July 25, 2004

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Mural Worthey

Hopewell, Virginia

Introduction

This message serves as an introduction to the Area-Wide Fellowship Gospel Meeting this week, July 25-30, 2004. Our theme is "Great Worship Scenes in the Bible," from both the Old and New Testaments.

One writer said, "Worship is the highest and most noble activity of which man, by the grace of God, is capable." (John Stott) "Worship renews the spirit as sleep renews the body." (Richard Clarke Cabot) "It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve." (Matt. 4:10.) "God is Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24.) "O come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand." (Psalm 95:6-7.) "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:29.)

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, has much to say about worship and, specifically, who should be worshipped. The word worship occurs 15 times and worshipped occurs 9 times in Revelation. It tells us both who should be worshipped and who should not be worshipped.

Who should not be worshipped. The issue in this book is the worship of the image of Caesar (the beast). Christians refused to bow down before his image and they were being persecuted. "As many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed," are the chilling words of Revelation 13:15. Further, "And he caused all, both small and great, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (13:16-17.)

"And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." (Rev. 19:20.) Repeatedly in Revelation, the discussion occurs about worshipping the image of the beast. This is a central problem for the Christians.

Secondly, angels are more prevalent in John’s Revelation than in most books of the Bible. Perhaps, it is because the scenes in this book are from heaven where angels dwell. John is often shown scenes in heaven by angels. John was once so overwhelmed by what he saw that he fell at the feet of one angel to worship him. The angel rebuked John by saying, "See thou do it not. I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10.)

We could also add that no one should worship Satan, the Devil, or the red dragon. Yet some were doing just that. "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast. And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Rev. 13:4.)

Good men, good angels and good leaders will always refuse to be worshipped by men. But the Devil, bad men and leaders, wicked angels seek the adoration and praise of men.

Who should be worshipped. The angel who refused John’s worship made it clear that only God, Deity, should be worshipped. He said simply and powerfully, Worship God. (Rev. 19:10.) Deity includes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In chapter 4, the living creatures and 24 elders fall before the throne of God and worship Him. Jesus is introduced in chapters 1 and 5. John fell before him at his feet. (1:17.) In chapter 5, the same living creatures in heaven and the 24 elders worshipped the Lamb as they had worshipped the Father earlier. They cried, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing." And they fell down and worshipped him that lives forever and ever. (5:12-14.)

"For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgement to the Son. That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which hath sent him." (John 5:22-23.) It is right in every way that we worship the Son of God because he is divine.

The Hebrew writer said, "And let all the angels of God worship him." (Heb. 1:6.) "But unto the Son, he said, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." (Heb. 1:8.) When Jesus was born, he was called Immanuel, which means God with us. (Matt. 1:23.) Jesus is described as the Creator in Scripture. "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, dominions, principalities or powers. All things were created by him and for him." (Col. 1:15-16.)

It is important that we worship only Deity, or God, because who or what we worship affects us. Man is by nature a worshipping creature. Wherever man has been found, evidence of his altars of worship has likewise existed. If the knowledge of God does not exist and man does not know how to worship God, man will worship someone or something in someway or another. And what he worships and how he does it has a direct and powerful affect upon him.

It has often been said that "man is assimilated to the object he worships and can never be superior to it." In polytheistic cultures, man often has worshipped gods that were sinful and ignorant. The worshipper would often make fun of the god that he worshipped. Worship of such a god can never lift man from his sin and ignorance. Often the pagan worship was done due to fear, instead of love. That difference alone has a profound affect upon the worshipper. What if, after some scientific investigations, man found out that there was another reason why his cattle got sick and died? Then, he would stop worshipping that god. What if he worshipped a sinful god who had many goddesses? In all likelihood, he would behave in a similar way.

The worship of the true and living God of heaven has a beneficial effect upon the worshipper. It lifts him upward and makes him a better person. As he worships, he is conformed into the image of God’s Son. Worship changes the heart and mind from within. Look at the character of those who worship Allah and follow Mohammed who is said to be the prophet of Allah. Those worshippers can never rise higher than the sinful prophet that they follow. He practiced polygamy and violence; so do they. He robbed others of their wealth; so do they. He despised earthly life and desired to go to Paradise to further his carnal passions; so do they. The worshipper can not rise higher or be superior to the One that he follows and worships.

Over the centuries, the powerful influence of Christ in our hearts cannot be measured. Yes, it is true that some insincerely follow Jesus. Some Christians live carnally and are even past feeling. Paul rebuked all those by saying, You do not so learn this from Christ! (Eph. 4:20.) The worship of God, the Son and Holy Spirit has the potential of recreating us into God’s image.

Because of the power of what we do in worship upon us, Paul urged the Corinthians to "let all things be done unto edifying." (1 Cor. 14:26.) And "seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church." (1 Cor. 14:12.)

Man will invariably worship something or someone. By man’s very nature, something is important to man. Something will become his idol, if God is not honored in his life.

Covetousness is idolatry according to the Bible. This is a broad concept referring to the desire for things. "For we know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Eph. 5:5.) ". . . and covetousness which is idolatry." (Col. 3:5.) Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24.) "Serve" is from douleuein, which means to be in bondage to, to give yourself in service. "My little children keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21.)

Some men worship man, his intellectual ability and wealth and status. Man, finding none greater than himself, worships himself. Satan desires the worship of men. Many can and do, even unwittingly, worship the Devil. They love the world and worldliness. They live carnally and wickedly.

The prophets of Israel blasted idolatry among the Israelites. God had commanded through Moses that they must not make images to worship. The first three of the Ten Commandments were about God and worshipping Him. They are: 1) You shall no other gods besides me. 2) You shall not make for yourself a carved or graven image of a god. 3) You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (Exodus 20:1-7.) Isaiah 44 reveals the folly of making idols. (Isa. 44:8-20.) He describes the work of the blacksmith and carpenter who makes idols to worship. From the same tree that he carves an idol, he uses the wood to build a fire and cook his food and warm himself! Out of the residue of the wood, he makes a god to worship.

The prophet Jeremiah likewise showed the folly of idol-making. (Jer. 10:1-11.) He said that they cut down a tree with an axe and cover the wooden idol with silver and gold. They fasten the god with nails so that it will not move or fall over. It cannot speak and must be borne from place to place. The idol cannot do evil or good. The false god did not create earth and heaven. What kind of image did they make? We know that they made golden cows like the one Aaron made for Israel at Sinai. They worshipped the brazen snake that Moses made in the wilderness, until it was finally destroyed by Hezekiah. (Numbers 21 and 2 Kings 18:1-4.) Paul wrote that when men reject God they will make images like to corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts and creeping things. (Rom. 1:23.) Israel fell also to the worship of the Zodiac, the signs of the heavens—worshipping the sun, moon and stars. (2 Kings 17:16, Jer. 19:13, Ezek. 8:16.) They worshipped the hosts of heaven inside the temple in Jerusalem!

They worshipped the idols by pouring out libations, by fire, first fruits, tithes and placing food before them in their temples for them to eat. The foolish worshippers thought that their gods actually ate the food and drank the wine. (See Bel and the Dragon.) Sometimes they kissed the idol or threw them kisses. Others cut themselves with knives. The worship included dancing in the temple of the god around the image. Some had household images or gods called teraphim. Rachel took the household images from her father Laban’s house when Jacob left with his two wives, Leah and Rachel. (Genesis 31.)

Many have defended the practice of images and bowing before them. But there is no defense for it. The individual god that the image represents does not exist. If it does not exist, then before whom or what are you bowing, except the lifeless image? Another may say, but this image helps me to think about the real God of heaven and earth. But that God has said that you shalt not make unto thee any graven and carved image. Why? Because there is danger and harm that comes from so representing God by wood and metal. Any earthly image makes God less than he is. It lowers who God is and harms the worshipper in the process.