Evening star., 1920-03-21
by REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

bf KEW. II Z GH L. STEVENSONs
Jesus taught the woman at the we'll
OF Sychar the meaning Of worship. In
that conversation, which abolished
the bondage of the mountain or city
as being essential to true worship,
the Master emphasized the fact that
1t was the spirit rather than the form
which marked true worship. yet in
none of His words can one find a hint
that forms were valueless. In the So
forms are needed to secure the united
expression of Christian fellowship
that endeavors to honor God. Our
Lord deiocalized worship by insisting
upon It's spiritual nature. The essen
tial thing that Jesus required was
that mans inmost soul should be
in the attitude of alteration, trust and
love toward God his Father.
While the Master in his conversa-
tion with the Samaritan woman lift
ed Christian worship for the individ-
ual above that of the primitive pa
ganized forms of worship that were
burdensome with ceremonialism which
contained no spirit, He reveals in His
revelation to John the survival Of
certain forms of worship in Heaven
that men have been accustomed to
use In the picture of worship in
heaven that is the subject for this
weeks study. there is presented for
the Christian his ideal worship, In
meet the changeab1e conditions Of
hfe. The worship of the joyful spirit
VIII be different from that Of the sad
heart: the worship of the impenitent.
from that of the forgiven soul" In
It's essential the worship of heaven
and earth will not be changed. as the
picture of the heavenly worship
proves.
Heavens congregation could not be
counted. John ha r>f
millions from every nation. tribe, peo-
pie and language assembled before
the throne of God. This great poly
racial praise service reveals that no
no tribe or race is unrepresented: no
language is SO rude that it cannot be
used to teach the speech of heaven
Ihe vastness Of the heavenly hosts
assembled from all quarters proves
that the religion Of Christ does not
1estroy any national. racial or tribal
INES. Their presence demonstrated
mat the fulf1llment Of Christ's predic-
tion that if He was lifted up. He
"3uia draw all men unto Himself
Three other classes besides the in
Vulnerable multitude of worshipers
are mentioned. The angels, who were
nnfallen spiritual beings, majestic
IN power and purity. beholding" Gods
seen by John standing around the
fnrone. Another group was composed
of the elders, who by their number
or twenty-four represented the Old
Testament and the New Testament
leaders. They were twelve tribes.
each of which was represented by an
elder. and twelve apostles, who were
appointed to direct the affairs of the
Church Of Christ during it's early pe-
rlod OF development. Twelve is the
NUMBER commonly used in the Scrip
lures for corporate completeness. so
!nls number would suggest that both
01spensations were completed Four
Irving creatures. symbolizing animal
creation. completed the inner circle
of worshipers. who united their wor-
ship of God with the great hosts of
all nations
While the heavenly hosts gathered
from among all nations are honoring
Goo the Father, who had revealed
ms love for men by His gift of the
Lamb. the only begotten Son of God.
VINO by bearing their sins made DOS
s1ble their salvation, they are Joined
py the mysterious heavenly mem
% Ders OF the inner circle OF eter-
nlty. The song Of the redeemed is
only one part Of an anthem. The
angelic hosts reply with an anti
phonai response. Each part OF the
anthem has distinctive message. yet |
rnsae rnss rs unity In the two parts. The
tien: The otkers EssIaim Ell His eiory.
WISDOM. goodness and power.
The song of the redeemed was born
out OF ..,,.ti Q, their experience Of the joys
the emblems of purity that they had
secured through the blood of the
Lamb. He had cleansed them so that
they were At for heaven and had .purf-
ned their hearts SO that they could
grace of the Lord they had gained a
victory which filled them with praise
and was expressed by the palms car
ried in their hands. They had come
through great tribulations that had
tested them. Their lives, which had
been stained by sin. had been re-
deemed by the Lord. They were SYM
bolized by the robes that they had in
dividually washed in the blood of the
Lamb They had experienced trials
that worked out for the glory of God
through the discipline of their lives
SO they worshiped and served God
continuously day and night.
The attitude of the redeemed Of all
nations. standing. was indicative of
their spirit of service. The reverence
of the heavenly hosts who fell pros
trated upon their faces was express
sive of their dependence, obligation
and intrinsic inferiority. The whole
spirit of the heavenly service was
reverent. praiseful and enthusiastic
The Lamb stood between the wor-
shipping hosts and God upon the
throne suggests that the only ap-
pFOdcH 70 eternal JenoVdn lS through
the ministration of the Lamb, who
saves men here and guides their lives
throughout all eternity.
All of the blessings of spiritual life
come to men from the Lamb of God.
who occupies the place of honor in
Johns picture of heavenly worship.
Through Him the redeemed shall be
brought not only into Gods presence,
having been made worthy by His
grace, but the privilege of serving
God throughout eternity will be con-
ferred upon those who have followed
The leadership of the Lamb of God.
- marked a crisis in Johns life when
he heard his great teacher point to
of God" He had seen Him on the
cross. but now he beholds Him in
the midst of the throne ruling the
universe.
He saw the same Jesus guiding the
redeemed hosts like shepherd his
fock, taking them to life's water
springs, spreading His tabernacle over
<hem and caring for them so that
the days of want and sorrow shall
never again hurt them. He enables
them to look back upon the days that
tested them and tried their souls SO
that they become satisfied They
were almost overwhelmed by their
trials, but now they see how through
the trials of the Master salvation was
secured for them and through their
trials they have been redeemed and
restored into the divine likeness. so
they are satisfied and worship God
forever. free from all tears, trials
and trouble.
WAR pERS0NNEI, REnnCEn