The Lost Discipline of the Love Feast – Part 1

Scripture never leaves us guessing, it always provides an answer or points us in the right direction regarding our life with Christ.  For example, if you want to know how to pray, Jesus lays it out for us in Matthew 6 in a passage affectionately known as the Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:5-15).  Or, if you want to know what life is like in the Kingdom of God, Jesus gives us example after example in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7).

And if you want to know what It looks like when a group of ordinary believers, like you and me, are infused with the Holy Spirit and become the church (ekklēsía),¹ all you have to do is look at the book of Acts, especially Acts 2:42-47, to discover exactly what this group of Believers devoted themselves to that allowed them to have the results they did (Acts 2:47).  Remember, the book of Acts is more than a history book, giving us a detailed account of how the Holy Spirit moved in their lives back then, but not today.  Instead, the book of Acts is our template, our blueprint— it’s our instruction manual on how God designed His church and how He wants it to function.

So, let’s look at what the early church devoted itself to and see if we can glean some truth for us today.

“Who Are Those Guys?” – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

When the church was miraculously born (you can read about it in Acts 2:1-4), Peter stood and preached a 297-word sermon to many skeptical observers, and over 3,000 of them gave their lives to Christ and were baptized that very day (Acts 2:41).  It was something only God could have done— signs and wonders, confrontational preaching, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and true repentance and faith (Acts 2:36-40).

But now what?  The 120 in the upper room had grown over 25-fold in the space of a few hours, and the disciples had a logistical problem on their hands.  After all, the knowledge of the new converts about Christ and this new concept of church was limited to what Peter had just told them.  So the Lord set up His discipleship program that is unsurpassed to this day and still serves as our model, if we would stop trying to reinvent the wheel and follow the Lord’s leading.  Let me explain.

Their Results

First, let’s look at the results.  With no formal training, no paid staff, no buildings, programs, or worship bands, without any Christian books, movies, or music, and with no Christian sub-culture, traditions, or history, lost people were added to His church daily.  That’s every day!  And the public attitude and perception of these strange Christ-followers was far more positive than it is in our own communities today. Read it for yourself.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people (both saved and lost, Jew and Gentile).  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved – Acts 2:46-47.

We haven’t seen God move like this in a long time, if ever.  And for them, it was an everyday occurrence, something they grew to expect.  Every day there were new believers.  In every worship service, there were new stories to tell about God delivering someone from the bondage of sin and delivering them into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:13).  Can you imagine what those times together as the infant church must have been like?

What Made Them Who They Were

Next, let’s look at who they were.  No, we’re not talking about their race, heritage, education, financial status, or all the things that define us today.  We want to look at what made them different, how they became a people “whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11).  And the one word that comes to mind when you read the account of their lives is this: committed.  Yes, they were committed to the core, single-focused on only one thing: Christ and His kingdom.  Just like the church… er, today.  Right?

Everything about their lives oozed a commitment to something greater than themselves, and their actions spoke decibels louder than their words.  We see, almost immediately after their conversion, they “had all things in common, (to what degree) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44-45).  How could they freely do this? “It’s easy,” they would reply, “when you have encountered the living Lord Jesus as we have.”

These men and women were driven by a love and commitment to a person, Jesus Christ, that overpowered their fear, even of death.  When the government ordered them not to speak of Jesus under the threat of imprisonment and death, they simply prayed for God to give them more boldness to do just the opposite (Acts 4:29).  And once again, God responded in a way that confirmed their faith (Acts 4:31), just like He does when we come together to pray the same things.  Uh, well, hopefully.

The Focus of Their Devotion

Finally, let’s look at how these ordinary people from different backgrounds and dialects became the fearless, Spirit-filled church we see in the first few chapters of Acts.  What made them into the people they became?  And how did uneducated fishermen and farmers “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) in such a short amount of time when we seem to be on the losing side of the cancel culture wars and have churches on every other street corner across the land?  What did they have that we don’t?  Or what were they committed to that we don’t take seriously?  Let’s look at the last question in closing.

In Acts 2:42, we see the God-designed plan He gave His church to mature believers from spiritual zygotes to men and women of God as quickly as possible.  And His discipleship program comprises four simple things and a commitment to stay focused on them.

And they (what) continued steadfastly in (1) the apostles’ doctrine and (2) fellowship, in (3) the breaking of bread, and in (4) prayers – Acts 2:42.

Now, let’s define some of these words to make sure we understand the depth of what the church was doing back then that produced the results we envy today.

And they (what) continued steadfastly (proskarteréō – to endure, to remain, to persevere in some activity or cause to the point of devotion) in (1) the apostles’ doctrine and (2) fellowship (koinōnía – participation, communion, community, sharing in an intimate association or group), in (3) the breaking of bread, and in (4) prayers – Acts 2:42.

A few of these terms are simple to define.  Others take a little digging.  For example, we would interpret the apostles’ doctrine as teaching from the Bible or preaching a sermon from the word of God. And prayers, those may be public or private prayers, probably both.

Fellowship is a little more difficult.  The word koinōnía means more than a pot-luck dinner on the ground after church, where we talk about NASCAR or the upcoming Super Bowl.  The fellowship the early church experienced was a common commitment to a single goal: Christ and His Kingdom.  They were in partnership with each other; they lived in a family, communal style, where everyone was more concerned about each other than themselves.  They were united as one, which is exactly what Jesus prayed they would become (John 17:21), and they had a shared life with one another.  There were no independent contractors or free agents in the crowd.  They were, to quote the famed phrase, “All for one and one for all.”  This is what fellowship meant to the early church.

And then we come to the phrase “the breaking of bread.”  Often this is written off as simply meaning the church celebrated the Lord’s Supper as part of their worship service.  But in this context, the meaning is a common, communal meal.  We see Luke using the same phrase in Acts 2:46 to describe just that, a common meal taken together in the homes of other believers.  There is no mention of the Lord’s Supper.

And remember, these early Christians were devoted to these four practices.  Devoted.  They “continued steadfastly” in them, without wavering.  Don’t let the impact of that word pass you by.  They were committed to these four activities and realized that in them, teaching, fellowship, communal meals, and prayer, God would meld them together as one and give them the strength to be His light in an ever-darkening world.

Conclusion

But we, for some reason (that I will share with you later), have decided that fellowship can be achieved without a common or communal meal.  The early church simply got that one wrong.  We agree with the importance of preaching, Bible study (apostles’ doctrine), and prayer.  And we, to a lesser degree, agree that fellowship is good and profitable, but not as important as Bible study and prayer.  But when it comes to sharing a meal as part of our time together as His church, well… that seems to have fallen out of vogue, and we would rather not, except on special occasions.

Think that one through.  God gave His church four practices they were devoted to and would not deviate from.  Four practices that became the pillars of their time together.  It was the foundation upon which they built their church services.  Preaching and prayer helped them grow as individual believers.  And fellowship allowed them as individual believers to grow together as one into the body of Christ.  But what about sharing a common meal?  That was God’s way of fostering fellowship in the body of Christ so much that He included it in the four practices, even listing it before prayer.

And it seems foolish for us today to expect the same boldness, intimacy, and results they had in the book of Acts by not following the same game plan God gave us to ensure our success in building His Kingdom.  Maybe we know better?  Or maybe we are more sophisticated and have it all figured out, more than they did back then?  I think not.

Next time we will look even deeper into the importance of the “love feast”² or common meal the church celebrated as part of their worship service and see if we can learn more about God’s plan to build His church from His Word, and not have to rely on what we think is right or feel comfortable with.

It should be a wild ride.

1. Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.
2. Jude 1:12

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Praising Him with the Hosts of Heaven

The Book of Revelation contains some of the most vivid and awe-inspiring pictures of God’s divine glory and the worship He rightly deserves.  In Revelation chapter 5, the apostle John has an encounter with the risen and exalted Jesus Christ that highlights specific ways we should praise and worship the Lord.

The setting is the throne room of heaven, where all creation is gathered to worship God and the Lamb.  The scene is marked by majesty, splendor, and reverence as a scroll with seven seals is presented before the throne.  Jesus alone is found worthy to open the scroll, which prompts an outpouring of praise.

John then hears a mighty chorus of voices from angels, the living creatures and the elders, and all created beings praising Christ for His wonderful attributes.  The scene unfolds like this:

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” – Revelation 5:11-13.

This powerful doxology provides a pattern for how we ought to worship Jesus Christ here on earth like He is glorified in heaven.  And by reflecting on each praiseworthy attribute, we gain insight into the proper focus and posture of worship.

Worthy is the Lamb Who Was Slain

The stanza begins with praise for Christ’s sacrifice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.”  Even in the heights of heavenly glory, the focal point of worship is the Lamb and the sacrifice He made for our redemption and salvation.  The angels and elders are caught up not with Jesus’ omnipotence but rather with His sacrificial death on the cross.

This reminds us that at the heart of our worship must be awe and gratitude for Christ’s substitutionary atonement (Heb. 10:12, 1 Pet. 2:24).  As the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus willingly went to the cross to die for our sins so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God (John 1:29, 2 Cor. 5:21).  His victory over sin and death is the basis for our salvation and the reason we have eternal life (1 Cor. 15:54-57, Rom. 4:25).

When we fix our eyes on the Lamb who was slain, it leads us to deep worship characterized by humility, grace, and surrender.  We exalt Jesus not merely for His power but for His merciful redemption.  We worship Him for who He is— the Lamb who was slain for us.

To Receive Power and Riches

The stanza continues with praises for the power and riches that belong to Christ: “to receive power and riches.”  Though Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross, He has been highly exalted and given the name above every name (Phil. 2:8-11).

Seated at the right hand of God, Jesus possesses all power and authority over heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).  He upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3), and one day every knee will bow to Him as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).

Not only that, but the inexhaustible riches of Christ are lavished upon us through faith in Him (Eph. 1:7).  Though He was rich in heaven’s glories, He became poor so that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9).  As adopted children of God, all spiritual blessings are ours in Christ— forgiveness, redemption, wisdom, and grace beyond measure (Eph. 1:3-8).

When we worship the all-powerful, endlessly rich Lamb, it prompts deep reverence and awe for who God is.  We stand in wonder at the majesty and might of the risen Savior.  And our worship should overflow with thanksgiving for the riches of redemption we have in Him.

Wisdom, Strength, and Honor

The doxology continues with praises for Christ’s wisdom, strength, and honor: “to receive…wisdom and might and honor.”  In His deity, Jesus possesses the very wisdom and knowledge of God (Col. 2:3).  No one counsels the Lord or instructs Him (Isa. 40:13-14).  His knowledge is perfect, His judgments are flawless, and His ways are unsearchable (Rom. 11:33-36).

Not only is Christ all-wise, but His strength is without limit.  He spoke the universe into existence (Gen. 1:1-3, Psalm 33:6).  He upholds and sustains all of creation by His mighty power (Heb. 1:3).  He stills storms (Mark 4:39), heals diseases (Matt. 4:23), casts out demons (Luke 4:35), forgives sins (Luke 7:48), and conquers death (1 Cor. 15:54-57).  Jesus exemplifies the perfect strength that arises from true meekness (Matt. 11:29, Phil. 2:7-8).

Because of who He is and what He has accomplished, Jesus alone deserves all honor and praise.  He is the King of Glory (Psalm 24:7-10).  The Son is to be honored just as the Father is honored (John 5:22-23).  When God the Father speaks from heaven, He commands us to worship and glorify His Son (Matt. 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:16-18).

So the right response when we grasp Christ’s divine wisdom, limitless strength, and complete honor is to fall down in worship before Him.  Our worship should magnify and echo the honor and glory that belong to Him alone.

Glory and Blessing

The doxology goes on to praise Jesus for the glory and blessing He receives: “to receive…glory and blessing.”  Though Jesus laid aside His heavenly glory to come to earth, He now reigns in magnificent splendor at God’s right hand (Heb. 2:9; 12:2).

Myriads of angels and saints surrounding the throne erupt into praise for the glory and majesty of the Lamb (Revelation 5:11-14).  All things were created for His glory (Revelation 4:11).  So our worship on earth should resound with praise for His divine glory.

Not only is Christ glorious beyond measure, but He lavishes spiritual blessings upon us as His people (Eph. 1:3).  His grace abounds to us, and His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23).  All good gifts come from His hand (James 1:17).  He supplies our every need (Phil. 4:19), protects and guides us by His Spirit (Psalm 32:8, Isa. 58:11), and gives eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16, 1 John 5:11-12).

As those immeasurably blessed by Jesus, our worship should overflow with thanksgiving.  We should continually exalt Him for who He is and all He has done for us.  And our grateful praise should echo the blessing, honor, and glory due to His name.

To Him Who Sits on the Throne

The crescendo of praise builds as the voices proclaim, “To him who sits on the throne.”  Here our worship focuses on Jesus’ position of highest authority as the exalted King now seated on the throne of heaven (Rev. 5:6-7; Heb. 12:2).

The crucified and risen Lamb who redeemed the chosen unto God now reigns as the sovereign Lord over all (Rev. 5:9-10).  Though He walked the earth in humility (Phil. 2:8), Jesus now rules the universe in divine majesty.  He is the King of Kings whose kingdom will endure forever (Rev. 11:15).

When we worship Christ as the enthroned Lord, it should prompt awe and allegiance as we join the heavenly chorus in deep reverence for His reign.  And when we bow down before His supreme authority as citizens of His unshakable kingdom, our worship should magnify the reigning Christ who sits on the throne forever and ever.

He Lives Forever and Ever

The chorus reaches its peak with the climactic praise, “Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”  Not only is Jesus enthroned in heaven, but He lives and reigns forever.  Though He was crucified, He conquered death and rose in mighty triumph.  He is the Firstborn from the dead who lives eternally (Rev. 1:18; Rom. 6:9).

The risen Lamb who was slain now lives forever as the enthroned King.  His years will never end (Heb. 1:8,12).  He holds the keys of Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18), and His dominion is everlasting.

When we worship Jesus as the living, eternal King, it should move us to persevere and endure suffering with hope.  No earthly trials or struggles can dethrone Him and all enemies will be put under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25, Heb. 10:13).  And our hope and worship declares with the faithful martyrs that Jesus is “the ruler of kings on earth” who is alive forevermore (Revelation 1:5, 18).

Earthly Application

As those ransomed by Christ’s blood, you and I are called to join the heavenly chorus in worshipping Jesus as revealed in Revelation 5.  When the church gathers, how can we echo this heavenly praise?

First, our worship must revolve around Christ as the Lamb who was slain (Rev. 5:12).  We should exalt Him for His atoning sacrifice that brought us forgiveness and eternal life (Rom. 3:24-25, John 10:10).

Second, we should stand in awe of Jesus’ divine power as we praise Him for the riches of His grace (Phil. 2:9-11, Eph. 1:7-8).

Third, we need to honor the Son for His perfect wisdom (Col. 2:3), matchless strength (Isa. 40:28-29), and complete worthiness of our worship (Rev. 5:2).

Fourth, our worship should resound with praise for the glory Jesus possesses (John 17:5) and the blessings He pours out on us because of His grace and mercy (Eph. 1:3).

Fifth, we should bow down before Christ as the sovereign King seated on the throne— the Lord of lords who rules the nations (Rev. 19:16).

And finally, sixth, we proclaim with joy that Jesus is alive forever as the eternal reigning King (Rev. 1:18).

May our worship as God’s people faithfully reflect the heavenly praise found in Revelation 5.  And may it enlarge our vision of the glory, wisdom, power, and love found in our risen Savior and Lord.

Worthy is the Lamb!

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Magnifying the Lamb

In Revelation 5, we find a divine pattern for praise and worship laid out through John’s glimpse into the heavenly throne room. As the Lamb takes the scroll to unleash God’s plans for returning the kingdom to the King (Rev. 5:7), the inhabitants of heaven erupt in exultant worship focused wholly on Christ. As we seek to praise God with the type of worship He desires (John 4:23), this passage offers a template to shape our adoration of the One worthy of all blessing, honor, and glory.

Singular Focus: Centering on the Lamb

John directs our attention to the central figure of the Lamb as the anchor point of praise. The myriads around the throne— living creatures and elders representing all God’s redeemed— turn their worship toward “the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:12) and no one else. Their hymns exalt the redeeming blood of Christ, His unmatched worthiness, and His supreme authority over all things. In this heavenly chorus, Jesus alone takes the spotlight.

As we lift our songs of praise to Him on earth, Christ must also occupy the principal position. Our praise falls short if we fail to magnify the Son. “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36). Likewise, our worship must be focused on the rightful role of Jesus at the center of our redemption and the center of our lives. Anything less is not true worship.

Proclaiming the Gospel: Singing of Christ’s Sacrifice

The content of the chorus in Revelation 5 focuses intensely on the Person and work of Christ. The elders praise the Lamb for this one momentous act: “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (5:9). Their words retell the old gospel story of Jesus sacrificing His life to redeem those who are in bondage as slaves to sin. He willingly shed His blood to pay redemption’s price for undeserving sinners like you and me to experience grace, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Our praise should likewise overflow with celebrating what Jesus has accomplished for us. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). As we declare the wonders of the cross through word and song, we echo the truths surrounding our salvation. Our worship proclaims the lengths Christ went to save us and the sufficiency of His atonement. And this alone is worthy of an eternity of praise from His redeemed people.

Recognition of True Authority: Falling Before the Lamb

When Christ appears, John sees the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves before the Lamb in recognition of His supreme authority (Rev. 5:8). Their posture confesses His worthiness to take the scroll and break its seals ushering in the tribulation, which initiates God’s plan to return the kingdom to the King, His Son. Physical bowing accompanies their words of praise. So too, our praise must be rooted in our submission to Christ’s lordship over all creation and the church. Remember what the future holds: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Therefore, our worship must submit to His sovereign reign as we honor the King in a way pleasing unto Him.

Freedom and Expression: Harps and Incense

Heaven’s chorus employs musical and artistic embellishments to create a tapestry of praise worthy of the Lamb. The elders hold harps and golden bowls of incense “which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 5:8), and the strings and sounds intertwine together to craft a symphony of adoration for the One worthy to take the scroll (Rev. 5:5-7). Our earthly praise should likewise incorporate creative elements to enrich our worship. As Paul says, we can teach and admonish “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16; see also Eph. 5:19). Artistic gifts can deepen our worship, but the gifts cannot be the focus of our worship. That belongs to the Lord alone.

United Community: Saints and Angels in Harmony

The epic anthem in Revelation 5 comes not from a solo heavenly voice, but from the blended chorus of the community of faith. Elders and living creatures together raise the new song to the Lamb (Rev. 5:9). Their combined voices testify to the multiethnic diversity of the redeemed united in Christ. So much so, that in Revelation 5:13, we see “every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them” praise His name together. By God’s design, those who praise the Lamb in heaven will come from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9) showing to the world that our shared identity united under Christ’s blood (John 17:21) is greater than any of our cultural or racial differences.

Our Future Hope: His Victorious Reign

As the elders praise the crucified Lamb, they proclaim that His blood-purchased saints from every nation will be made “kings and priests to our God” and will “reign upon the earth” (Rev. 5:10). Their victory song bursts with joy and hope in the sure promises of God to be fulfilled in Christ. Our praise should rise from the same assurance that the Lamb who secured our redemption will consummate His kingdom and usher us into glorified life with Him forever. Remember, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (Rev. 21:4). Our worship should flow from hearts anchored in this future hope because “These words are true and faithful” (Rev. 21:5).

Conclusion

As we seek to praise God with the type of worship He desires (John 4:23), Revelation 5 stands as a guide for us to emulate, both privately and with other believers. The heavenly chorus before the throne sets a pattern for our earthly worship. With Christ at the center, the gospel on our lips, reverence in our hearts, unity among all brethren, and confident assurance for the future, let us lift our heartfelt hallelujahs to the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). May our worship resound with the same elements that adorn the praise before the eternal throne. And in this way, we can join our voices with the unending hymns that magnify the Lamb who alone is worthy. “To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Tim. 1:17).

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Worship in Heaven vs Worship on Earth

As we continue to look at the description of worship displayed in Revelation 4 and 5 in order to learn from heavenly worship what earthly worship should look like, we are going to focus on the second of the five episodes of worship found in these chapters. And this comes from the worship of the four living creatures now joined by the twenty-four elders (which represent the redeemed, both Jew and Gentile) and is described as follows:

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” – Revelation 4:9-11.

Let’s see what we can learn about worship from this passage.

Worship Involves Ascribing Ultimate Worth to God

The twenty-four elders in Revelation 4:11 declare God alone as worthy “to receive glory and honor and power.” This reveals a fundamental truth about worship – it is rooted in recognizing God’s supreme value and worth. In fact, the word worship comes from an Old English word meaning “worth-ship” or the act of ascribing worth to someone. All creation gets its value from God, yet He alone has inherent worth that does not come from any source outside of Himself. Worship, therefore, joyfully ascribes this unequaled worth back to Him. It is about proclaiming through words, songs, actions, and thoughts that God is worthy of all praise and devotion.

Worship Responds to Seeing God’s Glory and Power

In Revelation 4:11, the elders’ worship is a direct response to the vision of God’s glory flooding the heavenly temple and His sovereign reign from the throne described in verses 2-7. Their worship flows from beholding God’s majesty and power, and not because of any external prompting. No one is leading them in this worship, it comes from within. God’s splendor and sovereignty inherently elicit heartfelt praise and humble reverence for Him. It seems from this passage, worship happens most authentically when God’s greatness is apprehended.

Worship Exalts God as the Source and Sustainer of All Things

The elders’ song of praise highlights God as the Creator – “for You created all things” (Rev. 4:11). Worship glorifies God as the source and sustainer of all things, both seen and unseen. Since God made all things through Christ and “in Him all things consist” or hold together (Col. 1:16-17), our worship should rightfully acknowledge Him as the source and purpose of all of creation since He is supreme over all He has made and is most worthy of our praise.

Worship Calls for Complete Surrender to God’s Authority

The elders casting their crowns before God’s throne illustrates worship as a willful act of submission and surrender to God’s supreme authority (Rev. 4:10). For them, nothing is held back. Their praise and allegiance to Him are total, without exception. Likewise, our worship of Him should also be shaped by recognizing Him as the rightful Lord over every aspect of our lives because true worship bows unreservedly to His sovereignty.

Worship Involves Physical Acts of Reverence

In Revelation 4:10, the elders respond physically by falling down and casting their crowns before God’s throne in humble reverence. From this we learn that worship appropriately includes physical expressions and postures – such as kneeling, lifting hands, bowing down, or laying prostrate before God (note the times in these chapters when the elders fall down before the Lord in worship). Through both our bodies and our spirits, we worship by acknowledging the greatness and superiority of God in concrete, tangible, physical, and observable ways. It appears that our worship should involve reverent physical acts of devotion.

Worship Looks Ahead to the Fulfillment of God’s Plans

The picture of worship in Revelation 4 points ahead to the culmination of God’s redemptive plan in Christ and the creation of a “new heaven and a new earth” where there “shall be no more pain” (Rev. 21:1-5). The elders’ worship is energized and shaped by this promised hope. They celebrate God’s worthiness to receive all glory, honor, and power in anticipation of the day when His reign and kingdom will be established forever. And our worship should similarly connect what God has done in the past with what He promises to do in the future through Christ.

Worship Focuses Entirely on God, Not Us

Finally, in Revelation 4, the elders direct all their attention to God, and not themselves. While worship certainly involves us, it is not about us nor ever has been. Worship is for an audience of One. When we worship we are called to lift our eyes above ourselves and focus completely on glorifying God for who He is and not what we get out of it. God-centered worship brings freedom from self-interest and temptations of self-gratification and self-exaltation.

Conclusion

This magnificent portrait of heavenly worship recorded in Revelation 4:10-11 makes one truth resoundingly clear – worship is all about ascribing worth to our glorious and mighty God. By looking at the example of the twenty-four elders, we gain a biblical model for what heartfelt worship should look like. Our worship, both individual and corporate, must be grounded in God’s supremacy over all things as the Creator and source of life. It should be fueled by seeing God’s glory and responding to the revelation of His character and works. Worship calls us to posture our lives in humble submission to Christ’s authority and engages our minds, hearts, and bodies in joyful praise to God for who He is. As we grow closer to Him in worship may our lives echo this praise: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Amen and Hallelujah to our God and great King!

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Praise and Worship in the Revelation

In Revelation 4-5, God graciously grants us insight into John’s amazing vision of the throne room of heaven.  Around God’s throne are four living creatures and 24 elders, who continually break out in spontaneous praise of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  Their praise builds in a stunning crescendo over these two chapters, giving us a picture or template of how we too should worship our glorious God both privately, in our time with Him alone, and corporately with others in church.

Let’s look at each of these five instances of praise and see what we can learn about how to truly experience God in our private and corporate worship.

What Worship Looks Like in Heaven

We Worship Our God Who is Holy
The first statement of praise comes from the four living creatures, who “do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'” (Revelation 4:8).  The threefold repetition of “holy” highlights God’s supreme holiness and unmatched perfection (Isaiah 6:3).  As we begin our time with God, reflecting on His utter holiness humbles us, reminds us of His greatness, and causes us to approach Him with reverence and awe.  We should meditate on verses about God’s holiness like 1 Samuel 2:2: “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You.”

We Worship Our God Who is Worthy
The second statement is from the 24 elders, who “fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.'” (Revelation 4:10-11).  Focusing on God’s worthiness helps us realize we owe everything to Him as our Creator and Sustainer (Col. 1:17).  As the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “Our chief purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  We glorify Him by proclaiming His supreme worth.

We Worship Our God Who Redeemed Us by His Blood
The praise reaches a new height when the Lamb (Christ) takes the scroll from the hand of the One on the throne.  The four living creatures and twenty-four elders break out in a new song of praise, highlighting Christ’s worthiness to open the scroll because of His sacrificial death on the cross.

“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” – Revelation 5:9-10.

As we reflect on Christ’s atoning sacrifice for us, we cannot help but praise Him for redeeming us with His shed blood.

We Worship Our God for His Attributes
The crescendo continues building as countless angels now join the living creatures and elders, praising the Lamb with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive (1) power and (2) riches and (3) wisdom, and (4) strength and (5) honor and (6) glory and (7) blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).  Meditating on Christ’s seven-fold worthiness elevates our worship as we focus on His worthiness and not on our own merits or accomplishments.

We Worship Our Triune God
Finally, every creature in heaven and on earth joins the chorus: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13).  Our praise should likewise recognize that both the Father and the Son are equally worthy of our worship.  We glorify the Triune God – Father, Son, and Spirit – as three persons yet one God, worthy of all blessing and honor and glory and power.

As in Heaven, So on Earth

Just as praise builds to a beautiful crescendo in Revelation 4-5, so too should our personal and corporate worship move through recognizing God’s supreme holiness, praising Him for His creative power and sustaining worthiness, exalting Christ for His redemptive work, and fully celebrating the infinite worth of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This pattern takes us deeper into the presence of God.  Our worship should echo the powerful praise resounding ceaselessly in the throne room of heaven, never stopping day or night!  As we worship, may our hearts and minds be filled with God-glorifying praise, culminating in the ultimate crescendo of forever praising the infinite worth of our glorious God.

Going Deeper: Practical Tips for Worship Based on Revelation 4-5

The following are some practical tips to help us apply the examples of worship modeled in Revelation 4-5 to our own times of personal and corporate praise so that our lives might resound with worship worthy of our infinitely glorious God.

•   Focus on God’s holiness and perfection.  Spend time meditating on verses about God’s holiness like Isaiah 6:3.  Approach Him with humility, awe, and reverence.

•   Reflect on God’s worthiness and His work as Creator.  Read passages like Psalm 104 that highlight His creative power.  Praise Him for giving you life and sustaining you

•   Dwell on Christ’s sacrifice for your redemption.  Sing songs and hymns about Christ’s death and resurrection.  Thank Him for His incredible, undeserved grace.

•   Consider Christ’s seven-fold worthiness from Revelation 5:12.  Reflect on His power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing.  Let this elevate your praise.

•   Worship the Triune God equally, just as all creation does in Revelation 5:13.  Glorify the Father, Son, and Spirit in prayer, song, and meditation.

•   Let your worship build and grow.  Follow the pattern of increasing crescendo modeled in Revelation 4-5.  Don’t rush your time with God.

•   Worship together with other believers.  Praise God through prayer, Scripture, song, testimony, praise, communion, and fellowship.

•   Be consistent in worship.  The four living creatures worship God ceaselessly day and night.  Set aside regular worship time.

•   Express your praise through song, Scripture, prayer, writing, service, giving, and any means that honor God.  Use your unique creative gifts He gave you to praise Him.

•   Above all, worship in “spirit and truth” (John 4:24).  Engage your mind, will, and emotions fully as you glorify your worthy God.

May our worship, both personal and corporate, echo the powerful praise surrounding God’s throne. Let’s honor His infinite worth with an ever-increasing crescendo of praise.

And let’s begin today and continue together this Sunday.

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Other Resources:

The Higher Christian Life
Small Time Pastor
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