TITLE: DO NOT WORSHIP YOUR PASTORS OR LEADERS, WORSHIP GOD ONLY

TITLE: DO NOT WORSHIP YOUR PASTORS OR LEADERS, WORSHIP GOD ONLY

SCRIPTURE:

            “The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”  7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”  8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 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!.” (Revelation 22:6—9NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            The angel told John that the words that he heard were trustworthy and true.  It is given that as a servant of the Lord, one must listen to His word and must believe its trustworthiness and truthfulness.  John was to think this word; ‘Look, I am coming soon!  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” 

            John, in his reverence, fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed the trustworthiness and truthfulness of God’s word. However, the angel stopped him from worshiping him.  This is a powerful reminder for all of us who serve the Lord.  We are to serve the Lord reverently and respectfully, never diverting our worship from God to those whom He sends to minister among us. 

            So many people honor God’s servant who inspires them with God’s word but does not honor God whose words his servants declare.  We are to be careful not to shift our worship from God to his servants.  The Angel said, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your fellow prophets, and all who keep this scroll’s words. Worship God!”

            A few take away for me this morning,

• We must all believe in the trustworthiness and truthfulness of God’s word and revelation.
• We must not elevate those who deliver God’s word above God himself. It is crucial to remember that the message is not the preacher’s but God’s. Our focus should always be on hearing and understanding God’s word, not on the messenger.
• We are not to worship Angels.
• We must not worship messengers of God.  We must worship God alone. 
• Worship belongs to God. 

How often, as believers, we worship those who bring to us God’s word.  We follow them religiously.  We bestow honor above them as if God doesn’t matter.  Today’s reminder is what I need to hear.  I am grateful for the angel’s action to stop John from worshipping him.  Our favorite preachers are not to be worshiped.  Worship God and the trustworthiness and the truthfulness of God through his word. 

APPLICATION:

            I am grateful for this reminder.  I do have special messengers that minister the word of God so effectively and articulate well, but I am not to follow them religiously.  I am glad of this warning.  I want to love God and the trustworthiness of his word and truth.  I will continue to follow hard after God and his word daily.  Amen!

PRAYER:

            Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me today through John that you are worthy of my worship.  Thank you to those you have blessed my life with, who spoke your word and modeled your trustworthiness to me.  Please help me honor them because of you, but never put them in the place where I stop listening to your word.  I love you, Lord, and thank you for teaching me that worship belongs to you only.  Amen!