and they are devising their own forms of wor shiping their self-created god. Having done this, they are bowing down to a god they have imagined in their own minds. Isaiah spoke about men who created objects of worship with their own hands and then fell down prostrate before them. Isaiah 2 :8 declares, “they worship the work o f their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.” Paul, in Romans 1 :25 described paganism, and said, “who changed the truth of God into a lie, and wor shipped and served the creature more than the Creator.” It is possible to be so religious, sincere and wrong! Even Jesus had to say to the woman of Samaria, “ ye worship ye know not what” (John 4:22). Are you sure that your worship is based on Truth rather than a sincere ignorance? WILL WORSHIP In Colossians 2 the apostle Paul is systemati cally sweeping away every false foundation that men have taken refuge in. He warned them of philosophy and vain deceit, legalistic traditions of men, a false mysticism which included “worship ping of angels,” and finally the evils of asceticism. After speaking about the evils of asceticism, he declares in Colossians 2:23, “which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and hu mility, and neglecting of the body; not in any hon our to the satisfying of the flesh.” Here Paul has been attempting to show that restrictions and pro hibitions in themselves do not curb the appetites o f the flesh. Paul labels this kind of rigorous ascet icism as “will worship.” That is, they were attempt ing to deal with the flesh by the flesh and Paul says it won’t work. Indeed, it gives an appearance of wisdom, humility, and bodily restraint, but the product is unsatisfying to the person and only “will worship” in the eyes of God. A godly life which is generated by the Holy Spirit is truly worship acceptable to God. Many there are today who are deceived by thinking that a multiplicity of church activity coupled with ascetic practices is equivalent to wor ship. TRUE WORSHIP In John 4:23 Jesus says, “ but the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall wor ship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” God is seek ing for worship but not vain worship, ignorant worship or will worship. He is seeking for true worship. The only acceptable worship is the kind described in John 4 :24 which says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” The little word “must” sug gests that He will not accept any other kind. This is the way of true worship. Taking this passage of Scripture and linking a few others to it, we will discover that there are at least four essential elements to true worship.
First, true worship must be directed to God alone, not just any god but the God revealed in the Bible. We worship a person and not a thing. In Isaiah 42:8 God declares, “ I will not give my glory to an other.” (cf. Exodus 34:14; Matthew 4:10; Revela tion 4:10, 11; 22:9). Second, true worship must be centered in Christ alone. Jesus has clearly spo ken in John 14:6, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (cf. 1 Tim. 2 :5 ; Hebrews 10:19-22). Worship that is not centered in the person and work of Jesus Christ is unacceptable to God. Third, true worship must be based on truth alone: John 4:24, “ they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” This probably means with sincer ity and in accordance with God’s Truth. Abel wor shipped according to truth and God accepted his offering; Cain worshipped according to false rea soning and God rejected his offering (cf. Genesis 4:1-7; Hebrews 11:4). Fourth, true worship must be generated by the Holy Spirit alone. This may be involved in John 4:24 but it is explicit in Phil- ippians 3 :3 where Paul says, “ for we are the cir cumcision, which worship God by the Spirit.” Our confidence must not be in the flesh but in the in dwelling Spirit who motivates and generates true worship to God. WHAT KIND OF WORSHIP IS YOURS? If you desire to worship God in a way which is acceptable to Him and soul satisfying for you, you must begin with Jesus Christ. It is o f Christ that God said, “ this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) We must be well pleased with Jesus Christ and approach God through no other name. Peter said, “ Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the un just, that he might bring us to God . . . ” (I Peter 3:18). Sinners are brought to God through per sonal faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then, as believers, we may approach the throne of God with boldness and worship Him in the proper way. The Psalmist said, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” (Psalm 95:6) And again, “ 0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:9) Q b I
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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