Will Worship

Colossians 2:23 - Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Definition: to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage; do reverence to, adore. Therefore when the pope’s ring is kissed, the man is being worshipped.

There is a difference between doing obeisance and worshipping. Obeisance is recognizing the higher position of another, as a subject does obeisance to his king. Worship is adoring the person as being higher or greater than they are. Christ person is greater and His position is greater.

Satan desires to be worshipped:

  1. Matthew 4:9 - Satan would give Christ all the kingdoms of the world if He would only worship him. In verse 10, Christ replied that the Lord our God is the only one that should be worshipped.

  2. Isaiah 14:12-15 - Satan desired to be worshipped above everybody else.

  3. II Thess. 2:4 - Satan will be worshipped about all that is God, or that is worshipped.

False worshippers:

  1. Matthew 15:8,9 - This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

There is such a thing as true saints of God worshipping God incorrectly.

Acts 17:25 - Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

I Tim. 4:8 - For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

It is not right to believe that Paul stops speaking about spiritual things to discuss the benefits of physical exercise.

The right kind of exercise:

  1. I Tim. 4:7,8 - Bodily exercise profiteth little - that is the physical coming to services, physically going through the rituals of service.

  2. Acts 24:16 - Paul exercised himself to have a conscience void of offence - he would tell everybody he could about Christ.

  3. Hebrews 5:14 - Strong meat belongs to them who have exercised their senses to discern both good and evil.

  4. Hebrews 12:11 - The fruit of righteousness comes to those that are exercised by chastisement.

The right kind of worship.

John 4:24 - We must worship in spirit and in truth.

Because God is a spirit, this makes all fleshly adoration profiting little, as Paul stated to Timothy in I Tim. 4:7,8. See also the scriptures under “the right kind of exercise.”

Acts 7:48 - Because God is a spirit, it is impossible to confine His worship to house of worship.

Acts 17:25 - Paul on Mar’s Hill declares that God is not worshipped in a physical way, but in the spirit.

Matthew 14:33 - Our text this morning - the disciples worshipped Christ, both in person and in position.