Worship the King

9-13-98 Worship the King John 4

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Glenville First Baptist Church

A missionary tells of a woman in India holding in her arms a weak, whining infant, while at her side stood a beautiful, healthy child. The man of God saw her walk to the banks of the Ganges River and throw the robust youngster to the crocodiles as an offering, and then turn toward home again still clutching the sickly child to her bosom. Tears were running down her cheeks when he stopped to question her concerning her shocking actions; however, she proudly replied in defense of her conduct, "O sir, we always give our gods the best!"

Scripture Text:John 4:23-24

John 4:23 (KJS) 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. 24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

What Kind of Worshippers is God looking for?

1. People who will clean out their ears and listen to his voice. Turn everything else off and listen to what the Lord wants to say to you today.

1Kin 19:11 (KJS) And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; [but] the LORD [was] not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; [but] the LORD [was] not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Reve 22:8 (KJS) And I John saw these things, and heard [them]. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

2. People who will bow their heads in humility before the Lord and before others.

2Chr 20:18 (KJS) And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with [his] face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

3. People who will bend the knees in prayer before the Lord.

Ephe 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Psal 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

4. People who will open the mouth unafraid to say what the Lord wants to hear.

1Joh 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

5. People who will open the hand to give to the Lord the glory due his name.

1Chr 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

6. People who will soften their hearts to allow the Lord to live within them.

1Chr 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

7. People who will Lift their eyes to God.

Psal 123:1 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

8. People who will extend their hands and arms to God and to one another in unity.

Psal 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ephe 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephe 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

9. People who will stand on their feet on the promises of God. Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.