Simplify Your Worship

Revelation 19:9-10

When you think about it, the Sabbath is not a complicated day. We are told to keep it holy and not work (Exodus 20:8-11). Like John in Revelation 19 I think we can get a bit off sometimes and focus our worship on something other than Christ. 

We hold the testimony of Jesus. We worship Jesus because he is God. We don't worship to be heard. We don't worship because we've been good or bad. We worship because Jesus, lived for us, died for us, rose for us and ever lives to intercede for us. 

Can I get an Amen?

Why We Worship

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,

   to receive glory and honor and power, 
for you created all things, 

   and by your will they were created 

   and have their being.”

Revelation 4:9-11 NIV

It's always nice to get a peak into heaven. One of the special aspects of the Revelation of John is that we are shown a little bit of heaven and here we are shown what happens around the throne. It's easy to forget that God's view is eternal and ours is temporal. It is essential that we periodically stop and remember just how awesome the God we serve is. 

He is holy.

He is Almighty.

He is eternal. (See verse 8)

He is our Lord and our God. May our lives bring him glory, honor and may his power be revealed in and through us.

What's awesome, from our perspective, is that the truth is that not only did he create all things by his will and give them being but also:

He create you,

It was by his will you were created,

And by his will you have your being!

Now that's awesome! That's why we praise and will praise God for all eternity...

Because Love Covers

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8 NIV

When I first started teaching the rule was to just keep your mouth shut until you became permanent because until then you could get a non-satisfactory notice from your principal and that it was it, game over. I remember waiting to get that notice, even though all my evaluations had been good, because I just didn't want my future riding on the mood of some administrator. Even after I got my "PERM" classification, I tried to pay attention and watch what I said. 

I became a Christian near the end of the Jesus movement in the late 70's and the end times was a central topic. Hal Lindsey, Chuck Smith, and others were proclaiming the soon return of Christ. It brought a certain seriousness and hope to following Christ. Now, I still think Christ is coming soon and I frankly believe he could come at any time and sort of wonder what we are missing in our eschatology (besides 'no man knows the day or hour'). 

So, when Peter tells us that the end of all things is near I think that our attitudes and actions should reflect the idea that Christ could come back at any moment. That's the idea of being clear minded and self-controlled. The bottom line is that we should love each other deeply. Some translations use the word fervent or severe. Remember we're not talking about some warm fuzzy- flower peddles floating down - music playing- emotion, we are talking about sacrificial, die to yourself, Christ-like love. There will be sin and love will be needed to cover it. What better thing could you or I be doing when Christ returns than trying to love someone with the love of Christ?