A Daily Walk

John Randall: There are things in your life that no one else can do except God. There are hurts in your past that no doctor can heal. There are troubles in your mind that no medication could completely subdue.

But Jesus is the great physician, and Jesus can heal and He can make you whole, inside and out. That's something He does. And this parking lot is full of people today who have received a touch from the great physician, who have been made whole. Amen!

Hello again and welcome to today's broadcast of A Daily Walk. We're glad to have you with us today as we continue our series in the Book of Revelation. As we take you to chapter five, we're going to get a clear picture of what awaits us in heaven and what it's going to be like to be there.

Perhaps you've wondered about that. Well, we'll find out today that the worship of Jesus is going to be amazing. He is so worthy because of who He is and what He's done. Do you enjoy giving praise and worship to the Lord? Well, as the old saying goes, you ain't seen nothing yet. Here's Pastor John Randall.

Note the description that John gives concerning the Lamb of God. First of all, he highlights the fact that He has power over death when he says "the lamb that had been," past tense, "slain." When John sees Jesus, he sees Him still bearing the scars from the cross.

We know from the gospel record that after Jesus had resurrected from the dead and he appeared to His disciples, that he encouraged them because they were unsure if it was really Him. He said, "Come, look at my scars. Look at my side, look at my feet." He showed them His scars.

Those marks, friends, on the hands and feet and side of our Savior are not there to make us feel guilty, but rather that we might know when we get to heaven and we see those hands and they embrace us, that's Him. That's the one. He still bears the scars, friend.

It's interesting because the Bible tells us in Isaiah chapter 49, it says, "Can a woman forget her nursing child and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget," but listen what the Lord says through His prophet, "yet I will not forget you. I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands and your walls are continually before me."

The second thing that John points out, not only that Jesus has power over death, but Jesus has power over all. When we read that the Lamb had seven horns, keep in mind that the biblical numerology, the number seven, means completeness or perfection, and that the horns in scripture are symbolic of authority and power.

We see this in the Old Testament where the prophet describes kingdoms and rulers and those in authority. For example, in the Book of Daniel, you see this repeated. Daniel and Revelation, by the way, are closely connected to one another. So much of the symbolism found in the book of Daniel ties directly to the Book of Revelation and those horns, as it were, represent authority and power.

So this Lamb was not only slain and conquered death, but has complete and total authority over all. But Jesus also, it says here, mentions had seven eyes. Not that He had seven literal eyes, that would be frightening. But the number seven, again, the number of completeness with the fullness of eyes refers to the fact that He has knowledge of everything, complete knowledge.

He is omniscient, He is omnipresent, He sees everything, He knows everything. Listen, He knows everything about you this morning and He loves you. Knowing everything He knows, maybe that some people don't know, and He still loves you and loves me.

The Lord sees you this morning. He's aware of your circumstances. He loves you so much that He died for you. And before our service is over this morning, I'm going to give you an opportunity to come and receive Christ, to turn to this one who is Lion and Lamb, who paid the price for your sins.

As John looks at the Lion and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, he makes note of His actions. Look at verse seven. Here's where it gets good, folks. It says, "Then He," that is Jesus, "came and He took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne."

In this moment when all hope appeared to be lost, Jesus steps forward, takes the scroll out of the right hand of the Father. Jesus is the only one worthy to take it. And in great symbolic fashion, folks, we realize that the future of the world is in the hands of Jesus.

When you look around this world at the present time and you observe what is unfolding and darkness that is encroaching, it can be a little concerning. In fact, more than concerning, because you see it just coming in and there's no stopping it. But I find great comfort today in knowing that it's in His hands.

Jesus is in control. He knows exactly what He's doing. He's working all things together for good, for His purpose and for His plan, and thus I can be at peace today. Right when Jesus takes hold of the scroll with His hand, folks, I want you to see this, everything changes.

When Jesus takes hold, everything changes. Weeping turns to worshipping. When Jesus is in charge, notice what immediately follows in verse eight. It says, "Now when He," that is Jesus, "had taken the scroll, the four living creatures," which are the angels, "and the twenty-four elders," which represents the church in heaven, "they all fell down before the Lord Jesus, the Lamb."

Each having a harp and golden bowls, it says, full of incense, which represents the prayers of the saints. When Almighty God, when Jesus steps forward, takes hold of the scroll, the angels, the elders, everyone there in the heavenly realm fall down and they begin to worship the Lord Jesus.

And I want you to notice a few things about the worship in heaven, folks. First of all, please consider the posture of worship in heaven. It says they all bowed down, fell on their face before Christ, which is an act of respect, humility, and submission.

Notice the music. It says there were harps played there in heaven. By the way, can I just say to you who have this misconception, maybe you watched cartoons as a kid and they show people in heaven humming harps like, "What are we going to do up there, bro? We're going to strum harps. It's going to be so great." If that's all that heaven is, man, who wants to play the harp? No, it's going to be more than that. Mine's definitely going to be electric.

It's going to be awesome, man. It's just showing you that this is what it's going to be—powerful. There's going to be worship, there's going to be music. And then it says there were golden bowls which were representing the prayers of the saints being poured out. It reminds me of that passage in scripture in the Psalms. You remember where it says in Psalm 141, "Let my prayers be to You as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."

Friend, no matter what prayer you've prayed, God has heard it. God hears our prayers, friends. He may not always answer the way you want. I'll tell you if you're not a Christian, the first prayer that you should pray is, "God, I repent of my sin and I turn to Christ for salvation." That's when the lines are opened up. That's the first prayer that you should pray. God forgive me, God save me, and He will.

But notice worship is rising up. But as worship begins to ascend before the throne, they begin to, folks, check this out, they begin to sing a new song. Here it is, verse nine. They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain and You've redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe, out of every tongue, out of every people and nation, and You've made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth."

Friends, as they sing the new song, we don't know the tune, but we definitely have the lyrics. They're right here and they're powerful. The song of worship begins by praising the Lord for what He alone can do and has done. No one else was worthy to take the scroll. No one else was able except Jesus. And worship comes from this place of honest recognition of the power and the ability of God.

Friends, we worship God today because of what He alone has done and is able to do and is doing in our lives at this moment. That's why we worship God. He is worthy of our praise. There is no one like Him.

And I want to tell you something this morning, if you're unaware of this. There are things in your life that no one else can do except God. There are hurts in your past that no doctor can heal. There are troubles in your mind that no medication could completely subdue.

But Jesus is the great physician, and Jesus can heal and He can make you whole, inside and out. That's something He does. And this parking lot is full of people today who have received a touch from the great physician, who have been made whole. Amen!

But they praise Jesus also for the sacrifice that He's made. Not only what He's done in taking the scroll and taking control in His hand, but also it says, "You were slain." Over two thousand years ago, God sent forth His Son into the world to die for the sins of the world. Jesus went to the cross, took your place and mine, and three days later rose again. And because He was slain and conquered death, they praise Him for the sacrifice that He has made.

But also they praise Him because He has redeemed us, it says. To be redeemed means to buy us out of the slavery of our sin, never to be placed back into that slavery of sin again. Friend, do you know today that you can live in this free country and be a person who is not actually free?

You can be in bondage to sin. You can be a prisoner, a slave to your passions, to your lusts, totally controlled by it, to your addictions, etc. You live in a free place, but you're not really free. Listen, the Bible says whom the Son sets free is free indeed. If you want to experience real freedom in the truest sense of the word, then it comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can free you from the chains that currently bind you.

As this song continues, you'll notice it says, "You have redeemed us from every tribe, tongue, and nation." Folks, let me just tell you something. This song that is being sung there in heaven, listen, this song honors the price of redemption because it says, "You were slain." The song honors the work of redemption because it says, "You have redeemed us."

The song honors the destination of redemption because it says, "You redeemed us to God." The song honors the payment of redemption when it mentions "Your blood." The song honors the scope of redemption, every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. And the song honors the length of redemption because it says, "You have made us kings and priests to our God." And the song honors the result of redemption, "for we shall reign with You upon the earth."

As powerful as these lyrics are, what makes this song so wonderful—listen carefully, you've got to hear this—is there is only one group of people that can sing this song. There's only one group who can sing in heaven about being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God. Do you know what group it is? It's not the angels, it's the church. Only the church can sing this song. It's us.

You say, "Well, why is that so significant?" Because they are there in heaven singing this song about being redeemed out of every tribe, tongue, and nation before chapter six, when the tribulation period begins. The church is secure in heaven, worshipping around the throne of the Lamb of God. That's why we believe Jesus is coming before the tribulation happens.

This is the church—secure, safe with the Lamb, worshipping around His throne because they've been redeemed. Friend, have you been redeemed? You know, before you got here today, early this morning, the stage was set up, things were set up, but the parking lot was empty. No one was sitting here.

And I said to the guy standing on the stage, "What would this be like if this was the rapture? Just be empty. Stage is here, nobody's here. Happens, we're gone." It's a sobering thought.

But John says in verse eleven, "Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, the elders. The number of them," notice this, "ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands." That's a lot.

John said, "I looked and I heard." Forty-four times in the Book of Revelation, John declares that he beheld or he saw something. Twenty-seven times he declares, "I heard something." Notice who's worshipping Jesus: the angels around the throne, the living creatures. Some thirty-four books of the Bible mention angels, seventeen Old Testament, seventeen New Testament. The Old Testament, the word "angel" mentioned 103 times, the New Testament 165 times.

And their whole purpose is to praise God in heaven and at times they do His bidding. And John says there was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands. He said, I couldn't count them all. More than I could count. Could you imagine just this chorus of praise around the throne of God? John saying, "I can't, let me just try to describe to you what I heard. It was ten thousand times ten thousand voices just singing of the worth and the glory and the power and the majesty of God."

A symphony of praise being offered up. And this is what they said in verse twelve: "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." They were worshipping Jesus, again, for what He had done. He was slain, He was crucified, He had risen for the redemption of mankind.

You know something? You know what you find within the church? The people that are into worship, those who love to worship, are the people who understand and appreciate what Jesus has done for them. You don't have to coerce them. You don't have to try to... no, you don't have to do any of that.

They're motivated by an appreciation, by a love, by a thanksgiving. "I am saved. I was on my way to the deepest, darkest pit of hell and Jesus pulled me out. He rescued me. How can I not praise Him? He is worthy! He is worthy!" Man, the one who has been forgiven much, the same worships much.

Worship means to turn toward Him. And when you love Jesus, you show your affection for Him and demonstrate it by your act of worshipping Him. And that's what we're doing when we worship the Lord. We praise Him for His worth, and He is worthy of it.

And then John gives us this sevenfold description: power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, blessing, as they sing. But then folks, as we conclude, I want you to see this. Look what else happens, as if that wasn't enough that all of heaven is rejoicing. Verse thirteen takes it a step further. Every creature which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, such as are in the sea, all that is in them, I heard saying...

All the creatures in creation join in this chorus of praise honoring Jesus Christ, which only goes to show you that He's God. All of creation, all of heaven, the angels, the church, everything worships the Lamb.

It's amazing to think of all of creation praising the Lord. Do you know that's actually a fulfillment of what the Bible tells us? In Philippians chapter two, it says that God has highly exalted Jesus, given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, every tongue should confess, of those on the earth, under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Paul said in Romans chapter eight, "For since creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope, creation itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now." In other words, it's a way of saying if the creation could talk, and it doesn't, but if it could, it would tell you, you should have saw me before the fall of man.

You think this is something? You would not even recognize me. If a tree could talk, you think this is big? I would have been... no, before the fall. But one day the Bible says that all of creation is going to sing the praises of God. You say, where does it say that?

Isaiah chapter 55 says, "So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return to me void, it will accomplish what I please, it'll prosper in the thing which I sent it. You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Who knew trees had hands?

All of creation worshipping. And what are they saying? It tells us, "Blessing, honor, glory, and power to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever." And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forevermore. In the closing of the fifth chapter, everyone is worshipping Jesus. Why? Because He sits on the throne.

Friend, this is what I want to ask you this morning. Does Jesus Christ sit on the throne of your heart today? Because listen, there is a throne in your life. Somebody rules. Either it's you or it's Him. Either you have pushed Him off the throne of your life—"I call the shots, I'll call you if I need you when I do, if I do, I'll let you know"—and you're seated on the throne of your life. You're calling the shots.

Or does Jesus have His rightful place as Lord of your life? Someone said Jesus is either Lord of all or He's not Lord at all. Is He the King of your life? He has redeemed you. He created you and He redeemed you.

Listen, I want you to hear this story. I'm going to close with this. I read a story about a young boy. He made a small boat and he placed it into the water for the first time. But unfortunately, the wind came up and the boat got away from him and he lost it and he didn't see it again.

But one day he was walking down a street in his town and he saw the boat that he had made in a store window. And he went inside and he spoke to the owner of the store. And he said, "Mister, that's my boat." And the owner replied, "Actually, it's mine, son. I bought it."

The little guy responded and said, "But sir, I made it." And the owner said, "Well, the only way that you can have this boat is you need to pay for it." Determined to get his boat back, the boy went home, earned enough money to go back and purchase his boat. And on the day that he purchased the boat, he held it in his hands and he said this: "You are mine twice. I made you and I bought you."

Friend, listen. Jesus made you. God made you for a purpose. And He not only made you, but He also bought you. And the price that He paid to secure you and your salvation was His own blood shed for you on the cross. He has made you and He has purchased you, but will you respond to your Creator today?

Will you give your life to Christ? Will you continue to live apart from Him, pretend like you know Him but don't actually walk with Him, or will you choose to walk with Him today? It's really a decision that only you can make. Will you be there in this heavenly scene around the throne of God worshipping the Lion and the Lamb, singing of His worth and how you've been redeemed from every tribe and nation?

The only way that you'll be able to sing that song in that heavenly chorus is if you respond to Christ today. That's the only way. John weeps that there's no one. Oh, there's one. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me." There is a way to be saved. There is a way to escape hell and to experience heaven for all of eternity and Jesus died so that you could. Friend, I encourage you today to recognize the Lion and the Lamb. He loves you. He died to prove it.

Announcer: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Next time on A Daily Walk, it's the beginning of judgment as our series in Revelation continues with Pastor John Randall.