The worship of God must be in truth

    True worship must be in truth

Worshiping the Lord in truth is paramount because Jesus Himself stated clearly, “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Truth in every sense of the word refers to the entirety of God`s word and as Jesus plainly stated in His prayer to the Father “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 4:22-24; Psalms 119:160; John 17:19).

Therefore, any form of worship that is not ordained or supported by the word of God is futile, hence the reason why the Lord said, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD." I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:11-15).

Unfortunately, not too many of us are well established, rooted and built up in Christ and established in the faith, we are easily tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, despite the fact that we have been forewarned saying; “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Regardless of how dynamic or charismatic a speaker may be, or how elegant is the presentation and the ovation one receives, the crux of the matter is, unless it is in accordance to the prescribed laws of God it is all in vain, because the crux and the root cause of the matter is that of worship which must be in truth.

The worship of God which is the expression of our love, gratitude and thanksgiving to Him is the main objective of our existence and the greatest challenge we face in life is how and to whom this love, respect, gratitude and adoration is expressed. It is not that God is in any contest with anyone, but there is a being that is in competition with God whose quest and desire is to be worshiped just as God is worshiped.

Remember, when Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, he took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And the devil said to Jesus, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve." (Matthew 4:8-10).

This quest and desire of Satan to be worshiped just as God is worshiped began long before God created man in His image and likeness and gave them dominion over the earth, for we have been duly informed of the fall of Lucifer, stating; “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ' I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) of God: I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”  Jesus confirmed the fall of Satan by saying; “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 10:18).

Satan`s quest and desire to be worshiped just as God is worshiped was orchestrated because of his original perfection in beauty and wisdom, for thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.”

 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.”

“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom it for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you” (Ezekiel 28:12-18).

Therefore, when time, day, occasions and protocols are associated with worship, they all have to be in accordance and in agreement with the stipulated laws which governs the particular subject because, the Lord`s appointed time inclusive of day, occasions and protocols are all memorials to give glory and honor to the Lord for what was done and when it was done on behalf of humanity and to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Lord.

Therefore, when the focus and the rationale for a particular time, day or occasion to worship is altered substituted or blatantly rejected for another time, day or occasion this signifies that the substitute or what is altered is far superior than the original and systematically the credit, the praise, the honor, and the glory is diverted from the originator to the one who transforms it and that is definitely vain worship and a provocation to jealousy.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph