Okay, so what we're going to do now, if you are new to Watermark, we always spend a few minutes in prayer.
This is called a pastoral prayer, where one of the leaders will lead us in a time of prayer.
And I'm going to say this prayer, or I've written this prayer, I'm going to read what I've written.
But this isn't a time just for me to pray and for us to disengage.
This is a time for us as a church to pray.
And so I want to encourage you to listen to what's being said and then agree with it.
In your own heart, in your own mind.
So yes, Lord, I agree.
I also want to pray for that.
So let's pray as a family for ourselves and for the things we're going to bring before the Lord this morning.
So, oh, actually, sorry, before we pray, let's pray first.
I'll introduce Colin afterwards.
Sorry.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, Sovereign God, Merciful and Loving Lord,
we've gathered this morning, God, not just to be entertained or inspired,
not just to fill our minds with information.
But, God, we've come to worship you and to glorify your name.
We've come to meet with you, the living God, and to have an encounter with you.
God, we've come to have our hearts both challenged and encouraged.
And so, God, we ask you, Holy Spirit, to come and be here.
We so need you, God.
God, to come and worship and glorify your name is not only good and right as your creation,
but it's good for our souls.
And so we gladly turn to you.
We worship and adore you this morning.
Heavenly Father, we've come to declare your majesty,
that you are on the throne,
that you rule and you reign in splendor and in beauty.
God, we've come to sing of your faithfulness,
that there is no one as faithful and consistent as you,
that though we are faithless, we often go our own way.
God, you are so supremely faithful.
Father, we've come to tell of your mercy and your grace,
that though we sin a thousand times, yet your mercy is new every morning.
Lord God, if you should hold us accountable for each and every time
we've defamed your glory or lived for ourselves, who could stand?
But with you, God, there is unceasing mercy, and we praise you for that.
Father, we've come to revel in your beauty,
to have our hearts rejoice and delight in you,
and take joy in just how wonderful you are.
Father, there is no other being that delights us like you.
There is no human experience more satisfying than knowing you,
than being with you,
than being known by you.
Heavenly Father, even the most intimate and the most satisfying experiences in this world
are but a mere shadow, a hint of what we will one day experience
when we see you face to face.
Great and glorious God, we've come to worship and adore you
and find our delight in you.
Father, even as we describe your majesty and beauty,
we admit that we do not love you like we should.
We do not trust you as you deserve to be trusted,
and therefore, Father, we do not obey you as you rightly deserve to be obeyed.
Father, forgive us, we pray.
We confess that our hearts are prone to wonder, to turn in on ourselves.
By nature, God, we are self-seeking and self-serving.
And for this, God, we ask you to forgive us, but also to change us.
God, we need you to renew us and revive our hearts.
Oh, Holy Spirit, we need you.
Father, as we confess our need for you,
won't you hear our prayers and revive our hearts?
Fan into flame our love for you again.
Father, this church and our hearts are in your hands.
We cannot save ourselves.
We cannot sanctify ourselves.
We cannot work our way towards Christ-likeness.
But you can change us and make us more like Jesus.
God, come and do it, we pray.
Father, tear down the idols of our hearts.
Expose our unbelief.
Destroy our pride and our self-sufficiency.
And bring us to your throne of grace, we pray.
Heavenly Father, this morning, we also want to pray for our brothers and sisters in mainland China.
Our hearts break when we hear of the opposition that many of your followers face.
The pressure they face to worship and honor created beings, men,
as much as they are encouraged to worship you.
Father, we confess that many of our brothers and sisters in China love you more than we do.
Father, where we would have given in and fallen away,
denied your name or sought our own comfort,
they've held on to your name and they've honored you.
Father, even now, we feel hardly worthy to even pray for them.
We need their prayers and their faith.
But God, we stand with them this morning and we bring our brothers and sisters before you
and we ask you that you give them courage, God.
Give them faith.
Pour your love into their hearts, God.
Protect them and keep them safe.
Keep their hearts soft towards you and towards their oppressors.
And grow their faith, God.
Father, we pray for ourselves.
Grow our faith as well.
That when our day of persecution comes, we will not found to have shrunk back,
but we will stand resolutely for the honor and the praise of your name.
Father, we pray these things in your praiseworthy and your trustworthy name.
Amen.
So, Justin's going to come and read the scripture to us.
There you go.
But while Justin comes up, let me introduce Colin.
Colin Farrell, you can make your way up.
Colin is going to be bringing God's word to us this morning.
And it's the first time that Colin has preached at Watermark,
but not the first time he has opened up God's word.
And so, Colin, we're looking forward to you bringing God's word to us this morning.
Enjoy yourself and have fun.
But let's listen to the reading of God's word.
The scripture reading comes from Revelation chapter 5.
Please follow along in your bulletins or on the screen.
I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back,
sealed up with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice,
Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?
And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it.
And one of the elders said to me,
Stop weeping.
Behold, the lion that is from the tribe of Judah,
the root of David,
has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.
And I saw between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders,
a lamb standing as if slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven spirits of God,
sent out into all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
And when he had taken the book,
the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb,
each one 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 the book and to break its seals,
for you were slain and purchased for God with your blood,
with your blood,
men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to our God,
and they will reign upon the earth.
Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne
and the living creatures and the elders.
And the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom
and might and honor and glory and blessing.
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth
and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them,
I heard saying to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb,
be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.
And the four living creatures kept saying,
Amen.
And the elders fell down and worship.
This is the word of God.
Just in case you're in any doubt,
the main point of the passage is simply that Jesus is worthy.
The two practical questions, however, are,
so why exactly is Jesus worthy?
And what difference does that make to us?
Before we get to any of that,
let's just commit our time in prayer.
Father, we thank you for your word.
We know that all scripture is God-breathed
and useful for teaching and training in righteousness.
So that we, your servants, may be equipped for every good work.
Father, help me to explain this passage well.
Help us to hear it and put it into practice.
For your name's sake.
Amen.
Kevin's introduced me.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Colin.
I'm a member here.
And for those of you who are new today,
we're doing a series in Revelation.
So if you've not already got one of these,
this will be useful for the rest of the series.
Because we're doing a series,
there's a context to this chapter.
So before we get into today's chapter 5
and why Jesus is worthy,
let's just do a quick recap of the first four chapters
and of why we're starting in chapter 5.
We're looking at the book of Revelation.
And from the first four verses of chapter 1,
we know that this book is a letter.
It's a letter from John to seven churches.
The seven churches he was involved in founding.
It's a letter that explicitly calls itself
the revelation of Jesus Christ,
which God gave him to show his servants
the things that must soon take place.
It's a revelation which,
from the beginning of chapter 1,
is explicitly made known to Jesus by John.
And so hence the letter to the churches.
It's a letter that also explicitly calls itself
a prophecy.
And unusually and encouragingly,
it tells us about the prophecy
that blessed are those who hear
and who keep what's written in it,
for the time is near.
The second and the third chapters
of the book, of the letter,
they've been direct messages
from Jesus to each of the seven Asian churches.
All of those churches are located
in what is modern-day Turkey.
And ten of us went with Chris and Fiona
earlier in the year
to have a look at those cities.
The size of those churches
is fairly small.
Probably smaller than this group here.
Maybe much smaller.
While there's probably a general theme
in those mini-messages to the seven churches,
choose between compromise and faithfulness,
there's very different specific messages
to the individual churches.
Because they've got different situations.
They're dealing with apathy.
They're dealing with affluence.
They're dealing with false teaching.
They're dealing with immorality.
But there's a fairly common structure.
And that structure has little echo
in today's chapter.
And that structure is,
this is me, Jesus.
I know you.
This is my challenge to you.
This is my encouragement.
And there's also a phrase that should perhaps
have us just pricking up our ears
in the message to the churches.
Because it's the same phrase
to each of the churches.
He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
And that's pretty much my prayer for this chapter.
The fourth chapter of the book,
we have a change of scene.
Four chapter one.
I looked, and behold,
a door standing open in heaven.
There's an explicit statement of intent.
Four chapter one, Jesus to John.
Come up here,
and I'll show you what must soon take place.
Four two.
Behold,
a throne stood in heaven
with one seated on the throne.
Kevin's one-sentence summary of chapter four to me
was,
God is on the throne
above all earthly powers,
and therefore,
Christians have hope,
and we don't need to live in fear.
And we ended chapter four
with the place rocking in the party sense.
Hearing two great songs of praise in heaven.
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty
who was and is to come.
And the end of chapter four,
worthy are you,
our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you've created all things,
and by your will they exist
and are created.
So chapter four ends with
God on his throne
and a great song of praise.
Which brings us to chapter five
in our passage today.
We're still with John.
We're looking at the throne.
John hasn't got what was promised in 4.1.
Come up here,
and I'll show you what must take place after this.
But the stage is set,
and I say the stage is set deliberately
because there's even more than chapter four.
Quite a sense of wow,
theater, drama,
panning of camera angles,
and dramatic music.
Can you see it?
Have a look at the chapter.
Verse one,
verse two,
verse six,
verse 11.
I saw,
and I saw,
and then I looked.
Verse four,
verse seven.
I began to weep greatly.
And he took the book.
Verse two,
11,
12,
and 13.
Proclaiming with a loud voice,
saying with a loud voice,
and I heard,
and I heard.
In this dramatic stage,
what's it set for?
Well,
it's set for a question,
an answer,
and a response.
Verse two,
and verse three,
we have a question,
and it's a surprising one.
Verse three to verse ten,
we have an answer,
and that's also a surprising one.
In verse 11 to 14,
we have a response,
which ripples out.
So let's start with verse one,
and that first,
I saw.
I saw in the right hand of him
who sat on the throne,
a book written inside
and on the back,
sealed up with seven seals.
We actually don't need to get
too much into what this book,
or scroll,
depending on your translation,
is or will say,
since we'll find that out
in the next few chapters.
But for our purposes,
here's John,
and he's still waiting
to find out
what must take place
after this.
And here's God
on the throne,
above all earthly powers,
holding a book,
written all over,
sealed.
The reasonably obvious implication
is that this is God's message,
this is God's plan.
And that's what John's here to hear.
And that would almost certainly
be the assumption
of those listeners
in the seven churches,
because there's some pretty strong
Old Testament links,
Chris Thornton's hyperlinks here,
references from Daniel,
Ezekiel,
and Isaiah.
And so,
the book's there,
next obvious thing
is to open the book.
And that's where we get
to verse two,
and a somewhat surprising question.
And I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice,
who is worthy
to open the book
and to break its seals?
Strong angel with a loud voice,
because verse three tells us
this question is heard everywhere
in heaven on earth.
But that's really not
the most obvious question.
Verse one,
there's the book,
it's sealed.
And then you get this question,
but how about the one
who sits on the throne
just opening the book?
How about the angel going,
who's going to open the book?
That's not the question.
It's kind of a strange question,
and verse three
kind of underlines that.
No one in heaven
or on earth
or under the earth
was able to open the book
or to look into it.
There seems to be
a question
without an answer.
So,
let's ask ourselves,
why this question?
What does asking
this question
that seemingly
no one can answer
teach us?
Well,
it could be to underline
that none of us
in our own right
is worthy
to front up
to God at all.
It's true,
it's biblical,
it's always worth remembering,
it's probably not
the main point.
It also could be
to underline
that none of us
is worthy to know
anything
about God's plan
other than what
he chooses
to share with us.
It's comforting
to know
that there's a plan,
there's a plan
for our individual lives.
It's so frustrating
not to ever know
what that is,
necessarily.
That's also true,
it's also biblical,
when we add
that the other side
of frustrating
is trust,
trust in God.
There's a total aside
on that thought.
A useful afternoon
or evening
would be to look
at the last five chapters
of Job
and try and work out
why Job says
in the last chapter,
these are things
too wonderful
for me to know,
which I didn't know,
and I repent
in dust and ashes.
That's a total aside.
Again,
this probably,
while it's worth registering,
it's not the main point.
Rather,
the very point
of the question
seems to be
simply,
there is only
one answer.
No one
in heaven
or earth
or under the earth
is able
or worthy
other than the one
we're about
to find out about.
It's a kind of siren
going,
this next bit's
important.
Listen to it.
Verse four.
Then I began
to weep greatly
because nobody
was found
worthy to open
the book
or to look
into it.
John is devastated,
which again,
perhaps underlines
the importance
of getting an answer
to the question.
But he's comforted
and corrected,
verse five.
And one of the elders
said to me,
stop weeping.
Behold,
the lion that's
from the tribe
of Judah,
the root of David,
has overcome
so as to open
the book
and its seven seals.
And if you've
ever wondered
where the lion
in C.S. Lewis
Narnia stories
comes from,
here's probably
a fairly good bet.
There's actually
no exact Bible
references being
picked up here,
tribe of Judah,
root of David.
But there's some
pretty strong echoes,
more of Chris's
hyperlinks
from Genesis
and from Isaiah.
And those
early church readers
will probably
have picked those up
more easily than us.
And the gist
is reasonably clear.
There's
a clear sense
of strong ruler,
king,
Messiah,
promised one.
And that kind of
ties quite well
to this
has overcome.
Comment in verse 5.
Which brings us
to a surprising
answer
to the angel's
question.
Verses 6 and 7.
And I saw
between the throne
with the four
living creatures
and the elders
a lamb
standing
as if slain
having seven
horns
and seven eyes
which are the
seven spirits
of God
sent out
into all the earth.
And he came
and took the book
out of the right hand
of him
who sat on the throne.
Verse 7 first
because it's
actually quite easy
to skip over it.
And it's
like that short
phrase in
Genesis 1.16
which to save you
looking it up
is
and he made
the stars also.
It's one of those
phrases that
you kind of just
go over
and then go
what just
happened?
It's something
we really don't
quite register
when it's actually
something
pretty stunning.
Here's the seal
book.
We've just heard
a resounding
silence to the
question
who's worthy
to open this
book?
And now
he
and we're about
to find out
who he is
fronts up
and takes the
book out of
the hand of the
one who sits
on the throne
who recall
from last week
is the one
above all
earthly powers.
So
who is this
one
who
unchallengedly
if that's a word
is worthy
to do this?
Verse 6
It's a lamb
standing
as if slain
having seven
horns and
seven eyes.
Seven horns
and seven eyes
is instant
understanding for
the original
Asian church
readers
less so for
us.
So seven
is the number
of perfection
like eight
is the number
for fortune
or luck
for us.
Horn
is the
biblical symbol
of strength
eyes are the
biblical symbol
of wisdom.
So the picture
is one of
perfect power
perfect wisdom
and seven
spirits also
suggest
omnipresence
i.e.
God is
everywhere.
But
this is a
lamb
and a lamb
that's been
slain
and that doesn't
immediately tie
with verse 5
with what was
being described
there.
The strong
lion from
the tribe
of Judah
the promised
root of David
the one
who is
overcome.
But that
slain lamb
is a
description
that's
underlined
verse 9
you were
slain
verse 12
the lamb
that was
slain
and
peeking
outside
chapter 5
it's
underlined
in chapter 7
and it was
there in
chapter 1
as well.
The lion
of Judah
and the
root of
David
is also
unexpectedly
for many
the slain
lamb.
So
why
exactly
is
a slain
lamb
uniquely
worthy
to take
the book
and to
open it?
Verses
8 to
10
actually
our answer
is verses
9 to
10
but let's
pause
for 30
seconds
on verse
8
again
so we
don't
pass
over it.
Verse
8
the
immediate
reaction
to the
lamb
taking
the book
in verse
7
the elders
fall
down
as one
commentator
puts it
they give
him their
most profound
adoration
and worship
and that's
probably a
fairly good
cue for us
as well.
And in
passing
if you ever
wonder about
the power
of prayer
the value
of prayer
note
where our
prayers are
since saints
are simply
Jesus followers
our prayers
are incense
in golden
bowls
before the
throne of
God
so be
encouraged
to pray.
also in
passing
and somewhat
less seriously
if you ever
wondered why
harps get
associated
with heaven
this verse
is one
reason why.
Back to
our question
why exactly
is the
slain lamb
uniquely
worthy to
take the
book?
Bearing in
the mind
that the
answer to
that question
seems kind
of important
if the
whole point
of the
angel's
question
is to
provoke
the answer
no one
but
this
slain
lamb
is worthy.
Our
answer is
here in
verse 9
and 10
and they
sang a
new song
saying
worthy
are you
to take
the book
and to
break
its seals
for you
were slain
and purchased
for God
with your
blood
men from
every tribe
and tongue
and people
and nation
you've made
them to be a
kingdom and
priests to
our God
and they'll
reign upon
the earth.
Why is the
lamb worthy?
Three reasons.
First, he's
worthy because
he was slain.
He is the
true sacrificial
lamb that
satisfies the
justice of
God.
John's
original readers
will have got
the point much
quicker than we
would have done
because again
because of
Chris's hyperlinks
and their
reference so
let me give
us some.
Isaiah 53
verse 6
and 7
All we
like sheep
have gone
astray.
We have
turned
everyone
to his
own way
and the
Lord has
laid on
him
the
iniquity
of us
all.
He was
oppressed
and he
was afflicted
yet he
opened not
his mouth
like a
lamb that
is led
to the
slaughter.
Isaiah 53
the
righteous
one
my
servant
will
justify
the
many
as
he'll
bear
their
iniquities
because he
poured himself
out to
death and
was numbered
with the
transgressors
yet he
himself
bore the
sin of
many
and
interceded
for the
transgressors.
John 1
29
36
John the
Baptist
speaking
the
next day
he saw
Jesus
coming
towards
him
and
he
said
behold
the
lamb
of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world
the
next
day
he
looked
at
Jesus
as
he
walked
by
and
said
behold
the
lamb
of
God
well
lastly
1 Peter
18
1
18
to
19
you
were
ransomed
not
with
perishable
things
such as
silver
or gold
but with
the precious
blood of
Christ
like
that
of
a
lamb
without
blemish
or
spot
Jesus
the
slain
lamb
is
literally
faithful
unto
death
Luke
22
42
Jesus
praying
Father
if
you're
willing
remove
this cup
from
me
nevertheless
not
my
will
but
your
will
and
so
we
celebrate
the
cross
God's
justice
and
judgment
on
sin
also
meet
with
God's
grace
because
of
the
slain
lamb
if
there's
anyone
in church
who
doesn't
understand
that
then
please
talk
afterwards
to the
person
who
brought
you
or talk
with
me
so
he's
worthy
because
he's
slain
second
he's
worthy
because
he was
slain
and so
by his
blood
he
ransomed
or purchased
depending upon
your translation
for God
men of
every tribe
and tongue
and people
and nation
look around
us for a
taster of
what that
looks like
and so
we give
thanks
and we
celebrate
our unity
in a new
body
and we
can't
exclude
anybody
from
that
third
he's
worthy
because
he's
made
this
ransomed
purchased
group
a kingdom
and a
priesthood
to God
and they'll
reign
and so
we have
a glorious
new role
and a new
future
and that's
probably
another of
those verses
or comments
that we
don't
really get
we pass
over
but it's
worth
just
thinking
about
something
rather
stunning
dwell on
it
and it's
praiseworthy
in a very
real sense
the lamb
is God's
plan
the looked
for lion
of Judah
and the root
of David
is also
the lamb
that was
slain
the rescuer
and creator
of a new
people for
God
to serve
God
bought
through the
cost of
his blood
and literal
sacrifice
for us
and that's
why he's
uniquely
worthy
pause button
two side
thoughts
why do
organizations
like faith
comes by
hearing
place such
emphasis on
translating the
bible for
every
people
every language
group
it's because
of verses
like this
the purchase
price is
paid
for every
tribe
and tongue
so let's
get that
news to
them
and add
their unique
voice
to this
song
also note
some of
the tenses
here
you were
slain
past tense
Jesus is
now visibly
and gloriously
alive
and so he's
a marker
and a guarantee
for us
in death
you ransomed
you have
made
they shall
reign
there's a bit
of a commentary
debate on that
shall reign
as to whether
it's current
or future
but the gist
of all three
of these
is
it's a done
deal
it's echoing
the same
thought
of it's
overcome
he's overcome
this is all
certain
back to our
new song
we've had the
question
who's worthy
we've had
the answer
the lamb
is
and now
we've got
this growing
response
in verses
11 to 14
first 11
and 12
then I
looked
and I
heard the
voice of
many angels
around the
throne
and the
living creatures
and the
elders
and a
number of
them
the number
of them
was myriads
of myriads
and thousands
saying with a
loud voice
worthy is the
lamb that was
slain to
receive power
and riches
and wisdom
and might
and honour
and glory
and blessing
the praise
and worship
which started
with the four
living creatures
and the elders
in verse 9
ripples out
to the host
of angels
in verse 11
and it
continues to
ripple out
in verse 13
to
everything
in heaven
and earth
but verse 11
and 12
John is looking
and hearing
a huge
and loud
swell of
praise
in heaven
for the
slain lamb
and note
this is actually
saying something
more than
before
about the
slain lamb
being worthy
first
it's actually
echoing the
words
at the end
of chapter 4
which were to
God
God is worthy
of glory
honour
and power
here
it's the
lamb
that's worthy
of these
things
so
anyone
who suggests
that God
Jesus
is not
also God
so
Jehovah's
witnesses
for one
amongst many
they're going
to have a
small problem
with this
verse
second
it's saying
loudly
that the
lamb that
was slain
is worthy
to receive
riches
and might
and wisdom
and blessing
and that
could raise
at least
two very
practical
questions
first
are we
offering
these
things
to him
are we
offering
these
things
ourselves
to him
second
if we're
focused
on any
of these
things
for
ourselves
riches
honour
glory
blessing
we're
focused
for any
of these
things
for ourselves
in our
own
lives
might it
just be
worth
remembering
that these
things
are ultimately
his
not ours
verse 13
and 14
and every
created
thing
which is
in heaven
and on
the earth
and under
the earth
and on
the sea
and all
things in
them
I heard
saying
to him
who sits
on the
throne
and to
the lamb
be blessing
and honour
and glory
and dominion
forever
and ever
and the
four living
creatures
kept saying
amen
and the
elders fell
down
and worshipped
same point
as before
the lamb
and the
god
are equally
worthy
of honour
and glory
but now
also
dominion
and rule
forever
and note
this is a
song
that ultimately
all
are going
to be
singing
all of us
are going
to be
singing
and again
that may
raise the
question
for some
here
is this
already
your song
or not
and again
if you're
in any doubt
about that
talk afterwards
with the person
who brought
you
or with me
so
let's recap
we said
that in
chapter 5
we've got
the stage
set
in verse 1
for a surprising
question
verses 2
and 3
who's worthy
to open
the book
verse 3
to 10
we've got
a surprising
answer
no one
is worthy
other than
the lamb
standing as
though it's
been slain
we have a
response
rippling out
in verse 13
and 14
from all
that the
lamb that
was slain
is indeed
worthy
forever
I started
by saying
the main
point of
the chapter
is Jesus
is worthy
but the
two questions
to get our
heads and
hearts
round
two practical
questions
are
why
exactly
is Jesus
worthy
and what
difference
does that
make
so
why
exactly
is Jesus
worthy
again
well he's
worthy
he's
uniquely
worthy
because by
his death
and his
blood
he's ransomed
a new
people
a people
of every
nation
language
and tongue
tribe
and people
group
to be
a new
kingdom
priest
to our
God
and to
have a
new
and glorious
future
Jesus
the lamb
is also
worthy
in the
eyes
of heaven
and ultimately
in the
eyes
of all
everywhere
to have
honor
and power
and wealth
and might
and wisdom
and blessing
forever
what difference
does that
make
what difference
did that
make to the
original
listeners
readers
of the
seven
churches
I can
think of
at least
four reasons
first
God is
in control
he has
his detailed
plan
verse
one
second
that
detailed
plan
includes
them
and
gloriously
so
verse
nine
and
verse
ten
they
don't
need
to
weep
the
lamb
who
was
slain
is
worthy
to
open
and
reveal
God's
plan
to
them
can't
do
it
for
themselves
the
lamb
who
died
for
them
has
been
is
and
will
be
an
integral
part
of
God's
plan
a
plan
paid
for
at the
cost
of his
own
life
and
his
own
blood
and
it's
the
lamb
who
will
bring
his
people
to
God
as
a
heaven
worthy
part
of
that
plan
as
one
of
the
commentators
puts
it
we
need
not
fear
if
we
are
his
purchased
property
he'll
provide
for
us
if
we
are
priests
and
kings
in
his
ideal
we
may
trust
him
so
as
to
arrange
our
life
plan
to
secure
the
best
exercise
of
those
functions
or put
another way
when we
recognize
who
God
is
what
he's
done
what
he's
promised
we
should
have
no
problem
trusting
him to
carry
through
in the
future
his
actions
in the
past
should
give
us
confidence
in his
saving
power
in the
future
third
in the
light
of
this
that
God
is
in
control
and
that
his
plan
includes
them
gloriously
they
face
the
same
simple
question
as
God's
chosen
ransom
people
have
always
faced
in
scripture
and
that
we
saw
a
little
echo
of
in
those
mini
messages
to
the
seven
churches
in
chapters
two
and
three
this
is
God
this
is
what
he's
done
this
is
what
he
promises
so
how
will
they
respond
how
will
they
organize
their
lives
is
he
worthy
of
ongoing
praise
and
trust
will
they
choose
to
trust
him
will
they
choose
to
be
as
revelation
one
three
put
it
blessed
are
those
who
hear
and
keep
what's
written
in
this
for
the
time
is
near
fourth
and
varying
that
last
thought
if
the
lamb
is
worthy
from
all
in
heaven
and
earth
of
their
honor
and
glory
and
wealth
and
power
they're
probably
not
going
to
be
wrong
if
that's
whom
they
place
their
honor
their
glory
their
wealth
and
their
power
in
what
difference
does
Jesus
being
worthy
make
to
us
why
do
we
the
latest
readers
of
revelation
need
to
know
this
perhaps
for
much
the
same
reason
or
blessing
to
use
revelation
as
language
if
it
helps
take
the
non
revelation
old
testament
picture
of
God's
ransomed
people
fresh
out of
the
exodus
and the
escape
from
Egypt
standing
on the
borders
of
the
promised
land
which
if you
remember
they did
not once
but twice
40 years
apart
the first
time
they pretty
much went
this is
God
this is
what he's
done
this is
what he
promises
and those
guys in
the promised
land
they look
awfully big
and they
look awfully
scary
and this
looks too
scary
so the
first
time
they
chose
not
to
trust
God
and so
bar two
they all
died in
the wilderness
40 years
later
God's
people
standing
in the
same
place
and they
pretty much
went through
the same
thought
process
this is
God
this is
what he's
done
this is
what he
promises
this is
scary
but the
Lord our
God is
with us
wherever we
go
and so
they went
forward in
faith
of what
and who
they knew
same facts
different reaction
now take that
picture
and go back
to the picture
of this
chapter
Revelation
5
this is
Jesus
on the
other side
of death
heaven and
earth
are rocking
they're
resounding
with this
repeated
refrain
worthy
is the
lamb
worthy
is the
lamb
because
worthy
is the
lamb
to receive
glory
forever
it's the
same
simple
point
this is
God
this is
what he's
done
this is
what he
promises
what are
we going
to do
how should
we
you and
I
respond
to this
how should
we
you and
I
choose
to live
where we
see our
lives
headed
in our
priorities
of what
matters
in our
simple
day-to-day
living
in what
we individually
ascribe
worth
and honor
and power
attention
time
money
what is
my
our
your
emotional
and practical
response
to this
truth
and this
song
what's our
response
to be
I started
our look
at chapter
five by
saying
the main
point of
chapter five
is Jesus
is worthy
and I
said our
two practical
questions
to get our
heads and
our hearts
around
why exactly
is Jesus
worthy
why does
that matter
what difference
does that
make to us
and if the
summary of
chapter four
is God
is on the
throne above
all earthly
powers
and so
Christians have
hope and
don't need to
live in fear
then perhaps
a summary of
this chapter
chapter five
which answers
those two
questions
might be
this
Jesus is
acknowledged
as uniquely
worthy
because he's
the slain
lamb
who's
ransomed
people
for God
to a new
future
and therefore
Christians can
safely respond
by praising
him
and putting
themselves
and everything
in his hands
forever
I'll ask the
musicians to
come up in a
moment but I'm
going to close
by reading
three brief
verses
which seem
potentially
relevant
and then the
last three
verses of
our chapter
five
let's just
sit simply
quietly for a
minute to
consider what
our individual
response is to
this chapter
three verses
Psalm 56
Revelation 1
fear not
I am the
first and the
last and the
living one
I died and
behold I'm
alive forever
more and I
have the keys
of death and
Hades
Galatians 2
I've been
crucified with
Christ
it's no longer
I who live
but Christ
who lives in
me and the
life I now
live in flesh
I live by faith
in the son of
God who
loved me and
gave himself
for me
verses 12
to 15
then I
looked and
I heard
thousands and
thousands saying
with a loud
voice worthy
is the lamb
that was slain
to receive
power and
riches and
wisdom and
might and
honor and
glory and
blessing and
every created
thing which is
in heaven and
on the earth
and under
the earth and
on the sea and
all things in
them I heard
saying to him
who sits on
the throne and
to the lamb
be blessing and
honor and glory
and dominion
forever and
ever and the
four living
creatures kept
saying amen
and the elders
fell down and
worshipped
well as
you
will