PROPHETIC WORSHIP

Revelation 4:8-11  -  Key Verse 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Introduction

a) Worship is prophetic: it includes this concept of God's self-revelation.

Revelation 19:10b: . . . worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (KJV, NIV, NASB)

. . . It is God you must worship, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit that inspires prophecy. (NEB)

". . . Worship God. " Testimony to Jesus is the spirit which underlies Prophecy. (1912 Weymouth NT)

b) Worship must be defined by what the Lord is doing not what we are doing.

c) Our worship flows out of a revelation of the Lord.

It is impossible to really worship God unless we have had a revelation of God. Once we have had a revelation of Him, I believe it is impossible not to worship.

Prophetic worship does not need to be a "hit or miss" experience for the church. Surely it should be the norm for us to regularly encounter God in a most profound and prophetic manner in our church services. We must make a way for God to "uncover" Himself, or manifest Himself before His people. He is a gentleman and will not "invade" our services. He is patiently waiting to respond to our longings.

   Worship is a verb. It is not something done to us or for us, but by us. —Robert Webber   

Prophetic Worship And the Worship Team

a) The goal is the glory of God—not excellence. Art is a means to an end. Success is measured by the presence of God and His work in our lives.  (VIDEO ON WORSHIPPING CHURCHES)

b) Prophesy on the instruments.  Can a guitar prophesy?

c) Sing the prophetic song.

1 Chron. 25:1-7 David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals....and the sons of Asaph...prophesied according to the order of the King...Jeduthun prophesied with a harp...Heman the King's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn...All these (sons and daughters) were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord...were instructed in the songs of the Lord.

d) Craft the sight and sound of God.

e) Singers, musicians and dancers to flow as one—unity in spirit and heart

Prophetic Worship and the Congregation

a) The whole congregation is a holy, royal, priesthood. Each one is responsible for participating in the service and ministering to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (NASB)

b) The hearing of God's voice for today is one of the primary objectives of prophetic worship.  (My experience – I got a prophesy – a stirring in my heart to prophesy. – made some announcement. (next week a human special speaker is coming). Don’t rush in worshipping God. Don’t drag too long when there is nothing.

Who is speaking?  Response in faith and love.

Ø  God speaking to us about Himself

Ø  God speaking to us about us     

True worship has no room for a spectating heart — Sammy Tippet

New Testament expectation of worship—1 Cor. 14:7-8, 15, 24–26.

Worship is not a matter of skill and technique.  It is not confined to just singing some songs during a weekend service, it is a lifestyle and daily experience. True worship flows from the life of one who has an intimate relationship with God. Obedience to God is the highest act of worship – then serving and loving God follows.

In Revelation 7:9-10 – “I looked, and beheld, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb!"  

There are eight crucial areas of unity in this worship expression: Provision……… They are all wearing white robes of righteousness. Praise………….. They are all singing the same words Purpose………..They are all worshipping the Lamb Pageantry……..They are all waving palm branches Proclamation…They are all crying with loud voices Perspective……They are all beholding the Lamb Place……………..They are all before the throne Posture………….They are all standing and in unison.

ALL WORSHIP GOES TO JESUS

Four Things in Genuine Worship from Revelation

Revelation chapters 4 & 5

§  Provides a unique opportunity to experience a bit of heaven—and John’s description is the tiniest glimpse of a mind-blowing reality we cannot even begin to comprehend.

§  John saw heaven and is where Christians will spend eternity, a paradise of golden streets and enormous mansions.

A) Firstly  We See A Glimpse of God’s Glory
  In Revelation 4:1, Jesus called out to John, “Come up here, and I will show you want must take place after these things.”  John was immediately lifted to the throne of God.  But he didn’t attempt to describe God Himself. No earthly words would suffice.  Instead, He uses earthly images to paint a picture of God’s glory, with precious jewels, rainbows, thunder, and other natural elements standing in for God’s infinite worth, beauty, and power. The all eyes four Living Creatures flying around.

 Isaiah 40:5 says, "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." NKJV

Haggai 2:9 - Christ glory is going to be greater than the former glory of Moses.

B) Secondly We See The Throne Room

During Moses time God told him to erect a A Tabernacle of Moses with outer court, Inner court Holy Place and the Most holy Place. The priest has to enter from outer court to the inner court to serve God. That was a picture of typology of heavenly Almighty Presence of God.

 In the Throne room we have the High Priest Ministry.

Hebrews 5:1 it says, "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. vs.2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also beset by weakness."

Hebrew 8:1 says this, "Now this is the main point of the thing we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the Sanctuary of the True Tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man."

There is a New Man on the Throne of Grace with a Ministry. And that man is Jesus Christ our Lord Himself. Let us look into this Ministry and discover what kind of ministry is it? How does it operate? How do I know I am chosen also for this kind of ministry?  This is the Melchizedek priesthood ministry.

The Melchizedek priesthood gives to man, whereas the Aaronic priesthood takes from man. The Throne room ministry feeds us, strengthen us and refreshes us. But the other ministry condemns us. The ministry that bless and another one that curse and judges us.

This Melchizedek ministry flows out of the indwelling Christ, it flows from the heart and not the intellect. This anointing Throne room ministry will be caught, and not taught; it must be imparted spirit to spirit. When we speak, we speak in the realm of the Spirit.

C) Thirdly We See A Picture of Worship in the Most Holy Place.

    Following the four living creatures, the elders joined in worship, laying down their golden crowns at the feet of God, falling before Him in worship.  Through their actions, they physically acknowledged that everything they had belonged to God and that He alone deserves glory and honor.  They joined in the song of praise, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You have created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.”  Everything is centered at the Throne – all eyes at the Throne of God.

Last days - God is Calling Mercy Seat Worshippers!   God is looking for a church that has learned how to build a mercy seat for His glory. When He finds a people that has paid the price to build Him a resting place, He will come and He will stay.

The Mercy Seat is a symbol of atonement, appeasement, meeting place of God and man. God said to Moses, “There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat.” At the Mercy seat we obtained mercy for the past, and grace for the present and future.

MERCY SEAT WORSHIPERS MUST TURN THEIR BACK ON MAN’S FACE AND SEEK GOD’S FACE.

D) Lastly, We See The Worthy Lamb – that’s all worship goes to.

John saw a seven-sealed scroll, representing “Christ’s ‘title deed’ to all that the Father promised Him because of His sacrifice on the cross.”  Only the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, was worthy to open it.  Jesus was slain to receive power – riches – wisdom – strength – honor – glory – blessings.  At His appearance, all of heaven and earth turned to focus on Him, directing their worship towards Jesus Himself. All creation joined together to praise Him—the righteous Son of God who He alone is worthy to “receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”  And He is worthy of our praise; no, He demands it because of who He is, because of where He is, because of what He has done, does, and will do.  He is our Savior and King.  Today where does the worship go!  All to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith.