Revelation 5:1-14
New Song Introduction
A. A New Year causes excitement and anxiety.
- Excitement for new opportunities and experiences.
- Anxiety over the fear of the future, leading to heartache songs.
Steve Farrar found a book containing only Country Music song titles:
“If the Phone Doesn’t Ring, It’s Me”
“I’ve Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand”
“You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”
“I Wouldn’t Take Her to a Dogfight, Even If I Thought She Could Win”
B. Christ gives people a reason to sing a new song.
- The nobles of heaven praise Christ for His Sovereignty.
- The angels of heaven praise Christ for His Glory.
- The creatures of earth praise Christ for His Grace.
Thesis: The finished work of Christ gives His people reasons to sing a new song unto the Lord.
Christ’s Revelation Enlightens Us, vv. 5-7
A. He alone is worthy to reveal God’s plan/purpose.
- He is the Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Genesis 49:9-10.
- He is the Pre-existent Christ, the Root of David, Isaiah 11:1, 10.
B. He alone is worthy to reveal God’s perception, v. 6.
- He reveals the future of His people, Isaiah 42:9.
- He reveals the secrets of God to His servants, Amos 3:7.
C. He alone is worthy to receive God’s praise, v. 8.
D. He alone is worthy to reconcile God’s people, v. 9.
Christ’s Redemption Liberates Us, v. 9.
A. Old Testament definitions for redemption:
- Hebrew “padah,” redeems people or living beings, Exodus 21:29-30
a. Owner of a dangerous ox fails to keep the ox secured.
b. Ox gores a neighbor to death.
c. Both the ox and owner must die.
d. If the father of the slain person offers to accept redemption money, the owner could pay and live.
- Hebrew “ga’al,” kinsman may redeem or purchase family members or the family land, Jeremiah 32:6-15. God redeems Israel from their iniquity.
- Hebrew “kipper,” atonement, sin covering (expiation) until a sacrifice satisfies God (propitiation).
B. Christ fulfills the Old Testament demands for redemption:
- Christ pays the price to save the owners of sin.
- Christ purchases the church with His own blood to save the church from slavery to sin.
- Christ propitiates God’s wrath to remove our sins.
Christ’s Resurrection Lifts Us, v. 10.
A. He made us kings
- Over our own spirits
- Overcome the world
- Over the evil one
B. He made us priests
- Access to God
- Liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices
Conclusion
A. We have no need to fear; Jesus holds the future in His hands.
B. We have no need to fear; Jesus saves the redeemed from hell.
C. We have no need to fear; Jesus elevates the saints to great honors.
Tammy Lindsay said, “The praise chorus ‘We Exalt Thee’ took on a whole new meaning when I heard my three-year old daughter singing a new song: ‘We exhaust thee, we exhaust thee, O Lord.'”
- Allow your praises of Christ to life you above the circumstances, for you are a king and a priest.
- Allow your praises of Christ to liberate you from sin, for you are redeemed by His blood.
- Allow your praises of Christ to enlighten you about the future, for you are an ambassador of Christ.
Charlotte Elliot learned an important lesson about Jesus one sleepless night in 1834. She was an invalid, so when her family held a bazaar to raise money to build a school, she could only watch from afar.
That night, she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not sleep. But her sadness was turned to joy when she realized that God accepted her just as she was.
That experience inspired her to write a new song: “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”