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What can we Learn from Revelation Chapter 5?
Stephen Elliott
0:00
0:00 3:05
Stephen Elliott

What can we Learn from Revelation Chapter 5?

Stephen Elliott · 3:05

Stephen Elliott teaches that Revelation 5 reveals worship as a holistic act involving acknowledging God's truth, recognizing our own position, offering ourselves, and obeying God's guidance.
This sermon delves into the essence of glorifying God, emphasizing the importance of making Him the center of positive attention. It explores the four components of worship: acknowledging the truth about God, recognizing the truth about oneself in light of God's greatness, offering something of value to God, and obeying His commands. The passage in Revelation 5, particularly verses 11 and 12, highlights the worthiness of God to be worshipped, praised, and thanked, inspiring a deeper understanding of true worship.

Full Transcript

Revelation chapter 5, I was looking at the passage and I was particularly drawn to verse 11 and 12 where it talks about the worthiness of God to be worshipped and praised and thanked. I was reminded a while ago of what it means to glorify God. The word glorify is a bit of a tricky word but the essence of the word glorify means to make God the center of positive attention. Sometimes we say, well this is that person's moment of glory, meaning that all eyes are on that person and people are thinking highly of them. And so it's the church's purpose, one of the church's purpose is to glorify God, to make Jesus and God the Father the center of positive attention. I was looking at this issue of worship as well and my mind turned to the story of when Jesus was born and the wise men came and it says, where is he who was born King of the Jews? And I was noticing that worship, there's four components to worship. The first being that we have to acknowledge what's true about God. We have to acknowledge that he's holy, that he's eternal, that he's sovereign, that he's merciful, that he's loving, that he's the ultimate judge. Worship begins with the acknowledgement of what's true about God. But the second aspect of worship is to acknowledge what's true about yourself. Because in that same passage about baby Jesus and the wise men coming, it says that when they came in, it says that they fell down at his feet. And so they were acknowledging that he's greater and they are the lesser. And so true worship not only acknowledges first of all what's true about God, but it acknowledges what's true about ourselves in light of who God is. And so God is holy, I'm not holy. He's all-powerful, I'm not all-powerful. He's everywhere present, I'm not everywhere present. So the first two aspects of worship is acknowledge what's true about God, acknowledge what's true about yourself. And then third of all, what's going on in Revelation chapter 5, is the offering of something. The wise men offered gold and silver and frankincense. But the Bible says later on, it talks about offering a sacrifice of praise. And so it's the offering of something that we value, something that God would value, offering him our lives first of all, our lives as a living sacrifice, which is holy and acceptable unto God, and offering him our adoration. But the last aspect of worship is probably the one that people sometimes miss, and that's, they were warned in a dream in the story, the Christmas story, not to go back to see Pharaoh and to see the king. And so in that moment they obeyed what God told them to do. So the last aspect of worship is to do whatever God tells you to do, to obey him. So I was looking at Revelation chapter 5, verse 11 and 12, my eyes went on that passage about adoring on God and making him famous and glorifying him, giving him thanks, and my mind turned to to worship. And that's what I took out of that Revelation 5 passage.

Sermon Outline

  1. I. The Meaning of Glorifying God
    • Glorify means making God the center of positive attention
    • The church's purpose is to glorify God
    • Worship is central to glorification
  2. II. Four Components of Worship
    • Acknowledge what is true about God
    • Acknowledge what is true about ourselves
    • Offer something valuable to God
    • Obey God's instructions
  3. III. Application from Revelation 5
    • Recognize God's worthiness to be worshipped
    • Offer our lives as a living sacrifice
    • Respond in obedience to God's guidance

Key Quotes

“The essence of the word glorify means to make God the center of positive attention.” — Stephen Elliott
“True worship not only acknowledges first of all what's true about God, but it acknowledges what's true about ourselves in light of who God is.” — Stephen Elliott
“The last aspect of worship is to do whatever God tells you to do, to obey him.” — Stephen Elliott

Application Points

  • Make worship a daily practice by focusing on God's attributes and your relationship to Him.
  • Offer your life as a living sacrifice by dedicating your actions and choices to God.
  • Obey God's guidance promptly as an expression of true worship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to glorify God?
To glorify God means to make Him the center of positive attention and praise.
What are the four components of worship mentioned?
Acknowledging God's truth, acknowledging our own truth, offering something valuable, and obeying God.
Why is obedience considered part of worship?
Because true worship includes doing whatever God tells us to do, demonstrating our submission and faith.
How does Revelation 5 emphasize worship?
It highlights God's worthiness to be praised and the call to offer Him thanks and adoration.
What practical offering can we give to God?
We can offer our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

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