Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Illustration -

Many biblical “worship” phrases have become virtually meaningless in our different culture (what does it mean for God to lift up our head?).

I think of many biblical worship choruses today which, taken from their original context, are used completely differently from the way the Bible used the biblical phrases they use.

[For example, “This is the day the Lord has made” refers not to every day but to the momentous day when the stone rejected by the builders became the chief cornerstone ().]

At the same time, we should, as John did, continue to celebrate biblical, redemptive history, as well as God’s rule over the cosmos and in our lives and contemporary events.

Biblically saturated hymns like those of Charles Wesley are ideally suited to such worship.

But even when our lips utter the right words or our emotions celebrate a joyful rhythm, the worship for which God longs most of all is our heart and lives as living sacrifices (cf.

; also ).

[Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 197.]

[Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 197.]

51 For example, “This is the day the Lord has made” refers not to every day but to the momentous day when the stone rejected by the builders became the chief cornerstone ().

[Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 197.]

Main Thought: Will your voice be raised in song to the Savior?

or have you allowed Sin, Self, or Satan to drown out the joyful refrain?

Sub-intro: Review the context of Chapter 5.

Review the context of Chapter 5.

Body:

I. Unity of Praise ().

A. This Song's Participants ().

1.

Who They Are & Where They Are.

a. Who - Many Angels.

b.

Where - All Around (Throne, Beasts, Elders).

2. How Many There Were - Innumerable.

Lit.

myriads of myriads… and thousands of thousands;

B. This Song of Praise ().

1.

How They Sang - Loudly.

2. To Whom They Sang

* To the Lamb Alone.

a

In that bright scene of splendor, far beyond the skies, at the innermost heart of the universe, they worship Him.

They see no man save Jesus only.

They worship Him as the Lamb that was slain.

It is Calvary that fills their vision and prompts their worship.

Over yonder at this very moment they are doing what we do when we worship Him, when we spread the table and remember Him.

For:

When in scenes of glory

I sing the new, new song;

’Twill be the same old story

That I have loved so long.

(A.

Catherine Hanky)

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!”

That is the theme of worship in heaven, and that is the theme of worship among the redeemed on earth.

[John Phillips, Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), .]

3. What They Sang - “Worthy!”

* THE Power, Riches, Wisdom, Might, Honor, Glory, Praise.

a

Their song includes seven points.

a.

They praise Christ for His power.

He is omnipotent: He possesses all power.

He is able to open God’s book of destiny and to carry out and execute God’s will throughout the universe.

He is able to carry out the events of history and the events of the end time.

He is the sovereign Ruler of the universe.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” ().

“As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him” ().

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” ().

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” ().

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” ().

b.

They praise Christ for His riches.

He possesses the wealth to meet any need throughout the universe, any need that we or any other creature may have.

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” ().

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” ().

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” ().

“That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” ().

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” ().

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Ph.

4:19).

c.

They praise Christ for His wisdom.

He is omniscient, seeing and knowing all.

He knows all about God and heaven, and all about us and our world with all its temptations and trials.

He can, therefore, carry out the will of God laid out in the book of destiny, and He can help and succor us through all the trials and temptations of life.

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” ().

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” ().

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him” ().

“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” ().

“Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” ().

d.

They praise Him for His strength.

No one nor any thing can stand against Him, not even for a moment unless He allows it.

He has infinite strength, the very strength of God Himself.

All He has to do is speak the Word and His will is done.

Therefore, He can carry out the events in the book of destiny, and he can meet our every need.

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” ().

“For with God nothing shall be impossible” ().

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever” ().

“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” ().

“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” ().

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever” ().

“I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” ().

“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” ().

“Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” ().

“Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let [hinder] it?”

().

e.

They praise Him for His honor.