Christians have, for centuries, made a distinction between worship and prayer. Certainly, there is a difference, and it is warranted in Scripture. However, it would be a grave mistake not to think of "worship" as prayer since true worship is communion directly from the heart of the believer to the awesome Godhead. It is the highest form of vertical communication with the Lord God!
Whatever the liturgy of our services (and every worship service has a liturgy), if we are to be truly honest, "worship" is often considered the necessary "warm-up" to other 'more important" components of a public gathering of believers. Additionally, in our personal times of prayer, we regularly find ourselves focusing almost exclusively on requests - or, to use a more theological phrase - supplication.
Yet, the Apostle John's first-person account of heaven's worship of the Lamb is stunning, shifting our perspective to what should always be our primary affection...the worship of One seated on The Throne and The Lamb!
In Revelation 5, we are thrust into a seemingly surreal yet very real scene that we will join someday as born-again Christ-followers. John witnessed something far beyond anyone's imagination. He describes a context of worship entirely foreign to most of our expressions of corporate and private worship.
Consider the reality of what is occurring right at this moment. Revelation 5:13,14 gives us an awe-inspiring glimpse into what we are to focus upon in our personal and corporate adoration!
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
and all things in them, I heard saying,
"To Him who sits on The Throne, and to the Lamb,
Blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen."
And the elders fell down and worshipped.
(NASB)
May we never forget that every moment we make time to worship the Lord God, whether individually or corporately, we are praying in the highest possible form known to creation! To respond in awe and adoration before a holy, majestic, and loving God is our first and greatest privileged calling in prayer!
Rev. Timothy J. Mercaldo
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