Worship in Heaven - A Vision of Heaven: Part 3 - Revelation 4: 9-11

1:48And then he saw these living beings in the throne or around the midst of the center of the throne. And they were proclaiming in verse 8, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come. These living creatures give glory, and when they do, it triggers a chain reaction in heaven, a worship chain reaction. So I want to step into this scene in heaven, continue in looking at this worship scene. There's actually, as we continue to go through chapters 4 and chapter 5, we'll come to two worship scenes.

2:36And the first one we come to this morning. You know, if you really want to worship God, you need to understand what's happening in this text. Heaven is certainly a place of worship. And we have a very vivid depiction of worship in heaven right here before our eyes. Morning. And if we are going to be true worshipers, then we are going to need to take away from this text and have our lives imitate what's happening in this text this morning.

3:16Question is: Do you worship Him? Are you a true worshiper of God? And do you even know what that looks like? How can you know that you're truly worshiping Him? Well, as we look at this text, I think you'll come away with some very core principles of what worship is. And it's first and foremost importance to understand that those who lead worship in heaven, these living beings and then these elders, that they are first and foremost worshipers. They lead worship because they truly worship. You see, there's a difference between leading people and leading people in worship.

4:10I could get up here and lead you in a Bible study, but I cannot lead you in worship unless I am truly a worshiper myself. Likewise, we have beautiful music. Thank you this morning for all the work and all the effort that goes into leading us. But you know what? There's a difference between leading music and leading worship. You may be able to get up here on the platform and lead us in music, but you'll never be able to lead people around you in worship unless you are a true worshiper.

4:49We've got a lot of dads in the room who dad well, who father well. Likewise, we have a lot of mothers who mother well, but you know what? You'll never be able to lead your family in worship unless you're a true worshiper. We have many people who do a lot of things well, and you can lead people in a lot of things, but the most important thing that your life could ever be and ever do is lead others to worship. And you're not going to be able to lead others in worship if you yourself are not a true worshiper.

5:26God may use you in spite of yourself, but you'll never be able to lead somebody in worship unless they see coming out of you and hear coming out of you the sounds and tones and sights of true worship. And this is actually what God wants from his people: worship. It's the greatest need of our time. True worshipers. True worshipers. I don't care. Where you are, I don't care what sector of society you're in, or what you can look around, the greatest need in our society is true worshipers.

6:12And it's also the greatest challenge you'll ever face to truly worship God. Because fundamentally, there's something in the way of worshiping God, and that's yourself. It's the greatest need and the greatest challenge. This past, well, past couple months, some in our college ministry have engaged a young man from Asia, a very strong gripped communist country in Asia. And he is a skeptic, a very strong skeptic of Christianity. Basically, says that Christianity is fundamentally flawed because what Christianity seeks is a God to be worshipped. And he says, I can tell you, all those that I know of and aware of, those totalitarian regimes, they love to be worshipped. They want to extract everything from the people. And so Christianity says, yeah, you're not to receive glory, but then you have a God who wants to receive all the glory for himself. What's wrong with this picture?

7:33I cannot believe in the God of Christianity because he wants glory for himself. And only totalitarian, evil men, evil people want the glory for himself. How do you answer that? Well, we'll come to that. But there is no question in heaven's mind that God is worthy of worship. There is no confusion there. There is no dissonance there. And so, as I pray this morning, as we look upon this worship scene that takes place among the ranks of heaven, my prayer is that we will learn to echo their worship. We have good models of worship, and they give us not only what worship is, they show us how to do it, and they explain why we need to worship. And not just us, but all heaven, all earth, all creation everywhere owes to God worship.

8:43And that is a good thing. There is no confusion in heaven's mind. It's when self gets exalted. Therein is evil. So as we look at this, I want you, I want us to become true. True worshipers. I want us to grow. Maybe you already are a true worshiper, but I want you to grow. I want all of us, as this is the challenge that I am seeing as I come to this text, that I need to grow in being a true worshiper, and I need to know what that looks like. And so this morning we have two very vivid models of worship for us. We have the worship of first the living beings. The living beings. We spent a considerable amount of time looking at them last week and then even took the evening service to look a little more at these living beings. Powerful, majestic, wonderful beings with eyes to God, eyes to man, eyes to their responsibility, eyes to heaven. They are perfectly situated to understand God, to give him glory, and to bring about his glory upon the earth. They know exactly where they are, where they fit, and are very perceptive. And I want you to see three characteristics of the worship of these living beings. Three characteristics of the worship of these living beings. First of all, notice that they celebrate who God is. They celebrate who God is. Look back at verse 8. I know we covered this last time, but just want you to observe that their celebration.

10:30Is consistent with their proclamation. Notice how they're in this ceaseless proclamation: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God the Almighty who was and who is and who is to come. They celebrate God's holiness, they celebrate God's power. He is the Almighty. They celebrate His eternality. He is the one who was, who is, and He is the One coming. He is holy, holy, holy. And they joyfully celebrate who He is. Who He is excites them. And so they delight in knowing that God is holy. That is, He's incorruptible. He's perfect, just, good. They also rejoice in the fact that He is Almighty. That means He has the power to carry out all of His good and holy intentions. He's not limited by power. He's not limited in His goodness.

11:36And He's not limited in time. And so they can celebrate His eternality. And these realities, that God is holy, that God is omnipotent, and that God is eternal. All of this guarantees that justice, good, and right will. Prevail in heaven and on earth. And this excites them. God is the object of their worship. And they have the eyes to see them. So, first and foremost, heavenly worship celebrates who God is. And I pray for all of us that God would give us those spiritual eyes with the same spiritual perception as these living beings, with eyes to God, that we'll truly understand and perceive who God is, that we'll truly perceive the world around us as it is, and our responsibilities and our duties and who we are in relation to all of that, that God would give us the same perception and the same delight in God, the one who sits on the throne, the one who lives forever, that God would give us the eyes and the delight that we would celebrate Him, so that all that we say and do would flow out of this simple delight in who God is.

13:08Well, true worship begins with a heart that celebrates who God is. Do you celebrate who He is? Second, not only do they celebrate who He is, they give to God what He deserves. They give to God what He deserves. Let's pick this up. In verse 9 in our text this morning. And when? Notice that word. And when? When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever.

13:45Notice they give to God what He deserves. When? Even though they are engaged in this ceaseless proclamation, there are these special moments of worship that burst forth. And so heavenly worship gives to God. It is worship involves giving something to God, something that is yielded to Him, something that is granted to Him. They give to God. Notice that, and when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks, they give. They will give. They will yield something in this scene and this ceaseless proclamation, they interrupt and they give glory.

14:47And it's out of their proclamation that their proclamation drives them to worship God. They worship the God they proclaim. What a radical notion. Wouldn't it be nice if our reality matched our confession? We confess great things about God, don't we? Wouldn't it be nice to see our lives living up to that standard? I often say, if I could just live up to the dictates and to the principles of just one of my sermons, I will feel, I will be blessed, be happy. No, we constantly, well, these beings, their worship comes out of the God who they proclaim.

15:39Look at what they give him. It's plain there in the text, verse 9. They give to him glory, honor, and thanks. Glory, the living beings, they give to God that which he deserves. What does he deserve? He deserves glory, honor, and thanks. Glory, the idea is brightness, radiance, prestige. They ascribe magnificence. Giving glory to God is about increasing his magnificence in the world, not your own. And he is deserving of that because he is magnificent. And so worship is about ascribing to him the magnificence that he possesses.

16:30The living beings are able to see his magnificence and then desire that to be increased throughout heaven. And so that's what true worshipers do. They seek to increase God's magnificence, not their own. And it's not that we add to God's magnificence. He is magnificent in and of himself, whether you and I recognize it or not. He is magnificent. But true worshipers seek to make his magnificence known. And so, in that way, we ascribe magnificence. We're about increasing his magnificence over increasing ours. The second thing that God deserves is honor. Honor. What is honor about? Well, honor is about paying respect. To honor somebody is to enrich somebody. Enrich somebody for something they've done. To compensate. That's the idea. To compensate. He is worthy of tribute. He is worthy to be compensated.

17:44Compensated with our lives and everything with our money. He is worthy to be compensated. He is worthy to receive tribute. So, we get the idea of honorarium. Somebody does something that is of value or plays a role, you sometimes will give them an honorarium. That's a tribute to say thank you. And we understand this, like if we go to a restaurant, what would you think of me if I went to a restaurant and somebody, one of the college students, is over there working trying to get through school, and they do a bang-up job in serving me and my family and taking care of us. And then as I leave, I throw them a penny.

18:40Would that be offensive? That would be pretty offensive. And why would that be offensive? Because I deemed their service of very little value. Well, you know, cheap tippers, cheap tippers, they're not esteemed, right? Because if somebody serves you well, then you would give them a good tip. Now, I don't understand all the tipping that goes on these days. I mean, used to be if somebody served you well, you gave them a tip. Now, they just put a can out there, and even if they're just checking you out or something, they give me a tip. Well, you haven't done it in that part, and I won't get into all that. But we all get the concept very well that if somebody serves well, they are deserving of a good tip.

19:32How much more is God deserving of an honorarium from our lives? How much more is He worthy of the flow of our riches, our strength? And what do you give? Do you worship Him? If somebody saw the giving that you give to God and the things of God, what would they think about your God? These living beings, they, you are worthy to receive glory and tribute, the best tribute, the highest tribute, gold, frankincense, everything, you are worthy of tribute. This is what foreign kings would come to do to pay tribute to greater kings.

20:29True worshipers honor God, but also living beings inform us that He is worthy of thanks. Not only glory, honor, but thanks, gratitude. He is worthy of our gratitude, expressions of our gratitude. It's the idea of thanksgiving. I gave my kids, actually, I made this challenge myself, on Thanksgiving Day. Thought, okay, since it's Thanksgiving Day, since we've set aside a day to give thanks, that's what I'm going to do. Every single one of my prayers, I'm going to purpose in some way to be an expression of thanks.

21:13I asked people in my family, are you up for this? And some of them said yes, jumped on board. You don't know how hard that might be, because how much of our prayers, Lord, please bring this about for me. Did you see what that just happened? Lord, justice. God, did you? How can you truly try it sometime? Go through a day where the only thing that you're going to allow your heart and your mind to lift up to heaven is some way, shape, or form, an expression of thanks. The living beings say, You are worthy of our gratitude. Complete, thorough, continual gratitude. That's the living beings.

22:06Well, so heavenly worship involves giving glory, honor, and thanks to God. True worship begins with a heart that celebrates God, and it continues with the heart that seeks to give God glory, to increase his magnificence, honor to increase his value, and thanks. To extend gratitude to him. There's a third thing. First, the living beings celebrate who God is. Second, they give to God what he deserves. And third, they recognize God's right to rule. They recognize God's right to rule. Looking back in verse 9. And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever, notice that last phrase: to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever. There is an object of their worship, the one who is sitting on the throne. That's the one they direct their worship to. He is the sovereign. They know they are not sovereign. He is God. They know that they are not God. Hopefully, you and I know that we are not God. Do you think you're the sovereign of the universe? I hope not.

23:35Do you know the deep things? Can you command the lightning bolts to go where they will? Can you tell the waves to stop? Then, if you confess that you are not the sovereign, do you pay tribute to the one who truly is the sovereign? That becomes the question. Well, these living beings give thanks to the one who sits on the throne. But notice also to him who lives forever and ever. They worship him, because he currently reigns, he currently is upon the throne. But guess what? He is going to forever be upon the throne. The expression is, into the ages of the ages. That's how forever is described. The ages of the ages. So this is to whom they direct their attention. It is not Caesar who sits upon the throne. It is not any particular political machine that sits upon the throne. It is not any individual. It is the sovereign. And this should comfort God's people. There's a real practical side to the object of our worship here.

24:59You see, if you will center your worship upon the God who controls the future, you will be able to overcome the difficulties that you face in your present circumstances. And remember, this letter first goes out, or this book originally goes out to churches that are struggling very hard in Asia Minor, and God gives them a vision of the one to whom they are to direct their worship. And that would give them strength. And ability to overcome. See, true worshipers, they overcome.

25:37And notice that they don't challenge God's right to rule. He is the one sitting on the throne, he is the one sitting on the throne forever and ever into the ages of the ages. Worship is void of challenge. You cannot challenge God and worship Him. Where's your heart? Are you a true worshiper? Or do you challenge Him? Well, three characteristics of the four living beings worship: they celebrate who God is, they give to God what He deserves, and they recognize God's right to rule. In simpler terms, you might say it like this: They celebrate God, they give to God, they let God be God.

26:34And listen, unless we celebrate God, unless we learn to give to God, and unless we let God be God, we cannot worship Him. But God calls us to be worshipers. What a privilege. Me, it's the first class. Evangelic beings that are worship in heaven. There's a second class, angelic worship. It's the worship of the elders. The worship of these elders. And really, at the end of the day, I went into a lot of discussion last time to explain why I believe these elders are a special class of angelic beings. But even if you disagree with me and take it as humans, it's fine. They're still leading worship in heaven. And so we take our cues, our understanding, and we're able to see what worship is by observing them.

27:42But notice that it's triggered, the elders' worship is triggered by the living beings. They are the closest to the throne. They're the ones with the eyes. And when they see and when they erupt in these momentary bursts of worship, the elders follow and join in in worshiping God. Look at verse 10. This is when the elders give, or when the living beings give worship. Verse 10, the 24 elders will fall down before him who sits on the throne and will worship him who lives forever and ever and will cast their crowns before the throne.

28:29If you look at This is carefully. There's really the worship of the elders is described in two steps. There are the non-verbal expressions of worship, and then the verbal expressions of worship, which will come in verse 11. So, first chapter 10, verse 10, is looking at the non-verbal expressions of worship. And it's interesting how much they say without saying anything. How much of worship is really said just by the posture of worship? Notice, beginning of verse 10: they will fall down before him who sits on the throne. They will fall down. Three verbs. You can just underline. They will fall down, they will worship, and they will cast. There's expressions there. They will, first of all, they will fall down before him who sits on the throne. That is, they will prostrate themselves as an expression of devotion.

29:35Something triggers. When the living beings erupt in worship, these elders come under internal compulsion to throw themselves off their thrones. 24 thrones seated. And then when worship starts with the living beings, they are. Move to throw themselves offward from their thrones. Yes, offward is a word. Offward, the throne. That's them. I don't know how to explain it, but they quickly throw themselves down from their thrones. And notice, notice who they're worshiping. They will fall down before him who sits on the throne. The very one that the living beings, the one who's sitting on the throne, for the same reasons.

30:40But notice, they will worship him who lives forever and ever. So they will fall down and they will worship. Really, the expression here is they will bow down before. This whole scene is one of worship. But the word worship would translate literally to bow down. So they throw themselves down from their thrones and they bow. You see the posture of worship. There is no one challenging the one who is sitting upon the throne. And they make it very clear. As soon as worship is called for, or a matter or anything that is called for worship, they are quickly off their thrones and they are bowed. Down in a position of worship to pay homage. They welcome Him respectfully. And notice who they are welcoming into their lives with such respect. They will worship Him who lives forever and ever. That's the same thing. That's the same one that the living beings are worshiping. Do you see a chain reaction here? You see what's happening? Do you see how worship is contagious? When one of these big, powerful beings, when they start this sequence of worship and it is contagious.

32:09And I submit to you the same thing as here upon earth. When people really see someone bowing down, when they really see somebody giving glory, paying tribute, and giving thanks to God, it is contagious. And they can't help but stand up and take notice. And some will come and bow down. That's what happens in worship. And that's why I can tell you the greatest need of our time is true worshipers. It's not just about being on the platform. It's about you living your life and your circumstances and keeping an eye to God and the worthiness of God. And then all of a sudden, when those moments come that you erupt and you give God glory for the situation, you give God glory and honor and you give him thanks. And others stand around but can't help but stand notice. And say, there is one sitting on the throne.

33:06You see? But notice what else they do. They will cast their crowns before the throne. These elders will cast their crowns before the throne. Offward goes their crowns. Offward goes, they go off from their thrones, and their crowns come off. You see the posture of worship. There isn't a hint of opposition. And these crowns are not just marks, these crowns are not marks of their self-rule, but they're emblems of God's goodness to them. They wear the crowns because God gives them the crowns.

33:52And they are genuine expressions of God's graciousness, but they recognize right at the outside they are due to Him. He is the one worthy. They are not patronizing God. It is a confession of reality. I am not deserving of the throne. I am not deserving of the crown. This is what it means to give glory and honor and thanks. True worshipers do not want any confusion about. Who is worthy to be worshipped? When the occasion comes for glory, honor, and thanks, they are quick to give it to God. True worshipers do not want to pilfer any of the praise and glory for themselves.

34:56But it's important to note that these worship leaders do more than just reposition their bodies. They go on to articulate their worship. They articulate their worship. Look, there's a lot that we say about worship by our demeanor, by our posture, by our demeanor that expresses worship. But then there is also that which comes out of our mouth that gives explanation for the posture, for our demeanor. Why there are some places we cannot go, why there are some things we cannot say, why there are certain things we cannot laugh at, while there are certain things we rejoice over, while there are certain activities. All these can be postures of worship.

35:44But it's important to give articulation to why we assume such nonverbal expressions of worship. Well, these elders. Express. There's no confusion and there's clarity what they're doing and why they've assumed this posture of worship. Look at verse 11. Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created. These verbal expressions amount to really three confessions. First of all, they confess the worthiness of God. To say that God is worthy is to say that he is deserving.

36:38Worship is an expression of worthiness, expressing that God deserves worship. And certainly it includes a personal relationship. Look at them. Worthy are you, our Lord and our God. Do you see the personal aspect of worship? Our God, our Lord. Worthy are you. So they confess the worthiness of God. Second, they confess what he is worthy to receive. Look back. Worthy are you, O Lord, our God, to receive glory, honor. Does that sound familiar? It's what the living beings ascribed: glory and honor and power. Interesting, they don't say thanks.

37:30They say, power. Power. An expression of gratitude is yielding to his influence. And so these elders ascribe to him glory. Yes, he deserves glory. You know why? Because he's holy and he can handle it. No other human, no other created being, and certainly no angel can handle the glory. Worthy are you to receive. And the word for receive is to grasp, to take hold. You are worthy to take hold of the glory and the honor. You are worthy to increase in your majesty. You are worthy to increase in your compensation, in your tribute to you. And you are worthy to be increased in power, in influence over the whole universe.

38:37No other created being could handle it. Evil dictators go after power. Why? Because they're fallen. But God is holy. He can handle it. He doesn't need it. He knows we need to worship him because he is the epitome of good. He deserves his influence to increase. We don't deserve our influence to increase. We don't deserve our magnificence to be increased. We don't deserve our compensation to be increased. We don't deserve, but he does. He is worthy.

39:38So they confess the worthiness of God. They confess what he is worthy to receive, and then they confess why he is worthy. Look back 4, verse 11. You created all things, and because of your will, they existed and were created. What has God done to deserve worship? He simply created every living thing. He's created the environment. He has created the universe. Have you ever done anything like that? No. Has any other individual, angelic being, any other political regime? Could Caesar boast of any of these things? Absolutely not. What has God done to deserve worship from His creator?

40:30He created them. He created, I love this expression, he created what is all things. A straightforward translation would be, he created the all. He created ya all and the all. And this qualifies him for worship. Herein is the simple mindset of heaven. Very, very simple. Even the old country boy can understand it. Well, he is the creator. Therefore, he is entitled to the glory and honor and thanks from his creation. No other individual can boast of that.

41:20He created the all. Therefore, he deserves to be worshipped by the all. You know, as I think about this young man who says that because God wants worship, that he is somehow evil. What's wrong with that thinking? First of all, he doesn't understand that God is holy. He is not like us at all. The evil dictators that we see arise in the world is because they do not worship God. That's the problem. They fail to give glory and honor and power to the one who deserves it.

42:10It's the lack of worship that is the problem. Not that there is one who is worthy to be worshiped. And all of heaven gets this. He created the all. He deserves worship from the all. And he's not a tyrant. He is good to the all, and that is why he is to be worshipped by the all. And evil is in those hearts and minds that will not bow. And somewhere in the chronicles of heaven, there was a call to worship, and there were these beings that said, We will not bow. We will exalt our place above his place. How foolish is that? A creature trying to exalt its position higher than the creator.

43:00Therein is the way of evil. Do you worship God? Do you recognize the prerogatives of your creator? And how does that show up? Let us be worshipers. Well, who's being worshipped in chapter 4? Creator God. If for no other reason you owe worship to God because he is your creator, we're going to get into Chapter 5, you're going to find out your God is also your Redeemer. And it's on this that all of heaven is going to worship the Lamb who was slain. But simple enough: worship all creation, everywhere, the all owe to God glory, honor, thanks, and power because He is their Creator. You see, ascribing glory or worshiping God is not just about being on some kind of visible position within our little Christian circles. It's about ascribing glory, increasing His magnificence wherever you are, about increasing His honor wherever you are, and thanks to Him in whatever circumstances, and power, giving Him the influence over your life.

44:24Listen, if you do not truly worship God, why would you pray for somebody else to come to know God? If you do not worship God, why would we expect somebody else to? But this whole scene is an invitation for us all to join the heavenly chorus. But let me say this: Revelation is about God bringing an end to the conflict between the Creator and His creation. These are the events. We're going to get into them in the New Year. The events that lead to God's establishment of his will on earth, just as it is done in heaven. But it's important to understand that before the ages of the ages commence, before eternity commences, the relationship between the creature and his creator has to be settled. The ages to come, I can assure you, the ages of the ages to come are not going to be ages of conflict. That's getting settled here. That's getting settled in the book of Revelation. And you can choose to bow down your heart to him, or you can choose to rise up in revolt against him. That's up to you.

45:48But this whole book is given that you would bow down and rightfully come into a right relationship with your Creator. And the events are coming. You owe to Him thanks. You owe to Him glory and honor. In fact, the question comes to you this morning: Will you worship your Creator? The fundamental problem with man, listen to Romans 1:21. Read to you a little bit of Romans. This is man's fundamental problem. They don't want to bow to their Creator. And they know enough about their Creator, everyone, the all. Knows enough about their Creator to bow before Him. Listen to this: Romans 1:21. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and crawling things. Interesting. Three concepts there: glory, honor, and thanks. This is exactly what Paul says. They are not yielding. This is the very thing, the very first things that the three beings in worship give. Glory, honor, and thanks.

47:27All of creation is under the obligation to recognize, give glory, and honor and thanks to your Creator. It's an invitation to come before Him this morning. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, as we look, Father, we recognize that you are worthy of worship. You are worthy to receive the glory, magnificence. In this age, you are worthy to receive the honor in this age. You are worthy to receive thanks from us, for you created all things. Everything we have is a gift from you.

48:16And you are worthy to receive the power to have influence over our lives. And it's your prerogative to have influence over the whole earth and universe simply because you are the one who created. So, Father, we come before you, bowing our hearts, thanking you, Father, for what's next, that you're not only just our Creator, but you are our Redeemer. And because of that, we can come before you this morning, thanking you in Jesus' name. Amen.