Heavenly Worship of the Church

I. Introduction

Brent Zastrow

• A. It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince

and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will

you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release

your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will

give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned

home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep

love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you-

-the one who was willing to give himself for me."

II. The reason for the Worship

• A. The lamb
1. John see the Lamb which is the answer to the question
2. The description of the Lamb
• a. Standing not seated
• (1). in action
• (2) cf. Psa 110:1-2 Messiah is seated now, but he stand up
• b. As thought it had been slain (the focus is on the redemptive death of the LAMB) εἰδον...ἀρνίον ἑστηκὸς ὡς ἐσφαγμένον (in the accusative)
• c. having seven horns - total authority Dan 7:7-8, 19-24
• d. Seven eyes - which is the seven fold spirit of God Isaiah 11:1-2
3. The Lamb takes the scroll

III. The content of the worship

• A. The prayers and praises of God’s church
• 1. Worship is a prelude to worship then
• 2. The church is a worshiping community - corporate worship is important to God
• a. Pilgrim feasts Deut 16:16
• b. Jewish Prayerbook (Siddur)
• B. new song the first new song since creation see Job 38:6-7
1. The worthiness here focus on the atonement Jesus provided
• a. He brought us back agorizw
• b. Multi-cultural group - Jesus wants from every people group, he did come to remove our ethnic identity but our sin. The universal body of Jesus is to be 31 flavors not homogenized milk
• c. Has made us to - proleptic aorist (God is sure about you by his grace are you sure about him) Romans 8:29-30
• d. Priests and Kings
1. the kingdom not a place of idleness
2. now is job training
• C. The Corporate praise chorus
1. Do you believe in praise choruses this scene is of a heavenly praise chorus
2. Praises of the Father and the Son together

• D Application

1. Do you worship the Father and the Son ( reiterate beginning story) the three “S’s”)

a. Salvation

b. Sanctification

c. ServiceThe