Worship
1. God never
accepted in His worship the efforts of man or the imitations of self-will. But
He gave a system of beautiful and instructive forms to Israel, who had the law
till Christ came to Whom they all pointed, and Who superseded all by a
fulfillment which more than accomplished all. For Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness to everyone that believes.[i]
1. To worship “in
spirit” is to worship according to the true nature of God, and in the power of
that communion which the Spirit of God gives. Spiritual worship is thus in
contrast with forms and ceremonies, and all the religiousness of which the
flesh is capable. To worship God “in truth,” is to worship Him according to the
revelation which He has given of Himself.[ii]
2.
And what is worship but thanksgiving and praise?
Thanksgiving for what God has done in Christ and gives freely to us who
believe; praise for what we know by His word and Spirit He is, not only to us,
but in Himself, His majesty, holiness, truth, goodness, mercy, love, and
delight in us, the eternal self-existing One, now revealed as Father, Son and
Holy Ghost?[iii]
3.
Christian worship is
the expression of the heart’s joy, of its perfect satisfaction in Christ, of
conscious nearness to our God and Father, as children beloved.[iv]
4.
It is no question
whether I can be accepted or not, but coming with Christ in my hand I come by
Him, as having offered Himself, in the consciousness that my soul is occupied
with that which is Gods highest delight.[v]
5.
This is what we have
to look at in our worship: we should be enjoying more what God has brought us
into. We have to watch that our worship should not be only the remembrance of
what we have been brought out of, but the enjoyment of that into which we have
been brought.[vi]