Plans Purposes and Pursuits by Kenneth E. Hagin

Author:Kenneth E. Hagin [Hagin, Kenneth E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-06-22T16:58:59+00:00

Chapter 6

A Change in the Order of Worship

As I stated previously, God is always moving forward. His plan is a progressive plan. As we study the Bible, we see God's plan being gradually unveiled, beginning in the Old Testament and increasing in clarity and fullness until the end of the New Testament. This is a truth that the majority of Bible scholars accept.

For example, we see types and shadows of a promised Redeemer throughout the Old Testament. However, it is not until the gospels of the New Testament that Jesus of Nazareth is unveiled as the fulfillment of those Old Testament types and shadows. And the fullest understanding of His death and resurrection is not realized until we get over into the Epistles.

I said all that to say this: In the visitation of July 1987, Jesus showed me something about the progression of worship from the Old Testament to the New Testament. He directed me to John chapter 4:

JOHN 4:23,24

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.

John chapter 4 relates that Jesus was passing through Samaria when he stopped at Jacob's well in Sychar. When one of the women of the city came to the well to draw water, Jesus asked her for a drink.

JOHN 4:9

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him,

How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Samaritans were half-breed Jews. Aside from the racial differences between Jews and Samaritans, there were differences regarding the worship of God. Both groups worshipped God, but they worshipped in different places.

In the course of Jesus' conversation with the woman at Sychar, she asked Him about a key issue which separated the Samaritans from the Jews in religious worship: "... Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship" (John 4:19,20).

When the woman said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain ...," she was referring to Mount Gerizim, a mountain significant in the worship of God throughout the first five books of the Old Testament. The Samaritans believed that Mount Gerizim was the proper place to worship, and this was where the Samaritans were worshipping during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry.

However, the Jews had designated Jerusalem as the place to worship God. This designation was made after the temple was built there and the Shekinah Glory of God appeared in the temple. It was a requirement that every Jewish male, thirty years and older, had to present himself before God at the temple in Jerusalem at least once a year. Therefore, during Jesus' earthly ministry the Jews went to Jerusalem to worship God.

The woman at

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