Worship and its Rationale - 15

Let me read a couple of four hymns to you this evening that just a couple of verses out of a couple and then words out of a out of another him that again remind us of the means of grace that God is given that enable us to sing gifted people who have put words to music that enhance our ability to communicate to God. Our worship and are reflective of what we find in the Scriptures. What is going on right now in heaven, so listen to these words.

This is the him.

I called and asked Greg Phillips about. I had some words in my mind and he told me what the title to him was Lord enthroned in heavenly splendor is five stanzas. But my thought was on the fifth stanza that says life imparting heavenly manna stricken rock with streaming side heaven and earth with loud Hosanna worship the Lamb who died hallelujah hallelujah risen, ascended, glorified need to keep that on our minds that the Lord is enthroned in heavenly splendor.

This him, Jesus, thou art heavens dayspring soon, thou shalt return in glory. Take thy saints to reign with the we shall shine as stars before the round the radiant crystal see wrath in hell did once await us, thou are dayspring didst appear errors of heaven, thou hast made us we shall shine forever.

There then the words of the him if you tuned in early to hear Prelude music. The servants of God your master proclaim the servants of God your master proclaim and publish abroad. His wonderful name.

The name all victorious of Jesus extol his kingdom is glorious, he rules over all, God ruling on high Almighty to save and still he is nine. His presence we have the great congregation's triumph shall same ascribing salvation to Jesus our king, salvation to God who sits on the throne. Let all cry aloud and honor the son.

The praises of Jesus. The Angels proclaim fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb then let us a door and give him his right. All glory and power. All wisdom and might all honor and blessing with angels above and thanks, never ceasing and infinite love.

We have returned to Revelation chapter 4.

And I want to read the first quality reading part of the chapter beginning in verse one. Revelation chapter 4. Here the words of the living God. After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven and the and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I will show you things which must take place after this.

Immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven and one sat on the throne and he who sat there was like a jasper and a Sardis stone in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald around the throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads and from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and in the midst of the throne and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes and running in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man in the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within, and they do not rest day or night, saying holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. The 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying you are worthy, old Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created tonight.

Our focus is on the conspicuous activity that is recorded for us by John the regulator in this chapter, and what he describes forces a scene of worship. He was, he says taken up in the spirit verse two immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven, and one sat on throne.

John has been privileged to receive the vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1, and now a new vision and we mark those visions that are recorded in the book of Revelation and mark them as transition points as we make our way through our study of this book and this is the second vision that John receives now the first vision again is recorded in chapter 1, and it is the vision of the glorified Christ in John said he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and he says and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia and in those seven churches are recorded by name. So John receive Revelation directly from the Lord Jesus Christ and was instructed to write this down into send this to the churches and John faithfully did that now he is receiving Revelation by vision and again he says after these things were not told how much time elapsed between the first vision in the second vision that he says after these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I will show you things which must take place after this.

So John receives a singular personal summons in this vision he sees a door. The door opened up into heaven, and he was summoned to come up here and he was to be shown things that must take place as it says there after this. So what I want to do tonight is to enumerate. In this chapter 6 reasons for God to be worshiped is clear that that is what is being described by John and without looking at the detail. Let me just in summary, tell you what John sees and what John records and then as we as I draw attention to the six reasons will look a little more detail but first thing John sees when he goes through that open door into heaven, he sees a and he sees somebody sitting on that throne. That is the central focus of what John sees a throne and one sitting in splendor and glory and majesty and throne and then he sees around that throne. Four living creatures that he's going to describe for us and I want to get ahead of myself but just to alert you that what I believe is the the right correct identification of these four living creatures are that they are the cherubim of God and they are around the throne, so we have in the center. The epicenter of throne enthroned by Almighty God and then four living creatures around that throne and then around around those for living creatures are is another circle and there are 24 thrones, and 24 elders sitting on those throne here there in representation, speak to that in a moment.

What's interesting, John is told to record the things that he sees and that's what he does throughout the book and almost without exception. He records without commentary and without explanation.

He doesn't say. I saw the seven trumpets of God and the seven trumpets of God are no he doesn't do that he doesn't explain what the seven trumpets are the vials of the bowls or any other thing. So we are simply left with the detailed description that John has received by way vision. Now we are trusting the rest of Scripture to help us and to inform us of what is the appropriate interpretation of these pictures and these symbolic images that John receives so tonight, let's proceed in this way. Six reasons that God is to be worshiped. Reason number one because he alone controls all of history because he alone controls all of history and let me point you to words of verse one again.

John receives this singular personal summons, peer now again John remained on the island of Patmos. It isn't doesn't physically leave there and go to heaven. He is transported in the spirit similar thing that happened to them in verse in chapter 1, when he had the vision of the glorified Christ so less. We think that John is transferred, recorded in body and soul to heaven and somehow returns to write these things. No, he is physically still on the island of Patmos in his physical body and his spirit is trance formed or transmitted to this heavenly realm where he receives revelation that the natural man cannot receive. Again, this is what he says after these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I will show you things which must take place after this things which must take place after this.

I want you to see in that phrase I will show you the things which must take place after this that God is to be worshiped because he is the God of sovereignly ruling and reigning over all of history. Please take note of the divine must that is recorded there. I will show you things which must take place after this. Not things that might take place. Not things that should take place, not things that in all probability will take place but I will show you the things that must take place. They can't help but take place. Why is that because God has decreed the entire course of history and because of that decree.

Things must not a necessity. Come to pass exactly as he has decreed and no other way. Nothing that is revealed in this book can fail to come to pass because behind it all stands the unchangeable Council of the Almighty, which is determined the end from the beginning. Now it's beyond our human comprehension.

We struggle with the limitations of our humanity. None of us can predict what's going to happen tomorrow, let alone decree what's going to happen tomorrow, and yet this God that is enthroned in heaven who is being worshiped is worship because he sovereignly controls all of history.

Unfathomably unquestionably nothing can fail to happen that he has decreed to happen.

No one can hinder him.

No one can undermine him.

No one can change his counsel or his will, or his plans and that's not just the big picture of history as large as that is as broad as that scope is.

But that involves our personal history, nothing, nothing transpires in this world nothing transpires in your life child of God that God is not decreed that God is not determined the God has not said this must happen because it must happen, it inevitably will happen now with that is a lot of Mistry but you know it's good to talk among Christians.

I just left Robbie Stewart's home, Martha and the girls, and other family members were there and a good number of them are Christians.

Robbie's parents are still living there up in age and to talk with them and there is this almost as universal sense and there was not an exception to anybody that I talked to their who disagreed with the fact that God does all things well that God can be trusted to God is faithful that God is doing things we may not understand, but what he's doing is good and it was encouraging to talk matter-of-fact Christian talk, rooted in reality with people who are sorrowing, who are shocked in the sudden home-going of a man that was loved and and respected, but he gave me the opportunity to talk to one particular man and I said you know where in good company. He was talking about how great the sorrow was and I said well were in good company because the Bible tells us that Jesus was a man of sorrow and acquainted with and I said why, why was he a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief because he lived in glory. He lived above and beyond this sin cursed world where he had lived for all eternity prior to the incarnation was nothing but bliss and joy in glory and he willfully voluntarily left all that any came on a rescue mission became into this world and he took upon himself sorrow and grief in order to redeem sinners. No wonder the hymn writer could say man of sorrows. What a name for the son of God who came and then the refrain hallelujah what a Savior. What a Savior that would leave the glories of heaven and come to the sin cursed world and take on grief and sorrow in order to redeem sinners. The number one God is to be worshiped because he is the sovereign God for history and the boy that should be so encouraging and comforting to us in this world of uncertain tea and changing day by day. We feel the helplessness. We can't control life. We can't control very little about life and yet God has in his power to control over all things he has control in all of history's of God is to be worshiped. Number one because he alone controls all of history.

Number two.

He is to be worshiped because of his glory because of his glory.

Notice again what John records he does not record it doesn't give us a detailed description of God because the Bible says that God lives in unapproachable light, no one has seen him nor can describe him. He so what does John describe John did is describing what is emanating from the throne, what is the effect going on because of him who is sitting on the throne. Notice what he says and he who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. He's trying to describe glory and majesty is trying to capture our imagination with the splendor of God's Shekinah glory and there is such brilliance and there is such refracting and reflecting of light that it is dazzling.

It is brilliant. It is beyond near description. He says there was one like a jasper and later on in Revelation effect Revelation chapter 21 verse 11 says, speaking of the new Jerusalem having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone that same stone.

The John is describing their verse three, and then he says in Galatians 2111 like a jasper stone, clear as crystal clear as crystal. It's as if he's describing the brilliance of the diamond that captures the light and reflects the light and retract refracts the light and is dazzling in its beauty. And that's the glory that John is trying to describe here. He's not the only one who has attempted to do this for us in Ezekiel, Daniel, they speak of a bright crystal white throne something like a diamond indicating the righteousness and purity of God as well as his glory and splendor, but that's what John is telling us, and he's telling us that as an explanation of why God is to be worshiped. He is worshiped because of his glory and our very few things in this world that we could point to two even give us a similarity of what were talking about were talking glory. It's the essence of God's his otherness, his transcendence is his awesomeness is majesty his splendor. It's his glory needs to be worshiped for that. What else you were looking at six reasons God is to be worshiped got us to be worshiped because he alone controls all of history. He's to be worshiped because not a number two because of his glory.

He is to be worshiped. Number three because of his faithfulness because of his faithfulness. Notice again. As John describes it force. He was set. There was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald like an emerald. What is that rainbow it's a symbol it's a picture. It's a reminder of the covenant that God entered into with Noah that he would never ever destroy the earth by flood and again a picture of God's faithfulness and why's that necessary well because there is going to be the unleashing of wrath and judgment in the coming chapters, John is going to record and here's a reminder that that wrath and that judgment is not to be interpreted as though God is forgotten his promises know God is still faithful God has warned the unrepentant God is called men sinners to repentance and those who refused to repent, will face the judgment and the wrath of God.

Notice he says he's describing this rainbow. He says around at a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald that emerald is the picture of green and it's a picture of life and creation in in the nurture of God in the new heaven and a new art that is coming and it's a reminder of God's creative power in God's sustaining power so there is the first three reasons that God is to be worshiped is to be worshiped because he alone controls all of history is to be worshiped because of his glory needs to be worshiped because of his faithfulness. Number four God is to be worshiped because of his power, God is to be worshiped because of his power.

Notice John Bazin with his description and he says in verse four around the throne were 24 throne sent on the throne.

I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads and from the throne proceeded lightning and thundering's invoices, seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of the of God and before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and in the midst of the throne and around the throne. There were four living creatures full of eyes and Trenton in back God is to be worshiped because of his power. John saw that he describes 24 throne was there in verse four and on those thrones 24 elders and the best description I think the most credible description, or explanation here is that here is a picture, a representative picture of the redeemed church around the throne. Here are 24 thrones, and these 24 thrones represent the 12 patriarchs the 12 names of Israel recorded in the Old Testament representing the old covenant and the 12 apostles represent the new covenant here is the redeemed church made up of all the redeemed of all the ages those who were redeemed under the old covenant.

Those who looked to the promised Messiah. From their vantage point in God credited that to them for righteousness sake.

They were redeemed. They make up this the one church. The unity of the church and then the old cover the new covenant people of God were looking back to Jesus Christ and his coming in his Cross work and they are the redeemed of the new covenant, and together they make the up the one church there is unity in the body of Christ, and around this throne are thrones and again representative. There's just 24 thrones, and 24 elders on those throne you say will, on what basis do you have for assigning that identification well when you go over to Revelation chapter 21 and we are told of the city of God is coming down out of heaven and were told that there will be the names of the 12 patriarchs on the gates of that city and on the foundation stones of that city are the names of the 12 apostles, drawing from that description were were were letting Scripture interprets Scripture. So here are these thrones.

Here is the representative church when I say God is to be worshiped because of his power, God's power to save. There's no one going to be in heaven. Nobody's nobody prepared and suited to worship in heaven that God hasn't worked in power to make them such power of God to re-create a solar power of God to transform a man from darkness to light, it the power of God to call a man out of spiritual deadness and in imparting him spiritual life, God is to be worshiped because of his power, God has power. Not only is creative power.

He created everything that we see sustains everything by the word of his power, but were talking about spiritual realities. The power of God to create, re-create, transform a life to make men and women worshipers of God. So were talking about the power of God.

But there's more here.

There is verse six is says before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and there is a manuscript note in my Bible that says not a literal sea of glass, but what appears to be like a sea of glass, and that is an important distinction. Why's that because were told again.

Let's back up a minute. If you have a hermeneutic that insists on a literal interpretation that everything we read in the book of the Revelation needs to be literally interpreted so when we see that it says before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal than their there had to be a sea of glass that you hermeneutic you run into problems because Revelation chapter 21 verse one tells us that the new heaven and the new earth says now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and also there was no more sea. No more sea. So if there was no more sea than this can be a literal sea process to be interpreted figuratively or symbolically, and what I want to suggest to you here is the here is another manifestation of the power of God. Now again I am assuming a posture of humility and I'm not being dogmatic. I read half a dozen possible interpretations of what this could mean and I might be wrong and those that I'm drawing from you.

I'm learning from they might be wrong, but as I've considered all the options. What seems to make the most sense to me is that what it we have here before us is again a picture of glory in heaven.

A place that is untainted by sin and corruption and for Jew. The sea was a place of chaos and turbulence and it represented disorder. In it Rick Reese represented danger what God is saying. I think here that he is subdued. All of his enemies. Everything that causes fear everything that creates disturbance and turmoil. Everything that is out of order has been said in order and here before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and just like the children of Israel came across the Red Sea walked across it on as if they were on dry ground, the people of God will know in existence, free of any turbulence any upheaval any thing that would create fear and a reminder that God is subdued. Everything he has redeemed creation and it itself that is groaning longing for its redemption is Paul would tell us in Romans chapter 8 here is redemption pictured fully redeemed and at peace.

At least that's what I went up set before you was a possibility were giving you reasons six reasons that we can look to here in Revelation chapter 4. As reasons why God should be worshiped. Number one because he sovereignly controls the events of all of history number two because of his glory. Number three because of his faithfulness number four because of his power. Number five, because of his grace because of his grace. Notice what it tells us is around the throne were 24 thrones is verse four and on the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads and from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, invoices seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

The lamps of fire burning before the throne speak of God's purifying grace God's work of sanctification, God, burning away the dross of our lives. God purifying for himself a people in the seven spirits of God is a description of the Holy Spirit that all of this is spirit wrought all of this is produced by the operation of the spirit of God.

God is to be worshiped because of his grace God is at work through his Spirit in redeeming and purifying in and purging away sin and those things that would make us unacceptable for heavenly abode in for this scene that it John is privilege to be whole God is to be worshiped for his grace. It is his grace that saves sinners.

It is his grace that sustains us.

It is his grace that will ultimately bring us all the way home to glory to God is to be worshiped because he alone controls all of history. God is to be worshipful because of his glory. God is to be worshiped because of his faithfulness. God is to be worshiped because of his grace God is be worshiped because of his power. Number six God is to be worshiped because of his holiness, God is to be worshiped because of his holiness. Notice it says before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and in the midst of the throne and around the throne.

There were four living creatures full of eyes in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man in the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle, and the four living creatures, each having six wings which were full of eyes around and within, and they do not rest day or night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Again, if you go back to Ezekiel chapter 1 and you read the description of Zeke Ezekiel's vision, you will see similar language that's being described here by John and Ezekiel gives us the identification of these living creatures that they are the cherubim of God. They are these angelic beings that God created that are majestic and awesome and powerful that they are guardians around his throne.

They are the cherubim of God who are pictured over the ark of the covenant and what we have here is again the cherubim of God, but there's married to this image that John has for us. These four living creatures are like a lion like a calf, like the face of a man like a flying eagle.

And what is pictured here. I think before us is the creative power of God that here is the creation and all of its dimension created for God's glory created for God's worship. Think about these four images.

The first living creature was like a lion, what we think we think of the line, we think of the king of the beast that the head of the food chain of the wild animals the most majestic, the most powerful second living creature was like a calf for your translation may say like an ox. The strongest of all the domestic animals so the lion looked at the though the animal kingdom.

The wild animal, but the ox the strongest of the domestic animals. The third living creature like had a face like a man again, God's creative power that part of his creation that he created in his own image, the apex, the height of his creation. Humanity and then the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle legal the.

The bird that flies the majestic Eagle and it's against a picture of God, full scope of creation everything God created. God created for his own glory that was declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork. That all the created beings are created for God. You and I are created for God. We are created to be worshipers of God to adorn him to glorify him.

The chief what is the chief aim of God of man to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

That is why God created us, we see the fulfillment of all that God is created. There, in this wonderful picture of worship and again God is to be worshiped because of his holiness. Here are these cherubim's of God and what should QSC and that these are the cherubim of God is this description of them having six wings. Remember Isaiah year can use iodide I saw the Lord, high and lifted up in his train filled the temple.

He saw the cherubim of God.

They had six wings with two they covered their eyes with two they covered their feet, with two they did fly here again are the living creatures, each having six wings verse eight with were full of eyes around and within and this is their occupation day and night. They do not rest day or night, saying holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. God's holiness seems to be worshipers holding we heard wonderful message this morning on Christians ought to be people, men and women Boys and Girls Club or personal pursuing a life of holiness. The writer of Hebrews is apartment apart from holiness no one will see the Lord is not just a suggestion. It is an absolute. It is an absolute necessity. So God is to be worshiped because of his holiness. Because of his transcendence and the question then arises in our minds as we see this picture of these creatures created for God created for worship around the throne and they are a catalyst for the 24 elders. Notice what it says whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. The 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying you are worthy old Lord, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. God is to be worshiped for his holiness and let me take you back because we can think about Revelation a lot of different ways you can think about Genesis chapter 1 and two and we can categorize what takes place in what is recorded there is paradise lost. We have here in Revelation paradise restored, particularly the last couple of chapters of the book of the Revelation we have here set before us by John's vision picture of restoration full restoration, but you remember when Adam and Eve sinned and were driven from the garden, driven from paradise, that there was the cherubim of God that stood with a flaming sword to guard the entrance so that no man could reenter because of his sin and because of the relationship being disrupted between him and Almighty God. So the question is how does any man. How does any sinner find himself in this place. How are we, you and I ever going to be accepted before God.

How are you and I ever going to be around the throne, offering the worship that is recorded here by John.

The regulators well it's because God delights in extending a summons to sinners and just as John received this singular personal summons.

Jesus, he received that from Jesus. Jesus is calling sinners, unto me all ye who are labeled labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. How are you fit for heaven.

How are you fit to be around this throne in heaven someday, but coming in obeying the summons of Jesus coming to Jesus in faith. Coming to Jesus and repentance and he will make you over. He will transform you.

He will redeem you.

He will change you from the inside out will make for heavenly habitation and he will make you fit for heavenly occupation because this is the occupation of heaven worship of God so we have looked tonight at six reasons, and those are just six reasons that this text.

The text of Scripture here suggests there are more reasons than we have time to enumerate.

But here are six here in Revelation chapter 4. God is to be worship number one because he alone controls all of history number two because of his glory. Number three because of his faithfulness number four because of his power is to be worship number five because of his grace and finally we've seen God is to be worshiped because of his holiness. Folks, we ought to be in all that God would so work in the lives of sinners, that he would come to us he would redeem us, he would give us a new heart, he would give us new desires that he would prepare us for and re-create us for the very purpose that he is created everything in this universe.

We are created we have been redeemed that we would find our fullest satisfaction. Our highest purpose in worshiping him, glorifying him, serving him he must be our reference point. He must be the most important thing in our on our life as we live our lives on in this world. If your reference point in your giving your life or anything other than number one you won't impress God you won't satisfy God you want to earn God's favor. Number two.

It is the only thing that will bring real satisfaction real purpose real meaning to your life because it is the reason God created you. It is a reason God has redeemed you that you would be a worshiper because he alone is worth. Shall we pray. Father, we thank you for your word and for its truthfulness and for how it is trustworthy. It is reliable. It is a picture of reality that awaits every child of God, and we thank you father for those that we've known and loved in this world who are no longer with us, who left this world of woe and entered in to the place of unspeakable glory and splendor, and we don't know all that they're doing but we know one thing that is a large preoccupation of their existence in heaven and it is worship before the throne and we thank you for what we find here in the sacred Scriptures, the John could say at the end of chapter 5. I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was 10,000×10,000, and thousands of thousands all God, what an innumerable company that that describes and what are they doing, they are saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing of God work in us prepare us keep us for that day.

We pray in Jesus name, amen