|
|
|
1. What Is Worship?
Worship can be defined as bringing pleasure to God. Anything we do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Worship is far more than music. Romans 12:1 - "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." By being obedient to God, we are demonstrating our loyalty and our love to Him, which is pleasing. Therefore, any act of obedience to God is worship.
2. Who Do We Worship?
Worship was ascribed to Jesus. Exodus 34:14 stipulates: "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God ...". Since Jesus is God made flesh, we are to worship him.
At Jesus' birth, the wise men came to pay homage to Him "...we have seen His star in the east, and we come to worship Him... And when they were come into the dwelling, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him, ..." (Matt 2:2,11)
God commanded concerning His Son in Hebrews 1:6 "And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."
3. Why Do We Worship?
The purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt, and please God. Our worship must show our adoration and loyalty to God for His grace in providing us with the way to escape the bondage of sin, so we can have salvation.
Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength. Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character. We become like those we admire and worship. When we worship God, we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God, though never to His level.
As Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ." How do we take on the mind of Christ? In Romans 12:2 we read, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We renew our mind as we study and meditate on God’s word and worship Him.
4. How Do We Worship?
Jesus says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
|
|
|
|
|