First Principles. Lesson 3 Lesson Text—Matthew 4:10 Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship.

First Principles

Lesson 3

Lesson Text—Matthew 4:10

Matthew 4:10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:8-12

Luke 2:8-98 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:8-12

Luke 2:10-1210 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:13-16

Luke 2:13-1413 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:13-16

Luke 2:1515 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:13-16

Luke 2:1616 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:17-20

Luke 2:17-1817 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Lesson Text—Luke 2:17-20

Luke 2:19-2019 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Focus Verse—Matthew 2:11

Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the

house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had

opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense,

and myrrh.

Focus Thought

God alone should receive worship. We

should worship Him because of who He

is and because of His great love for

humanity.

Culture ConnectionCulture ConnectionLove-The Foundation for

Giving and Worship

Why do we enjoy giving gifts so much? It would seem to stem from our love for blessing those we care about deeply and our desire to benefit them in some way. Love, giving, and worship just seem to go hand in hand.

Culture Connection

These not only seem to be connected; they are connected inseparably. If we love, we will give and we will worship, for love is the foundation at the root of both giving and worship.

Culture ConnectionGod so loved, that He gave. He loved mankind, manifested Himself through the Son of God, and gave Himself on the cross for the sins of humanity. Giving begins with love, and the worship of God begins with love—both God’s love for us and our reciprocal love for Him. We love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us.

Culture ConnectionSome people get extremely worked up over the many and varied intertwining traditions and practices of Christmas. While there may be many valid reasons for their concerns about Christmas, in their distraction over the mixing and transitioning of traditions throughout history, they may miss the bigger point: people love to give gifts to those whom they love, and they love to celebrate the birth of the One who loved and gave the most of all.

Culture ConnectionAnd because Jesus Christ came to give Himself, we love to celebrate Him and His love for us by giving to His cause and by worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth.

ContemplatingTheTopicContemplating The TopicWhen Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the heavenly host heralded His arrival to shepherds who were tending their flocks on the outskirts of town. As soon as the angels departed, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see the newborn King. They rejoiced and glorified God, and they spread the good news to everyone. (See Luke 2:17, 20.)

ContemplatingTheTopicThe heavens announced His arrival to the nations as a bright light, His star, shone in the sky (Matthew 2:2). That light could have been a special star created just for that purpose, or it could have been a major astronomical conjunction, as Ernest Martin suggests in his book The Star of Bethlehem: The Star that Astonished the World.

ContemplatingTheTopicAccording to Martin, at least eight major conjunctions occurred during the time period in which most scholars believe Jesus was born. (Astronomical conjunctions occur when planets and stars, because of the differences in planet rotational patterns, seem to merge or align when viewed from earth, creating unusually bright lights or causing lights to appear where they normally do not.)

ContemplatingTheTopicRegardless of whether it was a special one-of-a-kind star or a rarely occurring natural phenomenon, a group of foreign astronomers observed this heavenly pronouncement and grasped its significance. They set out on a journey to find and to worship the God whose birth the star had announced.

ContemplatingTheTopicSince their prophets had told them the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, those living in Jerusalem should have been among the first to recognize the signs of His coming. It seems, however, they noticed nothing out of the ordinary until the traveling astronomers, the wise men, brought it to their attention.

ContemplatingTheTopicThe majority of the people Jesus had come to save were unaware He was living among them until a group of outsiders came looking for Him. Only then did those whom the prophets had foretold of His coming try to find Him. (See Matthew 2:3-8.)

ContemplatingTheTopicAs the wise men resumed their search for the King, the star reappeared and led them to His house. The reappearance of this guiding light reassured them of His presence, and “when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Matthew 2:10). And when they entered the house and found Him, they bowed before Him and gave Him gifts.

ContemplatingTheTopicThe Christmas story demonstrates the principle of worship. As we watch and hear this centuries-old drama retold every December, the players show us yet again the One we worship, the way we worship, and the reason we worship.

I. The Worshiped One

I: The Worshiped One

Searching The Scriptures

A: Who

Transparency 1

I. The Worshiped OneThe simple statement of Deuteronomy 6:4 is the foundation upon which all worship of God rests. Indeed, we could call this chapter Israel’s primer on worship because it both defines who is to be the object of Israel’s affection and it illustrates how worship is to be woven into every detail of everyday life. From birth, children were to be taught about God. Parents were to use every occasion life gave them to teach their children about Him.

I. The Worshiped OneIt was to be the first thing on their minds in the morning and the last thing they pondered at night. They were to talk about it when they traveled and were to discuss it while they ate. They were to weave God into the fabric of everyday life. The twenty-five verses of Deuteronomy chapter six leave no doubt that there is only one God and all of life is to revolve around Him.

I. The Worshiped OneJesus emphasized the importance of worship when He quoted verse five from Deuteronomy 6 as He explained to the lawyers and Pharisees that the greatest commandment of all is to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

I. The Worshiped OneWhen the shepherds gathered around the manger the night of Jesus’ birth, they were worshiping the One that Moses had told them to serve, “for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). When the wise men laid their gold, frankincense, and myrrh before Jesus, they were worshiping the Savior of the world. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

I. The Worshiped OneToday, that same God remains as the object of our worship. Progress and advancement inject new ideas into our cultures, but the instructions of Moses still ring true. God is to be at the center of all we do. Worship begins as we learn who He is and it progresses to our becoming what He is. Regardless of how times change and cultures advance, Jesus Christ must remain at the center of all we do.

I. The Worshiped OneWe must talk about Him when we get up each morning. We must acknowledge His provision at every meal. We must tell of His grace every evening. We must sing and talk and tell until worship becomes as natural to us as breathing.

B. WhenB. WhenThe Law that God gave Moses called for constant celebration and worship. A morning and evening sacrifice marked the beginning and end of each day. Festivals signaled the end of harvest and the end of indentured service. Every new phase of life called for an offering or sacrifice. The highlight of their year was when Israel observed their annual celebration of deliverance from Egypt’s bondage. Worship permeated every facet of their culture.

B. WhenApostolics should have the reputation of being the most thankful people in the neighborhood. We should be giving thanks at every turn. Our worship services should be joyful celebrations. The birth of our children, graduation days, marriages, and even the home-goings of our elders should be shrouded with a garment of praise. Who should be more grateful than a Spirit-filled, Jesus Name child of God?

B. WhenHow can a person worship a loving and giving Lord any other way than with great celebration, worship, and gratitude? How can we, who thrive in the abundant life Jesus Christ gives, live without our lives reflecting His goodness? Praise and celebration flow naturally from the heart of a true worshiper.

C. HowC. How

Worship is not a single act that one can isolate from the rest of his life. Worship is a lifestyle. As Moses instructed the Israelites to use every daily activity to teach their children about God, so every daily activity should reflect our worship of God.

C. HowSinging and praise is one aspect of worship. We use our bodies and abilities to create melodies and lyrics that honor God and bring Him pleasure. We use the creative nature He gave us to praise Him. Honoring Him for giving us creative abilities is in itself an act of worship. We know from the psalms and other Old Testament Scriptures that God loves music and singing and even “joyful noise.” Therefore, praising Him in this way becomes our worship.

C. HowIn addition to prayers and songs we direct toward God, every decision we make reflects the degree of our devotion to God and His Word. Worship requires that obedience precede praise. (See I Samuel 15:22.) God is not interested in rituals performed for habit’s sake, but He loves acts of praise that rise from the hearts of those who obey His Word.

The WorshipII: The WorshipA. Expressions of Worship

In his book My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers says, “Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have.” If thoughtfully applied, this powerful advice will keep worship vibrant and passionate within us, and will inspire us to refuse to allow it to become a stagnant pool of habitual, repetitive responses.

The Worship

While individuals perform much of their worship systematically and methodically, the expressions of worship must continually

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 seeketh such to worship him”

(John 4:23).

The Worship

True expressions of worship begin with obedience to God’s Word, but they also combine with the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, which works in every believer’s life. Peter wrote, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5).

The Worship

Submission to God’s Word and to His Spirit ensures that we give Him our best. The Holy Ghost and the Holy Bible work together to create true worshipers who satisfy the Father’s desire to be worshiped in Spirit and in truth.

B. LifestyleB. Lifestyle

1. Submission. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explained how submission to the people God has placed over us is submitting to God Himself; and if we refuse to submit, we reject God’s own authority over our lives (Romans 13:1-2). Individuals who refuse to submit their lives to authority cannot worship God from a pure heart. By refusing to submit to the authority God has placed over them, they attempt to worship on their

own terms.

B. LifestyleCain’s story describes the ultimate fate of those who offer to God everything except that for which He asks. Like Cain, they ultimately face separation from God’s presence (Genesis 4:16). Without submission to God’s Word and His authority, there can be no true worship.

B. Lifestyle2. Church Attendance. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). The New International Version translates the verse this way: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

B. LifestyleMeeting together for corporate worship is a vital part of God’s plan for His people. We are His body (I Corinthians 12), and it is impossible for His body to function if each member exists in isolation.

B. LifestyleA lone individual cannot accomplish some aspects of praise and worship. The Heaven that God’s Word describes is not a collection of islands, each occupied by one redeemed believer; rather, Heaven is a city where the people of God will reside together. Likewise, true worship includes praising and working hand in hand with all of the Lord’s redeemed.

B. LifestyleI Corinthians 14 describes how the spiritual gifts are to be used in public worship. The fact that God made sure this was included in His Word testifies to the importance He places on His people coming together for corporate worship and for the purpose of reaching out to those who still are lost in sin.

B. LifestyleFurthermore, the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) requires a group effort. God calls some believers as missionaries to evangelize faraway lands, while others become teachers gifted in establishing strong disciples. Some individuals never feel compelled to leave their homes, but they find fulfillment in praying for the work of God and in providing financial assistance for others to go—both of which are vital ingredients necessary to accomplishing the work of God.

B. LifestyleOur personal worship is incomplete without corporate involvement. Further, the closer we get to the coming of the Lord, the more we must make sure we remain committed to worshiping and serving together in the body of Christ.

B. Lifestyle3. Giving. Giving, both systematic and freewill, remains an important part of worship. Both the desire to give and the command to give spring from the nature of God. “God is love” (I John 4), and “God so loved the world that He gave” (John 3:16). We quote these verses often to remind ourselves of God’s love for us. Even the season we are celebrating now testifies of how His love compels Him to give.

B. LifestyleWhen Paul was instructing the early believers on church finance, he reached back into the Old Testament and applied those principles to the New Testament church. Those things, he wrote, were written for our instruction (I Corinthians 9:10).

B. LifestyleAs we remember what Oswald Chambers said about being careful with what we do with our best, may we never forget that giving is part of worship. May we give God our best—not just what is left over.

C. Place of WorshipC. Place of Worship

When Jesus was crucified, the veil in the Temple was ripped from to top to bottom, providing entrance to the Holy of Holies. Now every person has access to the throne of Heaven at any time. We do not reserve our praise only for Sundays when we are inside the confines of our church building, but singing and meditating on God’s goodness occupies our time throughout the day every day. Wherever we are is a good place to pray and worship God.

C. Place of WorshipJust as worship is not confined to church services on Sundays, neither are submission and obedience subject to time and place. Holiness demands that we make right choices regardless of where we are or who is watching. Worship is a lifestyle, not a simple act. Married people should act married, even when their spouses are not present. The same rules for modesty apply whether a person is at the zoo, the mall, or in a courtroom.

C. Place of WorshipOur worship is to God and we cannot adjust it based on who sees us. The New International Version translates I Peter 2:12: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

The WorshiperIII: The WorshiperA. Wise Men

No one knows for sure how many people saw the star that led the wise men to Jesus. Was it visible only to them? Or could others have seen it if they had they been looking for it? Somehow, the wise men saw what others missed, and they grasped its significance.

The WorshiperTo the wise men, the light was a call to worship. Wherever it led them, whatever it cost, they were determined to make the journey. They were committed to worship. They were not seeking political gain; they were not interested in power struggles. They used their skill and knowledge to seek God, and they followed wherever the light led them. They were committed to worship.

B. ShepherdsB. Shepherds

The shepherds probably were not as well educated or as wealthy as the wise men, but their worship was just as valuable. The wise men found Jesus through the efforts of their work (astronomy), while the shepherds heard about Him through a spiritual experience with angels.

B. ShepherdsNeither the angels nor the star brought Jesus to the men, but both groups of men had to leave where they were and go where they were directed in order to find Him. Their journey was part of their worship. Their journey brought them into the presence of God. That is the true worshiper’s reward.

C. All BelieversC. All Believers

1. Biblical Disciples. The New Testament paints a panorama of worship. John the Baptist offered selfless service: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). The Lord called Mary to be the mother of Jesus, and though she was poor, she declared, “Generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).

C. All BelieversAnna and Simeon both spent a lifetime of service in the Temple: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). Paul was five times beaten with forty stripes, caned three times, stoned, and shipwrecked three times, yet he concluded his life saying, “I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7).

C. All BelieversAnd because of his faith in Jesus, the authorities banished John to live alone on an island prison, yet he wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).

C. All BelieversJust as the worship of the wise men and the shepherds brought them into the presence of the Lord, these other believers worshiped God with their words and their lives. Their worship forged a relationship between them and God—a relationship that was stronger than their own love for life. They could endure anything and find Him present in all things.

C. All Believers2. Contemporary Disciples. The call to worship still echoes today. Jesus’ invitation remains valid: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus knocks at the door to our lives, and worship opens the door.

C. All BelieversLike the wise men, we must leave where we are and follow the light to where the Lord leads. Like the shepherds, we must respond to those spiritual events that beckon us into His presence. As we do, the New Testament panorama of faith grows as our story becomes woven into the picture and we take our place among the number of the faithful.

InternalizingTheMessageInternalizing The Message

In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes, “As worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience.” Jesus’ coming to earth was bundled in the joy of holy expectancy. Mary sang the happy song of a woman remembered by God. But the purpose of His coming was neither to satisfy Mary’s maternal instincts nor to make a political statement about social injustice.

InternalizingTheMessageThe holy expectancy ended in holy obedience as thirty-three years later Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross, and He was buried in a stone tomb. The baby whose birth we celebrate came with a divine purpose beyond just bringing joy to the ones He would touch while He lived on this earth.

InternalizingTheMessageThe joy that enveloped Mary when the angel first told her she would be the mother of Jesus was dampened as she watched the world turn against her son. Only a mother could fully understand what Mary must have felt as she watched the soldiers crucify Him.

InternalizingTheMessageBut the opening chapters of the Book of Acts verify that Mary’s holy expectancy did indeed end in holy obedience as she joined the other believers in waiting for the promise of the Holy Ghost as Jesus had commanded (Acts 1:14). She was committed to worship to the very end.

InternalizingTheMessageGod also created mankind with a specific divine purpose. Our calling is not to die for a lost world, but to live for a loving Savior. God has not called us to die on a cross of wood, but He calls us to live lives of worship. Before we can live in worship of Him, however, we first have to die to our selfish human inclinations. Through the resurrection of Christ, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit and arise as new creations in Him.

InternalizingTheMessageThen a believer is able to state, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). The principle of worship will produce for us the same relationship with God that it developed for Paul, for John, for Mary, and for countless others who discovered that the real purpose in life is to come to personally know the God who came to earth as a baby more than two thousand years ago—and to worship Him.

InternalizingTheMessageJust as the residents of Jerusalem were unaware of Jesus’ coming until the wise men came looking for Him, it is possible that we can get so involved in other earthly pursuits that our worship evolves into ritual. Knowing about God, we could fail to seek for Him. Only fervent worship, born in truth and manifested in Spirit, will keep our lives centered in Jesus Christ.

InternalizingTheMessageCritics have often belittled the heartfelt singing, jubilant dancing, and unscripted worship services characteristic of the Apostolic church. But the power of the church resides not in its traditions and dogmas, but in its commitment to passionate worship, which keeps alive and vibrant our relationship with Jesus Christ through the Spirit. Both Moses and Jesus commanded complete and total worship of God. (See Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37.)

Deuteronomy 6:5

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy

soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Matthew 22:37

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and

with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).

InternalizingTheMessageThe heavenly Father still seeks for those who will worship Him with all their heart. May our gift to Jesus Christ this Christmas be an unfailing commitment to the principle of worship.