{"id":24007,"date":"2019-12-12T07:07:10","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T12:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=24007"},"modified":"2019-12-12T07:41:12","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T12:41:12","slug":"worship-wednesday-advent-is-he-worthy-he-is-andrew-peterson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=24007","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Advent – Is He Worthy? He Is – Andrew Peterson"},"content":{"rendered":"
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[Adapted from the Archives<\/a>]<\/div>\n
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We live in a “not so much”,\u00a0 “couldn’t care less” world.<\/div>\n
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Our senses are bombarded with the material – the stuff we think adds value. The “too cool for school”<\/em><\/a> attitude of self-importance pushes past high school into adulthood. We think highly of ourselves, and the coolest of us settle into tight tribes – actually cool or not, we find our people and tuck ourselves in.<\/div>\n
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Advent gives pause. Even for those who do not celebrate Christmas, the presence of a God-child, a baby like no other, must be grappled with…even for a transformative moment. For believers and non-believers alike, we can stop the show of our lives…and consider Jesus.<\/div>\n
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Who is he? What is there in him that must be, at least, examined?<\/div>\n
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Consider.<\/div>\n
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So much of Scripture is plain and clear in its teaching such that any of us could follow it and apply it to our lives. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, written by the Apostle John<\/a> under the direction of the Holy Spirit\u2026is not like any other text. It is full of the mystery of God and yet can yield great truth to the least theological of us. Read what John, in his last days on earth, wrote about Jesus:<\/div>\n
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\u201cThen I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals.<\/span> I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, \u201cWho is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?\u201d<\/strong><\/span> But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>I wept and wept because no one was found worthy<\/strong> to open the scroll or even to look in it.\u00a0<\/span>Then one of the elders said to me, \u201cDo not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: The Henry Luke Journey<\/a><\/p>\n

Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne\u2026<\/span><\/strong> He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

When he took the scroll\u2026<\/span>they sang a new song:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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You are worthy to take the scroll<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nand to open its seals,<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nbecause you were slaughtered,<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nand you purchased people<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nfor God by your blood<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nfrom every tribe and language<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nand people and nation.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Revelation 5:1-9<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The passage above from Revelation 5 is derived from a God-infused vision that John experienced and then transcribed for us to learn from it.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know for sure what the scroll represents \u2013 is it the purposes of God? Is it the finale of world history? Is it the judgment for the sins of all humankind? We don\u2019t know for sure, but what we do know, is the scroll could not be opened\u2026except by One worthy. Not just able to open it, but worthy to open it.<\/p>\n

Jesus, the sinless Savior, was\/is worthy. He is given many names in Scripture. The spotless Lamb of God is one. The perfect sacrifice. He alone could give His life for ours. He alone could pay our debt to a holy God. He, without sin, gave Himself in our place for us to be reconciled to God. Jesus is also called the Lion of Judah<\/a>. One day He will come for us in the might and majesty of a conquering king \u2013 this lion of God, unmatched by any foe, wholly able to deliver us to the Father.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the weeks of Advent this year, our praise team at Movement Church<\/a> is leading us through this beautiful song, considering Jesus: Is He Worthy<\/a>?<\/em><\/p>\n

Singer\/songwriter Andrew Peterson<\/a><\/em> wrote this song for a congregation to participate responsively with the worship leaders. The reading or singing of this song is liturgical in form\u2026something I\u2019m not used to…but appreciate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cOne of the things I like best about liturgy is the more or less constant involvement of the congregation. The word \u201cliturgy\u201d means \u201cthe work of the people.\u201d It\u2019s not so much about us coming to sit while the pastor and the elders do everything, but about all of us together rehearsing the story of redemption, edifying each other by reading Scripture aloud, reaffirming what we believe, embodying worship by kneeling or singing together\u2014all of it culminating, of course, in the Lord\u2019s Supper. I can\u2019t overstate how much I crave the moment at the end of the service when I kneel at the front and a friend of mine places the unleavened bread in my open hands, looks me in the eye and says, \u2018Andrew, this is the body of Christ, broken for you.\u2019<\/em>
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Every week my wayward, hungry soul is confronted by the love of Jesus. Like clockwork.\u201d \u2013 Andrew Peterson<\/a>
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\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: GodTube, Andrew Peterson<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s worship together<\/a> with this glorious anthem by Andrew Peterson<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[Verse 1]
\nDo you feel the world is broken? (We do)
\nDo you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
\nBut do you know that all the dark won\u2019t stop the light from getting through? (We do)
\nDo you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)<\/p>\n

[Verse 2]
\nIs all creation groaning? (It is)
\nIs a new creation coming? (It is)
\nIs the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)
\nIs it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)<\/p>\n

[Chorus]
\nIs anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
\nIs anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
\nThe Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
\nHe is David\u2019s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave<\/p>\n

[Refrain 1]
\nIs He worthy? Is He worthy?
\nOf all blessing and honor and glory
\nIs He worthy of this?
\nHe is<\/p>\n

[Verse 3]
\nDoes the Father truly love us? (He does)
\nDoes the Spirit move among us? (He does)
\nAnd does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)
\nDoes our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)<\/p>\n

[Chorus]
\nIs anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
\nIs anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
\nThe Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
\nHe is David\u2019s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave<\/p>\n

[Bridge]
\nFrom every people and tribe
\nEvery nation and tongue
\nHe has made us a kingdom and priests to God
\nTo reign with the Son<\/p>\n

[Refrain 2]
\nIs He worthy? Is He worthy?
\nOf all blessing and honor and glory
\nIs He worthy? Is He worthy?
\nIs He worthy of this?
\nHe is!
\nIs He worthy? Is He worthy?
\nHe is!
\nHe is!*<\/p>\n