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Worship. What is it? Let's start by talking about what it is not. Interestingly, the phrase "worship and praise" is not in the King James Bible. Worship and praise, most often associated with music, is not a Biblical association. Not that it is wrong mind you. I make the point in order to show you a more glorious thing.
Likewise, worship and prayer are not associated contextually in the Bible. That means two things: 1) worship and prayer are not equivalent, and 2) they are not Biblically associated although again, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
On the other hand, the Bible associates the words “worship” and “serve” fifteen times. To understand the association, we must know God's first commandment. According to most Hebrew scholars, the first commandment begins with “I am the LORD thy God.” “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…” is part B. Finally, God says that we shall not worship or bow down to these idols.
We'll come back to the importance of the association of worship and serve in a moment.
First, let’s look at exactly what the act of worship is.
In Psalm 95:6 God says to worship, bow down, and kneel. In Psalm 29:2 and 96:9 God says to worship in the beauty of holiness. In John 4:24 we are told to worship in spirit and in truth. In Philippians 2:9-11 God says that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The word "worship" in Hebrew and Greek means to bow down to or to prostrate oneself. Every single usage of the word in the Bible means exactly that. There is no singing, hand waving or raising, praying, crying, or blessing.
Jesus clearly told us how to worship - in spirit and in truth. Does anybody know how to do this? I struggled for months with it. "In spirit" means in one spirit to Spirit communion with God. Worship in the beauty of holiness. Holiness comes from God alone. Our personal holiness comes from the sin-saving blood of Jesus. In our moments of worship, we must therefore be right, clean, holy, and sinless before God (both positionally and experientially).
"In truth" means in God's truth. That means we are to worship God's way. He made that explicitly clear in the first commandment. He made it abundantly clear to us in Paul's letter to the Philippians. At the name of Jesus, we are to kneel and worship (bow down). Again, how often do you see this? How often do you do this? Why or why not?
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One thing that should drive us to our knees every time is fear. I think we presume too much at times when we boldly come to God's throne and we don't come in fear. This requires much meditation to recognize the depth and power of that last statement. I will simply say, as a friend did to me as I shared this with him, "Coming to God on our knees or prostrate certainly minimizes the opportunity for pride. We have to come in humility." Indeed, what is on your mind when you come boldly?
As I studied and struggled with God’s impression to worship Him, He kept asking. I sense He asks for two reasons. First, because it is the glory due His name. Second, because I fear He gets too little of it from His Church. I don't think He feels alone or forgotten. He is just trying to wake us up to what we should be doing consistently, lovingly, willfully, desperately, and whole-heartedly.
God says that when we seek Him with our whole heart, we will be blessed (Psalm 119:2), we will have understanding and keep God's law (Psalm 119:34), and we will praise Him both in the world and in the congregation (Psalm 138:1, Psalm 111:1). I think most of all what God wants is for us to come away from worship in complete obedience to His commandments. This is what Jesus meant in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Finally, what is the connection between worship and serving? To serve means exactly that, to labor or work. How do we worship and work for the Lord our God? The work, in Biblical context, always links to worship and sacrifice. No exceptions. The work is the services performed in sacrifice. What sort of sacrifices do we give to God today?
When we come to God boldly in obedience to Romans 12:1-2, we do our reasonable service. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Again, when you walk away from true worship, God is pleased. He will have impressed upon your mind and heart His specific will for you. It will be directly in line with the keeping of His commandments. It will glorify Him. It will always come in prayer according to Romans 11:36, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to the glory of God, Amen.” If you want to know what God knows, do what God wills for you, be certain of His truth, then it must come from your time of prayer in heaven.
Have you seen Jesus on your bended knee or prostrate frame? Has He given a Word just for you to obey? Have you ever worshipped in your life before now?
Likewise, worship and prayer are not associated contextually in the Bible. That means two things: 1) worship and prayer are not equivalent, and 2) they are not Biblically associated although again, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
On the other hand, the Bible associates the words “worship” and “serve” fifteen times. To understand the association, we must know God's first commandment. According to most Hebrew scholars, the first commandment begins with “I am the LORD thy God.” “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…” is part B. Finally, God says that we shall not worship or bow down to these idols.
We'll come back to the importance of the association of worship and serve in a moment.
First, let’s look at exactly what the act of worship is.
In Psalm 95:6 God says to worship, bow down, and kneel. In Psalm 29:2 and 96:9 God says to worship in the beauty of holiness. In John 4:24 we are told to worship in spirit and in truth. In Philippians 2:9-11 God says that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The word "worship" in Hebrew and Greek means to bow down to or to prostrate oneself. Every single usage of the word in the Bible means exactly that. There is no singing, hand waving or raising, praying, crying, or blessing.
Jesus clearly told us how to worship - in spirit and in truth. Does anybody know how to do this? I struggled for months with it. "In spirit" means in one spirit to Spirit communion with God. Worship in the beauty of holiness. Holiness comes from God alone. Our personal holiness comes from the sin-saving blood of Jesus. In our moments of worship, we must therefore be right, clean, holy, and sinless before God (both positionally and experientially).
"In truth" means in God's truth. That means we are to worship God's way. He made that explicitly clear in the first commandment. He made it abundantly clear to us in Paul's letter to the Philippians. At the name of Jesus, we are to kneel and worship (bow down). Again, how often do you see this? How often do you do this? Why or why not?
---------------------------------------
One thing that should drive us to our knees every time is fear. I think we presume too much at times when we boldly come to God's throne and we don't come in fear. This requires much meditation to recognize the depth and power of that last statement. I will simply say, as a friend did to me as I shared this with him, "Coming to God on our knees or prostrate certainly minimizes the opportunity for pride. We have to come in humility." Indeed, what is on your mind when you come boldly?
As I studied and struggled with God’s impression to worship Him, He kept asking. I sense He asks for two reasons. First, because it is the glory due His name. Second, because I fear He gets too little of it from His Church. I don't think He feels alone or forgotten. He is just trying to wake us up to what we should be doing consistently, lovingly, willfully, desperately, and whole-heartedly.
God says that when we seek Him with our whole heart, we will be blessed (Psalm 119:2), we will have understanding and keep God's law (Psalm 119:34), and we will praise Him both in the world and in the congregation (Psalm 138:1, Psalm 111:1). I think most of all what God wants is for us to come away from worship in complete obedience to His commandments. This is what Jesus meant in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Finally, what is the connection between worship and serving? To serve means exactly that, to labor or work. How do we worship and work for the Lord our God? The work, in Biblical context, always links to worship and sacrifice. No exceptions. The work is the services performed in sacrifice. What sort of sacrifices do we give to God today?
When we come to God boldly in obedience to Romans 12:1-2, we do our reasonable service. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Again, when you walk away from true worship, God is pleased. He will have impressed upon your mind and heart His specific will for you. It will be directly in line with the keeping of His commandments. It will glorify Him. It will always come in prayer according to Romans 11:36, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to the glory of God, Amen.” If you want to know what God knows, do what God wills for you, be certain of His truth, then it must come from your time of prayer in heaven.
Have you seen Jesus on your bended knee or prostrate frame? Has He given a Word just for you to obey? Have you ever worshipped in your life before now?
