WORSHIP

The Bible has a great dealt to say about worship. The Scriptures may not demand worship per se, but they do regulate it. There is precision of instruction regarding who is to be worshipped, who may render worship, how such adoration is to be implemented, even the disposition of the worshipper.

The subject of worship is one that is involved in the changes that some are promoting today. Some want to renovate and restructure the worship practices of the church. But what does the Bible say regarding acceptable worship?

I) Worship

A) Defined

1) Proskeuneo – “to kiss toward,” and carries the idea of bowing before one who is worthy of adoration.

2) Other words are used which suggest reverence.

B) Why Worship?

1) There is little doubt that many Christians in our time have lost sight of the real purpose of worship.

2) Worship services have, in some instances, become little more than social enterprises where folks gather to discuss events of the day.

3) On other occasions they have degenerated into entertainment sessions where preacher mesmerize the audience with comedy routines while soloists or choral groups belt out tunes to hand-clapping, arm-waving crowds.

4) In a word, worship has become, for some, a man-oriented exercise, rather than being God-focused.

5) In the book Portrait of God, Frank Chesser expresses the matter in this fashion: “The purpose of worship is not to get man in touch with his inner feelings. It is not to assuage the conscience, placate the flesh, or titillate the emotions. The worship assembly is not a laboratory for experimentation, a stage for exhibitionism, or a theater of dramatics. The purpose of worship is to honor and glorify God. God is the sole object of acceptable worship.”

C) Purpose of Worship

1) Praise- The Christian worships God because the Lord is worthy of such on the basis of his very nature.

(a) Psalm 18:3

(b) Such qualities as his goodness and mercy, his wisdom and power – are absolutely beyond our ability to fathom, but the evidences of such are more than adequate to generate eruptions of praise from the souls of the devout.

(c) A reflection upon the character of God helps to inoculate against sin (Psalm 4:4)

(d) Romans 1:20—on account of his mighty works.

2) Thanksgiving

(a) James 1:17

(b) Psalm 116:12-14

(c) We express overflowing love to our Creator on account of the forgiveness of our sins, and we acknowledge our dependence upon him for our daily sustenance.

(d) Far too many people are like hogs, who eat the acorns w/o ever looking up at the oak whence they fall.

(e) Ingratitude is a besetting sin of humankind (Luke 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:2b).

3) Proclamation

(a) There is also an evangelistic thrust in worship.

(b) While certainly it is true that a prime aspect of our praise is to glorify God because he is deserving of such, and likewise we express our love to Him because of our deep appreciation for his many kindnesses, it is true as well that our adoration in worship tells the heathen of his wonders, and such becomes an instrument of teaching.

(c) Christ once rebuked the Pharisees and scribes because he said their “worship” was “in vain.” Why so?

(d) Because they were teaching the “precepts of men.” (Matt. 15:9).

(e) The reverse of that equation would be this. “In teaching the precepts of God, one’s worship is honored.”

(f) Teaching is a form of worship.

D) Is Worship Regulated?

1) It is a matter of consternation that there appears to be a growing number who feel that worship is absolutely unregulated; that men is free to craft his own system and methodology of offering praise to Jehovah.

2) But this idea is quite ancient.

(a) Cain felt that he could worship according to his own inclination, rather than by faith (Gen. 4:3-5; cf. Heb. 11:4).

(b) Nadab and Abihu improvised in burning incense to God, and lost their lives as a consequence (Lev. 10:1-2).

(c) Jeroboam the son of Nebat was ingenious in his redesign of the Lord’s sacred worship system.

(1st) (I Kings 12:33)

(2nd) His name punctuate pages of OT history as the one who “Made Israel to sin” (I Kings 14:16)

3) Jesus Christ unequivocally taught that worship to God must be rendered according to “truth” (John 4:24), and the standard of that truth was God’s word (17:17).

4) To go beyond that “which is written” (I Cor. 4:6) is sin (I John 3:4).

5) To practice “will-worship,” which is worship that is “forbidden” or “unbidden” (Vines—i.e. unauthorized) comes under divine rebuke (Col. 2:23).

E) Proper Worship

1) Consist of the right object—God

2) Consist of the correct disposition--in spirit.

3) Consist of the authorized form—in truth

4) God is the proper audience. In spirit is the right attitude. In truth is the right action.

5) It is pretty well understood that we are to worship the proper object—God

6) Let’s look at the other two: in spirit and in truth.

7) In truth

(a) In truth means under the direction of the truth as reveal in Christ

(b) I Cor. 14:40

(c) Heb. 12:28

(d) God has always required that humans approach him “in truth.” i.e. according to the divine directive that He revealed to man.

(e) The only worship that has ever been acceptable to God has been that worship which has been undertaken with

(1st) A proper attitude, frame of mind, and disposition conducive to spirituality

(2nd) Faithfulness to the specific items performed.

(3rd) God has never accepted one w/o the other.

8) In spirit

(a) The proper attitude for worship

(b) Refers to the disposition of the heart and the mind.

(c) The worshipper must genuinely engage his spirit in the worship activity.

(d) In spirit is not to be equated with one’s emotions.

(e) Spirit refers to the human spirit, i.e. the mind.

(f) Once you have the correct actions in place for worship, the real effort comes in keeping your heart and mind focused on what you are doing.

(g) It takes mental and physical preparation.

(h) Unfortunately, the current climate in the church tends to treat worship as a time for entertaining the worshipper and catering to the worshipers’ wants.

(i) Consequently, worshippers have lost the deep, reverent mindset that approaches the worship assembly with a strong sense of respect and cautious intention to please God.

9) Instead of attempting to renovate worship for our own benefit, what we need to do is cultivate our appetites for pure, N.T. worship

(a) We need to stick with the simple worship behaviors specified in Scripture.

(b) We are living in a time when change, discontent, and restlessness are rampant.

(c) People tire very easily of the same old thing, and quickly look for a replacement.

(d) If worship has become boring and non-meaningful to a member, so much so that he feels the need to change churches or liven up the worship assembly with theatrics, he has a spiritual, internal problem—a heart problem.

(e) Shame on the Christian who puts away the simple worship of the N.T. church because it’s been the same old thing for so long.

Con: The ultimate goal of worship is to please God! Jesus said the Father is “seeking” true worshippers (John 4:23). God desires that people love Him enough to comply with His worship directives. Jesus came to do the will of the Father (John 6:38). He always did those things that please God (John 17:4). Should we not want to please God in our worship of Him? Our goal, aim, and purpose in life are to please God (2 Cor. 5:9). That should be especially true when we worship Him!