Worship… What is it, Anyway?

Is it singing? Is it music? Is it the style of music?
Is it something that only happens in a building on a Sunday?
Or is it something so much more?

When I first started leading worship after I became a Christian, to be honest, I didn’t really know what true worship was. I thought it was about the songs I picked or how well I sang. I wanted people to be moved, but actually? I actually hoped they’d be impressed by me. I was more focused on acquiring and clinging to my own little crown.

But the closer I’ve grown to Jesus, the more I’ve seen Him for who He is – radiant, holy, merciful, seated on the throne, high and exalted. And once I saw Him clearly… worship stopped being about me. In light of Jesus, how could it be about anything else?

Revelation 4 pulls back the curtain on ultimate fullness of reality. Heaven is not quiet. It resounds with thunder and praise. Creatures cry out “Holy, holy, holy!” and elders fall down, casting their crowns before the throne.

Why?

Because Jesus is the only one on the throne.
He is the only one worthy of worship.

And those crowns?

They aren’t just trophies they earned and hold onto. They’re symbols of unmatched grace from our lavishly generous King. So of course they lay them at his feet.

You see, that’s what worship is. It’s not just music. It’s not just a moment. It’s certainly not a style. It’s a whole-life response to the worthiness of Jesus. It’s taking every honor, every gift, every breath, and saying, “Jesus, this belongs to You.”

So what’s the crown you’ve been holding onto?

Lay it down at the feet of Jesus. Not because you’re unworthy, but because He is.

So today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives, let’s live like we’ve seen the throne.

Because one day, we will.

Nate Keating
Modern Worship Director

by Nate Keating

I Can Only Imagine

Many of you may remember the story as well as the song written by Bart Millard from the band “Mercy Me.” The song was born out of the death of Bart’s father who had come to Christ late in life. It touched the hearts of believers and drew unbelievers to ponder their own future. Here are just a few of the lyrics:

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.

This song always makes me weep with joy! The song came to mind after reading the passage of Scripture from this Sunday’s sermon, Revelation 4:1-11.

Imagine with me what it must have been like for the believers in each of the seven churches to hear what the LORD said about them. Some may have come away weeping and awakening to the need to repent. Some stayed the course even when it was not easy. Some prepared for trials to come, all the while growing their trust in Him. Jesus always encouraged them because there was reward to come. Then when these letters were finished, John says, “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice…said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Then John describes what he sees. What a wonderful gift this was and is. What a great blessing to live in anticipation of the first time we see the throne, the creatures, the LORD face to face, hear the voices singing “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty”; all that had been endured before will be gone as we will join with all believers in worshipping Him. To God be the glory.

Imagine:
What will it be like for you to see Jesus face to face?
If you live in anticipation of that moment, how might that transform your everyday life?
What do you want to say to Him?

Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member

by Francie Overstreet

The Colors of Heaven

When John tries to describe the One seated on the throne in Revelation 4, you can sense him reaching for words that don’t quite exist. He doesn’t say “God looked like…” He says “had the appearance of …” It’s as though John is saying, “I saw it… but I can’t fully describe it. He’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.” And what he describes isn’t a face or a form, but color. Light. Radiance. Glory.

He begins describing God, not in anthropomorphic terms, but by writing,

“And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.” (Revelation 4:3)

Jasper and carnelian. These aren’t just decorations, they’re symbols loaded with meaning. Jasper, in the ancient world, was a precious and often translucent stone. Later, in Revelation 21:11, the city of God shines with jasper that is “clear as crystal,” representing purity, majesty, and the brilliance of God’s glory. Carnelian, a fiery red gem, carries the weight of judgment and redemption. It’s the color of blood, of sacrifice, of costly love. Together, they tell us this: the One on the throne is both holy and merciful. He’s brilliant in light and burning with love.

And then John says something even more surprising: around the throne was a rainbow, shining like an emerald. A rainbow was God’s ancient sign of covenant faithfulness, and the rainbow in heaven completely encircles the throne. But this one isn’t multicolored like rainbows we’re familiar with; it’s emerald green. Green, the color of life, flourishing, and renewal. In other words, the throne of God is surrounded by peace. Encircled by life. Framed by a promise that mercy has the last word.

What are we supposed to do with this vision? Maybe we don’t decode it so much as behold it. Maybe the point isn’t to explain every gem and hue, but to stand in awe and say, “God is clothed in unexplainable beauty.” The psalmist says it like this:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment…” (Psalm 104:1–2)

God wears light as a garment. Maybe looking at God is like looking at the sun. Today, pause and look up… not with your eyes, but with your spirit. Let the beauty of God anchor your soul. Let His radiance shape your reality. Because the throne isn’t just beautiful, it’s true. And the One who sits there reigns right now. In the midst of whatever you are walking through, He is seated on the throne.

Pastor Ryan Paulson

by Ryan Paulson

A Healthy Fear

From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. Revelation 4:5

I absolutely love thunder and lightning. I run outside to listen and see, or at least watch out the window. Not too long ago we had a rare thunderstorm here. Our dogs were outside, I heard the thunder, and suddenly our two pups were jumping into my lap. Max, the smallest, had never heard thunder before and he continued to shake for a long time that evening while I comforted the best I could. He was really afraid.

Donielle encouraged everyone to read Revelation 4 on Monday. I remember reading it in my teens as a new believer, and the descriptions of the creatures with many eyes etc. were scary to me. I didn’t really understand. But I knew that it was talking about God’s power and glory and gave a glimpse of eternity.

Later, I learned that no one can be truly wise unless he/she fears the Lord. Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the “beginning” of wisdom — that is, it is the most essential component. If you do not fear God, you do not have wisdom. And what does it mean to fear God?

Psalm 103:13, As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

In the Hebrew, the word translated fear is yir'âh (yir-aw'), which is a fear defined as “morally reverent”. This form of the word differs from the more typical usage meaning afraid or frightened (yârê' (yaw-ray')

1 Samuel 12:24 reminds us . . .”Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.”

The term "fear of the Lord," occurs more than a dozen times in the book of Proverbs. This is not just" respect, but it also does not imply terror or panic. The idea is one of humility, deep reverence, and submission.

Our close walk with Him depends on that healthy fear/reverence for the Holy God who not only loves us unconditionally, but allows consequences to discipline us when we make unwise choices.

“Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24

How do you see God’s power and glory demonstrated in the physical world around us?

Deb Hill
EFCC Member

by Deb Hill

It’s Really Real

Some chapters of the Bible blow your mind. I think Revelation 4 is one of them. Please take 2-3 minutes right now, and read it out loud. Imagine you are the apostle John, the one whom Jesus loved. Imagine Jesus chose you, and only you to reveal this awesome scene to.

No, really. Stop reading this little devotional. Turn to Revelation 4. Marvel at the Throne room of Heaven. Allow 11 verses to blow your mind.

Fifteen years ago a book was published called Heaven is for Real. It told the astounding story of 4 year old Colton, a Nebraska boy who’s life was nearly cut short by a misdiagnosed ruptured appendix. During surgery, little Colton lost consciousness but got a glimpse of something incredible, something a bit similar to what was revealed to John in Revelation 4.

Shortly after reading that book, I learned my mother was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Difficult news…and I knew difficult years were to come. But Colton’s story ignited hope and joy in me and it altered the lens through which I viewed the coming trial. “This world is not my home. I’m just a passing through.” Jesus is real, Heaven is real, and it’s all so much better than I can possibly imagine.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

That blows my mind. What is unseen is eternal. What John saw is for real and is forever. Brothers and sisters, may we face today’s circumstances knowing without a doubt that Heaven is for real. As we grow older and older and our bodies, unfortunately, continue “wasting away”, may our hearts and spirits and hope for the next life grow more encouraged, more excited. The glory of that heavenly throne room, with the mesmerizing colors, the wild and wonderful worshipping creatures, the golden crowns, the blazing lampstands, the thunder peals and lightning flashes are all REAL. And at the center of it all, the Lord God Almighty awaits to embrace those of us who stand firm to the end.

Fix your eyes not on what is earthly, temporary and of the kingdoms of this present world. Fix your eyes on the unseen heaven, on victory in Jesus, and the promise of eternity with him.

Donielle Winter
EFCC Member

by Kim Freels