You will worship the Lord your God, and you will serve him alone

Beloved, I am glad to share with you today an important word of the Lord Jesus from Matthew 4.10 ‘’Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” It is about taking actions that show true worship on the one hand, and the whole service required by the Lord on the other.

But first of all, let us recall the different names of God in the Bible: he is God, Lord, Lord God, Almighty God, sovereign God, Eternal God, God of Bethel, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob , I am the one who is, God of the Hebrews, God who does not tolerate any rival (see Exodus 34.14), God of Israel, the God of Heaven, supreme God, God King, the Holy One of Israel, the Mighty of Israel .

May we complete this by his divine qualities: he is holy, eternal, greater than the universe, immortal, invisible, spirit, omnipresent, infinite, all-powerful science, does not change, incomparable, just, perfect, formidable and majestic, gracious. And finally, let us mention the seven dispositions of God: he loves, he is compassionate, he is patient, he laughs, gets angry, he grieves, he hates. It is therefore in view of all that precedes that we insist on true worship. When the Lord Jesus meets the Samaritan woman, it is to her that he reveals something very important that we read in John 4.24 ” God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” We could share at length on worship in spirit and in truth, because nowadays the lie spreads so fast that many hearts will make a lot of effort to recover.

This is why Apostle John relates what the angel talks about in Revelation 14.7’’He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” His quality of “holy” means that all the inhabitants of the earth glorify his name, on the occasion of the last seven plagues, and on the necessity of prostrating themselves before God alone: ​​Revelation 15: 4 “Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. For these nations have seen things happening before their eyes. However, the apostle thought that he should bow down to the angel before being brought back to order by the latter: Revelation 19.10 ’’  At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.” And this duty is even more formal in Revelation 22.9: But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God’’.

Likewise, several passages in the Old Testament remind us of this order of the Lord. For example, in Deuteronomy 26.10 ”  and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.” Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.’’ But also in 2 Kings 17.36 ” But the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices”.

Also, in ” 1Chronicles 16.29 ” Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness”

Or again in Psalms 95.6

” Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker! ”

And also, in Psalms 96.9 ” Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! ”

And again in Psalms 99.5 ‘ Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.”

Not to mention the consequences of the disobedience that are recalled to us in Zechariah 14:17 ” If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. “

So a whole service is required by the Lord: Indeed, the parable of the unfaithful steward perfectly illustrates the fact that no one can serve two masters. Let’s read this in Luke 16.13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” We must be wholly in the service of the Eternal God.

For our whole heart is to be with him and we read it in 1 Samuel 7.3 ” So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” By giving up the false gods that are made of human hands. Or again in 2 Chronicles 15:15 ‘’ All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.” God lets himself be found when we seek him with all our heart.

Finally, there is only God to serve and worship with all our heart. Let’s do this every day and see how our life will turn into good for ourselves and for those around us. Ask them to do the same, and you will see them change by the grace of God. Our prayers strengthen you all, for our Lord’s glory.

PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS ​​CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR

I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :

Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.

I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.

I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!

I would be happy to respond to your questions and comments before sharing with you next week the need to repent.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you in abundance.

David Feze, Servant of the Lord of Armies.