Question:
Should we be pursuing God’s power or God’s presence?
Read Revelations 4:
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.’
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.’”
There are a couple things about this chapter that I want to show you.
I believe that if there’s an open door in heaven, we can see in the Spirit, and by the power of God, we can see prophetically.
Let me explain…
First of all, I know there are some who are called to be actual Prophets and who have that gift, but I’m talking about any Christian. 1 Corinthians 14 encourages us to desire the spiritual gifts – but especially that we may prophesy.
Prophecy isn’t just about seeing into the future. 1 Corinthians 14:3 says, “ the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” In order to do that we have to have love and we have to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Anyway, that’s the kind of prophecy I’m talking about here.
For instance:
If we look back, we are seeing the past – we’re seeing our family of origin, our core issues, the events of our lives that made us who we are. We see the people we should have forgiven and those that we wished loved us.
We see regrets and parties and joyful seasons and passionate times.
But IF we look back prophetically – or with Kingdom eyes – we can see the testimony that brings glory to God, instead of just the circumstances. Does that make sense?
If we look at the present – all around at the now – with Kingdom eyes, instead of just seeing situations and circumstances, we can constantly discover more about our God, and see His presence and know without a shadow of a doubt that He is present and active in our lives!
Then if we look forward with Kingdom eyes, we may see the future, but more likely it means we are seeing what God reveals to us in the Spirit. Seeing with Kingdom eyes – or seeing prophetically usually means more like God is preparing us for what’s to come, not necessarily showing us what’s to come.
Let me explain why I call it Kingdom Eyes.
Look at Mark 8:33 from The Living Bible:
“Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, “Satan, get behind me! You are looking at this only from a human point of view and not from God’s.”
Peter was looking at the situation from a human point of view and Jesus rebuked him sternly. Jesus was preparing the disciples for what was to come in the near future – when He would be crucified, dead and buried and raised from the dead, and Peter had rebuked Him. 5 minutes earlier, Peter had declared that Jesus was the Christ because the Holy Spirit revealed that to him – he saw Jesus from God’s point of view. But then he saw the crucifixion from man’s point of view.
Seeing with Kingdom Eyes has 2 main characteristics:
1. Seeing from God’s point of view
2. While staying focused on Jesus
So, back to Revelation…
If you think about it, Revelation 4 is a vision that prepares John for what’s to come. Just like Jesus was preparing His disciples for what’s to come in Mark 8.
At first John sees the open door in heaven, then he’s told to come up and see what’s to come. But the rest of the chapter is a description of what’s happening in the throne room. This description and vision prepares John for what he’s about to witness next.
Now the 2nd part of chapter 4 shows us HOW to see with Kingdom Eyes. First let’s read verses 8-11 again…
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.’
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.’”
Wow! Eyes all around! That is so amazing!
Okay, so they each have six wings – so they are not just standing still, staring at God. They are in constant motion…and no matter what they’re doing or which direction they turn, they have their eyes on God! They are constantly focused! No wonder they keep discovering new things about Him!
LISTEN. Every time the four creatures discover something new they are filled with such awe and wonder and joy and passion that they can’t help but give glory and honor and praise – they are compelled to worship!
LOOK. They are in very close proximity to GOD and they can’t HELP but worship Him because of His Glory and because they are constantly discovering things about Him! But remember they have eyes all around – they have Kingdom Eyes – so they’re not only discovering things about Him, but they’re looking back and remembering what He HAS done in love and remembering His promises too! Plus He is holy! The depths of His love and holiness are unfathomable!
And then remember, Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits our praise, so it’s like a circle – We draw near to God by praising Him, then he draws near to us, then because of His nearness we gain revelation of His Glory and immensity and so we praise Him some more because of His holiness, then he draws nearer because He inhabits our praise and we’re in His throne room, then we praise Him some more and He draws near and we gain revelation and we praise Him… etc. etc. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
So I ask you again:
Should we be pursuing God’s Power or God’s Presence?
Well, let me ask you this:
1. Why do we need God’s power?
Bottom Line: God enables us to be more like Him
2. How can we appropriate the power of God?
Bottom line: by being in His presence.
3. How do we get into His presence?
God inhabits our praise!
4. How can you tell if you have Kingdom Eyes? How can you tell if you are looking at things from the Father’s point of view?
For Help with that answer, think about this:
Pursuing God’s PRESENCE, reveals God’s POWER.
Now I want to point something out in Verse 11:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
God is WORTHY TO RECEIVE Glory, Honor and Power! He’s worthy to RECEIVE!
Check it out: Isn’t God already all powerful?
Doesn’t He already have all the power?
Well think about this: We give power to unforgiveness; we give power to our finances; we give power to peer pressure; we give power to worry and fear and anger; we give power to the lies of the enemy; we actually give the enemy power over our baggage and filters – in the choices we make.
Shouldn’t we be giving GOD the power? As Christians, we have the authority to give the power to whatever and whomever we want! And if we give power to God, He will receive it. Then He is released to reveal that power and do great things!
When the Power of God is revealed, He enables us to see from HIS point of view, while staying focused on Him, thus preparing us for what’s to come!
Remember, in chapter 4 John was prepared for the events of Chapter 5. He was prepared via a vision of the throne room and of eternal praise and worship going on…
Now for the harder question:
Are you prepared?
Do you feel like you are prepared for what’s to come – no matter what comes? Or are you full of fear and doubt and trepidation and anger at what’s going on in the world? Or the war on terror and abortion …or the decision of your employer? Are you angry or fearful in a certain relationship? Are you worried about COVID or finances or persecution?
You need to be prepared…
We need to be prepared.
When we find ourselves worried, fearful, angry, or whatever, we need to step back and do whatever we have to do to see the situation with Kingdom Eyes.
By seeing things from God’s point of view, staying focused on Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be prepared for anything!
Are you prepared?
How? Worship God and declare truth!
Sometimes a Declaration of Truth about God can be helpful in getting you prepared and re-focused on Jesus!
Here is a Declaration you might want to speak out loud regularly to get yourself prepared for what’s to come:
This I declare about you Lord:
You alone are worthy of all praise, honor, glory, power, and my highest worship. You are pure and holy!
Trustworthy, I can count on you.
Unchanging, I can trust you.
Strong, I can lean on you.
You are my provider, my healer, my teacher, my friend, my Savior, my King, and my God!
You anoint me and call me to what you want me to do. And you never ask me to do anything where you don’t make a way!
You give me hope in the middle of the storm!
King of Glory, I give you my world, my life, my day, my YES! I’m yours! ALL my hope is in Jesus! I am forgiven and new because of YOU. Your Grace flows like a river! You are my Rescuer and Protector, my Rock, my Cornerstone, my Focus!
I LOVE YOU JESUS!
