Preached by Andrew Smellie
Sunday, June 10, 2007

No audio sermon available this week due to technical difficulties.

Revelation 3:19-21
• Remember Jesus’ admonition to the seven churches.
• Jesus’ heart is full of love. (Those whom I love, I discipline - Heb.12)
Question: How different is that from the world?
• Jesus loved the seven churches so much that He was willing to speak up.
• Sadly, today, there are churches where disciples do not expect and therefore help each other to make Jesus their Lord.
• The Bible promises that if you obey God, then you will inherit a throne in heaven.

Revelation 4:1-11
• Even if the church doors are closed to Jesus, the door to heaven is always open! (we can always repent)
• John was ushered into the throne room of God into heaven.
• God wraps Himself up in the light—that is His clothing.
• Around the throne room of God, there is an emerald rainbow.
• The number 24 is not by chance. 12 tribes formed Israel in the OT + 12 apostles in the NT symbolized all of God’s faithful disciples throughout the ages!!!
• White symbolizes purity and the crown represents triumph and the gold represents martyrdom.
• We see the throne in the throne room of God - the floor is like a mirror. Imagine the reflection of all that light!
• They were scared but they were also reassured. (Exodus 19:1-25)
• Those who fear God will confide in Him. (Psalm 25:12-14)
• There was such a fear of God that they passed out.
• If we fear God like that, then we will not dive into sin, and we’ll be grateful for the life that God has given us.
• We understand that the four living creatures come from Ezekiel 1:4-28.
• The four living creatures represented the creative order of things.
• The wild beast represents the lion.
• The ox represents the domesticated animals.
• The man represents man.
• The eagle represents the birds.
• Look! Man is not the center of worship, but merely one of the living creatures.
• Zeus was, Zeus is and Zeus us to come. No! (Revelation 4:8)
• We see that when the praise of God started that they fell down before God.
• Their crowns were not earned, but were given to them by God. . .picture them giving those crowns back to God on bended knee—what a moving scene of respect and honor toward their “Lord and God.”
• One Roman emperor Diocletian wanted to be called Lord and God (even before he was dead like the other Roman emperors before him wanted)
• Do not get pulled in by the world.

Question: What is it in the world that you are making your lord and god?

Question: What would you have been thinking if you were ushered into the throne room of God?
• Unless you were like one of the persecuted, faithful Christians from the first century church, if you were a complacent and lazy Christian who was worldly, it is going to be disturbing to you and you would be uncomfortable and uneasy because it is not how you were living your life.
Revelation 5:1-14
• Every human being who ever existed could not open the scroll.
• David was the “Messiah” of the Old Testament.
• The scroll is a judgment against those who persecuted the disciples of Jesus Christ.(more on this next week)
• Jesus appearing as a lamb shows how different God views or sees things than man, rather than a lion.
• The horns represent perfect strength and power.
• The eyes represent wisdom: perfect wisdom. Perfect understanding.
• Saints are Christians; saints are disciples of Jesus Christ.

Question: Does that fire you up right now?
• Jesus fulfills the Messiah prophecies of all time.
• When the Messiah conquers someone, He makes him a prince, a priest.

Question: Have you allowed God to conquer you or are you allowing the world to make you its slave?

Question: Are you reigning on earth?
• That is how God expects you to live. If you are God-focused, then you reign on earth.
• That is where our hearts need to be.

Summary of this vision: The Spirit ushered John through the open door. John saw God Himself and the emerald rainbow while there was thunder and lightning. Four living creatures surrounded Him and bowed down in worship. The elders offered their crowns of salvation back to God. Thousands of angels and the four living creatures and the elders worship God. Cosmic worship - that is what is going on here!

1. Worship is God’s glorification.
• When we come to worship, we bring glory to God.

Acts 2:41-47
• He challenged them. They were cut to the heart. (Acts 2:22-40)

Question: Why were they all filled with awe?
• Because they were a part of the Kingdom of God.
• We see right here the heart of praise in the life of disciples. They were focused on worshiping God and praising Him. They were grateful for their Creator.

Hebrews 10:23-25
• When we are swerving spiritually, we could get taken out immediately . . . like a car swerving into on-coming traffic!
• Here you see people who had been Christians for a long time missing church because church was not about God to them. You need church, but not for the sake of church. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Hebrews 12:18-21
• When Moses saw the Presence of God on Mount Sinai, he was scared, he was terrified, and he was in awe. That was the old covenant, but even in Revelation you see the awe and fear of God in the worship flowing from their hearts!
• We’re not about Churchianity here—it’s got to be about Christianity!. What will you choose?
• In Christianity, God and Jesus Christ are the focus of the worship of the church.
• We got to address the fact that disciples in the last two weeks were late to church.
• When we come to worship, we come to worship the Creator of heaven and earth.
• We have got to get that conviction.
• Singing is a heart issue; you sing when you are happy.

Question: Who would turn his favorite song down (in volume)?
• When you are singing songs to God, we need to turn it on full blast.

Question: Do you have your Bible out?

Question: Do you have a notebook to take notes?
• A heart that fears God feels honored to be able to listen, to get the opportunity to obey.

Question: When was the last time you cried during communion?

Question: Why do you give contribution?
• It is because of God’s gift to us.
• The worship of the church is also about fellowship.

Question: When was the last time you took a younger disciple into your home to encourage them?
• 4 questions from an interesting article: “How to find the perfect house of worship.”
i. Why are you looking?
ii. What sort of neighborhood are you looking for?
iii. How much space do you need?
iv. What will it cost?
• You can get a church at any price.

Question: What does the church cost anyone? (Hint: Luke 14:33)

2. Worship is your transformation.
• You come here to be transformed by God.

Romans 12:1-2
• Paul reminded the church of the grace of God.
• In the Old Testament, the Israelites had to offer dead animal sacrifices to God.
• You must offer your body up as a living sacrifice.
• Living bodies tend to “squirm off of the altar.”
• Paul was talking to the disciples in the church in Rome.

Question: Have you ever been confused about the will of God in your life?
• If you do not have quiet times, then you WILL be conformed to the world.
• If you are not taking time to be transformed by God, then you are being worldly.

Question: Are you conformed to the world’s priorities? Way of thinking?

Question: When you look at people: Do you think of them in a worldly point of view?

Question: Are you conformed to the world by how hard you work?
• If so, then you are conformed to the world, not transformed by God.

Question: Are you a disciple being conformed to the world or are you being transformed to God?

3. Worship is your inspiration.

Isaiah 6:1-8
• If you were in the Presence of the Lord Almighty, then you would be scared out of your mind, too!
• When God touches your lips, life and heart, then you are inspired to live a godly life.
• A true disciple has the heart to go anywhere, do anything and give up everything for God.

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