2018.05.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 4:8-11

Read Revelation 4:8-11

Questions for Littles: How many wings do the four living creatures have (v8)? Of whom does this remind you, from Isaiah 6? But of what are these creatures full around and within? How often do they take a rest? What are they doing all this time without rest? What, specifically, do they say about God three times? And then what do they say about God? And then what? How does v9 begin? So, how often is v10 happening? Who falls down before Him who sits on the throne (v10)? What else do they do? What do they do with their crowns? Of what do they say the Lord is worthy (v11)? Why?

This week’s Call to Worship and Prayer for Help came from Revelation 4:8-11. Here, we have a window into the praise of heaven, and what we find is the most amazing creatures (v8-9), and the most honored among glorified humanity (v10-11) praise God for things that are only true of God, and not even the most glorified creature.

First, God is holy. He alone has holiness inherent to Himself. The only way anything else becomes holy is by association with Him, by being set apart unto Him or near Him. We should be amazed at
His holiness. These amazing creatures do not rest, day or night, in amazement at His holiness. They never tire of the holiness of God. They never begin to find it boring.

Similarly, only God is Almighty. Everything and everyone else is limited in power, and dependent upon God for their very existence from one moment to the next.
And only God is eternal—without any beginning. He just was.

It seems to be to this that the elders are responding when they answer, with praise of their own, the praise of the four living creatures. When they hear that God is the only eternally existent being—that He had no beginning at all—they are reminded that He alone is the Creator of all things. Everything literally owes its existence to Him.

And that, of course, includes us. There is no honor or recognition or authority that we have, except that which ultimately belongs to Him, and we must lay it at His feet! So, let us learn not only to be impressed with Him, but also (importantly) to be unimpressed with ourselves!

Of what are you most often tempted to be proud of yourself?

Suggested songs: ARP189 “Universal Praise” or HB137 “Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power”