Worship: Worship & Warfare
In this sermon, Stephen emphasizes that worship is the central issue of the spiritual battle between God and Satan. He explains that the Hebrew word for worship means "bow down," and the Greek word means "to kiss," highlighting the reverence and love owed to God alone. Throughout Scripture, from the Ten Commandments to the life of Jesus, worship is shown as the natural response to God's worthiness. Satan's original rebellion, as seen in Isaiah 14, was driven by his desire to share God's glory, leading to his fall and ongoing attempts to divert worship from God to himself. Humanity, created as worshipers, is caught in this conflict, with Satan seeking to steal worship through temptation and deception, as seen in the Garden of Eden and in the temptations of Christ. Stephen recounts biblical examples—Job, Daniel's friends, and Daniel himself—who remained faithful in worship despite persecution. The climax is Christ's own life and death, exemplifying worship even on the cross. The church's history reflects this ongoing struggle, with attacks from both religious and worldly sources. Ultimately, Revelation reveals that worship will be forever settled in God's victory. Stephen urges believers to choose to worship God alone, living a life of victory through Christ, and to remain steadfast in this essential spiritual warfare.
Outline of Main Points
- Worship defined as bowing down and loving God alone
- Satan's original rebellion was driven by a desire for worship and glory
- Humanity's created instinct is to worship, making us a battlefield in spiritual warfare
- Examples of faithful worshipers in Scripture: Job, Daniel's friends, Christ
- Satan's tactics: temptation, deception, and system of the world to divert worship
- The church's history of perseverance in worship despite attacks
- Revelation's depiction of eternal worship and God's ultimate victory
- Call for believers to personally and corporately choose to worship God alone
- Living a victorious, worshiping life through Christ, overcoming Satan's schemes
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then 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.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
