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KNOWING THE LORD AND HIS WILL Bible Course Lesson 6 By Paul O. Nichols Christian Worship God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).Other Kinds Of Worship Vain worship But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines thecommandments of men (Matthew 15:9).Ignorant worship Jesus said, Ye worship ye know not what (John 4:22). Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you (Acts 17:22-23).Will worship Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not, taste not, handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body... (Colossians 2:20-23).True Worship 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).God, The Object Of True Worship Worship God (Revelation 22:9). Thou shalt have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3). THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE (Matthew 4:10).Scriptural Worship Offered In The Name Of Christ Jesus said, ...No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me (John 14:6). And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (Colossians 3:17).Right Place Of Worship The children of Israel were told by Moses, Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee (Deuteronomy 12:13-14). There is also a place that Christians are to worship. The apostle Paul said, Unto Him be glory in the church throughout all ages, world without end (Ephesians 3:21). When ye come together in the church... (I Corinthians 11:18). When ye come together therefore into one place... (I Corinthians 11:20). Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together... (Hebrews 10:25).Day Of True Worship And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them... (Acts 20:7). Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him... (I Corinthians 16:2). John said, I was in the spirit on the Lord s day (Revelation 1:10). The first day of the week is the Lord's day.Acts Of True Worship Not only must Christians worship in spirit (with the right attitude), but also in truth (according to the word of God). The right attitude is an attitude of sincerity and conscientious homage, ...Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28). To worship in truth is to worship as the scriptures instruct in order to please God. ...Thy word is truth (John 17:17).Singing Speaking to yourselves in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). ...Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). History tells us that it was over 600 years after Christ had built His church that instrumental music was introduced (about 666 A.D.) into Christian worship by a man called Pope Vitalian. When it (an organ) caused dissension in the Roman Catholic church, it was removed, but many years later it was reintroduced, and this time it stayed. And today most denominational churches have accepted the use of instrumental music in their worship to God.Teaching If therefore the whole church be come together into one place... (I Corinthians 14:23). ...Let all things be done unto edifying (I Corinthians 14:26). ...Faithful men who shall be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak...for it is a shame for women to speak in the church (I Corinthians 14:34, 35). But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression (I Timothy 2:12-14).Prayer I will therefore that men pray every where... (I Timothy 2:8). They continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).Communion -- ...Jesus took bread, and blessed it and break it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament... (Matthew 26:26-28) This do in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:19). This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you (Luke 22:20). The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread (I Corinthians 10:16-17).Contribution Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him... (I Cornithians 16:2). Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give... (2 Cornithians 9:7).Summary Christian worship is offered to God in spirit and in truth, in the name of Jesus Christ. On the first day of the week when the church comes together the five acts of worship are observed singing, teaching, prayer, communion, and giving as one is prospered. Jesus said, Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven (Matthew 7:21).F ILL IN THE BLANK SPACES1. Christian worship must be in _____________ and in _______________. 2. There are other kinds of _________________. 3. One can worship in ______________. 4. God is the true ______________ of worship. 5. Christian worship is offered in the name of _______________________. 6. The scriptural place of worship is the ________________. 7. The special day of worship is the ____________ day of the week. 8. There are __________ acts of worship. 9. To worship God in spirit is to worship with the right ________________. 10. To worship in truth means according to the ___________ of God. Q UESTIONS1. Is all worship acceptable to God? Yes ____ No ____. 2. Does God require the worship be in spirit and truth? Yes ____ No ____. 3. Can men design worship by their own will? Yes ____ No ____. 4. Can a Christian worship angels? Yes ____ No ____. 5. Will God approve of worship not offered in the name of Christ? Yes ____ No ____. 6. Is the public teaching in the church to be done by men only? Yes ____ No ____. 7. Does God authorize an instrument of music in Christian worship? Yes ____ No ____. 8. Must Christians observe the communion like Christ and the apostles did? Yes ____ No ____. 9. Does the Bible authorize a certain day for the communion? Yes ____ No ____. 10. Do the scriptures authorize a particular day for the collection? Yes ____ No ____.
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