Worship
Worship is defined in basically one word and that word is GIVE. The wordworship means to prostrate or bow before God as an expression of the heart and
the main attitude and intention is one of giving to God the praise and worship that
is due to His Holy Name. Hebrews 13:15 states that let us ALWAYS in our
worship offer the sacrifice of praise by our lips GIVING thanks to His Name.
When we worship we approach God with the attitude of GIVING and not to
receive at that time.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that there is a time for everything. There is a time to
worship and there is a time to pray and ask God to see His glory. Worship is a
time to GIVE the praise to the Father that is due to His Holy Name. Our words
are very important. Our words in the songs we sing must reflect giving to God
worship and praise or else we are not worshipping God. Our song selection must
be words of giving to God and not receiving from God anything during the time of
worship. We need to have a time just for God and not ourselves.
During worship we do not ask God for more power or to know His presence or to
see His Glory but we focus upon Almighty God with exaltation towards His
greatness and goodness because He is worthy to be praised and no one else.
We proclaim that God is Holy and righteous and blessed during the time of
worship. We should begin worship by saying: Receive our worship today and be
pleased with our praises to YOU Almighty God.
We may be praying to God during our worship time by having songs that are
about us receiving and this is not good. We do not seek to be healed or delivered
during worship. Worship is about God and not about us. Our hearts need to be
centered upon God and as we come, we come to GIVE. We need to put to death
our self-centered mind set. God is only pleased with true worship and anything
else quenches the SPIRIT. We should be able to GIVE to God 45 minutes of
uninterrupted WORSHIP truly focusing upon the Father the whole time. The Holy
Spirit loves to exalt God and worship thru believers in Christ.
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The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is dependent upon true worship. In Psalms
22:3 God is telling us that He is present when we truly Praise Him. God inhabits
or dwells where there is true worship. God will remain and live where there is true
worship and praise. You can ONLY have a move of God or the presence of the
Holy Spirit when you have true worship. We say we want more of God but will we
sacrifice our own desires and GIVE to God the worship that is due to His Holy
Name. We focus too much upon receiving for our selves. It is time to GIVE to
God what He ask for. The Father is searching for a church that will worship Him
in (John 4:23-24) spirit and truth.
This verse says that the hour is come and now is, when the true worshipers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is looking for such to
worship Him. God is Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and
in truth.
John 4:23-24 Here is the breakdown of this verse:
1. The time is now - this generation or church (grace) age.
2. True worshipers vs. false worshipers (any worship not according to God's
Word).
3. The Person we worship (Father). We first praise Jesus because He is the
Way. John 14:6 our goal is to get to the Father. This is the will of Jesus.
4. Our attitude and approach needs to be in spirit and truth. Both are essential in
getting to the Father.
5. The Father is seeking (searching and looking) people who will worship Him the
prescribed way (biblical), in spirit and in truth. Both are necessary.
A. Worship God in the spirit, not in the natural but be led by the Holy Spirit - Rom.
8:14-17
B. Worship God in truth (according to scriptures). John 17:17 and 2 Tim. 2:15 -
The Word of God is truth.
6. God is Spirit - no mention here as to God having a body or a soul. Worship is a
spiritual thing. Our spirit connecting with His Spirit. Worship led by the Holy Spirit
will never go against His written Word.
7. We MUST (if we are going to worship God) worship in spirit and in truth. There
is no other option for true worship. God's way is the only way.
This verse states that we should enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into
His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His Name. For the Lord is
good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Ps. 100:4-5.
1. ENTER - His gates. This is a door or starting point for which we come into full
worship.
2. THANKSGIVING is the key to open up the gate. Tell God in word or song for
the things we are grateful for and for all His goodness to us. See Ps. 100:4-5
Thanking God is very powerful in getting into His presence.
3. PRAISE (towards God) will take us into the inner court. This has to do with His
Greatness, Faithfulness etc. In other words His character. Praise will take us to
the inner court but not all the way. Worship is the next step.
This verse states that we need to come before His presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a Great God, and
a Great King above all gods. Oh come, Let us worship and bow down. Let us
kneel before the Lord our Maker. Ps. 95:2-3,6.
1. Thanksgiving (1) the gate we come into the presence of God. Vs. 2.
2. Praise (2), which is psalms to God, takes us into the inner court. Speaking and
singing (Heb. 13:15) with joy in our hearts is to be our attitude. Giving to God
Praise and not being focused upon ourselves for what we want from Him.
3. Reason for praise, because He is Great and a King (vs. 3) above all. We also
praise God because He is our creator (vs. 4).
4. Knowledge of ourselves puts us into the right frame of mind to worship -that is
we are created. The creature worships the Creator. This is mentioned in Ps.
100:3. Also in Ps. 95:6 The Lord is our MAKER.
5. Worship (3) takes us all the way into the Holy of Holies, to the Father. Worship
has to do with our posture before God more than our words. To worship God is to
bow and kneel before Him.
6. True worship will open up for us the voice of God (Ps. 95:7). Notice also that
we are called sheep in this passage. Compare this to John 10:27.
In both of these chapters in the book of Psalms we will find that worship has to
do with God only (primarily) and not ourselves. Our focus needs to on Jesus and
the Father when worshiping. Ps. 100:3 says know the Lord and that is we direct
our attention to God and off of ourselves. Notice the phrase in this verse - not we
ourselves. This tells us to take the focus off of ourselves. In Ps. 95:1 it says we
sing unto the Lord - that is to lift (exalt) Him up.
Important:
Some songs we sing in church are prayers and other songs of asking God for
something that are not appropriate for worship. Some of these songs focus upon
ourselves and not God. Our focus needs to be giving to God and not receiving
from God at the time of true worship (Heb. 13:15).
They may be good songs but belong in another function of the church. Worship is
not the time to ask God for something you want, this belongs in a prayer meeting.
There is a time for worship and a time for prayer, just like a time for teaching.
Some songs we sing are us asking God to bless us or for us to be healed or for
us to feel His presence or see His Glory and these songs are just not appropriate
for worship because worship is All about God and giving to God the worship that
is due to His Holy Name.
Songs taken from the book of Psalms and the book of Revelation are the most
powerful worship songs we can get. This verse proclaims: Thou art worthy, O
Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things.
Rev. 4:11.This verse speaks of the Greatness of God and God being our creator.
You will notice the same progression towards worship here in this passage in
revelation as in the book of Psalms. Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship. Rev. 4:9 -
speaks of giving thanks and in vs. 11 we find Praise - giving glory, honor and
power. In vs. 10 we have the Elders falling down on their faces, an act of
worship. In Rev. 7:11-12- you can see that falling on your face (or to prostrate
oneself) is an act of worship. There are more examples of worship in the book of
Revelation; you may want to do your own study.
Jesus says that when He, the Spirit of truth, is come. He will guide you into all
truth; for He shall not speak of Himself. He (Holy Spirit) shall glorify me (Jesus).
John 16:13-14 this is extremely important when worshiping God. Our worship
needs to be directed toward the Father and the Son only. The Holy Spirit leads
us in worship, but never speaks of Himself. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and
the Father but not Himself. The Holy Spirit is the One behind the scenes in
operation with the other members of the trinity. Songs that address the Holy
Spirit and our speaking words of worship to HIM, ARE NOT appropriate for
church worship. The Holy Spirit will not glorify or exalt Himself; He will only lift up
Jesus and the Father. Compare also John 15:26.
In 1 Tim. 3:6 - we have the qualifications for elders. It says, not a novice (new
convert) or young man without experience or training. In verse 10 of the same
chapter it says let him first be proven; back in verse 2 it says he must be able to
teach. Worship leaders need these qualifications as well as Elders. Many
worship leaders are called Ministers of Worship or Music. Worship Leaders need
strong theological and biblical training as well as music in order to minister
effectively. Without sound biblical training and teaching, you may have music
only and not true worship. When we make it all the way to the Father in true
spiritual worship the Holy Spirit will at that point speak to us as to what the Father
says by pouring out gifts of teaching, prophesy etc. in order to build up the body
of Christ.
Suggested format for worship. 1-2 songs of thanksgiving or speaking to God your
personal thanks or a mixture. Then 3-4 songs of Praise, mixed with speaking to
God your praise. Followed by 10 to 15 minutes of Worship by kneeling and
prostrating yourself before God. During this time you should be silent before God.
See 1 Kings 19:12 and Ps. 46:10. You will then hear the voice of God. Allow time
for prophecy, teaching and other gifts of the Spirit after you hear the voice of
God. Give thanks to God for His marvelous ways.
Sample songs for thanksgiving: 1. Give Thanks 2. Make a joyful noise.
Sample songs for praise: 1. Great is the Lord 2. Shout to the Lord 3. He is
Exalted 4.Great is your Faithfulness 5. Blessed be the Lord 6. Hosanna
7. Majesty
Sample songs that take us into worship: 1. Holy Holy Holy 2.Blessing Honor
Glory and Power 3. You are Holy 4. Come let us worship and bow down 5. We
bow down.
Bill Naugle a Servant, Child and Teacher of God
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