Worship Combats Original Sin

Are sin, self, and Satan winning the battles for your allegiance, or are you wholeheartedly worshiping God?

January’s Awakening, Day 10

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy of that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.

 —William Temple

Make every effort then to let God be great and to ensure that all your good intentions and endeavors are directed to him in all that you do and in all that you refrain from doing.

 —Meister Eckhart 

When the remembrance of God lives in the heart and there maintains the fear of Him, then all goes well; but when this remembrance grows weak or is kept only in the head, then all goes astray.

 —Theophan the Recluse  

Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Isaiah 66:2 NIV

  

The Fall of Mankind

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6 NIV

The Fall of Lucifer, who is now Satan (prophetically, some of this is yet to come)

“‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’” Ezekiel 28:12b–19 NIV

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Isaiah 14:12–15 NIV

Worship puts self aside and acts in selfless submission to the One who is worthy of our respect, honor, praise, and adoration.  That is why worship is essential to our entire essence of being. Self is the most significant and profound stumbling block that we must continually battle and overcome. Disobedience to the directive of God and serving self was mankind’s original sin in the Garden of Eden.

Lucifer, probably the most beautiful and magnificent of all God’s angels, knew his beauty and splendor and, in pride, aspired to be like God and to be worshiped himself as god. Mankind was Lucifer’s target, and now as the fallen angel, Satan, he indeed has been successful in turning many hearts from God to him. Remember, for now, Satan is the prince and ruler of this world.

There is a battle raging all around us coming from Satan and this world to do anything and everything but worship God. And additionally, an even greater battle rages deep within us that constantly pulls and separates us from Him. Thankfully, all is not lost, for we have the Holy Spirit within us to keep the world, Satan, and self from winning those battles. We must worship the Lord our God with all that is within us.