FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP
REVELATION 1: 4-8/ 5:1-14
EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2002
INTRODUCTION: The Little Girl byJohn M. Montgomery
Her parents never took the young girl to church
Never spoke of his name; never read her his word
Two non-believers walkin’ lost in this world
Took their baby with them, what a sad little girl
Her daddy drank all day and mommy did drugs
Never wanted to play or give kisses and hugs
She’d watch the TV and sit there on the couch
While her mom fell asleep and her daddy went out
And the drinking and the fighting just got worse every night
Behind their couch she’d be hiding, oh what a sad little life
And like it always does the bad just got worse
With every slap and every curse
Until her daddy, in a drunk rage one night,
Used a gun on her mom and then took his life
And some people from the city took the girl far away
To a new mom and a new dad, kisses and hugs every day
Her first day of Sunday school the teacher walked in
And a small little girl stared at a picture of him
She said I know that man up there on that cross
I don’t know his name, but I know he got off
Cause he was there in my old house, and held me close to his side
As I hid there behind our couch, the night that my parents died
TRANSITION THOUGHT: This morning as we gather together for the highest point of the Christian Year, the day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, do we believe He is Risen? The little Girl in this song testifies to us that He is no longer on the Cross, nor is He in the GRAVE! He is alive and here with us! Many lives here today testify to this same fact. We gather today in Hope testifying to our belief that the resurrection is fact and not fiction. And because we believe, WE FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP THE ONE WHO IS WORTHY!
THESIS SENTENCE: WE MUST FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP JESUS BECAUSE HE IS THE ONLY ONE WORTHY OF ALL OUR WORSHIP!
I. JESUS IS WORTHY BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH
A. “Who is worthy?” The cry rings out.
1. Rev. 5 opens with a discouraging thought, much like the reality of the day in which we live.
2. No one is found worthy. Was it for lack of looking? Was every candidate offered an opportunity?
3. Our text (5:3) states “No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.”
4. No one was worthy to see the Holiness of God, to know the truth of God, to understand the Plan of God.
5. Do you ever wonder, is anyone worthy? Is anyone worthy of our respect? Is anyone worthy of our loyalty? Is anyone worthy of all our allegiance? So many voices call out to us demanding our attention, but who is worthy?
B. Is Any One Worthy?
1. Has He really?
2. The Easter story is not the typical triumphant story of one overcoming great odds and winning the victory.
ILLUSTRATION: I guess we have all seen the “Rocky” movies. I love those movies. The underdog sort of wins the first fight in that he survives all 15 rounds. In the following sequels, he always ends up being the underdog who overcomes all the obstacles to win the day. We like that kind of stuff. The little guy does what no one says he can do. I am waiting for “Rocky 25” when Rocky Balboa comes out of the nursing home to defeat The Martian Heavyweight Champion of the universe. IT COULD HAPPEN!
4. But, let’s get back to our story. He was born in poverty. He lived in somewhat obscurity. He died as a criminal. DID YOU GET THAT: HE DIED!
5. IS THIS THE WAY THE STORY IS SUPPOSED TO END?
C. He has Triumphant
1. Now how is this that one of the Elders can say, “He has triumphed.”
ILLUSTRATION: ISAIAH 53: 9-12, “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was nay deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied, by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
2. Isaiah teaches us that through death, he has triumphed!
3. John also makes it clear, “ Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has Triumphed…. Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders (Rev. 5: 5-6).”
4. He is not dead! HE STANDS!
5. But what was the goal of his death and how did it cause Him to Triumph?
II. JESUS IS WORTHY BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD
A. There is power in the Blood to Free!
1. In the opening chapter of the book of Revelation, John the Revelator greets and blesses the seven churches.
2. As he does, he doesn’t greet and bless in his own name but in the name of the one who is, and who was, and who is to come.
3. The point he makes is that Jesus, contrary to popular opinion, IS! 4. Jesus not only IS, But He IS to COME!
5. All of this is great, He is no longer WAS, but is this enough to really make a difference?
6. Well, John says that if this is not enough, HE IS and IS to COME, BECAUSE HE LOVES US, HE HAS FREED US FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD (REV. 1:6)!
7. This is why the Apostle Paul can write, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).”
8. Because of the Blood so freely Shed on the Cross, we are no longer bound by our sins.
B. There is power in the Blood to Purchase!
1. Once again, John the Revelator shows us the worth of the blood as he exclaims, “Because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God (Rev. 5:9).”
2. This Blood has a far-reaching power!
3. John states that it was effective for every tribe and language and people and nation. No one is unaffected by the BLOOD. Did you know HIS Blood is on you?
4. The writer to the Hebrews said, “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God (9:13-14)!
ILLUSTRATION: Therefore we sing, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. Oh, Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
AND, “Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s pow’r in the Blood, pow’r in the blood; would you o’er evil a victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood. There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working pow’r in the blood of the lamb; there is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working pow’r in the precious blood of the Lamb.”
AND, “His pow’r can make you what you ought to be; His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free; his love can fill your soul, and you will see ‘Twas best for him to have his way with thee.”
NOW WE CAN PROCLAIM WITH JOHN:
“YOU ARE WORTHY TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND TO OPEN ITS SEALS, BECAUSE YOU WERE SLAIN, AND WITH YOUR BOOD YOU PRUCHASED MEN FOR GOD FROM EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION. YOU HAVE MADE THEM TO BE A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO SERVE OUR GOD, AND THEY WILL REIGN ON THE EARTH.”
AND, “WORTHY IS THE LAMB, WHO WAS SLAIN, TO RECEIVE POWER AND WEALTH AND WISDOM AND STRENGTH AND HONOR AND GLORY AND PRAISE!”
AND “TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB BE PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY AND POWER, FOR EVER AND EVER!
CONCLUSION:“Real Life” by Jeff Carson:
I was young, he was old, we both were the same age
Everyday playin’ fetch, shaking hands, he’d lick my face
and I was unaware the day would come
And when he died, for the first time I knew what real pain was
CHORUS: And I never was the same again
From that moment on, real life began
Senior high, girlfriends, football games, graduation
Summer break, spent my time, fillin’ out applications
A few superficial years went by, they were all a blur
Then in the most unlikely situation, there you were
CHORUS: And I never was the same again
From that moment on, real life began
With you, with you
By your side, scared to death, felt the pain you were fighting
Placed my palm on your head, spoke your name, just keep tryin’
And then you closed you eyes and took one last breath
And when it was over, you looked up, I laid our baby across your breast
CHORUS: And I never was the same again
From that moment on, Real Life began
John said, “The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
Real Life begins when we learn to Fall Down and Worship the one who is Worthy.
You cannot worship Him if you have not found Him to be the Lord of your life. I want to give you an opportunity to Pray and Receive Jesus as your personal Savior. If you would like to do this, Pray This Simple Prayer with Me: JESUS, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, THE ONE WHO DIED JUST FOR ME SO THAT I MAY BE FREED FROM MY SIN AND NEVER KNOW THE PUNISHMENT OF HELL. I REPENT OF MY SINS AND NOW CHOOSE TO GO THE OPPOSITE WAY, LEAVING SIN FAR BEHIND ME. THANKYOU FOR FORGIVING ME AND MAKING ME A CHILD OF GOD. JESUS, IN YOUR NAME I PRAY! AMEN!
We are going to Sing, “HE IS LORD” and I want to invite you to worship HIM. Maybe you would like to Fall Down and Worship at the Altar?
