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Object of Worship in Christianity- The Truth about the Correct Object

<p class="ser"Object of Worship in Christianity — Many act as though the correct object of our worship is ourselves. A diligent study of the scriptures shows that this cannot be. God reigns supreme and is to be worshipped alone.

Proposition: We want to study the Pattern of Worship. Our pattern of worship must have the correct object. That this object is not ourselves, nor our fellow man, but it is God.

Subject: Worship

Title: The Object of Worship

Objective: Everyone should be able to understand that the only true object of that worship is God and reject all other efforts to worship other things.

Aim: To impress upon each hearer the necessity of letting God define our worship.

Introduction:

1. Read: Psalm 95:6-7 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker: For he is our God, And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day, oh that ye would hear his voice!” ASV 1901

2. About the Text:

1) We find in this verse the correct object of our worship – Jehovah.

2) We find in this verse the correct attitude of worship – prostrating ourselves before God.

3) We find in these verses the foundation for the correct action in worship – hearing His voice!

3. Read John 4:24

1) We find the correct object of worship – God who is a Spirit.

2) We find the correct attitude of worship – Worship in spirit.

3) We find the foundation for correct action in worship – Truth.

4. Definition of worship.

1) Literally the greek word (proskuneo) means “kissing toward one in reverence.”

2) “The reverent love and allegience accorded a diety.” American Heritage Dictionary

3) “To honor or reverence a divine being .” Websters.

4) “Make obeisance to the gods or their images” Liddel and Scott Classic Greek Lexicon

5) In the New Testament, those sole actions in which the Christian engages so as to specifically show reverence, obeisance, and honor directly unto God the Father, His Son Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

DISCUSSION: [ discussion of this sermon on the object of worship in christianity ]

I.   The Object of Worship is NOT Ourselves

1. Some view it as Pop Psychology

1) They see it as an opportunity for self-help.

2) They say that it is just for me.

3) Many today comfort themselves with thoughts of guardian angels and such thinking that God takes care of them this way.

4) Colossians 2:18 “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”

2. Some view worship as a form of personal entertainment.

1) They see it as an opportunity for self-satisfaction.

2) They want to be distracted and entertained.

3) Have you noticed recently what the “big churches” are offering today?

4) In contrast, the psalmist writes, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” Psalm 96:9.

5) Holy worship is worship that is sanctified and set apart for the express object of God.

a. It involves holiness.

b. Holiness is beautiful before God-NOT BEFORE MAN!

c. It involves fear.

3. Some view worship as a form of self expression.

1) They see it as a form of self-fulfillment.

2) They want to express themselves with their talents.

3) How can you worship when you are concerned about giving a performance???

4) I would rather be a most dull and boring preacher who worships God than someone who is interesting to listen to but causes in the minds of those who listen to think that they are being entertained.

5) Isn’t this the Naaman mentality? “I thought that he would do some great thing.”

6) God does not need us to express ourselves in worship.

7) We see some in Acts 17:23-25 who thought they needed to express themselves in worship. “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”

a. God is not worshipped in men’s temples.

b. God is not worshipped with men’s hands.

c. Should we not simply worship God as he wants us to worship Him?

4. Remember the definition of worship.

1) To what are we giving reverence?

2) To what are we giving allegiance?

3) To what are we honoring?

4) To what are we doing obeisance?

II.  The Object of Worship is NOT our Fellow Man.

1. Some actually exalt and worship men falsely. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

1) Why some would think they can get away with this, I do not know.

2) Even the apostles understood that they were not objects of worship.

3) Acts 10:25, 26 “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

4) If there were any mere man who would ever have been an object of worship, would it not have been these men?

5) Yet there are some today (one in particular) who believes that He is greater than the apostles and allows men to worship him.

2. Some view worship as a big social club thinking that they make the rules and regulations thereof.

1) They convene great bodies of people to vote on what and who leads in worship.

2) They add or take away anything they want to worship.

3) This is exactly what the Pharisees tried to do.

4) Matthew 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

5) One of the saddest stories I ever heard was in regard to the undoing of the first church in Eureka springs.

a. According to those who know, the old historical stone church was once the church of Christ.

b. However, due to a VOTE on how the worship should be held, it was taken over by the Christian church and the instrument of music was brought in.

c. When are we ever going to learn that God’s worship cannot be voted on?

3. Some view worship as merely a way to help others with earthly problems.

1) These believe in the “social gospel.”

2) The Salvation Army is a proponent of this type of religion.

3) If you solve all of man’s physical needs, then he will worship God correctly.

4) But we read in the scriptures that we are to worship God regardless of what our physical status is. Psalm 69:29-34 “But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.”

5) Also, why do the angels worship God? “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Hebrews 1:6.

6) Worship is NOT simply a way to help others with their earthly problems.

III. The Object of Worship IS GOD.

1. He is deserving of worship because he is holy.

1) Psalm 99:5 “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.”

2) Psalm 99:9 “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.”

3) Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

4) We worship God simply because He is WORTHY of worship.

2. Nothing else is deserving of worship.

1) Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

2) Rev. 15:4 “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

3. Not even angels are worthy of worship. Rev.22:8-9 “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

4. Hear the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 3:28 “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.”

Conclusion: [ end of this sermon on the object of worship in christianity ]

1. Let’s remember the true object of worship.

1) The object of our worship is not self.

2) The object of our worship is not our fellow man.

3) The object of our worship is God.

2. Invitation