1. True worship is to worship God in
spirit
The
third distinctive aspect of vain worship is when it is not done in spirit. And to
worship in spirit denotes that, no physical object should be associated with
the worship of God because it is tantamount to committing idolatry, for thus
says the Lord; “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the
LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly
and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness
of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the
likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything
that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water
beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when
you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel
driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all
the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage” (Deuteronomy
4:15-19).
Worship
in spirit also implies worshiping God wholeheartedly, with a clean clear
conscience, and so the admonition is, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
It
must also be from one’s own volition, not under any compulsion, coercion or grudgingly
but willingly from the heart fully convinced in one’s own mind, because God
loves a cheerful giver. Worshiping in spirit is not merely feelings and
emotions for thus says the Lord “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not
do the things which I say?” Faith requires works, because faith without works
is dead.
Worshiping
God in spirit also denotes having the intent, and precise objective for
observing the day that is set aside for worship and applying the protocol that
is associated with all forms of true worship as we have been duly admonished
saying; “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holyconvocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering
and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day
---besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows,
and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD” (Leviticus
23:37-38).
The
heart and core of all true worship is to offer the Lord the food for His
offerings as we have been duly instructed saying; “Command the children of
Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as
a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time” (Numbers
28:2).
To
anyone who is skeptical or doubtful of the appointed times should consider the
fact that, in the Old Testament the people were observing and celebrating the
copy and shadow of the reality, but we now have the reality, therefore, our
focus must be centered on Jesus Christ the reality and how these appointed
times are applicable to Him and gives honor and glory to Him as the Lord.
To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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