Rarely do we hear a message, worship service, or prayer where someone is not giving all honor and praise to Jesus the Son and rarely God the Father. Now, don't misunderstand.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2 Peter 1:17
The Father gave Jesus honor and glory. The Father gave these because of what Christ did for us. Did Jesus ASK for glory, honor, or praise for himself? Let's see who we should be praising according to scripture.
Jesus Tells Us To Worship The Father
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Matthew 4:10 ESV
Jesus told Satan to worship the Father. So why do we worship Jesus? I know. You might be thinking I'm speaking something contrary or devilish. Am I not showing you scripture?
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” John 4:21-23 ESV
Again, Jesus says the true worshippers will worship the Father, not the Son. This might be a stretch for some, but Son Worship may stem from the ancient Sun Worship. Remember, Jesus did not come so we would worship him, but to ransom us through the sacrifice of himself.
Jesus always points us to the Father. If Heaven's intent is for us to give and receive everything to and from Jesus, why would Jesus even mention the Father? We often talk and worship as though the Father (and the Holy Spirit for that matter) is an afterthought. “Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit and our salvation. That's all we need”.
This is incorrect. It is the Father who sent the Holy Spirit. AND it is the Father who sent Jesus!
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 ESV
When Jesus said “I will send you another comforter…”, he meant the Father would send the Holy Spirit, but in his name. So many people chanting, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” seeking the Holy Spirit when the Word is clear. Ask the Father and He will send the Comforter (John 14:26)!
Jesus did not come to do his own thing, establish his ministry, build his fame, magnify his own name. He came to do his Father's will.
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” John 4:34 ESV
Jesus Came To Return Us To The Father
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3
Christ's mission was to return humanity to the Father. Everything Jesus did was to this end. Even the words of Jesus was the Father's. Again…
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” John 4:34 ESV
And…
“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 14:10
Even The Apostles Understood
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5 ESV
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6
The Apostles understood that all things are done for and by the Father. For this reason, they knew to worship the Father and that the Father gave them the power to do the works of Christ in Christ's name.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 3:14
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20
In The Name Of Jesus
This might need its own article. Still, I will mention it here. Most believers treat the name of Jesus as though it is a magic word. ‘In Jesus name' is not an incantation that summons powers from another dimension.
When a representative from Washington visits another country, its in the name of the President. They don't walk in proclaiming “In the name of President …” It is understood who they represent. As believers in Christ, the Father and the powers of Darkness know who we represent.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18
Do you think the Apostles said “In the name of Jesus…” every time they spake to multitudes? Or did the rulers know and understand in whose name they spoke? And again…
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Acts 9:29
Did they boldly say “In the name of Jesus!” or did they speak boldly as his representative? Remember the sons of Sceva?
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:13-15
Of course, the spirits knew Jesus. They knew Paul, not because Paul said “In the name of Jesus” every time he preached or prayed for someone. It is because Paul was a true representative of Christ. So everything Paul did for the kingdom of God was in Jesus' name!
The sons of Sceva thought by calling the name of Jesus, they could do the same works. If you continue to read Acts 19, you'll see this is not how it works.
The True Worshippers
The true worshippers will not be worshippers of Christ, but the Father. Many might take offense at this statement because we have always been lead to worship Jesus. Yet this practice cannot be found anywhere in scripture!
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10
Jesus does not feel slighted in any way by this. Remember, he TELLS US to worship the Father! To deny this is to deny the very words of Jesus!
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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24
Man's Traditions or God's Word
Beloved of God, the issue is this. Would you rather follow man's traditions or obey The Word? Many things are done today because of traditions brought in by men who crept in.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” And he said unto them, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:7-9
We have only a few centuries of truth compared to over a thousand centuries of error during the Middle Ages. No matter what we are taught, we have a commandment from God to study, lest we are made ashamed. Not before men today, but before all of Creation at the end of days.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!
THIS HAS REAFFIRMED WHAT I BELIEVED FATHER HAD SHOWN ME OVER A PERIOD OF TIME BUT TODAY, I HAD ALMOST LET GO OF IT!!!
THEN SUDDENLY!!! THIS ARTICLE WAS IN FRONT OF ME!!
HAL;LELUIA!! PRAISE GOD FOR THE WORK OF HIS SPIRIT WITHIN ME LEADING ME INTO ALL TRUTH!!
God the Father be praised!
Very true! This is a good article. I will print this out and put it in my “war journal” as a reminder.
Thank you!
I am truly blessed that there is someone who also believes what l believe from the Holy Scriptures. Please assist me to learn more and Worship God the Father in Spirit and Truth.
I have been asking this question for so long. I found myself hesitant to proceed because I didn’t want to do the wrong thing. I’ve always given God glory but there are few songs that are worship to God.. I just praise him from my mouth..
This piece does a great job explaning truth based on scripture. Any objection to this will be from people who are more interested in defending church doctrine rather than defending Yahuah through the study of scripture for themselves under the leading of the Holy Spirit. I can only say, ” Well done, good and faithful servant!
The True Worshippers according to the Bible
Matthew 2:8
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
Matthew 2:11
After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 14:33
And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
Matthew 28:9
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
Matthew 28:17
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
Hebrews 1:6
And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
John 9:38
And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.
Be careful to go against the Word of God.
Greetings Heri,
I knew this article would draw the ire of some. I believe the verses used are enough. Heri, you only pointed out, and rightly so, that the people worshipped Jesus. Of course they did. He was the Son of God in the flesh walking among them. Those who worshipped Him saw Him as the coming earthly (note that…) Redeemer and King spoken of by the Prophets. And we would have too under the same circumstances. Still, ask yourself. How many times did Jesus ask for worship? Remember, He did not come into the world to be worshipped, but to bring us into saving grace so we can freely worship before the Father without sin. Also, note that I never said there was anything wrong with worshipping Christ. Only that, as I’ve already pointed out, Jesus directs all to do what? Worship the Father! Is that going against the Word of God?
Blessings!
Heri,
No one is going against God’s Word here.
If the Godhead is truly one (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and they are, when we worship one, we worship all! Do you hear anyone talking about worshiping the Holy Spirit? He’s God too! They are one, right? Let’s stick with scripture and not our feelings and/or what the majority of people say we should do. We worship Jesus when we do what He says and worship His Father. “I and the Father are one…” Jesus said.
John 4:21, 23 – Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Rom 5:1, 2 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Eph 2:18 – For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 3:11, 12 – According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Jesus came in the flesh, taught us, gave His body, shed His blood, rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and sent us the Holy Spirit for what? To restore access to the Father!
Amen and alleluia
Where can we worship in this way?
William,
It’s not easy to find such these days. Remember, most gatherings took place, not in Temples mainly, but in homes, by rivers, anywhere the believers could gather safely. And they were taught the scripture without all the flashing lights, smoke, dark rooms, and self-centered lyrics we have today. True worship is when we walk, live, obey God’s Word. If you can find a gathering of people focused on learning truth and dedicated to loving one another, and not just wanting to be part of something big, let me know!
Yes indeed! Hallelujah all Glory to Abba Father! We Praise The Father, Son and Holy Spirit for they are worthy of it , but we Worship The Father in Obedience and Sacrifice.
Praise and Worship are two different things.
I enjoyed this article, I also am starting to believe that worship belongs to the Father alone.
Coming down into the comments I see a lot of people here believe in a trinity of gods. Where is this in the scriptures? You won’t find it in the Old Testament and those who claim it from the new are misunderstanding the scripture.
There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Have I not been so long time with you Philip? And how sayest thou then, shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me?
to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.
The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.
Scripture is clear that there is only one God. Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord.
Jesus did not do his miricles because he’s a separate god from God the Father, he did them because God the Father was in him.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles signs and wonders, WHICH GOD DID BY HIM in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know.
I CAN OF MY OWN SELF DO NOTHING. As I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Jesus knew where his power came from, it comes from the only True God. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom ye have sent.
Hello Luke,
I am glad you enjoyed the article. I have a question. How do you reconcile these verses with your comment?
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Did the Spirit come from inside Jesus to go back inside him? Was Jesus speaking from Heaven to himself? Was Jesus putting on a show for the people, or were there three bearing witness as written in 1 John?
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1 John 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Yes, they are one. They are one in thought, desire, will, motive, intent. A married man and woman are one according to scripture, yet individuals…
Matthew 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
*All verses taken from the King James Version
MANY YEARS AGO A DEAR SISTER SAID TO ME, YOU NEVER PRAY TO JESUS – YOU ONLY PRAY TO FATHER – WHY?
I FELT IT WAS SLIGHTLY ‘ACCUSING’ & ALSO BECAUSE I WAS QUITE A ‘YOUNG’ CHRISTIAN IN COMPARISON.
HAD TO STOP FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE IT HAD NEVER OCCURRED TO ME!!!
THEN I HEARD MYSELF SAY, ‘BECAUSE THATZ WHAT JESUS TOLD US TO DO’
I THANK GOD THAT I GOT A HOLD OF THIS FOR MYSELF.
Good for you, Huia!
BRAVO!!!
This is putting missing pieces of the puzzle of who really is the God of the bible is,as revealed in the scriptures from genesis to revelation to make a perfect sense in understanding God’s word.
In the beginning God (The Father)…
His word (The Son)…
And then the Spirit responsible for creation. Hence, let us create…
The man has become like one of us…
Apostle John sums it all in John1:1 : In the beginning was the word. And the word was with God. And the word was God. Nothing was created without the word. In other words Father, Son, Spirit created the world simply put.
If the word-which is the glory the second person of the trinity held in divinity before his incarnation into humanity without the involvement of the remaining two trinitarian personalities is part of creation; would it be wrong if he receives worship as does the Father?
In what way is human being created to his (God) image or reflect him?
Is human not made of spirit, soul and blood? Yet,the same one human? Three unique dimensions but all tied/bound by humanity?
While human is one being in one person. God on the other hand, is one divine being in three unique persons. This is what 1John 5:7 & 8 is saying.
This is part of the reasons why the scripture says the new covenant is better because in it lies a lot of things revealed which the past generations did not have the opportunity to hear or see that we Christians are hearing and seeing.
Abraham rejoiced to see my day says Jesus Christ.
Before Abraham was born I AM.
Great article.