Dear Ones:
The book of Revelation was born out of worship, worship in and by the Spirit of God, and specifically “on the Lord’s day.” (Rev. 1:10) We know that John had been exiled to the isle of Patmos “…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (v.9) Though a desolate place, it will be at this time, and in this place, that the Eternal God will reveal Himself to John in a most clear, distinct, and powerful manner, and this, for the benefit and blessing of the entire world. Now, it is certainly God’s prerogative to reveal Himself when, where, and how He desires, and this, for His own purposes. What we are considering here is the attitude and disposition of the heart of John, and the supply of the Spirit by which the revelation comes.
First, let’s look at John. In all probability he is alone. But even in his aloneness, he has not forgotten, nor neglected “…the Lord’s day.” To grasp something of the importance of this day one needs to go back to the Old Testament, and see what God says about the seventh day, the day of rest…a day of worship…and remembrance. It is a day set aside as unique, and particular, and yet, nothing “good” is restricted in how that day is to be lived. The important thing to remember here, and we have the example in John, is that the seventh day is a day set aside by God for us to stop, remember, and worship. Add to this the knowledge that John possessed concerning worship, when the Lord Jesus said (…and John wrote it down…), “…the true worshippers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRUTH….God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.” (John 4:23,24) Paul would write the same thing: “…for we are the true circumcision which worship God IN THE SPIRIT, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Phil. 3:3) So John, even though exiled and alone, stops to worship…in Spirit and truth. Scripture says that he was “…in the Spirit.” This does not mean that he was ever not in union with Christ by the Spirit, nor that he was not filled with the Spirit, but that on that morning, he was worshipping in dependence upon, and submission to the Spirit, and the Spirit had the liberty to reveal the things of Christ to him. He was in the attitude of heart and mind where the Lord could give to him by the Spirit…the overwhelming and extraordinary REVELATION of Christ.
Worship is the key…on the Lord’s day…worship IN THE SPIRIT, and in TRUTH. What will the Lord reveal to us of Himself as we worship Him today? Most certainly we will not receive the revelation as John did on Patmos, but there is no doubt that the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Eph. 1:17) desires, and wills, to reveal the things of Christ to us. And He WILL if we are in the same disposition of heart and mind as John.
Dear Lord, enable us to worship Thee on this, the Lord’s day. Grant to us to worship Thee in dependence upon, and submission to, the Spirit of God, enabling us to grasp the truth that is in Jesus. And grant that as we behold Thee, that we are changed into Thy likeness, that the world may KNOW that Thou art God, and we are Thine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love, Dad