I asked the Artificial Intelligence program ChatGPT to ask probing questions about worship. Let’s look at a brief picture of heavenly worship and answer the questions that were provided.
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
The twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4.9-11)
Question: How does this passage inspire you to give glory, honor, and thanks to the Creator?
Answer: The heavenly hosts perceive God’s true nature and offer him the glory, honor, and gratitude he deserves.
However, humans struggle to see God due to our pride, self-sufficiency, and manipulative tendencies.
Our issues with understanding God stem from pride, as we often believe we know better and do not need to follow his guidance. In difficult situations, we may even try to manipulate God for our own benefit.
Humbly surrendering to God not only pays him the respect he deserves but is also the best decision we can make for our lives. By doing so, we align ourselves with the Greatest Being of All.
Question: What significance do you see in the twenty-four elders casting their crowns before the throne?
Answer: The 24 elders wear crowns that symbolize their reward and authority, but they acknowledge that these come solely from God’s grace through Jesus. Therefore, they humbly remove their crowns and place them at Jesus’ feet as a gesture of gratitude and recognition.
This act of the 24 elders teaches us a valuable lesson: we should also recognize that every good thing in our lives is a result of God’s grace, and we are not entirely self-sufficient.
We depend on God’s presence and intervention in our lives, and acknowledging this truth can help us cultivate a humble and grateful attitude towards life.
Question: How does the statement “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power” relate to the concept of God’s sovereignty?
Answer: Sovereignty refers to God’s absolute authority and ability to rule what he has created.
The opening lines of the Lord’s Prayer are about God’s sovereignty.
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6.9-10)
God is recognized as the Ultimate King and his will is perfectly done in heaven. We can join the host of heaven and align our lives with the King of all kings.
Question: How does the idea that all things were created by God’s will challenge the notion of human autonomy and self-sufficiency?
Answer: One of the most crucial topics in the Bible is surrendering our plans to God.
If we trust that God knows what is best for us, has our best interests at heart, and is capable of providing us with what we require, then why don’t we give up our plans to his will?
When we pray the phrase “Your will be done” in the Lord’s Prayer, we are acknowledging our reliance on God and our willingness to have faith in his direction.
Inhabitants of heaven acknowledge God’s love, wisdom, and capacity to care for his creations. It would be wise for us to follow their example.
Question: In what ways can we incorporate the spirit of worship and gratitude into our daily lives?
Answer: One of the things I do is read about heavenly worship and try to imitate it. I use the same words that the citizens of heaven use to praise God, and I kneel or bow like they do when they worship the Lord.
During my worship of our Lord and Savior, I also take time to meditate on His amazing character and nature.
I believe it would be beneficial for you to find a way to practice living as if you were already in heaven, even before you get there.
YouTube Video
Today on my YouTube channel, I will be interviewing Rudy Ross about the topic of heavenly worship. Rudy has dedicated years to studying the book of Revelation, and his valuable insights will be beneficial for all of our viewers.
Real Voices 