“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…”
Revelation 5:6

According to Jesus, heaven sets the pattern for what God wants to happen on earth. In part 1 of this blog series, we looked at what worship looks like in the throne room - prophetic, God-centered, and beholding Him who sits on the throne. This week we move into Revelation 5 where a new song erupts in heaven - the song of the Lamb that was slain to redeem mankind. The message of the cross is the theme of heaven’s new song!

One of the most impactful moments I’ve ever had in life is when God opened my eyes to see what Jesus did for me on the cross. I had heard the phrase “Jesus died for you” and the amazing verse John 3:16 - but never comprehended it. What did that mean for me? What was the point?

Until one day, after already putting my faith in Jesus (thank God that understanding everything is not a requirement for salvation), I sat down to read the scripture after church. I was looking at Isaiah 53. I came across the line in verse 5 that said “...the punishment that brought us peace was on him…” and in an instant God opened my eyes.

I finally saw that Jesus took my place at the cross. The punishment that brought me peace was on Him.

I was overwhelmed by His mercy and full of gratitude. It really made sense to me and hugely impacted my relationship with God. I understood the anchor point of our faith!

What it also impacted was my worship. I remember singing the line, “I’ll never know how much it costs, to see my sin upon that cross” and literally weeping on my way to work. The revelation of the cross opened up a whole new realm of worship to me.

Come to find out - what Jesus did at the cross took the worship in heaven to a whole new level as well! 

The worship in heaven shifted when they saw the Lamb of God looking as if it had been slain, taking the scroll from the Father, because He was worthy to take and open it. (Read Revelation 5 for the whole context).

The scripture says they shifted into a new song! And it went like this:

...“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:9-10 NIV

Then literally, not just the hosts of heaven, but EVERYTHING IN ALL OF CREATION broke out in a massive roar and exclamation of praise and worship unto God!

This very aspect of what Jesus had done deserved the highest of heaven’s praise. And if this is true of heaven, then God wants it to be true of earth. 

Here’s how to worship like heaven, around the cross:

1. Understand the power of the cross

By now, I hope you know that I don’t mean a mental acknowledgement, but a Holy Spirit revelation. Faith happens in your heart, not your head.

The Hebrew culture understood that a lamb being slain spoke of the sacrifice made to redeem them from sin, as well as reminded them of the Passover - where the spirit of death passed over them because of the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. So when John saw the Lamb as though it had been slain, he knew, as well as all of heaven knew, that this was God’s ultimate sacrifice to set all things right and deliver them.

In other words, they had a revelation of the cross.

It’s interesting to me how many times we can try to add something to the message of the cross to make it more “relevant.” Maybe we’re trying to reach new people or not offend others, but we don’t realize that there is an innate need and desire for the simple gospel of Jesus pre-built in every person. It doesn’t need our “additives.”

If the “new song” in heaven is about the cross, then you can count on that being the most relevant message in existence! 

The word for “new” in Revelation 5:9 could also be translated as “fresh.” It’s not an old, outdated, irrelevant message - according to heaven, it’s new and fresh and literally moved everything in all of creation to worship!

What’s more, is that Paul the apostle said that he wasn’t ashamed of the gospel because “...it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Rom. 1:16). 

The gospel is THE power of God.
Inherent in the gospel is the explosive, dynamic, supernatural power of God!

It's like a Lion in a cage. Just let the Lion out as He is. Don’t feel like you need to defend Him or make Him relevant. The gospel stands on its own.

Pray the prayer of Ephesians 1:17-18, that God would give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him and that the eyes of your heart would be flooded with revelation light.

Ask Him for a revelation of the cross.

2. Implement the power of the cross

This goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway - 

• Sing songs about the Cross of Christ!

I’m not saying every worship set has to have a song about the cross, but it’s important to recognize that it was the cross that made the way for you to enter into the Presence of God with singing!

His sacrifice took away our sins and defeated our shame, guilt, and condemnation. His blood cleanses us from all sin. He made us brand new and gave us authority to reign on the earth!

Remember the Door that John saw and went through into the throne room in Rev. 4:1? That was the result of Jesus' work on the cross! (John 10:9)

He is the new and living way into the Presence of God! (Heb. 10:20)

Singing about what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross is worshiping like heaven!

• Take communion as part of your worship. 

If you want to implement the power of the cross in your worship, make time to take communion. 

Jesus said to do this in “remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

He wanted us to keep Him and what He did for us in the forefront of our hearts and minds.

• Meditate on the cross

Meditation brings revelation, revelation brings manifestation.

This is what happened to me when I was looking at Isaiah 53. God opened my eyes to see and the reality of the cross changed my life.

3. Respond to the power of the cross

When the living creatures and 24 elders lifted up the new song about the Lamb’s sacrifice, literally millions of angels joined with a loud voice proclaiming the worthiness of the Lamb.

Then, you see in Revelation 5:13, that every creature in all of creation joins in worship to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.

The message of the cross literally shifted something in heaven’s worship...and subsequently, in all of creation.

But there’s one nuance that I want you to see - 

The blood of the Lamb was shed was not to redeem the living creatures, the 24 elders, or the millions of angels…

It was for us!

From every nation, tribe, tongue, and people!

Yes, the living creatures and 24 elders gaze upon the beauty of God, dwell in the midst of the throne room, and worship for all eternity. Yes, they understand what the cross has done for mankind and creation…

But what they don't have is the unique and awesome privilege to know what it is to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!

We do!!

Through the cross, we, the redeemed, have a unique song of gratitude to lift up to God!

We know what it is to be redeemed!

***You should stop and shout praise right now***

If heaven is roaring in praise and worship because of the Lamb that was slain - how much more should we, the redeemed, bring our passionate exclamation of praise to the Lord!

Even the earth shook when the veil was torn at the death of Jesus. (Matt. 27:51)

When the finished work of the cross truly hits the human heart, it should cause us to worship God with all that is within us.

In the words of Darlene Zschech’s song:

“Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Worthy is the Lamb…”

It’s an older song, but the timelessness of it says everything this blog is saying. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/FCPP-qovLtI

Heaven worships around the cross and so should earth.

Question: How has the cross impacted your worship to God?