Worship

The word "worship" is found 108 times in the Bible. Worship is basic to the human soul.

What is worship?

It’s “Worth-ship”: When we worship God we declare His worth - God’s worthiness.

How we worship matters. God's Word shows both True and False worship.

Our Lord tells of how some worship is “Vain” - empty, worthless, fruitless. Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Some worship is NOT acceptable to God. It is Outward-only Worship. Meaningless, Hypocritical worship.

Without heart devotion to the glory of God.

All outward religion that does not involve heart worship is VAIN WORSHIP.

IN CONTRAST to this - is Real, Sincere, True Worship… John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

HOW are we to worship?

In spirit AND in truth.

It’s worship from the spirit - the inner man, the mind, the heart.

Some seek a human-centered worship - an entertainment experience - rather than a God-honouring service.

True Christian worship springs from THE SPIRIT. It is related to the Holy Spirit of God, NOT the carnal spirit of the world.

Genuine worship must also be "IN TRUTH”. Our worship must match up with God’s Word.

John 17:17 …thy word is truth. To worship God in truth is to worship Him according to His Word.

Acceptable worship is more than a warm and fuzzy feeling, and a fervent heart. Without Truth, our worship can offend God.

Romans 10:2 talks of some people having a zeal of God, yet it’s "NOT according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2).

HOW we worship God is no trivial matter.
It is deadly serious.

Cain, Adam’s firstborn son was rejected by God, all because his worship was wrong — in motive and in method. Abel’s worship was received. His was by faith.

Nadab and Abihu were judged for offering "strange fire" at the altar— they minimised sin and made up their own rules for worship.

Our worship to God is acceptable - IF it lines up with the Bible, and comes from a heart truly saved.

The “HOW” can be a controversial subject…

Is it OK to bring in the rock band, the drum kit, the rock beat, and jazz up the church, make worship more “contemporary” and “relevant” - to attract people in from the lost world around us?

Do we truly worship in the spirit - OR in the flesh?

The “hip” church is mimicking the world. They’re trying hard to make this music look acceptable for worship.

BUT the Bible urges believers to follow GOD – NOT the world.

Rock is a compromise. The Bible urges us to choose the godly and to shun what’s ungodly.

True Christian music is primarily music which worships and glorifies God and spiritually edifies the saints.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We can’t worship God truly in spirit and in truth with this worldly style music.

Some churches place their emphasis on excitement and entertainment.

The true believer is NOT of this world. John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

We need to honour the Lord.
• To reverence His Name.
• To stand in awe of Him.

Worship is a holy expression before a holy God.

God’s true Church is no circus.
• It is here that we sense God's holiness and our own sinfulness.
• Here we bow before God and honour Him.

Is our worship from a godly source? Where does it come from - and where it is leading?

WHO is the Worship for?

Our worship is to be focused on God, not on the worshipper.

If our worship is truly to be FOR God, then we must worship God according to His Word.

He is the focus of our worship. And our worship comes from the depths of our being.

Our worship is not to entertain and please us or lift our emotions. That can happen, but that is not the object of worship.

Do we worship - or do we just "Go to Church"?

To worship God the Father we must be sure we are related to Him. So then, as saved people we want to give Him due worship and praise!