Thesis: worthiness and hence worship is proportional to an awareness of God’s creativity on our behalf.
Key text: Revelation 5:8-10
“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang 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,10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Parallel worship passages in Revelation 4-5:
First passage, God worshipped because of creative power in bringing all things into existence. Rev 4:11 ““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””
Second passage, Rev 5:8-10, Lamb worshipped as worthy because of the re-creative power of the new creation at the cost of his blood. The climax of this is the renewal of humanity as the image of God.
Sequence of worship:
- Revelation of God’s creative power for us. Revelation is reconciliation.
- Adoration of this power.
- Participation in this power: hence, “you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they (shall) reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:10)
To function as a priest – king on the earth (the place of the Lamb’s life – work) is as close as a human being can get to the fullness of Godhead (cf. Col 2:9 – 10). It means intercession – kingdom rule. Such a vocation continually reawakens (cf. “new song” Rev 5:9; 14:3) the cycle of revelation – adoration – participation.
Jesus says, “Can I breathe through you?” This means filling all things with my creative presence through the Spirit who is the revealer / motivator / power / director etc. of my priestly kingdom (Ex 19:6; Rev 1:6).
Application
“The heart is the creative centre of the brain” cf. Prov 4:23 “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Jesus’ passion is to flood (cf. John 7:37 – 39) all of the creation with his re – creative presence and power. He is seeking a worship hub that will release his sacrificial kingdom creativity as the Lamb in “all things” (Eph 4:10) i.e. politics, family, education, health, media, business etc. This space/hub must reflect/image/participate in the reality of the heavenly worship of Revelation 4 – 5 in order to impart such realities to those who share in its life, for Christ’s sake and for the sake of the lost world.