WORSHIP THAT FEEDS THE SOUL Col. 2:18-19

INTRODUCTION

1. Church-wide three-year emphasis on worship (OK as a program, but should be continual emphasis)
2. “Respect and honor which implies that the object thereof possesses divine attributes.”
3. Worship satisfies something in man, as well as honoring God
4. GOD ALONE IS TO BE WORSHIPPED
5. Not even the angels are to receive worship
6. Worship of any other would detract from our worship of the Head of the Church (Christ)
7. Rev. 5:8-14 is descriptive of heavenly worship

II. WORSHIP IS TRUTHFUL (Jn. 4:24)

1. Legion “saw Jesus afar off, [and] ran and worshipped him.” (Mk. 5:6)
2. Although some would say that a sinner cannot worship in TRUTH, I believe that Legion did. Let us watch him:
   1. He “RAN and WORSHIPPED him”
      1. Sat quietly in church? Need respect but NO!
      2. Sang a soft hymn? Helpful but NO!
      3. Collected an offering for Christ? Necessary but NO!
      4. Began preaching about Him? Our commission but NO!
      5. All are valuable and needed but not the FIRST step of worship – RUN TO JESUS
   2. Evidently he REVEALED HIS NEED of deliverance (confess)Mk. 5:9, “My name is Legion: for we are many”
      1. Repentance & forgiveness are waiting on confession
      2. We “have not because we ask not”
   3. He STAYED until the need was met (yeild)
      1. We must tarry for the answer
      2. He was still there when the owners of the swine came around
   4. He IMITATED JESUS
      1. He got some CLOTHES on (miracle? normal response?)
      2. He got his MIND ON GOOD THINGS
      3. He had a DESIRE TO LEARN God’s Word
   5. He wanted to STAY IN CHURCH (v. 18)
      1. Peter felt the same way on Mt. of Transfiguaration
      2. We sometimes want to stay on the mountaintops and never come down
   6. He OBEYED THE COMMAND TO “GO” (vv. 19-20)
      1. Difficult and expensive to “go”
      2. It is the only way that others will start to worship
      3. One definition of worship is “SERVICE showing intense love, admiration, and reverence for diety.”
      4. He published in Decapolis “how great things Jesus had one for him: and all men did marvel.”