This morning in worship, we sang the Revelation song. It’s an oldie, but a goodie! As soon as I heard the first chord progression, I thought to myself “Oh great…here we go, I’m going to cry in church this morning”

But in this case, it’s a good thing. The fact that this song, after hearing it so many times over the years still makes me so emotional is due to what I believe to be the supernatural power behind the words. Because they aren’t just words in a song…they are powerful, heavenly words, taken directly from one of my favorite books of the Bible. The words that the angels themselves use in worship!

“Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
and by your
for you created all things,
to receive glory and honor and power,
You are worthy, our Lord and God, will they were created
and have their being.”

As we wrap up a weekend of celebrations and in some cases discontentment, I think it’s so important to take a step back, pull away from all distraction and focus on something that brings me to tears every time I think of it.

The verses I referenced above are from the book of Revelation and are part of an amazingly complex, vivid and beautiful book of imagery and visions that a man, John, could not himself explain. God showed him amazing things that will happen, and this book describes what he saw in the vision.

If you read through the book and study it, it can be scary. Knowing that these things are yet to come, it can be troubling to think of people, possibly people we know, watching and experiencing these events unfold.

But when I read this book, I’m filled with awe and hope. The verses above describe what John heard when he saw the angels in heaven praising God.

Can you imagine what that must look like?

Can you imagine what that must sound like?

When I sing that chorus I imagine the angels in heaven singing with me a raw, unrehearsed and completely heart-felt praise. And I turn into a pile of mush. I also remind myself that while I don’t have a voice of an angel, that God appreciates my “joyful noise” just the same 

 So if you can’t sing, don’t worry…we’re in this together!

 

I want to challenge you to read through this chapter and note all of the crazy imagery.

As you read, do a few things:
– Try to imagine what John was seeing when he got a glimpse of heaven.

– Write down what this chapter makes you feel about worship and pray it back to God.

– Play the song and really listen to the words with fresh ears. Focus on what the words mean. Sing along and offer your voice as your small offering to God (and remember, if you can’t sing, just make a joyful noise, like me!)

– Finally, on a notecard or piece of paper, write out the words from todays passage that jumped out at you the most. Place these words where you can see them often and be reminded of the God we worship.