1 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,628 I'm always afraid of an introduction like that 2 00:00:20,628 --> 00:00:22,560 where anything good is said about me, 3 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,708 lest God need to prove to you 4 00:00:24,708 --> 00:00:29,839 that none of it's true. 5 00:00:29,839 --> 00:00:34,429 We trust He won't have to do that tonight. 6 00:00:34,429 --> 00:00:37,727 I have what is really in some ways 7 00:00:37,727 --> 00:00:40,059 an introductory message tonight, 8 00:00:40,059 --> 00:00:43,599 so it's not going to be quite as long 9 00:00:43,599 --> 00:00:44,930 as some of the others. 10 00:00:44,930 --> 00:00:46,791 So we're going to take some time here 11 00:00:46,791 --> 00:00:51,960 to read actually two short chapters of Scripture. 12 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:58,500 Revelation 4 and Revelation 5. 13 00:00:58,500 --> 00:01:03,240 And so let's read through these now. 14 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,878 "After these things, I looked, and behold, 15 00:01:05,878 --> 00:01:09,639 a door standing open in heaven, 16 00:01:09,639 --> 00:01:11,570 and the first voice which I had heard 17 00:01:11,570 --> 00:01:14,279 like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me 18 00:01:14,279 --> 00:01:16,411 said, 'Come up here, 19 00:01:16,411 --> 00:01:19,271 and I will show you what must take place 20 00:01:19,271 --> 00:01:21,819 after these things.' 21 00:01:21,819 --> 00:01:24,649 Immediately, I was in the Spirit, and behold, 22 00:01:24,649 --> 00:01:28,058 a throne was standing in heaven, 23 00:01:28,058 --> 00:01:29,590 and One sitting on the throne, 24 00:01:29,590 --> 00:01:33,619 and He who was sitting was like a jasper stone 25 00:01:33,619 --> 00:01:36,050 and a sardis in appearance, 26 00:01:36,050 --> 00:01:38,539 and there was a rainbow around the throne 27 00:01:38,539 --> 00:01:41,339 like an emerald in appearance. 28 00:01:41,339 --> 00:01:44,279 And around the throne were 24 thrones 29 00:01:44,279 --> 00:01:47,190 and upon the thrones I saw 24 elders 30 00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:49,679 sitting clothed in white garments 31 00:01:49,679 --> 00:01:53,570 and golden crowns on their heads. 32 00:01:53,570 --> 00:01:58,189 And from the throne proceeds flashes of lightning 33 00:01:58,189 --> 00:02:02,752 and sounds and peals of thunder." 34 00:02:02,752 --> 00:02:04,370 I remember one time years ago 35 00:02:04,370 --> 00:02:06,661 I was reading through the book of Revelation. 36 00:02:06,661 --> 00:02:08,790 There's a lot of thunder. 37 00:02:08,790 --> 00:02:10,481 And thunder uttering its voice 38 00:02:10,481 --> 00:02:11,759 and speaking and so on. 39 00:02:11,759 --> 00:02:13,920 We had a terrific lightning storm 40 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:17,039 there in Kirksville at that time, 41 00:02:17,039 --> 00:02:19,027 and it brought home to me a little bit 42 00:02:19,027 --> 00:02:20,750 of the reality of what it's like 43 00:02:20,750 --> 00:02:23,860 when thunder utters its voice. 44 00:02:23,860 --> 00:02:25,220 And here at this throne, 45 00:02:25,220 --> 00:02:28,291 lightning flashes are going out 46 00:02:28,291 --> 00:02:34,179 and thunder's coming from this throne. 47 00:02:34,179 --> 00:02:37,359 Verse 5, "And there were seven lamps of fire 48 00:02:37,359 --> 00:02:39,119 burning before the throne, 49 00:02:39,119 --> 00:02:43,159 which are the seven spirits of God. 50 00:02:43,159 --> 00:02:45,560 And before the throne there was as it were 51 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,959 a sea of glass like crystal. 52 00:02:48,959 --> 00:02:50,968 And in the center and around the throne, 53 00:02:50,968 --> 00:02:54,397 four living creatures full of eyes 54 00:02:54,397 --> 00:02:58,280 in front and behind. 55 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,210 And the first creature was like a lion, 56 00:03:00,210 --> 00:03:02,099 and the second creature like a calf, 57 00:03:02,099 --> 00:03:03,767 and the third creature had a face 58 00:03:03,767 --> 00:03:05,379 like that of a man, 59 00:03:05,379 --> 00:03:06,842 and the fourth creature 60 00:03:06,842 --> 00:03:09,908 was like a flying eagle. 61 00:03:09,908 --> 00:03:11,389 And the four living creatures, 62 00:03:11,389 --> 00:03:14,000 each one of them having six wings 63 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:20,639 are full of eyes around and within. 64 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,338 And day and night they do not cease 65 00:03:23,338 --> 00:03:28,600 to say 'holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, 66 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:33,380 who was and who is and who is to come.' 67 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:34,809 And when the living creatures 68 00:03:34,809 --> 00:03:37,050 give glory and honor and thanks 69 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:38,700 to Him who sits on the throne, 70 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:41,300 to Him who lives forever and ever, 71 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:43,829 the 24 elders will fall down before Him 72 00:03:43,829 --> 00:03:44,959 who sits on the throne 73 00:03:44,959 --> 00:03:47,831 and will worship Him who lives forever and ever 74 00:03:47,831 --> 00:03:51,499 and will cast their crowns before the throne 75 00:03:51,499 --> 00:03:54,280 saying, "Worthy art Thou, 76 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,090 our Lord and our God, 77 00:03:56,090 --> 00:03:58,431 to receive glory and honor and power, 78 00:03:58,431 --> 00:04:01,584 for Thou didst create all things, 79 00:04:01,584 --> 00:04:04,763 and because of Thy will they existed 80 00:04:04,763 --> 00:04:06,121 and were created.' 81 00:04:06,121 --> 00:04:10,781 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book, 82 00:04:10,781 --> 00:04:13,816 written inside and on the back, 83 00:04:13,816 --> 00:04:15,738 sealed up with seven seals. 84 00:04:15,738 --> 00:04:18,269 I saw a strong angel proclaim 85 00:04:18,269 --> 00:04:19,899 with a loud voice, 86 00:04:19,899 --> 00:04:23,819 'Who is worthy to open the book 87 00:04:23,819 --> 00:04:26,179 and to break its seals?' 88 00:04:26,179 --> 00:04:28,379 And no one in heaven or on the earth 89 00:04:28,379 --> 00:04:30,349 or under the earth was able 90 00:04:30,349 --> 00:04:34,650 to open the book or to look into it. 91 00:04:34,650 --> 00:04:36,196 I began to weep greatly 92 00:04:36,196 --> 00:04:40,367 because no one was found worthy 93 00:04:40,367 --> 00:04:43,198 to open the book or to look into it. 94 00:04:43,198 --> 00:04:44,889 And one of the elders said to me, 95 00:04:44,889 --> 00:04:48,660 'Stop weeping. Behold, the Lion 96 00:04:48,660 --> 00:04:52,199 that is from the tribe of Judah, 97 00:04:52,199 --> 00:04:54,479 the root of David has overcome 98 00:04:54,479 --> 00:04:58,499 so as to open the book and its seven seals.' 99 00:04:58,499 --> 00:05:00,757 And I saw between the throne 100 00:05:00,757 --> 00:05:04,791 with the four living creatures and the elders 101 00:05:04,791 --> 00:05:09,209 a Lamb standing as if slain." 102 00:05:09,209 --> 00:05:10,678 I don't know what that means - 103 00:05:10,678 --> 00:05:13,689 "standing as if slain." 104 00:05:13,689 --> 00:05:15,927 "Having seven horns and seven eyes 105 00:05:15,927 --> 00:05:19,999 which are the seven spirits of God 106 00:05:19,999 --> 00:05:21,830 sent out into all the earth. 107 00:05:21,830 --> 00:05:23,187 And He came and He took it 108 00:05:23,187 --> 00:05:26,526 out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne." 109 00:05:26,526 --> 00:05:29,667 That's a fearsome thing, isn't it? 110 00:05:29,667 --> 00:05:31,268 "And when He had taken the book, 111 00:05:31,268 --> 00:05:33,840 the four living creatures and the 24 elders 112 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:37,292 fell down before the Lamb, 113 00:05:37,292 --> 00:05:38,558 having each one a harp 114 00:05:38,558 --> 00:05:40,628 and golden bowls full of incense 115 00:05:40,628 --> 00:05:44,537 which are the prayers of the saints. 116 00:05:44,537 --> 00:05:46,668 And they sang a new song saying, 117 00:05:46,668 --> 00:05:49,159 'Worthy art Thou to take the book 118 00:05:49,159 --> 00:05:51,819 and to break its seals, for Thou was slain 119 00:05:51,819 --> 00:05:54,668 and didst purchase for God with Thy blood 120 00:05:54,668 --> 00:05:57,649 men from every tribe and tongue 121 00:05:57,649 --> 00:05:58,870 and people and nation, 122 00:05:58,870 --> 00:06:00,309 and Thou hast made them to be 123 00:06:00,309 --> 00:06:02,580 a kingdom and priests to our God. 124 00:06:02,580 --> 00:06:05,442 And they will reign upon the earth.' 125 00:06:05,442 --> 00:06:07,300 And I looked and I heard the voice 126 00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:10,410 of many angels around the throne 127 00:06:10,410 --> 00:06:12,649 and the living creatures and the elders 128 00:06:12,649 --> 00:06:15,790 and the number of them (these angels) 129 00:06:15,790 --> 00:06:19,574 was myriads of myriads 130 00:06:19,574 --> 00:06:22,508 and thousands of thousands..." 131 00:06:22,508 --> 00:06:24,169 That's millions. 132 00:06:24,169 --> 00:06:26,210 Millions of angels. 133 00:06:26,210 --> 00:06:27,709 "Saying with a loud voice, 134 00:06:27,709 --> 00:06:30,148 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain 135 00:06:30,148 --> 00:06:32,599 to receive power and riches and wisdom 136 00:06:32,599 --> 00:06:36,700 and might and honor and glory and blessing. 137 00:06:36,700 --> 00:06:38,848 And every created thing which is in heaven 138 00:06:38,848 --> 00:06:40,719 and on the earth and under the earth 139 00:06:40,719 --> 00:06:44,240 and on the sea and all things in them, I heard say, 140 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,170 'To Him who sits on the throne 141 00:06:46,170 --> 00:06:47,859 and to the Lamb 142 00:06:47,859 --> 00:06:49,852 be blessing and honor and glory 143 00:06:49,852 --> 00:06:51,400 and dominion forever and ever.' 144 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,567 And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' 145 00:06:55,567 --> 00:07:01,991 And the elders fell down and worshiped." 146 00:07:01,991 --> 00:07:05,179 As the Lord wills, I'd like to speak to you these days 147 00:07:05,179 --> 00:07:12,752 on the subject of the worthiness of God. 148 00:07:12,752 --> 00:07:15,118 The elders here have given us leeway - 149 00:07:15,118 --> 00:07:17,210 they kind of set a theme, but they gave us 150 00:07:17,210 --> 00:07:19,530 leeway to speak on anything 151 00:07:19,530 --> 00:07:23,137 that it seemed that the Lord was leading us to. 152 00:07:23,137 --> 00:07:25,509 And this is all I have. 153 00:07:25,509 --> 00:07:27,037 I need your prayers. 154 00:07:27,037 --> 00:07:30,010 It's a worthy theme to speak on the worthiness of God, 155 00:07:30,010 --> 00:07:33,088 but I'm certainly not worthy to speak on it. 156 00:07:33,088 --> 00:07:36,099 The worthiness of God. 157 00:07:36,099 --> 00:07:40,327 In these chapters, and I've read them, 158 00:07:40,327 --> 00:07:42,778 because they give us a glimpse 159 00:07:42,778 --> 00:07:45,339 of just how worthy God is. 160 00:07:45,339 --> 00:07:48,328 In these chapters, we see the Triune God 161 00:07:48,328 --> 00:07:54,987 described in glorious symbolic language 162 00:07:54,987 --> 00:07:57,530 surrounded by millions and millions 163 00:07:57,530 --> 00:08:03,198 of worshipers declaring how worthy He is. 164 00:08:03,198 --> 00:08:07,127 God the Father's described in v. 2-6 165 00:08:07,127 --> 00:08:09,857 of chapter 4. 166 00:08:09,857 --> 00:08:12,286 And He's seated on a great throne 167 00:08:12,286 --> 00:08:15,030 with flashes of lightning and peals of thunder 168 00:08:15,030 --> 00:08:18,879 and seas of glass and emerald rainbows 169 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:21,209 and living creatures. 170 00:08:21,209 --> 00:08:24,228 God the Son is described in chapter 5, 171 00:08:24,228 --> 00:08:29,257 verses 5 and 6 and following as a great Lion. 172 00:08:29,257 --> 00:08:31,528 And once this Lion is introduced, 173 00:08:31,528 --> 00:08:35,139 we turn to look at Him and we see a Lamb 174 00:08:35,139 --> 00:08:38,909 standing as if slain. 175 00:08:38,909 --> 00:08:40,991 And then God the Holy Spirit appears 176 00:08:40,991 --> 00:08:45,927 in chapter 4:5 as these seven mysterious 177 00:08:45,927 --> 00:08:47,928 lamps of fire. 178 00:08:47,928 --> 00:08:51,498 And in chapter 5:6, He appears 179 00:08:51,498 --> 00:08:53,790 as the seven eyes of the Lamb 180 00:08:53,790 --> 00:08:56,917 which are the seven spirits of God 181 00:08:56,917 --> 00:08:58,800 which are sent out into all the earth. 182 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,539 And then we see God's creation 183 00:09:00,539 --> 00:09:02,697 from the very highest to the very lowest 184 00:09:02,697 --> 00:09:06,368 worshiping prostrate before this worthy triune God. 185 00:09:06,368 --> 00:09:10,589 So I want to begin by asking a question: 186 00:09:10,589 --> 00:09:13,825 Just how worthy is God? 187 00:09:13,825 --> 00:09:16,209 How worthy is God? 188 00:09:16,209 --> 00:09:17,439 And we can see the answer 189 00:09:17,439 --> 00:09:20,433 just by pronouncing the word a little differently. 190 00:09:20,433 --> 00:09:23,769 How worth-y is God? 191 00:09:23,769 --> 00:09:25,758 That's where the word worthy comes from. 192 00:09:25,758 --> 00:09:28,458 It has the word "worth" in it. 193 00:09:28,458 --> 00:09:31,759 How much is God worth? 194 00:09:31,759 --> 00:09:33,630 The word "worthy" literally means 195 00:09:33,630 --> 00:09:36,340 having worth, value, or merit. 196 00:09:36,340 --> 00:09:37,912 So how much is God worth? 197 00:09:37,912 --> 00:09:40,349 Is He worth a million dollars? 198 00:09:40,349 --> 00:09:43,801 How much is God worth? 199 00:09:43,801 --> 00:09:46,481 There was a time when the Holy Spirit 200 00:09:46,481 --> 00:09:48,478 was moving in power there in New England 201 00:09:48,478 --> 00:09:53,219 and Christ was very real and near 202 00:09:53,219 --> 00:09:54,960 to various ones. 203 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,519 And Sarah Edwards was going through 204 00:09:57,519 --> 00:09:59,139 such a time as that, 205 00:09:59,139 --> 00:10:02,078 and one of her neighbors was visiting with her 206 00:10:02,078 --> 00:10:03,752 and said this: 207 00:10:03,752 --> 00:10:06,561 "One smile from Christ 208 00:10:06,561 --> 00:10:10,000 is worth a thousand million pounds." 209 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:11,757 "One smile from Christ 210 00:10:11,757 --> 00:10:15,168 is worth a thousand million pounds." 211 00:10:15,168 --> 00:10:16,442 And this is what she says, 212 00:10:16,442 --> 00:10:18,768 "The words affected me exceedingly 213 00:10:18,768 --> 00:10:21,441 and in a manner which I cannot express. 214 00:10:21,441 --> 00:10:25,549 I had a strong sense of the infinite worth 215 00:10:25,549 --> 00:10:28,118 of Christ's approval and love 216 00:10:28,118 --> 00:10:29,547 and at the same time 217 00:10:29,547 --> 00:10:31,659 of the grossness of the comparison. 218 00:10:31,659 --> 00:10:34,019 It only astonished me 219 00:10:34,019 --> 00:10:35,738 that anyone could compare 220 00:10:35,738 --> 00:10:39,838 a smile of Christ to any earthly treasure." 221 00:10:39,838 --> 00:10:41,099 A thousand million pounds? 222 00:10:41,099 --> 00:10:48,510 She said how could you think of something so base? 223 00:10:48,510 --> 00:10:50,008 She said, "Towards night I had 224 00:10:50,008 --> 00:10:53,629 a deep sense of the awful greatness of God 225 00:10:53,629 --> 00:10:56,000 and felt with what humility and reverence 226 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:59,538 we ought to behave ourselves before Him." 227 00:10:59,538 --> 00:11:01,219 It only astonished me she said. 228 00:11:01,219 --> 00:11:04,781 "Well, if a smile of Christ 229 00:11:04,781 --> 00:11:06,019 is of infinite worth, 230 00:11:06,019 --> 00:11:10,591 how much worth is Christ Himself?" 231 00:11:10,591 --> 00:11:11,909 How much is God worth? 232 00:11:11,909 --> 00:11:14,119 Well, He's of infinite worth. 233 00:11:14,119 --> 00:11:17,299 He is infinitely worthy. 234 00:11:17,299 --> 00:11:18,981 So that means that you take 235 00:11:18,981 --> 00:11:22,259 the entire created order 236 00:11:22,259 --> 00:11:24,119 and stack it all together at once 237 00:11:24,119 --> 00:11:27,270 and multiply it by a million times 238 00:11:27,270 --> 00:11:29,667 and put it in the balance against God - 239 00:11:29,667 --> 00:11:33,409 it's nothing and less than nothing. 240 00:11:33,409 --> 00:11:37,610 There is nothing whatsoever of comparison 241 00:11:37,610 --> 00:11:41,250 because God is infinitely worthy. 242 00:11:41,250 --> 00:11:44,439 Now, this one fact affects 243 00:11:44,439 --> 00:11:47,540 literally everything in life. 244 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:49,819 And I hope that we'll see this in a measure 245 00:11:49,819 --> 00:11:52,828 during the next few days, but notice this: 246 00:11:52,828 --> 00:11:55,448 God's infinite worthiness is described 247 00:11:55,448 --> 00:11:57,828 in these two chapters that we've read 248 00:11:57,828 --> 00:11:59,929 in terms of three songs, 249 00:11:59,929 --> 00:12:05,279 or you might say three outpourings of worship. 250 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:06,899 The first one might be called 251 00:12:06,899 --> 00:12:08,731 the song of God's being. 252 00:12:08,731 --> 00:12:11,829 Now notice this in v. 8-9 of chapter 4. 253 00:12:11,829 --> 00:12:13,549 It says, "The four living creatures 254 00:12:13,549 --> 00:12:16,680 each one of them having six wings 255 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:18,901 are full of eyes around and within 256 00:12:18,901 --> 00:12:21,409 and day and night they do not cease to say 257 00:12:21,409 --> 00:12:25,027 'holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty.'" 258 00:12:25,027 --> 00:12:28,289 Day and night, they don't cease. 259 00:12:28,289 --> 00:12:33,288 Twenty-four seven. All the time. Constantly. 260 00:12:33,288 --> 00:12:35,748 "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, 261 00:12:35,748 --> 00:12:39,068 who was and who is 262 00:12:39,068 --> 00:12:40,531 and who is to come.' 263 00:12:40,531 --> 00:12:42,699 And when the living creatures give glory 264 00:12:42,699 --> 00:12:44,368 and honor and thanks to Him 265 00:12:44,368 --> 00:12:45,719 who sits on the throne..." 266 00:12:45,719 --> 00:12:47,158 Now this is what's going on: 267 00:12:47,158 --> 00:12:50,258 Glory, honor, and thanks. 268 00:12:50,258 --> 00:12:55,599 And these outpourings of worship 269 00:12:55,599 --> 00:12:57,159 have to do with God's being. 270 00:12:57,159 --> 00:12:59,170 Now, I want us to notice two things here. 271 00:12:59,170 --> 00:13:03,198 First of all, this outpouring of worship 272 00:13:03,198 --> 00:13:07,588 comes from those who are themselves sinless. 273 00:13:07,588 --> 00:13:10,748 They've never committed one sin. 274 00:13:10,748 --> 00:13:13,048 And yet, they are around the throne 275 00:13:13,048 --> 00:13:14,818 all the time constantly saying, 276 00:13:14,818 --> 00:13:17,511 "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty." 277 00:13:17,511 --> 00:13:18,523 Why is that? 278 00:13:18,523 --> 00:13:22,110 Because even though they have not committed even one sin, 279 00:13:22,110 --> 00:13:26,001 He is so much more holy than they are 280 00:13:26,001 --> 00:13:28,419 that they worship Him for His holiness. 281 00:13:28,419 --> 00:13:32,329 Now how in the world can that be? 282 00:13:32,329 --> 00:13:34,452 They have never committed a sin 283 00:13:34,452 --> 00:13:37,528 and yet God is infinitely more holy than they are. 284 00:13:37,528 --> 00:13:39,740 Well, because you know holiness 285 00:13:39,740 --> 00:13:42,208 has to do with the idea of separateness 286 00:13:42,208 --> 00:13:44,420 or separation. 287 00:13:44,420 --> 00:13:47,629 (You had) holy vessels in the Old Testament. 288 00:13:47,629 --> 00:13:51,168 You had pots and pans and everything 289 00:13:51,168 --> 00:13:53,520 that were called holy. 290 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:56,099 They had no moral character in themselves 291 00:13:56,099 --> 00:13:58,809 but they had been set apart from common use, 292 00:13:58,809 --> 00:14:00,349 set apart for God. 293 00:14:00,349 --> 00:14:03,959 They were separated out from everything else. 294 00:14:03,959 --> 00:14:06,618 That's the idea of holiness. 295 00:14:06,618 --> 00:14:09,660 I think in the human realm, 296 00:14:09,660 --> 00:14:11,418 we can see this a little bit. 297 00:14:11,418 --> 00:14:13,939 I like to think about Babe Ruth. 298 00:14:13,939 --> 00:14:15,669 You know, Babe Ruth's jersey - 299 00:14:15,669 --> 00:14:17,748 he was number 3 - 300 00:14:17,748 --> 00:14:22,999 and his number was set apart. 301 00:14:22,999 --> 00:14:26,047 Nobody who comes to that team 302 00:14:26,047 --> 00:14:27,669 and wants to put on his jersey 303 00:14:27,669 --> 00:14:29,699 and say I'd like to be number 3 - 304 00:14:29,699 --> 00:14:31,490 you can't be number 3. 305 00:14:31,490 --> 00:14:33,417 You can't be number 3? Why's that? 306 00:14:33,417 --> 00:14:35,228 Because that's holy. 307 00:14:35,228 --> 00:14:37,549 That's been set apart 308 00:14:37,549 --> 00:14:40,948 by this man's incredible performance, you see. 309 00:14:40,948 --> 00:14:42,811 Well, that's in the realm of sports. 310 00:14:42,811 --> 00:14:45,669 I guess they did that with Michael Jordan too, didn't they? 311 00:14:45,669 --> 00:14:47,458 23 - that's set apart. 312 00:14:47,458 --> 00:14:50,229 Nobody else gets that. 313 00:14:50,229 --> 00:14:54,149 If you want to make it a little closer, 314 00:14:54,149 --> 00:14:55,978 you could think in terms of the way 315 00:14:55,978 --> 00:14:58,209 things have been hallowed like Lincoln said, 316 00:14:58,209 --> 00:15:00,750 that no one can hallow this ground 317 00:15:00,750 --> 00:15:02,799 any more than what these guys have 318 00:15:02,799 --> 00:15:05,120 by spilling their blood. 319 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,539 And when we think to stand on the spot 320 00:15:07,539 --> 00:15:08,858 where people have died 321 00:15:08,858 --> 00:15:11,059 so that we could have liberty, 322 00:15:11,059 --> 00:15:13,917 that's holy ground in some sense. 323 00:15:13,917 --> 00:15:16,111 Take it a little bit further. 324 00:15:16,111 --> 00:15:18,082 I know some of you probably have read 325 00:15:18,082 --> 00:15:20,260 about the Anabaptist's 326 00:15:20,260 --> 00:15:22,130 and some of the things they suffered. 327 00:15:22,130 --> 00:15:24,170 One of the things that happened was 328 00:15:24,170 --> 00:15:25,740 that the people, when they were 329 00:15:25,740 --> 00:15:28,570 being burned at the stake were preaching. 330 00:15:28,570 --> 00:15:31,370 And so many people were converted through the preaching 331 00:15:31,370 --> 00:15:34,150 that they got a thing called a tongue screw. 332 00:15:34,150 --> 00:15:35,579 And it's a piece of metal - 333 00:15:35,579 --> 00:15:37,241 maybe you've seen pictures of it. 334 00:15:37,241 --> 00:15:38,924 They screw that on their tongue - 335 00:15:38,924 --> 00:15:40,730 a big chunk of metal on their tongue, 336 00:15:40,730 --> 00:15:44,208 so that they couldn't preach. 337 00:15:44,208 --> 00:15:47,240 That shows the power of the Gospel, doesn't it? 338 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,445 And so they screw that on their tongue 339 00:15:49,445 --> 00:15:53,021 and after their bodies were burned to ashes, 340 00:15:53,021 --> 00:15:56,902 their relatives would retrieve that tongue screw. 341 00:15:56,902 --> 00:15:59,918 And they'd pass it down through the family. 342 00:15:59,918 --> 00:16:01,908 Now imagine being a wife 343 00:16:01,908 --> 00:16:04,291 or being a son who your dad 344 00:16:04,291 --> 00:16:06,420 died in the flames 345 00:16:06,420 --> 00:16:08,868 wearing that tongue screw. 346 00:16:08,868 --> 00:16:10,790 That thing takes on a different meaning. 347 00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:13,493 You don't toss it around and play with it. 348 00:16:13,493 --> 00:16:15,823 There's something holy about it. 349 00:16:15,823 --> 00:16:17,479 Now these are weak analogies 350 00:16:17,479 --> 00:16:19,190 in the human realm, but you see, 351 00:16:19,190 --> 00:16:22,679 holiness is the idea of separation. 352 00:16:22,679 --> 00:16:26,889 God is utterly separate. 353 00:16:26,889 --> 00:16:30,027 He's infinitely separate from us. 354 00:16:30,027 --> 00:16:36,720 He's the Creator. We are creatures. 355 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,680 If I could just get across a little bit 356 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,579 what a different realm God is in. 357 00:16:41,579 --> 00:16:44,998 He doesn't have to exert Himself 358 00:16:44,998 --> 00:16:49,168 in order to be. 359 00:16:49,168 --> 00:16:52,589 They say that shrews are so voracious 360 00:16:52,589 --> 00:16:55,430 that if you put two shrews in a jar overnight, 361 00:16:55,430 --> 00:16:58,468 in the morning, you'll only have one shrew. 362 00:16:58,468 --> 00:17:01,069 The reason is that they've got to eat constantly 363 00:17:01,069 --> 00:17:02,858 just to stay alive. 364 00:17:02,858 --> 00:17:04,640 And beloved, that's the way we are. 365 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,468 My wife and I were talking about this on the way down. 366 00:17:07,468 --> 00:17:10,811 Basically, we're all like people on a ventilator. 367 00:17:10,811 --> 00:17:12,926 We've got to be kept going all the time 368 00:17:12,926 --> 00:17:16,970 from power from the outside. 369 00:17:16,970 --> 00:17:19,061 But what kind of Being is this 370 00:17:19,061 --> 00:17:23,400 who lives on His own power from the inside? 371 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:27,598 Who has no effort whatsover to be? 372 00:17:27,598 --> 00:17:29,357 He just is. 373 00:17:29,357 --> 00:17:34,198 You see, He's in a different realm entirely than mankind. 374 00:17:34,198 --> 00:17:36,140 He is the self-existent One. 375 00:17:36,140 --> 00:17:39,209 He's infinitely set apart. 376 00:17:39,209 --> 00:17:40,558 You see, when we talk about 377 00:17:40,558 --> 00:17:42,589 the Creator-creature distinction, 378 00:17:42,589 --> 00:17:46,147 we're not talking about something quantitative. 379 00:17:46,147 --> 00:17:49,719 We're not saying God's just a lot, lot, lot bigger than we are. 380 00:17:49,719 --> 00:17:52,809 No, we're talking about something qualitative. 381 00:17:52,809 --> 00:17:55,479 He's in a different realm entirely. 382 00:17:55,479 --> 00:17:58,458 He is just as high above the archangel 383 00:17:58,458 --> 00:18:00,901 as He is above the earthworm. 384 00:18:00,901 --> 00:18:02,549 As you go up, you know, 385 00:18:02,549 --> 00:18:04,192 I used to study math 386 00:18:04,192 --> 00:18:06,329 and we'd make a very stupid statement. 387 00:18:06,329 --> 00:18:07,933 They've stopped making that now. 388 00:18:07,933 --> 00:18:09,229 They're much more careful, 389 00:18:09,229 --> 00:18:11,900 but we used to say, well, as that gets smaller, 390 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:15,210 the value of that thing goes to infinity. 391 00:18:15,210 --> 00:18:16,286 It goes to infinity. 392 00:18:16,286 --> 00:18:17,856 Well, that's a nonsense statement 393 00:18:17,856 --> 00:18:20,258 because once you get out there as far as you are, 394 00:18:20,258 --> 00:18:23,490 you've still got that much farther to go. 395 00:18:23,490 --> 00:18:25,748 I mean, when you even say the word "infinity" 396 00:18:25,748 --> 00:18:28,410 in your mind you draw a circle around it. 397 00:18:28,410 --> 00:18:29,939 You can't do that. 398 00:18:29,939 --> 00:18:31,380 You can picture a line, 399 00:18:31,380 --> 00:18:32,819 but you can't picture a line 400 00:18:32,819 --> 00:18:34,669 that has no end on either end. 401 00:18:34,669 --> 00:18:37,269 You can't picture that. 402 00:18:37,269 --> 00:18:40,081 God is infinitely above us. 403 00:18:40,081 --> 00:18:45,808 That means He's holy in an absolute way. 404 00:18:45,808 --> 00:18:47,908 And here's these sinless creatures - 405 00:18:47,908 --> 00:18:50,718 no telling what kind of power they had 406 00:18:50,718 --> 00:18:52,789 in relation to us - 407 00:18:52,789 --> 00:18:55,261 but there's an infinite gulf between them 408 00:18:55,261 --> 00:18:56,809 and the Creator. 409 00:18:56,809 --> 00:18:58,698 And so they can't do anything but say, 410 00:18:58,698 --> 00:19:02,229 "Holy, holy, holy... holy, holy, holy." 411 00:19:02,229 --> 00:19:05,667 He's infinitely separate. 412 00:19:05,667 --> 00:19:07,177 Now notice this too, 413 00:19:07,177 --> 00:19:09,699 that this outpouring of worship 414 00:19:09,699 --> 00:19:11,498 mentions nothing about anything 415 00:19:11,498 --> 00:19:16,578 God has done or may do. 416 00:19:16,578 --> 00:19:17,897 The outpouring of worship 417 00:19:17,897 --> 00:19:22,500 relates to who He is in Himself. 418 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:24,600 They're not thanking God for benefits 419 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:25,938 they've received from Him. 420 00:19:25,938 --> 00:19:29,129 They're just worshiping Him for who He is 421 00:19:29,129 --> 00:19:33,179 in Himself apart from anything that He's ever done. 422 00:19:33,179 --> 00:19:35,910 And I think this is an amazing phrase here 423 00:19:35,910 --> 00:19:38,679 where it says in verse 9, 424 00:19:38,679 --> 00:19:40,541 "The living creatures give glory 425 00:19:40,541 --> 00:19:42,103 and honor and thanks..." 426 00:19:42,103 --> 00:19:44,470 They're thanking Him 427 00:19:44,470 --> 00:19:47,370 for being who He is. 428 00:19:47,370 --> 00:19:49,580 Well, God being God can't be anything 429 00:19:49,580 --> 00:19:51,251 but who He is. 430 00:19:51,251 --> 00:19:52,752 But who are you going to thank 431 00:19:52,752 --> 00:19:55,126 if you don't thank Him? 432 00:19:55,126 --> 00:19:57,859 (incomplete thought) 433 00:19:57,859 --> 00:19:59,169 Isn't this a fearful thing? 434 00:19:59,169 --> 00:20:02,580 You're before God - and have you ever felt this way? 435 00:20:02,580 --> 00:20:04,699 If you're a Christian, you have. 436 00:20:04,699 --> 00:20:06,661 God, I thank You, I thank You, 437 00:20:06,661 --> 00:20:10,970 thank You for being who You are! 438 00:20:10,970 --> 00:20:13,851 I'm so thankful that You are who You are. 439 00:20:13,851 --> 00:20:16,599 I worship You for being who You are. 440 00:20:16,599 --> 00:20:21,100 Apart from anything You do for anybody. 441 00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:23,719 That has to do with God's being. 442 00:20:23,719 --> 00:20:25,588 He's worthy! 443 00:20:25,588 --> 00:20:27,377 He would be worthy if He had not 444 00:20:27,377 --> 00:20:32,308 ever created anything - He would be worthy. 445 00:20:32,308 --> 00:20:34,908 But there's a second song here. 446 00:20:34,908 --> 00:20:38,130 And that's the song of God's creation. 447 00:20:38,130 --> 00:20:41,299 And that comes in v. 10-11 of chapter 4. 448 00:20:41,299 --> 00:20:43,878 The 24 elders will fall down before Him 449 00:20:43,878 --> 00:20:47,429 who sits on the throne and will worship Him 450 00:20:47,429 --> 00:20:49,107 who lives forever and ever 451 00:20:49,107 --> 00:20:51,411 and will cast their crowns before the throne 452 00:20:51,411 --> 00:20:53,669 saying, "Worthy art Thou 453 00:20:53,669 --> 00:20:56,028 our Lord and our God to receive glory 454 00:20:56,028 --> 00:20:57,671 and honor and power, 455 00:20:57,671 --> 00:21:01,480 for Thou didst create all things 456 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,798 and because of Thy will they existed 457 00:21:03,798 --> 00:21:06,489 and were created." 458 00:21:06,489 --> 00:21:07,587 Now think of this. 459 00:21:07,587 --> 00:21:09,069 We're talking about worthiness. 460 00:21:09,069 --> 00:21:10,845 He says worthy. They say worthy 461 00:21:10,845 --> 00:21:12,399 right there in v. 11 don't they? 462 00:21:12,399 --> 00:21:16,650 Worthy art Thou because You created. 463 00:21:16,650 --> 00:21:19,069 The worthiness of God, beloved, 464 00:21:19,069 --> 00:21:21,798 in terms of His creation. 465 00:21:21,798 --> 00:21:25,600 The one who spoke by an act of the will 466 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,519 spoke all things into existence 467 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:32,208 out of nothing. 468 00:21:32,208 --> 00:21:33,990 If there was some way that we could 469 00:21:33,990 --> 00:21:35,891 just stand outside of everything 470 00:21:35,891 --> 00:21:38,061 and watch it happen - God speak 471 00:21:38,061 --> 00:21:40,458 everything into existence out of nothing, 472 00:21:40,458 --> 00:21:43,161 it would be reason to fall down before Him. 473 00:21:43,161 --> 00:21:46,970 It would show His infinite worthiness of worship 474 00:21:46,970 --> 00:21:52,528 because He's the Creator of all things. 475 00:21:52,528 --> 00:21:55,131 You know, one theologian said, 476 00:21:55,131 --> 00:21:58,968 well, because the universe is not infinite 477 00:21:58,968 --> 00:22:01,478 it displays God's power, but it doesn't display 478 00:22:01,478 --> 00:22:04,150 His infinite power. 479 00:22:04,150 --> 00:22:05,620 Right? 480 00:22:05,620 --> 00:22:06,970 You could say, well, look, 481 00:22:06,970 --> 00:22:10,551 suppose God had just created this desk. 482 00:22:10,551 --> 00:22:12,011 It would display His power, 483 00:22:12,011 --> 00:22:14,310 but it wouldn't display His infinite power. 484 00:22:14,310 --> 00:22:16,029 But I'd like to ask you a question. 485 00:22:16,029 --> 00:22:17,380 How much power does it take 486 00:22:17,380 --> 00:22:21,350 to call this desk into existence out of nothing? 487 00:22:21,350 --> 00:22:23,580 If you don't think that's infinite power, 488 00:22:23,580 --> 00:22:25,999 I don't know what it would be. 489 00:22:25,999 --> 00:22:27,344 You see, He spoke. 490 00:22:27,344 --> 00:22:29,238 He called things into being. 491 00:22:29,238 --> 00:22:33,858 He called them into being by speaking; 492 00:22:33,858 --> 00:22:36,049 by an act of the will. 493 00:22:36,049 --> 00:22:39,458 Now, not only did He call this desk into existence, 494 00:22:39,458 --> 00:22:42,268 but He called the entire universe into existence 495 00:22:42,268 --> 00:22:50,712 a 15 billion light year radius. 496 00:22:50,712 --> 00:22:54,179 They look at this and they worship. 497 00:22:54,179 --> 00:22:57,288 And I say, if somehow you could get outside of everything 498 00:22:57,288 --> 00:22:58,592 and see it happen, 499 00:22:58,592 --> 00:23:02,559 you would have infinite reason to worship such a God. 500 00:23:02,559 --> 00:23:07,562 But the fact is, we are part of what He created. 501 00:23:07,562 --> 00:23:12,442 We ourselves were spoken into existence by Him. 502 00:23:12,442 --> 00:23:14,820 Now you have even more reason - 503 00:23:14,820 --> 00:23:17,809 if there could be even more reason to worship Him 504 00:23:17,809 --> 00:23:22,028 because you owe literally everything to Him. 505 00:23:22,028 --> 00:23:24,507 You exist! 506 00:23:24,507 --> 00:23:26,220 You would not exist, 507 00:23:26,220 --> 00:23:27,458 you would not be here 508 00:23:27,458 --> 00:23:30,898 apart from God speaking you into existence. 509 00:23:30,898 --> 00:23:33,580 How much worship do you owe a God 510 00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:36,047 that spoke you into existence? 511 00:23:36,047 --> 00:23:37,899 You owe your being to Him, 512 00:23:37,899 --> 00:23:40,517 not to mention your well-being. 513 00:23:40,517 --> 00:23:42,170 The fact you've got clothes on, 514 00:23:42,170 --> 00:23:43,810 you've got your sanity, 515 00:23:43,810 --> 00:23:46,840 and whatever degree of health you have, 516 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,178 you owe Him everything - literally everything. 517 00:23:50,178 --> 00:23:51,668 So I say here again, 518 00:23:51,668 --> 00:23:54,928 it's almost like can you pile any more on this? 519 00:23:54,928 --> 00:23:59,209 He's infinitely worthy just for who He is. 520 00:23:59,209 --> 00:24:02,537 But how much more worthy is He 521 00:24:02,537 --> 00:24:04,932 of the worship of those whom He has 522 00:24:04,932 --> 00:24:09,089 called out of nothingness into existence? 523 00:24:09,089 --> 00:24:11,229 I mean, you can't be any more 524 00:24:11,229 --> 00:24:20,969 worthy of worship than by your creatures, you see. 525 00:24:20,969 --> 00:24:26,032 We owe Him literally everything. 526 00:24:26,032 --> 00:24:28,369 And so how much more is He worthy 527 00:24:28,369 --> 00:24:30,868 of all glory, honor, and worship from those 528 00:24:30,868 --> 00:24:33,041 whom He has called into existence? 529 00:24:33,041 --> 00:24:36,769 But there's a third song here, isn't there? 530 00:24:36,769 --> 00:24:40,171 V. 8-12 of chapter 5. 531 00:24:40,171 --> 00:24:44,193 And this is a song of God's redemption. 532 00:24:44,193 --> 00:24:48,349 Not only is God infinitely worthy 533 00:24:48,349 --> 00:24:50,322 because of His own being 534 00:24:50,322 --> 00:24:53,179 and because He is the Creator 535 00:24:53,179 --> 00:24:56,359 as opposed to the creation, 536 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,980 but He's infinitely worthy because of 537 00:24:58,980 --> 00:25:01,161 this glorious redemption that He has 538 00:25:01,161 --> 00:25:08,529 accomplished in the Lord Jesus Christ. 539 00:25:08,529 --> 00:25:10,840 Notice verses 11 and 12. 540 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,851 "I looked and I heard the voice 541 00:25:12,851 --> 00:25:15,577 of many angels around the throne 542 00:25:15,577 --> 00:25:17,534 and the living creatures and the elders, 543 00:25:17,534 --> 00:25:20,032 and the number of them was myriads of myriads." 544 00:25:20,032 --> 00:25:22,613 Now we're talking about the angels here. 545 00:25:22,613 --> 00:25:26,209 "And thousands of thousands." 546 00:25:26,209 --> 00:25:30,320 Millions of angels singing here. 547 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:34,458 Brother Michael mentioned this thing of the angels 548 00:25:34,458 --> 00:25:40,221 watching with awe and wonder 549 00:25:40,221 --> 00:25:42,491 as the second Person of the Trinity comes 550 00:25:42,491 --> 00:25:46,830 down, down, down - 551 00:25:46,830 --> 00:25:51,659 the infinite, holy One comes down to earth 552 00:25:51,659 --> 00:25:54,060 and is born in a stable. 553 00:25:54,060 --> 00:25:56,466 And they watch Him grow up as a little boy 554 00:25:56,466 --> 00:25:59,940 working in a carpenter's shop. 555 00:25:59,940 --> 00:26:04,890 And they see Him allow His creatures 556 00:26:04,890 --> 00:26:08,589 to spit on Him and mock Him. 557 00:26:08,589 --> 00:26:10,619 And they watch Him as He stumbles 558 00:26:10,619 --> 00:26:12,457 under the cross 559 00:26:12,457 --> 00:26:16,702 and somebody helps Him carry that cross. 560 00:26:16,702 --> 00:26:19,269 And they watch Him as He dies 561 00:26:19,269 --> 00:26:22,560 on the cross for those sinners. 562 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,070 And they look at this and they fall down 563 00:26:25,070 --> 00:26:28,230 and worship Him for what He's doing. 564 00:26:28,230 --> 00:26:33,891 They fall prostrate just for what they've seen Him do. 565 00:26:33,891 --> 00:26:37,252 Now beloved, what I want to get at is this: 566 00:26:37,252 --> 00:26:43,020 Those angels don't "get anything" out of Him doing that. 567 00:26:43,020 --> 00:26:45,259 He's worthy of worship 568 00:26:45,259 --> 00:26:48,079 whether you end up going to hell in the end, 569 00:26:48,079 --> 00:26:51,044 He's still worthy of worship for what He's done. 570 00:26:51,044 --> 00:26:53,029 If you look at what He did on the cross, 571 00:26:53,029 --> 00:26:55,689 if you look at the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 572 00:26:55,689 --> 00:26:58,177 He owes no one anything! 573 00:26:58,177 --> 00:27:00,779 He doesn't need to save anybody. 574 00:27:00,779 --> 00:27:02,540 Everybody in this world 575 00:27:02,540 --> 00:27:04,109 ought to bow down before Him 576 00:27:04,109 --> 00:27:05,310 and worship Him 577 00:27:05,310 --> 00:27:08,079 just because of what He's done 578 00:27:08,079 --> 00:27:11,388 whether you get anything out of it or not. 579 00:27:11,388 --> 00:27:13,369 He's worthy of worship 580 00:27:13,369 --> 00:27:17,457 for that act that He did of redemption. 581 00:27:17,457 --> 00:27:19,871 Well, if that's true in itself, 582 00:27:19,871 --> 00:27:23,907 then again, pile infinites on infinites. 583 00:27:23,907 --> 00:27:27,578 How much is He worthy of our worship 584 00:27:27,578 --> 00:27:30,960 who have benefited from this redemption? 585 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,378 If the angels are worshiping Him 586 00:27:33,378 --> 00:27:34,839 and they get nothing out of it 587 00:27:34,839 --> 00:27:36,458 in terms of redemption, 588 00:27:36,458 --> 00:27:38,658 how much more ought we who have 589 00:27:38,658 --> 00:27:39,919 been cleansed by His blood, 590 00:27:39,919 --> 00:27:41,798 how much do we owe Him? 591 00:27:41,798 --> 00:27:43,759 How worthy is He of our worship? 592 00:27:43,759 --> 00:27:45,648 He's infinitely worthy. 593 00:27:45,648 --> 00:27:47,680 Time over time over time. 594 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:51,038 He's infinitely worthy. 595 00:27:51,038 --> 00:27:53,429 Love so amazing, so divine, 596 00:27:53,429 --> 00:28:00,639 demands my soul, my life, my all. 597 00:28:00,639 --> 00:28:06,022 I mean, we deserve to die 598 00:28:06,022 --> 00:28:08,339 and the death angel's coming in 599 00:28:08,339 --> 00:28:10,908 and He interposes with His blood on the doorposts, 600 00:28:10,908 --> 00:28:12,919 and while we hear the cries going up 601 00:28:12,919 --> 00:28:15,049 from the Egyptian households, 602 00:28:15,049 --> 00:28:17,577 we're still alive! 603 00:28:17,577 --> 00:28:23,020 Don't you think you ought to fall down before Him and worship Him? 604 00:28:23,020 --> 00:28:24,978 You see how it's just piled upon - 605 00:28:24,978 --> 00:28:26,010 it's infinite. 606 00:28:26,010 --> 00:28:29,649 It's not that God's worthy - He's infinitely worthy. 607 00:28:29,649 --> 00:28:35,118 He really is infinitely worthy. 608 00:28:35,118 --> 00:28:37,579 Now these chapters end very fitly then 609 00:28:37,579 --> 00:28:38,909 in verses 13 and 14 610 00:28:38,909 --> 00:28:42,480 with the entire created order worshiping 611 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,123 the Triune God for the totality of His person 612 00:28:45,123 --> 00:28:47,668 and His works. 613 00:28:47,668 --> 00:28:50,721 I haven't said anything up to this point about this, 614 00:28:50,721 --> 00:28:52,500 but I'm sure many of you realize 615 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:55,000 that the word "worship" 616 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,500 comes from this same word: "worth." 617 00:28:57,500 --> 00:28:59,896 Worth-ship. 618 00:28:59,896 --> 00:29:02,465 It's literally acknowledging, 619 00:29:02,465 --> 00:29:04,589 declaring the worth of the one 620 00:29:04,589 --> 00:29:08,269 you are worth-shiping. 621 00:29:08,269 --> 00:29:11,341 And beloved, He is worthy. 622 00:29:11,341 --> 00:29:17,128 Now, in light of God's infinite worthiness, 623 00:29:17,128 --> 00:29:18,870 we should not be surprised to find 624 00:29:18,870 --> 00:29:20,881 that this has implications 625 00:29:20,881 --> 00:29:24,529 that permeate literally everything. 626 00:29:24,529 --> 00:29:26,510 That's what we're going to be looking at, 627 00:29:26,510 --> 00:29:29,091 Lord willing, in the next few days. 628 00:29:29,091 --> 00:29:30,584 That's what we would expect. 629 00:29:30,584 --> 00:29:34,579 After all, God isn't one among many. 630 00:29:34,579 --> 00:29:37,608 He's the center and the foundation of everything. 631 00:29:37,608 --> 00:29:42,230 And when He moves, everything moves. 632 00:29:42,230 --> 00:29:45,608 So, what are some of the implications 633 00:29:45,608 --> 00:29:47,581 of the infinite worthiness of God? 634 00:29:47,581 --> 00:29:50,040 I just want to mention one tonight 635 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:51,209 before we close. 636 00:29:51,209 --> 00:29:53,028 We'll be looking at several of these, 637 00:29:53,028 --> 00:29:54,497 Lord willing, but tonight, 638 00:29:54,497 --> 00:29:59,109 I just want us to consider one. 639 00:29:59,109 --> 00:30:04,386 First implication of the infinite worthiness of God is: 640 00:30:04,386 --> 00:30:07,617 What is the reason that God does what He does? 641 00:30:07,617 --> 00:30:09,056 Or you might say, 642 00:30:09,056 --> 00:30:11,828 what is the chief end of God's actions? 643 00:30:11,828 --> 00:30:14,888 Why does He do what He does? 644 00:30:14,888 --> 00:30:17,579 And the chief end of God's actions 645 00:30:17,579 --> 00:30:21,137 is God Himself. 646 00:30:21,137 --> 00:30:23,248 Because He's infinitely worthy, 647 00:30:23,248 --> 00:30:26,379 it would be wrong, shall we say; 648 00:30:26,379 --> 00:30:27,948 it would be irrational, 649 00:30:27,948 --> 00:30:32,318 it would be impossible for Him 650 00:30:32,318 --> 00:30:35,108 to center on anything as being the ultimate worth 651 00:30:35,108 --> 00:30:37,619 except Himself. 652 00:30:37,619 --> 00:30:39,568 So the purpose for His actions 653 00:30:39,568 --> 00:30:42,137 is always to glorify Himself 654 00:30:42,137 --> 00:30:44,617 first and foremost. 655 00:30:44,617 --> 00:30:46,379 The reason He does anything 656 00:30:46,379 --> 00:30:49,769 is to glorify Himself. 657 00:30:49,769 --> 00:30:52,417 The chief end of all God's acts 658 00:30:52,417 --> 00:30:53,998 is to glorify Himself, 659 00:30:53,998 --> 00:30:56,909 to do what pleases Him and glorifies Him. 660 00:30:56,909 --> 00:30:58,507 Why did God create the world? 661 00:30:58,507 --> 00:31:00,879 He created it for His own glory. 662 00:31:00,879 --> 00:31:02,379 Why did He permit the fall? 663 00:31:02,379 --> 00:31:04,205 For His own glory. 664 00:31:04,205 --> 00:31:05,903 Why does He choose to save some? 665 00:31:05,903 --> 00:31:06,963 For His own glory. 666 00:31:06,963 --> 00:31:10,205 Why does He choose to leave some in their sins? 667 00:31:10,205 --> 00:31:12,975 For His own glory. 668 00:31:12,975 --> 00:31:14,073 Everything He does. 669 00:31:14,073 --> 00:31:15,543 Now what's God's glory? 670 00:31:15,543 --> 00:31:20,204 It's the manifestation of His excellencies. 671 00:31:20,204 --> 00:31:24,833 He creates the world to manifest His excellencies. 672 00:31:24,833 --> 00:31:27,754 He saves people in order to manifest His excellencies. 673 00:31:27,754 --> 00:31:30,114 He judges unrepentant sinners 674 00:31:30,114 --> 00:31:34,704 in order to manifest His excellencies. 675 00:31:34,704 --> 00:31:36,623 Now the Bible is full of these things 676 00:31:36,623 --> 00:31:38,352 and I'm not going to take the time. 677 00:31:38,352 --> 00:31:42,332 I actually have a lot of Scriptures 678 00:31:42,332 --> 00:31:43,755 that I could give you. 679 00:31:43,755 --> 00:31:45,713 I'll just give a few. 680 00:31:45,713 --> 00:31:47,374 I want to just look at three areas 681 00:31:47,374 --> 00:31:48,975 and just mention some Scriptures 682 00:31:48,975 --> 00:31:51,713 so you'll know that I'm not just saying these things. 683 00:31:51,713 --> 00:31:53,694 First of all, in the area of creation, 684 00:31:53,694 --> 00:31:54,724 why did God create? 685 00:31:54,724 --> 00:31:56,423 Well, let me give you some verses. 686 00:31:56,423 --> 00:31:59,203 Colossians 1:16-17. 687 00:31:59,203 --> 00:32:03,226 "All things have been created by Him 688 00:32:03,226 --> 00:32:05,786 and for Him." 689 00:32:05,786 --> 00:32:09,442 All things were created for Him. 690 00:32:09,442 --> 00:32:11,384 Now what does it mean, "for Him"? 691 00:32:11,384 --> 00:32:13,673 In order to meet some need that He has? 692 00:32:13,673 --> 00:32:16,182 No, He doesn't have any needs. 693 00:32:16,182 --> 00:32:18,762 Everything that is created is created 694 00:32:18,762 --> 00:32:20,782 for His good pleasure; 695 00:32:20,782 --> 00:32:22,101 in order to glorify Him, 696 00:32:22,101 --> 00:32:25,201 to bring glory to Him. 697 00:32:25,201 --> 00:32:27,863 Romans 11:36, 698 00:32:27,863 --> 00:32:31,441 "From Him, through Him, and to Him 699 00:32:31,441 --> 00:32:33,321 are all things." 700 00:32:33,321 --> 00:32:35,963 So all things not only came from Him 701 00:32:35,963 --> 00:32:38,754 and through Him, but they go back to Him. 702 00:32:38,754 --> 00:32:40,845 They're for His glory, for His pleasure. 703 00:32:40,845 --> 00:32:43,184 They exist for Him. 704 00:32:43,184 --> 00:32:45,946 Paul ends that in Romans 11, 705 00:32:45,946 --> 00:32:50,485 "To Him be the glory forever and ever." 706 00:32:50,485 --> 00:32:51,994 Psalm 19:1, 707 00:32:51,994 --> 00:32:56,404 "The heavens are telling the glory of God." 708 00:32:56,404 --> 00:32:57,765 (incomplete thought) 709 00:32:57,765 --> 00:33:00,102 They're manifesting His excellencies. 710 00:33:00,102 --> 00:33:01,194 Isn't that true? 711 00:33:01,194 --> 00:33:02,446 They do that all the time. 712 00:33:02,446 --> 00:33:04,673 They're doing what they were created to do. 713 00:33:04,673 --> 00:33:06,846 Daily, they do what they were created to do. 714 00:33:06,846 --> 00:33:08,115 Isaiah 6:3, 715 00:33:08,115 --> 00:33:11,664 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts, 716 00:33:11,664 --> 00:33:15,324 the whole earth is full of His glory." 717 00:33:15,324 --> 00:33:17,166 He created it to be full of His glory. 718 00:33:17,166 --> 00:33:20,906 He created the universe. 719 00:33:20,906 --> 00:33:23,066 Why would God create a universe 720 00:33:23,066 --> 00:33:27,203 that has a 15 billion light year radius? 721 00:33:27,203 --> 00:33:28,854 Why would He create such a big - 722 00:33:28,854 --> 00:33:30,875 I mean, He could have had it half that big 723 00:33:30,875 --> 00:33:33,214 or a third that big or a tenth, 724 00:33:33,214 --> 00:33:37,344 or a millionth that big. 725 00:33:37,344 --> 00:33:39,505 It would have still been big. 726 00:33:39,505 --> 00:33:41,946 But He wanted us to get some idea 727 00:33:41,946 --> 00:33:43,274 that He's an infinite God. 728 00:33:43,274 --> 00:33:45,574 You know, get a little bit of a glimpse 729 00:33:45,574 --> 00:33:46,495 of how big He is 730 00:33:46,495 --> 00:33:51,075 and I'm sure we haven't got to the end of it. 731 00:33:51,075 --> 00:33:53,045 The whole earth is full of His glory. 732 00:33:53,045 --> 00:33:57,804 That is, even the snowflakes 733 00:33:57,804 --> 00:34:00,035 and the spring flowers and all those things. 734 00:34:00,035 --> 00:34:03,095 They're manifesting His excellencies. 735 00:34:03,095 --> 00:34:05,033 Secondly in the area of salvation. 736 00:34:05,033 --> 00:34:07,465 Why does God graciously save people? 737 00:34:07,465 --> 00:34:10,750 Well, just a few verses on this. 738 00:34:10,750 --> 00:34:13,016 Not first of all for their own sake, 739 00:34:13,016 --> 00:34:14,275 but for His own glory. 740 00:34:14,275 --> 00:34:17,035 Isaiah 43:6-7, 741 00:34:17,035 --> 00:34:19,266 "Bring My sons from afar 742 00:34:19,266 --> 00:34:21,485 and My daughters from the ends of the earth, 743 00:34:21,485 --> 00:34:23,135 everyone who is called by My name 744 00:34:23,135 --> 00:34:27,424 and whom I have created for My glory." 745 00:34:27,424 --> 00:34:30,064 That's what happens when a person becomes a Christian. 746 00:34:30,064 --> 00:34:34,535 God creates someone as a Christian for His glory. 747 00:34:34,535 --> 00:34:37,676 Isaiah 44:23, 748 00:34:37,676 --> 00:34:39,154 "Shout for joy, O heavens, 749 00:34:39,154 --> 00:34:40,845 for the Lord has done it. 750 00:34:40,845 --> 00:34:43,426 Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth, 751 00:34:43,426 --> 00:34:45,704 break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, 752 00:34:45,704 --> 00:34:47,335 O forests and every tree in them, 753 00:34:47,335 --> 00:34:49,235 for the Lord has redeemed Jacob 754 00:34:49,235 --> 00:34:54,073 and in Israel He shows forth His glory." 755 00:34:54,073 --> 00:34:56,665 He shows forth His glory. 756 00:34:56,665 --> 00:34:59,574 Isaiah 61:3. 757 00:34:59,574 --> 00:35:04,494 He talks about the fact that we'll be called 758 00:35:04,494 --> 00:35:06,364 oaks of righteousness, 759 00:35:06,364 --> 00:35:07,946 the planting of the Lord 760 00:35:07,946 --> 00:35:10,654 that He may be glorified. 761 00:35:10,654 --> 00:35:14,556 In Ephesians 1 going right down through there, 762 00:35:14,556 --> 00:35:19,474 "to the praise of the glory of His grace." 763 00:35:19,474 --> 00:35:22,053 Over and over. 764 00:35:22,053 --> 00:35:24,393 Romans 9:23, "...In order that He might 765 00:35:24,393 --> 00:35:26,613 make known the riches of His glory 766 00:35:26,613 --> 00:35:28,303 upon vessels of mercy 767 00:35:28,303 --> 00:35:32,945 which He prepared beforehand for glory." 768 00:35:32,945 --> 00:35:34,115 Wonderful things! 769 00:35:34,115 --> 00:35:36,854 Why does God not cast us off and destroy us 770 00:35:36,854 --> 00:35:39,444 once we are converted? 771 00:35:39,444 --> 00:35:41,525 Well, for His own glory. 772 00:35:41,525 --> 00:35:42,923 Let me just read you one here 773 00:35:42,923 --> 00:35:48,333 out of Ezekiel 20. 774 00:35:48,333 --> 00:35:52,494 Ezekiel 20:13-14. He says, 775 00:35:52,494 --> 00:35:54,414 "The house of Israel rebelled against Me 776 00:35:54,414 --> 00:35:55,504 in the wilderness. 777 00:35:55,504 --> 00:35:57,375 They did not walk in My statutes, 778 00:35:57,375 --> 00:35:59,086 and they rejected My ordinances 779 00:35:59,086 --> 00:36:02,294 by which if man observes them, he will live. 780 00:36:02,294 --> 00:36:04,343 And My sabbaths they greatly profaned 781 00:36:04,343 --> 00:36:06,432 and then I resolved to pour out My wrath 782 00:36:06,432 --> 00:36:10,034 on them in the wilderness to annihilate them. 783 00:36:10,034 --> 00:36:14,846 But I acted for the sake of My name 784 00:36:14,846 --> 00:36:16,334 that it should not be profaned 785 00:36:16,334 --> 00:36:18,545 in the sight of the nations before whose sight 786 00:36:18,545 --> 00:36:19,813 I have brought them out." 787 00:36:19,813 --> 00:36:21,783 Now if He did that for Israel 788 00:36:21,783 --> 00:36:24,165 in the Old Testament, how much more 789 00:36:24,165 --> 00:36:26,235 will He do that for us? 790 00:36:26,235 --> 00:36:30,056 He says My name's tied up in you. 791 00:36:30,056 --> 00:36:33,146 I mean, that's why I've put up with you 792 00:36:33,146 --> 00:36:37,174 as long as I have. 793 00:36:37,174 --> 00:36:40,944 My name, My glory is tied up in you. 794 00:36:40,944 --> 00:36:42,325 Remember Ezekiel 36 - 795 00:36:42,325 --> 00:36:44,184 "Not for your sake, O Israel, 796 00:36:44,184 --> 00:36:46,465 not for your sake. 797 00:36:46,465 --> 00:36:49,733 For My own name's sake..." 798 00:36:49,733 --> 00:36:53,635 Listen to what the Psalmist prays in Psalm 79:9. 799 00:36:53,635 --> 00:36:56,944 "Help us, O God of our salvation!" 800 00:36:56,944 --> 00:36:58,674 Well, why should I? 801 00:36:58,674 --> 00:37:03,546 "For the glory of Thy name... 802 00:37:03,546 --> 00:37:08,344 and deliver us and forgive our sins 803 00:37:08,344 --> 00:37:10,665 for Thy name's sake." 804 00:37:10,665 --> 00:37:11,994 Isn't that amazing? 805 00:37:11,994 --> 00:37:14,597 We can even pray that way as Christians. 806 00:37:14,597 --> 00:37:16,145 Even when you've got sins 807 00:37:16,145 --> 00:37:18,054 that have got to be taken care of 808 00:37:18,054 --> 00:37:20,532 and you've got to be delivered. 809 00:37:20,532 --> 00:37:22,865 And when you need help. 810 00:37:22,865 --> 00:37:25,223 Help us, for the glory of Thy name. 811 00:37:25,223 --> 00:37:26,905 Do you realize God gets glory 812 00:37:26,905 --> 00:37:29,657 by helping miserable people like us? 813 00:37:29,657 --> 00:37:33,985 I mean, it's amazing! 814 00:37:33,985 --> 00:37:35,535 Thirdly in the area of judgment. 815 00:37:35,535 --> 00:37:38,605 Why does God bring judgment upon the wicked? 816 00:37:38,605 --> 00:37:40,416 For His own glory. 817 00:37:40,416 --> 00:37:43,334 Ezekiel 28:22, 818 00:37:43,334 --> 00:37:45,366 "Thus says the Lord God, 819 00:37:45,366 --> 00:37:47,925 behold, I am against you, O Sidon, 820 00:37:47,925 --> 00:37:51,795 and I shall be glorified in your midst. 821 00:37:51,795 --> 00:37:53,985 Then they will know that I am the Lord 822 00:37:53,985 --> 00:37:56,276 when I execute judgments in her 823 00:37:56,276 --> 00:38:00,984 and I shall manifest My holiness in her." 824 00:38:00,984 --> 00:38:02,686 It's a terrible thing when God 825 00:38:02,686 --> 00:38:08,175 has to glorify Himself in that way 826 00:38:08,175 --> 00:38:10,331 by pouring out judgment 827 00:38:10,331 --> 00:38:12,974 and manifesting His holiness. 828 00:38:12,974 --> 00:38:14,793 One more, Romans 9:17, 829 00:38:14,793 --> 00:38:16,846 the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 830 00:38:16,846 --> 00:38:20,323 for this very purpose, I raised you up, 831 00:38:20,323 --> 00:38:23,175 that I might show My power in you 832 00:38:23,175 --> 00:38:24,795 and that My name might be declared 833 00:38:24,795 --> 00:38:26,037 throughout all the earth. 834 00:38:26,037 --> 00:38:28,204 Here's this man and his pomp. 835 00:38:28,204 --> 00:38:30,107 And God says I just raised you up 836 00:38:30,107 --> 00:38:32,694 so that I could be glorified 837 00:38:32,694 --> 00:38:35,504 by putting you down. 838 00:38:35,504 --> 00:38:37,166 I mean, it takes a lot of the wind 839 00:38:37,166 --> 00:38:43,475 out of the sails of earthly rulers, doesn't it. 840 00:38:43,475 --> 00:38:45,525 I mean, Pharaoh thought he was God. 841 00:38:45,525 --> 00:38:50,295 He was the most powerful man in the world. 842 00:38:50,295 --> 00:38:53,715 God says I'm the one that raised you up. 843 00:38:53,715 --> 00:38:56,574 "What if God although willing to demonstrate 844 00:38:56,574 --> 00:38:58,665 (this is verse 22 of Romans 9), 845 00:38:58,665 --> 00:39:00,944 willing to demonstrate His wrath 846 00:39:00,944 --> 00:39:03,607 and make His power known." 847 00:39:03,607 --> 00:39:06,075 You see, manifesting. Manifesting. 848 00:39:06,075 --> 00:39:08,856 The manifestation of His excellencies. 849 00:39:08,856 --> 00:39:12,165 His wrath - that's one of His excellencies? Yes it is. 850 00:39:12,165 --> 00:39:13,685 A God without wrath 851 00:39:13,685 --> 00:39:17,095 would be a wicked God. 852 00:39:17,095 --> 00:39:18,575 Anyone who can see, 853 00:39:18,575 --> 00:39:20,406 even to see the atrocities 854 00:39:20,406 --> 00:39:22,216 that we've seen in our lives. 855 00:39:22,216 --> 00:39:26,336 I stood there at the ovens in Dachau. 856 00:39:26,336 --> 00:39:28,945 I've been there a couple times. 857 00:39:28,945 --> 00:39:31,984 I don't know how many people died there, 858 00:39:31,984 --> 00:39:33,973 but at Auschwitz they said 859 00:39:33,973 --> 00:39:37,604 16,000 pounds of women's hair. 860 00:39:37,604 --> 00:39:39,823 Suppose a god could look at that 861 00:39:39,823 --> 00:39:43,196 and just say it doesn't matter. 862 00:39:43,196 --> 00:39:44,544 You see, the wrath of God - 863 00:39:44,544 --> 00:39:48,695 that's one of His glorious excellencies. 864 00:39:48,695 --> 00:39:51,153 He hates wickedness. 865 00:39:51,153 --> 00:39:55,165 He is so pure and holy and good 866 00:39:55,165 --> 00:39:57,451 that He despises and loathes - 867 00:39:57,451 --> 00:40:00,744 His wrath burns against wickedness. 868 00:40:00,744 --> 00:40:04,143 So he says God is willing to show His wrath 869 00:40:04,143 --> 00:40:06,482 and make His power known. 870 00:40:06,482 --> 00:40:08,653 He endures with much long-suffering 871 00:40:08,653 --> 00:40:11,233 the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. 872 00:40:11,233 --> 00:40:12,674 Why? That He might make known 873 00:40:12,674 --> 00:40:18,074 the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy 874 00:40:18,074 --> 00:40:22,973 which He afore prepared unto glory. 875 00:40:22,973 --> 00:40:27,266 I better quit. I'm getting my words mixed up here. 876 00:40:27,266 --> 00:40:28,975 And I'm ready to quit. 877 00:40:28,975 --> 00:40:33,094 In closing, you understand 878 00:40:33,094 --> 00:40:36,134 that for a man to seek his own glory 879 00:40:36,134 --> 00:40:38,117 is a selfish and a low thing, 880 00:40:38,117 --> 00:40:41,005 but because God is infinitely worthy, 881 00:40:41,005 --> 00:40:43,946 for Him to act for His own glory 882 00:40:43,946 --> 00:40:46,167 is the only reasonable and right thing 883 00:40:46,167 --> 00:40:47,995 for Him to do. 884 00:40:47,995 --> 00:40:49,945 And we shouldn't think of this 885 00:40:49,945 --> 00:40:52,175 in some sort of contrived 886 00:40:52,175 --> 00:40:53,436 and unnatural way, 887 00:40:53,436 --> 00:40:54,916 like God's got to think through 888 00:40:54,916 --> 00:40:56,087 what am I going to do now? 889 00:40:56,087 --> 00:40:57,606 I want to do something for My own glory. 890 00:40:57,606 --> 00:40:59,585 That's not the way it is. 891 00:40:59,585 --> 00:41:02,295 God acting for His own glory 892 00:41:02,295 --> 00:41:05,375 is just God being Himself. 893 00:41:05,375 --> 00:41:07,815 It's just God doing what comes naturally. 894 00:41:07,815 --> 00:41:09,584 What could bring more glory to God 895 00:41:09,584 --> 00:41:12,985 than for God to just be who He is? 896 00:41:12,985 --> 00:41:16,336 And so this is not some kind of contrived thing? 897 00:41:16,336 --> 00:41:20,074 And that's why you can say, 898 00:41:20,074 --> 00:41:22,375 why does God save His people? 899 00:41:22,375 --> 00:41:24,635 He saves them for His own glory. 900 00:41:24,635 --> 00:41:26,293 You can also say He saves them 901 00:41:26,293 --> 00:41:29,802 because of the great love with which He loved them. 902 00:41:29,802 --> 00:41:31,795 They're not in contradiction at all. 903 00:41:31,795 --> 00:41:33,304 It's just God being who He is. 904 00:41:33,304 --> 00:41:37,425 He really does love His people. 905 00:41:37,425 --> 00:41:39,315 It's not some cold mechanical thing: 906 00:41:39,315 --> 00:41:41,234 "I think I'll save them. 907 00:41:41,234 --> 00:41:42,864 I don't really want to, 908 00:41:42,864 --> 00:41:44,214 but because of My glory, 909 00:41:44,214 --> 00:41:46,363 it would bring more glory..." That isn't it. 910 00:41:46,363 --> 00:41:49,746 Because of His great love with which He loved us 911 00:41:49,746 --> 00:41:53,055 even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, 912 00:41:53,055 --> 00:41:55,055 He raised us up. 913 00:41:55,055 --> 00:41:56,739 And you can say just as well 914 00:41:56,739 --> 00:42:00,046 He saved them according to His great wisdom. 915 00:42:00,046 --> 00:42:02,246 You see, every one of those things is true. 916 00:42:02,246 --> 00:42:04,467 God is one. 917 00:42:04,467 --> 00:42:07,066 And there's perfect harmony within Himself. 918 00:42:07,066 --> 00:42:10,947 So the most glorious display of God's glory 919 00:42:10,947 --> 00:42:13,494 is just God being Himself. 920 00:42:13,494 --> 00:42:16,555 But we've got to be clear on this. 921 00:42:16,555 --> 00:42:22,185 The universe does not revolve around man. 922 00:42:22,185 --> 00:42:24,115 I mean, if anything ought to be clear 923 00:42:24,115 --> 00:42:27,306 from just what we've looked at so far 924 00:42:27,306 --> 00:42:30,233 is that this little rebellious 925 00:42:30,233 --> 00:42:32,975 defiled speck of dust, 926 00:42:32,975 --> 00:42:36,226 finer than the dust in the balances 927 00:42:36,226 --> 00:42:40,924 that's called man is not the center of reality. 928 00:42:40,924 --> 00:42:44,234 And that, as I said, the fact that God is God 929 00:42:44,234 --> 00:42:47,076 or that God is infinitely worthy 930 00:42:47,076 --> 00:42:50,465 permeates all of reality. 931 00:42:50,465 --> 00:42:53,396 And Lord willing, that's what we're going to be looking at 932 00:42:53,396 --> 00:42:56,295 in the next session.