THE LION WHO IS THE LAMB

Do not miss the forest for the trees!  That expression reminds us that we can become so absorbed with details as to miss the big picture. That often happens when we study the last book of the Bible, getting bogged down in the details and forget it is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1:1). In chapter five, we are reminded that He is the Lion who is the Lamb.

Consider, THE TITLE, (v. 1-2). We see a scroll. This is the title deed to the universe. It rests in the right hand of the Lord of Glory—our Father and our God. Who would be worthy to take that from His hand?

Note, THE TEARS, (v. 3-4). We hear the sorrow. “No one was found worthy,” Not an angel in heaven, a man on earth, or the dead under ground. This world is full of sorrow—the result of the curse of sin and death. Mere mortals are incapable of putting it right. Man broke it, but cannot fix it. Is there then no hope?

Observe, THE TRIUMPH, (v. 5-7). There is a Savior!  He is the Lion, (v. 5)—the LORD Jesus who is worthy!  In Him, the Old Covenant is fulfilled—all the promises made to Abraham and David. The focus is on His Sovereignty. He is the Lamb, (v. 6-7)—the Lord JESUS who is worthy! In Him, the New Covenant is provided—all the penalty of sin has been paid by His body and blood given for us. The focus is on His sacrifice. The Son rightfully takes the title deed from the Father, attested to by the Spirit, “the seven Spirits of God,” speaking of the Spirit’s perfection.  Salvation is the work of the Triune God!

Hear, THE TESTIMONY, (v. 8-14). There is a song. Twenty four elders, representing all God’s redeemed—the children of Israel in the twelve tribes and the church of God in the twelve apostles—offer worship to the Lion who is the Lamb. He is the answer to our prayers, (v. 8) and the object of our praise, (v. 9-14). The halls of heaven resound with this mighty melody. He alone is worthy of our worship!  

Let us begin warming up for that glorious time to come, as we gather with the Lord’s people in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s Day to sing the Lord’s praise!

YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD!

God alone is worthy of our praise. Heaven abounds with His worship. He is the Creator of all and the existence of all creation is not only by Him, but for Him. The Lord is the originator of all things and the object of all thanksgiving.

God alone is worthy to receive GLORY. Glory is the very essence of His being and the vocal expression of our blessing of Him. He is altogether glorious.

God alone is worthy to receive HONOR. He is the Most High and merits our highest praise. He is above all. 

God alone is worthy to receive POWER. Omnipotence is the theological term. God is all-powerful, for so the word means. He is the Almighty.

Our worship will be the order of eternity. So, on earth we are to rehearse for that heavenly chorus that we will join someday!  I pray that you reflect on God’s glory, honor, and power today, then on the Lord’s Day assemble with God’s people in His house to give Him the worship He desires and deserves. Thus, you will get a foretaste of Heaven!

AT THE FEET OF JESUS

There are many lessons to learn from the visit of the Magi. It is a wise man indeed who falls at Jesus’ feet to worship Him. There are numerous occasions where this act of submission, devotion, and adoration is recorded in Scripture.

They bow at Christ’s INCARNATION.  “When they … saw the young Child … [they] fell down and worshiped Him.”  (Matt.2:11).  This stresses His humanity. We marvel that God would become man—the Infinite as an infant; the Creator becoming a creature!  To know He came in love to be one of us in order to save us fills us with awe.

They bow at Christ’s TRANSFIGURATION. “They fell on their faces” (Matt. 17:6).  This stresses His deity. Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of His glory. For one brief, shining moment, who Jesus was on the inside burst through to the outside. They were smitten by His splendor and fell at His feet.  Only a man could die for us, but only God could save us. How marvelous!

They bow at Christ’s RESURRECTION. “They came and  held Him by the feet” (Matt. 28:9).  This stresses His victory. He stands before them as Conqueror of death!  It is now nail-scarred feet before which they fall. Wonder and worship is their response, and ought to be ours as we bow before the One who holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave!

Later, John would record how he would bow at Christ’s GLORIFICATION.  “I fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:17a).  This stresses His supremacy. Those who bow before Him now as the Lord and Savior, will bow before Him in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. When we gather for worship, spiritually we may bow before the glorified Christ in anticipation of literally bowing before Him someday!

The Gospel song, written by Squire Parsons, Jr., puts it:

If I leave this world of sorrow sometime before you do,
Just look for me in heaven and we'll talk the ages thru;
But if, at first, you fail to see me, let me tell you where I'll be,
I'll be thanking Christ, my Savior, for saving a wretch like me.

Don't look 'neath the gates of pearl, don't look on the streets of gold,
Don't look by the walls of jasper, nor among the many sights untold;
For I've been longing and I've been waiting for the precious, holy One to meet,

There I'll be thru the countless ages, look for me at Jesus' feet.

IS THERE SELF-CENTEREDNESS OR GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS?

“Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, ‘Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?”’” (Zechariah‬ ‭7:4-7‬‬)

What they were doing was worthless.  It wasn’t worship, for it was not directed to God.  They were trying to earn points with Him.  That isn’t love.

The attitude in marriage would be, “I’ll scratch your back, if you scratch mine.”  We expect a quid pro quo. That’s a contractual partnership, not a covenant relationship!

With the Lord, it may be expressed this way, “Well God, I went to church today!  How many points do I get for that?”

God’s answer is, “Zero!”  Worship isn’t about us; it’s about God!  Yet, so much of our worship is about our preferences, our style of music, and how many spiritual goose bumps we get.

A man was leaving the church, complaining about the music.  “I didn’t like the hymns you chose today.”  The pastor simply said, “That’s okay; we weren’t singing them for you.”

The late William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, said, “To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God.”  Let us seek to offer that kind of worship!

IS THERE EMPTY RITUAL OR EXCITING REALITY?

“Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, ‘Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?’” (‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭7:1-3‬‬)

Since the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple 70 years before, the people had a time of weeping and fasting for the judgment they had experienced.  Now, God in His grace, had returned them to the land.  The pressure was off and they wanted to focus their attention elsewhere.

How often we have been guilty of the same!  Difficulties drove us to God, but when they eased, our hearts turned from God.  Remember that sunny September 11, 2001, when the skies turned black from the smoke of jet fuel and ash as the twin towers were brought down by terrorists? Remember that first weekend as churches were filled?  How quickly we have forgotten!

Think about the implications of their questions: they were going through the motions of worship but were bored with it all.  It is like a mother waking a kid on Sunday morning and telling them it’s time to get ready for church.  “Aw, Mom, do I have to?”

Has the fire gone out of your relationship with God?  If it has, should you weep and fast—seeking the Lord—and the rekindling of that flame you once had?  Yes—and urgently!

THE STATE OF YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

“Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah‬ ‭7:12‬‬)

Each year, I have a physical.  At my age you get poked and prodded—not something I look forward to—but, very important.  The doctor will examine me to determine the state of my physical health.

As we head into the final months of 2019, what is the state of your spiritual health?  It is an opportune time for us to take an examination.

Not only are we to be concerned about our spiritual health, but the health of the church—the body of Christ.  A healthy church has five focal points: worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship and ministry.  These are the vital signs we must evaluate.

This week we are going to get under the X-ray of the Word of God.  The place to begin is in the area of worship—so crucial to spiritual health.  If we aren’t healthy here, we won’t be anywhere for this is the matter of the heart.  As you can see in the passage in Zechariah, the people had spiritual heart trouble.

Have you checked your pulse lately?  Does your heart beat with a passion for love for God?  Or, is there a hardening of the arteries—clogged with concern for the things of the world?

THE MAJESTY OF GOD’S OMNISCIENCE

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?’” (Romans‬ ‭11:33-34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Considering the majesty of God’s omniscience leads to rejoicing and worship.  Paul’s attitude see in this passage is that of rejoicing and worship in response to God’s omniscience.  This man had seen things none of us have ever seen and heard things that none of us have ever heard.  He was caught up into the third heaven (2 Cor.12) and had things revealed that he was forbidden to tell.  Still, his breath is taken away and he is left reeling, overwhelmed by the majesty of God’s omniscience!

Listen—the experience of genuine worship grows out of the contemplation of God’s greatness.  Most of what we call worship is superficial—rooted in emotion alone.  A lot of what happens in churches today is man-centered fluff.  It’s about my preferences, my style, what floats my boat, and makes me feel good.  True worship is being captivated with God.  It is an encounter with Him that flows from our grasp of truth, awakens our emotions to love and adore Him, and brings us our knees in commitment to serve Him.

The omniscience of God is but one part of God’s majestic being, and yet that alone should be sufficient to ignite rejoicing and worship as we consider it!

DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD

“Oh, how great is Your goodness...!” (Ps.31:19a). David declares the goodness of God—and we should too!  Here are some ways we may:
 
• Express Gratitude—Praise Him for His goodness!  Give voice in worship, for God is worthy of our praise.

• Exclude Grumbling—This is a sin against His goodness!  God takes this seriously.  Israel was judged and a generation of grumblers died in the wilderness. Don’t be like that. It is an affront to a good God.

• Exercise Faith—You can trust Him for He is good.  Do we believe it?

• Embrace Grace—Stop trying to earn His goodness.  God will not be indebted to you.  He is good because it is His nature to be good.  We are bad because it is our nature to be bad. That is what makes God doing good to us to arise from the glory of His grace!

• Exhibit Goodness—We are never more like God than when we do good.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt.‭5:44-45‬).

This is why God loves a cheerful giver!  We are reflecting Him!  God’s goodness is to be a focus of my life.

REJOICING IN GOD’S GREATNESS

“He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:21‬)‬‬

God is great and greatly to be praised! God is the source, substance, and sum of our praise.  We praise Him for Who He is.

We know this great God personally, for He is “your God.”  Often we think of those who are great as being detached from all those who are lesser—and that is how humans generally act—but, not God.  He is never aloof!  Instead He is actively working on our behalf.

He does great and awesome things, for He is great!  This certainly means that He responds to our cries for help, but more—even before we cry He is at work accomplishing His will for our good and His glory.

We need to see and testify of His activity.  The world needs to know of His wonderworking power—so sinners will have saving faith and saints will have strengthened faith.  Heb.11:6 tells us this is the secret to pleasing God. I want to please Him, so I am going to praise Him!

SHOW US YOUR GLORY!

The deepest longing of the human heart is for God.  There is a hole in our soul.  Sadly, because of our depraved nature, we try to fill that void with false gods—possessions, pleasures, power. We make our own deities and devise religious systems that appeal to our ego. It is like trying to satisfy your thirst by drinking water from the ocean.  The more you take in, the thirstier you become.

Moses expresses that heart cry properly, “Please, show me Your glory.” (Ex.33:18). It was a response issuing from grace, as God said, “you have found grace in My sight,” and rooted in a relationship with God, “and I know you by name.” (v.17b).

God, in His sovereignty had extended grace,  “Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’” (v.19‬). That we are undeserving of such grace is what makes grace so amazingly gracious!  You don’t earn it; God gives it.  It isn’t based on who we are, but Who He is.

We can have “a foretaste of glory divine,” as the old hymn, “Blessed Assurance”, puts it.  While Moses could not look into God’s face and live, He was permitted an experience that would make his face radiant (read 33:20-23; 34:33-35), an experience He could renew before God.  So may we!

All this, will be consummated in Heaven.  We will have a new body that will enable us to look into the face of God.  Until then, our heart cries, “Please, show me Your glory.”  May we encounter the Eternal One as we meet with the saints for worship tomorrow!

WHY CAN’T I GET THROUGH TO GOD?

Here are a few thoughts arising from my men’s discipleship study I have been doing this week:

Why will God not answer my prayer?  Haven’t we all asked that question?  Sometimes, the ways of God are inscrutable. We will not understand until we get to heaven. But, there are reasons for unanswered prayer that are told to us in Scripture.  One of those is an unforgiving heart.

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt.5:23-24). The God who has forgiven us so much wants us to forgive others.  Unforgiveness is like a barrier that comes between us and our God.  When the communion between me and another is broken, the communication between me and the Lord is, also. Thus, the command is, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

The old Puritan writer, Thomas Watson, put it this way, “We need not climb up into heaven to see if our sins are forgiven: let us look into our hearts, and see if we can forgive others.”

Is this the reason there is no joy in your worship and no power in your prayer?

AN APPOINTMENT TO KEEP

Read Psalm 5.

There are some appointments we should keep today.  David met with God first thing in the morning as he prayed.  Will you?  He came before his King in surrender.  He cried out to his God in supplication.  Before he looked into the face of men, he looked up to the face of his Master.  Can you think of anyone more important to see today?  

He is a holy God.  David felt the gravity of this appointment.  Let us come before Him in repentance.  It is an awesome thing to be in His presence.  We do not come causally or carelessly, and yet we are invited through grace to come.  God is waiting for you.  Will you keep that appointment?

The second appointment we should keep today is to gather at the house of God for worship.  There is an appointed hour and place to meet with God’s people to celebrate His goodness together.  

David speaks of coming into God’s house “in the multitude of Your mercy.”  By rights we should all be in hell today, but God has shown mercy in that we are alive.  Having sought His salvation, we can now sing and shout for joy in that God has shown us mercy on top of mercy.  

The world is a hostile place.  David had many enemies. Yet, the house of God was a sanctuary—a place of refuge for his soul.  I need that.  You need that.  Will you keep that appointment?

What will be your attitude and activity today as you come before the Lord and meet with His people?  Will an overflowing heart of love and joy be exuberantly expressed?  God deserves our praise.  He has taken us through another week, and so we are privileged to thank Him for what He has done, as we anticipate more blessing to come in the week ahead.  With favor He surrounds us as a shield. 

TEMPERATURE RISING?

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.  Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.  (Rom.1:20-25)

As the physical temperature rises in summer, it often corresponds that our spiritual temperature cools.  The creation that emerges in full glory and splendor—as birds sing, flowers bloom, grass and leaves green and grow, waves roll onto white sand, rivers ramble across rocks, children run and play, and more—sometimes we move from focusing on the Creator this points to and become fixated on the creation itself—and that is idolatry.

Should you think I am some church curmudgeon trying to spoil your summer vacation, you are wrong.  Sabbaths are part of God’s design.  They should be observed on a regular basis for the good of our mind, body, and soul—don’t forget that last part.  How can we take a vacation from God?  I am thankful He doesn’t take a vacation from us!

The danger is that we neglect our Bible reading and prayer time because we are pursuing leisure.  Our gathering for worship with the saints lessens as a priority because we may be away from home.  I mean—who will know if I don’t show up for church?  It is a subtle temptation to take the dollars meant to fund the mission and ministries of the kingdom of God and spend them at the Magic Kingdom.  Fishing is a wonderful diversion, but fishing for souls must be an ongoing passion.  Taking a swim in the pool can be refreshing, but diving into God’s presence is the ultimate.

So, enjoy your trip and thank God for the blessing of being able to do so.  Take a hike into the woods or lounge in a beach chair at the ocean.  Look at the splendor of summer.  Smell the smoke and hear the crackle of a campfire.  Don’t feel guilty about it at all.  We need a break from the daily grind.  Just be cautious and don’t take a break from God.  Fall will come next—and it might mark a spiritual fall.

THE MAJESTY OF MUSIC

Praise the LORD!

Sing to the LORD a new song,

And His praise in the assembly of saints.  (Psalms 149:1)

People are passionate about their music preference.  That is primarily a generational matter—our age often dictates the style of music desired.  The form of our worship whether expressive or reserved is primarily an emotional matter—it has to do with the way we are wired up personally.  But, in all this discussion of styles and sounds, the most important thing isn’t the way we worship but who we worship; not our method but our motive.  Worship isn’t primarily about you or any other human being—it is about God!  

In God’s hymnal—the Psalms—we find them building to a crescendo of worship (149:1-3).  The hymn book of Israel closes with a great summation of the nature of worship and a summons to utilize sacred melodies in that most holy activity.  The repeated call is to praise the LORD.  We can shout His praises, speak His praises, but the emphasis here is on singing them.  We use the medium of our voice!  There is nothing wrong with the old songs and traditional music.  How much sound doctrine I have learned from those old hymns written by men and women with hearts hot for God and heads filled with biblical theology. Tried and true, we should never abandon them.  But, there was a time when they were contemporary music!  The church in ages gone by often resisted them and rejected them as worldly.  What do you do with phrases like this, “Sing to the LORD a new song”?  That’s contemporary music!  

Blessing God is the focus, but receiving a blessing is a fruit.  Though what we receive is secondary, it is real nonetheless (Ps.149:4-5).  “He will beautify the humble with salvation.”  That’s personal blessing.  Music has a power to touch us at the very core of our being—that’s why we are so passionate about it.  Music can cultivate the soil of the sinner to receive the message.  It can encourage a weary saint and bring them joy. 

The text is primary and the tune is secondary (149:6-9).  The melody of a song is subordinate to the message.  If a song isn’t Scriptural, it isn’t sacred!  Now, let me see if I can upset almost everyone!  I have heard songs set to shaped notes, sung with great enthusiasm in four-part harmony that did not have a thimbleful of Gospel about them.  I have heard choruses set to pulsing rhythms, sung with great emotion that could just as well have been sung to your boyfriend or girlfriend as to God!  What honors God is His Word!  He says that He has magnified His Word above His name (Ps.138:2).  If the words are Scriptural, whether they are accompanied by an organ or an orchestra, whether sounding like Bill Gaither or Bach—you can even rap it like Lecrae—it’s OK!  We all have our preference and God prefers spirit and truth—His Word is truth! 

You can worship God anywhere and you should (150:1).  The psalmist mentions the firmament—the vast expanse of heaven.  There is just something that moves us in the majesty of creation—a sacred tabernacle.  But, usually that is private and personal worship.  For corporate worship there is a sacred gathering place!  You should worship God with every means and by all means (150:2-6)!  Music has such a power to move us!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD!  (150:6)

THE POWER OF PRAISE

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.  (2 Chronicles 20:22)

Last century brought two world wars, and there is reason for concern that a third may come in this century—and is building even now.  Be that as it may, one thing is certain—we are in an age-old spiritual conflict between God and Satan.  Both demand worship, and that is why worship involves warfare.  In 2 Chronicles 20 we observe this battle and discover God has given us a powerful weapon—praise!  This is how the Jews routed their foes and how we can live in victory as well.

We have a fierce FOE (v.1).  The Moabites and Ammonites were allies in arms—a real enemy attacking God’s people.  Our warfare is spiritual, but no less real.  Satan is ever seeking the worship only God deserves. This is how a beautiful angel became the devil (Isa.14:12-15). One third of the angels bowed to him and were cast out with him!  Satan used the same line to entice Adam and Eve, “You will be like God.”  He would test the Last Adam, Jesus, similarly, by offering Him the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would offer him worship.  The devil’s obsession with having worship and his hate toward God means that he will fight against true worship at every point.  Yet, it also means that the power of praise is how we can thwart the enemy.

God’s people can be a mighty FORCE (v.18-22).  Jehoshaphat responded to the enemy by seeking God and fielding an army (v.3-19).  The weapons used, however, would not be carnal—they would be spiritual.  The choir would lead the battle and faith would bring the victory!  It was God’s power that would be unleashed and prevail, and the channel through which God’s might would flow would be the praises of His people!  We may not realize the significance of our songs and the power of our praise, but rest assured, Satan knows and will do all he can to keep us from true worship.  The early church had little money, negligible influence, and yet conquered the greatest military power the world had known.  Within a few centuries, the Roman legions proved no match for the Christian soldiers.  A worshipping church experiences winning warfare.

This must then be our driving FOCUS. 

Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”  (v.20)

As we look to God, lean on Him, and loudly praise Him, He is glorified and pleased to pour out His power.  Authentic worship from the heart—that springs from a sense of urgency, that is expressed with a depth of intensity, will yield lives of victory.  The gates of hell will fall before such a church.  Go to countries where there is persecution and poverty and you will find such fervent and sincere worship.  It is not mere religious activity!  American casual Christianity has produced the lukewarm heart of the church at Laodicea.  They boasted, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” but Jesus said they were actually, “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked….”  (Rev.3:17) The church is too often inhabited by consumers looking to be gratified than a church of celebrators desiring for God to be glorified!  How will we respond to this truth?

HE ALONE IS WORTHY

You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals….  (Revelation 5:9)

The throne of God has a prominent place in the book of Revelation, being mentioned thirty-four times.  There are four references in chapter five.  This chapter shows us the purest worship.  We prepare for worship hereafter by our worship here.  Far too often we get on the throne and demand a worship experience about our musical tastes, the style we enjoy, and the feelings we want, when true worship bows to the One on the throne and focuses on Him.

The chapter commences with a scroll being presented (v.1).  This scroll represents the title deed to the universe. It is covered in writing on front and back indicating that nothing more can be added.  The contents are hidden—it is rolled up and sealed with seven seals.  That deed to creation was Adam’s, but he forfeited it when he sinned, and surrendered dominion to Satan’s clutches.  Now, all creation groans under the curse, longing to be redeemed from bondage.  Who is worthy to take the scroll?

Search is made throughout the universe (v.2-3).  No angel in heaven above, no man on earth, nor demon in hell is qualified to take the scroll.  None are worthy.  This breaks John’s heart (v.4).  He sees the world full of sin and the sorrows it brings.  He longs for deliverance to come.  Is there not a redeemer?

Oh yes there is!  One alone is worthy! Christ, the Lamb of God, has prevailed (v.5-7)!  He prevailed in the wilderness when tempted by Satan.  He prevailed in the garden when He drank the bitter cup.  He prevailed on the cross when He paid the redemption price in full.  He prevailed over the grave when He conquered death!  John lifted his head bowed in despair, brushed away the tears from his eyes, and looked up expecting to see a Lion, but was shocked to see a Lamb.  This Lamb is one that had been slain—the wounds of Calvary testifying to His accomplished mission of redemption.  He has seven horns—speaking of power; seven eyes—speaking of perception; seven Spirits—speaking of presence.  Thus, Jesus is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent!

The four living creatures and twenty-four elders respond by bowing before the Lamb (v.8).  The four living creatures symbolize all that which He has created.  The twenty-four elders represent all the redeemed of all the ages.  Heaven is seen as a place where praise is sung and prayers are stored.  That instruments are strummed may not surprise us; that intercessions are secured may startle us.  Prayer is spiritual and eternal—its efficacy such that even after we are dead those prayers remain before God’s throne.  In His time and way, He will answer—even if we are in heaven!

In heaven we will sing a new song (v.9-10).  The message is not new, but the melody is!  There are those who insist that any new music is bad music.  In church, they only want the old songs. Yet, do we not realize there was a time when those old songs were new songs?  Heaven is filled with music and I want to warm up for that choir by singing God’s praise here!

There will be a sevenfold doxology sung in holy harmony (v.11-14).  The Lamb of God will be the subject of that worship.  Music will pervade the atmosphere in glory.  God made creation to utter joyful sounds—whether a bird to twitter or a human to sing.  The Lamb alone is worthy of our praise.  Amen?  Amen!

WORTHY WORSHIP

 

Give to the LORD the glory due His name;

Bring an offering, and come before Him.

Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!  (1 Chronicles 16:29)

It is no accident that the first table of the Ten Commandments deals with worship: whom we worship—only God; how we worship—no idols; reverence for God’s name—don’t use it vainly; reverence for God’s day—keep the Sabbath; respect God’s representatives—honor father and mother.  Worship is primary—there is no greater command than to love God—and that is the essence of worship.  Not just any worship is acceptable.  We must offer worthy worship.  Jesus said that is worship which is in spirit and in truth. 

David was a shepherd, a soldier, a singer, and a sovereign, but none more significant than being a worthy worshipper.  The Ark of the Covenant had been brought into Jerusalem and David leads the nation in a stirring service of praise.  1 Chronicles 16:29 is a command to worship.

Let’s begin by noting A PROBLEM: The Substitution for Worship.  David’s worship was authentic and passionate.  We may call what we do at 11:00 on Sundays “worship” but it may be a sham.  Jesus spoke of those who draw near to God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him.  

We could be worshipping secular substitutes.  That is the warning of the first of the Ten Commandments, “I am the LORD your God. You shall have no other gods before Me” or “instead of Me.”  There is also the danger of spiritual substitutes.  We can substitute church activity for spiritual intimacy.  Religious ritual can replace real relationship with God.  Entertainment that focuses on our pleasure can substitute for experience that focuses on God’s praise.  

Next, we set forth A PREMISE: A Definition of Worship.  How would you define it?

Properly defined, the English word literally is “worth-ship” that is, declaring worth.  “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.” (Rev.4:11)  What one worships is an indicator of what we value.  It involves our attitudes and actions.  Loving God is full commitment of our mind, will and emotions.  It springs from the devotion of our soul and stirs the diligence of our service.  This worthy worship properly defined is practically applied.  According to Jesus in John 4:23-24, spirit and truth are both required for worthy worship.  If we do not worship in spirit we will be dull, dry and dead.  We may be orthodox in doctrine yet empty of power—what the Bible calls, “having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”  If we do not worship in truth there will be a desire for emotional excess and fanaticism.  Our hearts may be full, but our heads will be empty.  Paul said he would pray with the spirit and with understanding—that is the balance—spirit and truth.  

Worthy worship leads to A PRODUCTIVITY: Our Transformation from Worship.  Though worship is about blessing God, it also blesses us.  We are changed by it!

The nature of this transformation is that we take on the image of that which we worship.  That is why our understanding of God is so important to get right.  There is the need for this transformation.  The church today has money, influence, organization, and education, but our impact seems minimal.  Compare that to the first century saints—who had few funds, no influence, small organization, and little education—yet turned the world upside down!  They knew the real God and really loved Him!  Is that true of you?

THE BLESSING OF BEING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house….  (Psalm 84:4a)

If the worship of God—privately and publicly—is not a passion for us, we have reason to question the reality of our faith.  From Genesis to Revelation, the persistent picture is of God’s people worshipping in personal devotion and public demonstration.  All history is moving to a day when every knee bows in worship.  Eternity will be consumed with worship.  If you don’t enjoy worship on earth, how do you expect to enjoy heaven?  At the core of a genuine encounter with God is the response of worship.  That is certainly front and center in Psalm 84.

Three times in this Psalm, the sons of Korah sing of the blessing of being in the house of God.  In verse 4, it speaks of the blessing of dwelling there—not a casual occurrence, nor a compulsory obligation, but a consistent observance.  There is passion in the author’s voice as he extols the beauty of God’s house (v.1).  You cannot imagine this writer rising in the morning and grudgingly saying, “I’ve got to go to the house of God,” but gladly shouting, “I get to go to the house of God!”  Which characterizes our attitude?  This gives us a spiritual x-ray into the heart (v.2).  The true worshipper expresses envy of the birds he sees nesting in the house of God, lodging near the altar (v.3).  

The second blessing of being in the house of God is given in v.5-9.  It is there that we find strength to face the challenges of life.  We need that for we are reminded that the Christian life is not a picnic, but a pilgrimage (v.5).  It wasn’t easy in those days for worshippers to make their way to the Temple. They had to set their heart steadfastly or they would never make it—the long and winding road that traversed deserts and rose sharply upward to Jerusalem.  Despite the effort required, there is no sense that the worshipper saw this as a burden, but focused on the blessing.  How much modern man “suffers” to ride in a car, down a paved road, in order to sit on a padded pew, in a room that is air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter!  Those ancient worshippers traveled through the Valley of Baca to get there.  The word means, “sorrow.”   Yet, the prospect of worship transformed the harsh place into a happy place (v.6).  I have seen those who trekked to the house of God through a deep valley of tears, and saw them radiant and refreshed from an encounter with God in worship.  Here we find grace on top of grace (v.7).  These new resources flow to us each week as we call upon the Lord (v.8-9).

The third blessing is that of  a renewed faith (v.10-12).  This man wasn’t giving a grudging hour occasionally, but was delighting in worship.  He wasn’t fidgeting and gazing at his watch.  He had eternity in mind.  This man had rather spend a day in worship than a thousand with the wicked.  The sons of Korah took their task seriously.  They were the greeters and singers.  Our goal is to meet God and experience Him.