E-pistle for November 17, 2006
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E-pistle
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation November 17, 2006
Oh, Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down
John 4
It took Moses 40 days to receive the law on Mt. Sinai. (Maybe 80 days, since he
made two trips.) The rest of the year there was spent preparing and teaching the people
how to worship Almighty God.
The ratio of Worship teaching time and Law teaching time was about four to one.
How does our preaching/teaching time on these two subjects compare? In my experience,
we spend far more time talking about obeying God's laws than we do talking about how to
worship Him. Both are vital, but worship should have priority.
In the Old Testament, the word "worship" means "to make oneself low." It implies
bowing, stooping, falling down before someone as an act of submission, reverence, and
homage.
The New Testament word for worship combines the ideas of "toward" and "to
kiss." It means to prostrate oneself, bow down, do obeisance, show reverence, do
homage, and adore.
Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well (John 4) is a magnificent model of
personal soul-winning, of course. But this account also contains some deep concepts
from the mind and heart of the Lord on the subject of worship. In outline form, Jesus
taught these truths:
1. The where of worship (v. 20)
Whether on Mt Gerizim or in Jerusalem, the place of
worship is not the issue.
2. The when of worship (vv. 21, 23)
"The hour is coming . . . and is," Jesus said. The God
of the "now" may be worshipped only in the "now."
3. The who of worship (vv. 21, 24)
The Father is to be the object of worship . . . and God
is Spirit. In verse 14, Jesus, the Son, lays claim to Divinity
. . . He can give eternal life. Therefore, who are we to
worship? The Trinity . . . the Three in One.
4. The what of worship (v. 22)
Worship requires some knowledge of the spiritual realm.
The woman didn't know what to worship; Jesus connected
such knowledge of worship with the discerned spiritually,
I Corinthians 2:14.
5. The which of worship (v. 23)
Here Jesus refers to TRUE worshippers. Mankind everywhere
on earth has an innate yearning to worship. But, Jesus
implies, some are true worshippers . . . some false . . . depending
upon the next point.
6. The how of worship (v. 23, 24)
True worshippers worship this way only: in spirit and in truth. Both
are necessary for acceptable worship. (This idea is explored more
deeply in the conclusion.)
7. The why of worship (v. 23)
Two reasons (one stated; one implied) answer the question, "Why
worship?" 1) The Father is SEEKING for true worshippers. 2) He
is WORTHY of our worship. True worshippers must worship both
in spirit and in truth, Jesus emphasized.
Spirit without truth: leads to anarchy, excesses and immaturity: (Consider
Judges 21:25 and the Corinthian church.)
Truth without spirit: leads to bondage, legalism, and death. (Consider the
Pharisees and Judiazers, II Corinthians 3:6, John 6:63.)
Spirit plus truth: leads not to anarchy or bondage, but Lordship of Christ
Philippians 2:9-11); leads not to excesses or legalism, but to balanced freedom (Galatians
5:1, 13); leads not to immaturity or deadness, but to growth and fruitfulness (John 15:1-8).
Individually (in our personal quite time) and corporately (in our congregations),
let us truly worship the One who is worthy . . . singing, shouting, bowing down . . .
(Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7.)
Give, And It Will Be Given Unto You
I. Concentration: Give What? . . . Not money!
1. Mercy (36) = leniency toward a guilty person; compassion.
2. Judge not (37) = to decide; to give an opinion; to criticize.
3. Condemn not (37) = to blame; to censure; to pronounce guilty;
to reprove; to sentence; to declare unfit for use.
4. Forgive (37) = to pardon; to cancel; to cease to bear resentment against.
"Give mercy and forgiveness, not judgment (criticism) or condemnation
(pronouncing a guilty verdict and a penalty).
II. Meditation: Give how?
(See Malachi 3:10; Ephesians 3:20)
1. Good measure = full; up to standard (16 oz. pound; 32 oz. quart)
2. Pressed down = compacted to hold even more (grain, raisins, etc.)
3. Shaken together = increased capacity; more volume.
4. Running over = so full, it can't hold any more.
III. Revelation: Give why?
1. Because God gives us His blessings this way, (36).
2. Because "What goes around comes around."
3. Because without mercy and forgiveness, Christians are blind leaders
of the blind who all fall into a ditch, (39).
4. Because such "giving" shows Christian growth . . . into the likeness and
Stature of Christ.
IV. Applications; If necessary, a Christian may . . .
1. Criticize the deeds of others . . .
2. But only with compassion (mercy).
3. Reprove the actions, speech, and attitudes of others . . .
4. But only in the spirit of forgiveness (without resentment).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The staff at FreeWay Foundation
And Pillsbury College & Seminary
Wish you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Harvey McKay said, "When wealth is lost, nothing is lost;
When health is lost, something is lost;
When character is lost, all is lost!"
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