1After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
2Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 5Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7The first creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
9When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!”
Avodah - Worship is a Lifestyle
Revelation 4
8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One,[b] to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!”
In this chapter, John offers a glimpse of heaven. There is much speculation as to who the angels, elders, and others are. But the focus of the passage is seeing the worship that goes on in heaven. The word “worship” is a combination of familiar words. It is built on the word “worthy”. When we see worship, it might help to think of it as “worthy-ship”. This is giving acclaim and praise to Him who is worthy of all praise. And who is worthy of all of our praise? That’s an easy one. It is He who created us and gives us purpose. But how can we truly worship God? I believe the secret is in shifting our focus. We shift the focus from ourselves onto another. I have heard it said that the cure for narcissism is Savior worship. Worship begins when we move our attention beyond ourselves onto the God who made the universe. As mentioned, the English word comes from an old Anglo-Saxon conglomeration of two words focused on “worthy.” Perhaps we might render “worship” as “Gazing or focusing on that which you find to be most worthy and holy”, and that is none other than Jesus. He made you. He made me. And He made everything around us.
Worship is one of the activities you do now that you’ll do when you get into heaven. Worship happens when we get our eyes off ourselves and onto God. It involves the emotion and the mind. Worship occurs when we declare the truths of God. Worship occurs when we think on His character. Worship is not working yourself up into a frenzy as the ancient pagans did. Worship is simply getting your mind OFF of yourself and ON HIM. So, are we to sit around all day just trying in some way to get our minds on Him? The secret answer to that is in the Hebrew word for worship. It is avodah.
Avodah is a Hebrew word that means worship, service, or labor. God is telling us in this word that real worship happens in all kinds of places and circumstances. It happens in service, and it happens in the labor and work that you do. It is a lifestyle. But it always involves getting the focus and attention off of ourselves and onto Him. As Brother Lawrence taught us, we can worship whether we’re doing the dishes, digging in the garden, reading our Bible, or lying prostrate before the Lord, giving Him praise and honor. When we do what we do for His glory, that is worship. When we do physical or mental work for His glory, that is worship. Reader, if you desire to enter into His presence with worship and praise, do whatever you’re supposed to be doing this day, and do it as unto Him. Be conscious and aware that He is watching you and that He delights in you.