Tuesday, May 7, 2013

7 Things - Heavenly Worship


It is always interesting to observe the worship that goes on in heaven. There is so much for us to learn as we see how heavenly beings and the redeemed ones worship around the throne of God.



We have to assume a couple of things:

• This worship is completely “normal” for God. He is not telling anyone to be quieter or less passionate in their worship. It seems as though loud, long, intense, fervent, expressive worship goes on around God’s throne day and night – and He likes it!

• If any changes need to be made in our church worship, then it is us who should be doing the changing. There is not a separate Bible for each denomination – giving instructions on how to “worship in spirit and in truth” – there is only one Bible, and it lays out a model of worship that lines up with what we see around the throne of God day and night. It seems to me that we are often more interested in making people comfortable in worship rather than the Lord. Our worship on earth should probably look a lot more like the worship that is found in heaven.

Here is one example of heavenly worship:

Revelation 7:9-12
After these things I looked, and behold, 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 worshiped God,
saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

These worshipers come from all nations, tribes, and tongues – in other words, all nations, all generations and all denominations are represented in this mighty company. No matter where they have come from, or what kind of worship they have been used to on earth – they worship with passion and unity.

Look at these 7 things they are doing together – without thought of earthly traditions and cultural restraints:

• They have the same provision – the white robes of salvation
• They have the same praise – no one is singing a different song
• They have the same proclamation – everyone is crying out with loud voices
• They have the same pageantry – they are all waving palm branches
• They have the same purpose – everyone is focused on worship
• They have the same posture – they are standing before the throne
• They have the same perspective – they are all looking at the Lamb


I am sure that some of these might have felt awkward in their churches if they had been this demonstrative in worship. Somehow, in the presence of the Lamb, there is no voice too loud, no dance too radical, no shout too long, or no emotion to strong.

So many things hinder our worship. Draw near with full and open hearts today.

Let the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”



No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.