Gilpin observer., 1919-07-31
LESSON FOR AUGUST 8
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP.
LESSON TEXTs-Rev. 1912: John Al
10. 1924; Mat. SIS. 8; Heb. 1O:19-25.
GOLDEN TEXT-God is a spirit, and
they that worship him must worship him
is spirit and in truth.-John aga.
ADDITIONAL MATEBIAL-Mat. l:10:
Psalms "a and 122
PRIMARY TOPIC-Children praising
God (Mat. 21:15. 16).
JUNIOR TOPIC-worship in Gods
house Quke 2:41-5O).
INTERMEDIATE ToPIc-why wor-
ship and how.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-The ma
ture and value of true worship.
I. What Is Worship7 (Rev. 7:12).
1t is the attitude of the soul toward
God. which recognizes him as the Su-
preme Being of the universe and be-
nevolently inclined toward his crea-
lures. 1t is the outgoing of the af-
fections toward him and the ascrip-
tion of praise and alteration to him
as the one from whom all blessings
come, the one to whom all glory and
honor should be given, the one who Is
all-wise and powerful.
u. Whom to Worship (Rev. 7:10-12).
1. God wv. IL, 12, CT. Matt. 4 :1O).
Since in him we live, move and have
our being (Acts IT :2S). and from him
every good and perfect gift cometh
(James :17, we should worship and
adore him.
2. Jesus Christ the Lamb ". 10Y.
We should worship him because he is
God and because he, in the incarna-
tion, linked himself with humanity and
on the cross made an atonement for us
and 10 now our high priest. through
whom we have access to God (Heb.
10:2D.
Worship (JOhn 4:1-10 1920.
This is fine example of personal
evangelism. Christ "must needs go
through Samaria" to find this poor,
sinful woman. He skilfully disclosed
his identity to her. He knew the deep
need of her soul, even the inward un-
rest which was hers while practiclng
sin. He made the point of contact by
that which was uppermOst in her mind,
namely, water, and passed from the
water of earthly to the water of ev-
10Y. In order to worship God accepta-
bly, there must be-
1. knowledge Of Christ ". 10Y. Must
know him as a prophet from God ".
| 19)-the one sent of God (Acts 7:37.
CT. Deut. 1S:15) to make known to lost
men the way to God. Must know him
as the Messiah-the one anointed Of
God to save lost men (John 4 :42).
2. A new nature (vv. %, 24). Only
the regenerated can worship God in
spirit. Jesus declared "that which Is
born Of the flesh is flesh. and that
which is born of the spirit is spirit
(John 3:6). Except a man be born
from above, he cannot see the king
dom of God" (John 3:3). The natural
man has not the capacity to "see"
God, therefore he cannot worship him.
God is spirit, therefore only the one
whose spirit has been quickened can
enter into fellowship with him in wor-
ship.
g. A sanctified life (Heb. O:22).
The life is sanctified by the Spirit
I Peter 1 :2); through obedience to
the Word of God (John 17:1O.
4. Faith In God (Heb. IL &c. Ct. 10:
22). Pretended worship without vital
ized faith is an abominatiOn to God.
5. Men Of every nation and kindred
(Rev. 7:9). God is the God Of all ma
tions.
~. Where to Worship.
1. In secret (Matt. 6:5, 81. The soul
shut up with God, with the world and
its cares shut out. really wOrships. Ev-
cry Christian ought to have a secret
chamber.
2. In the assembly (Heb. 10 "a, 25).
While the private prayer is Of first i'm
portance, there Is value in joint wor-
ship with fellow Christians which
should not be overlooked. The actions
Of others are helpful in conducting
frame Of mind for worship.
8. Everywhere (John 4:2024). God
is the Omnipresent Spirit, therefore
wherever there Is person whose ma
ture is spiritual he can worship. Chris.
tianity Is unlike every other religion
In that without ritual or temple the
Individual may worship God anywhere.
John as truly worshiped God in Pat
mos as In the assembly at Ephesus, or
Paul in the Roman prison as well as
with the beloved saints at Philippi.