Revelation 14: 6 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, 7 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.
The last issue to be decided on planet earth, before the close of human probation is the issue of worship which is the basis for the three angel’s messages, in Revelation chapter 14. Throughout Revelation 13 & 14 the word occurs no less than eight times and this tells us that the issue must be addressed so that the truth in the matter would be made plain to all. Webster’s dictionary describes worship as reverence for a deity, or supernatural being, but this definition falls far short of what true worship is.
Reverence is no doubt an integral part of true worship, as is your prayers, and praises, but all of these do not capture the essence of true worship. Obedience is the foundational aspect and the most important part of any worship, for obedience could stand on its own two legs, without prayer or praise, whereas the other aspects can’t. In fact, one of the most reverent churches in our day, where you can hear a pin drop during services, is the church that is farthest from God and the truth.
In many churches, congregants are required and/ or encouraged to turn off their cellphones, as an act of reverence and respect to the unseen God. In other churches there are codes of decorum, and behavior, and speaking while the service is going on is in some churches prohibited. These efforts are all well and good for they promote respect and reverence to God, but the truth is, that in and of themselves, they do not make a church or the members thereof partakers of true worship. All of these ingredients pertain to the external aspects of worship, but, of themselves, they do not render the worship acceptable to God.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!