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12.20.20 Revelation 5 Pastor Danny Gardner · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  If you have your Bibles, you can open to Revelation chapter 5. Revelation chapter 5. I'm going to read our text and then pray and begin. Revelation chapter 5. And if you're able to stand in honor of God's word, I would ask you to stand as I read. Beginning in verse 1. Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice,
• 0:43
  One of the elders said to me, Weep no more. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.
• 0:59
  And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
• 1:24
  And they sang in a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals. For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
• 1:41
  Then I looked and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them saying to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might.
• 2:09
  forever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped. And Lord God in heaven, your name is holy and greatly to be praised, and your works are holy and greatly to be praised. You've saved us from the miry clay. You've redeemed us from the pit of our own rebellion and sin. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that while we were still sinners, you died for us.
• 2:42
  And thus was your love proven beyond doubt. Give us insight this morning as we open your word. We receive your truth with joy. Amen. Amen. Thank you, church. You can be seated. Well, we began our brief Christmas series last Sunday by describing heaven's throne room. I told you very clear that my goal was not to give a study on future events because I believe that would be missing the point.
• 3:12
  but rather to give our church a clear picture of the shore so that we will not quit swimming. We said last week that 2020 has provided plenty of fog, and like Florence Chadwick when she made that sea crossing all those decades ago, the only way we will finish the race marked out for us is if we keep our eyes fixed on the finish line, if we forsake all that lies behind and strain forward.
• 3:39
  toward the goal if we keep a mental image of heaven and what lies ahead a couple of months ago i had lunch with a pastor who's from minnesota we were eating mexican food and when our order was brought to our table he looked down at his plate he noticed a big glob of green on the top and he said ah man i forgot to tell him i didn't want that he said
• 4:08
  i hate this and he paused and he kind of was grappling searching for a word straining for the word he said i hate this uh guatemala stuff and i i kind of froze i said do you mean guacamole and he said yeah yeah yeah yeah whatever that stuff is called now church praise the lord i don't say everything i think
• 4:41
  Right, you can buy t-shirts and hats and things that say if you're offended by what I say Just imagine if you could read my thoughts, right? You don't even know the stuff I don't say Winston Churchill was famous for saying things like that. Just imagine your words are offensive to me Well, you can only imagine the things I don't even say Praise God in that moment. I didn't say what I think but my initial thought was here's a man up
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  pastor who is on his way to a doctorate, and he doesn't know the difference between Guatemala and guacamole? Lord keep me humble. But then he said the best part, and I quote, There are three things, he said, the Lord made that I hate. Oatmeal, avocados, and dispensationalists. Okay, if you don't know what a dispensationalist is...
• 5:36
  Good. It doesn't matter. Honestly, good for you. Simply put, a dispensationalist is one who believes that the book of Revelation is to be read literally, and much of it still awaits a future fulfillment. Okay? But I thought, wait, those are the three things that you hate? Oatmeal? Now listen, I can get on board with the oatmeal thing. I don't like oatmeal either. I've never liked it. I never eat it. I never eat oatmeal.
• 6:04
  Oatmeal is like the version of cereal that we try to avoid, right? When we pour milk on our cereal, we eat it as fast as we can because we don't want it to get mushy. Oatmeal is kind of embracing the mush. I mean, it's nasty. I don't get it. I don't understand oatmeal, so I'm with him on that. Oatmeal, I don't like it either. But avocados? I love avocados. I grew up in Southern California where...
• 6:31
  a majority of the avocados that are grown that we eat in the united states a majority of them are grown there avocados from southern california they're the best i love avocados dispensationalists present right he was talking about me he didn't know that at the time but he was talking about me and i thought man if those are the three things the lord made that you hate dude you might be missing the point you might be missing the point of the whole thing
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  I gave a warning last week, church, not to miss the point. Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation are not about necessarily future events or where you land or timelines and charts. I told you very specifically last week I was not going to deal with any of that, and I'm still not.
• 7:23
  I don't care about Revelation hot button issues and where people are at and how you divide yourselves and whatever. It doesn't matter. The point of Revelation 4 and 5 can be contained in the very first verse of chapter 4 where the Apostle John says, I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.
• 7:46
  The Apostle John received a clear picture of what heaven is like, and then under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, passed that vision down to us. I said last week, if you've ever wondered what heaven is like, wonder no more. And we pick up right where we left off. In fact, last week we left off right in the middle of a verse. If you look at verse 11 of chapter 4, he said, worthy, worthy. If you look at chapter 5 and verse 9, worthy.
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  Chapter 5 and verse 12. Worthy. Worthy is the Lamb. The Greek word axios could also be translated valuable or heavy. We discussed briefly the intrinsic value that Christ has. From him, through him, and to him are all things. Christ is, because of who he is, worthy of praise, glory, and accolade.
• 8:44
  Christ is the gravitational pull that holds all things together. He is the center of the universe. And we asked last week, is Christ the center of your universe? Does your life orbit around him? Christ has promised to be an anchor for our souls. Christ has promised to set our feet firmly on the rock so that when the big wave comes, we will not be moved, but only.
• 9:13
  if we tether ourselves to him. This morning we add to that truth the truth that Christ also has extrinsic value, meaning Christ is due glory not only for who he is but for what he does. Christ's very works are glorious. Listen to R.C. Sproul. He said, God is due glory for who he is, but the scriptures tell us also to give glory to the Lord for what he has done. And we find in our text this morning three hymns.
• 9:43
  which declare the glory of Christ through his works, his creation at the end of chapter 4, his dominion in chapter 5 and verse 9, and his salvation in chapter 5 verses 9 and 10 and in verse 12. But before we get to these three songs, allow me to set the rest of the scene in heaven as the Apostle John looked on. If you were going to title this morning's message, the sermon could be titled The Scroll, The Lamb,
• 10:11
  and the worth of Christ. And so let's look first at the scroll. You'll notice in chapter 5, verses 1 to 5, that John says he saw, in verse 1, in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne, a scroll.
• 10:27
  written within and on the back sealed with seven seals. And so last week's image of the throne room in heaven and the rainbow and the sea of glass and the torches and the angels and the living creatures and the elders and the thrones and lightning and peals of thunder and all of that stuff, one who is seated on the throne. Remember everything had its focus, the one who was seated on the throne. And now he says in his right hand, the one who was seated on the throne in his right hand.
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  was a scroll sealed with seven seals john's eyewitness testimony was this that the one seated on the throne was holding a scroll that was sealed with seven seals now that was a common roman practice for legal documents and most commentators agree that this scroll is either the title deed to the earth and i've heard many pastors say it that way in fact i myself have said it that way before or
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  Perhaps not to the earth only, but to all of creation since the fall, which since the fall has been groaning under the weight of sin. I misspoke a little bit. Let me say that better. Most commentators agree that this scroll is either the title deed to the earth or perhaps not limited to the earth only, but rather the scroll, the title deed to all of creation, which since the fall has been groaning under the weight of sin. Listen to Romans chapter 8 and verse 19.
• 11:57
  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. So in other words, we, the sons and daughters of God, are awaiting glorification going to heaven one day. But the Bible says so is...
• 12:23
  creation creation was subjected to sin subjected to futility cursed the very ground even was cursed and creation is waiting to be redeemed now listen to romans 8 and verse 22 for we know that the whole of creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now you see church when adam and eve sinned when they were created
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  When Adam and Eve were created and were still in their pre-fallen state, the Lord commissioned them to tend the garden. They were commanded to fill the earth and to subdue it. They were to be earth's caretakers. And by commanding them to subdue the earth, they were given dominion over the earth. They, in essence, owned it. However, when they sinned,
• 13:20
  They abdicated their role as caretakers and gave over, if you want to think of it this way, gave over the title deed of creation to the devil who became what 2 Corinthians 4.4 describes as the God of this world. He now has dominion, lowercase d, because it's all under the sovereign reign of Jesus Christ, which we'll come to in just a minute.
• 13:49
  But he has been given dominion over this world. Satan is the God of this world. In fact, when Jesus was being tempted by the devil, that third and final temptation was for Jesus to bow the knee and in return, Satan offered the kingdoms of this world. Jesus in that moment didn't argue with him. He recognized his legitimate, although temporary, claim.
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  We read in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 8 that God subjected all of creation to Christ, putting all things under his feet. And chapter 2 and verse 8 continues by saying, now, in putting everything in subjection to Christ, he left nothing outside of his control. So Jesus is in control of all things. All of creation has been subjected to Jesus. But it says, at present,
• 14:42
  We don't yet see everything in subjection to him. So in other words, Jesus is on his throne, yes and amen. He is sovereign, absolutely. Jesus is in control, absolutely. But it sure feels like he's not in control. So what gives? The answer is that creation.
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  Including you and I have been given momentary freedom to rebel, to sin, to practice wickedness, to live by our own standards. But scripture says there will be a day when the Lord Jesus redeems his creation and makes all things new. There will be a day when Jesus just says enough and takes everything back. And Revelation 5 describes that day.
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  We continue in verse two. Verse two, John says, and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals? And so the one on the throne is holding this scroll and the angel is asking, is there anybody who is able to break the seals? Now in ancient times, whenever properties were sold,
• 16:04
  there would remain a revisionary clause for the original owner to purchase the property back before it officially transferred to another family. Okay, so think about it this way. Let's say that I were to sell my house. For whatever reason, I sold my house to another family. Our family moves out, his family moves in.
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  I would have been given, in ancient times, I would have been given a sealed scroll, like from the bank, right? An official legal document with the details of that transaction and with the right written in the scroll with the right to return within a specified period of time. Let's say within one year to return within a specified period of time in order to purchase the property back.
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  And although that new family had actually moved in and taken possession of my house, it would not officially transfer title if I could return within that time period and could prove after breaking the seals and opening the scroll that I was the original owner. I could purchase the property back in order to keep that property in my family.
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  And so although he would take possession of it and would technically be the owner of it, I could come back within a specified amount of time. I could come back and repurchase the property. He doesn't have any say in it. I can kick him out. I can repurchase it. I can give him his money back. Say, I changed my mind. I want my house back. Now let's turn our attention back to heaven in verse three.
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  And it says, and no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. So this angel asks, is there anybody who is able to open the scroll? The devil has been given dominion over the earth, dominion over creation, the fallen state of creation. Is there anybody who can break the seals, open the scroll, and prove that it belongs to them and redeem it, to take it back? And it says in verse 3 that no one, no one was found. Heaven, earth.
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  Under the earth, nowhere in all of creation was somebody found who was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And so in verse four, it says, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. The apostle John, understanding that the fall of man had abdicated man's dominion over the earth, sees the scroll. There it is. There's that title deed.
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  He understands that in this moment creation could be redeemed. That's how he begins to look around for the original owner to come and break the seals. But there is no one. He thinks the opportunity will surely be missed. He knows that this means that ownership of creation will pass to the enemy of our souls forever. This is the opportunity to get it.
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  back and no one is found the original owner is not showing up do you catch that scene and so john is devastated and he begins to weep verse 5. one of the elders said to me weep no more
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  behold and so you can imagine him pointing up right up the steps toward the throne up those steps behold the lion of the tribe of judah the root of david has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals so distraught was john that no one in all of creation was found worthy to take back ownership of the earth that he sobbed uncontrollably until one of the elders pointed to the lion of the tribe
• 19:57
  of Judah. Now, in my opinion, and opinions vary, the remainder of the book of Revelation is Jesus breaking the seals and taking back what is his. For the remainder of the book, you just see him kicking indoors, right? I mean, just taking back his stuff, throwing people out of his house. This belongs to me. You don't get to be here anymore. The devil and his followers. But notice second. So there's the scroll. That's what it is.
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  But notice second, the lamb. And you see in verse six, and between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain. So you can imagine John's surprise, right? Because this elder comes and says, behold, the lion of Judah, the lion. You would expect that John would look up and see a lion, but he doesn't see a lion. He sees instead a lamb. And this says a lamb as if it had been slain, a slain lamb.
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  dead lamb you expect to see a living lion but instead see a dead lamb in the rest of the new testament jesus is only described as a lamb four times in the book of revelation jesus is described as a lamb 31 times and on top of that the wounds that he had received as the lamb of god who would take away the sins of the world
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  the wounds that he received were still clearly visible. Obviously, the sacrifice of Christ is meant to be a focal point of the book, but not only the book of Revelation. Church, consider this. The sacrifice of Christ is meant to be the focal point of creation. It seems to say in God's word that Christ will bear those scars for eternity. Every time we look at Jesus,
• 21:58
  we will be reminded of the sacrifice that he made in order for us to be in his presence. But not only his sacrifice, but also his resurrection. You'll notice in verse six that it says there was a lamb, a slain lamb, and this says standing, standing, moving, right? I mean, this guy, he's moving around. So he is clearly, he is a slain lamb. Yes, he has died, but he did not stay dead. He is...
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  alive. Christ conquered death through death. One of my favorite book titles of all time. And I don't agree with every one of its conclusions regarding limited atonement, but nevertheless, it is a brilliant title and a true title by John Owen. The death of death in the death of Christ. The death of death in the death of Christ. Christ defeated
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  Death by dying. By dying, death died. What a great title. The death of death in the death of Christ. And so John looks up and he sees a lamb, a lamb that is supposed to be dead and yet alive. And it continues with the description of this lamb and its description sets it apart. Its features set it apart. This lamb, verse six says, has seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
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  Now, in the animal kingdom, horns represent power and strength, and this lamb had seven of them. Its power, its strength were ultimate. Its strength was complete. None would nor could overpower this lamb. The church has consistently, consistently, in my opinion, underdefined omnipotence. We know that omnipotence means all-powerful.
• 24:00
  And we have often underdefined, in my opinion, omnipotence by saying that God has the power to do whatever he wants. God has the power to do whatever he wants, and therefore he is omnipotent. No one can stop him because he is stronger than everyone else, and therefore can declare victory by simply overpowering his enemies. But a young Christian may ask, well, then isn't there a way that Satan can win?
• 24:29
  If he's just slightly stronger than the power of his enemies and he overpowers them, isn't there even the slightest chance that on a given day, Satan has even if it's just a one in a billion chance to accidentally overpower the Lord and topple his throne? The answer is no, never, never. Why? Why can Satan never win?
• 25:00
  and the answer is because christ being omnipotent doesn't just mean that he is more powerful than everyone else it actually means that all power belongs to him the lamb has seven remember the number seven complete total fulfilled whole all universal all of it that's what seven has seven horns its power is complete its power is universal all
• 25:31
  Power belongs to the Lamb. Even the power that is being wielded against him belongs to him. The very power that Satan would use to topple heaven's throne actually belongs to the one who sits on the throne. Satan's power is just on loan. This is why it will be so easy for Christ to defeat Satan at the end of time. He'll defeat him with a word. Now, I don't know what that word is. I imagine it being enough.
• 26:05
  enough done right and in that very moment with a word satan's power and the power of his followers will be stripped that power doesn't belong to satan it belongs to the lamb and he's just going to take all of his power back he won't even have to fight he won't have to raise a finger against his enemies because he's just going to strip them of all of their power the power that really belongs to him anyway and this is why the apostle paul's statement in acts chapter 17 and verse 28 is so profound says in him
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  we live and move and have our being in him everything we do church everything we do is by the power of god christ empowers us for his work and paul says again in colossians chapter 1 and verse 28 him we proclaim warning everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in christ for this i toil struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works
• 27:04
  in me in other words christ doesn't just call you to his work he empowers you to do it if there is something in your life you know you are supposed to do a step of faith that must be taken if god has called you to take a step of faith or to make a phone call to a neighbor to a friend to an enemy
• 27:35
  If he has called you to befriend someone you know is lonely, someone you know is living basically in solitary confinement right now in the midst of a pandemic, and the Lord has called on you to call on them. If it's maybe a family member this Christmas season, maybe it's a family member that you need to reconcile with. The good news, church, is that Christ will give you the strength to accomplish it.
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  to the glory of God. If you're like, Pastor Danny, I'm powerless in that. I am not strong enough to do it, to make that phone call, to reconcile with that family member. I'm not strong enough to do it. The good news is the Lamb is strong enough to do it. So he has seven horns, but notice also he has seven eyes. Seven eyes, the Lamb's seven eyes mean that nothing escapes his notice. He contains the fullness of the Spirit of God.
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  So in other words, the Lamb sees all things and the Lamb can do all things. And notice in verse 7, it says, this Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. He took the scroll. All of chapters 4 and 5, I believe, culminate in this final event. The Lamb taking back what was rightfully his. The Lamb will take his property back. He will reclaim what Adam gave away.
• 29:02
  Most of the remainder of the book is the lamb opening the scroll, breaking its seals, destroying the political and religious system that Satan has established since the fall. That's second, the lamb. Notice finally the songs. Now these are the songs of worth, the worthy songs or the worthy hymns of chapters four and five. Look at verse eight. It says, and when he had taken the scroll, look what happens.
• 29:29
  When he's going to make this declaration, I'm taking it back. Look what heaven does. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures, now those were those creatures, right? The lion, the man, the eagle, the ox. Those were the ones that had the six wings, the ones that had eyes all over them. The four living creatures and the 24 elders, all of God's people for all time, fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song. Look over at verse 11.
• 30:01
  Then I looked and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice. So you've got the living creatures, you've got the elders, you've got the angels, myriads, thousands of thousands, that is millions of angels, right? Look down at verse 14. And the four living creatures said, amen. And the elders fell down.
• 30:31
  and worshiped. I love heaven's response. The angels, the four living creatures, the 24 elders, they witness this event. The lamb has shown up to take the scroll. He is worthy to break the seals and to look into the scroll and their sense of awe resounds in song. Heaven's sense of wonder has stirred in them an irrepressible desire to sing.
• 31:01
  One pastor has said this, awestruck by the majesty of God's throne, the cherubim, the angels, and the elders begin a series of hymns to God. And these hymns celebrate God as creator, as redeemer, and rejoice that he is about to take back what is rightfully his. Imagine that choir church.
• 31:23
  redeemed saints and elders and thousands and thousands of angels all singing and shouting at the top of their lungs to the praise of God. And when I consider heaven's worship, it reminds me how far short mine often falls. I was, church, we were designed for worship.
• 31:46
  That is what we were designed to do. That is what we were created to do. We are created to worship, and yet I devote my life to so many other things, meaningless things, things which will not count for eternity. We see here that worship is the natural response to Christ's worth. But church, is worship your natural response? How much of your day is devoted to worship?
• 32:21
  Certainly a portion of our days must be devoted to worship and song. But the Bible actually says that there are a lot of different ways to worship the Lord throughout our day. We don't just have to be singing all the time, although that wouldn't be a bad thing. To get worship songs stuck in your head so that you can just, without ceasing, pray and praise to the Lord through worship and song. But what about service to our spouse? Can that also not be worship? Of course it is worship.
• 32:50
  I serve my wife and so serve the Lord. I am not called, check this out, church, I am not called only to be a husband. I'm called to be a worshiping husband. Not to say that I worship my spouse, but I worship the Lord by serving and loving and sacrificing for her. What about to my kids? Sacrificing for them, devoting myself to them, teaching them, training them, even punishing them?
• 33:22
  I'm not just called to be a father. I'm called to be a worshiping father, not worshiping my kids. As honestly, as some parents fall into that trap, their kids become what they live for, the center of their universe. I'm not worshiping them, but in sacrificing for them and devoting myself to them and teaching them and training them, raising them in the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, I am worshiping the Lord in those actions.
• 33:51
  What about in respect and honor to my employers? I'm not just called to be an employee. I'm called to be a worshiping employee, which means my integrity, my honesty matters. My work ethic matters. I'm not just an employee. I'm a worshiping employee, which means I'm punctual, which means I don't steal time, right? Does that make sense? I'm worshiping the Lord in the way that I work as a student.
• 34:23
  I'm not just a student. I'm a worshiping student. As an athlete, the sports teams that you might be on, I'm not just a baseball player. I'm a worshiping baseball player, which means that I take advantage of opportunities with outsiders, with those who don't know the gospel. I invite them into.
• 34:43
  the love of christ and i model it in such a way in the way that i speak in the way that i respect my coaches in the way that i respect umpires the way that i respect authority over me my teachers my professors i respect them so that people will see in me that i'm actually under the authority of christ right i treat him with respect and therefore i treat them with respect our very lives church are meant to be a spiritual act of worship that's what romans 12 says
• 35:13
  And so let's look at the songs which heaven sings and allow these hymns to inform and inspire our worship on earth. Notice worthy song number one, and we go back to chapter four in verse 11. Worthy song number one, the worth of Christ in creation as creator. Verse 11 says, worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. Why? For you created all things and by your will they existed and were created.
• 35:43
  Now you remember your high school pre-algebra class. Remember that bowtie-wearing teacher saying, now if A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C. And the same argument is used here. God created all things. Christ is God. Therefore, Christ created all things. Listen to Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 2.
• 36:10
  In these last days, God has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Colossians 1, verse 16. For by him, referring to Christ, all things were created. In heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. John chapter 1, verse 3. All things were made through him, referring to Christ.
• 36:38
  And without him was not anything made that was made. Consider also this fact that in Genesis chapter 1, Christ created ex nihilo, that is out of nothing. Out of nothing. It wasn't like he took substance and reformed it into another substance. He wasn't just a potter with clay. Certainly he did do that, but he actually invented the clay as well. Christ can...
• 37:08
  recreate, therefore, out of nothing as well. The Lord, the Bible says, created all things out of no things, which means he didn't need help. Now, the promise of Scripture in 2 Corinthians 5 is to make of you a believer in Christ. In Christ, you are a new creation. So not only did God form your being, but he reforms, he recreates you into the image of Christ.
• 37:37
  And he doesn't need your help. He doesn't need your skill. He doesn't need your abilities. He doesn't even need your money to do it. If there is something that has been keeping you from committing your life to Christ, maybe you feel like maybe it's a guilt and shame, like I'm not good enough in order to come to Jesus. I've sinned too much. Then take heart. He doesn't need your help to recreate you. He can recreate you out of nothing. If you feel like you are nothing perfect.
• 38:07
  That's perfect. Give your life to Christ. He doesn't need anything. If you feel like, well, I can't give enough. I don't have enough money to do it. Take heart. He doesn't need your money. He doesn't need your money. Or if you feel like, I've got enough money that I can do it on my own. I've got enough money that I can do it on my own. That is absolutely counter to the gospel that Christ revealed.
• 38:34
  We are nothing before him, and only when we become nothing can he use us in a mighty way. A guy told me one time, Danny, I don't understand it. He was serious when he said this, dead serious. Danny, I don't understand it. I prayed and told God that if he would give me a million dollars, I would give the church half. And he was really, honestly, he was really confused. He was serious. And he said, why would he not grant that request? And my response was this. Well, because God isn't an idiot.
• 39:06
  You know, it kind of shocked him. I said, he already owns everything. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. It's all his. And you're only offering to give him half of what's already his? Why would he grant that request? Church, if God made all things out of no things, then he can remake you out of nothing also.
• 39:30
  Perhaps that's exactly what he intends to do. Listen to Martin Luther. Martin Luther said, God made the world out of nothing. And only when we become nothing can God make something out of us. Church, our God is a creative God and he is worthy of praise. That's worthy song number one, the worth of Christ in creation. But notice also worthy song number two, the worth of Christ in dominion. And look at verse nine of chapter five. And they sang a new song.
• 39:59
  saying, worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals. Now we've pretty well covered Christ's claim on the earth by breaking the seals and opening the scroll. But don't forget, beloved church, that Christ's dominion is not over the earth solely, but over you and I as well. Ephesians 2 says that we once belonged to the devil. Not only did the earth and all of fallen creation belong to the devil, he is the God of this world, but he also had dominion over us.
• 40:29
  And Ephesians 2 says that. We once belonged to the devil. We once walked in darkness, in the sin and trespasses. And we followed the course of this world. We followed the prince of the power of the air. That is the devil. But God made us alive together with Christ because of his great love for us. Our God is king, not only over all of creation, but over our hearts and is therefore worthy of praise. He is our king and we can worship him as...
• 40:58
  king notice finally worthy song number three the worth of christ in salvation you pick up in verse 9. it says for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for god the word for ransomed in verse 9 is the same word that was used of the slave market when slaves were purchased and then set free that's what it means when it says that we were ransomed
• 41:28
  We were bought by God, by the blood of Jesus, and then set free. We were liberated, so we were not purchased as slaves. We were originally slaves, but then we were purchased and made sons, set free. He continues, from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you've made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.
• 41:53
  Look at verse 12. And they said with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. These songs declare that Christ is accomplishing that work all over the world. Among all of the peoples he ever made, every tribe, language, people, and nation and church, our God is a saving God and he is worthy of praise. Don't miss the big picture, church.
• 42:21
  It's not about dispensationalism. Honestly, it doesn't even matter. Don't get stuck in the guacamole, all right? This Christmas, let our lives be about the worth of Christ and bringing his praise. Let our heartfelt response to the worth of Christ be to bring worship to Christ. Let our minds be fixed on the shore. Let us dwell on heaven where Christ is.
• 42:52
  Let us dream about what that first day in heaven will be like. Can you see it? Can you picture it? The very first day in heaven and what your first words will even be. May I suggest these from C.S. Lewis's The Last Battle in the Chronicles of Narnia series. He said, I have come home at last. This is my real country. I belong here. This is the land referring to heaven I've been looking for all my life.
• 43:24
  though my heart knew it not until now. And God, I pray that our thoughts would be fixed on heaven where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I pray that that is the country upon which we will dwell. Our citizenship is there, Lord. And so create a longing in our hearts to be with you there. But until then, God, make us faithful. Pray that we would faithfully represent you on earth among our family and friends who don't know you.
• 43:56
  I pray that we would faithfully hold the light high in a dark and lost and dying world where there is no hope. Lord, we have the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus. And it's in his name we pray. Amen.