Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
That such a mature, God-fearing Christian leader of note should nearly worship a messenger of God is at face value quite shocking. I shudder to think what would have happened if the angel had not promptly stopped the Apostle in his tracks!
Indeed all of us, without exception, must humbly recognise the temptation to worship the creature rather than the Creator, the messenger instead of the Sender, the vessel instead of the Source. So many mighty men and women of God today fall for this trap unknowingly. We need the Holy Spirit’s continual guidance to save us from unintentional idolatry.
This incident also warns us of the danger of relying too much on angelic and supernatural encounters. What happens when Lucifer, masquerading as an angel of light, as his custom, appears to you and demands worship? Beloved, that’s precisely how too many sincere believers have been deceived. God forbid!
In the mighty name of Jesus, I declare that you shall not be deceived! Fix your eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, regardless of how powerful or anointed any of His vessels appear to be (Heb. 12:2). God does not franchise His glory to anyone else (Isa 42:8)! All the glory belongs to God and God alone (1 Tim 1:17). Soli Deo gloria!
Pastor Josh