TRUE WORSHIP

WHAT IS WORSHIP? There are many false ideas about worship. Some people think that worship is an opportunity to express one’s emotions. Others believe that it is an opportunity for one to be uncontrollably spontaneous. The word worship is derived from the Anglo- Saxon word worthship, which means to declare the worth of God.

WHAT IS WORSHIP? True worship is not “performance – oriented” with the worshiper being thrilled or entertained. It is giving, not getting! And the person who says, “I just don’t get anything out of worship” needs to research the meaning of worship.

WHAT IS WORSHIP? There are only two kinds of worship: acceptable worship and unacceptable worship. David says that acceptable worship is giving God the glory and honor due Him.  Psa 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

WHAT IS WORSHIP? Jesus briefly describes acceptable 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. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

WHAT IS WORSHIP? Only God is worthy of worship! Man, idols, beasts, or anything else are not worthy of worship. Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

WHAT IS WORSHIP? Acceptable worship is worship that: Ascribes worth to God. Is God centered. Involves acts of reverence toward God (bowing, praising, and serving).

WHAT IS WORSHIP? Acceptable worship is worship that: Gives God the glory and honor due Him, Involves an intellectual desire that is deep within, motivated by love to serve God. Leads us to be obedient to God and do those things that glorify God.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS The scriptures say: Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS True worshippers are part of God’s spiritual house. 1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS True worshippers must give themselves as a living sacrifice to God. Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS True worshipers approach God with godly fear, respect, and reverence. Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS A worshiping life is a life of contrition and a continual confession before God. 1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. True worshippers have an attitude of love and obedience toward God and his word.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS We must fear God and do His will all the time and in every aspect of our lives so that our worship will be acceptable to God. 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS God is holy; therefore, we should show Him gratitude because God does not give us what we deserve. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

TRUE WORSHIPPERS We deserve death, but God gives us life. We deserve condemnation, but He gives us forgiveness and salvation. Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS Worshipers of false gods are not true worshipers. Rom 1:21 …when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations,……… Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, …beasts …

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS Worshipers of false gods are not true worshipers. Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, ……….

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS When men reject God, they will worship false gods. Man always worships something! If you worship what you possess or anything other than God, then you have denied God.

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS God repeatedly warned Israel against idol worship. Deu 4:23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS God is singularly and wonderfully unique. God can never be reduced to an image. When man tries to reduce God to an image, he will have the wrong view of God.

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS The point is, there is nothing that can be compared to God in heaven or on earth. God cannot be limited or confined to a building, a temple, a grove or a mountain.

WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS NO PLACE IS LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD GOD!!! God is ever-living and ever-present. Psa 90:2 ………. even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Every religion that rejects God is idolatrous.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE WRONG WAY Nadab’s and Abihu’s self-style worship Lev 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE WRONG WAY Nadab’s and Abihu’s self-style worship Lev 10:2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE WRONG WAY King Saul’s self-style worship 1Sa 13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. Only priests could make offerings to God.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE WRONG WAY King Saul’s self-style worship 1Sa 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, … thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: …. 1Sa 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: …. An obedient heart is essential for true worship.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE right WAY The Scriptures allow for Christian judgment. Therefore, it is important that Christians rightly divide the truth, otherwise we will fall into self- style worship. Most religious people who claim to worship God in spirit and in truth do not rightly divide the truth and fall into self-style worship.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE right WAY Singing praises to God, without instrumental music, is scriptural. However, the number of songs and the selection of songs are left to Christian judgment. The number of songs can be changed and not violate scripture.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE right WAY Observing the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week is a scriptural commandment. It cannot be changed. However, the time and the place of the Lord’s Supper are left to Christian judgment.

WORSHIPPING GOD THE right WAY In our worship we must eliminate: All false gods, All images of the true God, And all self-styled modes of worship,

WORSHIPPING GOD THE right WAY In order for our worship to be acceptable to God we must have the right attitude. Mat 22:37 Jesus said …, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

With the right attitude. In conclusion We must worship: The right God, The right way, With the right attitude. What matters to God is that we love Him unto obedience.