Christian, whom do you worship? This may seem a very plain question to you; but I mean it. You answer, perhaps: I worship GOD as everybody else does, of course. Well, I answer, if you get to the heart of many of the so-called worshippers, who fill the churches of Christendom, they do not worship at all. GOD is not in all their thoughts. I know this is not true of the Christian; but it is on this very account that he should he able to answer the question: Whom do I worship?
It is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD thy GOD, and HIM only shalt thou serve.
See also Matt.11:25:
At that time JESUS answered and said, I thank thee, O FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
He worshiped the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew a God and Father who had blessed him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, and the consequence was that an upward stream of adoration and praise went back to that God who had thus let His streams of grace flow down into his heart.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Peter knew a God and Father who had begotten Him again by the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and this thought so filled him with praise that the upward stream of worship flowed back to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ who had thus so blessed him.
And who is this wonderful Being whom we are called to worship? Hear what a voice answers: —
And straightway coming up out of the water he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him; And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mark 1:10, 1110And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mark 1:10‑11)).
Here the Trinity is revealed; the Father, the Son, and the Spirit; three unmistakable persons, yet as He said of old,
The seraphims veil their faces before Him, and say unceasingly, Holy, Holy, Holy (Isa. 6:2, 32Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:2‑3)). The four and twenty elders fall down and worship him, crying out,
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 (Rev. 4:10, 1110The four and twenty elders fall 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, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:10‑11)).
The Son, however, must have equal honor, for by him were all things created (Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)).
He is the SAVIOUR GOD also, who hath saved us, through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
As one of feeble mind (but who had the wisdom of God), once said when called on to describe the Trinity: —
Three in One
And
One in Three,
And the Man in the Middle
He Died for Me,
And the Man in the Middle
Is the Man for Me.
Reader, here is the God you are called on not to reason about, but to bow your head to and adore.
But, again, what is this God whom the Lord Jesus (as man), Paul and Peter worshiped and adored, and whom you and I are likewise called to worship and adore?
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
He is a God that cannot have fellowship with evil, so that if we (Christians) say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. (See 1 John 1:5, 65This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (1 John 1:5‑6).)
Is that the God you worship? Then take care you don’t walk in darkness yourself, nor worship with those with whom God can have no fellowship.
But, again, what is this God whom we are called to worship?
God is love,
and,
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:8-108He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8‑10)).
Is this the God you worship? Do you know a God who is in himself love? who loved you as an ungodly one, who, when you were yet a sinner, gave Christ to die for you; who, when you were still an enemy, reconciled you to Himself by His Son’s death? Then joy in such a God fully revealed (Rom. 5:6: 11). Worship Him with full confidence yourself and in company with those who have the like confidence because they know Him.
But again, I ask you, fellow believer, whom do you worship? The Lord, speaking to the poor woman of Samaria, in John 4:2121Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (John 4:21), said to her,
The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father.
The Father’s name was presented to this poor sinner, as the object for the adoring worship of her heart when renewed by His grace. It drew her on, doubtless; for what is so sweet to an orphan heart as the Father’s name? but still she could not, and did not understand it then. The hour was coming, however, when she should know it. It was only then known to the Son. Even the disciples, who were the constant companions of Jesus, did not understand the Father’s name when revealed to them before the cross (see John 14:7, 107If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. (John 14:7)
10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)), though they had been taught to say it in a form of prayer (Matt. 6:9-139After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9‑13)). No, dear reader, Jesus must die and rise again, before He can associate any with Himself in this new revealed relationship of children of God; as he said,
He must die and rise again, I say, before he can appear to Mary Magdalene, and say,
He must also ascend to heaven, and the Holy Ghost come down, before the newly-made sons (John 20:17, 2217Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)
22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:22)) could cry, Abba, Father.
Do you see, dear reader, that the Father’s name can only be known and adored by sons? Your natural father’s name is only known as such to his own family. So it is only those who are accepted in the beloved, who really know the Father’s name. His name is only held in honour amongst the sons. Jesus said,
Are you, beloved reader, worshiping in an assembly in which the Lord Jesus is free to lead His people’s praises and is declaring the Father’s name in the midst of the assembled brethren?
“Abba, Father,” we approach Thee,
In our Saviour’s precious name;
We, Thy children, here assembling,
Now the promised blessing claim;
From our guilt His blood has washed us,
’Tis through Him our souls draw nigh;
And Thy Spirit too has taught us,
“Abba, Father,” thus to cry.
Once as prodigals we wandered,
In our folly far from Thee;
But Thy grace, o’er sin abounding,
Rescued us from misery;
Thou the prodigal hast pardoned,
“Kissed us” with a Father’s love;
“Killed the fatted calf,” and called us
E’er to dwell with Thee above.
Clothed in garments of salvation,
At Thy table is our place;
We rejoice, and Thou rejoicest,
In the richness of Thy grace.
“It is meet,” we hear Thee saying,
“We should merry be and glad;
I have found my once lost children,
Now they live who once were dead.”
“Abba, Father!” we adore Thee,
While the hosts in heaven above
E’en in us now learn the wonders
Of Thy wisdom, grace, and love.
Soon before Thy throne assembled,
All Thy children shall proclaim
Abba’s love as shown in Jesus,
And how full is Abba’s name!