Untitled Sermon (3)

Intro

We took a couple weeks off but we have been going through Revelation and we are on chapter 4.

Turn to Chapter 4 with me tonight.

Let’s read

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What did we study the last time we were here?

The seven churches, so chapters 2-3 gave us a view from earth, now John takes us to heaven where he has a vision of the throne of God.

4:1 Whose voice is calling out to John? Jesus

It then says’ “I will show you what will take place after this”

This is right in line with what we discussed several weeks ago in the book of Revelation. There are three things we see John is instructed to write:

Ch 1: What you have seen

Ch. 2-3: What is

Ch. 4-22 What will take place after this

The remaining of revelation discusses the future of what will come.

What I find interesting about this is that I often think about my future. Especially when I was in your shoes. The remainder of Revelation may not tell us specific plans for our personal life but paints a picture of who God is and what he will accomplish in the future.

Chapter 4:1-5 give us four reasons why God demands our praise.

Praise God Because He is the King of all things V. 1-5

4:1 The plan of God demands our praise

4:2-3 The person of God demands our praise

4:4 The privelges of God demand our praise

4:5 The power of God demands our praise

What happens when God is not the center of our praise?

The first five verses give us multiple reasons for why God should be praised and how He alone deserves praise

V. 3 Rainbow, Jasper, Carnelian are luminous colors that John uses to describe God but avoids precise descriptions of Go’d’s visible features.

V. 4 The 24 elders either represent all Christians or the twelve tribes along with the twelve apostles.

If we think about this, it’s a huge honor to think of the 24 elders sitting around the throne of glory because it reminds us that God redeemed us in order that we might reign with him.

Revelation Skit at Snowbird

V. 5 The Power of God

What does John see in V. 5?

This is a reminder of God’s power and we see this also in

Seven torches refer to the Holy Spirit and is the only time in Revelation we see the Holy Spirit being in heaven.

Seat of glass, like crystal.

I was at the beach last week and I love looking out at the ocean and seeing how endless it looks.

Not so much a body of water but an endless picture of crystal. Referenced in

Praise God Because He is Holy in His Nature V. 6-8

His creatures show His holiness 6-8

The creatures described have their background in . There are differences in the way they are described though.

What are the four creatures described as? Lion, Ox, face of man, eagle.

Represent creation:

Lion (noblest)

Ox (Strongest)

Wisest (man)

Swiftest (eagle)

There are some contradictions about the ox being the strongest animal but nonethleles, we see a good represenation that all creation belongs to God and these represent all of God’s created species.

Adrian Rogers called the four creatures “God’s cheerleaders” Their appreaence and meaning may be debated but what can’t be debated is their purpose and the song they are saying over and over again:

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come”

Something I learned while studying this is the fact that in Hebrew language, repetition of words gives more meaning and the fact we see this three times gives us evidence of the never ending holiness of God.

Praise God Because He created Everything that Exists: V 9-11

What do the elders do in V 10 do as they worship God?

This is a good picture of offering the gift that God gave them in worship.

How can we offer God the gifts that he gives us?

V. 11 Worhty are you, Our Lord and God to receive glory, honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created”

God is worthy of praise because all creation was created and sustained by and through Him.

What obstacles do we face when it comes to seeing God in the way he is described in these verses?

What type of comfort can we find in knowing God sustains his creation?

How should knowing that our existence depends on the will of God lead us to worship?