JACOB’S WORSHIP
Genesis 33:20 And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-israel. That is, “God – the God of Israel.”
When Jacob Wrestled with God he was told his name! – Genesis 32:24,28.
But when Jacob Worshipped God he came to personally know his name! Genesis 33:20.
In this verse we have the report of the first time Jacob ever uses his new, God-given name, “Israel!” For it is only as we come to worship God that we come to recognize our true identity! We shall never become our eternal identity until we have a spiritual revelation of Jesus Christ! 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. For it is only as we have the Lord Jesus revealed to us, by sovereign grace that we are changed into newness of life!
One must see the Son, bowing in worshipful adoration of him to be changed from death into life! John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Man lost his place with God at the point of glory! For man’s fall was accomplished in his sin! And sin is defined as coming short of God’s glory! Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; And in the blindness of that sin man cannot find out who he is! Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Isaiah had this experience of seeing God’s glory. Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Before he comes to worship the Lord he is always saying, “Woe” unto everybody else in the first five chapters. But immediately when he comes to see the glory of the Lord here in chapter six, he is changed and sees himself rightly for the first time! And he now comes to say, Woe is me! For seeing the glory changes one’s nature! John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
In Revelation 5:1-4 John, representing the church in it’s transition mode from the old covenant into the new, weeps as he cannot see any man in heaven or on earth identified as worthy! For no one can be identified as worthy without the revelation of Christ being our righteousness! But when John has his glaze fastened upon the Lamb of God, all break out in worship, ascribing to him all glory for their redemption! And contained within that worship is the revelation of everyone’s identity now! For amidst that worship, they, like Jacob, come to see their own identity! And they sing out that thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests! (v.10).
The same thing happens in John chapter four with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well! She first, like Jacob, wrestles with God concerning the place where men ought to worship. Then she is brought to give her definition of the coming Messiah. For she states in verse twenty four when he is come he will tell us all things. Our Lord begins teaching her that worship shall henceforth be without regards to time and location. He even defines what true worshippers are, and in doing so, what true worship is! Finally he declares to her his identity! She is actually standing before the face of very God!
And now listen to her testimony since she has been brought into the awareness of the Person of God! Her former general and vague statement of religious rhetoric has a few more words of a personal and individual testimony added to it. For now she says, “Come, see a man, which told me all things THAT EVER I DID: is not this the Christ? Now her sinful identity is made real to her for the first time. She had gone from one sinful relationship with men to another, justifying herself all the while with no thought of wrong doing. But as soon as the glory of the Messiah is made real to her, she obtains the realization of her true identity!
And her new found confession and repentance of that which she had never even acknowledged before is so different, many of the city believed on him as well! (John 4:39). This was such a difference from her adamant and blatant determination to continue in her sin, it, like Lazarus’ resurrection, spoke expressly of the power of God in it’s accomplishment.
Dear soul, the revelation of Jesus Christ is salvation! (John 17:3). And the evidence of salvation is God-provided worship! 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. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God reveals to John in the eleventh chapter of the Revelation that the way to identify the true church is by worship! Rev. 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
The true church is to be measured by those who identify with the blood of Christ as their righteousness and their cleansing. And all who hold Christ as their sole redemption will, without fail, worship him!
But notice in that second verse that even though these others may be so ever closely associated to the true church, being the court closely affixed to the temple, they have no altar and therefore no worship! Therefore John is told not to include such in the identity of the true church!
For revelation of that same glory works exactly the opposite for those who refuse to ascribe the glory to God! And they are changed as well! Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
For man, who was made to convey the very image of God; who was made to do all that he does for the glory of God, {1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.}, falls to the lowest point of depravity when he fails in his designed mission! The Apostle Peter says he becomes as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed! (2 Pet. 2:12). Depraved, reprobate man falls so low that he eventually invades the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matt. 25:41).
The powerful gospel of Christ has great ability to reveal to man the glory of God and the depravity of his own heart! 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Being influenced under the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Ghost flashes into the awareness of the listener an enlightenment, a taste of heaven’s graces and of God’s word, and, by the Spirit they get a glimpse of the kingdom realm. And once that occurs, if they do not worship, they are changed into reprobation and are no longer able to repent! Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Then the benefit of the cross is forever removed and they have only God’s indignation to contemplate! Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Therefore we see that the revelation of god’s glory, effectually and eternally changes all men! Some, like Jacob, who come to see themselves with their new identity, and others like weeping Esau, who is impossible to renew again!
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
And let us never forget that the revelation of creation, displaying the glory of God also renders inexcusable those refusing to ascribe to God that glory! Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Only one is worthy of worship! Matt. 4:10 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. Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. To do so brings man to his highest identification! Failure to do so brings man to his lowest degree of depravity!
Be assured, dear reader, that all, without exception will worship something, or someone! And know that only worship of Christ will save from the worship of Satan! Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
May God have mercy on idolatrous America!
Pastor Gene Breed March 28, 2010