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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Worship is Pleasureable Enjoyment of God

Jude 25 - "to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Excitement and joy over God
This focus on the Living Word, in the written Word, has caused Jude to break out in what theologians call – “a doxology”.  The word "doxology" is composed by two Greek words: "doxa" meaning "to think, to deem" and "logos" meaning "a word, matter or thing".  Thus in a "doxology" my praise of God flows from the highest thoughts of Him in my mind and the sweetest desire for Him in my heart.   It is when after writing about God that the author suddenly erupts in praise.  He cannot contain himself.  This future activity of God has broken into the present.  The Kingdom that is coming is also the Kingdom here.  It is now invisible, but will soon be made visible. 

All theology must lead to worship, or doxology
All theology, all doctrine, must lead to worship.  Think of this in terms of an ever-increasing cycle: theology leads to doxology which produces theology leading to even more doxology.  The pleasure of my joy derives from who God is, and is expressed in the three-fold description of God given in this text:

a. Before all time – My Creator
b. and now – My Redeemer
c. and Forever – My Soon coming King.

The Living Word Jesus Christ is revealed in this same fashion in Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Written Word, the Bible, can be summed up as being Beginning, creation – Genesis 1-2; Middle – all about redemption from sin – Genesis 3-Jude; and end – Revelation. 

The focus upon the Living Word causes great worship in Heaven both now (Isaiah 6) and forever (Revelation 4-5; 21-22).  The fulfillment of the written word cause joyful worship (Revelation 5).  Is it no wonder that Jude writes these words.  Even in his book, after writing about the grief caused by so many walking away from the faith, we see that for those who persevere and who plug into the Living Word through the Written Word, there will be ceaseless joy before His throne. 

Concluding thoughts
Thus we have considered Jude 24-25, considering how we as Christians can increase our joy from consideration of prophetic scripture.  We have note the following thoughts from Jude 24-25:

1. Power Source of your joy – The Word Jude 24a
2. Perseverance unto joy – The Word Jude 24b
2. Pleasure of joy: Worship – because of the Word. Jude 25

To God be the Glory both now and forever.  Amen!