WORSHIP GOD AS A HABIT OF LIFE - ENDTIMES CHAT with GJ and DAN

The continual response of the four living creatures. Verse 8 says that “they do not rest day or night” in their praise and worship of the Lord. It is a continual response.

 

1. What these creatures say. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” These creatures worship and praise the Lord for three basic things: His holiness, His power, and His eternal nature and plan. Like the seraphim (angels) of Isaiah 6:3, they proclaim the holiness (separateness) of God. The repetition of the word “holy” might be for added emphasis, or it may suggest the triunity of God-He is one God but exists as three Persons. God is holy in two ways: He is separate from all that He created and is not to be identified with the physical and material universe; He is also separate from sin. The holiness of God emphasizes both His transcendence as well as His moral purity.

 

In referring to God as “Lord God Almighty,” these creatures speak of His mighty power, which shall be uniquely displayed on earth during the tribulation period. The worship of those in heaven seems to focus on the holiness and power of God, exalting His attributes and His actions.

 

These four living creatures praise God for His eternal nature and plan by calling Him “Who was and is and is to come!” He is the eternal God, living, and governing, in past, present, and future history. These same words are applied to Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:8, establishing His identity as God the Son.

 

2. Why do these creatures say what they do? One motive is certainly to recognize the greatness and worthiness of the One they are praising. Why should we praise the Lord? Because He alone is worthy of such worship and praise. These creatures give “glory and honor and thanks” to God the Father as a habit of life. What an example these heavenly beings are to all of us.

 

That suggests a second motive-to reveal to us what we should do. The twenty-four elders represent the completed church in heaven, and their actions help all of us to know how we should respond as believers. We are to worship the Lord and give Him honor, glory, and thanks as a habit of life. Whenever the four living creatures give worship to God, the twenty-four elders respond.

 

The immediate reaction of the elders. Taking their cue from the four living creatures who serve as the worship leaders of heaven, the twenty-four elders react immediately with worship and praise to God the Father on His throne.

 

The way they react. When they “fall down before Him,” they give recognition to His authority and position. It is a lesson to all believers; we need to submit to His authority as a daily principle in our lives. That’s why it is a good thing to kneel when we pray to indicate our submission to the Lord.

 

When they “worship Him,” they display reverence and love for Him and His attributes. In the New Testament, and particularly in the Revelation of John, the word worship denotes a prayer of adoration for God and His works. It is a royal acclamation of His worth. Do we love and adore Him for Who He is?

 

When they “cast their crowns before the throne,” they show a deep realization of His worthiness when compared with their accomplishments (for which we shall all be rewarded by the Lord). While we are motivated in the New Testament to be faithful to the Lord based on future reward, it is good for us to pause and realize that the worthiness of the Lord Himself causes our rewards to seem quite insignificant by comparison.

The words they repeat. Their words speak of what He deserves ”glory and honor and power”-as well as why He deserves it - “for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

 

God the Father is worthy of praise and worship because of two basic things we should always remember: It was His power that created all things, and it is His purpose (will) that brought everything into existence and gives meaning to it all. If we refuse to acknowledge the power and purpose of God in creation, then, as Paul so graphically portrays, we deserve His judgment (Romans 1:18-23).

God the Father, the Creator of everything, desires and deserves our worship and praise. We should honor, glorify, and give Him thanks every day of our lives because He created all things and has a Divine purpose for it all.

 

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING