Heavenly Worship is a Portrait

of true adoration. The book of Revelation gives us some wonderful illustrations of how worship is conducted in heaven.

There are four remarkable living being who are in the immediate presence of God (see Rev 4:6-7). Their primary function, is to give honour, glory and thanks to God. "Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come” (Rev 4:8).

Around the throne of God are twenty-four thrones. On these thrones sit the elders. Every time the living beings praise God the they worship with words that reflect the worthiness of the Lord to receive glory, honor and power. The Lord merits such a response because everything that exists was created by him for his own pleasure (Rev 4:11).

As we progress further in Revelation we witness the living beings and elders again worshipping God. This time they are singing a new song related to Jesus’ worthiness to open the sealed scroll. He has the power to perform this action because in death, he shed his blood, thereby ransoming people from every tribe and language group. The redeemed have become priests of God who will eventually reign on the earth (Rev 5:9-10).

Praise and worship of God in heaven is not restricted to the living beings and the elders. The rest of the angels are involved as well. We find them proclaiming the worthiness of the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing (Rev 5:12). Notice the reoccurring theme of the Lord’s worthiness.

The Apostle John then goes on to describe a great number of people, who have come out of the great tribulation, standing before the throne of God. Their song introduces a new theme that focusses upon the salvation that comes from God and the Lamb (Rev 7:10). The angels respond to this anthem with “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen” (Rev 7:12).

The next time we witness the worship and praise of the elders it is of a different nature. They start their praise by acknowledging that God has assumed his power and has started to reign. With his kingship the time to judge the dead has arrived. Those who have been God’s holy people down through the ages will be rewarded richly. Their adoration of God then is expressed in relation to his judgment of the wicked who will be condemned to an unending and enduring destruction (Rev 11:17-18).

For a final time John witness praise in heaven. At this point Jesus Christ is totally victorious. All things are under his control and heavenly voices cry out “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him" (Rev 19:6-7).

Heavenly worship has included a number of important elements. There is the acknowledging of the holiness of God, his eternal nature, his creative power, his work of redemption, his holy judgments and his ultimate victory over evil. These are key components that need to be regularly incorporated into our adoration of God because they are the essence of his divine nature. We need to regularly ask ourselves the question “how does our praise line up with that of heavens?"

Copyright. Bruce August 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

The Road Not Taken

Two Roads Diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost.
"The Road Not Taken"

Have You Ever Wondered What It Would Have Been Like

to have lived on earth before sin entered the world. It would have been much different than what we experience today. The Book of Genesis gives us some hints regarding this wonderful life.

Based on the book of Genesis, and assuming that the great flood did not create a difference in geography related to the location of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Garden of Eden was probably located in what is current day Iraq. It would have been lush with all type of vegetation. In the beginning "The earth was watered by springs (or "mist") which "came up from the ground and watered all the land" (Gen 2:6).

Originally the earth’s vegetation included only good plants. Man's primary responsibility in the garden was "tend and watch over it" (Gen 2:15). His position was that of a caretaker and harvester. Living would have been relaxed and free from strain. God's curse upon humanity because of sin, at the time of the fall, caused the earth to "grow thorns and thistles" (Gen 3:18). Agriculture had all at once become a battle field.

Originally people were strictly vegetarians. They ate of the fruit of the garden (Gen 2:16). After the fall God indicated to Adam that "you will eat of its grains" (Gen. 3:18). Before the flood, both domestic and wild animals, lived in harmony and at peace with humanity. When the Lord blessed Noah after the flood, meat was introduced as a food source. God stated "I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables" (Gen 9:2-3).

From the beginning man was given authority over God's creation. He was commanded by the Lord to "Fill the earth and govern it" (Gen 1:28). This rulership would have been totally wise and godly — considerably different than what we see today.

Obviously, there would have been no sickness or death prior to the fall. There would have been no sadness or sorrow. These realities of life are a result of sin (Gen 3:16-19). Life as God originally intended it to be in Eden would have been constantly vital, productive and eternal in nature. In fact, when Adam and Eve were put out of the Garden, God "placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life" (Gen 3:24) so that they would not be able to eat the fruit that would give them eternal life.

There was one other special thing about life on earth before the fall. God regularly visited Adam and Eve in the Garden. He would have wanted to spend considerable time with his special creation. Why else would he have made them in him image? We can't even begin to imagine the things God told them during those wonderful visits. On the day of the fall God (the pre-incarnate Christ) came to visit "When the cool evening breezes were blowing, (they) heard the Lord God walking about in the garden"(Gen 3:8). This may have been a daily routine.

Today, God does not come in a bodily form to meet with his children. However, we still have the privilege of meeting with the Lord God daily by means of prayer and Bible study. Through these meetings with God we can get to know him in ways that will pay eternal dividends.

Copyright. Bruce August 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

Ready and Willing to Go

LET'S GET THE ENGINE GOING!

There Are Many Scriptures That

talk about JOY. The following are only a sampling of the things that bring JOY to the believer who is walking in obedience to Jesus Christ.

Taking Refuge in God
Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,...But what JOY for all who take refuge in him! (Psalm 2:12)

The Commands of Lord
The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing JOY to the heart. (Psalm 19:8)

The Joy of God’s Presence
You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the JOY of your presence. (Psalm 21:6)

Seeking God
...All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting JOY (Psalm 22:26)

Experiencing Correction by God
“But consider the JOY of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin (Job 5:17)

Having a Pure Heart
...Shout for JOY, all you whose hearts are pure! (Psalm 32:11)

Trusting in the Lord
Oh, the JOYS of those who trust the Lord,.... (Psalm 40:4)

The Joy of Salvation
I am overwhelmed with JOY in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)

Doing God’s Will
I take JOY in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

God’s Unfailing Love
...Each morning I will sing with JOY about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. (Psalm 59:16)

God’s Righteousness
Everyone will...sing with JOY about your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7)

Finally, We Must Remember That Joy is a Gift From God!
God gives wisdom, knowledge, and JOY to those who please him. (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

Let's not fall into the trap of equating joy with happiness. The Bible teaches that a believer can experience joy even in times of hardship and disappointment. What has your JOY quotient been today?

Copyright. Bruce April 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

The Thundering of The Water

Victoria Falls Zambia Africa

The Apostle Paul Experienced True Joy

in life. He also definitely understood its source. In his letter to the Roman's he raises his pen to a crescendo of praise with the words: "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight" (Romans 4:7). So how far out of sight are they? David answers that question for us. "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west" (Psa 103:12). Since east and west will never meet, when God forgives our sins, they are lost in infinity.

However, to experience a true joy the forgiveness of sins must be beneficial to the one who has been made right with God. That benefit is grounded in the truth that God is the "source of hope" (Roman 15:13). And what is that expectation — it is "our confident hope of salvation" (Romans 5:4). It is important to note that when we talk about "hope" in a biblical sense it does not carry the connotation of "wishing" something will happen. Hope in relation to God is a guaranteed reality.

For the Apostle Paul his primary source of joy, that is beyond the knowledge of his salvation, was directly related to those to whom he was a spiritual father. He told the Thessalonian church that "you are our pride and joy" (1 Thes 2:20). Their response to the message of the good news of Jesus Christ gave him so much joy that it influenced the attitude he had when he came into God's presence for worship and prayer (see 1 Thes 3:9, 10).

Paul spent considerable time in prayer for the churches and his co-workers. He told the church at Rome "Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God" (Romans 1:9). When encouraging his colleague Timothy he told him "Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers" (2 Tim 1:3). Although this particular spiritual activity was demanding he confidently stated "Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy" (Phil 1:4).

Life was difficult for Paul. In his service for Christ he had been among other things beaten with rods, stoned by angry mobs and thrown into prison. However, he had learned that the true source of delight was "living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). Because of the trials of his missionary experiences it is evident his joy did not come from external factors. At one point he described the situation that he and his fellow travellers endured as follows: "Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything" (2 Cor. 6:10).

The Christians joy is produced by the workings of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22) within our inner most being. Are there currently some events in your life that are sapping you of your joy? Remember, true joy does not depend upon being happy. Happiness is a fickle emotion that relies totally upon a continuing set of positive and pleasurable experiences. Joy, on the other hand, requires an abiding relationship with the Lord of lords and King of kings. The result is a joy that nothing in the world can take away when we are walking hand in hand with our Lord.

Copyright. Bruce March 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.