Undeserved Titles Series

Revelation 5: 1 – 14

Undeserved Titles

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

I have this habit of giving people nicknames. At first I wanted to say it was a bad habit, but sometimes assigned names to people seem to be okay. For example it has been a blessing when I run into people I know by sight but not their names. To save embarrassment I just greet them as ‘brother’ or ‘sister’. So now you know if I or anyone else greets you with this title they most likely have forgotten your name.

I use to call other people by certain titles but after reading the bible I refrain from doing so today. For example, when I was a kid I went to a Catholic Church and school. I would call the priests ‘father’ and my real earthly father ‘dad’. You might now begin to understand why I am so messed up. Having my eyes and mind open to the wonder of God’s Word I began to read the bible with much passion and desire. I started with the first book of the New Testament – The Gospel of Matthew. When I came upon chapter 23 I was floored. It reads, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”

Seeing this I started on a dangerous path – I began to meditate on the Scriptures and ‘think’. I ask myself why anyone would want to be called ‘Father’ when this title belongs to God Almighty. How can man take an undeserved title to himself?

After doing some investigation I found out that these men who take upon themselves the undeserved title ‘Father’ additionally claim that they are Almighty God’s representatives on earth. Say what? Where does it say that? To me this is pretty scary stuff. This is plain and simple mockery of our Precious Holy Adoni Yahweh, Father God.

How about this title – The Highest Most Reverend So and So.’ Is anyone paying attention?

The book of Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 says, "And He (God) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."