We live in a day where few seem to understand what true worship is all about. Many people attend church for the social value more than learning of Christ and what He expects out of us. True worship must center on God and not on man’s desires. According to William Wilson in his Old Testament Word Studies the word worship ultimately means to pay adoration to God. The Psalmist in Psalm 95 calls for the people of Israel to praise and worship God because He is their Creator, Protector, and their Shepherd. The Psalmist proclaims in v.6, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Then again in Psalm 96:9 the Psalmist proclaims: “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.” God is worshipped because of who He is and what He has done for us an undeserving people of His grace.
So we see worship is about God. Anywhere in the Bible that we see biblical worship or praise, it is focused on God. In true worship the worshiper is totally focused on God (or Christ) and nothing else. Remember Isaiah in Isaiah 6, his total focus was on the Lord because he got a glimpse of God’s power and glory. Interestingly in v.3 even the angels worshipped God with total reverence. In 2 Samuel 7 God told David that he could not build the Temple, but that his son would (vv.12-13). David was also told in v.16 that his throne would be established forever. Then in vv.18-29 we find David praising and worshipping God because of His greatness and mercy. The praise was all about God not David. In Luke 2:21-35 we find the story of Simeon who whole heartedly worshipped God in the Temple when He took up the baby Jesus in his arms because God promised him that he would not die until he saw his salvation. Let me offer one more example. The Apostle Paul’s life since his conversion was dedicated to the worship of God, for it was he who wrote; “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31) From what we can gather from the biblical record, Paul lived a worshipful life.
We see then that worship should be a natural outcome of a saved person who appreciates all that God is and what He has done for him or her. Believers need to dedicate their lives to worshipping God His way because we will be worshipping God for all eternity. In the Book of Revelation chapters 4 and 5:8-14 we find heavenly worship of God during the Tribulation Period. The four beasts and the 24 elders are worshipping God because He is worthy of the honor for He created all things for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11). I believe that this heavenly scene will be repeated continually for all eternity. We have the blessed privilege of worshipping Christ forever.
Implementing true worship in our churches can be a difficult task. It starts with solid biblical preaching and teaching. We are dealing with people who are strongly influenced to think more of themselves than of others. Many people come to church for what they can get out of it instead of focusing on the Lord in true worship. We need to teach our congregations about the glories of God and Christ. We need to help them to take the focus off of themselves and to look to Christ.
We need to build an atmosphere of worship. We need to choose songs that are theologically accurate and true to God’s character. Our music leaders can explain the richness of the hymns they choose and help the congregation to focus on what they are actually signing. This is not popular in most churches today, but I believe it is healthy to help people to learn to keep the noise down in the sanctuary so others can prepare their hearts for true worship. Many of our sanctuaries are very noisy and disruptive. I am not arguing for a false piety, but I do believe there should be a proper atmosphere for worship.
We need to teach that every aspect of the service is a part of the worship. Pastoral prayers should be meaningful and not just something we do. The offering time is a special time of worship as we give back to God in thanksgiving for how He has provided for us. Nothing should be done as a filler, but everything with a purpose.
What is our attitude about worship? We need to understand that life is about Christ and not about ourselves. We must go to church and live our lives to glorify Christ!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
BENNEFITS OF THE WORD
An ingredient in the salvation process: (Romans 10:13-14) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:17) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Matures us: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (maturing), throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works. ………….." (Romans 12:2) "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Through the Word), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Guides us: (Psalms 119:103-105) "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The Word illumines our way in a dark world. It gives us clear direction on how to follow the right way & avoid the wrong way. The oil of the lamp is the Holy Spirit who guides us.
Teaches us to Fear God: (Deuteronomy 4:10) "Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children." We are to stand in awe of His holiness and reverence Him- give Him glory & praise!!
Convicts of sin: 2Kings 22:8-13, In the days of Josiah the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. Notice the proper response: (2 Chronicles 34:27) "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD."
Can protect us from sin: (Psalms 119:11) "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Comforts us: (Psalms 119:50) "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." Quickened- revive, restore, recover, nourish.
Provides success for our life: (Joshua 1:8) "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Prosperous & success- meaning the work we do for God as He leads in our lives will be profitable. We will have the wisdom to behave & serve properly- we will be in tune with our Lord. This includes activities such as parenting, serving the Lord, & etc.
Standard of judgment: (John 12:48) "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
Our responsibility: (James 1:22) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." It is not enough to study & know the Word of God. We can have great Biblical knowledge & fail to live a pleasing life for God. We must be “doers of the Word” practicing it, living it out daily in our lives. This means humbling ourselves & submitting to the Word- its every command & precept. We cannot pick & choose what Scriptures to obey according to our fancy.
Thomas Paine:
The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book
that ever existed.
Mark Twain
Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not
understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.
Dwight L Moody
The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.
Abraham Lincoln
I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.
A.W. Tozer
The Bible was written in tears, and to tears it yields its best treasures.
Anonymous Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without
swallowing.
An ingredient in the salvation process: (Romans 10:13-14) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:17) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Matures us: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (maturing), throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works. ………….." (Romans 12:2) "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Through the Word), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Guides us: (Psalms 119:103-105) "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The Word illumines our way in a dark world. It gives us clear direction on how to follow the right way & avoid the wrong way. The oil of the lamp is the Holy Spirit who guides us.
Teaches us to Fear God: (Deuteronomy 4:10) "Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children." We are to stand in awe of His holiness and reverence Him- give Him glory & praise!!
Convicts of sin: 2Kings 22:8-13, In the days of Josiah the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. Notice the proper response: (2 Chronicles 34:27) "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD."
Can protect us from sin: (Psalms 119:11) "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Comforts us: (Psalms 119:50) "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." Quickened- revive, restore, recover, nourish.
Provides success for our life: (Joshua 1:8) "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Prosperous & success- meaning the work we do for God as He leads in our lives will be profitable. We will have the wisdom to behave & serve properly- we will be in tune with our Lord. This includes activities such as parenting, serving the Lord, & etc.
Standard of judgment: (John 12:48) "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
Our responsibility: (James 1:22) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." It is not enough to study & know the Word of God. We can have great Biblical knowledge & fail to live a pleasing life for God. We must be “doers of the Word” practicing it, living it out daily in our lives. This means humbling ourselves & submitting to the Word- its every command & precept. We cannot pick & choose what Scriptures to obey according to our fancy.
Thomas Paine:
The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book
that ever existed.
Mark Twain
Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not
understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.
Dwight L Moody
The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.
Abraham Lincoln
I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.
A.W. Tozer
The Bible was written in tears, and to tears it yields its best treasures.
Anonymous Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without
swallowing.
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