, palace-dungeon, jewels-rocks or dirt, day-night, harmony-cacaphony, ascent-descent, straight-crooked, advancing-retreating





USING SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE



COLORS (GEMS, METALS) speak truths (examples ?)

NUMBERS confirm truth (Hebrew letters have numbers assigned...) (examples ?)

acrostics--153 fish numbers of God's name--to confirm His presence

(bells on Yeshua banner--cube of 3--His perfect priesthood)

MATERIALS - Kingdom espressed in rich fabrics: silk, brocades, velvets, jewels

IN MOVEMENT & DRAMA

Gestures

breathing: impart life, clapping-victory, lifted hand-vow,honor;hand on head-blessing; kneeling-worship, homage; walking-advancing, progress; pointing finger-scorn

Tableaus: worship at throne (Rev.4), crucifixion, coming for BrideScenarios:

Motifs or patterns (meeting of intended, clothing, conflict and

resolution, reversal --enemy overthown, youngest over

firstborn

Conventions (recurring things in motifs such as betrothal, at a well, going to the father, etc.)



IN ART

Banners:

layers of meaning, build on single focus (Living Word)

truth in images, design (includes shape) and colors

message also from movement, sound, smell

Flags:

simple images, fire, water, oil, wind, glory, blood, wine,



single concepts: glory, royalty, holiness,

Icon painting: images of eternal truth for meditation & impartation

said to be done under an anointing

IN GARMENTS

Dancer as "banner" (you yourselves are our letter...known and read byeveryone.... 2Cor. 3:2) Not only movements, but life and

appearance speak



Garments used prophetically can symbolically represent states of

being

Virtues : holiness (white), glory(gold) , royalty(purple), truth (silver) strength(armour), joy (favor-many colors)

Anti-virtues (vices: sin (red or black), brokeness, poverty (torn,dirty), mourning (black, shrouded), bondage

chains

Work of the HS: grace (blue, dove), maturity (olive tree,

dk.green)new life(green-new growth or

butterfly-metamorphosis), purification(fire motif)

Scriptural characters: Bride of Christ, shepherd-king, Pharoah (enemy) Moses, Israel, harlot, beggar,

OBJECTS

Word expressed in physical forms

Sword, crown, torah, shofar, scepter, cross, tabernacle furniture

Tallit, rose or lily, water jar





IN ENVIRONMENT

Build a physical "habitation" tabernacle/temple model

Concepts of symmetry

Central focus that leads to God

Objects for meditation

Theory of light alteration (stained glass windows)



IN PAGEANTRY

All the elements of the visual come together here, movement,

garments, environment, banners flags and holy objects.

1. celebration and rejoicing

2. portayals of biblical events

3. scenes of prophetic events

4. proclamation of truth and the character of God and His kingdom

5. a model of intercession

6. a picture of the army of God

7. a model of the worship of heaven



CONCLUSION: Power, anointing reside in the Word of God. Expression of the Word of God must be the first requirement in choice of symbolic images. Sentimental and nostalgic images will move the emotions, but not reach the spirit. In the sense that the Word is made flesh in us, the power and anointing also reside within us. In our actions and portrayals, we walk out the scriptural imagery that imparts truth. To speak things of eternal significance, the Word of Truth must be communicated in the language of the Scriptures. To operate in the Kingdom, you must use the language , concepts, and models of the Kingdom.



Scroll down and click on this icon: <URL url="http://imageshack.us"><IMG content="http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/4570/toptions0oy.gif"> for printable view & download & tracking options.

OR....

Download a fully formatted version here:

Were you ever reading through a discussion, and wished you had your concordance handy to find some scripture you were reminded of? I know I have.



We thought it would be useful to all of us to have a scripture look-up tool to use while were were writing or reading the discussions here.



We've linked to BibleGateway.com's very fine system, and it is now available through the link you will find just above the forum topic list when you click in.



Click on it, and it will open a new window where you can search and browse the scriptures in several different ways and versions. You can then cut & paste whatever scripture nugget you find into your topic or response if you like.



Isn't that cool? B) :bible:

ZionFire Class on Hebrew Folk Dancing©

March 24, 2006



1. Why folk dancing?

a. Folk dancing is fun

b. Folk dancing can be as simple or as complex as desired

c. Non-team members can join in and get “up to speed” pretty quickly

d. It’s a great introduction to employing one’s whole being in worship and praise

e. Simple steps and patterns can be applied to different songs to create new “choreographies” quickly and in the moment, if the group has one common vocabulary

f. Folk dancing can be used to put us or keep us in touch with our spiritual roots



2. History of folk dancing

a. The use of Hebrew folk dance as a source for congregational dance, troupe dance, festive trans-congregational occasions brings commonality

b. Hebrew folk dance was originally interpretive, as was much ethnic folk dance.

c. Hebrew dance, however, was based not on myth or local tradition; it was based on a common language, a common faith, a common Book and historical events.

d. Hebrew folk dance was often not just a celebration. It was intercession in motion. Prayers set not just to music, but to movement. Looking at the Psalms, you’ll often see names that are known to be dances. Look at the content of those Psalms and see that many are prayers!



3. Applications and Aspirations

a. As noted above:

i. It’s FUN! Fun invites participation.

ii. There was a purpose to the movements. Let’s restore purpose to movement, not just encourage fluffy worship! Movement with intention.

iii. Common dance vocabulary enables easy incorporation of different people or teams into one united statement of praise, worship, or intercession.

iv. Hebrew folk dance can help us get back in touch with our spiritual roots and bring a freshness to spiritual activity, to spiritual and parish life.

b. For the ladies involved in dance, much of Hebrew folk dance philosophy can be a good tool to encourage the men of the congregation to enter into the physical aspects of worship, praise, and intercession. Doing things that others have done before—and that was accepted in that setting—means that men are generally less threatened. When they realize that it was the MEN of Israel that danced, and that it IS the men of Israel that dance, that can sometimes break down previously impervious barriers.



Song of Solomon 6:13: " Come back, come back, O Shulammite;Come back, come back, that we may gaze at you!" " Why should you gaze at the Shulammite,As at the dance of the two companies? NASB [The earthly company that mirrors the heavenly dance company. And even the descriptive words about the Godhead allude to the”dance” they are in with each other.]



Ex. 15:19-20 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. [Dance used to celebrate victory!]



Ps. 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. [The substance of our mourning becomes the dance.]



1 Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: [Dance “shows forth” the praises we offer to God.]

I do this in a Vita-Mix, but you could use a powerful blender as well.





Pecan Date Cookies A vita-mix triumph! How's this for simple?



1 part pitted dates

1.5 parts whole wheat flour

1 part pecans (you could use walnuts or almonds as well)

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

some water

vanilla if desired



Tape over the inside hole to the spout (this is easier than cleaning the stuff out later!) Add flour, baking powder, salt and dates and process until dates are finely ground. Add pecans and process to a meal.



Pour mixture into bowl. Add some water and vanilla and mix until a stiff cookie dough forms. (You can add an egg if you want the cookies cakier.) Roll a heaping spoonful into a ball and then press flat on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.



[Note: the recipe said to just make the dough right in the vitamix by dribbling the water in, but I didn't want to clean all that goo out of the blades, so did it as described above.]



I'm thinking these would be great , too, if you rolled the dough balls in coconut before baking. But crushed pistachios would be more authentic middle-eastern.

WHY WORSHIP?

It is so important to understand the true nature of worship. Our divine function is to worship God. It was what He created us for and it is amply described in Biblical texts how the heavens ring day and night with the sound of worship (Isaiah 6:2-4, Daniel 7:9 & 13-14 and Revelation 4:8-11, 5:9-14. 15:1-4). But perhaps we should also remember that God doesn’t need our worship. He has had multitudes of angels worshipping and singing to Him for millennia and in the final analysis, our paltry efforts are barely worth a mention.



One author wrote “Man doesn’t want God, he needs Him; God doesn’t need man, He wants him!”. How very true. It is we who must worship for it puts us in a right relationship with our Father God and brings us into that state of humility and veneration that He requires of us.



WHAT IS FLAG WORSHIP?

Flag worship is a profound form of worship. It includes a variety of art forms, other than the obvious use of flags - dance, mime, body language, expression, signalling, colours, etc., etc. Some, or all, of these may be used and so it is probably good for the novice to have an understanding of them in order to maximise their worship.



WORSHIP OR WARFARE?

Songs don’t have to be about warfare in order to engage in battle against the powers of darkness. Worship is warfare. When we engage in worship it takes authority over the powers of darkness whilst elevating and praising the Holy name of God the creator. Therefore, when you are using flags to worship bear in mind that you are not only rejoicing in your God, you are engaging in a holy battle. So remember three things -



1. do it with <COLOR color="red">joy</COLOR> - in my opinion, joy is the key. Flag worship should be, if not outright fun, then at least enjoyable. If you don’t find joy in worshipping with flags then find some other way to worship that will!

2. do it with <COLOR color="red">energy </COLOR>- put everything you’ve got into your worship. David did!

(Deut 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.)

3. do it with <COLOR color="red">passion</COLOR>! - chasers after God only succeed when they go after Him with passion. It’s the only way to see God’s face.

(Mark 12:30 Jesus replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”)



But above all - DO IT!!!



(abstract from "Flag Moves" by J A Fox)

Well, I've learned two new things reading this thread!



1. I'd never heard the term "extravagant worship" before but I know that's what I do! My flag worship often reduces me to pulp after a particularly energetic session! And my doc says I should get more exercise! I told her she should come and see me at church!



2. But when you said "it costs us" that I could relate to! I've wrecked both my shoulders which now require surgery some time - can't decide when because my knees now both require joint replacements (and probably my hips as well but I won't blame the flag worship for that! Just my great weight and maybe my age of 64!). However, I'm still believing God for a miracle both of healing and weight loss! But I rarely experience pain or inability to function when I lift the flags - quite the opposite. As a friend said - "It's the annointing!"



But even if I'd known this was on the cards, it wouldn't have stopped me doing the flag worship - it's the most wonderful spiritual experience ever and the Holy Spirit has always dictated what I do within it so who am I to complain or criticise about the consequences?! God never promised us it would be an easy ride to worship Him.