If the Bible is right, there are very few things that are eternal. Your career accomplishments aren’t eternal. Your wealth isn’t eternal. Your marriage isn’t even eternal. Your marriage should last a lifetime, but your marriage isn’t eternal. Your patriotism isn’t eternal. At least one thing lasts for eternity, worship. Worship alone endures. If worship is eternal, should you give some attention to worship now?
I want to release the power of worship in your life. I want you to experience the transformative power of worship personally. For so many of you, too much of your time in worship is a “yawnfest.” How can Someone so great be worshipped with so little? We need a worship transformation.
Transformative worship drives down your beliefs into your life. Transformative worship that engages all your senses drives down your beliefs and you begin to detonate your hypocrisy. Too many Southern people have only prayed another person’s prayer and God’s greatness had sunk down deep inside them. But something happens when you experience genuine, transformative worship that engages all your senses
Open your Bibles open to the last book in your Bibles, the book of Revelation if you will. Revelation is the book that tells both your personal future and our world’s future. The apostle John writes the book after he is swept up in the Spirit to the very door of heaven. What John sees has left people talking for centuries! Revelation is a book of worship and wonder.
Today’s Scripture
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 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.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped (Revelation 5:1-14).
We conclude our series on worship this morning – I pray it has been meaningful to you as you have deepened your practice of worship. It’s a common thing in Taiwan today to see people worship their ancestors.
It’s a common thing for many in America to worship nature. Real believers have none of this. Christians worship is done with the conviction that we are in the presence of Almighty God. Worship is giving attention to the living God who rules, who saves us, and who made us. Because what we believe about the future is one of the best predictions for how we act today, I cannot think of any better way to finish this series than looking at worship in the future.
Today, we conclude a summer series on worship with a powerful, poetic scene from the future. It’s typical to have Freshman orientation when you start a new school. If you start at a new place for work, you’ll spend some time orienting yourself to your new environment. There’s nothing in your past that can prepare you for what you are to experience. So let me orient you to the Throne for a minute.
1) Your Orientation to the Throne
Let me give you a little orientation to the scene we’ve just read. Any science fiction lovers in the room today? If you think of science fiction story, often you’ll see where everything about our universe is nothing more than microscopic piece of a larger universe. A movie like the Men in Black shows this at the end very end if you remember where the camera zooms back to show earth as nothing more than miniscule piece of a marble that an alien is playing marbles with somewhere. One theory in science itself has suggested that our universe is born inside a wormhole, called an Einstein-Rosen Bridge. That’s what the book of Revelation is telling you right here. Everything you see is but a dim reflection of the power of what you’ll experience one day if you are in Christ.
There are three words to describe what we’ve just read.
1.1 Intense
First, I would choose the word “intense.” This is a picture of the most intense scene you’ll ever witness. What is pictured is more intense than even if you were in a tornado shelter in Oklahoma when an F-5 bears down on a trailer park. The 24 elders are intense the 4 living creatures are intense, the myriads of angels are intense, and every creature is intense. More intense than any heated discussion in the Situation Room after Kennedy’s Bay of Pigs or shortly after the Towers fall at 9/11 with George W. Bush. Yes, it that intense.
1.1 Intense
1.2 Electric
The second word I would use to describe this scene is electric. The scene is electric with praise. Surprisingly, it’s also a worship scene. Many can read these words of Revelation and they do not stir anything inside of you. It’s as if we have a filter over our senses. The smells, sounds, colors, and music don’t penetrate our senses. We are not stirred; the scene isn’t electric for us. But the reality is this: there’s nothing boring or placid about this worship service. Every hair is standing up and every eye is wide-eyed at the wonder of Him who is on the Throne. The “the twenty-four elders” and “the four living creatures” are singing and falling down. The “the twenty-four elders” are holding the prayers of the people of God. The angels join in along with every other being in the universe. The scene is electric with praise.
1.1 Intense
1.2 Electric
1.3 Instinctual
The third word I would choose is instinctual. Notice this: everything is done in order but no one is directing anyone or anything. For example, each one of the “the twenty-four elders” was “each holding a harp.” It didn’t say that one harp was passed around to “the twenty-four elders” and they took turns playing. No one had forgotten his harp and no one sit still or “sit out” while others played. Instead, their song is instinctual.
It was as if they each had a spring inside them they was set to praise, set to instinctual honor and impulsive worship. They fall down instinctually before the Majestic God.
And what I marvel at is this: each time John’s eyes sweep through Heaven, there’s an even wider group of people that join their voices together in praise. The scene moves in front of us like a crowd doing the wave at a Texas Rangers baseball game. The first layer: it’s the “the twenty-four elders” and “the four living creatures” sing one song of honor in verse 9. Now this is our second layer in verse 11: the “the twenty-four elders,” “the four living creatures,” and myriads of angels all sing a second song of praise.
Then and if that wasn’t enough, a third group of praise bursts forth. Yes, now the third layer of praise happens in verse 13, where “the twenty-four elders,” “the four living creatures,” and myriads of angels are joined by every creature both on land and in the sea singing.
Picture 1 billion Cotton Bowl stadiums are filled with angels singing one after another! Then picture layer after layer of one city after another filled with people singing to the throne at the top of their voices! One state after state filled with people as if standing in fields looking to the Throne Above. One continent upon another brimming over with voices in harmony singing praise to the One seated on the Throne.
No one has a stopwatch on this whole scene. Does it happen over a few minutes or a few hours – we don’t know. And the truth is, we don’t care! Every single soul is caught up in the emotions of the events before them.
This is intense and instinctual. Every one pictured here are full of zeal for the Lord. Each and every single one of these pictured here are full of enthusiasm for Christ. There are no cold hearts here – only passionate worshippers of the One on the Throne. At once they sing; at once they play; and at once they fall before Him. Every believer is “all in” to worship the One on the Throne. Would that our worship services here a copy of what goes on there!
Your Reaction
I hope you’re saying, “Wow” right now. I pray my feeble powers of imagination has painted a sliver of the picture for you to say, “My, my, my.” Oh, I long to be in this kind of thing at some point, to be caught up in the rich majesty of this kind of worship.
1) Your Orientation to the Throne
2) Your Attention to the Throne
The center of our scene is the very throne of God. A chapter earlier, John writes: “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne (Revelation 4:2).
John describes THE Throne with these words: “From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder…” (Revelation 4:5). All John describes for us in Revelation 5 is he sees a scroll in the right hand of the One on the Throne in verse 1. But everything is centered around THE Throne in our story – E V E R Y T H I N G.
The four living creatures, the 24 elders, the myriads and myriads of angels, and “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea” … categorically ALL are centered around THE Throne. Like an amphitheater, a heavenly court circles around THE One. 2,700 years before Revelation, the prophet Isaiah described this throne: “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).
And the prophet Daniel tells us about the Throne: “As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10).
Be glad this morning that there is a Throne above us ruling, reigning, guiding, and dictating. The Oval Office is the janitor’s closet compared to this room. The Kremlin is a dumpster fire compared to this governmental seat of power above us. The Pentagon is but Sheriff Doolittle’s office in a bumpkin county seat compared to Throne Room of God Almighty. I want you every part of you to feel at your most deepest levels that the Father is on His throne this morning.
Know that He will pulverize all wickedness one day soon. Feel that He will obliterate all who oppose Him one day soon. The Situation Room inside the White House reacts with the latest in technology and in sensitive information while the One on the Throne rules and reigns.
The Kremlin seeks to destabilize governments but the throne regales in stately stability. While England’s Prime Minister deals with Brexit at 10 Downing Street, the Throne of God feels no threats to His sovereignty. Now, here’s three specifics reasons the One on the Throne deserves your worship and your attention.
2.1 He is Worthy Because of Creation
Revelation is chocked full of these brief hymns scattered throughout the book. Beginning back in Revelation 4:11, we read: “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 4:11).
Did you hear about the man who got in an argument with God and said, “Look, you’re not the only creator. I can create now.” He’s a scientist and says, “I can make a man.” God says, “Well, let’s see you do it.” So the man says, “Well, I’m going to take these elements out of this dirt.” God says, “Get your own dirt.”
God creates from nothing. An artist will start with paint… A flower arranger with start with flowers… And an engineer starts with concrete and steel. God is quite different. Because He is infinite, He creates everything that is created from nothing. God is praised because all things came into existence by Him.
2.1 He is Worthy Because of Creation
2.2 He is Worthy Because He’s in Control
Again, Revelation is chocked full of hymns! “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” (Revelation 5:9b).
What is this scroll in verse 1? John's eyes are drawn to the right hand of God, which holds a scroll that has been sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1). This scroll happens to be the most important document in all of history. How do I know this? Look what happens if this book isn’t opened.
If the scroll were not opened, then God’s appointed plan would not come to pass (Revelation 9:15).
If the scroll were not opened, the wicked would not be judged (Revelation 16–18).
If the scroll were not opened, Jesus would not come back (Revelation 19, 20).
And if the scroll were not opened, God would not reign in glory in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21, 22).
The scroll is the official document that is going to determine the outcome of human history. Again, this scroll happens to be the most important document in all of history. The constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence, as important as they are, pale in significance to the contents of this scroll. In short, if that scroll isn’t opened, the Bible’s promises don’t come true. Hope is defeated.
Picture the scene with me. An angel flies all over earth and all over the heavens with the speed of a hummingbird and the swooping power of an eagle. The angel looks under every man-cover and around every alley, the angel asked, “Who is worthy to open the scroll? Are you worthy? How about you? Or you?” The angel finds no one worthy on the surface of the earth.
Hour after hour and continent after continent the angel searched. John cries while the angel searches all over the earth. No politician was able to open it. No preacher, priest, or sage was able to open it. No artist was able to do it and no scientist was able to approach it. No colonel and no general was able to take the book in hand. Then the angel then looked all over heaven, but no one was worthy. Michael, the guardian angel, was there, but he kept silent. Gabriel and his trumpet could not say a word. The prophet Isaiah who could say, “Here am I Lord, send me,” could not step forth.
Peter, who said “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” held his tongue (Matthew 26:33). James and John who said, “We want to sit on either side of you in the kingdom of heaven,” they could not step forth (Mark 10:37). No prophet, no patriarch, and no preacher could be found to open the scroll. Jesus alone opens the scroll, He is in control. The keys to death and hell are in His hands. When the weeping ended, the praise began.
To worship means “to ascribe worth…” Let’s join with the song in Heaven even now because the He is worthy. He is worthy of all praise and all the honor we can bring Him.
2.1 He is Worthy Because of Creation
2.2 He is Worthy Because He’s in Control
2.3 He is Worthy Because of Calvary
Again, Revelation is chocked full of hymns! “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” (Revelation 5:9b). Don’t you know that Heaven must be in you now before you can be in Heaven then. You cannot arrive in Heaven only to start praising God for His slain Son. No, you must begin now. You must already be singing heaven’s songs now if you have any hope of singing heaven’s song then.
He is Worthy Because of Creation
He is Worthy Because He’s in Control
He is Worthy Because of Calvary
“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…” (Revelation 5:9b-10).
The five most spoken language are (in order) English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and French. There are more than 7,100 languages spoken in the word today. Not to mention all the tribal and ethnic divisions within each of these language groups. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. Missions, where believers tell other nations the story of Jesus, is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.
Imagine if you surveyed Heaven and saw only one kind of people there. Imagine if Heaven were filled with only Spaniards or Brits. What would you think of God then? Now imagine Heaven as pictured here. Where the cross of Christ wins people from “from every tribe and language and people and nation…” (Revelation 5:9c). What would you think of God now?
If Jesus can only win people from a few tribes and races, then He would look like an “ok” god. But if Christ wins followers from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, then we see Christ for His real greatness. God intends to have a people not just from white or black or red or yellow ethnic groups but from each and every ethnic groups.
God has designed the cross to win people from all shades of color. God designed the cross that every race and every language would have but one king, one. God designed the entire history of the human race so we would be united by the death and resurrection of the King on the cross.
Invitation
Today if you want to receive Christ, type/write the words, “I am Barabbas.” Next series after Invitation
