Worship: When we realize the greatness Worship 1 (Revelation 4:1-11)

Introduction 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.” (Revelation 4:1, NIV)

“9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 1:9)

Introduction 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.” (Revelation 4:1, NIV)

Introduction 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.” (Revelation 4:1, NIV)

10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches …” (Revelation 1:10-11, NIV)

Introduction 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.” (Revelation 4:1, NIV)

Introduction 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.” (Revelation 4:1, NIV)

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 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. 

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 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. 

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 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. 

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 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.

Worship is to be awed by God’s greatness 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.”

Four results of worshipping when we see God’s greatness 1. Worship becomes our most joyful and pleasurable engagement

Worship becomes most joyful and pleasurable God’s greatness on his throne Our heart is made for worship, and it remains restless until it returns home to worship its maker

Worship becomes most joyful and pleasurable Worship is to see the throne, not a mirror

2. Worship drives our understanding of sovereign power 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. 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

2. Worship drives our understanding of sovereign power Emperor Domitian: “Dominus et Deus” John 20: 28 “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God.” Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, our Lord and our God, …”

2. Worship drives our understanding of sovereign power

2. Worship drives our understanding of sovereign power The case of Acts 12 and Herod Agrippa The case of Acts 12 and Nero The case of Emperor Vespasian The case of George Washington The case of the late Lee Kuan Yew

2. Worship drives our understanding of sovereign power The invite: “Come up here”

3. Worship removes our distresses The presence of God removes every personal failure that causes us distress: The presence of God removes every disease that causes us distress: The presence of God removes every social ill:

4. Worship secures victory from defeat We worship false gods to defeat. We must worship the true God to victory.

Conclusion Our heart is made for worship. Our worship here is imperfect When there is no more preaching, there is still worship There is no worship without praise

Praising tunes your heart to worship. Worship tunes your heart to God