Revelation 4:9-11 Series

Revelation 4:9-11

I the previous section of scripture it talked about the four living creatures around the thrown. The description John gives us is one like a lion, an ox, one with a face like man, and an eagle. All four of these creatures had eyes all around their heads and all had six wings to fly around the throne.

So this is the set-up to these following verses that we are about to read and we will focus on one things and that is are we giving God the glory and honor Hey deserves?

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.”

When God is given the glory and honor deserving Him in heaven it's says these twenty-four elders fall down before Jesus and worship Him as well and casting their crowns before God is an indication of God's power, authority and majesty above them.

What we are seeing is the corporate worship that happens in heaven and as well what we should be doing here on earth. This corporate worship is not solely to happen at church on Sunday's but out in the world as well where other believers can join in and those who are not believers can see the great value we put on God and Christ.

I think these days we do not see enough public worship to God and Christ and that in many ways it has been confined to church or within the walls of the Christian concert or the Christian conference.

If we think about baptism in scripture which is the outward expression of our faith in Christ, we see it as a public event and I think there is a reason for that. God moves within the unbeliever when a person puts their faith out for the entire world to see. I also think that it can help remove any fears a new believer may have if it's done in public.

The body of Christ is becoming a recluse in many ways these days by hiding their faith and keeping it out out of sight. I am sure many will disagree with me but it is what I am seeing.

I have over the decades strove to do as many things as possible in public in order that God may work in the unbeliever by seeing the Christian profess their faith, and not by screaming at unbelievers with a bullhorn on the street corner, but in the public display of our faith.

I remember once putting on a concert with a Christian band right on the street on Mill Ave in Tempe Arizona in the heart of ASU, and another time in a parking lot on a busy road. You could see people being moved while God was working on those whom He was calling to himself.

More recently in the small town I moved to in Appalachia eleven years ago as a missionary, I have been putting on worship nights at the local park and you can see throughout the night people standing on the outskirts listening to the music and the preaching I was doing throughout the night.

I also in the summer once a month put out the word about doing a community baptism at our local river for those who are new believers or those who have been believers for years but never got baptized. I share the gospel with each group asking each a few questions and then baptize them right in front of others who are on the river.

Now you may be thinking these may have little effect on the unbeliever but God uses every situation such as this to bring the called to Himself and if we keep our faith locked up really it's just us that lose the blessing.

People have said the church isn't the building but the believers and there is truth in both but that just goes to my point that the church should be everywhere not just the building and we become the body of Christ the more of us come together.

Another positive thing about having Christian events outdoors is we are more likely to bring together Christians from differing churches which helps us build bonds with others within the body locally.

So what is my point in taking these verses in this direction you may be asking and it is within the words of verse eleven.