Embracing God's Sovereignty and Glory in Worship

 

Summary

In this sermon, the focus is on the sovereignty and glory of God, as revealed through the vision of Christ in Revelation and the doxology in Romans 11:36. The sovereignty of Christ is emphasized as a comforting truth for believers, highlighting that He is not only the majestic ruler but also the sacrificial Lamb who understands our struggles and reigns with compassion and authority. This vision of Christ as both Lion and Lamb serves as a reminder of His ultimate sacrifice and His exalted position, where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess His lordship.

The sermon also explores the nature of worship, drawing from the heavenly worship depicted in Revelation 4 and 5. Worship is described as a transformative experience that lifts believers from earthly concerns to the realm of God's glory and grace. It is a reminder that Jesus reigns and that our trials are not in vain, as He is intimately aware of our pain and is in control of all things.

The sermon transitions to a discussion of God's intrinsic and ascribed glory, as articulated in Romans 11:36. God's intrinsic glory is the sum of His divine perfections and acts, which are unchanging and eternal. In contrast, ascribed glory is the praise and worship that believers offer to God in response to His intrinsic glory. The sermon emphasizes that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him, underscoring God's sovereignty over creation, history, and salvation.

The ultimate purpose of all things is the glory of God, and believers are called to live for His glory, recognizing that everything in life is secondary to this primary purpose. The sermon concludes with a call to respond to God's sovereignty and glory with heartfelt worship and adoration, acknowledging that our lives are to be centered around His glory.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Sovereignty of Christ: Christ's sovereignty is not just about His power but also His love and sacrifice. He reigns as both Lion and Lamb, bearing the marks of His sacrifice, reminding us of His deep understanding of our struggles and His ultimate authority over all things. [39:26]

2. Transformative Worship: Worship is a means of transcending earthly concerns and entering into the presence of God's glory. It is a reminder that Jesus reigns and that our trials are not in vain, as He is intimately aware of our pain and is in control of all things. [41:07]

3. God's Intrinsic Glory: God's intrinsic glory is the sum of His divine perfections and acts, which are unchanging and eternal. This glory is not dependent on human recognition but is inherent to God's nature and being. [56:18]

4. Ascribed Glory: Ascribed glory is the praise and worship that believers offer to God in response to His intrinsic glory. It is a recognition of God's sovereignty and a call to live for His glory, acknowledging that everything in life is secondary to this primary purpose. [57:07]

5. Living for God's Glory: The ultimate purpose of all things is the glory of God. Believers are called to live for His glory, recognizing that everything in life is secondary to this primary purpose. This understanding should lead to a life of worship and adoration, centered around God's glory. [51:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [38:51] - The Sovereignty of Christ
- [39:09] - Lion and Lamb Imagery
- [39:47] - Christ's Humility and Exaltation
- [40:30] - Vision of Yahweh in Christ
- [41:07] - Worship and Transcendence
- [41:52] - Jesus Reigns Forever
- [42:24] - Understanding Our Pain
- [42:40] - Doxology and God's Holiness
- [44:20] - Template for Worship
- [45:02] - Calvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper
- [46:18] - Majesty of Christ's Throne
- [49:05] - Romans 11:36 Doxology
- [51:03] - Living for God's Glory
- [56:18] - Intrinsic Glory of God
- [57:07] - Ascribed Glory and Worship
- [59:12] - Comprehensive View of God's Sovereignty
- [01:25:08] - To Him Be the Glory Forever

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 4-5
2. Romans 11:33-36

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Observation Questions:

1. In Revelation 5, how is Christ depicted, and what significance do the images of the Lion and the Lamb hold in the context of His sovereignty? [39:09]

2. According to Romans 11:36, what are the three prepositional phrases that describe God's relationship to all things, and what do they imply about His sovereignty? [49:33]

3. How does the sermon describe the nature of worship as depicted in Revelation 4 and 5, and what is its transformative effect on believers? [41:07]

4. What is the difference between God's intrinsic glory and ascribed glory as explained in the sermon? [56:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the dual imagery of Christ as both Lion and Lamb in Revelation 5 provide comfort and assurance to believers facing trials? [39:26]

2. In what ways does the understanding of God's intrinsic glory, as described in Romans 11:36, challenge or affirm your current view of God's nature? [56:18]

3. How does the concept of ascribed glory, where believers offer praise in response to God's intrinsic glory, influence the way worship is conducted in your church? [57:07]

4. What does it mean for believers to live for God's glory, and how does this understanding shape their daily lives and decisions? [51:03]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent trial or struggle. How does the knowledge of Christ's sovereignty as both Lion and Lamb change your perspective on that situation? [39:26]

2. Worship is described as a transformative experience. How can you intentionally prepare your heart and mind for worship to experience this transformation more fully? [41:07]

3. Consider the idea that God's intrinsic glory is unchanging and eternal. How does this truth impact your trust in God during uncertain times? [56:18]

4. Ascribed glory involves offering praise to God. What are some practical ways you can incorporate more praise and worship into your daily routine? [57:07]

5. The sermon emphasizes living for God's glory as the ultimate purpose. Identify one area of your life where you can more intentionally align your actions with this purpose. [51:03]

6. How can the understanding that all things are from, through, and to God help you find peace in the midst of life's chaos? [49:33]

7. Reflect on your current worship practices. What changes can you make to ensure that your worship is more centered on God's glory rather than personal preferences or traditions? [41:07]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Sovereignty as Lion and Lamb
Christ's sovereignty is a profound truth that encompasses both His majestic power and His sacrificial love. As the Lion, He reigns with authority and might, yet as the Lamb, He bears the marks of His sacrifice, reminding us of His deep understanding of our struggles. This dual imagery of Christ as both Lion and Lamb serves as a powerful reminder of His ultimate authority over all things and His compassionate reign. Believers can find comfort in knowing that Christ, who understands their pain, is in control and reigns with both justice and mercy. [39:26]

Revelation 5:5-6 (ESV): "And one of the elders said to me, 'Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.' And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace both the power and the compassion of Christ in your daily life, especially when facing personal struggles or challenges?


Day 2: Worship as a Gateway to God's Presence
Worship is not merely a ritual but a transformative experience that elevates believers from earthly concerns to the realm of God's glory and grace. It serves as a reminder that Jesus reigns supreme and that our trials are not in vain, as He is intimately aware of our pain and is in control of all things. Through worship, believers are invited to transcend their immediate circumstances and enter into the presence of God, where they can find peace and assurance in His sovereignty. [41:07]

Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV): "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice."

Reflection: How can you make your personal worship time more intentional and transformative, allowing it to lift you into the presence of God's glory and grace?


Day 3: The Unchanging Glory of God
God's intrinsic glory is the sum of His divine perfections and acts, which are unchanging and eternal. This glory is inherent to God's nature and being, independent of human recognition or praise. It is a reminder that God's glory is not contingent upon our acknowledgment but is a fundamental aspect of who He is. As believers, recognizing God's intrinsic glory invites us to marvel at His divine nature and to respond with awe and reverence. [56:18]

Isaiah 42:8 (ESV): "I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's intrinsic glory in your daily life, and how might this awareness change the way you approach your relationship with Him?


Day 4: Offering Praise as Ascribed Glory
Ascribed glory is the praise and worship that believers offer to God in response to His intrinsic glory. It is an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and a call to live for His glory, recognizing that everything in life is secondary to this primary purpose. By ascribing glory to God, believers participate in a divine exchange, where their worship becomes a reflection of God's eternal glory. This act of worship is both a privilege and a responsibility, calling believers to live lives that honor and glorify God. [57:07]

1 Chronicles 16:28-29 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

Reflection: How can you intentionally ascribe glory to God in your daily actions and decisions, ensuring that your life reflects His sovereignty and grace?


Day 5: Living a Life Centered on God's Glory
The ultimate purpose of all things is the glory of God, and believers are called to live for His glory, recognizing that everything in life is secondary to this primary purpose. This understanding should lead to a life of worship and adoration, centered around God's glory. By prioritizing God's glory in all aspects of life, believers align themselves with His divine purpose and find fulfillment in living according to His will. [51:03]

Colossians 1:16 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to ensure that your life is centered around the glory of God, and how might this shift in focus impact your daily choices and interactions?

Quotes

"it's the sovereignty of one who loves you it's the sovereignty of one who seeks you it's the sovereignty of one who provides for you it's the sovereignty of the one who keeps you it's the sovereignty of the one who is willing to lay down his life for you" [00:38:40]

"this worship that we engage in here below on sunday mornings when when a minister says let us worship god and you take up that first hymn or psalm and you are transported to another realm and the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace" [00:41:07]

"worthy are you oh lord our god to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created and there are many other and if you've got a an edition of the bible that has uh those those parts that are sung uh in in in verse form" [00:43:46]

"this is a template this is a temp this is how worship should be full of god full of christ exalting his attributes confirming his power and control reminding us that here we have no continuing city but we seek one which is to come as builder and maker is god" [00:44:20]

"and when you commune with him several hundred feet away perhaps from the throne but his throne is full of majesty and it can do nothing but still your soul and remind you that all things all things work together for the good of those who love you" [00:46:18]

"for from him and through him and to him are all things to god be the glory forever amen in this last verse we see that the highest end for which all things exist is the glory of god nothing rises to a higher level of importance than the glory of god" [00:51:03]

"god's intrinsic glory is the sum and the substance of all that god is and all that god does it is the the holy being of god that is his intrinsic glory it is the sum of all his divine perfections it is the sum of all of the attributes of god" [00:56:18]

"this is the glory that we are to give to god this is the glory that we are to ascribe to god this is the praise and the worship and and the honor that we are to to give to god we are to ascribe to him the glory and a ascribed glory" [00:57:07]

"and come back to romans 11 and verse 36 i'm not hearing enough pages turn don't make me beg romans 11 36 now here's the second half of the verse to him be the glory forever amen this is the only right response there can be to the truth of what we just walked through" [01:25:08]

"the purpose of sound doctrine is to transform our lives and to lead us into the worship of almighty god and that is how paul responds here this is the only possible response that there could be in paul it is the only possible response that there could be in my heart and in your heart" [01:28:38]

"eternity will not be long enough to give god the proper praise that belongs to him it will take forever and will still never come to the end of the glory that we should be ascribing to god and to god alone so how should we respond well not the last word amen" [01:31:53]

"this is big god theology this is a breathtaking view of god and so i will give martin lloyd jones the last word as he taught through the book of romans on friday evenings at westminster chapel when he came to this text verse 36 when he came to the end of the message" [01:34:00]

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Transcript
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