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Chapter 12 THE WORSHIP OF CHRIST
(Rev 4 KJV) "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. {2} And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. {3} And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about in sight like unto an emerald. {4} And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. {5} And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. {6} And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. {7} And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. {8} And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. {9} And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, {10} The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, {11} Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Why do people who are saved and spirit-filled not come to church? Work, bored, busy, sick, family, other responsibilities. All these excuses are carnal -- selfish. Even sickness. Isn't the house of God a place of healing?
Why do we come to church? To praise, to minister, to give, to fellowship and commune one with another and with God. All is Worship to God!
There must be a cry to know God! What is worship to you in regard to relationship? What is God doing to our worship?
(John 4:23 KJV) "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."
Before I can worship Him I must know He is worthy of my worship or I will worship something or someone else. We will give our attention to whatever we worship. Sometimes it's us (self). When the Lord returns "Will he find faith?" FAITHFULNESS! We are drawn away by our lusts through temptations (James 1:14). Wuest - "Everyone is solicited to sin when he is enticed by his own craving. Then when the aforementioned craving is conceived the door is opened to sin." The Lord will give you the desire of your heart even if it doesn't line up with His will. Psm. 106:15 tells us the Lord sent leanness to their soul because they craved that which wasn't the Lord's perfect will.
What is the center of this chapter? WORSHIP! The door is opened to what? A throne. Where does this throne exist in the believer? The heart. Who is on it? Who rules? The battle is who rules? Satan cannot touch you if Jesus Christ is ruling on the throne. And if He is, then He will be worshipped in spirit, the part of our nature that belongs to God. And He will be worshipped in truth, the part of our nature that God is dealing with. Worship in truth allows God to show us our hearts and enables us to respond according to that word. Sometimes the truth causes us to laugh. Sometimes the truth causes us to cry. But when truth comes, an equal reaction or response is expected. When truth comes, liberty follows, freedom flows. Do all of us know what it is like to experience the freedom of the Spirit? If you cannot remember, then it is time to get back into worship where the truth can operate. [I personally believe at this point people can sit under the teaching of truth but never get freed; they only receive knowledge because they have not learned to submit to worshipping God. The heart is prepared through worship.]
The first voice John heard was like a trumpet -- that is the word of truth. It resounds in our ear so we can act upon it. When you stop acting upon that sound, your heart becomes hardened. If it remains hardened, how will you hear the last trumpet sound?
When you hear, verse 2 says you will immediately be in the spirit. When you listen, the spirit man will begin to act.
(Exo 19:16 KJV) "And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled." Thunders and lightnings. What was in Rev.4? A trumpet. Nobody is blowing this trumpet. It is coming from God. Everyone heard it and it brought a reaction. God is speaking, and as He does, our responses will be a revelation of our walk with the Lord.
(Exo 20:18-19 KJV) "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. {19} And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."
How did the people react? Are we any different than the Israelites? God does show up in the midst of His people. But do we know how to react? This is mountain top revelation and experience. It's not just a lot of shouting and singing. This is worship! True worship produces the Word of the Lord (Rhema). If we do not know the Word (Logos), we do not worship. You cannot worship from a distance -- that is praise (outer court). Worship is face to face -- intimacy -- hearing.
(Song 1:2 KJV) "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine."
In the Old Testament the people said, "Moses you get close to Him lest we die." In the New Testament the cry should be, "Lord, we must get close to you lest we die." There is no other way to know Him. Where are the people who know God?
There is one reason why people do not go to a church: because they cannot find Him there. But you will not find Him if you do not worship.
What happened to the people when God went up the mountain and they did not go with him? They began to worship something else, even though God had told them not to. Are we so dumb to believe that is not happening to us when we do not gather for worship? [It is my job to bring this truth, but it is your job to practice truth.] Granted, Moses was gone a long time, so the Priest Aaron, being a people pleaser, gave them what they wanted. What is happening today? God doesn't show up the way we think or when we think, so we go awhoring after other gods. We do not pray for twenty-one days like Daniel; instead, we take our own plans and run with them.
4 beasts [Christ-likeness] (verses 6-7) FACES OF CHRIST: Full of eyes = knowledge Lion = authority - this is the ability to rule over the flesh. Ox = sacrificial, servant - knowing where to serve and how to serve. This is knowing how to bring truth into reality. Where are the servants? Man = humanity - This is who we are, even with our human frailties. Relying on God's acceptance, not peoples, allows me to be who I am. Eagle = spiritual walk or flight - wherever He goes we go. (relationship)
As a part of the body of Christ we must have all four of these operating from time to time. When I recognize His acceptance, I will worship the Lord God ALMIGHTY. If I believe that He is Almighty, able to handle anything that happens, then I will worship Him.
The first song that comes in worship according to this chapter is the worship of "Who God is." He is HOLY (verse 8). The second song that we see is the worship of "What God does" (verse 11). (We have reversed the order, emphasising His performance over His person.)
(Rev 4:11 KJV) "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
He is worthy because of His creation. I have discovered I cannot worship Him if I do not accept myself as His creation. On the other hand, if I do not like the way you are created, then I may not worship (especially if you affect me.) All things that were created are for Him. Why do you exist? Are you a mistake? Did you just happen? NO! He created you; and when you are redeemed, you will be like Him. You do not have the right to say, "Look at poor me." Instead, see yourself as His handi work, and know that you will be held accountable for how you take care of His creation! Will you be known as a worshipper?
The elders cast their crowns at His feet because they recognized nothing they had done or had become was without Him. I have nothing to produce. I cannot produce happiness, wholeness or healing. I exist for just Him, our God, the one who demands and deserves Worship and praise. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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