IS YOUR CHRISTMAS WORSHIP “LEGAL”?

JOHN 4:20-23

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. IT IS “LEGAL” TO WORSHIP GOD

1. So Says the Law & the Prophets [Ex.34:14, 2 K. 17:36, Ps. 96:9]

- For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

- But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.

-O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

2. So Says Jesus [Luke 4:8, Jn. 4:23-24]

-it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

-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.

3. So Says the Angels [Rev. 14:6-7, 22:9]

- And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

- worship God.

 

II. IT IS “ILLEGAL” TO WORSHIP:

1. Men [Acts 10:25-26, 14:15]

- And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man

- And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein :

2. Angels [Mt. 4:8-10, Col. 2:18, Rev. 19:10]

- Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

- Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,

- And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

3. Anything Else [Rm. 1:25, Rev. 9:20, 19:20]

- Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

- And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

- And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 

III. IT IS “LEGAL” TO WORSHIP JESUS

1. The Christ Child [Mt. 2:2, 11, Heb. 1:1, 6, 8]

- Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

-God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets

-And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

- But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

2. The God-Man [Mt. 8:2, 9:18, 14:33]

- And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

- While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him

- Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

3. The Risen Lord [Mt. 28:9, Lk. 24:51-52]

- And as they went to tell his disciples , behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

- And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: