HEAVENLY WORSHP
I have very happy memories of growing up in a Baptist church but “worship” for us was a hymn sandwich, in other words we would have an opening hymn – pray – sing a hymn – do a Bible reading – sing a hymn – have communion – sing a hymn – have the notices and the offering – while we sang a hymn! – have the sermon – sing a hymn and go home.
When I was a teenager I was baptized in the Holy Spirit in the early days of the Charismatic Movement (what exciting days they were) and it was only after I started attending a small Pentecostal Church in Tunbridge Wells, that I experienced open worship on a regular weekly basis. I had been in other bigger Charismatic meetings in London led by famous names like Michael Harper with preachers such as David Wilkerson but to be in a smaller group on a Sunday morning where everyone could take part was where I learnt to worship in
a New Testament way.
Jesus talking with the woman at the well looked forward to a day when "True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him" (John 4:23).
The Apostle Paul gives us an insight into the regular worship of those 1st century Christians:
"Each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret." (1 Corinthians 14:26-27)
He exhorted them to be “filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
When I became a pastor myself at 25 years old, I carried that experience into our regular Sunday morning gatherings as well. We used to meet in an old hall that we rented from the St John Ambulance Brigade (similar to the Red Cross). It was a very difficult to heat; it had very uncomfortable chairs and was generally a most unattractive and uninviting place. We did our best to turn it into a comfortable space which took over an hour each time to set up. I used to say “If you can worship God here you can worship him anywhere” – and we did!
We used the model of the Tabernacle worship: entering His gates with thanksgiving – and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4) – until we got into the Holy Place in our worship and sometimes – we got into the Holy of Holies in the Spirit – and it was awesome!
How I miss those days!
This message of the month is a plea for the 21st Century church to learn from the 1st Century church when it comes to worship. I’m not saying throw away the worship band or having a song list which the band have practiced to a very high standard - but worship is not a show. It is not a spectator sport either - where the band do their thing and the audience (sorry) - congregation follow if they can. Let’s learn how to worship – really worship in smaller groups where everyone can take part and be led by the Holy Spirit as we wait upon the Lord.
I’ve written about this before but a glimpse of how they worship in heaven, as described in the book of Revelation, might help us to focus our worship here on earth:
The THRONE is the central FOCUS of all who worship in heaven
“One sat on the throne … like a jasper and sardius stone in appearance, and there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald… And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thundering’s, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne,
which are the seven Spirits of God.” (Rev 4:3 & 5).
The throne is glorious and mysterious. Words just cannot describe it and any attempt to explain it will fall far short of the glorious majesty of the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Eternal, Infinite, Holy, All Loving God who sits enthroned on High.
The LAMB is the central FIGURE in the worship of heaven
The worshippers “fell down before the Lamb” (5:8) saying “worthy is the Lamb” (5:11), “Blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the
Lamb, forever and ever” (5:14).
They sang a new song:
"You are worthy... because You were slain and with Your blood you purchased men for God." Rev 5:9
There can be no worship or access to God without being cleansed from sin and redeemed by the blood. Those who have been, are made priests who have direct access to God to worship and serve Him, enjoy His presence and reign forever (Rev 1:6 & 5:10) and in all of this they never forget that it’s the life blood of Jesus that has redeemed them.
The Worshippers in Heaven
The Four Living creatures
“Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back” (Rev 4:6).
We catch our first glimpse of these mysterious, awesome, amazing beings who are closest to the Lamb and to the throne of God in Ezekiel 1:5-28. (Take a moment to read about them ).
They are the worship leaders of heaven (5:8-9). What do they do? They give glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the Throne (4:8-9). They never stop saying "Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come." The ones who are closest, offer the profoundest worship and they never get tired of it or come to the end of it because they are eternally aware of the wonder and the power and the glory of God!
The Twenty-four Elders
“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones, I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads” (Rev 4:4).
There are twenty-four of them and because they sing the song of the Redeemed “You have redeemed us to God by Your blood” (5:9) it seems that they are representing all of us, both of the Old Testament (12 Tribes of Israel) and the New Testament (12 Apostles of the Lamb), before the throne of God.
The Myriads of Angels
There are 10,000 times 10,000 – a 100 million of them - and myriads and myriads more! (5:11) who wait upon God’s presence and commands AND are sent forth to minister for us (Hebrews 1:14).
They sing: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (5:12)
What a crowd giving worship to God! We can’t begin to imagine what that vast crowd sounds like – but we will soon be part of it!...
The Countless Redeemed
Notice how the numbers keep getting progressively bigger until we come to this great numberless multitude from every nation and ethnic group from the time that mankind began. Heaven is international, there is a place there for everyone that is cleansed by the blood (7:14).
“A great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm
branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our
God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power
and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 7:9-12)
I love to tell the story of the preacher in America who was reading this passage from Revelation to his congregation - and suddenly it hit him. He was so excited - he said - "I'm one of those people round the throne!” - “I’m in the BIBLE !”
That’s us! We are with those people - We’re in the Bible !!!'
And more importantly we are all going to be there – worshipping like they do in heaven!
We have a very special song to sing: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (7:10), it’s a new song which starts with the living creatures and the elders and is taken up by the angels, reaching it’s climax as every creature sings: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (5:13)
The angels and the cherubim look on in wonder as we sing the song of the Redeemed. We have the greatest reason to worship Him because we who were sinners are made to be SONS of the MOST HIGH GOD because THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of GOD died for us to bring us back into God’s family and not only will we be “before the Throne of God” forever, we will sit with Him in His throne ruling over all creation with Him (Revelation 3:21). He will dwell among us (7:15) and the Lamb will lead us to living fountains of water” (7:17) - from one glorious surprise to another that will never come to an end!
I hope this inspires us to worship in that heavenly way now!
We do not have to wait to sing the Song of the Redeemed until we get to the "sweet by and by" as the old hymn describes it. We are in the "nasty now and now" but we don't belong to this
sin-sick world. We belong to heaven. We are destined for the Throne!
Let's surrender ourselves to God and worship like they do in heaven:
entering by the Blood of the Lamb,
focused on the One who is seated on the Throne,
singing songs of gratitude to the Lamb who has redeemed us!
And before we know it, we'll all be there worshipping together in heaven itself...
FOREVER!