MINISTERING TO GOD:
Of the four aspects of our ministry as Christians, the most important is our
ministry to the Lord Himself. This will affect every other expression of
God's call on our lives.
1. Blessing God
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name''
Psalm 103:1 (NASB).
It is an awesome thought to consider that we have the ability to bless our
Creator, but time after time in the Scripture we are exhorted to do just
that. We bless him through our praise and worship of Him (see Judges 5:9;
Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 34:1,3; 63:3-4; 66:8; 68:26; 96:2-4,7-9;103:1-2,20-22;
104:1; 115:17-18; 134:1- 2; 145:1-2,10,21).
2. Praise
''Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will
praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands"
Psalm 63:3-4.
Praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation. When we praise
someone, we tell them how wonderful we think they are, or how great their
accomplishments are. lt is the same with the Lord. Praise has to do with
with acknowledging God's character and power.
a)Why do we Praise God?
- Because of who He is (Psalm 47:6-7; 113:1-5; 116:5; 135:3; Revelation
4:8).
- Because of what He does (Psalm 103:1-5; 105:1-2; 150:2; Revelation 4:11).
- Because it is pleasant and fitting (Psalm 147:1).
- Because it glorifies Him (Psalm 50:23).
b)Who is to Praise God?
- Those who seek God (Psalm 22:26; 40:16).
- All people (Psalm 148:11-13; 145:21; Revelation 7:9-12).
- All creation (Revelation 5:11-14).
- Everything that has breath (Psalm 150:6).
c)When do we Praise God?
- At all times (Psalm 34:1-3).
- All day long (Psalm 71:8; 113:3).
- When we hear His Word (Psalm 106:12; 119:171).
- In every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20).
d)Where are we to Praise God?
- Before His presence (Psalm 100; 95:1-3).
- On our beds (Psalm 63:5-7).
- Surrounded by God's people (Hebrews 2:12; Psalm 35:18).
- Among the nations (Psalm 57:9-11).
3. Worship
Whereas praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation, worship is
an expression of love and adoration. lt is possible to admire someone and
appreciate what they do without being IN LOVE with them. In the same way,
worship has to do with our relationship with the Lord. lt can only be
expressed with the giving of our whole heart and life to Him.
From the Heart, Not just Outward Form
"To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all
your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, is more important
than all burnt offerings and sacrifices'' Mark 12:33 (see also lsaiah
1:10-15; 29:13; Psalm 9:1; 86:12). The religious rituals and ceremonies of
Israel in the Old Testament became detestable to the Lord because their
heart was far from him (Isaiah 1:10-15; Isaiah 29:13). Today, also, God is
only interested in the genuine and sincere worship that comes from the
heart.
''Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers
the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in SPIRIT
and TRUTH'' John 4:23-24 (read also verses 4-26).
a) In Spirit
Our spirit can be termed the "inner man" (Ephesians 3:16). Worship results
when the inner man, in response to the promptings of God's Spirit, is
released in love and adoration toward God. This can take the form of vocal
worship, a love-song to the Lord, or silent adoration. Only those who have
been "born again of the spirit" through faith in Jesus Christ can truly
worship God (John 3:5-8).
b) In Truth
To worship God in truth is to worship Him in full understanding of who He
is, what He is like, and what pleases Him. This is only possible through the
Lord Jesus Christ, who IS the Truth and came to reveal the Father to us
(John 14:6; John 1:18). The Bible is His written Word, given to reveal God's
heart to us (John 5:39-40; Luke 24:27).
4. Expressions of Praise and Worship in Scripture
a)With the Mouth:
- Singing (Psalm 9:2,11; 13:6; 40:3).
- Praising (Psalm 103:1; 117:1-2; Matt 21:15-16).
- Shouting (Psalm 47:1).
b)With the Hands:
- Lifting (Psalm 63:4;134:2;141:2; 1 Timothy 2:8).
- Clapping (Psalm 47:1).
- Musical instruments (Psalm 150).
c) With the Body:
- Standing (Psalm 134:1;135:2).
- Kneeling, bowing (Psalm 95:61; 2 Chron 20:18).
- Dancing, leaping for joy (Psalm 30:11; 149:3;150:4; Acts 3:8; Luke 6:23;;
2 Sam 6:14-16).
'Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in
holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?. . . Sing to the Lord, for he
is highly exalted . . . ' Exodus 15:11,21.
"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord . . . For you are great and
do marvellous deeds; you alone are God . . . I will praise you, O Lord my
God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name for ever'' Psalm
86:8,10,12.
Of the four aspects of our ministry as Christians, the most important is our
ministry to the Lord Himself. This will affect every other expression of
God's call on our lives.
1. Blessing God
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name''
Psalm 103:1 (NASB).
It is an awesome thought to consider that we have the ability to bless our
Creator, but time after time in the Scripture we are exhorted to do just
that. We bless him through our praise and worship of Him (see Judges 5:9;
Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 34:1,3; 63:3-4; 66:8; 68:26; 96:2-4,7-9;103:1-2,20-22;
104:1; 115:17-18; 134:1- 2; 145:1-2,10,21).
2. Praise
''Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will
praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands"
Psalm 63:3-4.
Praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation. When we praise
someone, we tell them how wonderful we think they are, or how great their
accomplishments are. lt is the same with the Lord. Praise has to do with
with acknowledging God's character and power.
a)Why do we Praise God?
- Because of who He is (Psalm 47:6-7; 113:1-5; 116:5; 135:3; Revelation
4:8).
- Because of what He does (Psalm 103:1-5; 105:1-2; 150:2; Revelation 4:11).
- Because it is pleasant and fitting (Psalm 147:1).
- Because it glorifies Him (Psalm 50:23).
b)Who is to Praise God?
- Those who seek God (Psalm 22:26; 40:16).
- All people (Psalm 148:11-13; 145:21; Revelation 7:9-12).
- All creation (Revelation 5:11-14).
- Everything that has breath (Psalm 150:6).
c)When do we Praise God?
- At all times (Psalm 34:1-3).
- All day long (Psalm 71:8; 113:3).
- When we hear His Word (Psalm 106:12; 119:171).
- In every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20).
d)Where are we to Praise God?
- Before His presence (Psalm 100; 95:1-3).
- On our beds (Psalm 63:5-7).
- Surrounded by God's people (Hebrews 2:12; Psalm 35:18).
- Among the nations (Psalm 57:9-11).
3. Worship
Whereas praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation, worship is
an expression of love and adoration. lt is possible to admire someone and
appreciate what they do without being IN LOVE with them. In the same way,
worship has to do with our relationship with the Lord. lt can only be
expressed with the giving of our whole heart and life to Him.
From the Heart, Not just Outward Form
"To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all
your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, is more important
than all burnt offerings and sacrifices'' Mark 12:33 (see also lsaiah
1:10-15; 29:13; Psalm 9:1; 86:12). The religious rituals and ceremonies of
Israel in the Old Testament became detestable to the Lord because their
heart was far from him (Isaiah 1:10-15; Isaiah 29:13). Today, also, God is
only interested in the genuine and sincere worship that comes from the
heart.
''Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers
the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in SPIRIT
and TRUTH'' John 4:23-24 (read also verses 4-26).
a) In Spirit
Our spirit can be termed the "inner man" (Ephesians 3:16). Worship results
when the inner man, in response to the promptings of God's Spirit, is
released in love and adoration toward God. This can take the form of vocal
worship, a love-song to the Lord, or silent adoration. Only those who have
been "born again of the spirit" through faith in Jesus Christ can truly
worship God (John 3:5-8).
b) In Truth
To worship God in truth is to worship Him in full understanding of who He
is, what He is like, and what pleases Him. This is only possible through the
Lord Jesus Christ, who IS the Truth and came to reveal the Father to us
(John 14:6; John 1:18). The Bible is His written Word, given to reveal God's
heart to us (John 5:39-40; Luke 24:27).
4. Expressions of Praise and Worship in Scripture
a)With the Mouth:
- Singing (Psalm 9:2,11; 13:6; 40:3).
- Praising (Psalm 103:1; 117:1-2; Matt 21:15-16).
- Shouting (Psalm 47:1).
b)With the Hands:
- Lifting (Psalm 63:4;134:2;141:2; 1 Timothy 2:8).
- Clapping (Psalm 47:1).
- Musical instruments (Psalm 150).
c) With the Body:
- Standing (Psalm 134:1;135:2).
- Kneeling, bowing (Psalm 95:61; 2 Chron 20:18).
- Dancing, leaping for joy (Psalm 30:11; 149:3;150:4; Acts 3:8; Luke 6:23;;
2 Sam 6:14-16).
'Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in
holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?. . . Sing to the Lord, for he
is highly exalted . . . ' Exodus 15:11,21.
"Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord . . . For you are great and
do marvellous deeds; you alone are God . . . I will praise you, O Lord my
God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name for ever'' Psalm
86:8,10,12.
