Worship in spirit and in Truth

Pause from unlocked series

As believers we understand the Significance of Worship in our lives

- Through worship we express

Our love

Adoration

Gratitude

To the one who deserves all honor and Praise.

Have you ever wondered what true worship rally means?

How can we worship in a way that genuinely connects to the heart of God

Before we jump into our scripture, I want to give you a little background on the book of revelation

is a symbolic and prophetic text that describes the end times, the final judgment, and the triumph of God over evil, ultimately leading to a new heaven and earth.

The book is rich in symbolic language and imagery, including visions of beasts, angels, and apocalyptic events, which represent spiritual realities and events

Author and Context:

The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, who wrote it while exiled on the island of Patmos, likely around AD 95 or 96 during the reign of Emperor Domitian, a time of persecution for Christians.

The book addresses seven churches in Asia Minor, offering both encouragement and warnings, reflecting the challenges and opportunities faced by early Christians

Purpose:

The book's purpose is to offer hope and encouragement to Christians facing persecution, assuring them of God's ultimate victory and the promise of a new creation.

Key Themes:

· God's Sovereignty:

The book emphasizes God's ultimate power and control over history and the universe.

· Judgment:

It depicts God's judgment on evil and the wicked, culminating in the final judgment and the eternal separation of the righteous and unrighteous.

· The Second Coming of Christ:

The book foretells the return of Jesus Christ in glory to defeat evil and establish his Kingdom, with the armies of heaven at his side.

· New Creation:

Revelation concludes with a vision of a new heaven and earth, where God dwells with his people in peace and righteousness.

Revelation 4:6–11 ESV

and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, 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 the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 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, “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.”

LETS PRAY TOGETHER

In this passage we get a glimpse into heavenly worship

- We witness the majestic worship that takes place before the throne of God

- It reveals the awe-inspiring presence of God and the essence of worship itself

Today I want to give you three critical aspects of worship

- That will help us truly connect with Gods heart

- Deepen our understanding and experience through worship

1.Reverence and Recognition of God’s Majesty

The Heavenly Scene of Worship

-We are transported to the heavenly realm, where we witness a scene of awe-inspiring worship in this passage.

Four living creatures each with eyes and wings

Day and night, they proclaim Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty

Their worship is filled with reverence and adoration

Filling the atmosphere of heaven with the Presence of God

Let’s take a minute to reflect on the attributes of God

- The Holiness of God

Speaks to his absolute purity

His separation from Sin

His perfect moral Character

- The sovereignty of God

His sovereignty affirms his supreme authority over all creation

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

- The eternal nature of God

Assures us that existed before time and will exist beyond it

Gods attributes should stir in us a sense of reverence and awe for the one we worship.

The Implications for our worship are Huge

Understanding the greatness of god Moves us too approach His throne with

Reverence

Humility

And a sense of unworthiness

It calls us to lay down our PRIDE, SELF CENTERDNESS

Recognizing that worship is not about us but about magnifying the Lord

Reverence acknowledges our dependency on him

It positions our hearts to receive his grace and wisdom

Through cultivating reverence and humility, we can genuinely connect with God’s heart and experience the transformative power of worship

As we recognize God’s majesty and holiness, our worship should also reflect the truth of who He is

2.Authenticity and Wholehearted Worship

- WE FALL DOWN WE LAY OUR CROWNS AT THE FEET OF JESUS

In verses 9 and 10, we witness the response of the twenty-four elders before the throne of God

They cast their crowns before Him

acknowledging His supreme authority and worthiness

This act of surrender and offering symbolizes the surrender of our

Earthly desires

Ambitions

Pride

It is a humbling recognition that true worship requires us to lay down everything that competes for His rightful place in our lives.

- Anything that competes with God is idolatry

Money

Fame

Family

Surrendering our crowns is not a ritual, but a powerful metaphor for surrendering our self-centeredness -         

Embrace humility and submission to God 

It signifies our willingness to let go of our agendas, preferences, and ambitions and to align our lives with God’s purpose and will

By surrendering our crowns, we acknowledge that true worship flows from a heart that recognizes God’s lordship and seeks His glory above all else.

ENGAGING OUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN WORSHIP

This posture is is a must to engage in authentic worship

It goes beyond the superficial actions, the words we sing, The goosebumps

Sincerity and wholeheartedness are essential

Worship should engage

Our emotions

Thoughts

Actions

 As we pour out genuine adoration, gratitude and love to God

When we approach our God in worship

o We offer ourselves fully bringing

Joys

Sorrows

Doubts

And hope before him

As our hearts and spirit aligns with Gods heart we experience His transformative power

o His presence saturates our lives

3.Connecting with God’s Heart in Worship

Vs 11

Directs our focus to the absolute truth of God as the creator of all things

Recognizing God’s role as the Creator awakens within us a sense of awe and gratitude

It reminds us that every breath we take, every blessing

Every aspect of creation is proof of his wisdom and power

By acknowledging God as the Creator, we align ourselves with His divine order and surrender to His authority.

Genuine worship offers glory, honor and thanks to God.

Worship is an overflow of Gratitude and adoration for his goodness and faithfulness

Worship expresses a heartfelt appreciation for His

Unending love

Mercy

And grace

That he pours on us daily

As we minister to Him through worship

Glory honor and thanks

-  We open our hearts to experience a deeper intimacy

- We experience his presence and nearness in a whole new way

Worship is not an act of duty or obligation

- Worship is our response to Gods love and grace

- Worship is ministering to the Lord

Psalm 95:6–7 ESV

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Through worship we get a deeper comprehension

Of His love

The depth of his forgiveness

The richness of salvation

 In communion with God

Our souls find rest

Spirit finds greater strength

We find deeper meaning and purpose for our lives

Worship becomes a transformative encounter that shapes us into His likeness and enables us to live out His love in the world.

Conclusion:

TO recap

We began by recognizing the majesty and holiness of God,

understanding the awe-inspiring greatness that compels us to approach Him with reverence and humility.

Then, we emphasized the importance of authenticity and wholeheartedness in our worship

urrendering ourselves before God and engaging our hearts, minds, and emotions in genuine adoration.

Finally, we delved into the significance of connecting with God’s heart in worship,

acknowledging Him as our Creator, offering glory, honor, and thanks, and allowing worship to respond to His love and grace.

Be encouraged,

-  approach every moment of worship with reverence, authenticity, and love.

-  cultivate a deep hunger to connect with God’s heart,

-  in His presence, we find transformation, healing, and purpose.