TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY JULY 18, 2017.
WORSHIP
DEFINITION:
Reverent honor paid to God; adoring reverence or regard; to express praise and devotion to God.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name. Psalm 29:2
Jesus declared, yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24.
“Worship at the church of your choice” has become a common invitation here in North America, and believers and unbelievers alike are urged to join in a public service in a specially designed building called a church or a synagogue. But we ask you the question: “what is this worship”. Can a person who does not believe in God have any idea of what true biblical worship is? The answer of course is NO!
If we go to the average church, including the average Bible-believing church, we will normally see a sign, “WORSHIP SERVICE 11:00 A.M.” We will find that the main part of the service is a sermon. But is sermon worship? NO! Listening to a sermon, or even preaching a sermon, is not worship.
But then you might ask the question, “What about prayers?” Most prayers are petitions and are meant to be that. Some prayers are filled with worship and most good prayers include worship, but a prayer itself is not necessarily worship.
We are getting closer to worship when we talk about church music especially when the music is addressed to God in adoration. But music in itself is not worship. All of the above are important for our spiritual nourishment and pleasing to God. So, what is worship?
A wonderful example of worship by a former pagan gentile is recorded in the book of Daniel (Daniel 4: 34-37). The words of Nebuchadnezzar, after he came to know God as his God and Savior, were clearly worship. Worship comes from the heart. Nebuchadnezzar expressed to God what he was feeling in his heart. He was not in a church service; it was just God and him.
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, compared to His greatness; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down”.
This is pure worship. He certainly was not preaching; he was not even praying, but was praising the Most High God in humble adoration. His heart was overflowing, bubbling over with a consciousness of the greatness, love, and goodness of the sovereign God, his Savior.
The apostle John was the only person who God has given a glimpse of worship in heaven. In Revelation, chapter 4, John describes worship in heaven.
“The twenty-four (they represent the redeemed), fall down before Him (Jesus) who sits on the throne, and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things and by Your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:10-11
Worship exalts God and humbles man; there is no room for pride, arrogance, or hypocrisy in worship. Psalm 95:6-7 reads: “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord, our maker, for He is our God.” John 4:24 tells us that, “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth”.
What Jesus is saying is that to worship in the spirit is true biblical worship and is more than just attending church or performing religious rituals. True worship comes from the heart. It is the feeling of deep love and adoration for our God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. To worship in truth is to worship God consistent with the truth of God’s Word.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 95:6.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
I humbly come before You today to worship You with my whole heart. You are the one and only God. You are my maker, the Lord of all, and the rock in whom I take refuge. You are everlasting and all Your words are truth. Thank You that You loved me so much that You sent Jesus, Your only Son, to die for me and save me from all my sin.
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