Three Characteristics of Worship

Revelation 4:9-11 

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The response of the elders to the voices of the beasts was to worship God. That worship is characterized by three things:

A posture

They fell down.

I recognize that this posture can be in the heart even if the body is, for whatever reason, unable to bow down at the moment. Still I believe there is far too little humility of either heart or body in our day. It is reflected in everything from the casual clothing people wear to church to the lack of respect that is demonstrated toward the preacher. Worldly successful pastors right now are those who put on the "good old boy" spirit and behave like "one of them." People don't like formality and respectfulness. I think it's because they lack a heart to worship God.

A present

They cast their crowns at the feet of the Lord

Worship involves giving to the Lord. There is the tithe. There is the love offering. There is the offering of self. Then there is the giving to God the honor for our achievements.

A praise

Thou art worthy

Only God is worthy. And God is all worthy. People have done incredible things but they have only done them because God enabled and allowed. God has done the impossible

·       Without help

·       Without permission and often

·       Without our involvement

Perhaps every impulse to worship is in response to the actions of those four beasts in heaven. As they, in the spiritual world, give glory and honor and praise to God day and night let us worship God in posture, presents and praise.