Worship God, the Almighty.

Introduction

Today we are focusing on a very important topic for the believer as we bring this sermon series to a close, the idea of worship and the God we are to be worshiping. Worship, is one of those words that seems all too often to be a sort of “Christionism” term, a term that we all use often, but often do not really know what it is or how to describe it when we are asked. To give it a academic explication you might say something along the lines of: worship is the correct response of mankind to the Christian God from a Christian that aims to elevate and glorify God. This is a spiritual process, as it is given to a spiritual God.

Also, we know that when we worship, we can expect to encounter Him in some way that should teach, inform, or form ourselves more rightly to have a greater understanding of Him and His will and align our thoughts and actions to be more like those of Jesus Christ. To put all of this simply , we would say that Worship happens from the believer when he or she raises up God in their life and points his/herself or others towards the person of Jesus Christ through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. These things are what worship is all about, when we Worship God, the almighty. With those ideas, explanations, and definition of what worship is; let’s continue our worship in Prayer to God as we are about to enter this time of teaching from the Word of God. Pray with me.

Prayer

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

Context

If you haven’t done so already, please go ahead and turn in your bibles to revelation chapter 4 and 5, revelation 4 and 5. As we go through the sermon I will read the text out loud for us, but I would like for you to follow along as we go along.

This week, we turn our attention to the end of our sermon series through the 7 churches of revelation and towards a scene from Heaven of worship of God. Remember, with those churches only 2 received only praise from Christ, 4 received mixed reviews (with some really hard ones to hear and swallow), and last week we looked at the last one, Laodicea who Christ had nothing positive to say about. These churches we understand to be representatives of all churches everywhere, and reading into these letters helps us get into and better understand the mind of Christ and what He wants from His churches. I hoped you noticed this too, that across the board for every church that needed to improve somewhere, they each had one thing they needed to do; to repent. To turn away from their sin, turn away from their rejection of God; to turn to Him, ask for forgiveness and then work to never make the same mistake again. This is a charge to all churches. In today’s text, we turn our attention away from the “who you are” and “what you are to do” and put it towards the “why.” The “why” being so that as a whole and as individuals we Worship God, the almighty; putting distractions, personal want, fear, and other various kinds of sin aside and instead focus on God and Him being worshiped in everything that we do. So, let’s dive in to the text, where I want you to see these truths about our God and Savior as you Worship God, the Almighty.

Message

The first truth to see is that God is Holy (4:1-11)

4 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. 3 The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.

5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. 7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God, the Almighty,

who was, who is, and who is to come.

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

11 Our Lord and God,

you are worthy to receive

glory and honor and power,

because you have created all things,

and by your will

they exist and were created.

After receiving the messages about the seven churches, John looked up and saw an open door. From it, he heard a voice tell him to come and see what must happen later. In the Spirit, john was taken before the throne, where He saw a being of great beauty, might, and splendor upon the it; this he would understand was God and God’s throne. Around the throne were great showing of might of with flashes of lightnings and rolls of thunder. Also there were beings that were created as and function as worshipers of God (the elders with their crowns, and the living creatures). These living creatures all day all night, were participating rightly in what all of creation was made for, for worship of God; as they never stopped praising and Honoring Him, saying Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come. When they were doing this the elders fell down; cast their crowns and worshiped God saying, Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. Here we see scenes of right worship, recognizing God for what He is, Holy Holy Holy. Set apart, very importantly different than anything else.

This year at VBS and regularly during Wednesday nights, we sung a song about God’s Holiness; Aptly called, “Our God is Holy.” In this song, it spoke about how God has called us to be Holy, to be set apart; separating ourselves of the wants and wills of our own flesh and aligning ourselves to the wants and wills of God instead, a lifetime endeavor and process. So, that’s 1 Holy for us. Notice what the living creatures said about God, they called Him Holy Holy Holy, three Holies. When looking at the original texts and languages, we see the same word used three times for emphasis ((hagios). You might say, set apart of the set apart of the set apart. So, this one only, God only; God alone is Holy Holy Holy.

So, believer, we all need to be asking ourselves continually and often as we go through our lives; what Am I worshiping? Am I worshiping a Holy God, or am I worshiping something else? If your answer is “A Holy God” I urge you to not be so quick to answer and not be so sure. Yes God is Holy, no doubt about that; rather search yourself deeper. Be unsure and always searching yourself, because our flesh and Satan is always warring against you, trying to deceive you. Is there something is their ANYTHING that I worship, give my full attention and praise to over the God of the Bible? In that same vain, do I even know my Bible enough to know the God that is within it or do I know what my culture or my upbringing has told me about what the bible says? There is a difference, and often it is a huge difference. Start seeking God, the Holy God in the pages of the book, the good book, the bible, put aside how you think God ought to be, how believers ought to be, and instead understand Him and them as God explains He and them ought to be, and their you will find a Holy Holy Holy God.

The Next truth to see is that Christ is able (5:1-7)

5 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.

John continues his account here, noticing that on the right hand of God was a scroll. A scroll of completion, a scroll about judgement, the saints inheritance of the kingdom, about the completion of all of history. Then, a mighty angel proclaims out, asks out, who is worthy to open the scroll, to break the seals? The answer, no one. This led John to tears, as a servant of God; it is his want and wish that God’s will would be completed and achieved. In this moment of great sadness John is reminded, do not worry. Jesus is able! Christ is able! He has fulfilled our God’s will perfectly, He has conquered and is able to open the scroll and the seals on it. Looking up, he saw the slaughtered lamb with the fulness of God. The lamb (Jesus Christ) took the scroll from the Father.

Through all of your Bible, we see time and time again that Christ proves that He is able, able to fulfill The Father’s Will, able to redeem you from sin, able to make you new, and now we are seeing; able to open the scroll. In Matthew’s Gospel, in chapter 9, Jesus once asked two blind men if they believed that He was able to heal them. Starting in verse 27 the scripture reads: 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. They believed, they knew that Jesus is able. Do you?

Do you really have that kind of faith in Jesus. Do you believe and know that Christ is able to receive your worship. No thing in the world that is not a part of the God- Head is worthy of worship. Nothing is able to correctly receive your worship (your treasuring, your most prized valuing), but Christ is able. Christ is both able and supposed to receive your worship; just as he is both able and supposed to open the scroll, that will see the completion of all time. Yes believer, I know we have said, and we are going to continue to say this! Have you asked yourself, have your analyzed the question about yourself “What am I worshiping other than God?” And when you find yourself able to answer anything other than God, then what action steps, what application are you going to do about it? And when are you going to confess that sin to Jesus and take those applicable steps towards repentance? I bet you already know what it is you are supposed be doing. So, why aren’t you doing it? And when are you going to start? Why not start right now? Because Christ is able (and should) receive that worship of yours.

Another truth to see is that Christ is worthy (5:8-14)

8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:

You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slaughtered,

and you purchased people

for God by your blood

from every tribe and language

and people and nation.

10 You made them a kingdom

and priests to our God,

and they will reign on the earth.

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!

13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,

Blessing and honor and glory and power

be to the one seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus takes the scroll, and the living creatures and elders fell down and worshiped Christ with a new song, singing of His worthiness! Recounting how He perfectly fulfilled The Father’s will to redeem with His own life, which has made us now a kingdom of priests who will reign. Then, more angles than could numbered came in offered another song of Praise of Jesus, because He is worthy. Then every creature joined in! All worshiping, overwhelming worship, right worship, to the one that is worthy of worship!!! And the living creatures and elders agreed, and joined in on the worship themselves once again.

Often in our church, we hear that final word of the living creatures. Amen. Amen is a great thing to say, and it really helps your pastor when he hears that. But when we say it, do you really know what you are saying? Brother Charles touched on this last week in the devotional. And yes, it is a correct and right response to The Word of God. But, do you really know what you are saying? The word amen itself, and since brother John is here he can correct me if I’m wrong, but the Greek word for Amen sounds much the same, but the definition of the word meant a declarative statement. That is, “let it be so.” Meaning, you agree, you are affirming it is true and in turn you are also saying, “I will do what I must to make this true in my life because it is true.

Brothers and sisters, your Amen’s, Christ is worthy of those. Your worship through every thought deed and action of your life, Christ is worthy of that and is due that as well. When you read or you hear God’s Word. Is you’re “Amen” on the table. Are you ready and able to handle the truths, even the really really hard truths that are within. Is your Amen on the table for the Worthy One when it means admitting that you messed up. Is your Amen on the table when you realize that you have been holding out God on something and that needs to be made right. Is your Amen on the table for the Worthy One you realize that you got something so wrong God or about the gospel that it means that correcting that will shake and change everything you thought you knew? It should be, and we need to all be prepared to give Christ the Amen’s in ourselves, our lives, and our church no matter the circumstances. Christ is worthy of Worship, so Let’s Worship God, the almighty together.

Conclusion

Beloved brothers and sisters, are you prepared, are you willing and able to Worship God, the almighty or are you caught up in worshiping something or someone else? If you are, believer it is time to repent of that Sin, and turn toward your Lord Jesus who is willing and wanting to forgive you, and Has even sent you a helper (The Holy Spirit) to get you on track. Now you may be wondering what a few action steps are, what a few tangible things that you as an individual and as a collective church can and should be doing as we worship God; these are some things that our Bible’s have revealed to us as things all believers should be regular doing. These include (but are not limited to).

1. Coming together with other believers regularly for: prayer, edification, equipping, action, and worship.

2. Having and maintaining a private spiritual life doing things such as: regular devotionals, regular prayers, listening to worship music, evangelism, and other spiritual disciplines.

3. Giving your time, tithes, and talents to kingdom uses.

4. Making everything about your life about honoring and glorifying God by: Loving God, Loving Others, and Making Disciples.

(Notice how in all of those sentences, I used the word “And” and not “or,” meaning all of those items are regular expectations for people of faith, people who have become followers of Christ.If you are a believer and not regularly doing these items (but are physically able), then be warned beloved, you have an idol or at the very least you have sin that you need to repent of. So, now that you know that; what are you going to do about it?

With that idea of worship, I want to equip you this week to continue in your worship through the week and add to your devotional life. So, If you have a phone with a good camera on it, I want you to take it out right now. Now go ahead and grab your hymnal and open it numbers 2 and 3. Now, go ahead and take a picture of both of hymns. When you get home, and all throughout the week along with your regular bible reading, I want you to read each of these hymns, and really have a think about what it is saying about God and that applies to yourself and our church. Again, numbers two and three, take a picture of them, and mediate on them during the week.

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.