Praise in the storms:Worship in Revelation: An Antidote to PTSD* (*Prophecy, Timeline & Symbols Distraction) Part 6

Today we join in singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.

 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,

 O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.” - (Revelation 15:3-4 ESV)

Though the plagues are about to come, still there is worship in heaven. What about us? When the plagues are in the midst of us, when the rain is coming, when we see the storm clouds, can we join in the song of Moses and say, "Just and True are your ways, O King of the Nations"? 

Truly, this is a life of worship. 

Lord Jesus, help us to praise you in the sunshine and in the rain - on the mountain top and in the valleys. Surely your name is great. Blessed are you O Lord. - Amen

A glimpse at the future: Worship in Revelation: An Antidote to PTSD* (*Prophecy, Timeline & Symbols Distraction) Part 5

In this scene again we see the 24 elders on their faces worshiping before the throne of God. Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall? We get to be here! We get a glimpse into worship in heaven as the Lord fulfills His promises.

Here's our text:

 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

for you have taken your great power

and begun to reign.

The nations raged,

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged,

and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name,

both small and great,and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." 

(Revelation 11:16-18 ESV)

The elders, honored enough to come before the throne and be in the presence of the Lord Almighty are bowing before His holiness.

God is faithful - He promised to judge sin and reward the saints. We get a glimpse into the future to see that God is truly doing what He pledged. The "take away" for us in this passage is three-fold. Etched on the forefront of our minds is now God's holiness and His faithfulness. We are also reminded that there WILL be a judgment. Scripture says we all have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ*, therefore, we must run our race well.

Paul said, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." (Philippians 3:14-16 ESV)

Lord, may your holiness and glory be ever before us that we might run our race well to the honor and praise of your name. Amen. * 2 Corinthians 5:10

Prostrated Hearts: Worship in Revelation: An Antidote to PTSD* (*Prophecy, Timeline & Symbols Distraction) Part 4

Today's devotion is a wee bit longer than usual, but gives us a powerful message. As we leave chapter four, we find a beautiful, telling song of worship from chapter 5:9-13.

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.*

In this chapter the Lamb is introduced and worship continues. Let's begin at the end - the last verse. Notice the description of posture Scripture includes. Verse 14 tells us that the elders *fell down* and worshiped. How easy it is for us to lose sight of the majesty and holiness of God! And even if we realize it now, how much more when we are in reverential awe in His presence!

Both "worthy" and "honor and glory" are also ascribed to Jesus twice in these five verses alone! What else about Jesus is mentioned in our text? He is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing. In other words - everything!

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

Thousands of thousands join in the worship of our Messiah. Can you picture it? Myriads and myriads and thousands of thousands?? In current speak, "a gazillion" angels were worshiping around the throne. John wants us to understand the sheer magnitude that are worshiping. Worship is universal and eternal. Can we even grasp the enormity and weight of His worship??

We read the elders join the "bazillion" in praising our God for all He is and all He has done. They praise Him in His majesty. What a beautiful, holy picture that paints. And with that chorus, we leave the scene with the elders prostrated in worship to the Holy Lamb of God that was slain. 

We can not be physically bowed down in worship to our Lord 24 hours a day, but our hearts can be prostrated continually. 

A look at worship in heaven teaches us several significant lessons. Today's is this: 
The significance of seeing worship in heaven is that it teaches us how to worship. 

We easily lose sight of the glory of God, but it doesn't have to be that way.

May our hearts always be prostrate to our Saviour and may we continually walk with our King. May your name be glorified. You alone are worthy of honor and glory and praise. Hallelujah!

*All Scripture quoted from English Standard Version (ESV)

When it grows so dark....

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. (2 Samuel 22:29)

Am I in the light? Then Thou, O Lord, art my lamp. Take Thee away and my joy would be gone; but as long as Thou art with me, I can do without the torches of time and the candles of created comfort. What a light the presence of God casts on all things! We heard of a lighthouse which could be seen for twenty miles, but our Jehovah is not only a God at hand, but far off is He seen, even in the enemy's country. O Lord, I am as happy as an angel when Thy love fills my heart. Thou art all my desire.

Am I in the dark? Then thou, O Lord, wilt lighten my darkness. Before long things will change. Affairs may grow more and more dreary and cloud may be piled upon cloud; but if it grow so dark that I cannot see my own hand, still I shall see the hand of the Lord. When I cannot find a light within me, or among my friends, or in the whole world, the Lord, who said, "Let there be light," and there was light, can say the same again. He will speak me into the sunshine yet. I shall not die but live. The day is already breaking. This sweet text shines like a morning star. I shall clap my hands for joy ere many hours are passed.

-C.H. Spurgeon

Join in the Heavenly Choir/Worship in Revelation: An Antidote to PTSD* (*Prophecy, Timeline & Symbols Distraction) Part 3

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Did you know that the book of Revelation was full of hymns to our Lord Jesus Christ? Let's look at the first two today and see what it teaches us about worship in Heaven!

Revelation 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

    who was and is and is to come!”

God's holiness, eternalness and omnipotence is emphasized in this song of praise. Some consider the hymn or Scripture following that "Call to Worship"

Revelation 4:10-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

 The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

    to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

    and by your will they existed and were created.”

Worthy, thou art worthy! Does the hymn of praise in heaven remind you of a hymn we sing too? Maybe "Thou art worthy*?"

Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy,

Thou art worthy, O Lord.

Thou art worthy to receive glory,

Glory and honor and power.

For Thou hast created, hast all things created,

For Thou hast created all things.

And for Thy pleasure they are created;

Thou art worthy, O Lord.

You might know another similar worship hymn. Go ahead, sing it to Jesus. No one else is listening. 

                                                        

Worthy, You are worthy*
King of kings, Lord of lords
You are worthy

Worthy, You are worthy
King of kings, Lord of lords
I worship you

Holy, You are Holy
King of kings, Lord of lords
You are Holy

Holy, You are Holy
King of kings, Lord of lords
I worship you

Jesus, You are Jesus
King of kings, Lord of lords
You are Jesus

Jesus, You are Jesus
King of Kings, Lord of lords
I worship you

Worthy, You are worthy
King of kings, Lord of lords
You are worthy

Worthy, you are worthy
King of kings, Lord of lords
I worship you

King of kings, Lord of lords
I worship you
I worship you
I worship you

God is worthy to be worshiped because He is the creator of all. He is the holy, eternal, omnipotent creator worthy to be praised. Let us join our voices with the heavenly choir and praise Him too!

*Thou art worthy - traditional hymn by Pauline Michael Mills
*Worthy, you are worthy - by Don Moen