Who is the Object of Our Worship?

Listen to this praise song called Jesus is Lord by Karen Clarke-Sheard:

Who is the Object of Our Worship?

As Christians, do you know the answer to this question? In John 4:20-24 tells us to worship God. Let’s read it:

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

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.

You can see in verses 21, 23, and 24, Jesus says to worship God as Spirit and as Father. I believe that a lot of Christians have misunderstood the concept of God as Father here in John 4. Usually when we the term Father in reference to God, we immediately think of Him as our loving Father. We worship God as the eternal, omnipresent Spirit, but we can’t stop there, because one in verse 21 and twice in verse 23, Jesus makes reference to worshipping “the Father.” If so, you can see Jesus saying this “Worship God as eternal spirit who is a loving Father.”

God can never be worshipped unless He is worshipped as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s Read John 14:6-11:

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 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.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Do you see from these verses that the Lord express the unique ones of the Father and the Son?

There is an intimacy of knowledge between the Father and the Son; which is seen as one – Jesus equality with God. There are many people who claim to worship God as eternal, living omnipresent Spirit who is everywhere, and might even claim to worship Him as Father. But if they deny Jesus Christ is the same as God the Father in essence, their worship is unacceptable. No one can acceptably worship God as Spirit without also God as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who denies the deity of Christ, yet claims to worship God, is a liar- because God and Christ Jesus are one.

There are many scripture reference that support that fact, and here are a few for your study: John 5:17-18; John 10:29-33; John 17:1-5; Matthew 11:27 plus the scriptures shown above. So let me repeat this fact again according to John 14:6b, “No man cometh unto the Father, but my Jesus.” You can’t worship God apart from Jesus Christ.

God is to be worshipped all the time, and by people who will come to Him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also, Jesus is to be worshipped according to John 5:23. If you honor the Father, honor Jesus. If you dishonor Jesus, you have dishonored the Father God as well. They come together. Without Jesus, no one worships at all!! They are both to receive honor. Amen.

So when we gather we are to worship the Father and His Son, Jesus. What about the Holy Spirit?

There’s nothing in the scriptures that directly tells us to worship the Holy Spirit. However, all worship is energized in the power of the Spirit. It is the Spirit who allows us to come into God’s presence and cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6). It is in the Spirit’s power and presence that we have access to worship God. He is vital part of worship, and we must never deny that reality. So in essence, you can worship Him also by the observation of the following scriptures, as the “Spirit of God”: Matthew 3:16; 12:28; Romans 8:9,14; 15:19; 1 Corinthians 2:11,14; 3:16; 6:11; 7:40; 12:3; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 4:2 and the “Spirit of Christ”: Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:11. So don’t hesitate to worship the Godhead – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will always call us to worship The Son, and The Son will call us to worship The Father – even though all are worthy to be worshipped. We have every right to go to Jesus Christ, to praise Him, to petition the Son, just as we would the Father.

So who is the object of worship according to John 4:20-24? God is Spirit, but the God who is the Father of Jesus Christ. They are one in essence, so we worship the Father from our hearts that go out to Jesus Christ as well.
Jesus is Lord Hallelujah!

Watch this praise song called My Jesus by Helen Baylor: