The Best Way to Say
"Thank You Lord"
Revelation 4:10-11
(First Baptist 5/22/05)

 
1. I once came across an African proverb that says, “Even the hen lifteth her head toward heaven when swallowing her grain.”

    How sad that many, who are daily recipients of multiplied
    blessings, never lift their head in thanks to the God who gave them.

2. How thankful we should be. God has been so good to us all.

    He deserves nothing less than to find a thankful heart in every
    believer.

The Bible, especially in the Psalms, encourages a thankful heart:

Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

Psalm 95:2, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

3. Today, I want to talk to you about expressing your thanks to the Lord.

    I want to share with you what I think is the best way to say to
    express your gratitude to the Lord.
4. In Revelation 4 we have a heavenly scene that portrays an hour when every saved person will be gathered around the throne of the Lord.

    It’s a scene of worship, praise and expressions of thanksgiving.

There is one particular expression that I want to draw your attention to today.

    It’s an expression found in verse 10.
                    It involves “crowns.”

5. To lead up to this scene, I want to lay a foundation by spending a few moments talking about these crowns.

    These crowns speak of the heavenly rewards that can be earned by
    the Christian.

When I think of these crowns, I first think of:
I. THE LABOR THAT’S RENDERED

1.  Notice with me what Jesus said in Revelation 22:12: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

The Lord spoke of His return and the rewards He would bring with Him.

    The word “reward” that He used is a word that simply means “a
    pay for service.”

It’s descriptive of a person being paid for the work they had done.

    Jesus explained that these rewards would be given to, “every man
    according as his work shall be.”

The Lord was speaking of a heavenly pay day.

2.   When you think about crowns or rewards you must first start with the work for which these crowns or rewards will be given.

There’ll be no crown or rewards without work.

    The crowns of our text represent the work that a Christian has done
    for God.

Let me define this work as:
A) A Spiritual Work
1.  This is a work that’s done for God.

It’s service rendered for the Lord.
It’s the work that’s done by the pastor as he preaches the Word of God Sunday after Sunday, service after service.

It’s the work done by the evangelist as he travels from Church to Church and place to place exhorting the people of God.

It’s the work done by the missionary on the mission field as he tells the wonderful story of God’s love.

It’s the work done by the Sunday school teacher standing in a class or the soul winner sitting in a home.

It’s the work done by Church members who fulfill various functions and roles in the place where they have their membership.

It’s a work done by those who lead Bible studies, lead or sing in the choir, play the musical instruments, serve as Greeters, take care of the children, run the soundboard, camera’s and other equipment that is used in the services.

It’s a work done by those who are found on their knees in the prayer room. It’s a work done by those with an open Bible counseling with someone in the altar.
It’s a work that is done in various ways and in numerous roles.

3.  In all cases, it’s a work that’s done for the Lord.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:9, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

    The word “accepted” means “well-pleasing.”
It is work done with the purpose of pleasing the Lord, obeying Him and bringing glory to His name.

4. May I say; if what you do is to draw attention to yourself and to make people think highly of you, then you, and the rest of us, would be better off if you got out of the way and let someone else do what you’re doing!

    I’d rather hear prison singing than someone who is trying to
    showcase their talent.
            You ask, what is prison singing?

It is the kind of singing that is behind a few bars and missing the key.

    If you preach or teach or serve so people will pat you on the back,
    you aren’t doing them or you any good.

5. What we do we must always do with the single objective of pleasing the Lord and bringing glory to His name.

Our work isn’t a selfish work.     It’s a spiritual work.

Furthermore, let me point out that this work is:
B) A Specific Work
1.   Each Christian has a personal and specific work they’re to do for the Lord.

Notice carefully the emphasis Jesus placed on the specific work that we each have.

In Revelation 22:12 He said that rewards will be “according as his work shall be.”
    I emphasize the two words “his work.”

2. There’s a particular work God has for each of us.

Paul said in Galatians 6:4, “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

3. Every Christian is to serve God and there’s a specific work that each has been given by the Lord.

There’s the work He has given me and there is the work He has given you.

    Our role in the Body of Christ varies from person to person.
    Our place in God’s work differs from Christian to Christian.

4. On a Saturday night as a 12-year-old kid,  I discovered my place in God’s work and His purpose and plan for my life.
That was the night God called me to preach.

    The work he has for you may be different than mine,
    but nevertheless there’s a specific work God has for you do.

5. There are two questions that each Christian should ask themselves.

The first, do I know what it is that God wants me to do?
The second, am I doing God’s will for my life?

6. Someone has said that the Christians place is on the front line, not on the sideline.

Another has said that we are pardoned from sin, but we are not excused from service.

7. When you talk about crowns and a heavenly pay day there’s first the labor that is rendered.

Secondly, when you think about crowns there is also:

II. THE LIFE THAT’S REVIEWED

1. Notice with me 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. [14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Paul was describing a day when our life will undergo an intense and thorough review by the Lord Jesus Himself.

2. In verse 13 Paul spoke of “the day.”
            What day is he referring to?

He’s speaking of the day when we stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”

    This will be the time when every Christian will stand before the
    Lord and their life will undergo His review.

3. All Christians should take note that Paul made it clear that “every man” (1 Cor. 3:13) and that “we must all” (2 Cor. 5:10) face this review.

Not one Christian will be excluded.
        Everyone will have their life reviewed.

What will this review be about?
It’s our works that will be under review.

Notice that there is:
A) A Revealing of Our Works
1.   Paul describes the revealing of our works in four statements.
First, he said that our “work shall be made manifest.”
    The word “manifest” means “to make public or apparent.”

2. Secondly, He says that “the day shall declare it.”

    The word “declare” means “to make plain.”

Thirdly, he says our works “shall be revealed by fire.”
    The word “revealed” means “to take the cover off.”

And lastly, he says “the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”
    The word “try” means “to put to the test.”

Each statement speaks of how our works will be revealed.

3. One important thing to understand about the Judgment Seat, it isn’t sin but service that’s the focus of this judgment.

    The purpose of the Judgment seat is not to reveal whether or not
    we’re saved. We wouldn’t be standing at the Judgment Seat if we
    weren’t saved.

Its purpose is to reveal what we did after we were saved.
    It’s a time when we will face the Lord about our service.

4. In light of this future appearing before Christ, it mystifies me why it is so difficult to get many Christians to serve God.

They know that there’s coming a day when they will have to face the Lord Jesus about serving and working for Him, yet they never get involved in the Church or work for the Lord in any capacity.

 
5. Not only do we see that there is a revealing of our works, but there’s also:
B) A Rewarding of Our Works

1.  Notice what Paul said in verse 14, “If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

For those who have served God, motivated by their love for Jesus, there will be a rewarding of their service.

    These rewards consist of crowns that will be given to those who
    earn them.


2. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19 the Bible speaks of the “crown of rejoicing,” that is a crown that is given to the soulwinner, those who lead others to Christ.

3. In 2 Timothy 4:8 the Bible speaks of a “crown of righteousness” that is a crown given to those who love and long for the return of Jesus Christ.

4. In 1 Peter 5:4 there is a “crown of glory” that will be given to pastors who faithfully teach and preach God’s Word.

5. In 1 Corinthians 9:25 the Bible speaks of an “incorruptible crown” that will be given to those who run a good race for the Lord and live disciplined lives for God.

6. In James 1:12 there is the “crown of life” that is given to those who were faithful to God in spite of the great trial and tribulation, pain and suffering that they faced in life.

 
7.  What are your prospects for a heavenly crown?
    Are you living for Jesus?
        Are you being what He wants you to be as a Christian?

Are you serving Him?
        Are you doing what He wants you to do as a Christian?

8. There will come a day when our life will be reviewed for the purpose of being rewarded.

9.  Now, someone may be thinking, what does all this have to do with saying thank you to the Lord?

Let me take you back to our text and share with you one final thought and you will understand.

There is not only the labor that is rendered and the life that is reviewed, but finally there’s:

III. THE LORD THAT’S REVERENCED

1. Notice with me once again Revelation 4:10, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

2. This is a scene of worship, praise and thanksgiving.

    It gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like and a particular
    response on the part of believers that will occur when this heavenly
    scene unfolds in heaven.

Notice first that it is a scene of:
A) Overflowing Hearts

1.   The focus of this heavenly scene is the One who sits on the throne.

In verse 2 John declares “a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

    The One that John saw on the throne is the Lord God Almighty.
2. John saw that around the throne were 24 seats where the 24 elders sat.

    Also, he saw four beasts circling the throne and he describes them
    in verses 8 as having “each of them six wings about him; and they
    were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying,
    Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to
    come.”

3. John describes how the 24 elders observed the actions of the four beasts and they joined them in worshiping the One on the throne.

4. It’s a scene of overflowing hearts.

    The glory and majesty of the Lord sitting on His throne fills their
    heart with praise that overflows in worship and exultation.

As I said, these 24 elders represent you and me and they demonstrate for us what our chief occupation in heaven will be.

    Throughout eternity we’re going to worship the Lord sitting on His
    throne.

If worship makes you feel uncomfortable now, you’re really going to be uncomfortable in heaven because that’s going to be what occupies most of our time.

5. When we first walk through the Pearly Gates and the first glimpse of His face, we’ll start worshiping.

After 100 years have passed we’ll still be worshipping.

A thousand years will have passed and we’ll still be crying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.”

    A couple of million years later we will still be worshipping Him.
    We’ll never tire or cease to worship our wonderful and glorious
    Lord.

6. Contrary to what many think, we aren’t going to be interested in mansions or streets of gold.
    All we will think about is Jesus.
        All we will talk about is Jesus.
            All we will sing about is Jesus.

7. Through out the eons of eternity we’ll be worshipping Jesus.

        Our hearts will overflow in praise and worship!

 
We not only see overflowing hearts, but we also see:
B) Overwhelmed Hearts

1.  John described an act by those worshipping before the throne that describes heart overwhelmed with God’s love, grace, mercy, glory and majesty.

    They’re so moved that they take their crowns and cast them before
    His throne.

Now keep in mind that these are crowns that have been given to Christians who have faithfully lived for the Lord and served Him.

        These are the rewards they were given at the Judgment Seat
        of Christ.

2. Yet, their hearts are so overwhelmed by the One who sits on the throne, that they take them off and place them before His feet as an expression of gratitude and thankfulness for all He has done for them.

3. Imagine this great scene as saint after saint, from age to age, approached the throne and takes the crown off their head and lays it at the feet of Jesus saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

4.  I can see Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and Joseph as they place their crowns at his feet.

I can see Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel as they follow suit.

I can see Matthew, Mark, Luke, Peter and Paul as they bow before Him and take off their crowns and lay them at His feet.

    I can see Moody, Spurgeon, Sunday, Mueller, Judson, Carey and a
    host of great saints through out all history coming one by one.

5. I can see as many whose names are unknown; preachers, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, soulwinners, prayer-warriors, from every walk of life from every race and nation, coming in a constant stream weeping as they lay their crowns before His feet in gratitude.

6. I want you to look closely at the scene.

    I want you think carefully about this heavenly picture.

I want you to look hard and see if you can see yourself in this heavenly throng casting their crowns at His feet.

        Do you see yourself there?

7. If you received a crown you’ll see yourself there.
        If not, you’re somewhere in the background.

8. Can you imagine being present at this heavenly scene as saints of all ages come one by one by the throne and cast their crowns at His feet and you have to stand in the background as a spectator and not a participator?


9. When the full realization of what Jesus has done for you and how much He loved you sweeps over you, can you imagine how you would feel to have nothing to cast at His feet?

10. I can imagine that a measure of shame and embarrassment will grip your heart as you have never known in this life.

11.  I believe that the greatest way we can our gratitude to the Lord is to live for Him and serve Him in this life so that one day we can place at His feet a crown to express our gratitude. I believe this is the best way each of us can say, THANK YOU, LORD.

“Must I go, and empty handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?

“Must I go, and empty handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty handed go?

WILL YOU BE SAYING, “THANK YOU, LORD?"

 
 

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