True Worship
TOPIC: TRUE WORSHIP
BIBLE TEXT: John 4:19-24; Revelation 4 & 5; Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Job 32:8; 33:4; 1 Thessalonian 5:23; Hebrews 4:12-13.
MEMORY VERSE: “God [is] a Spirit and those that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and truth”. John 4:24.
INTRODUCTION: The act – “WORSHIP” – is defined as the feeling or expression of reverence, devotion, veneration, exalting, glorifying, idolising, extolling, admiration, homage and adoration for God. In this study we want to consider the various ways people tend to worship as classified in the Scriptures – The Holy Bible. We will also consider what true worship is all about in the light of the Scriptures. These three ways are:
1. Vain Worship – Matthew 15;1-9
2. Ignorant Worship – Acts 17:22-31
3. True Worship – John 4:21-24
DISCUSSIONS:
1 VAIN WORSHIP:
a. Traditions of men (Idolatry (idol) worship: 1 Cor. 10:19-22; Deut. 18:9-14; 1 Cor. 12:1-3.
b. Unauthorised Doctrinal Acts of Worship: 2 John 7-11; Hebrews 6:1-6.
c. By adding or subtracting The Word of God: Rev. 22:18-19; Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6.
d. Worship of any but God – Luke 4:8. Remember Jesus ordeal with Satan temptation.
Compare what happened with the following men of God:
i. John v. Angel – Rev. 19:10; 22:6-9
ii. Paul and Barnabas – Acts 14:11-15
iii. Peter v. Cornelius – Acts 10:25-27. If these men of God and the Angel refused to be worship, why should we not worship men, or any creature or any other god.
Note: Matt. 4:10; Exodus 20:3-5; 34:14; Acts c8:9-25; 19-:11-20.
e. Not believing in resurrection – 1 Cor. 15:12-19; Acts 28:8; Matt. 22:23-33.
f. Observing special days and seasons, abstaining from certain foods that have been authorised by God to be eaten – Colossians 2:16-23; Acts 10:9-15; Isaiah 1:10-17; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23-33.
2. IGNORANT WORSHIP:
a. Without understanding – Acts 17:22-31; Rom. 10:14; (Prov. 13:15; 21:16). Cornelius the Centuration feared and worship God in Ignorance until in answer to his prayers, God asked him to send for Peter for more education and understanding on what is in worshipping the true God. Acts 10:1-48.
b. Compare Paul’s statement in 1 Tim. 1:3-7. He acted and behaved the way he did out of ignorance until Jesus appeared to him and changed him. Note his words in verse 12. Note also Paul’s address to Athenians in Acts 17:2-32.
3. TRUE WORSHIP:
True worship must be in spirit and truth – John4:19-24. It must be in all good conscience – Acts 23:1; 24:16. Compare Luke 16:15 and Prov. 14:12, and judge yourself whether you have been worshipping God in spirit according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and in truth void of guilty conscience – because our true God searches the heart and knows them that actually worship Him in spirit and in truth. Note: John 4:24; Jeremiah7:10; Rev. 2:23
4. ACTS OF WORSHIP:
a. Preaching and Teaching as worship:
i. Go and Teach – Mark 16:15; Luke 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20.
ii. Ceased not to teach and preach – Acts 5:42
iii. Preach everywhere – Acts 8:4
iv. Preach Jesus – Acts 8;35; 2 Cor. 4:5
v. Preach the Gospel – 1 Cor. 15;1-4; Rom. 15;19; Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Cor. 9:16-18.
vi. Teach things Commanded – 1 Tim. 4:11.
vii. Teach the Doctrine of Christ – 1 Tim. 6:3.
b. Praying as Worship:
i. Jesus taught his disciples to pray – Matt. 6;5-15; Luke 11;1-4; 1 Cor. 14;15; Col. 3:17.
ii. Pray always and everywhere – 1 Thess 5:12-19; 1 Tim. 2:8; Luke 18:1
iii. Pray for all in authority – 1 Tim. 2:1-5.
c. Singing/Praises as Worship:
i. How to sing – 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-21
ii. What to sing – Hymns of Praises – Matt. 26;30; Mark 14:26;
iii. Teach and admonish by singing – Col. 3:16-17.
iv. Sing and praise with the instrument – Psalm 149; 150.
Note: Moses worshipped God by singing after crossing the Red Sea as could be seen in Exodus 15:1-18. Miriam the choir-mistress song could also be seen in Exodus 15:20-21. David act of could all be summed and found in the Psalms book of the Bible.
d. Giving as Worship:
i. Self First – 2 Cor. 8:1-5; Matt. 6:33.
ii. Christians of old contributed – 1 Cor. 16:1-2.
iii. How to contribute and be blessed – 2 Cor. 9:6-9
iv. Contributing proves your love and commitment – 2 Cor. 9:13-15. Compare Abraham – Gen. 22:1-12; Abel – Gen. 4:4; Hebrews 4:4.
v. Our Tithes and substances – Mal. 3:8-10; Prov. 2:9-10; Luke 8:1-3.
e. The Lord’s Supper as Worship:
i. It is an institution and faith ordinance – Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22; Luke 22;7.
ii. Do not abuse it – 1 Cor. 11:17-22;
iii. Manner of Observing – 1 Cor. 11:23-24.
CONCLUSION:
A true child of God owes it as a duty to worship God and God alone and this must be in spirit and in truth. The Word of God should be the only basis for a Christian faith, since in it alone man found the commands and guidance as to the worship of God. Vain and ignorant worship deprives man of the entry to heaven and God’s presence. If heaven is your goal avoid vain and ignorant worship and make a bold decision now to worship God in spirit and in truth. See to it that you involve yourself in all the various acts of worship for your blessings.
MEMORY VERSE:
“God is a Spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” John 4:24.
Compiled by Revd Chukie MORSI
