Delirious
6 min read
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
Revelation 19:9-10
I never picked up on this before, but the context may explain why John suddenly tried to worship an angel. Starting in verse 1, a “great multitude” along with the twenty-four elders and the four creatures that were gathered around the throne were worshiping God. John describes it as “like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder” (verse 6).
That experience must have been so powerful and overwhelming for John that he felt compelled to worship the “mighty angel” (Revelation 18:21) that he thought was leading the worship.
I can understand how John might have been moved like that. I remember going to a worship conference at Saddleback once and being led in worship by the band Delirious. It was an incredible experience. When I closed my eyes, abstract images of the crucified Christ flashed before me while we were singing “Majesty.” If there were room around me to do so, I might have fallen on my knees crying out, “Majesty! Majesty!”
I remember at another worship conference, Louie Giglio was having an altar call, and when he landed and stuck the theme of his message, “Christ in you!”, I literally felt Christ in my heart. His presence made me feel both a great sense of shame and unworthiness and also a great sense of love and forgiveness. It was overwhelming. I went down to the altar weeping and praising God.
Such powerful moments can draw us into the presence of Christ and transform our lives. But there is also a potential danger. Some people might focus their spiritual energies and their worship only on what they can see and experience and not on God Himself. That can happen quite easily.
Another danger is that some worship leaders and pastors might see themselves as something more than an instrument in the hands of God. They might get caught up in the power of the moment too. And when worship and adoration is directed at God, they might be deceived into thinking that the worship and adoration is directed at them—and like it. In fact, it has been noted that Satan was a worship leader in the heavenly realm. I have been there too.
And so, a certain defense mechanism has been plugged into my heart. Whenever I preach or lead or worship and I feel my heart being drawn to my experience, I am reminded, ”Don’t do that! … Worship God!” whether my experience is either positive or negative.
Because my experience is not the focus of my worship whether good or bad. God is. And God is always good.
I think that what makes the Christian life so difficult for many is that it is the complete opposite (the complete opposite) of the human tendency I just described. The Christian life is the most blessed and joyful and glorious when we are reminded that we are nothing, but by the grace of God. And that is where true worship begins.
Father, You alone are God and worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Forgive me, and forgive us, when we slip into worshiping our experience, worshiping ourselves, instead of You. If I ever start slipping toward that place, remind me of Your glory, and bring my focus back on You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
