Worshiping Elohim: The Call to True Devotion

Summary

This morning, we explored the profound significance of the name “Elohim”—the name by which God first reveals Himself in Scripture. In the ancient world, every nation had its own pantheon of gods, each with their own “El,” but the God of the Bible stands utterly unique. While other “gods” were distant, limited, or delegated authority, Elohim is the singular, supreme Creator who alone is worthy of worship. From the very first words of Genesis, God sets Himself apart, not as one among many, but as the unrivaled, uncreated, eternal God whose majesty is so great that even His name is given in the plural of majesty.

Humanity, however, has always struggled to honor God as He truly is. From ancient idolatry to the subtle influences of our modern world, we are constantly tempted to replace God with lesser things—sometimes even with ourselves. The spirit of our age tells us to trust our feelings, to define truth by our own intuitions, and to make God in our own image. Yet Scripture warns us that the human heart is deceitful and that true wisdom comes from trusting in the Lord, not in ourselves.

Paul’s words in Romans 1 confront this tendency head-on. He explains that God has woven His character into creation itself, so that all people are without excuse. The invisible attributes of God—His eternal power, His divine nature—are clearly seen in the world around us. The unchanging laws of nature, the power of the ocean, the majesty of the mountains, the intricacy of the human body—all these testify to the greatness of Elohim. Yet, instead of worshiping the Creator, humanity often chooses to worship the created, exchanging the truth of God for a lie.

God’s response to this is not indifference. He is jealous for the worship that is rightly His—not out of pettiness, but because there is no other being worthy of such devotion. His jealousy is righteous, just as a husband is rightly jealous for his wife’s affection. God is uncompromising in His holiness; His wrath is revealed against all ungodliness, and no one can claim ignorance. Yet, in His mercy, He has made a way for us through Christ, who bore the wrath we deserved.

Ultimately, every person is wired to worship. The question is not whether we will worship, but whom or what we will worship. The call is to daily choose to worship Elohim—the Creator, the unrivaled God—by fearing Him, loving Him, and serving Him with all our heart and soul.

Key Takeaways

- The Unrivaled Nature of Elohim
God is not one among many; He is the singular, supreme Creator who stands above all so-called gods. His being is utterly unique, and He does not compete with any rival. To know God as Elohim is to recognize that He alone is worthy of our worship and allegiance, and that no other authority or power can challenge His rule. [26:12]

- The Subtlety of Modern Idolatry
Idolatry is not just an ancient problem; it is a present reality. Today, we may not bow to golden calves, but we are tempted to elevate our feelings, preferences, and cultural philosophies above God’s revealed truth. The danger lies in replacing God with ourselves, trusting our own hearts rather than submitting to the authority of Elohim. [12:00]

- Creation as Revelation
God has woven His character into the fabric of creation, making His invisible attributes visible to all. The consistency of natural laws, the power of the ocean, the majesty of the mountains, and the intricacy of life all point to the eternal power and divine nature of Elohim. This means that no one can claim ignorance—creation itself testifies to the reality of God. [21:43]

- The Righteous Jealousy and Justice of God
God’s jealousy for worship is not sinful, but righteous. Just as a spouse is rightly jealous for the exclusive affection of their partner, God is jealous for the worship that is due to Him alone. His uncompromising holiness means that all ungodliness will be judged, but in Christ, God’s wrath against our sin has been satisfied for those who believe. [31:43]

- The Daily Call to Worship the Creator
Every human is wired to worship; the only question is the object of that worship. The challenge is not just for those outside the faith, but for believers as well: will we worship the creature or the Creator? Each day, we are called to fear the Lord, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him with all our heart and soul, giving Elohim the worship He alone deserves. [40:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Men’s Retreat Invitation
[03:44] - Ancient Pantheons and the Name Elohim
[07:42] - Idolatry: Then and Now
[10:15] - The Influence of Feelings and Postmodernism
[12:00] - Replacing God with Ourselves
[16:29] - Romans 1: The Suppression of Truth
[18:00] - God’s Attributes Revealed in Creation
[19:16] - Science, Faith, and the Unchanging God
[21:43] - Creation Testifies to God’s Power
[24:37] - The Unrivaled Majesty of Elohim
[26:12] - Why God Cares About Worship
[28:01] - God’s Sovereignty Over All
[29:29] - No Rival, No Dualism
[30:45] - God’s Righteous Jealousy
[31:43] - The Uncompromising Justice of Elohim
[34:44] - The Urgency of the Gospel
[35:34] - God “Giving Up” to Sin
[37:42] - The Real Warning of Romans 1
[40:31] - The Daily Choice: Worship Creator or Creature

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Unrivaled God—Elohim

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### Bible Reading

Romans 1:18–25 (ESV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.

Deuteronomy 10:12 (ESV)
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Romans 1:20, what has God made plain to all people through creation?
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of how God’s character is revealed in creation? ([21:43])
3. What does Paul say people have done with the truth about God, according to Romans 1:21–23?
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between the God of the Bible (Elohim) and the “gods” of other ancient nations? ([03:44])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul say that no one can claim ignorance about God? What does this mean for how we view the world around us? ([16:29])
2. The sermon talks about “modern idolatry” and how we can replace God with ourselves or our feelings. In what ways does this happen in our culture or even in the church? ([12:00])
3. The sermon describes God’s jealousy for worship as “righteous” rather than sinful. What does it mean for God to be jealous in this way, and why is it important? ([30:45])
4. According to Deuteronomy 10:12 and the sermon, what does God actually require from those who know Him? ([40:31])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says that every person is “wired to worship”—the only question is what or whom we worship. What are some things (even good things) that can subtly take the place of God in your daily life? ([40:31])
2. The message warns about trusting our feelings or personal opinions over God’s revealed truth. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to let your feelings define what is true about God or His commands? How did you respond? ([10:15])
3. The sermon points out that creation itself testifies to God’s eternal power and divine nature. When was the last time you were moved to worship God because of something you saw in creation? How can you make space in your life to notice God’s handiwork more often? ([21:43])
4. The idea of “modern idolatry” includes making God in our own image or elevating our preferences above His Word. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to reshape God to fit your desires? What would it look like to surrender those areas to Him? ([12:00])
5. God’s jealousy for our worship is compared to a spouse’s rightful desire for exclusive affection. What does it look like, practically, to give God your exclusive devotion in a world full of distractions? ([30:45])
6. The sermon says that God’s justice is uncompromising, but that in Christ, God’s wrath has been satisfied for those who believe. How does this truth affect the way you view your own sin and God’s mercy? ([31:43])
7. Deuteronomy 10:12 calls us to fear, love, and serve God with all our heart and soul. What is one specific way you can do this in the coming week? ([40:31])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to reveal any areas of your life where you have replaced Him with something else, and to help you worship Him as the unrivaled Creator—Elohim—each day.

Devotional

Day 1: God Alone is Elohim—Unrivaled and Supreme

Throughout history, humanity has been tempted to create and worship lesser gods, whether ancient idols or modern philosophies, but the God revealed in Scripture stands utterly apart—uncreated, eternal, and unmatched in power and majesty. He is not one among many, but the singular Elohim, the God above all so-called gods, deserving of all worship and reverence. The world may offer countless substitutes, but none can compare to the glory, authority, and uniqueness of the one true God who has revealed Himself from the very beginning. [03:44]

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Reflection: What are some “lesser gods” or influences—whether cultural, philosophical, or personal—that subtly compete for your worship and attention? How can you intentionally re-center your heart on the unrivaled Elohim today?


Day 2: The Danger of Replacing God with Ourselves

Modern culture often encourages us to trust our feelings and personal interpretations above all else, subtly shifting the center of truth from God to ourselves. This self-centered approach can lead us to reinterpret Scripture according to our preferences, making ourselves the ultimate authority rather than submitting to the God who has revealed Himself. The Bible warns that our hearts are deceitful and that true wisdom comes from trusting in the Lord, not in our own understanding or emotions. [12:00]

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to let your feelings or personal opinions override God’s truth? What would it look like to surrender your understanding to God’s wisdom in a specific area of your life today?


Day 3: God Reveals Himself Clearly in Creation

God has woven His eternal power and divine nature into the fabric of creation, making Himself known to all people so that no one is without excuse. The beauty, order, and majesty of the world around us—from the crashing waves to the vastness of the night sky—are constant testimonies to the greatness and character of Elohim. Rather than using knowledge or science to explain God away, we are invited to see His fingerprints everywhere and respond in awe and worship. [18:00]

Romans 1:19-20 (ESV)
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Reflection: Take a moment to observe something in creation today—a tree, the sky, your own body. How does this aspect of creation reveal something about God’s character, and how can you respond in worship?


Day 4: God is Jealous for Rightful Worship

God’s jealousy is not petty or insecure, but a righteous desire for the worship and loyalty that are rightly His alone. When we exchange the glory of the immortal God for created things—whether idols, ambitions, or self—we offend His very nature. God’s uncompromising holiness means He will not share His glory with another, and He calls us to give Him the exclusive devotion He deserves, knowing that only He is worthy. [30:45]

Isaiah 46:9 (ESV)
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have been giving your affection or loyalty to something other than God? What step can you take today to return that worship to Him alone?


Day 5: All Humanity is Wired to Worship—Who Will Receive Yours?

Every person is created with a deep capacity and longing to worship, but the crucial question is who or what will receive that worship. The call is not just for those outside the faith, but for believers to daily examine whether we are faithfully worshiping the Creator or foolishly serving created things. God requires that we fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him with all our heart and soul, making worship a daily, intentional choice. [40:31]

Deuteronomy 10:12 (ESV)
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Reflection: Who or what is receiving your worship today—your time, energy, and devotion? How can you realign your daily habits to ensure that God alone is at the center of your worship?

Quotes

With all this increased knowledge, the modern man basically has concluded that we don't need God anymore. Here's what God was good for. God was good for explaining the things that we couldn't explain, as long as we couldn't explain them. But now that we can explain things, we don't need God. God was a primitive form of coping for humanity to help us make sense of the world that we live in. And Paul's calling foul on that. Paul says that is not the case. We've flipped it, actually. [00:16:20] (32 seconds)  #GodBeyondExplanation Edit Clip

Rather than saying that God was a means of understanding the world we live in, Paul says here in Romans chapter 1 that the opposite...is true, that the world that we live in is the means by which we can actually understand God. And somewhere along the line, we have traded those two things together, because what Paul is saying is that God, in his creation, has woven his character into the midst of it, so that humanity can look at his creation and be without excuse, because God has revealed himself there. [00:16:52] (30 seconds)  #CreationRevealsGod Edit Clip

If you've stood in front of a wave, you know the strength of that wave. It'll knock a grown man on his face. That with the repetition, God, could those waves not be declaring, God is so powerful and his power just never ends. It just keeps going. In the same way that you can sit in the ocean and enjoy the ambiance of some crashing waves and a nice, calm walk along the beach and it brings peace. Those same waves can bring devastation. It's God's infinite and eternal power. Not a power that we can sit and rest in and find peace and solitude and comfort and yet also know that it is a power that needs to be feared, a power that needs to be respected. God has revealed himself in his creation. [00:22:11] (50 seconds)  #SupremeElohim Edit Clip

There's not a... The victory's won. This is not Satan and God on some sort of equal footing just having a spiritual knockout. There's no fight here. God is victorious. He's triumphed over it. He has... To go back to Isaiah 46 he has purposed and he's going to do it. There's not a hopeful thinking in that. There's not wishful thinking in that. That's declarative. That's God saying it's done so that when God says it's done it's as good as done. That's Elohim. The God of gods. [00:30:02] (39 seconds)  #RighteousJealousy Edit Clip

Because God is unrivaled in his nature and his being and his rule he is jealous. He is jealous for the worship that's rightly due to him. And it's okay to say that God is a jealous God. God himself says that he is a jealous God. We often think of jealousy as a sin, right? The sin of jealousy. But there is a such thing as a righteous jealous. For instance I have the right as Bree's husband to be jealous for my wife because she's my wife not anybody else's. So I'm jealous for her affection for her love and her loyalty and vice versa. She has the right to be jealous for mine because we are each other's. We've become one. That's what the Bible says. Her affection is rightly mine and vice versa. So when God is declaring as he does that he is a jealous God the reason that Paul says all he does herein Romans 1 that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and righteousness is because he is a jealous God, rightly deserving of all the worship. [00:30:45] (70 seconds)  #WrathAndGrace Edit Clip

``At the end of the day, will you worship God as Elohim? The creator God of the entire universe. The one worthy of that worship. Today, tomorrow, that choice is yours. And if you know him, if you know him, what does he require of you? Deuteronomy chapter 10. But to fear the Lord, your God, and to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. [00:41:17] (32 seconds) Edit Clip