If the title of this book is correct, as we believe it is, then the importance of the subject will be obvious to every child of God. A great deal of confusion exists in Christendom as to just what constitutes worship. It is often confounded with listening to a sermon; with service for the Lord on behalf of others; with testimony to Christ's saving and satisfying grace; with the preaching of the gospel; with ministry of the Word to believers, and with prayer. Many Christians put the emphasis of their lives on service for God, to the exclusion of the worship of God. Others swing to the other extreme, and so stress the importance of worship, that service for the Lord is viewed as being of little or no consequence. We must beware of lopsidedness, or of seeking to push one truth of Scripture to an extreme the Bible does not warrant. The believer must seek to maintain the truth of God in its proper perspective and correct balance. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ give the proper order of precedence. In His reply to Satan's temptation, He said: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve." (Matt. 4:10) That quality of worship which does not result in service and that service which does not flow from worship, both come short of the Divine ideal.
Alfred P. Gibbs was born in Birmingham, England in 1890 and was raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was led to a saving knowledge of Christ by his twin brother, Edwin. During World War I, Gibbs served as military chaplain, preaching to soldiers in training camps. In 1919 he set off for Moody Bible School in Chicago, Illinois. There he soon became involved in an assembly operated Rescue Mission. Gibbs worked alongside Harold Harper, T.B. Gilbert, James G. Humphrey, and other men destined to become well known in assembly circles of ministry. Gibbs became close friends with George Landis, who at that time pastored a small denominational church.
Alfred P. Gibbs never married. Like J. N. Darby, he lived out of a suit-case. Most of his writings were devoted to teaching young believers. He served part time for many years with, the then Emmaus Bible School. In1931 he published a songbook with music and words of his own composition. He also contributed several hymns to "Choice Hymns Of The Faith", and "Hymns of Worship and Remembrance." One of his most memorable hymns was "A Thousand Thousand Thanksgivings", and also "Sweet Is The Story."
Although an earnest preacher of the gospel, he was best known for his work with children. Gibbs was called home to glory through an automobile accident in 1967. Following the accident, an entire issue of Letters Of Interest was devoted to him. Reminiscences of him were written by several well known brethren including his brother Edwin, Bill McCartney, Elliot Van Ryn, T.B. Gilbert, Lester Wilson, William MacDonald, and Lloyd Walterick. A.P. Gibbs will be remembered as a great preacher of the gospel, and a loving friend to all children he met in his entire lifetime.
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