Worthy: When Things Don't Make Sense

Worthy: When Things Don't Make Sense

I. What do you when things are Crazy, Weird, Strange...or things don’t make sense?

My desire to serve God in Mexico...but being called to the USA...

Loss of 3 babies, Preethi dying, loss of birth mom and dad for our 3 kids…

How do you make sense of things that don’t make sense?

What do you do with that?

Loss of a loved one, death of a dream, loss of a job, etc.

II. We are often left trying to make sense of things when we go through pain or disappointment…

...A good reminder is that there is nothing new under the sun...this has happened to others in some way, and in fact, Jesus Himself suffered and was tested in every way…

The early church had faced persecution, martyrdom, death of loved ones, natural disasters, diseases, and the disappointment of delayed expectations as they thought Jesus was coming right back!

It is to those people that John writes this Apocalypse...this unveiling…

Last week God as the Uncaused Cause who is not controlling but who is actively working in creation to bring about His Designs and Desires...He is The Almighty….ALL Mighty (Omnipotent!)...the Majestic Lord of All Creation…

We’re going to look at that vision again to focus in on the second part of the scene in Revelation 4:1-11.

III. Read Revelation 4:1-11

Revelation 4:1–11 NIV

1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “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.”

Jesus invited John to a higher place...a higher level.

What he saw there was a higher perspective compared to what we often see from our limited perspective as humans and our perspective in space & time.

What stands out to you from 4:6-11?

Anything strange or anything that doesn’t seem to make sense?

What thoughts or questions are raised for you?

Sea like glass:

Usually a sign of chaos and confusion of the world...but stilled at His feet!

Four Living Creatures

Representative of all of Creation (number 4 = representation)

The kings of those beings

Connected to the vision of Ezekiel, but these beings are described differently

Covered in Eyes:

Have to do with Watchfulness, unceasing vigilance or great wisdom!

These creatures that are covered in eyes, representing all wisdom and watchfulness...they have their eyes fixed on GOD and they cry out HOLY!

You think you know something more than them? You think you have a better perspective than them?

Their response to God is to say that He is HOLY!

24 Elders

Representative of the shifts of priestly worship at the temple

Could also be 12 and 12

Or the Council of the Sons of God

They worship Him:

Worthy our lord and God…

What Emperor Domitian demanded to be called!

HOLY - all together separate...NOT like us!

Three-fold = perfectly HOLY

He is the creator...We are made in His image...but He is not like us...we are made to reflect HIS glory...But He is all together separate! So far removed from us that we can’t even imagine!

An Eternal Perspective

Alpha & Omega

Beginning and end

Who was and who is and who is to come

Not sequentially but simultaneously!

Significance of YHWH...I AM!

Ancient of Days: the one who lives forever and ever

Self-existent one

God's perspective on Time: beginning, middle, end.

We get confused because we think that He is sequential like us, but He existed outside of time...He created time, space, and matter!

He has chosen to work within time, but that does not mean that He is contained by time!

He is ALL mighty.

- Not only a matter of omniscience but a completely different definition of time itself...He's the lord of time, space, and matter.

- See for God, a day is like a thousand years and vice-versa

I want to share a few scriptures that remind us of how HOLY He really is…

When things don’t make sense, we’ve got to recognize that we have a limited perspective!

Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things, those of long ago;

I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please.’

Is 40:13–14 13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,

or instruct the LORD as his counselor?

14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,

and who taught him the right way?

Who was it that taught him knowledge,

or showed him the path of understanding?

…

Isaiah 40:27-28

27 Why do you complain, Jacob?

Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD;

my cause is disregarded by my God”?

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

2 Pe 3:8–9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

An Eternal Perspective When Things Don’t Make Sense

Isaiah 40 ends with the reminder to TRUST in the Lord and HE will renew your strength!

Give thanksgiving not complaining!

We can give thanks because we know that there’s a higher perspective than what we can see…

God knows the end from the beginning...because he's already there!

We can give thanks because we know the end of the story!

We are invited to eternity with God!

WE can have HOPE because we know what happens at the end: God wins!

I want to invite you to put things in perspective:

How does God see this situation?

What are HIS Designs and Desires?

What’s HIS timeline?

Will this matter in light of eternity?