WORSHIP & WONDER
Rev. 4:1-11
Sermon Objective: Authentic worship is accompanied and evidenced by a love-induced “Fear of the Lord.”
The Pagan makes his way from his home to the shrine. It is time for his obligation … to offer incense and pay homage to his god … an idol encircled by candles and food. The worshiper proceeds with fear and trepidation … with great concern than he not offend or anger the god. The incense is intended as prayers to appease his god’s wrath and coerce the god into extending a blessing for prosperity, health, or wellbeing. The worshipper is fully aware that the overture is conditional and the one being worshiped is fickle. Yet, he hopes, prays, and sacrifices; hoping somehow to receive the coveted blessing.
The Christian makes his way from his home to the chapel. It is the set time for worship. He enters to find an altar at which he may pray. He also approaches the opportunity with a sense of sobriety and acute awareness of God’s presence. But there the similarities between the pagan and the Christian cease. The Christian comes not with a sense of terror and dread but with a deep sense of awe, wonder, love, and submission. He offers his prayers not to a god he must manipulate but to a God that has revealed himself as creator; loving and longing for relationship. He approaches his God in worship; not to manipulate or try and gain a hearing but with an intense gratitude because God shall supply all his needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). He approaches with an ever growing grasp that the worshiper is accepted fully by the work of another, Jesus Christ, and not the worshipers own acts of piety. Superstition has been cast aside in lieu of authentic love for the One he serves.
In both cases the word to describe the approach of worship is fear. One has a sense of dread and terror which always accompanies a religion without covenant and grace. The other fear is marked by holy reverence that flows from covenant and grace.
“The Revelation of John” is written to the church and for the church. It is designed, as all Scripture is, to disclose God to us, reveal the multifaceted character of Jesus Christ, and illustrate how we as followers are to interact with God through Christ. Throughout the book there are these moments of highlight; “interludes” that bring us to the apex. In these literary moments we see God enthroned on high and we discover the Church’s appropriate response to Him. Later, that response will be prayer, even further in the book it will be witness … but our first “moment” begins with worship. This is appropriate since genuine worship requires an accurate understanding of God and all other expressions of faith flow from it.
So Revelation 4 and 5 give us a glimpse of worship. More than a glimpse, actually, it may be the fullest, most complete window into worship that we have in the Scriptures.
We discovered a few weeks ago a few “superficial” or “topical” elements that accompany worship. Namely:
1. We aren’t the center of attention – God is (4:1-5)
2. Our world isn’t the center of existence – The Kingdom of God is (4:6-9)
3. We relinquish control and surrender to divine authority (4:10-11)
We have already looked at the primacy of sovereignty too. We discovered that the acknowledgement of God’s lordship is essential if we are to “worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
AND NOW WE TURN TO ANOTHER UNDERLYING ELEMENT OF AUTHENTIC WORSHIP. WE WILL EXPLORE: “THE FEAR OF THE LORD.”
It is not mentioned in so many words in chapter 4 … but it is most definitely present. “The fear of the Lord” is an ever-present component of worship throughout the Scriptures; Old and New Testaments; including “The Revelation” as well.
• Rev. 14:7 – “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
• Rev. 15:4 – “Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
• Rev. 19: 5 – “Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!’”
TERROR IS REMOVED
It is sometimes misunderstood or not fully understood. Some are inclined to think that fear is “dread, or terror” … that we are to be afraid when we are in the presence of God. Granted, there is a sense of which we are afraid; God’s presence alone is enough to evoke fear, but that is not God’s intention. In fact, God faithfully and consistently calms His people’s fears. Again, in both the Old and New Testaments God removes the sense of terror from before His people. By my count, God calms the terror of his followers with the words “do not be afraid” at least 27 times in the Bible.
The only ones that are to be “afraid” before God are the wicked. They have reason to be afraid … the writer of Hebrews makes it clear when, speaking of judgment he says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31, KJV).
The Bible emphatically teaches us that God (who is “perfect love”) casts out fear from those who know him. 1 John 4:16-18 says “ … God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NIV)
So first off, we must understand that there is no place for terror and dread in worship. Again, that is a pagan understanding of worship.
For the pagan – Worship is offered to gain favor
For the saint – Worship is offered because we have found favor
For the pagan – Worship is offered in an effort to appease God’s wrath
For the saint – Worship is offered because Jesus has appeased God’s wrath
For the pagan – Worship is offered to cleanse from guilt
For the saint – Worship is offered because guilt has been removed
For the pagan – Worship is a tool of manipulation
For the saint – Worship is offered in love.
For the pagan – Worship is a bargaining chip
For the saint – Worship is covenant relationship
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS LOVE-INDUCED
SO, WHAT IS “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”?
IF IT IS INDEED A CONSTANT AND EVER-PRESENT ELEMENT IN AUTHENTIC WORSHIP WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF IT IS NOT “TERROR”?
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT “FEAR” (BOTH THE OLD TESTAMENT WORDS AND THE NEW TESTAMENT WORDS) INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF AWE, WONDER, AND REVERENCE.
Fear is not simply “respect” mind you, but holy reverence. Strangely enough, this awe … this “fear” … is the result of love and devotion (not terror). It is the result of deep gratitude and vision. By vision I mean clarity of vision … we see God for who He is not as the pagans see him. We see him as, among other things, “perfect love” not a fickle ogre or a bully who is looking for the opportunity to bring pain and judgment.
There are other elements that elicit “The fear of the Lord” too and we will look at these in coming weeks but up front and foremost in our minds today is His love. Why is that upfront and foremost? Because Revelation 4:1-11 shows us that a clear understanding of God awakens a love-induced fear.
Let’s read the chapter.
Rev. 4:1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
CAN ANYTHING DESCRIBE THE UNINHIBITED PRAISE THAT THE CREATURES OFFER TO GOD MORE COMPLETELY THAN LOVE?
CAN ANYTHING EXPLAIN THE GRATITUDE THEY EXTEND TO GOD FOR HIS CREATION MORE COMPLETELY THAN LOVE?
CAN ANYTHING EXPLAIN THE LACK OF TERROR AND THE EAGERNESS TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD MORE THAN LOVE?
No.
“The fear of the Lord” is nestled in a genuine love for God. The Creator of the universe is almighty and awesome (Ps 47:7). His attributes such as Power (Joshua 4:23-24), Majesty (Jeremiah 10:7), Justice (Rev 14:7), and Holiness (15:4) certainly inspire awe and reverence in His creatures. Yet Scripture also says that: Our Lord's blessings (Ps 67:7), His goodness (I Samuel 12:24) and even His forgiveness (Ps 130:4) are reasons to "fear" Him!
GOD'S WONDERFUL LOVE AND GOODNESS INSPIRES AWE-FILLED WORSHIP IN OUR HEARTS.
You see fear and love must coexist so that we may passionately and rightly worship / serve God
o C. S. Lewis describes it as awe, in which you "feel wonder and a certain shrinking … It is a fear that comes forth out of love for the Lord.” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain).
o Psalm 130:3-4, it is said, “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared” (emphasis added).
KNOWING GOD EVOKES A PROPER FEAR
I do not want you to get the impression that “The fear of the Lord” is not a genuine fear. It is. And it brings a sobering recognition that God is a “consuming fire.” The writer of Hebrews (who speaks frequently of worship) makes this clear as well. In 12:28-29 he says: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire” (NRSV).
Fear, according to Hebrews 12, is a response to God’s grace. To have a flippant, casual, or cavalier attitude God’s presence is a very dangerous posture.
TO CONSIDER WORSHIP AS OPTIONAL, PERIPHERAL, OR TRANSITORY IS EVIDENCE THAT ONE DOES NOT KNOW GOD AND IS NOT WORSHIPING HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
IT IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT ONE HAS LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE.
Nowhere in the scriptures do you find a casual “Jesus is my buddy” attitude when God’s people are in His presence. What you find is a deep sense of awe and submission.
In fact, the Bible says numerous times that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (KJV). If I may interpret that for you what it is saying is that “You haven’t even begun to know God if you don’t fear him! You have not even started the journey.”
“The fear of the Lord”, this holy-awe, manifests itself all through worship. In fact, without it there can be no authentic worship because its absence is an indication that the worshiper does not know God.
EVIDENCE OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD
SO HOW DOES “THE FEAR OF THE LORD” SHOW ITSELF IN WORSHIPERS? THE BIBLE IS VERY VERY CLEAR. Throughout Scripture “Fearing God” is associated with almost every Christian act:
• PERSONAL HOLINESS is evidence that we fear the Lord. Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil." (NIV)
• OBEDIENCE is evidence that we fear the Lord. Deuteronomy 17:19 says, “That he may learn to fear the Lord his God by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes.” (NIV)
• FAITHFULNESS AND SERVICE are evidence that we fear the Lord. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 says, “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (NIV)
• JUSTICE AND COMPASSION are evidence that we fear the Lord. 2 Chronicles 19:7 says, “Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” (NIV)
• WORSHIP is evidence that we fear the Lord. Psalm 89:7 says, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” (KJV)
I have said all of this to simply say that “The fear of the Lord” is not some peripheral characteristic of one who worships God. It is at the very core of the experience.
When “The fear of the Lord” is present in a life it is very very obvious. Your whole life becomes characterized by holiness, love, and a passion for God. In fact, the Greek word “latrueo” is translated both “worship” and “service” in the New Testament because they cannot be separated.
I wonder:
• What the average Christian church’s worship service says about their knowledge of God?
• What does our worship say about our knowledge of God?
• Is holy fear evident in our gatherings?
Maybe we should inspect our own lives (individually and corporately) to make certain we genuinely know God and are coming into His presence … that we are worshipping in “Spirit and in Truth”.
If our God is a consuming fire then we dare not approach Him casually or as if worshipping Him is optional or done when it is convenient.
“FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM. HOLD FAST TO HIM AND TAKE YOUR OATHS IN HIS NAME.” (Deuteronomy 10:20)
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
