You Would Be Better If You Worshiped Better
Why worship? Very simply, this: we become like what we worship. Whatever a man worships conforms that man. First, a man molds the idol, and then the idol molds the man. We become like what we worship. Profound truth, simply stated. This is Love Worth Finding with Pastor, Teacher, and Author, Adrian Rogers.
Take your Bibles, please, and be finding John chapter four. John chapter four—when you found it, just look up here. A factor of faithfulness, if you would be faithful to the Lord Jesus and faithful to His Church, is indeed worship.
Let me tell you this: to learn to worship is your greatest need. To worship in spirit and in truth is the ultimate privilege, and to worship God is, beyond a doubt, the supreme beauty of any child of God.
Psalm 115: A Lesson on Worship
You would be better if you worshiped better. Why worship? Very simply, we become like what we worship. Whatever man worships conforms that man. The Bible speaks of those who worship idols in Psalm 115, verses 4 through 8. Don’t turn to it; it’s a very interesting passage. It speaks of the heathen. It says:
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not.
Eyes have they, but they see not.
They have ears, but they hear not.
Noses have they, but they smell not.
They have hands, but they handle not.
Feet, but they walk not.
Neither speak they through their throat.
And now here is the verse that I want to emphasize: They that make them are like unto them. So is everyone that trusteth in them.
Do you get that? First, a man molds the idol, and then the idol molds the man. We become like what we worship. If you worship idols, you’ll become like the idol that you worship. But if you worship the Lord, if you behold His face as in a glass, you’re changed from glory to glory into the same image.
When you put a poker in the fire and leave it in there long enough, before long, the fire is in the poker. Is that not true? It comes out glowing and red hot. When you immerse yourself in the presence of God, before long, the presence of God is in you. True worship will make you more like the one that you worship.
A Lesson from the Woman of Samaria
We are going to learn a lesson today on worship. Worship is the ultimate privilege, the supreme duty, and the greatest need of the child of God.
There was a woman who learned this long ago—a woman of Samaria. Look, if you will, in John chapter four, verse three:
“He left Judea and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria.”
Now, the need was not geographical. It would have been much simpler for Him to go another route. This is a mountainous route. He must needs go because He had a spiritual mandate, a spiritual reason for going.
The Woman’s Brokenness and Need for Worship
We’ve read about a woman who was miserable because she had never learned to worship. She was self-centered, blinded by Satan, and a slave to sin. She sought satisfaction in the things of this world and went from one husband to another—five husbands in total. Now, she was living with a man without the benefit of marriage. She thought joy could be found in these things, but it all turned to dust.
She was blinded by the devil, broken by sorrow, and bound by sin. Her religion had not worked. She had a form of godliness but no power in it. The Lord Jesus taught this woman about worship because it was her greatest need.
Three Key Lessons on Worship
There are three things I pray God will emblazon upon your heart today as we look at this passage and learn about worship:
The Meaning of True Worship
Jesus said in verse 22, “Ye worship ye know not what.” Many do not understand the meaning of worship. There is such a thing as vain worship.
Idolatrous worship: Worshiping anything other than God provokes His jealousy.
Insincere worship: People honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.
Iniquitous worship: Worshiping God with sin in your heart makes God angry.
The Method of Worship
Worship must be done in spirit and in truth. Jesus taught that true worshipers must worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
We must be regenerated by the Father. Only those born again can truly worship.
We must be activated by the Spirit. Worship is spirit-filled and cannot be done in the flesh.
We must be regulated by the Word. Worship should align with the truth of God’s Word.
The Motive of Worship
John 4:23 says, “The Father seeketh such to worship Him.” Worship is not about what we get but what we give to God.
Worship Is a Privilege
God came today seeking worshipers. Worship is not about seeking blessings; it is about honoring God. Worship shows the worth we place on God.
When you come to church, you’re saying:
God is important to me.
My brothers and sisters in Christ are important to me.
A Prayer for Worship
Bow your heads in prayer and pray this:
“Lord God, teach me to worship. Teach me to worship in spirit and in truth. In Your name, I pray. Amen.”
