Acts 2:47; Revelation 4-5
The Priority of Praise
Gospelcom Bible Gateway
INTRODUCTION:
A. The Praise & Worship of the Eternal Church
B. The Praise & Worship of the Early Church
I. The Priority of Praise
A. What is the first response to salvation?
B. How is praise a priority in the eternal church? (Revelation 4:1-3)
1. Notice that Peter is not here. He has nothing to do in letting you in and out of heaven.
2. Verse 2 mentions the word "heaven" which comes from the old Anglo-Saxon "heave on" and means' uplifted or lifted up to a place or condition outside of the common or mundane world that we live in
3. What is the first thing that John notices?
4. What is the symbolism of jasper and sardius?
C. What is happening in Heaven?
1. Lot's of worship and praise.
2. Why is worship the goal of both creation and redemption?
3. Why were you created? (Rev 4:11)
4. Is worship an event or a way of life? Why or why not?
5. What is worship or true praise then?
a. Secular Definition
b. To declare worth "worth ship"
c. To declare worth or to assign worth to something.
d. Homage, value, or adoration that is paid to to a superior being
b. Biblical Definition
a. Worship is a response to God (1 John 4)
b. Worship is the proper response to God (Romans 12)
c. Worship is the proper response to God from the heart and is authentic (John 4; Philippians 3)
d. Worship is the proper response to God from the heart whereby I place God above everyone and everything else (Deuteronomy 6)
D. The Premise of Praise
A. Because of who God is (Rev 4:8)
1. God is the only being ever that can be described in this manner.
2. How is he described? Pure, Holy, Almighty and Eternal
3. What is the significance of this ? This makes Him unique and demands our worship
B. Because of what He has done
1. Revelation 4:11
2. Revelation 5:8-10, (particularly 9, 12)
C. Overview of Revelation 4-5
1. Revelation 4-5 is based on the concept of land redemption in ancient Israel. (Kinsmen redeemer = "go-el")
2. The scroll is the title deed to the earth that was lost due to the fall but was redeemed by the shed blood of Christ who paid the price and is therefore worthy to open the scroll.
3. This is why the event of the cross becomes the central focus both now and forever
III. The persons Involved in Praise
A. John, 24 elders, angles, four living creatures, the saints, every living creature
B. Who are the 24 elders?
1. The church The 24 elders in the temple represented the entire nation.
2. They had the bowls of incense that represented the prayers of the church.
3. Also in verse 9
4. The 24 elders represents the church today.
C. Four living creature (Zoa - living things)
D. What were their function
1. To inspire worship
2. To bring GOd's judgment on the world that refuses to worship God
E. Someone once said that there are three wonders when you get to heaven
1. Who is there
2. Whose not there
3. That you are there
F. So who is praising God?
G. So who should be praising God now?
H. What about you?
I. It is all worship from the music, to the sermon to the word of God to when you leave and go home to when you go to work
J. All of your life ought to be a life of worship
K. What about the "worship service" or the music? Isn't that the "worship time? NO
1. It is not a time fillers for late comers
2. Worship is not for you but for God
APPLICATION:
1. Ask yourself how are you loving God with all of your heart?
2. Ask yourself how are you loving God with all of your soul?
3. Ask yourself how are you loving God with all of your strength?
4. Ask yourself how you worship God moment by moment?
5. Ask God to help you to love him with your entire essence, core and being so that you will worship him above ALL.
MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.