If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand.
We'd love to give you a Bible so you can use while you're here.
And if you have one with you, please open it to Revelation chapter 5, verses 1 to 14.
We'll cover the whole chapter today.
Revelation is the last book of the Bible, so it should be fairly easy to find.
Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.
Father, it is difficult to convey the worthiness of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
But won't you, Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
enable me to speak of and enable all of us to listen to and grasp and apply
the supreme worthiness of Jesus as the lion and the lamb
so that our lives are shaped by that reality
so that our life of worship, our sacrifice of praise
is spurred on and motivated by that reality
so that ultimately all that we do redounds to your glory, Father.
And lead with us.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
If you are able, please stand for the reading of God's word
from Revelation chapter 5.
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
who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals.
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to look into it.
And I began to weep loudly
because no one was found worthy to open the scroll
or to look into it.
And 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.
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 full of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song saying,
worthy are you to take 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.
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
forever and ever.
and the four living creatures
said,
Amen.
And the elders fell down
and worshiped.
This is God's holy
and authoritative word.
You may be seated.
It's not.
When people think of great leaders,
they often think of charismatic,
larger-than-life figures.
Historically,
this is what boards of directors
would look for
when trying to identify
and hire CEOs
that can take their company
to the next level.
They'd look for someone
with, quote,
an extreme personality,
an egocentric chief
who can lead the corporate charge
because,
the thinking goes,
it takes a certain level
of chutzpah,
a certain level
of arrogance
and audacity
to be a CEO.
That's the popular thinking
at least.
But Jim Collins,
a business consultant expert
and an author
of the best-selling book,
leadership management book,
Good to Great,
turned that assumption
on its head
when he published
an article
in the Harvard Business Review
in 2001
entitled,
Level 5 Leadership,
The Triumph of Humility
and Fierce Resolve.
The article shares
the findings
of a five-year research
that followed
11 companies
in order to determine
what is required
for a good company
to become
a great company.
Defying all expectations,
Collins and his team
concluded that
they found out
that the type of leader
who can take a company
from being good
to great
is not
the egocentric chief
with an extreme personality
but, quote,
an executive
in whom
extreme personal humility
blends paradoxically
with intense professional will.
This was
a groundbreaking publication
that upended
the conventional wisdom
of the leadership
management world.
But the result
should not
be surprising
to us
as Christians
because
best leaders
should take
after our God
and our God
as it says
in Isaiah 57, 15
is the one
who is high
and lifted up
who inhabits
eternity
whose name is holy
but that very God
also says
I dwell in the high
and holy place
and also
with him
who is of a contrite
and lowly heart.
To revive
the spirit
of the lowly
and to revive
the heart
of the contrite.
That's what
our God
is like.
He dwells
in the high
and holy place
and with those
who are
lowly
and humble.
And that's
what the Holy Spirit
is like.
He convicts
the world
concerning sin
and righteousness
and judgment
but simultaneously
he is also
the very spirit
who is called
the comforter.
our advocate.
God's son
Jesus
also demonstrates
that paradoxical
blend
as we see
in our passages
today
Jesus is
the lion
of the tribe
of Judah
who has conquered
and yet
he is the lamb
who was slain.
Jesus is
the image
of the invisible
God
by whom all things
were created.
he is before
all things
and in him
all things
hold together.
Jesus is
preeminent
in every way
and yet
he says
in Matthew
11 29
I am lowly
and humble
in heart.
He's meek
and gentle.
That's
the glory
of our God.
Revelation 5
teaches us
that Jesus
is worthy
to execute
God's sovereign
judgment
because he
died
and rose
again
to ransom
people for
God
from every
nation.
And we're
going to talk
about how
he is first
the conquering
lion
and then
the slain
lamb
and finally
the worthy
Lord.
Let's look at
how Jesus
is presented
to us
as the
conquering
lion.
It says
in verse
one
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.
So
in his
vision
Jesus
sees
the
one
who
is
seated
on
the
throne.
We saw
that
last week
in chapter
four
the
thrice
holy
God
seated
on
the
throne.
He
notices
holding
a
scroll
in
his
right
hand
so
you're
right
here
and
the
one
seated
on
the
throne
is
God
in
all
his
glory
the
sovereign
king
and
creator
who
is
worthy
of
all
glory
and
honor
and
power
we saw
that
last
week
and
he's
holding
this
scroll
the
fact
that
God's
holding
this
scroll
in
his
right
hand
is
significant
because
right
hand
is
most
people's
dominant
hand
that's
the
hand
with
you
which
you
hold
something
securely
everybody
wants
to be
the
person's
someone's
right
hand
man
no one
when you
are
trying
to
uphold
someone
when
God
assures
his
people
Israel
that
he
will
be
with
them
he
tells
them
in
Isaiah
41
10
fear
not
for
I
am
with
you
be
not
dismayed
for
I
am
your
God
I
will
strengthen
you
and
help
you
I
will
uphold
you
with
my
righteous
right
hand
not
the
left
hand
because
that's
the
strong
hand
I
mean
God
doesn't
have
weakness
he
authority
that's
in
his
hand
in
his
right
hand
in
particular
earlier
in
revelation
one
Jesus
was
described
as
the
one
who
in
his
right
hand
holds
the
seven
stars
which
represents
the
seven
angelic
representatives
of the
seven
churches
to whom
Jesus
writes
in
chapters
two
and
three
so
this
is
sovereign
authority
and it
conveys
the
importance
and the
weightiness
of this
document
that God
holds it
securely
in
his
right
hand
and
the
same
is true
for the
fact
that
this
scroll
is
sealed
with
seven
seals
we've
talked
many
times
throughout
revelation
already
of how
the number
seven
is symbolic
because
God
created
the
completed
his
creation
work
in
seven
days
so
seven
is
a
number
that
signifies
fullness
and
completeness
and
this
scroll
is
tightly
sealed
with
seven
seals
so
imagine
this is
like a
top
secret
document
it's
that
requires
the
highest
level
of
security
clearance
and
this
is
what
God
revealed
to
prophet
Daniel
in
Daniel
12
4
and
at
that
time
Daniel
was
told
by
God
to
shut
up
the
words
and
seal
up
the
book
until
the
time
of
the
end
but
now
what
Daniel
had
sealed
up
is
about
to
be
opened
and
this
scroll
bears
striking
resemblance
to
legal
wills
in
the
Roman
empire
and
it's
possible
that
John
also
has
this
background
in
view
a
Roman
will
had
to
be
witnessed
and
sealed
by
seven
witnesses
a
Roman
will
had
its
contents
sometimes
summarized
on the
back
so
not only
inside
but also
on the
back
just like
this one
a Roman
will
was
unsealed
only
after
the
death
of
the
testator
the
one
who
made
the
will
and
at
that
point
when the
testator
dies
a
trustworthy
executor
was put
in
charge
of
putting
the
will
into
effect
to
carrying
out
its
wishes
its
decrees
so to
speak
and
so
here
Jesus
is
serving
both
as
the
testator
the
one
who
died
and
the
executor
of
the
will
and
what
exactly
is
this
scroll
what's
in
its
content
the
scroll
is
an
illusion
and
this
is
the
primary
background
Ezekiel
chapter
2
verses
9
to
10
where
God
gives
prophet
Ezekiel
a
scroll
and
the
scroll
it
says
had
writing
on
the
front
and
on
the
back
just
like
this
one
and
there
were
written
on
it
words
of
lamentation
and
mourning
and
woe
it
contained
God's
judgment
of the
rebellious
house
of
Judah
so
likewise
this
scroll
in
revelation
contains
the
words
of
lamentation
and
mourning
and
woe
but
this
time
the
scope
is
universal
it
doesn't
just
pertain
to
the
house
of
Judah
the
nation
of
Israel
it
pertains
to
all
those
who
are
in
rebellion
against
God
in
this
world
and
this
is
a
judgment
it
contains
God's
sovereign
judgment
over
the
wicked
but
at
the
same
time
it's
also
a
vindication
of
the
righteous
the
righteous
that
are
being
persecuted
and
killed
by
the
wicked
are
vindicated
and
then
they
finally
receive
the
inheritance
that
God
had
promised
to
them
as
the
seals
are
broken
and
the
scroll
is
opened
so
to
summarize
this
scroll
is
God's
ultimate
end
time
game
plan
and
when
you
hear
end
time
I
don't
want
you
to
just
hear
distant
future
because
as
we've
been
talking
about
in
Revelation
and
this
is
not
of
the
distant
future
but
it's
actually
of
the
present
age
because
the
New
Testament
tells
that
Jesus
has
already
ushered
in
the
end
times
and
we
see
that
in
Acts
2
when
Apostle
Peter
preaches
he
says
the
last
days
that
prophet
Joel
prophesied
of
in
Joel
2
28
to
32
is
here
already
and
being
fulfilled
because
the
Holy
Spirit
has
been
poured
out
on
us
and
Jesus
says
in
John
4
23
the
hour
is
coming
and
is
now
here
when
the
true
worshipers
will
worship
the
Father
in
spirit
and
truth
I
think
that's
in
the
Holy
Spirit
and
that
so
that
hour
that
was
prophesied
of
that
end
time
the
last
days
are
already
here
it's
not
yet
fully
here
it's
not
yet
the
end
has
already
begun
so
in
this
sense
the
scroll
represents
God's
ultimate
end
time
game
plan
and
this
demonstrates
God's
sovereignty
the
end
of
the
ages
has
already
been
written
and
this
is
a
source
of
amazing
comfort
for
us
as
believers
when
we
read
a
thrilling
novel
right
imagine
a good
book
that's
a page
turner
you
just
keep
reading
and
you
keep
reading
and
you
can't
put
it
down
because
you
don't
know
what
happens
next
and
you
really
want
to
know
what
happens
next
if
you're
one
of
those
people
who
go to
the
end
of
the
book
and
read
the
ending
first
and
then
come
back
I
don't
know
what
to
say
to
you
yeah
I
don't
think
that's
how
it
was
meant
to
be
read
but
in
this
case
it's
the
reader
is in
suspense
while
reading
the
book
but
the
author
is not
in
suspense
because
he
wrote
the
book
he
created
the
characters
he
planned
the
character
development
he
devised
the
narrative
arc
and
he
wrote
down
the
conclusion
already
God
is the
author
of
history
he
has
already
written
how
the
ending
of
the
book
will
go
and
he
holds
that
book
that
scroll
sovereignly
in
his
right
hand
do
you
believe
that
most
Christians
I think
in their
heads
know
that
God
is
sovereign
but
do
you
really
believe
that
God
is
sovereign
in
your
heart
that
he
is
sovereign
over
all
of
history
and
over
all
the
details
of
your
lives
Matthew
10
29
to
31
tells
us
that
not
even
a
sparrow
the
cheapest
the
most
common
bird
in
nature
even
a
sparrow
not
even
a
sparrow
falls
to
the
ground
apart
from
the
father's
will
he
says
in
that
same
verse
even
the
hairs
of
our
head
are
all
numbered
it's
all
accounted
for
you lose
dozens
of hair
every
day
and
that's
all
accounted
for
it's
all
you can
rest
assured
that
God
is
still
sovereign
God
says
in
Isaiah
45
verse
7
I
form
light
and
create
darkness
I
make
well
being
and
create
calamity
I
am
the
Lord
who
does
all
these
things
God
is
in
sovereign
control
over
what
we
might
perceive
to
be
good
and
what
we
might
perceive
to
be
bad
and
in
both
of
those
things
God
is
working
intimately
and
ultimately
for
his
own
glory
and
for
the
good
of
those
who
love
him
so
they
might
be
conformed
to
the
image
of
his
son
it
says
in
Proverbs
1633
that
even
the
lot
the
seemingly
most
random
thing
dice
that
you
throw
onto
the
table
even
the
lot
that
is
cast
into
the
lab
is
decided
by
the
Lord
God
psalm
139
16
says
your
eyes
saw
me
when
I
was
formless
all
my
days
were
written
in
your
book
and
planned
before
a
single
one
of
them
began
that
that's
what
this
represents
when
something
is
written
in
a
book
that
means
it's
already
decided
it's
already
written
it has
been
planned
long
ago
and
all
of
human
history
and
God's
end
time
game
plan
is
already
written
on
this
scroll
and
God
holds
it
in
his
right
hand
I'm
not
negating
human
responsibility
we
have
to
make
real
choices
and
we
do
have
real
responsibility
but
you
can
be
rest
you
can
rest
assured
that
God
is
sovereign
over
all
of
your
decisions
even
all
of
your
mistakes
even
all
of
your
faults
the
setbacks
and
mistakes
that
you
regret
today
are
in
the
palm
of
God's
hands
surprises
and
tragedies
that you
did not
anticipate
in your
life
they're
all
in the
palm
of
God's
hands
your
physical
and
emotional
constitution
your
health
your
family
background
your
future
are
all
in
the
palm
of
God's
right
hand
so
don't
ever
despair
over
your
life
don't
ever
despair
over
what
you
see
in
your
own
life
don't
ever
despair
over
what
you
see
around
you
don't
despair
over
what
you
see
in
the
news
the
end
is
already
written
and
there's
nothing
anyone
can do
to thwart
God's
plan
but
what
if
what
if
God's
plan
is
thwarted
what
would
that
be
like
there's
a
temporary
but
agonizing
suspense
in
verses
two
to
four
that
raises
that
very
question
it
says
and
I
saw
a
mighty
angel
proclaiming
with
a
loud
voice
who
is
worthy
to
open
the
scroll
and
break
its
seals
and
no
one
in
heaven
or
on
earth
or
under
the
earth
was
able
to
open
the
scroll
or
to
look
into
it
and
I
began
to
weep
loudly
because
no
one
was
found
worthy
to
open
the
scroll
or
to
look
into
it
a
mighty
angel
asks
proclaims
who
is
worthy
to
open
that
scroll
in
the
right
hand
of
God
Almighty
not
just
anyone
can
look
into
that
scroll
not
anyone
can
execute
God's
end
time
game
plan
no
you
have
to
have
proper
authorization
you have
to be
worthy
and when
that question
is
there's
a
heavy
crushing
silence
and John
looks around
nervously
maybe that
mighty
angel
maybe the
archangel
Michael
maybe the
angel
Gabriel
oh
the
elders
the
24
elders
Judah
the
apostles
the
representatives
of all
the people
of God
apostle
Peter
the
head
the
leader
among
the
apostles
apostle
Paul
the
greatest
missionary
author
of
majority
of
the
New
Testament
for
us
who
could
that
be
Mother
Teresa
Billy
Graham
as
John
nervously
looks
around
not a
single
soul
pipes up
to say
me
I'm
worthy
a
deafening
silence
no
one
is
worthy
and
John
says
I
began
to
weep
loudly
because
no
one
was
found
worthy
to
open
the
scroll
or
to
look
into
it
John
is
not
shedding
a
single
tear
in
silence
he
says
he's
weeping
loudly
this
is
a
heaving
sob
that
breaks
forth
from
the
chest
and
convulsing
and trying
to catch
his breath
he's
crying
wailing
from the
sorrows
in the
deepest
recesses
of his
heart
why
because
if no
one
can open
the
scroll
God's
happy
ending
to this
story
is not
to be
the
redemption
of all
of God's
people
is not
to be
the
final
judgment
of the
wicked
and the
evil
doers
who
oppose
God
is
not
to be
so
he
weeps
William
Hendrickson
in the
book
about
revelation
title
more than
conquerors
puts it
well
the fact
that no
one can
open the
scroll
means
no
protection
for God's
children
in the
hours
of
bitter
trial
no
judgment
upon
a
persecuting
world
no
ultimate
triumph
for
believers
no
new
heaven
and
earth
no
future
inheritance
and that
thought
is so
devastating
to John
that he
wails
can you
imagine
being in
that
throne
room
your
desperate
hope
someone
please
open
the
scroll
and you
are not
worthy
and I
am not
worthy
no one
is worthy
I hope
we can
feel
just
the
weight
of this
reality
only
Jesus
can bring
God's
salvation
history
to its
climactic
conclusion
because
he is
the only
savior
and
redeemer
and that
means
and this
is good
news
that you
and I
are not
the
saviors
of this
world
you are
not
the
savior
that
this
world
is
looking
for
and you
are not
the
savior
you and I
are not
the savior
of this
church
you and I
are not
the savior
of our
respective
families
you and I
cannot even
save
ourselves
there is
salvation
in no one
else
for there
is no
other name
under heaven
given to
mankind
by which
we must
be saved
and that
is the
name
of Jesus
Christ
are you
trying to
live
your life
to make
much
of your
name
or of
the name
of Jesus
who cares
people know
our names
cannot save
it's only
the name
of Jesus
that saves
and John
as John
is
weeping
he's interrupted
by one of the
elders in verse
five
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
it's an
amazing
scene
Jesus is
the root
of David
he's the
fulfillment
of the
prophecy
that there
shall come
forth
a shoot
from the
stump
of Jesse
that's
David's
father
and a
branch
from its
root
shall bear
fruit
that's a
prophecy
about the
Davidic
dynasty
and the
Messiah
that will
come from
the Davidic
line
so Jesus
is the one
who fulfills
that prophecy
and remember
that story
of David
and Goliath
from 1st
Samuel 17
famous story
I'm sure
all of you
guys have
heard it
the Philistine
army
and the
Israeli army
are arrayed
against each
other in
battle formation
and they
have what is
called the
battle of the
champions
a single
combat to
decide the
outcome
of the
war
and Goliath
a giant
the representative
of the
Philistine army
comes out
and every
single day
he taunts
the Israeli
army
and every
single day
he defies
the Lord
God of
Israel
and says
who can
defeat me
and that
happens
day after
day
and men
he's totally
emasculated
the army
of Israel
they all
cower before
him
they bow
their heads
in shame
and no one
comes up
because no
one is
worthy
no one
can defeat
Goliath
how sad
and tragic
is that picture
and then
one day
David
comes
and he
goes
and this
is what
he says
to Goliath
you come
to me
with the
sword
and with
the spear
and with
the javelin
but I
come to
you
in the
name
of the
Lord
of hosts
the God
of the
armies
of Israel
whom you
have
defied
this day
the Lord
will deliver
you into
my hand
and I
will strike
you down
and cut
off your
head
that all
the earth
may know
that there
is a God
in Israel
and that all
this assembly
may know
that the
Lord saves
not with
sword
and spear
for the
battle
is the
Lord's
and he
will give
you into
our hand
and David
with the
sling
slays
Goliath
and the
entire
army
is victorious
that's
what it
means here
that Jesus
is the
root of
David
because David
is a
foreshadowing
and he's
a type
of the
Messiah
to come
the Jesus
to come
he's the
one who
fights
the battle
of the
champions
that no
one else
can fight
Jesus
is the
one who
went to
the battlefield
to fight
the battle
and defeat
the enemy
that we
could never
hope to
defeat
because he
is the
lion of
the tribe
of Judah
who has
conquered
who of
us can
face
Satan
the accuser
who
accuses
to our
face
and
exposes
and points
out every
sin
that you
have
committed
every
way in
which we
are unworthy
who can
stand
who can
stand
and fight
against
them
who of
us can
defeat
death
when death
is the
wages
of sin
and we
have all
sinned
and fall
short of
the glory
of God
who can
stand
before
our
enemy
no one
is worthy
except
for the
lion of
Judah
who has
conquered
and that's
an allusion
to Genesis
49
8-10
when in
his prophetic
blessing of
his son
Jacob
prophesied
that Judah
is a
lion's
cub
and that
from his
line
the scepter
will not
depart
rulers
will come
from Judah
the messianic
king
the lion
will come
from the tribe
of Judah
and that
is Jesus
and he
has conquered
that word
conquer
as you guys
have seen
already
is a key
word
throughout
the book
of Revelation
at the end
of each
of the letters
to the seven
churches
that we have
seen
Jesus
ends the
letter
with the
same
line
he offers
them a
promise
of eternal
life
and of
the kingdom
of God
and a
heavenly
reward
and he
begins
that promise
always by
saying
to the
one
who
conquers
I will
give this
to the
one
who
conquers
and so
this is
it's going
back to
that
that language
here
and it's
telling us
that Jesus
has
conquered
and so
if you
want to
conquer
if you
want to
be one
who
receives
those
promises
of God
then you
need to
do
what
Jesus
did
you need
to follow
in his
footsteps
and that
raised the
question
well how
exactly
did Jesus
conquer
it tells
us in
verses 6
to 9
and that's
where we
see that
Jesus is
not only
the line
the conquering
line but he's
the slain
lamb
he says
in verse 6
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
there's a
deliberate
shocking
juxtaposition
here between
what John
hears
and what
John
sees
he hears
the lion
of the tribe
of Judah
has conquered
but then
when he
turns to
look
he doesn't
see a
mighty
roaring
lion
he sees
a slain
lamb
it's not
saying here
that he
only looked
like he was
slain
as though
it had
slain
can be
misinterpreted
that way
but that's
not what
it means
you can
see clearly
in verse
nine
that he
was
slain
and this
is a
profound
revelation
of who
Jesus
is
and how
we ought
to follow
him
as
Christians
people
have a
hard time
with this
reality
sometimes
they want
God to be
a conquering
lion
but not
the slain
lamb
Jews
had a
hard time
accepting
the fact
that their
long
awaited
Messiah
was the
crucified
king
who bore
the curse
of sin
in our
place
Muslims
likewise
revere
Jesus
as a
prophet
but they
do not
worship
him as
the son
of God
as the
24 elders
and the
living creatures
do here in
our passage
they despise
the idea
that Jesus
suffered
and died
a Christian
missionary
once shared
this excerpt
from a
Muslim
poem
that he
found
entitled
a wonderful
question
for the
people
of the
cross
and it
goes
like
this
you
who
worship
Jesus
I
have a
question
for you
can you
answer
it
if
Jesus
was
almighty
God
with
power
to
strike
terror
into
all
men
why
do
you
believe
that
the
Jews
can
make
him
endure
the
agony
of
the
cross
and why
do you
believe
that
God
died
and
was
buried
in
the
dust
and
sought
from
his
creatures
a
drought
of
water
that
he
might
quench
his
fiery
thirst
people
have a
hard
time
stomaching
the
idea
of the
son
of
God
being
the
slain
lamb
fear
fearless
conquerors
are
often
given
the
epithet
the
lion
I'm
sure
some
of
you
history
buffs
can
name
a
few
off
the
top
of
your
head
Henry
the
third
one
of
the
most
powerful
German
princes
of
the
12th
century
who
conquered
most
of
central
Europe
was
known
as
Henry
the
lion
Richard
the
first
the
king
Richard
king
of
England
we
got
some
Englanders
here
or
from
the
12th
century
was
known
as
Richard
the
lion
heart
because
of
his
military
prowess
and
leadership
Louis
the
13th
century
king
of
France
who
conquered
half
of
England
was
nicknamed
the
lion
Umar
Ghazi
the
14th
century
Tarcoman
chieftain
who
repeatedly
fought
off
the
crusaders
and
was
famous
for
his
naval
expeditions
was
called
Umar
the
lion
perhaps
because
of
his
thunderous
oratory
skills
or
because
of
his
courage
and
unyielding
leadership
during
the
war
against
the
Nazis
in
World
War
II
when
Winston
Churchill
was
photographed
in
that
famous
photo
where
he
is
leaning
on
a
chair
in
his
suit
it's
a
black
and
white
photo
I'm
sure
you
guys
have
seen
this
and
he's
scowling
at
the
photographer
because
he
was
annoyed
he
took
his
cigar
and
that
picture
was
titled
The
Roaring
Lion
but
none
of
those
men
that
history
calls
great
men
were
ever
known
as
the
lamb
and
especially
not
a
slain
lamb
that
would
destroy
morale
can
you
imagine
if
Winston
Churchill
during
World
War II
was
known
as
the
slain
lamb
but
that's
exactly
what
Jesus
did
and
that's
precisely
why
these
men
are
not
worthy
to
open
the
scroll
but
Jesus
is
and
that's
why
the
song
of
praise
in
verse
9
says
worthy
are
you
to
take
the
scroll
and
to
open
the
seals
for
you
were
slain
Jesus'
death
is
integral
to
his
worthiness
to
open
the
scroll
the
son
of
God
had
to
become
a
son
of
man
and
he
had
to
die
as
the
representative
of
man
in
order
to
redeem
them
and
I
think
this
is
why
God
the
father
doesn't
simply
open
the
scroll
that's
not
his
salvation
plan
as
Hebrews
2
14
15
tells
us
in
order
to
redeem
mankind
the
redeemer
had
to
share
in
their
flesh
and
blood
so
that
through
death
he
might
destroy
the
one
who
has
the
power
of
death
that
is
the
devil
and
deliver
all
those
who
through
fear
of
death
were
subject
to
lifelong
slavery
only
the
lamb
who
was
slain
can
open
the
scroll
the
image
of the
lamb
of course
has a
rich
biblical
heritage
in
Genesis
22
when
the
Lord
God
tests
Abram
and
tells
him
to
sacrifice
his
only
son
Isaac
Abram
has
faith
that
God
would
even
raise
him
from
the
dead
because
he
had
already
promised
to
him
that
his
descendants
would
come
through
Isaac
and
so
in
faith
he
goes
and
as
they're
going
Isaac
poignantly
asks
his
dad
father
behold
the
fire
and
the
wood
but
where
is
the
lamb
for
the
burnt
offering
and
then
Abram
says
son
the
Lord
God
will
supply
the
lamb
and
of
course
God
intervenes
in
the
last
minute
spares
Isaac
and
provides
a
ram
that
sacrifice
in
place
of
Isaac
and
in
this
way
it's
Jesus
whose
sacrifice
restores
us
as
his
son
as
we
are
called
the
people
of
God
in
Exodus
3
to
the
father's
arms
as we
read in
our
assurance
of
pardon
this
morning
in
Isaiah
53
it
prophesied
of
the
coming
Messiah
that
he
would
bear
our
griefs
and
carry
our
sorrows
that
he
be
pierced
for
our
transgressions
and
that
he
would
be
crushed
for
our
iniquities
that he
would be
like a
lamb
that is
led to
the
slaughter
who is
silent
before
its
shearers
we
were the
sinful
rebellious
sheep
that had
gone
astray
all to
our
own
ways
but
Jesus
who was
perfectly
obedient
he
took
our
place
and
died
in our
place
so that
we
can be
restored
to the
fold
of the
great
shepherd
and
perhaps
most
prominently
the
lamb
of
God
is
an
allusion
to
the
Passover
in
Exodus
12
when
God
was
delivering
Israel
from
their
slavery
in
Egypt
he
instructed
the
Israelites
to
take
a
lamb
without
blemish
and
to
kill
it
and
to
take
some
of
its
blood
and
to
daub
it
on
the
lintel
and
the
doorpost
of
the
houses
so that
the
blood
may
be
the
symbol
to
them
and
blood
of
the
lamb
so
they
can
be
spared
from
the
wrath
of
the
destroyer
that
God
sends
throughout
Egypt
in
judgment
and
so
Paul
says
in
1st
Corinthians
5
7
Christ
our
Passover
lamb
has
been
sacrificed
it's
the
blood
of
Jesus
shed
for
us
Jesus
death
on
our
behalf
that
averts
the
judgment
and
punishment
that
we
deserve
and
frees
us
from
our
slavery
to
sin
Jesus
is
the
fulfillment
of
all
of
these
biblical
imageries
and
more
about
the
lamb
of
God
and
note
that
in
all
of
those
images
that
we
just
talked
about
and
there
are
others
in
all
of
them
every
single
one
of
those
images
the
lamb
dies
and
that's
the
point
Jesus
conquered
by
being
slain
Jesus
won
by
losing
and
that's
the
pattern
that
we
have
to
follow
if
we
want
to
be
ones
who
conquer
and
inherit
the
promises
of
God
1 Peter 2
19-25
tells us
that Jesus
was reviled
but he
did not
revile
in return
he suffered
unjustly
yet he
did not
threaten
instead
he
entrusted
himself
to
God
who
judges
justly
and in
that same
passage
Peter
tells us
that in
this
manner
Jesus
suffered
so that
for us
he could
leave an
example
so that
we might
follow in
his steps
and that
word
translated
example
was used
at the
time
to refer
to a
pattern
of
alphabet
letters
over which
children
would write
and learn
to write
they would
trace
and that's
how they
would learn
the
Greek
alphabet
so it's
really like
a stencil
so it's
a much
maybe even
stronger
word
than a
pattern
or an
example
Jesus
is
suffering
and death
is the
stencil
according to
which our
own life
is supposed
to be
written
does your
life trace
the self
sacrifice
of Christ
or does
it trace
the lines
of self
exaltation
and self
promotion
of this
world
does your
life trace
the humility
of Christ
that looks
out for the
interest of
others
or does it
trace the
lines of
ease and
comfort that
this world
falsely
offers
does your
life trace
the submission
of Christ
to his
father
and obedience
to his
father in
his crucifixion
and death
or does
your life
trace instead
the allure
of power
and prestige
in this
world
we can get
a glimpse
of what our
society is like
I think
and what our
political discourse
is like
from just
scanning the
clickbait
to YouTube
headlines
it seems
like everybody
wants to
watch videos
where so
and so
owns
so and so
you guys know
exactly what I'm
talking about
so and so
destroys
so and so
humiliates
so and so
embarrasses
so and so
we love the
idea of
resistance
vive la
revolution
but that's
the way
of the
dragon
not the
way of
the lamb
where are
the Christians
who are
willing to
lose
arguments
to win
the person
where are
the Christians
who are
willing to
confess their
sins
in vulnerability
rather than
putting on
pretensions of
invincibility
where are the
Christians who
are willing to
be crushed
by their
persecutors
and by their
enemies
rather than
destroying their
enemies
where are the
Christians who
are willing to
give up their
selfish ambitions
and their
rights and
their entitlements
to give away
their wealth
and to give away
their possessions
and to give away
even their very
lives to bear
witness to the
slain lamb of
God so that you
can say my life
that's the picture
of what Jesus did
for you
will you succumb
to this world by
following its
pattern its
stencil or will
you overcome by
following the
pattern of Jesus
Christ but we
must not mistake
the lamb's
humility as
weakness we
see the lamb's
resurrection power
here too because
even though the
lamb has been
slain we see in
verse 6 the lamb
is standing it's
amazing that's a
sign of Christ's
victorious
resurrection Jesus
died but he did
not stay dead he
rose from the dead
that's why he's
still standing and
not only that verse
6 says that the
lamb has seven
horns seven eyes
which are the
seven spirits of
God sent out into
all the earth the
horns are a symbol
of power and
authority as we see
clearly in the
prophetic visions of
Daniel 7 and that's
what that's alluding
to and the eyes are
a symbol of knowledge
and vision and here
more specifically
referring to the
Holy Spirit so
Jesus has the
fullness of spirit
that's why he says
he has the seven
spirits of God
the sets of seven
all describe the
completeness or the
fullness of Jesus's
attributes so in
other words Jesus
has all power his
seven horns Jesus
has all knowledge he
has seven eyes he
is omnipotent and
omniscient and yet he
was slain so that by
his blood he might
ransom people for
God as it says in
verses 9 to 10 from
every tribe and
language and people
and nation that he
might make them a
kingdom and priest to
our God who reign on
the earth the four
full repetition of
those terms that are
similar tribe language
people and nation
they imply the
universality of God's
saving work the
number four is often
used symbolically in
revelation to refer to
the entire earth that
or the all of
creation so he
speaks of the four
winds from the four
corners of the earth
in revelation 7 and
or the four corners of
the earth in revelation
20 verse 8 and so
here when he says
four times the tribe the
language and people and
nation he's telling us
that God's people will
be made up of people
from every nation and
from everywhere that
means he saves not the
Jews only but also you
and me includes all of
us we who are once far
off have been brought
near we who are once
unclean spiritual lepers
have been made to stand
in the temple of God to
be the temple of God to
be priests of God we who
are once treasonous rebels
have been made to reign
with him as kings in the
kingdom of God that's the
mercy that Christ shows
and we should be grateful
that he is a slain lamb
of God because he is only
the line of Judah who
came to conquer all of his
enemies with the force of
his might we would have
all been crushed and
because Jesus is the lion
and the lamb we now must go
and tell these nations
every nation tribe people
and language about what
Jesus has done and about
who he is because he
deserves to be worshipped
and praised by all of
them God has already
ordained people from all
of these nations and
ethnic and linguistic
people groups to come to
know him and to worship
him and that's why we can
with confidence go to the
ends of the earth to make
disciples of all nations
and we see finally the
picture of Jesus as the
worthy Lord in verses 11
to 14 note how in verse
8 Jesus took that scroll
from the right hand of God
think about the audacity of
that the one seated on the
throne though thrice holy God
holding it in his right hand
no one is worthy to take it
except Jesus and he takes it
and immediately as he takes
it the four living creatures
which we talked about how
represents kind of these
attributes of God these
angelic representatives all of
all the creatures on earth
they're kind of the heads
they represent each other as
heads of all the respective
categories of animals and
creatures the 24 elders
elders represent all the people
of God the 12 tribes the heads
of tribes of Israel the old
covenant people of God and the
12 apostles were the foundation
of the new covenant people of
God the church they all fall
down before the lamb in worship
and adoration the 24 elders even
pick up harps they assume the role
of worship leaders which is
reminiscent of the 24 orders of
the Levites who are charged with
leading the music in the house of
the Lord there were 24 orders of
them and these 24 elders
representative of that
first chronicles 25 6 and it
says that they were entrusted
with symbols harps and lyres for
the service of God so I like to
imagine that probably fitting that
scene the harps are representative
instruments but not the only
instruments so I imagine harps
strings lyres symbols joining in
in worship of the slain lamb of
God the elders are also holding a
golden golden bowls each holding a
golden bowl full of incense which
are the prayers of the saints and
then means right now as that
heavenly worship is going on all the
prayers that we utter as the saints
of God are resounding in worship in
heaven and they sing a new song
because Christ has done a new thing
in our midst as God had promised to
do in Isaiah 43 he has made us
forget our former pain and our
former sins because he has brought
about a new creation for all of
eternity he's worthy to be praised
with the new song forever and ever
this is why I've spoken to Wes about
this our worship leader the leader of
our music ministry team I pray for
this and I pray that God would use
people in our church to write songs
of praise worship to God that we
might even be able to sing corporately
as a body of Christ and maybe it'll
even be taken up who knows by
sovereign grace music and maybe
they'll sing it and record it that's
how they get most of their songs it's
written by people in other sovereign
grace churches
not many of you know this but I've
been writing worship songs as well
since a young age I haven't done in a
while and I wrote one recently and I
don't play it for anyone because
they're terrible I played it for my
wife and she kindly told me it's okay
but I write them anyway because I want
to sing a new song to God and I want
to write thousands of songs even if no
one else sings it because God is worthy
of it because Jesus is worthy to be sung
with a new song every day because his
excellencies are infinite his worth is
infinite and I can't wait until I get to
partake in this chorus that we see in
verses 11 to 14
first right immediately the 24 elders
and the four living creatures immediately
around the throne at the center God's
throne is at the center of this heavenly
gathering the king ruling above among his
people above his people and then so
immediately around the throne the four
living creatures and and the 24 elders
bow down in worship and they're singing
songs and they're cymbals and lyres and
and harps and the music is resounding and
that's already a pretty significant chorus
and then and then it says in verse 11
then I looked and I heard around the
throne and around the living creatures
and the elders the voice of many angels
numbering myriads of myriads and
thousands of thousands and myriad is
10,000 but it's a word that often
refers to an innumerable number of people
an innumerable throng and so imagine these
concentric circles there's a small
circle and then there's a concentric
circle around it as the elders the 24
elders are bowing down before Jesus in
worship and as the living creatures four
living creatures are worshiping him he
hears tens of thousands and thousands
upon thousands of angels raising their
voices and extolling the virtues of our
slain and risen Savior Jesus Christ and as
they're worshiping him that's not the end
there's more it says in verse 12 and 13
and I heard every creature in heaven and
on earth and under the earth and in the
sea and all that is in them say to him
who sits on the throne and to the lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever all creation around the
angels now you can't even see them praising
God in one voice praising Jesus this is the
highest statement of the deity of Christ the
divinity of Christ that you can find in the
Bible he is praised side by side with the one
who is seated on the throne to him who sits
on the throne and to the lamb
we're gonna get to join that one day
and this our gathering is a foretaste of that
and we'll only want to be a part of that
throng if we know that Jesus is the lion and
the lamb who is worthy because he was slain for
the redemption of his people for the glory of
God so let's pray that God would make that
more of reality in our lives
Lord Jesus
Lord Jesus we love you we worship you and we live
for the day when people from every tribe and
nation and tongue and people will praise you
together along with all of us
Lord we long for that day we live for that day
and then and your glory all that comes to you
will redound to the father
God captivate our hearts with that amazing glorious
picture that that that future that glorious future that
is ours and is already written in your book capture us with that
reality so that we honor you rightly so that we serve you wholeheartedly
so that we love you
in Jesus name we pray amen