Good Morning Friends,
Today we look at what the book of Revelation can tell us about how to worship. And the reason we are doing this is because thousands if not millions of spiritually out of shape people come to worship each week and sit, or worse yet do not worship at all, while the few who have spent the week in prayer and study and practice lead the worship. Oh, don’t get me wrong I don’t know all that goes on between God and those in the pews, our those who stay home, but I do pray that it would be more transformative for them all. You see, where I worship at the Moorings an amazing message is given from the pulpit complemented by wonderful music and hymns. But what if more could be called up in the Spirit worshipping not to receive something but to give God praise. If heaven is our guide, and I think it is, then we are all to be worshippers that are focused not on receiving but on giving. Prayers of personal petitions seem too self-serving. The thing is that people do get more out of worship if they put something into it. Maybe it is singing or listening to the music or the message from the preacher or children’s chat. There is something in our nature that calls us to worship. Isaiah, writing about the spreading of God’s word says, the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Nature worships God and so should we every time God’s word is shared. Recently we sang a hymn in church services entitled “When Morning Gilds The Skies.” It is sung to the tune of Laudes Domini which in Latin means “the praises of the Lord.” Several of the Psalms Like Psalm 113 begin and end with fervent declarations of praise, such as this: “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! … Praise the Lord!” Likewise, from the opening lines of early morning praise to the final couplet about eternal praise before the throne of God in heaven, this hymn has the constant refrain, “May Jesus Christ be praised.” And the thing is that this hymn reminded me of the day’s scripture from Revelation because when it is sung in our church Sanctuary when we worship it is as if we are worshipping in the heaven in John’s vision with the colors of the rainbow encircling the congregation as the Sun illuminates the stained glass. The Main Body of the Book of Revelation is composed of seven series of eschatological visions with seven visions in each series. As an introduction to these series of apocalyptic scenes, we are given visions of God in splendor, majesty and power of heaven. God is on the Throne or in the Temple with a perpetual and rapturous music and in a rainbow of God’s glory and covenant. It is a worship service. When John is summoned to the eternal world of God we are given not a bird’s eye view but a God’s eye view of the ultimate mystery of a slave escaping into a world of eternal freedom. It is only by getting to God through an open door to heaven above him that John finds the peace and assurance and hope that the hostile world in which he lived sorely needed. We get a sense of John’s personality as he translates the experience. Here, called by a voice like a trumpet John is shown what must take place by Christ. Others had made a similar ascent and likely for much the same reason. We have the case of Enoch, and stories of Abraham and Isaiah and in the New Testament of Paul being called and caught up. John simply says that he was in the Spirit. Here in heaven they all were shown what was going to happen on earth that had been predetermined in heaven so that on their return they could predict with certainty what was going to happen. The future of the world is unrolled before him in one magnificent panorama after another as if all the events had already happened, using future, present and past tenses with almost complete indifference. The thing is this, if we truly believe that God is with us in the throne room of heaven, How Are We To Worship God?
Scripture: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
Genesis 1:1 (NRSV)
After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, “You are worthy, 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 4:1-11 (NRSV)
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;
Psalm 78:23 (NRSV)
I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (NRSV)
And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all around. Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.
Ezekiel 1:26-28 (NRSV)
For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 (NRSV)
Message: Worship, I think, starts when we get our hearts and minds aligned with the right focus on God that prompts us to lay down our earthly crowns and humbly submit to the creator of the universe. This is about humbling ourselves not in weakness and cowardice, being walked all over by others, but humble in a way that honors and praises God. On the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, people shouted Hosanna, and the Pharisees ordered Jesus to make them be quiet. It is not about silence. There is no silence in heaven. The singing in heaven never ceases. Remember how Jesus replied, “If I tell them to be quiet, the rocks and trees will continue to take up the cheer.” When you are in the presence of God you cannot help but proclaim his praises. It is about being engaged in worship. So, don’t you wonder how often when we gather to worship we are truly in God’s presence called up to experience a vision of what is to come. For sure God sees it all but if we are not knocking on the door to heaven, we are missing something important. When we sit with our hands folded, our minds tuned out or asleep and voices reserved I have to wonder if we are getting it right. We are told to go boldly to the throne of God with our petitions. It is said of one of the famous composers that he had a rebellious son who used to come in late at night after his father and mother had gone to bed. And before going to his own room, he would go to his father’s piano and slowly, as well as loudly, play a simple scale, all but the final note. Then leaving the scale uncompleted, he would retire to his room. Meanwhile the father, hearing the scale minus the final note, would writhe on his bed, his mind unable to relax because the scale was unresolved. Finally, in consternation, he would stumble down the stairs and hit the previously unstruck note. Only then would his mind surrender to sleep once again. If something is missing in your worship and you need closure it might be that your worship needs to be more active during the week. Maybe that last note of worship is missing from your life.
And So, Jesus tells John he’s about to see “what must take place after this…” But, instead of the horrendous pictures of War and Famine and Pestilence that people often associate with Revelation… we find ourselves in God’s throne room witnessing an awesome worship service – filled with strange sights and sounds. We have lighting and thunder and rumblings in the distance, beautiful colors and unusual creatures and an inspiring example of how to praise God. People get caught up in focusing on the wrong things in reading Revelation. Too many dwell on the darker, scarier aspects depicted in the Book instead of being led as John was to a worship service that praises our creator. For, Revelation 4 is not only telling us that we will overcome but also how we will overcome the challenges we face. I believe God is telling us how we can overcome the challenges we face, by following the example of those in the throne room. Look at what they’re doing: They’re singing praises to God. They’re worshipping the Father. They’re focusing all of their attention on God the creator of it all. Everything is centered on God. Why? Because, when we do that – when we praise and worship God, focusing our attention solely on Him and His throne of power – we’re focusing our attention not on our circumstances and difficulties, not on our failures and tragedies No. When we learn to worship and praise God as those in the throne room do, we are focusing upon the God who has the power and the majesty and the desire to lift us up out of our despair and hopelessness. That’s why the 4 living creatures, whatever they represent, cry out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” God has always been there in the past, He’s here in the present, and He’ll be there in the future when we need Him. He’ll never leave us or forsake us, even in our darkest moments. That’s why the 24 elders cast their crowns before His throne and sing this praise: “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.” This is the God who created everything that has ever existed simply by the words from His lips. Those who stand against God don’t stand a chance. We overcome, because we have the power of God in our corner. I think some of the hymn composers understood what Revelation is trying to tell us: “In this world you will have trouble… but take heart…” Focus on God’s throne. Set your eyes and your heart and your soul on Jesus who has the power to help you face and overcome your tragedies and heart aches. That’s what worship is all about. That’s the reason for our gathering to sing songs of praise and glory to God…to train us to prepare us to drive home into our hearts…The only sure power we have to face the fears and anxieties of this world is to focus on God who is in heaven and upon His throne but also in us. God’s love comes alive in us my friends when we lay down our pride and worship and praise our creator.
Pray the way we worship helps us to gain mastery over the chaos in our lives. Pray we live deeply and sensitively in the presence of Christ. Pray we are grateful for the past and confident in the future. Pray we experience the Spirit of God as a token of the coming Age. Pray we experience a bit of heaven with others of faith. Pray we experience the love of community and know that only in Christ is the victory won. Pray we believe that in Christ the power of the Devil has been broken. Pray we experience the Kingdom of God with joy at this moment. Pray we are on Christ’s side and be a builder of mutuality, unity, and peace that gathers not scatters…that creates human good to God’s glory. Pray we trust enough and believe enough to keep reforming in a way that transforms. Pray our hearts awaken in worship. Pray we have grateful hearts because Jesus has opened the door for us to enter heaven in the Spirit, and through his words gave us a glimpse through John’s experience into the eternal realities of God’s Kingdom in heaven. Pray we have greater insight and understanding into the Person and work of the Lord Jesus through the scripture we read.. Pray for the day when Jesus’ Church worships in heaven. Pray we appreciate how wonderful it would be to be part of that generation that does not see death but is changed in the twinkling of an eye, because Jesus has returned. Pray that when we worship we imagine ourselves in heaven singing with the angels, filled with the Holy Spirit which lifts us into the presence of our God. Pray we acknowledge that God alone is worthy of all glory and praise for creating us and saving us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 