Glorifying God: Joining the Heavenly Chorus Daily

 

Summary

In our daily lives, it's easy to become self-centered, focusing on our own needs and desires. However, each day is a gift from God, a reminder that we are here for a purpose beyond ourselves. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Brazil, where I was invited to speak at a conference. The theme of my talk was ensuring that God receives all the glory. During this time, I felt a strong prompting from the Lord to focus on Revelation 4, which describes the heavenly scene where angels continuously proclaim, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

This divine chorus is not monotonous or boring; it is a profound act of worship that the angels were created to perform. They do this day and night, without ceasing, because it pleases God. It struck me how often we approach worship with a consumer mindset, critiquing the songs or the experience based on our personal preferences. But worship is not about us; it is about God. It is about joining the heavenly chorus and lifting His name above all else.

During the conference, I invited everyone to join in this angelic chorus, to spend time simply declaring God's holiness. The response was overwhelming. Thousands of voices in Portuguese lifted up the name of the Lord, and the atmosphere was electric with genuine worship. It was a powerful reminder that our worship is not for our own satisfaction but for God's glory.

Imagine if we started each day by joining this heavenly chorus. What if the first words from our lips each morning were, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty"? This simple act can transform our perspective, reminding us that life is not about us but about glorifying God. I've been encouraged by the feedback from Brazil, where many have adopted this practice, starting their days with this declaration of God's holiness.

Key Takeaways:

1. Daily Recognition of God's Gift: Each day is a gift from God, a reminder that we are here for a purpose beyond ourselves. Recognizing this can shift our focus from self-centeredness to a life of gratitude and purpose. [00:10]

2. The Essence of Worship: Worship is not about our preferences or satisfaction; it is about glorifying God. The angels' continuous praise in Revelation 4 serves as a model for us to follow, reminding us that worship is for God's pleasure, not ours. [03:01]

3. Joining the Heavenly Chorus: By joining the heavenly chorus and declaring God's holiness, we align ourselves with the purpose for which we were created. This act of worship can transform our daily lives, focusing our hearts on God's glory. [04:10]

4. Transforming Our Mornings: Starting each day with a declaration of God's holiness can change our perspective, reminding us that life is not about us but about glorifying God. This practice can set the tone for a day centered on God's purpose. [04:27]

5. Community in Worship: When we come together in worship, lifting God's name above all else, we experience a powerful sense of unity and purpose. This collective act of worship can inspire and encourage us to live lives that glorify God. [04:43]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Recognizing Daily Gifts
[00:30] - Brazil Conference Experience
[00:51] - Revelation 4 and Heavenly Worship
[01:09] - The Angelic Chorus
[01:23] - Joining the Angels in Praise
[01:58] - The Power of Unified Worship
[02:16] - Misconceptions About Worship
[03:01] - Worship is for God
[03:39] - The Purpose of Worship
[03:55] - Encouragement to Join the Chorus
[04:10] - Transforming Our Mornings
[04:27] - Lifting God's Name
[04:43] - Community Feedback and Impact

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Revelation 4:8-11

Observation Questions:
1. What is the central theme of the heavenly scene described in Revelation 4, and how do the angels participate in it?
2. How did the pastor describe the reaction of the conference attendees in Brazil when they joined in the angelic chorus? [01:58]
3. What does the pastor suggest about our typical approach to worship, and how does it contrast with the angelic worship in Revelation 4? [03:01]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the continuous praise of the angels in Revelation 4 be seen as monotonous to some, and what does this reveal about human perspectives on worship? [02:31]
2. How does the pastor's experience in Brazil illustrate the power of unified worship, and what impact did it have on the participants? [04:43]
3. What does the pastor mean when he suggests starting each day by joining the heavenly chorus, and how might this practice transform one's daily life? [04:10]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own approach to worship. Do you find yourself critiquing the experience based on personal preferences? How can you shift your focus to glorifying God instead? [03:01]
2. Consider the idea of starting each day with a declaration of God's holiness. How might this practice change your perspective and priorities throughout the day? [04:27]
3. The pastor received feedback from Brazil about people adopting the practice of morning declarations. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine, and what challenges might you face in doing so? [04:43]
4. Think about a recent worship experience. How did it align with the idea of joining the heavenly chorus? What steps can you take to make your worship more about God's glory and less about personal satisfaction? [01:23]
5. In what ways can you encourage your community or small group to engage in unified worship that focuses on lifting God's name above all else? [04:43]
6. How can you remind yourself daily that life is not about you but about glorifying God? What practical steps can you take to keep this perspective at the forefront of your mind? [04:27]
7. Reflect on the pastor's statement about using our lips to lift up God's name. How can you be more intentional in your speech and actions to glorify God in your everyday life? [04:27]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Each Day as a Divine Gift
Each day is a unique gift from God, reminding us of our purpose beyond self-centered desires. By acknowledging this, we shift our focus from our own needs to a life filled with gratitude and purpose. This perspective encourages us to see each moment as an opportunity to serve and glorify God, rather than merely seeking personal satisfaction. When we start our day with this mindset, we open ourselves to the divine purpose God has for us, allowing His presence to guide our actions and decisions. [00:10]

"Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin your day tomorrow with a mindset of gratitude, recognizing it as a gift from God? What specific actions can you take to align your day with His purpose?


Day 2: Worship Beyond Preferences
Worship is an act of glorifying God, not a means to satisfy personal preferences. The angels in Revelation 4 provide a model of continuous praise, reminding us that worship is for God's pleasure. Often, we approach worship with a consumer mindset, critiquing the experience based on our likes and dislikes. However, true worship requires us to set aside our preferences and focus solely on lifting God's name above all else. By doing so, we align ourselves with the heavenly chorus, participating in a profound act of worship that transcends our personal desires. [03:01]

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" (Psalm 95:6, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your approach to worship. How can you shift your focus from personal preferences to glorifying God in your worship practices?


Day 3: Aligning with the Heavenly Chorus
Joining the heavenly chorus by declaring God's holiness aligns us with our created purpose. This act of worship transforms our daily lives, focusing our hearts on God's glory. When we participate in this divine chorus, we are reminded of the eternal nature of God's holiness and our role in proclaiming it. This alignment with the heavenly chorus not only enriches our worship experience but also deepens our relationship with God, as we continually lift His name above all else. [04:10]

"And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'" (Isaiah 6:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the practice of declaring God's holiness into your daily routine? What impact do you think this will have on your relationship with God?


Day 4: Transforming Mornings with Holiness
Starting each day with a declaration of God's holiness can transform our perspective, reminding us that life is about glorifying God. This simple practice sets the tone for a day centered on God's purpose, shifting our focus from ourselves to His divine plan. By beginning our mornings with this declaration, we invite God's presence into our day, allowing His holiness to guide our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. This transformation of our mornings can lead to a deeper sense of peace and purpose throughout the day. [04:27]

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." (Psalm 143:8, ESV)

Reflection: What specific words or phrases can you use to declare God's holiness each morning? How might this practice influence your daily interactions and decisions?


Day 5: Experiencing Unity in Worship
When we come together in worship, lifting God's name above all else, we experience a powerful sense of unity and purpose. This collective act of worship not only glorifies God but also strengthens our community, inspiring us to live lives that reflect His glory. By joining with others in worship, we are reminded of the shared purpose we have as believers, encouraging one another to pursue a life centered on God's will. This unity in worship can have a profound impact on our spiritual growth and the way we engage with the world around us. [04:43]

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your community's worship to foster a sense of unity and shared purpose? What steps can you take to encourage others to join in this collective act of glorifying God?

Quotes

"we don't wake up and just think about ourselves we wake up and recognize I actually woke up that means someone's giving me another day of life man in in fact uh this I'm all over the place today God taught me so much and uh but last last weekend I was in Brazil any Brazilians here no oh you got one" [00:00:00]

"and uh but I just felt led by the Lord like because they gave me this topic on one of my talks on uh making sure God gets all the glory and we just started uh just felt like God wanted me to read uh Revelation 4 describing that scene in heaven and then those angels that day and night never cease to say holy holy" [00:00:42]

"and is to come and I really believe that God didn't want me to preach anymore uh that he just wanted us to spend the next half of my talk the next 25 minutes saying holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was was and is and is to come in Portuguese and I said does that disappoint you that I fly all the way" [00:01:12]

"from America and what we're going to do for the next 25 minutes is we're just going to join that chorus of the angels and just say holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come and so you had thousands of people in Portuguese son Santo Santo to you know just I'm saying it wrong but" [00:01:38]

"you know just it's getting louder we're screaming we're jumping up and down we're running all over the place just screaming those words you know because I'm saying these angels man they were made for that that's what God made them God wanted them to do that day and night you know like he he made them and and" [00:02:07]

"and some of us hear that what day and nights are they're doing it right now and they're doing it last night when I went to bed honestly some of us hear that and we go gosh that seems a little monotonous that seems boring I don't know if I could do that you know because we don't even like to sing the same worship songs two weeks" [00:02:31]

"and it hit me that is one of the stupidest sentences you could ever say I I didn't really like the worship think about that did it ever occur to you that we weren't worshipping you like did it ever occur to you that we don't really care did it you in your own mind did you think man what is" [00:03:05]

"worship and the God isn't he the one we're trying to please and I was telling him you know in conferen we need this B and then this man we got have about four or five different bands why because of you not because of him he made these angels to say this over and over and over and he likes it" [00:03:36]

"we know he likes it so I said let's do it and the place we were just going nuts I mean we went beyond our time we just didn't even want to stop and I just encouraged them I said hey what if we roll out of bed every morning and join them what if those are the first words out of our" [00:04:02]

"lips you know it's just to wake up and go oh yeah it's not about me let me join in that chorus and stare at that throne and just say holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come because that's what I use my lips for is to lift up his name and not my" [00:04:19]

"own and and so it's just been cool getting these emails from people in Brazil just saying yeah I do that every morning now you know we get together and that's just what we say um it's just so cool" [00:04:37]

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Transcript
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