Turn to Revelation chapter 5.
Revelation chapter 5. The first time I spoke, if you can call it that, at 13th
Street, back during the preacher school, I preached 10 minutes. Longest 10 minutes of my life. I thought I was never going to
get down. It was so stressful. Here I am all these years later,
and the thing that amazes me is that I still believe the gospel.
I'm still here preaching it. That's amazing. You know, it
says over in 1 Corinthians, it says, For ye
see your calling, brethren, And let us never forget this, how
that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not
many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise. And God has chosen
the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty. And base things of the world and things which are
despised has God chosen. Yea, and things which are not
to bring to naught things that are. And never is that more evident
than when one of those chosen vessels stands here and preaches.
One of those clay pots. He put this in earthen vessels. You're not going to hear Gabriel
this morning. You're not going to hear Michael.
You're going to hear a sinner saved by the grace of God. Just
here to tell you, as Samuel said, go and tell what the Lord has
done for you. What great things, what great things the Lord has
done for you. And I pray that God will enable
me to do this. And I told my wife, I said, when
I get about 30 minutes into it, wink at me. Now don't all of
you turn around and watch her. You know, pay attention. But
sometimes we forget when to stop. But over here in Revelations
chapter 5, and when I was asked to do this and I sat down and
started thinking about a message, this worthy is the lamb. Could there be a more appropriate
title? Worthy is the Lamb. Here in this chapter we are given
a glimpse into heaven. The curtain is pulled back a
little bit here and think about what's happening here. Here we
sit and God is allowing us a little glimpse into heaven and to see
and to hear what's going on. We are allowed to do this. And
the focal point there is centered on the Lamb of God. It is absolutely
centered on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the praise of heaven. Jesus Christ is the praise of
heaven. He is worshiped there. Think
about this. Jesus Christ is worshipped there
as he ought to be worshipped. I pray he enable us this morning
to worship him as much as possible while we're still in this flesh.
But there he's worshipped with perfect worship, perfect adoration,
perfect praise, and he's the center of it. He's the center
of it. Back there in chapter 4, verse
11, John saw the sovereignty of God in creation. He says in
verse 11, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and
power, for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure
they are and were created. We are created for His pleasure,
whether lost or saved. We are created, all things are
created by Him and for Him. Everything that exists exists
because of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ created all things
and all things belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm glad it's
so. I'm glad it's so. Now John says
in verse 1, I saw in the right hand of Him by what He saw. I saw in the right hand of him,
he saw him that sat on the throne, a book written within and on
the backside sealed with seven seals. John saw him who sits
on the throne and rules over all things. There is absolutely
nothing that is not under the rule and dominion and reign of
Jesus Christ. I mean from the fly that flies
in the air to the king that sits on the throne. Everything is
dictated and directed by our Lord. Doesn't that make you feel
good? That's comforting. That enables me to sleep at night,
not the locks on my doors. It's the Lord on His throne.
It's the Lord on His throne. That's what enables me to sleep
at night. Scripture says in Psalm 115.3,
but our God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever He hath
pleased. But let us never forget that
this throne, that John Saul, this throne of sovereignty, this
throne of power, is also a throne of grace. Or John wouldn't be
there, nor that 10,000 times 10,000 thousands. They wouldn't
be there either if it were not a throne of grace. Grace. Now John's attention is drawn
to the book that is in the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. It's a very important book. Written
in this book are the decrees of God, the eternal decree of
God, the eternal purpose of God. That's what's written in this
book. Every name of every redeemed sinner is written in this book. That's an important book. And
his attention is drawn to this book. And this book is a complete
book. It says it's written within and
on the backside and sealed with seven seals. There are no mistakes
in this book. There's no mistakes in it. There
are no mistakes in this book. There's not one mistake in this
book. There's not one error in this book. And there's no mistakes
in the books John's speaking of here. There's no blank pages
in it. There are no fillers. There's
no fillers in it. Just like in this book, there's
no fillers in it. It is complete. It's perfect. It contains the
whole counsel of God in this book. And John says, I saw a
strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice. And what's going
to happen here is John's going to realize his own unworthiness
and the unworthiness and the inability of anyone to step forward
and take this book, open it up, and reveal what's in it, make
it happen. You're gonna see it in chapter
six, the first verses. You'll see that when the Lord
takes that book, the lamb, that's when things begin to happen,
when he takes the book. But John says, I saw a strong
angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open
the book, who is fit to open the book and to loose the seals
thereof. And John realizes he's not. He's
not worthy. John knows he dare not approach
that throne without a mediator. And all the saints that are there,
they know not to approach that throne without a mediator. They're
not gonna go up and take that book. The angel's voice, it goes
throughout all time and no one steps forward. None of the redeemed
step forward. No angel steps forward. Not one
person dare approach that throne. Not one. Who is fit? That's what the call is. Who
is fit to take the book and reveal its contents? Who has the wisdom?
Who has the wisdom Who has the holiness? Who has the knowledge
to open this book and make it known? Who has that? Well, the
answer is this, no man in heaven. He gives us the answer. No man
in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to
open the book, neither to look thereon. The search was thorough. It was thorough. None found. None found. It looked like absolute
failure. That's what it looked like. Nobody
stepped forward. All looks hopeless. And I have
no doubt John felt his own unworthiness here as he stood and that cry
goes out and no one steps forward. No one. Scripture says, who has
known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his counselor?
Let him step forward. If you've known the mind, the
secret things of God, if you know that, step forward. You
can't do it. You can't do it. And I wet much. John says, I wet much. Or allowed, allowed, uncontrollable. Uncontrollable. You know, I wish
I would weep like that just when I read this book. I wish when
I read this book that I could weep before God and ask him,
open this book. Open your word. Christ is the
key of knowledge and without him I cannot know this. This
book here is a closed book until he opens it. And I wish, I would
to God that I had a heart that I could weep for God to open
this book to me, his word to me, as John did here. John said,
I wept much. I wept aloud because no man was
found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon
are the decrees of God forever sealed. John wanted to know the
mind and will of God. Do you? I do. I know you do too. I know you do. I want to know
it. Well, one of the elders said
unto me, weep not. Weep not. Behold, the lion of
the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open
the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. One of the elders,
one who has been redeemed by the blood of the lamb, a man
and not an angel, one who had experienced what he was talking
about, he says to John, Weep not. Weep not. There's good news. There's good
news. And it's the same good news that
we heard last night. There is one worthy. We heard
some good news last night. My heart was lifted. I heard
some good news last night. I heard of one who's able. I've
heard of one who's able to save sinners like me. a wretch like
me." He says, weep not, weep not. Behold, the Lion of the tribe
of Judah hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven
seals thereof. John, let your tears of sorrow
become tears of joy, because the Lion hath prevailed. And
he calls him a lion here because of his power and his courage. He is the King of Kings and Lord
of Lords. We really are under a theocracy,
aren't we? I live, as I said in the sermon
last week, we live in a democracy. But I am under a theocracy. Jesus
Christ is my King. That is a reality. We need to live in the reality
of that. Christ is our King. He reigns right now. I'm not
concerned about what's going on all over this world. I'm not
saying I'm oblivious to it. But nothing's going to happen
that he has a purpose that's not in this book. It's in the
book. And what's happening, He is making
it happen. He is making it come to pass.
All the decrees and purpose of God, they are happening right
now. You know what's happening today?
What's written in that book. And you know who's making it
come to pass? The Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He's
the one bringing it to pass. That's our King. That's our Lord. That's our Savior. We ought to
stand amazed. We ought to stand amazed. And he says here, he hath prevailed. He conquered death. Someone said
this, he conquered death by dying. He conquered sin by being made
sin. He conquered Satan on his own
turf. He conquered the curse of the law by being made a curse. He conquered the grave by being
buried and rising from it. Nothing was able to stand him
down. Nothing. Everything he met, he
got victory over. Everything. Everything. Now, after John is told that
weep not, the line of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed, In my
mind, I can just see him turn around to look to see a lion. Someone of that strength and
character and you know what he sees? A lamb. He turns around
and he sees a lamb. The lion of the tribe of Judah
has prevailed and he looks at him and it says, in the midst
of the throne stood a lamb. A lamb. as it had been slain. The lamb
is the reason to stop weeping and rejoice. John sees the one
who's worthy to take the book and to open it up. And when he
looks upon him, he sees a lamb as it had been slain. Here's
what he sees. He sees Christ in his sacrificial
character there. That's what he sees. He sees
him in that character that won the victory. He saw Jesus Christ
crucified. That's who he saw. He saw him
as a lamb on earth and now as a lamb in heaven. He's the lamb. Someone said this, the sacrifice
is always fresh in God's sight. Isn't that good? I know I didn't
come up with that. I had to copy that somewhere.
But the sacrifice is always fresh in God's sight. This is his most
glorious character and the object of our worship, the Lamb of God.
Behold, John said, behold the Lamb of God which taketh away
the sin of the world. And brethren, we still behold
him. And we'll behold in him when we leave this life, and
the first one we'll see is him, the Lamb of God. The Lamb is not only our sacrifice,
but he's our mediator. He took the book. He took the book. He walked right
up, reached over, and took the book. It says he has this lamb having
seven horns, which is an emblem of power. It was an emblem for
power in kings in the Old Testament. He's not a weak, defeated lamb.
He didn't die out of weakness. He said, no man takes my life
from me. I lay it down of myself. I lay it down. If he hadn't done
that, he'd have never died. He said, I'll lay it down. He has all power and all authority. You quote that verse out of John
17. All power over all flesh is given to me that I should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given me. So all
power, all authority is turned over to our mediator, the Lamb
of God. That's good news. Let us never
get over that. Never get over that. He had so much power and authority
given to him that he could walk up to the throne and take the
book out of the hand of God. And you know why he could do
that? Because this lamb is equal with God. He's equal with God. Only an equal can do that. No
one else dare I said, hey, you can see how intelligent they
are when you get to heaven. Here we're, it's just, sin dumbs us
down real bad. It doesn't. But there, nobody dared approach
that throne but one. But one. And he walks up. And what we
have here is God taking the book from God. That's what we have. God taking the book from the
hand of God. John saw his and our living Lord,
not a dead one. Not a dead one. I think it was
Barnard I heard say on tape, a dead Christ can't save anybody.
But a living Lord can. We worship We worship one who
is alive. Our sacrifice for sin is alive. And it's before God's throne.
It's before his throne. Christ is a living sacrifice. He's not a dead one. He's a living
sacrifice. And it says he had seven eyes.
That represents his omnipresence. There is nothing hid from the
Lamb. Nothing. He knows the mind of
God. Who can know the mind of God
but God? Isn't it amazing that God became
a man, that he might reveal himself to us through that man, Jesus
Christ. He knows the hearts of all men.
There are over seven billion people in this world, and you
know that he knows the thoughts of every one of them. He knows
even the idle thoughts. He knows them. He knows them. We can't comprehend such a person.
We can't do it. Scripture says in Psalm 114,
the Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord's throne is in heaven,
his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men. Well it says in verse seven,
he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that
sat upon the throne. He's the only one worthy to step
forward and take the book and reveal its contents. He's the
only one who won the victory. I didn't win it, he did. The
battle's his. The battle was not mine, never
was mine. The battle's his. The battle's
the Lord's. Who opened the book? The Lamb. Who reveals the secrets? The
Lamb. Who's to be worshiped? The Lamb. Oh, that we would worship Him
here as they do there right now. Can you imagine the worship service
that's going on there right now? You know, you think this small
group here comparatively, but if you think of who's with us
in this matter of worship, it's an innumerable. It's not a small
group. We're not a small number. We just got to learn how to look
up instead of horizontal all the time. We have to learn how
to see Him. and not just things of this life. It says here in verse 8, And
when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty
elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps
and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the
saints. Here's evidence. Here's evidence
of his deity. They all worshiped him. If he
were not God, he would not be worshiped. That would be nothing
but idolatry. But the worship of God is not
idolatry. It's just right. It's just right. And it says they fell down, posture
of profound worship. And then they sung a new song.
They sung a new song. Thou art worthy to take the book
and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain, crucified, tortured in my place and has redeemed us. There's
no attempt there. He has redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. Someone
said this new song is always fresh, for there's always someone
singing it for the first time. You know, I was interested here
some time ago. I was wondering, how many people
die a day? So I googled it. So I googled
it. And I don't have the numbers
with me. But it's like every second, every second, someone
dies. Every second. And it gave the
number how many died a day, how many died a week, how many died
a month, how many died a year. It's unreal. There's always someone singing
it for the first time fresh in His presence. And it won't be
long. It will not be long before we
do it. And we'll be able to worship
Him with perfect worship. Perfect worship. No sin. You won't have to try to get
your mind back. You listen, then it goes off.
You try to rest your attention again, it goes off. But you'll
have absolute, perfect worship of Jesus Christ. Lord, hasten
the day. And this new song has to do with
Him who has the credentials. to step forward and take this
book and to receive all the worship of heaven. The scripture says, all the fullness
of the Godhead dwells in him bodily. The joy of heaven has
to do with the lamb and the redemption of our souls. For thou was slain. It says there was a number of
10,000 times 10,000, 1,000, 1,000, innumerable number. You know,
he tasted death for every one of those centers. For every one there, he tasted
their death. He took it. He took it. He who died for sinners is worthy
of all our honor and all our praise. He's worthy. And no one, no one will ever
be guilty of praising him too much. I wish I could be, I wish
somebody would charge me of being a fanatic. I wish someone would,
I wish I could be charged with being overly obsessed with Jesus
Christ. But I'm afraid it'll never happen.
Too much sin. Too much sin. And notice how far reaching his
redemption is. Every kindred, tribe, tongue,
people, and nation. His redemption may be limited
in scope, but not in its power. Not in its power. He's able to
save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him, seeing
He ever lives to make intercession for them. And he says here, and I'll wind
this up, same with a loud voice. They made it known. This is a, they ready to make it known.
Same with a loud voice. Worthy is the Lamb. that was
slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor
and glory and blessing. He's worthy to receive all that. He's worthy because he's God's
lamb. This is God's lamb. And then he's worthy because
he's slain. In his life, he magnified the
law, made it honorable. And in his death, he made atonement
for our sins. Is he worthy? Is he worthy of
all honor and praise? Now he who was slain has all
power given to him over all flesh. that he may give eternal life
to the ones he died for. None of them gonna be left out.
He won't miss a one. You said it's an innumerable
company. He said, I won't lose one sheep. Not one. Not one will
be missing. Not one. And it says here in verse 13,
and let me just read the rest of this here. In chapter 5, verse 13, let me
get over here. And every creature which is in
heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
I tell you what, I would God that he'd give us a voice on
this earth. And this is what they'd hear us say. Blessing,
and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon
the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever. And the four
beasts said, Amen. And the four and 20 elders fell
down and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever. Who's able to deal with that? I didn't even scratch the surface.
I wasn't even gonna pretend to. I looked at that again this morning.
I thought, you're way over your head. I mean, it doesn't take
much to be over my head, but that one. Our Lord is worthy. Oh, that God would enable us
to lay hold of that. He's worthy of our praise, our
worship. He's worthy to be obsessed over.
He is.