Worship: When we delight in the holiness Worship 2 (Revelation 4:1-11)

Introduction What is the meaning of “holy”?

The contemplative tradition – the life devoted to prayer The holiness tradition – the life committed to virtue The charismatic tradition – the life led by the Holy Spirit

The social-justice tradition – the life conditioned by compassion The evangelical tradition – the life directed by the Word The incarnational tradition – the life experienced as sacred

The contemplative tradition – the life devoted to prayer The holiness tradition – the life committed to virtue The charismatic tradition – the life led by the Holy Spirit social-justice tradition – the life conditioned by compassion The evangelical tradition – the life directed by the Word The incarnational tradition – the life experienced as sacred

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation 1:17-18, NLT).

“8 … Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8, NIV)

What is God’s Holiness? God is not superman

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 12:19, NIV)

24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24, NIV)

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence [holy fear] and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

God’s Holiness refers to God’s … Meaning of “holy” [Heb.: qadosh] Used “of God, as separate, apart, and so sacred, holy.” “exalted on a theophanic throne.” “ separate from human infirmity, impurity and sin.” Used of a place, utensils, people (priests): place, things and people set aside for God’s use.

God’s Holiness refers to God’s Transcendent Purity

3. What happens when sinful man meets the holy God 8 So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. 9 Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. (Daniel 10:7-9, NLT)

3. What happens when sinful man meets the holy God “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:28b, NIV)

3. What happens when sinful man meets the holy God “10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.” (1 Kings 8:10-11, NIV).

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” (Revelation 1:17-18, NLT).

Sinful man is overwhelmed by the holy God. Sinful man begins to understand the otherness, the transcendence, the purity of God When we see God, we can ask him questions … I suppose. But when we see God, we have no more questions.

4. Revelation 4 “Holy, holy holy” builds on the vision of Isaiah 6 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 

4. Revelation 4 “Holy, holy holy” builds on the vision of Isaiah 6 3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” 4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6, NLT)

5 Then I said, “It’s all over. I am doomed, for I am a sinful man 5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

God’s holiness is dangerous to sinful man God’s holiness rescues sinful man God’s healing is in his holiness – it drives away all sin, sickness and death. God’s justice is in his holiness – it drives away all injustice. God’s grace comes from his holiness which is a consuming fire

We have a hole in our holiness The hole in our holiness is that we don’t really care about it.

Romans 1 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.

1 Corinthians 1 2 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

Ephesians 1 I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. Colossians 1 2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

The hole in our holiness comes from the neglect of God’s holiness

The hole in our holiness comes from the neglect of God’s holiness “The cruel irony of choosing God's love over his holiness is that we end up losing both. The affection of a familiar, buddy deity isn't worth much. Only the love of the Lord of heaven and earth, who dwells in unapproachable light, is truly awe-inspiring. When we lose sight of God's greatness, his love loses meaning.” (Drew Dyck, “How we forgot the holiness of God”)

Conclusion We catch a vision of God’s holiness – through Word and Worship We receive our affirmation of holiness in Jesus – our consuming, purifying fire We obey the instruction to holiness – by obedience to the Word and to conscience