---NEW--- The Difference “And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever” (Revelation 5:14) On Sundays, Wednesdays, and on other days, in churches and homes all across this planet people meet in the name of Christ to worship Him. While it may not shock some of us, others are astounded that many of those who are meeting together are not engaging in worship of Christ. They may be deceived, deceiving themselves or just going through the motions of some ritual instead of actually worshipping the LORD Jesus. We have in the biblical account verses that show us this difference. In our verse of study, the Bible says, “And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him…” Here, we see the twenty four elders fall down and worship the Lamb (the LORD Jesus) and the one who sat on the throne (The Father). This is real worship. But let us see that there are times when the exact same things are done, but they are not worship at all. The Bible says, “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God” (Mark 3:11). Notice these people who had unclean spirits, which are demons, fell down before Jesus. The same act was done by the twenty four elders. The twenty four elders proclaimed that Jesus is God, so did the demon possessed. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:16-17). Here, we see a demon possessed woman advertising that Paul and Silas were servants of God and would show you how to be saved. What is the difference? It isn’t in the act of saying that you know Jesus is God. It isn’t in the act of bowing down before God. The Bible is clear that it isn’t even in what you believe! The Bible says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). Here, James writing with the sting of sarcasm, asks us, the readers, if we think we have it all together just because we believe in God. The answer of course is no. Just because you believe in God does not make you saved. The devils believe in God, there isn’t any saved devils. Just because you believe in God and then do what God wants you to do, does not make you saved and then able to worship Jesus. Jesus said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one 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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:20-23). Here, we see the LORD say that those who believe in Him and the power of His name and preach, help people get rid of devils, and do more than good works, as the Bible says “wonderful works” are not allowed into heaven. I hope this makes you think! You need to know that you are saved. Some may think that I am making people doubt their salvation. Let me say it this way, if there is anything that you need to know for sure it is that you are saved and going to heaven. You need to know the difference between a worshipper of God and a person who is going through the motions of worship but are lost as a baseball in high weeds. The Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Well, what is the difference? Jesus gave us a key of understanding when He said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers 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). Notice this is a small, lower case “s” on the word spirit. Jesus is not talking about the Holy Spirit. He is talking about the inner most part of a being. The demons can’t worship God because deep in their being they are in rebellion to God! They may honor Jesus like those in Mark 3:11 but they are still unclean spirits who take delight in darkness and sin. Jesus said this about the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). In another place, the Bible says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:3-5). It is not the act of obedience, but obedience because we love Him! A true worshipper worships the LORD from deep in their spirit and according to the truth of the word of God. Let us answer the difference with the question Jesus posed to Peter, “Lovest thou me?” (John 21:15-17). If you love him you are serving Him and worshipping Him from your spirit, and that my friends is the difference! Chris Fisher, Pastor The Church of the New Beginning 09-29-13
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:46:29 +0000
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