Jesus Is Worthy

Read Text

Revelation 5:11–14 NASB95

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Introduction

It is important for us to know that service and fidelity to God should not only be based on what God does (blessings) but who He is!

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego

Lam 3:22-24 “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.””

Ps 47 - Praise Him because He is highly exalted

Ps 63:2-3 “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.”

In our text we have the two: Who He is “the Lamb” What He did “that was slain”

The victory that Revelation speaks of is only possible because of the one that gives the victory: Jesus.

Breakdown

Chap. 4 shows a scene of the Father on the throne

The scene mainly describes the glorious nature of the one who sits on the throne

And the worship given to the one on the throne by all the “celestial beings”

Even though some of the heavenly beings are depicted to hold some power, all “fall down” and “cast their crowns before the throne”

CREATIVE ACTIVITY BRINGS PRAISE

Chap. 5 shows the emergence of someone else

John sees a book to which he asks a significant question, “who is worthy to open it and to break its seals”

“No one was worthy” - This word means

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 545 ἄξιος

in keeping with or corresponding to what is expected

“bringing into balance” [price of a product/pay for a job] - In Jesus’ case, the deed to be done and the character/nature/ability

“I wept greatly” - why? This goes beyond John’s curiosity and speaks to a larger issue regarding the struggle the church will face.

REDEMPTIVE ACTIVITY BRINGS PRAISE

Rev. 5:12 “saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.””

These three are echoed by the heavenly and earthly

Honour - do I have the right value on Jesus?

Glory - speaks to my regard/opinion

Blessings - address what I say

When I consider my thoughts, my speech and what I do, DO they reflect a Jesus that is worthy

In the face of His identity and divinity, Is He worthy?

We must honour the Son

John 5:23 NASB95

so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

The above ties into Jn 12:26

John 12:26 NASB95

“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Application

I must be able do honest self-examination to see if I am honouring The Lord.

1 Cor 2:11 “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

Honouring God is multi-faceted!!!

Example [a good husband is not only judged by the ability to provide financially but in other areas].

Honouring God cannot simply be viewed from one aspect.

Not just speech - “some say Lord Lord” Matt 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”

Not just activity - Luke 18:14 - a man prayed but without humility

Not just how I look - Matt 23:27-29 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,”

Not just giving - Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:3 “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?”

Honouring God is seen in my praise [speak or sing of God’s greatness].

I’m reminded that He is the reason I conquer Rom 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

He is the reason for everything that I am 1 Cor 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”

DO I RECOGNIZE HIS WORTH???

Is Jesus worthy of your obedience?

Is He worthy of your life?

Philippians 2:10–11 NASB95

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.