TOPIC: TRUE WORSHIP
TEXT: Matthew 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child… ”
INTRODUCTION:One of the group of people that visited to pay homage to the King of kings at His birth place – the manger in Bethlehem were the Magi popularly called the wise men. There were not mean men, they were renowned, they were rich, they were highly respected, they were resourceful and were reliable men in the society.
Such that when their throng entered Jerusalem, the whole city was moved because of them. But these men (though we don’t know how many they were exactly) left all they had including their brethren, sisters, wives, fathers, mothers, children, lands and houses and came to Jerusalem with just one purpose – to worship He that was born king.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:1-2).
They left the east because the DAYSPRING from on high hath visited us (Luke 1:78). Why were they in the east? Maybe they had learned by study that the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS would arise, (Malachi 4:2) so, they located themselves in the geographically in the rising of the SUN (EAST) so that when the SUN of Righteousness rises, They would have the priviledge of being the first to see Him.
Though they did not see the SUN of Righteousness rising from the east, but they saw His Star-the bright and morning star in the East. They left all just for one purpose to WORSHIP HIM that was born King… from ages to ages God is seeking for TRUE WORSHIPERS “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” “God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Thus, these men came from the east all the way to the west to Jerusalem in particular seeking Him that was born King, not to seek His attention, not to seek His favour or help, not to be admitted into His cabinent members or get a position or title from Him, not to get anything from Him, they came just to “WORSHIP HIM”
These men were true worshippers that worship God in Spirit and in truth, so, what are the elements of true worship?
- Leaving All:-As exemplified by the wise men, a true worshipper must leave all He had and come to Him (Mark 10:29-31).
- Come Into The House:-You can not worship the King from afar. The great American Musician Don Meon said “…I don’t want to worship you from afar, draw me near to thee”. True worship is not at the outer court wherein is the laver and the brazen altar. It is not at the inner court of the Holies. But at the inner – most court of the Holy of Holies. That is the place of unveiling, where the veil is done away with,and to come into the innermost court requires holiness. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD (the innermost place – the Holy of Holies)?” or who shall stand in His holy place? “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4). So, when the wise men arrived Bethlehem by the leading of the star rejoicing with great joy, they did not stay outside the house to worship but, they came into the house. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down, and Worshipped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:10-11). The wise men came into the house where the King was. The journey took them about two years (Matt. 2:16) during which time they had passed through the furnace of the Lord thereby refining and purifying them as gold and silver. “And who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and He shall Purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness”(Malachi 3:2-3).
Thus, as refined, purified and purged men they came “into the house, they saw (because the eyes of sinful men His glory cannot see) the King of Kings in His beauty – the young child with Mary His mother…” Please note that He was “the young Child with many His mother”. It was the child that is the object of worship, it was the child that is the object of worship, it was the child that is the object of worship, it was the child that brought the wise men (and every other visitor), every attention was on the child and not the mother, for without the young child, Mary the mother had no relevance “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child….”
- Saw The Young Child:-There is a need for a true worshipper to see no other person but the King only. “And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only” (Matthew 17:8).
The wisemen did not see themselves or any other person but saw Jesus only. You cannot be seeing another man and be a true worshipper for no man can serve two masters simultaneously. Until Christ Jesus become your only object of worship, you are not yet a true worshipper. As long as you are seeing you G.O; your Bishop, your Papa, your Reverend, your Pastor, your Apostle, your Daddy or your Mama or Mummy, you are not a true worshipper.
You may sing soloriously like Nightingale and even shed tears, hear me, you are just a mere entertainer and not a true worshipper. A true worshipper is completely blind to him or herself, blind to every other person. He or she can only see God – the King sitting on the throne of majesty on high. “And when they… saw the young child, …..and fell down,…. ”(Matthew 2:11).
- And Fell Down:-This is the cruse of the matter of worship. “And… they….FELLDOWN…”There is too much pride, arrogance, self – exaltation today in the lives of most (Not just many) believers, that true worship is hardly found in our Churches. And going through the scriptures you will discover that each time the issue of worship is mentioned in the Bible, there is obeisance, in the Spirit of humility with buried self. “And fell down” means “we bury ourselves”. That ‘I’ in them, the Mr. Flesh was buried first before the worship of the King of Kings. This is where many find it very difficult in worship. They come into the presence of the King of Kings, as kings so they cannot truly worship Him. Some others come before the king of glory with their glories; their affluence, their influence, their achievements, their successes, their excellencies, their laurels, their crowns and royalty with their royal apparels. They come with all they are and with all they have; their positions and possessions, their titles and testimonials thus, finding it difficult to fall down before the king of all the earth. “And immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne” “And He that sat wasto look upon like a Jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting clothed in white raiment; and they had on their leads crowns of gold.” “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God”. “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind” “……And when the four beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne who liveth forever and ever, “The four and twenty eldersFALL 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 (Revelation 4:2-11).
We see from this worship episode in heaven that the wise men followed the same order they fell down, and worshipped the King of kings, Do you feel too big to fall down before the King to worship Him? Do you consider what you are putting on in your worship? Do you consider people around you in your worship? What they would say or think about you? Please, remember David how he worshipped God (2 Samuel 6:13-16).
When you stand, and worship, or you atimes even put you hands in your pocket before your Maker, are you finding it difficult to prostrate before your maker, you cannot roll on the ground before your maker, than you are not a true worshippers. “…..fall down…” implies humility, submission and surrenderdness, selflessness and sobriety. “Andfell down and worshipped… ” some people before they were titled, were true worshippers, they could roll on the ground before their maker, but because of their titles now, they find it difficult to throw away their titles “and fall down” to worship the King. Some because of their position they can no longer prostrate before the King of glory. Yet the twenty – four elders “fall down” from their throne to worship the owner of the heavens and the earth. To fall down is to empty self, to pour out every iota of self, the Mr. or Mrs. I in you, to create room for the LORD.” In worship you don’t create room for two but one only and that is the Lord Jesus. Him only and alone should be your focus in worship. Then you can “fall down and worship Him” “…..and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and Myrrh” (Matt. 2:11). This is another element of worship. Until you begin to see your gifts, your giving as part of your gifts, your giving as part of your worship of the majesty on high, your worship is not complete. It is note worthy that the way giving is emphasized and compelled is wrong and unscriptural.
Everyone that forces people either by crooks or cunny ways or even by compulsion is not doing the work of God. The practice of making people to pledge what they don’t have or forcing them to part with what they have is wickedness. Some go to the extent of collecting even to wrist watches and handsets. Every giving that is not done willingly, carefully is not an act of worship, and thus, unacceptable before God. “for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (2 Corinthians 8:12). I wonder if these men read not to even talk of study their in context.
The owner of the Church said this is the way He wants it done compellingly or cajolingly, it is not acceptable to God. If you have psyche your congregants before you get them to give, it is absolutely unacceptable to God. “Everyman according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth acheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
If a man purposes in his heart before leaving his house to give a certain amount say for instance 100, but coming to the programme, he was psyched or coerced or cajoled to give more than that. The only acceptable of his giving is that he purposed in his mind to give. Whatever he gives above that because of the coercion or psyching is not acceptable is unacceptable before God.
It’s a pity some of these so called ‘MOG’know this truth, yet they still continue in the errant nonsense. Then, every giving acceptable before God apart from a willing mind, must be according to that a man has, and not according to that he has not (2 Corinth. 8:12).
Please, stop forcing people to pledge what they cannot afford. Stop forcing people to give to enrich your pockets. Remember you will give account of yourstewardship one day. Are you part of those that collect all that the people have and you still go ahead to collect that they don’t have?You will give account one day. When God spoke to me concerning building according to pattern and He listed the issue of giving according to His word as part of the pattern, I was thinking how would we go about ministry without emphasizing on giving? Nevertheless, I went ahead to obey Him, mine is to obeyby teaching the people the whole counsel of God and pray for them. Get them to live a godly live, get them prosperous and teach them the ways of God. And honestly God has been very faithful, though its sometimes very rough yet, he never, never fail.
People should know that giving is part of worship. “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barn be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Prov. 3:9-10). Your giving is part of your worship. You give your substance just like the women mentioned in Luke 8:2-3, Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife ofChuza Herod’s steward, Susanna and Many others which ministered to the Lord of their substance. These they did voluntarily, willingly and cheerfully. This is the type of giving that attracts God’s blessing.
You don’t need to be coerced or compelled or psyched before you give. “…and when they had opened their treasures…”. These were men of renown and well to do, not those finding it difficult to eat or make ends meet who in actual fact needs church help, they were to be ministered to by the church and not them bringing from their penury. “They opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts…” from their treasure not their penury.
“They opened their treasures, they presented to them gifts…” not the left over of their spending. If God has blessed you, He expects you to worship Him in return by giving Him from your treasures not the left over or change from your spending. “They opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts, gold, frankincense and Myrrh” they brought out the best from their treasures, you are to give God the best from your earnings, in fact in worship God deserves our best in everything, that is true worship!