Worthy: Roaring Lamb
Notes
Transcript
Worthy: Roaring Lamb
I. Have you ever noticed how we use seemingly contradictory language or images to convey how things are...to get a bigger point across?
Seemingly Contradictory things:
Clearly confused
Dark light
Definitely maybe
Jumbo shrimp
Small crowd
“Nobody goes there because it’s always too full…” What?
"busy doing nothing."
II. We often combine words or ideas to illustrate a point or to paint a better picture. This is especially true when we’re trying to describe things that are beyond our comprehension and beyond our words.
Bittersweet
Deafening silence
Sweet sorrow
Maybe lately there have been situations that were beyond words…
Or maybe God’s been working in your life in ways that you can’t even put words to yet...
III. God was revealing to John in ways that He could understand that He was on the throne when the world seemed out of control, that was all-knowing and beyond time while actively working in time when things just didn’t make sense…
...He’s all-together HOLY and that God has designs and desires at work that seemed contradictory yet are very intentional.
...then John was trying to convey what he had seen to others so that they could have this same Apocalypse of God!
READ:
Revelation 5:1-14
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Pray!
Let’s break it down:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Scroll
both sides = full and complete…
God’s plan for history, events that are about to come upon the world…
The scroll John sees could symbolize a will that is to be opened and its contents executed; or it could symbolize God’s covenant with mankind, with the covenant curses that will be poured out due to mankind’s breaking of the contract. In a broader sense, the scroll contains God’s purposes for history, but its seven seals prevent the full disclosure and enactment of its contents.
Seals
Seals were used to mark and protect documents by virtue of the identity and authority of the one sealing it FOR the one who would have the Authority and Approval to open it.
The number seven indicates completion; the contents were completely inaccessible
No one was found who was worthy...it wasn’t about strength as there were strong angels around...it was about being worthy.
John WEPT...he had been promised to be shown what would take place and then it seemed there was no hope…
The Lion
The one who is Able
Messianic promise of being connected to the Royal Tribe of Kings from Gen. 49
Identification of Jesus
Also called a ROOT of David…Isaiah 11
HE has triumphed and is ABLE!
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
The Lamb
John hears about a Lion but turns to SEE a LAMB!
As one who had been previously slain...yet now standing!?!
Prophet Isaiah had promised that there would be a servant who would be the Lamb of God that would take the sins of the world…
The Prophet John the Baptist identified Jesus as that Lamb…
Peter, the Apostle, calls Jesus the lamb without blemish who cleanses sin
Seven Horns: All Authority and Power
Seven Eyes: All Wisdom & All of the Fullness of the Spirit of God
Response to the Worthy One
They brought their prayers and praise to God!
Even OUR prayers are like incense...they change the atmosphere of the throne room!
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
He earned the Authority and Worthiness through laying down His life...offering His life as a ransom for many…
Now made to be a Kingdom AND Priests from EVERY tribe, language, people, and nation!!!
Not just one ethnic group...or one tribe within it...but ALL PEOPLE who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved!
This is Good News for EVERYONE!
No one else is strong enough...good enough...worthy enough...we can’t become strong enough or good enough...but He steps in to take the punishment of our sin on Himself...to make a NEW Covenant...in HIS blood!
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
ALL of the angels joined the 4 creatures and the Elders in Praising the Lamb...
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Now this is important, because the one on the throne was the Ancient of Days...already identified as the uncaused cause...the Yahweh...the Great Creator God...now the LAMB is being recognized as being Co-Equal with the one on the Throne!
Earlier Jesus, when He was speaking to John, had already told him that HE had conquered and was seated on the throne with His Father...this is that Picture...Jesus is being identified as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World AND as the one who was present at Creation and through Whom all things were made...as the ancient of days...this is not something that He earned...but in fact something that Philippians 2 tells us that HE CHOSE to lay down to rescue us...and in that He took back all authority that had been given to Humans who forfeited it to Satan and his followers…
The Lion AND The Lamb
AS the Lamb
Jesus paid to cleanse by being the only complete sacrifice
Reconciled us by making the way to be brought back into relationship with God
Pays the price to liberate us from slavery to sin and satan…
AS the Lion He leads us to victory...to be a new kind of People...Kings & Priests to God!
The KING who wants to share Authority WITH Us
Shares Identity, Authority, and Power with us…
Sons & Daughters of God
Kings
Priests
IV. This is Who HE is! He’s the Roaring Lamb! He’s the Lamb AND the Lion!
Not a contradiction but a PICTURE to try to capture the fullness of the depth and breadth of the significance of WHO Jesus is!
These symbols, types, are connected back to the whole story of God’s revelation to humanity and are here to help us understand that scope of who Jesus is and what He has done for us!
This is who we ARE called to be IN Him!
What does this stir inside of you???
What will YOU do with this?
If this is true, (who Jesus is and who He invites us to be if we receive what He’s done for us), how does this change things?
Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Have you asked Him to save you from your sin and from satan? Have you asked him to make you clean and wash away your guilt and shame? To be the sacrifice for your sin?
“to all who received Him ...who believed on His name He gave the right to be called children of God…”
If you HAVE received Him...are you living in your identity and calling as a son/daughter of the God and king of the Universe? Are you walking in authority? Are you living in the power that He gives you for life and godliness each day?
Are you entering boldly into His presence regularly as a Priest given the privilege of bringing prayer and praise into the presence of the almighty God???
What will YOU do with what you have heard tonight?
