09.5 Revelation – Worship = Love

Worship = Love
or “Why Heaven isn’t boring”

There were two questions in our study this week that I think are very closely related.  One discussed the meaning of giving glory, honor and thanks.  The other asked for the “why” behind the action of the 24 elders.

I think these both come back to the same question: How do you define worship?

I’m going to define it this way:  Worship is a form and expression of love rightly reserved for God.

The saints and angels are not worshiping God in heaven out of obligation or duty.  They are worshiping Him because it is the only right thing to do.  They are worshiping Him because of Love.

This is a different love, than the love behind hugging your child or parent or spouse.  It isn’t a different love than the willingness we have to sacrifice our own time and talents (and life) for others that we care for and about.  It is simply a bigger love than all those things combined.  It is why God is so angry with us over idolatry.  It is us giving that incredibly precious thing, that is only rightly God’s, to some piece of rock or wood.  It is us missing out on the pouring back of love from God when we connect only to Him in worship.

It is also important to note this giving back component to the worship relationship.  Did you notice that the 24 elders give their crowns to God over and over again?  For them to do that, God must give them back each time.

The reason I don’t think this ever will get old or boring in heaven comes down to an ice cream parfait.  It is along the lines of the commercial line, “but wait, there’s more.”  When you eat an ice cream parfait it has layers.  You may start with a little bit of the chocolate, then mix in some of the nuts. The next bite might include a little of the creaminess of the whipped cream.  The smell of caramel, the coldness of the ice cream, the warm brownie, the sound of the crunch as you break through a chocolate piece.  When you are eating it, your total focus is on the delicacy in front of you.  Every part of you is fully engaged in the joy and pleasure of it.  Each layer you go deeper reveals new and exciting nuances that make you ooh and aah in new appreciation.

I think this is an example of being in the presence of God.  The more we see and experience is like plunging through another layer of the parfait.  The new revelation makes us want to sing out in joy and encourages us to go deeper.

Ok, that’s enough, I’m going to go get some ice cream and worship God!

My Answers:

10.
fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him, laying their crowns before the throne and singing a song of praise to the worthy, glorious, honorable and powerful creator.  It is the only right response.

11.
Peace, praise, glory.  There is power and might that is honored and worshiped.  It is a royal Holy Day.

12.
The best way to have God at the center is to have Him at the start and end as well.

09.4 Revelation – God in the Center

God in the Center

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord, God, Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come!

This song from Revelation 4:8 is the perfect cube.  3×3, God exactly in the center.

Like at it like a sudoku puzzle.  Every way you read it is a perfect and complete summation.  Lord, God, Almighty.  Holy, Lord, Who was.

It challenges our thinking when we open our eyes to just how deep and meaningful this is.  Especially to the fact that God is in the center.  As the bible starts out, “In the beginning God”.

Even our thinking of the royal court of heaven.  When we think of a royal court, the center of the court is the throne.  That is because Kings and Queens may come and go and each be seated on that throne.  But in heaven, God is the centerpiece, not the throne.

And like a wheel, everything rotates around and is linked to the center.  Interesting trivia, in geometry, the center of a circle is called the origin.

So, here is an application and a challenge.  Take this square to your next quiet time of devotional.  Worship God in each quadrant as it comes out from the center.  How do you respond to the Holy God?  How do you live you life in recognition that God is your Lord?  How do you acknowledge that God is present, today, in your life?  How, do you bow in reverence to the “All Might” of our God?

It is fun and rewarding to recognize that you are worshiping God in the same way as the celestial beings encircling Him seated at His throne.

My Answers:

8.
a.
All persons of the Trinity are Holy, a perfect and complete holiness

b.
All might is of God’s.  He is the Lord (master/king)

c.
God is eternal and present.  He is not just “the God of the old testament” or the “God of Jacob or Israel or Daniel”.  He is also not just the baby Jesus in the manger.  He is eternal and eternally present

9.
To live it out in thought word and action.  Tor give all praise to God.  To truly strive to do His work, putting Him at the front and myself at the rear

09.3 Revelation – Is To Come

Is To Come

In our lesson today we see God’s power and perfection, but we also see God in His Eternity.  God alone has no beginning and no end.  Everything else, the heavens and the earth and everything in them was created.  Everything physical, living or elements, great or small, was created.  Everything spiritual, other than God, was created, including the angels in all their different forms.  Sound was created.  Light as we know it was created.  Everything except God.

We often will praise God for His consistency.  God is the same yesterday and today.  He is unchanging.  He does not begin better because He is and always has been perfect.  He does not become less.  He doesn’t gain might or power or authority nor does it ever diminish.

We see this in the descriptions of heaven referenced throughout the bible.  Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, John, Stephen, Moses, all see the same thing.  None have words to fully describe it, although each tries with comparisons and allegories to things and sounds in this world.

But I found it interesting that the words that are spoken about this in heaven that we find in both Revelation 1:8 and in Revelation 4:8 are NOT, “the one who was and is and will be”.  While that would be consistent with how we sometimes view God, that is not how God is viewed by Himself or in His house.  That description would be of a flat God.  A two dimensional God.  A God without feature or movement.  A God without a crescendo or climax in His relationship with mankind.

Instead, in those verses God is described as “the one who was and is and is to come.”  Did you catch the difference?  God and all of heaven is looking forward in anticipation a great and glorious day.  The glimpses of heaven the great prophets are given are not simple of another day in heaven like every other day, they are of a day of glory when God comes to judge and collect His people out of the world.

As you live in relationship with God, are you simply putting in your time?  Going through the motions?  Treating each day as just another day?  Or, like someone with front row tickets and a backstage pass to the greatest event of all eternity, are you living with excitement and anticipation?  Are you decked out in your team colors for the event?  Do you study His word so you can sing along with every verse?  And, most importantly, do you know with whom you are supposed to share that extra ticket that God has placed in your pocket?

If God and all of Heaven are looking forward to this day, shouldn’t we be as well?  They pyrotechnics alone sound pretty amazing!

My Answers:

5.
lightening thunder,  rainbow, shine, clarity like crystal – God’s power and perfection

6.
thunder, lightning, loud trumpet blast, lapis lazuli under his feet, God seated on a throne, winged beings flying , singing Holy, Holy Holy, smoke/cloud, living creatures, gems on the throne, flying creatures, throne of lapis, figure like that of a man glowing like full of fire with brilliant light, the appearance of rainbow

7.
a.
The first voice like a trumpet (Jesus), At once I was in the Spirit (H/S), the one who sat there (on the throne) (God the Father)

b.
The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to remind us of everything  Jesus has said.

09.2 Revelation – A Great Gift

A Great Gift

Do you remember a time of giving someone a really great gift?  Maybe it was when you were younger and giving a gift to your mom or dad.  Maybe it was a special birthday present for a friend or loved one.

For me, the thought goes back to May Day flowers for my mom.  I would have been about 6 or 7 years old and we made flowers in school for our moms.  They were simple pieces of paper, cut and curled and colored in a simple construction paper cone with a construction paper handle stapled on the top.

I remember the care in making them and getting them home in my backpack.  I remember that year the 1st of May was on a Saturday, so I kept them hid and stayed quiet about them.  I remember the anticipation and giggling as I sneaked out the back door and around to the front of the house, carefully hanging the “bouquet of flowers” from the doorknob.  The moment I rang the bell and then raced back around the house, flying back in, closing the door and diving on to the couch, to nonchalantly yell out, “Mom, there is a delivery at the door.”  I remember the way my mom went to the door and the joy I felt when her faced lit up at the gift.  The way she displayed them throughout the day.

I also remember years later seeing them in a storage box, where she had held on to the memory of that day.

I did not have the money or means to get a fancy gift.  I could only craft something out of materials that were given to me.  But the joy we both shared in the giving was the the true gift.

This is, to me, the meaning behind the robes and crowns of the elders.  They are/were human beings who lived a life of faith to God.  They had no ability to earn a white robe or a crown.  These were materials given to them.  But throughout their life they crafted them into something of joy.  The joy is not in the pride.  The joy is not in the possession.  The joy is in the giving of the gift itself.

We have nothing God lacks.  We have nothing God needs.  But God has given us materials: bodies, time, talents, materials, a voice, a mind, a heart and soul, relationships, eyes to see, His holy word, a Spirit alive within us.  Like a great parent, He loves the moment of seeing our gift of what we craft out of those materials and sharing in that joy with us, not once, but over and over and over again throughout eternity.

My Answers:

3.
God, the appearance of jasper and ruby, a rainbow shone like an emerald encircled the throne, from the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, sitting behind a sea of glass, clear as crystal.  Demonstrates God’s majesty

4.
a.
24 elders, the saints who had died for faith in God

b.
A crown that will last forever, a crown of righteousness awarded by the Lord the righteous judge, a crown of glory that will never fade away from the Chief Shepherd, the crown of life that the Lord has promised to the blessed one who perseveres under trial and stands the test

08.5 Revelation – Greater Revelation

Greater Revelation

In Daniel 7, in a vision Daniel is given a glimpse into Heaven.  This is the same view that a handful of others have also see and hear through the ages: Elisha and his servant, Ezekiel, Those present at the baptism of Jesus, Stephen and John.  God and heaven are eternal and outside of the dimension of earthly time.  God is in all places and all times.  These views of the end times in heaven are not different events, but the same.  One analogy is that of a book.  We can open up the pages of a book and immediately be “in that time and place”.  In this way, what Daniel witnesses and what John witnesses and what will come in the future are all the same time and place.

As the true “Ancient of Days”, it is only right that the Creator of all is also the judge.  As the all knowing God, nothing is hidden from Him and nothing is outside of His command.  As a just God, sin will be punished and, since all sin is sin against God (Psalm 51:4), no sin will be left unpunished.

But in the midst of this blazing court, Daniel, also sees one that he does not yet know.  In verse 13 he sees one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven being given authority, glory, sovereign power and dominion.

Daniel was deeply troubled by his vision.  There are troubling parts to it for us as well.  Clearly, it is troubling that there will be a final day after which no additional souls will be saved.  But, far more has been revealed to us than was revealed to Daniel.  Most critically, we have Jesus.  God was made man, a son of man, and walked among us.  We have the gospels and the entire bible.  We have the church.  We have the Revelation of Jesus Christ given to John.  Best of all we have the promise of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Can the end times troubling?  Yes, but, in the midst of the wrath and punishment is the promise of forgiveness and the sanctification of the blood of the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

My Answers:

11.
a.
Heaven – God on His throne in all majesty, seated in the court with the books opened (holding court)

b.
He is the judge (as creator it is only right and natural)

12.
Justice is done, in full.  God controls the timing.

13.
Yes, because there will be a final harvest, a day after which no one else will be saved.  No, because we know about Jesus.

08.4 Revelation – A Bigger Kingdom

A Bigger Kingdom

We live in a time with few conquering kings, so we lack reference for the magnitude of the time and area that Daniel was in.

Daniel’s home was conquered by Babylon.  When we open in the beginning of the book of Daniel, the ruler is King Nebuchadnezzar.  In Daniel 5, his son Belshazzar was king, but the writing was on the wall for his demise.  In Daniel 6, Daniel is still in the inner circle even after the kingdom was conquered by the Persian/Medes and King Darius, a King in the Achaemenid Empire.  Not only has Daniel remained across these changes in rulers (something unparalleled even in our modern businesses and governments where successors tend to bring in their own cabinets and advisors), He has grown in favor and authority.

The scale of this empire is hard to comprehend.  During the time of King Darius, it comprised about 8.5 Million sq km.  In comparison, the continental United States is 8 Million sq km.  Even more impressive is that King Darius ruled over 44.5% of the world’s population, roughly equal to China, India and all of Europe combined.  All with no automobiles or planes and communication consisted of sending a messenger running with a scroll of paper.

This king was putting Daniel in charge over all the Satraps (governors) of the entire kingdom.  This king fasted the night Daniel spent in the lion’s den.  This king cried out in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”  This king called all of his people to fear and reverence of God; “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.”  This king saw that the God of Daniel was a bigger King of Kings with a bigger kingdom.

Daniel gave one of the greatest witnesses to God the world has ever experience by going up to his room and praying.  God does not need us to demonstrate His authority, but when we are faithful He grants us the honor of being at the center of demonstrating His power.  Are you willing to follow the model of Daniel?  Will you pray morning, noon and night?  Will you trust in God, even when you are falsely accused?

My Answers:

8.
Set up satraps over 120 divisions of the kingdom with 3 administrators (Daniel was one), Daniel distinguished himself and was going to be named over all – jealousy – couldn’t find any wrong in him.  Only thing “unless it has something to do with the law of his God” – they got the king to pass a law outlawing Daniel praying to God – Daniel did not stop – convicted

9.
Convicted, Darius prayed and fasted that God would save Daniel, He was saved, those who falsely accused him were killed, decree issued that all people must fear and give reverence to the God of Daniel

10.
Political correctness, temptation to do things like everyone else is doing them even though that is not right or honoring to God.  God saves those who honor Him and it results in more honor and glory to God.

 

08.3 Revelation – Bound in Praise and Prayer

Bound in Praise and Prayer

There is an interesting question in our lesson today talking about praiseworthy things God has done for us recently.  It is interesting because it challenges us in our definition of praiseworthiness.

A beautiful sunset is definitely praiseworthy.  A miraculous healing.  Financial stability.  A repaired relationship.  Safety in the midst of a battle or accident.  All praiseworthy.

But how far down the list do we go and still give praise?

In my life recently, the adversity has come not in big attacks but in little ones.  The electrician who is not prompt in returning calls.  The dishwasher that quit working.  The upset stomach.  A technical glitch. A stain on a shirt. None of these are big things in themselves, but added together they take a toll.  You begin to feel like your life is fraying at the edges and you don’t know where it will stop.  You don’t feel like you are standing on solid ground.

It can seem silly to turn these things over to God – to pray to Him about a dishwasher pump.  But that is exactly what He wants us to do.  God is not just the God of big battles, He is the God who protects us in the daily skirmishes of life.  He is God over the universe and over every hair on your head.

My wife enjoys sewing and has made a number of quilts.  It is the image of the quilt that brought this together for me.  Like life, a quilt is made up of many small pieces, all fitting together, all stitched and joined together with threads.  A quilt may or may not have a big central design but they do all have something in common, a binding.  The binding of a quilt is what goes around the outside edge.  It is what holds the pieces and layers all together and prevents it from fraying and tearing and falling apart.  It is seldom beautiful or decorative, but it is critical.  It is also normally sewn on by hand with great work and time and attention to detail.

This week I’m reminded to praise God for His handwork in the binding of the quilt of life He has given me.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Wisdom and Power, He changes times and seasons, He deposes kings and raises up others, He gives wisdom to the wise, knowledge to the discerning, reveals deep and hidden things, knows what lies in darkness, light dwells in Him, God of my ancestors.  (given me wisdom and power, made known to me what we asked of you, made known to us the dream of the king)

b.
He is seeing me through a time of adversity where many things in my life seemed under attack and fraying at the edges.

7.
a.
(see v.28 – all to God) God knows and controls all about all kingdoms of the earth (past present future), He allows them power and deposes them.  His kingdom will rule over all others, crushing them and bringing them to an end and then enduring forever

b.
I am assured that I am part of that kingdom by the seal of the Holy Spirit in my soul

08.2 Revelation – Defile

Defile

This week’s lesson takes us back to the book of Daniel.  BSF makes it clear that the reason for this is for two purposes: as a witness of God’s faithful servants in a foreign land and how God uses those faithful servants in preparation for His kingdom.  The key things to keep in mind and look for then are faithfulness and kingdom.

This directly ties back to the ongoing study of Revelation because these same themes are the crux of “the rest of the story.”  In the letters to the churches, they were commended for their faithfulness.  We will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud and the righteous judgement of God delivered.

That is all big picture stuff, and important to keep in mind as we read the 4 chapters of Daniel this week.  But, it is equally meaningful to pick up the applications from the book of Daniel that God is calling you and me to apply to our lives.

The first and greatest one for me are the 6 words in Daniel 1:8, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself.”

To be resolved is to be firm in purpose or intent.  This is an area all can agree on, secular or faithful alike: People that live a more intentional and purpose driven life do better than those who are constantly tossed about by the waves.  That is a theme in almost every organization, self-help, business growth book, as well as a common message from Christian writers.  There method is the same, the goals and definition of what “doing better” mean however are very different, which brings us to the second part of this statement.

“Not to defile himself.”  Defile is an interesting word because it simultaneously means a broad range of states.  Synonyms range from mar and impair to destroy, ruin and rape.  Daniel resolved not to do any of those things to himself.

The thing I find most interesting in this and in greatest contrast to the way most of us live is that Daniel didn’t “pick his battles.”  He didn’t yield in little things but stay strong in big things.  He set his intent and purpose to not defile himself, period.  Not a nick, not a mar, not impaired in any way.

In what little ways are you unintentionally allowing yourself to be defiled?  Is it the shows you watch or the movies you see?  Is it the commercials you allow during the shows?  Is it the books you read or the language you listen to or repeat?  Is it the little things you take that don’t really belong to you (pens and office supplies from your employer)?  Is it the images and websites you see and spend time on? Is it the way you fail to set time apart each and every day to spend in prayer and the study of God’s word?

Being faithful could simply be defined using these 6 words, “I resolve to not defile myself.”  When we do that, the Holy Spirit will help do the rest.  It is the path God chooses for us, a path that leads to holiness and robes of white instead of robes marred and stained by sin.  It is a path of daily walking with God, in the same way that professional athlete and musicians “practice like they perform”, we are called to stay faithful in the little things every day.

My Answers:

3.
Not to defile himself, to stay separate and not eat the food or drink the wine of the kingdom.  He received attention of the chief official and the guard over them and proposed a test of himself and 3 others (SMA), after 10 days they were healthier,

4.
better nourished.  Excelled in knowledge and understanding and Daniel could understand visions and dreams.
They stood out as men faithful to God, ultimately all of their lives were saved (fiery furnace/lions den) – all also prospered in the new kingdom in power and authority

5.
Daniel is a great example of God’s reward for obedience in the most tempting and most challenging situations: the little things in life.

07.5 Revelation – Holy Whole not Holey

Holy Whole not Holey

When God calls us, we are broken.  The reading we did from Acts 2 said the people were “cut to the heart” by Peter’s words.  We are broken, cracked, empty, a sieve.

God does not wait for us to create a perfect vessel for His spirit to abide within.  He waits for us to recognize that we are truly broken in pieces beyond our own repair to even hold things together.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit isn’t something that we hold in our hearts, it is something that holds our hearts together.

But God doesn’t leave us broken.  The song of Amazing Grace is not celebrating what wretches we are, but that God would take us while we were wretches and transform us into something different.

Unfortunately, that transformation is not a “one and done” event.  The Holy Spirit as at work daily in our lives.  And, like any other repair job, He first must dig and scrape out the rotten, rusted, weak and infected parts of our lives to then lay a foundation of something new.  This part isn’t fun.  It hurts.  It cuts to the heart.  But, would we want less?  Would we want a builder to construct on a weak foundation?  Would we want a paint job on top of wood rot?  Would we want a band-aid covering up a cancerous growth?

Ephesians 4 gives instruction for living a Christian life.  But it is an order that we cannot fulfill on our own.  I can be humble some of the time.  I may be humble most of the time, but am I truly humble in thought, word and action all the time.  I can forgive others, but do I forgive them as God forgave me.  Always?  All it takes is one instance and it isn’t always!

But, God can.  God with us can.  God in us definitely can.  God is gracious and good.  He is strong and mighty.  He is love and compassion and peace.

Ephesians 4 is not a rubric by which to grade your performance.  If it were, we all have failed.  It is an explanation of the ways the Holy Spirit will, from the inside, be transforming your (and my) life.  How He will be cleaning out and patching the holes in your heart, mind and soul.

When D.L. Moody was asked why he had to be filled with the Spirit so often he said simply, “Because I leak.”

 

My Answers:

11.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bear with one another in love; keep the bond of peace; keep faith in one body and one Spirit and one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God over all

12.
Am I a body with a soul or soul with a body?  Which defines you?  The now of the everlasting?
As Christ sacrificed His life for mine, He has given me eternal life and my calling is to serve Him (not myself) with this body at this time.

13.
With great struggle – magnification of my own sins in light of others around me whom I am called to care for.  The preparing of the foundation to build upon is painful, but through God all is possible – even holiness.

07.4 Revelation – Grafted On

Grafted On

Most of us don’t grow olive trees so the concept of grafting on is vague at best.  But it is an age old practice and one that bears depth and meaning as the analogy used in Romans 11.

According to Olive Oil News, “Grafting is done for several purposes, but most commonly in the olive oil industry it is to get the hardy roots of one variety with the fecundity of another variety. The whole point of grafting is that each part of the grafted tree keeps its original character. The variety used for the root stock may be resistant to fungus or other pests but has a small or low yield olive. The graft may have weak roots but large fruit with high oil content. The resulting tree has the best of both varieties.”

Fecundity is a great word.  According to vocabulary.com “Fecundity means fruitfulness and fertility, the ability to produce abundant healthy growth or offspring“.

God created Adam in His own image, grafting him on to His holiness.  God adopted Abraham as a child of Adam but as the father of a new people, in covenant, grafting His lineage on to God’s own stock.  And now, even today, “For God so Loves the World” He will graft on even the wildest of plants, who are willing to yield to His pruning and taming, for the fecundity of fruitfulness.

The expectation is fruit.  We are not being grafted on to good stock simply so we can be nourished, but so that, by being nourished we produce abundant healthy growth.

Is your life producing fruit?  Are you actively witnessing to others, in your words and in your actions?  Who have you invited to a bible study, to BSF?

If you are not producing fruit, you are a broken branch.  But here is the most important and critical part to remember:  The fruit always comes from the root.  You are not producing fruit – God is producing fruit through Adam, through Abraham, through you.  If you are a broken branch, it is not because God has stopped sending energy and fruit out to you – it is because you have broken yourself off from the root.

The amazing thing is that God is willing to pick up even the weakest and driest of withered broken branches and graft us back on, all we have to do is believe (actually, we don’t even have to do all of that, we just have to open the door and He will fill us with the Spirit of belief.)

 

My Answers:

8.
They are still called to faith in Jesus – they have not been rejected, God has not forgotten His covenant.  He has kept a remnant.  He has not abandoned them, the Gentiles have been grafted on to the root of the covenant He made

9.
a.
The root is God, holy in His covenant to Abraham.  The broken branches are the children of Abraham who have rejected God.  The wild shoot grafted on are the believing gentiles

b.
He will take any branch and graft it in at any time (despite how many times it has fallen away) All we have to do is believe

10.
He has saved me.  He has challenged me.  He has given me His word so that I can find some element of peace and hope.