How to set your world in order (Exploring the ’why’ of worship)
31/07/2022 - Matt Destry
After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings[a] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
Revelation 4:1-6
An open look into heaven — Unveiling “what’s really going on”
“I heard… I looked”
The Throne of God
Rainbow – Noah’s flood and God’s faithfulness
Gems – God’s beauty and royalty
The completeness of God’s people (Twenty-four Elders) The Presence like Mount Sinai
The varied but unified Spirit of God (Seven lamps)
The calm over the chaos
…and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal…
Our lives are set in order when we set ourselves before the throne of God in worship
Worship sets things right
The chaotic powers of the sea, calmed by divine sovereignty” – G.K. Beale
The ‘why’ of worship
What does humble submission sound like?
What are the reasons we worship?
How goes worship align us with God’s purposes?
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:6-11
1/ A Holy Creator
Holy, holy, holy!
The song of the living creatures
The sound of all creation singing His praise Involuntary – ready-made and constant
For you created all things
The song of the twenty four Elders – the song of the church We volunteer our worship – with our heart and will
We join in and take our place in the created order
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:5-10
2/ A Faithful Redeemer
The sound of a lion, the look of a lamb
Victory and sacrifice are forever entwined
And you have made them a Kingdom and priests
From slaves to servants
We serve God’s royal and redemptive purposes What is the special joy that angels do not know?
Our prayers poured out by angels before the Lamb
Questions for application:
- As I join with the song of heaven now, what might a more worshipful life look for me?
- What prayer do I need to offer before the Lamb today?
- Do I relate to Jesus more as a Lion, or more as a Lamb?
How can I embrace both? - Where in my life do I need to embrace and align with God’s order?
- How is worship expressed though my life?
Songs, actions, use of gifts, study, dedication, generosity, work?
Where the heart goes the whole life follows