A Heavenly Worship Service
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We’ve been in chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation. It’s a great chapter…
Last week, we observed:
The Seven-Sealed Book in verses 1-4.
The Slain Saviour in verses 5-7.
And today, we will look at The Stirring Service that takes place in the remainder of the chapter.
John tells us that it was the Lamb as it had been slain that takes the scroll.
The word Lamb in these verses is speaking of none other than our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lord Jesus is given His proper place of honor and worship as all of heaven magnifies the One and only One who is worthy.
Hey, let me ask you something...Have you bowed your heart to the One who is worthy! Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior? Do you worship Him daily and serve Him faithfully?
John is about to tells us what happens in heaven’s worship service when the Lamb steps forward and takes the scroll from the hand of Him who sits on the throne!
John gives recognition to the Lamb—the Lion—and the Lord!
Let’s take a look together at this Heavenly Worship Service this morning:
The Song of Praise and Worship
The Song of Praise and Worship
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The 24 elders represent all believers and they fall down in worship before the Lamb.
The message of the song is “Thou art worthy!”
Why is the Lord worthy of power, honor, glory, and blessing?
* He was sinless among sinners.
* He paid the price for the sin of mankind.
* He suffered whipping, scourging, a crown of thorns, nails in his flesh, and the shame of the Cross.
* He returned love for hatred, forgiveness for injustice. He is worthy!
* He overcame death and the grave.
* He is the Creator, the Son of God who will defeat and destroy Satan and his followers.
He is worthy of our love, our worship, faithfulness, service, and praise. Let’s give it to Him now. If you don’t, you will someday.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The elders fell down before the Lamb in humble adoration and worship.
Notice, this is a song that the angels can’t sing! This is only the 24 elders representing the Church singing this song…Why? Because only the church knows about redemption…The angels know nothing of redemption!
Notice this, they respond to His presence and His authority and His power and His worthiness by bowing before King Jesus. When we come into His presence and realize that He alone is worthy we will bow before Him.
The twenty-four elders who bowed before God’s throne (Rev. 4:10) now make a remarkable shift by bowing down before the Lamb (Rev. 5:8).
The harps that were traditionally used to praise God (Ps. 150:3) now sound praises to the Lamb, and the bowls of incense that signified prayer to God (Ps. 141:2) are now placed before the Lamb (Rev. 5:8).
If a “new song” was a fitting way to celebrate God’s rule over the earth (Ps. 96:1), a “new song” is now sung to the Lamb; and the heavenly chorus that acclaimed God “worthy” (Rev. 4:11) now acclaims Christ “worthy” (Rev. 5:9).
Yet despite the shift in focus, the Lamb does not usurp God’s place, for all that the Lamb has accomplished ultimately serves God’s purposes.
His death ransoms people “to God” (Rev. 5:9) and brings them into a kingdom where they are priests who “serve our God” (Rev. 5:10).
Lehman Strauss writes, “The praise and worship of the singers is pure. It is unlike that which goes by the name of worship in many Sunday morning church services.
In Heaven all pretense and make-believe will be done away forever. In that day we shall be perfect, like Him whose praises we shall sing.
I have no idea what the language will be like, but I know that the singing will be in unison in a language of Heaven that we all will understand.
One of these days I shall be in the company of a great multitude gathered out of every nation in the earth, and together we shall praise the Lamb who redeemed us by His blood.”
We look in on the worship service in heaven and hear the praise for King Jesus. We learn how the angels and the elders give reverence to Jesus Christ because He is worthy.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
In the praise of Revelation 4:11, the emphasis was on God’s work of creation. Here, the emphasis is on His work of redemption.
· The song honors the price of redemption: for thou wast slain.
· The song honors the worker of redemption: hast redeemed us.
· The song honors the destination of redemption: hast redeemed us to God.
· The song honors the payment of redemption: by thy blood.
· The song honors the scope of redemption: every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation.
· The song honors the length of redemption: hast made us unto our God kings and priests.
· The song honors the result of redemption: and we shall reign on the earth.
The Sevenfold Doxology
The Sevenfold Doxology
The dictionary defines doxology as “an expression of praise to God, especially a short hymn sung as part of a Christian worship service.” The word doxology comes from the Greek doxa, (“glory, splendor, grandeur”) and logos, (“word” or “speaking”).
Let‘s take a look at this doxology:
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Suddenly, John sees and hears from around the throne the living creatures and the elders, “the voice of many angels.” Everyone is combining their voices here...
They praise the Lamb with a magnificent sevenfold (signifying perfection) blessing.
The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy (see 5:9) to receive (1) power, (2) riches, (3) wisdom, (4) strength, (5) honor, (6) glory, and (7) blessing.
Think about power - Jesus said:
Matthew 28:18 (KJV 1900)
18 ...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Oh, think about it! He demonstrated His power in creation, in maintaining order in this universe, power over demons, power over disease, and power over death!
All men and angels in Heaven yield to His authority, are we willing to do the same?
He is worthy!
Think about riches - The Bible says:
9 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 Heaven all men and angels lay their resources at His feet! Are we willing to do the same?
He is worthy!
Think about wisdom - Christ is made unto us wisdom:
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
We need wisdom, and He gives it to us liberally. In Heaven all wisdom is attributed to Him! Do we look to Him for wisdom?
He is worthy!
Think about strength - When He comes to earth a second time, it will be as “the King of glory, the LORD strong and mighty” - None but Christ can break the chains of the devil! He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
In Heaven, all men and angels acknowledge Him as the source of their strength. Do we?
He is worthy!
Think about honor - Christ is honored in Heaven, but dishonored on earth. In Heaven His name is praised, while on earth it is blasphemed.
The Bible tells us that He is crowned with honor, and clothed with honor.
If we are going to honor Him, we must turn to Christ and acknowledge Him! In Heaven, all men and angels honor Him. Do we?
He is worthy!
Think about glory - So many times, the glory which is due to our Lord is given unto ourselves. Paul could say, “Not I, but Christ” - In Heaven, all men and angels think more highly of Him than they do themselves or each other. Do we ascribe all glory to the Lamb?
He is worthy!
Think about blessing - To bless means to make happy! Is He happy with every area of our lives?
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Conclusion
Conclusion
To such worship the four living creatures said, “Amen.”
Hey y’all, we are reading of what we that are saved will be doing! One day, we are going to witness this very thing I’ve been preaching about! If you’re saved, you will be there! You will be raising your voice singing a song that the angels can’t sing! You will be lifing up your voice to sing praises unto the Lamb as it had been slain!
Why wait until then? Praise and Worship Him today!
Is the Lamb the object of our adoration?
Do our hearts respond with a ready “Amen”?
When we sing to the Lord we are to have reverence for the Lamb, remembrance of the Lamb, because we have been redeemed by the Lamb, and we will reign with the Lamb.
Do you know the Lord Jesus?
Do you worship the Lord Jesus in Spirit and in truth?
God is calling for His saints to worship Him and Him alone!
God is calling for sinners to trust in Jesus to save them and bring them into the family of God so that they can worship!