A Word about Worship

WORSHIP

Who, Why, What, How, When, Where

WHO are we supposed to be worshipping?

We worship GOD of the Bible

John 4:23

But the hour comes, and now is,when the true worshippers shallworship the Father in spirit and intruth: for the Father seeks suchto worship him.

WHY do we worship GOD?

Revelation 4:11

You are worthy, O Lord, toreceive glory and honour andpower: for You have createdall things, and for yourpleasure they are and werecreated.

WHO is the focus of this

testimony?

I was saved when I was 12

years old. I went to church and

heard the pastor speaking and

after I went forward and I bowed

on my knees and prayed and

asked Jesus to save me.

WHO is the focus of this

testimony?

I was saved when I was 12

years old. I went to church and

heard the pastor speaking and

after I went forward and I bowed

on my knees and I prayed and

asked Jesus to save me.

WHO is the focus of this

testimony?

The Lord saved me when I was12 years old. He used His Wordto show me my sin and my needof a Saviour and gave me thefaith to believe on Him forsalvation.

WHO is the focus of this

testimony?

The Lord saved me when I was12 years old. He used His Wordto show me my sin and my needof a Saviour and gave me thefaith to believe on Him forsalvation.

If we really believe that God is worthy. . .

If we really believe that we are God’s people. . .

If we really believe that Jesus is Lord. . .

Then shouldn’t we. . .

… find out what PLEASES HIM

… find out what HE WANTS

How can we know what GOD wants?

2Timothy 2:15

Study to show yourself approvedof God, a workman that needs notto be ashamed, rightly dividingthe word of truth.

So, what does the Bible say that God wants?

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and nowis, when the true worshipersshall worship the Father in spiritand truth, for the Father seekssuch to worship Him.

WHAT is worship &

HOW do we worshipGOD?

WHAT is worship?

Music?

Singing?

Praising?

Dancing?

Praying?

Hands raised?

Some modern dictionaries define worship as:

1. A feeling of profound love and admiration

2. (religion) show devotion to (a deity)

What do many Christians consider

worship today?

These days it seems common to see such things as . . .

“I love you Lord!”

“I’m going to worship you forever!”

“I will live my life for you!”

“I love you Lord!”

“I’m going to worship you forever!”

“I will live my life for you!”

Some modern dictionaries define “worship” as:

1. A feeling of profound love and admiration

2. (religion) show devotion to (a deity)

But, what does the LORD say about worship?Let’s let the Bible speak for itself.

Let’s see how the BIBLE presents it (exegesis), without influence of our own ideas, beliefs,

or traditions (eisegesis)

“I love you Lord!”

“I’m going to worship you forever!”

“I will live my life for you!”

“I love you Lord”

“I would give my life for you Lord”

Peter said similar things . . .

The Bible says …

Matthew 26:33, 35

33 Peter answered and said to him, Thoughall men shall be offended because of you,yet will I never be offended.

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should diewith you, yet will I not deny you. Likewisealso said all the disciples.

What happened next?

He ran away and later denied that He knew Christ

John 2:24-25

But Jesus did not commit himselfto them, because he knew all men,And needed not that any shouldtestify of man: for he knew whatwas in man.

We are filled with emotion?(I … )

We are filled with the Spirit?

(Lord … )

When we say worship as Christians, does it mean that …

For example: Where is the emphasis in our worship songs?

GOD or ME?

GOD-Centered or ME-Centered

CHRIST-Exalting or ME-Exalting

Song: Mahal Na Mahal Kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Song: Mahal Na Mahal Kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Are we celebrating how much WE love God?

Or are we celebrating how much GOD loves us?

Isaiah 57:12

The Bible says …

1John 4:19

We love him because hefirst loved us.

What does the Bible say is the evidence of our LOVE for

GOD?

John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

Ezekiel 33:31-32

… they sit before you as my people, and theyhear your words, but they will not do them:for with their mouth they show much love,but their heart goes after theircovetousness.

32 And, lo, you art unto them as a verylovely song of one that hath a pleasantvoice, and can play well on an instrument:for they hear your words, but they do themnot.

For example (2): Where is the emphasis in our worship songs?

GOD or ME?

GOD-Centered or ME-Centered

CHRIST-Exalting or ME-Exalting

Song: King of Majesty

You know that I love you

You know that I want to know you so much more

These words are from my heart

I will live for you

I am devoted to you

Forever I’ll give my praises to you

Song: King of Majesty

You know that I love you

You know that I want to know you so much more

These words are from my heart

I will live for you

I am devoted to you

Forever I’ll give my praises to you

Are we celebrating OUR good works?

Or are we celebrating GOD’S good works?

Psalm 107:22

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with

rejoicing.

For example (3): Where is the emphasis in our worship songs?

GOD or ME?

GOD-Centered or ME-Centered

CHRIST-Exalting or ME-Exalting

Song: Faith

I’m reaching for the prize

I’m giving everything

Nothing will keep me from Him

I will live for you

Song: Faith

I’m reaching for the prize

I’m giving everything

Nothing will keep me from Him

I will live for you

The Bible says …

Psalm 115:1

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,but unto your name give glory,for your mercy, and for yourtruth's sake.

Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said,Forasmuch as this people drawnear me with their mouth, andwith their lips do honour me,but have removed their heartfar from me, …

(4) Where is the emphasis in our songs?

GOD or ME?

GOD-Centered or ME-Centered

CHRIST-Exalting or ME-Exalting

Song: To God Be The Glory

To God be the glory great things He hath done

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin

And opened the life gate that all may go in

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord …

Song: To God Be The Glory

To God be the glory great things He hath done

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin

And opened the life gate that all may go in

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord …

Song: Faith

I’m reaching for the prize

I’m giving everything

Nothing will keep me from Him

I will live for you

Song: MajestyWorship His majesty

Unto Jesus be all glory honor and praise

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King

Worship His majesty

Jesus who died now glorified

King of all Kings

Song: MajestyWorship His majesty

Unto Jesus be all glory honor and praise

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King

Worship His majesty

Jesus who died now glorified

King of all Kings

Song: Mahal Na Mahal Kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Mahal na mahal kita

Song: Jesus Paid it All

I hear the Savior say your strength indeed is small

Child of weakness watch and pray

Find in me your all in all

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

Song: Jesus Paid it All

I hear the Savior say your strength indeed is small

Child of weakness watch and pray

Find in me your all in all

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

Singing is NOT just about feeling good

(taking)

It’s about glorifying God for HIS great works

(giving)!

WORSHIP

WHAT does it mean to worship

&

HOW do we do it?

First: HOW do we worship?

In SPIRIT and TRUTH

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they thatworship him must worship him inspirit and in truth.

SPIRIT = ?

TRUTH = ?

SPIRIT (heart)

Born again by faith in the Lord JesusChrist and His finished work (John3:6)

TRUTH (mind)

The Word of GOD (John 17:17)

Can everyoneworship God?

HOW do we worship?

In SPIRIT …

John 4:24God is a Spirit: and they thatworship him must worship him inspirit and in truth.

Spirit = new life, born again

James 2:10

GUILTY!

We all have an appointment.

Hebrews 9:27

1Peter 1:16

Isaiah 59:2

Isa 13:11 And I will punish the

world for their evil…

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no

sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Isaiah 53:5

It is finished…

In TRUTH …

If we do not have the truth of theBible, we cannot know God verywell and we cannot be trulyworshiping Him in truth(Colossians 3:10).

What does the BIBLE reveal

about worship?

Genesis 24:26

And the man bowed down

his head, and worshipped

[Heb: shachah] the LORD.

What does the BIBLE reveal

about worship?

Exodus 34:8

And Moses made haste, andbowed his head toward theearth, and worshipped [Heb:shachah].

What does the BIBLE reveal

about worship?

Psalm 95:6

O come, let us worship [Heb:

shachah] and bow down: let

us kneel before the LORD

our maker.

What does the BIBLE reveal

about worship?

Matthew 28:9

And as they went to tell his disciples,

behold, Jesus met them, saying, All

hail. And they came and held him

by the feet, and worshipped [Gr:

proskuneo] him.

TWO MAIN WORDS in Hebrew and Greek describe WORSHIP

1. The Hebrew word shachah (Strong’s number 7812) is used of bowingor prostrating oneself, often before a superior or before God.

– In the King James Version, it is translated by a number of different Englishwords, including: “worship” (99 times), “bow” (31 times), “bow down”(18 times), “obeisance” (9 times), and “reverence” (5 times).

2. The Greek word proskuneo (Strong’s number 4505) comes from theGreek words pros, “to” or “toward,” and kuneo, “to kiss.”

– It literally means to kiss the hand to (toward) someone in token ofreverence, and among the Orientals, to fall upon the knees and touch theground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.

– Hence, in the New Testament it means kneeling or prostration to dohomage or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or tomake supplication.

TWO MAIN WORDS in Hebrew and Greek describe WORSHIP

A study of the Hebrewword shachah and the Greekword proskuneo reveals that boththese words mean to bow down.

Revelation 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship [Gr: proskuneo]

him.

Biblically speaking,

what does worship

look like?

Is this the same as what we see in the Bible about the subject of worship?

Can we say that it may even be the oppositefrom what we see in the Bible about the subject

of worship?

Revelation 11:16

And the four and twenty

elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their

faces, and worshipped God.

What will happen in heaven at the end of time?

What is the Biblical definition of

worship?

Hebrew Word: [shachah]

Greek Word: [proskuneo]

–To bow down or crouch

–Literally or figuratively prostrate

oneself in homage

–To revere

Worship is an act of SUBMISSION

Worship means bowing down before GOD

Worship is acknowledgingyour NEED of GOD

Worship removes PRIDE

Worship recognizes the LORD as your only HOPE

Question: Is worshipsinging?

By the way: What will we be singing in heaven? Worshipful songs

Revelation 15:3-4

And they sing the song of Moses the servant ofGod, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great andmarvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; justand true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thyname? for thou only art holy: for all nations shallcome and worship before thee; for thy judgmentsare made manifest.

Worship is the END of ALL

life:

Philippians 2:10-11

That at the name of Jesus every knee

should bow, of things in heaven, and

things in earth, and things under the

earth; (11) And that every tongue

should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

1Samuel 16:7

… the LORD sees not as man

sees; for man lookes on the

outward appearance, but the

LORD looks on the heart.

God looks on our hearts:

Some people do it only whenother people can see them . . .

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision,which worship God in thespirit, and rejoice in ChristJesus, and have no confidencein the flesh.

Question:

Can we be bowed

down before GOD 24-

hours a day?

God looks on our hearts

Works of the FleshGalatians 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, whichare these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, andsuch like: of the which I tell you before, as I havealso told you in time past, that they which do suchthings shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Can we worship God with hearts filled with sin?

Psalm 66:18

If I regard iniquity in myheart, the Lord will nothear me:

God looks on our hearts

OurAttitudes

Behaviors

Desires

Imaginations

Submissiveness

Thoughts

These demonstrate a worshipful believer (Christian)

Christ, our Example of worship

John 6:38

For I came down from heaven, not to do mineown will, but the will of him that sent me.

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet heopened not his mouth: he is brought as a lambto the slaughter, and as a sheep before hershearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Do I have to bow down on my knees

to worship?

The question should be if our hearts bowed down before God

throughout the day?

It is EASY to lift our hands and “feel” good about God in church

Everybody can sing songs (even lost people can do that)

• But, the Bible tells us that practicalworship is bowing down before Godwhether in body, or mind, or heartwith a submissiveness to obey Hiscommands and follow Christ

• Quite OPPOSITE from what weobserve these days among the peopleof God

Are our hearts bowed down to GOD?

Do we:

Bow down to (OBEY) His commands (Word)?

Bow down to (YIELD) to His Spirit’s leading?

Bow down (CONFORM) to His Word in our lives?

Bow down (SUBMIT) to His authority in our lives?

Bow down (SURRENDER) in heart, in prayer, looking to and relying on GOD to meet our needs?

Do these attitudes WORSHIP GOD?

Remember: LOVE = obedience

WORSHIP = heart boweddown to GOD in

submission and reverence

PRAISE = saying or singingthe glory of GOD

EACH is DIFFERENT

Each VIEWS GOD from various perspectives

EACH has its PLACE

In what ways do people TRY to worship GOD apart from spirit

and truth (in the flesh)?

In what ways do we worship GOD in spirit and truth?

WHEN do we worship GOD?

Is worship only one day a week?

Is worship only for a group or is it an

individual matter?

WHERE are we supposed to worship

GOD?

Is worship only for church?

John 4:21

Jesus saith unto her, Woman,believe me, the hour cometh,when ye shall neither in thismountain, nor yet atJerusalem, worship theFather.

Does worship = service?

Matthew 4:8-10

8 Again, the devil took him up on top of avery high mountain, and showed him all thekingdoms of the world, and the glory ofthem;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will Igive you, if you will fall down and worshipme.

10 Then said Jesus to him, Get you hence,Satan: for it is written, You shall worship theLord your God, and him only shall you serve.

So, what is praise?

THE END

Prepared by: Dr. Jerry F. Smith, Missionary Pastor-TeacherOf: Faith Missionary Church, TN, USALocal: Dasmarinas, Cavite, Philippines

http://fmcoutreach.blogspot.com/http://ptrjerrysblog@blogspot.com/

http://c-ed.blogspot.com/jfrsmth@gmail.com