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TO THE GLORY OF GOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Study No 4 WORSHIP
INTRODUCTION
True worship of God has often been obscured by a multitude of
carnal attitudes. Since it is basic to man to worship and venerate
God, unregenerate men have been compelled by their own capacity for
worship to substitute idols for God. The history of the human race
bears this out - the sun and moon or idols of wood and stone have been
worshipped from antiquity, whilst modern man worships his own
achievements - space flight, architecture, social freedom,
rationalism, etc.
However, man had found it impossible to be satisfied through
anything less than God Himself. There are a number of drives in the
personality of man which can only be satisfied by the pure use of the
thing intended - so it is with man's religious life - nothing but the
original can fill the aching void within him.
1. Worship is Love For God
This is one of the primary reasons for the creation of man with
full possession of his free-will. God wanted man to love Him
freely without any coercion or limitation. Man is not a robot.
He can choose to worship God or not to and this free-will is the
ground in which true love is formed.
The spiritual heart of man (comprising soul and spirit) was
created by God not just as faculties of sense and reason, but as
the loving organ - the faculty through which man could reach out
to God, feel His presence and respond with love and adoration.
When the intuitive part of man's spirit becomes enlightened to the
goodness, greatness and majesty of God, the faculty for communion
takes over and demands full release. This cannot be achieved
through an intellectual appreciation of God such as mere
information or ceremonial observance. The children of Israel had
an approach to God through ceremonial observance but true worship
could hardly be expressed. They had mere communication instead of
communion and information instead of revelation.
However, now in Christ we have open access into God's presence and
we can express love unhindered and unfeigned.
2. The Fulfillment Of Man
As marriage is the fulfillment of man in both the physical and
social sense so true worship enables man to be fulfilled in his
spirit. Apart from this he is always stunted and frustrated. The
release of the spirit is in the enthronement of God within the
life. He is the missing factor of human personality. In fact the
analogy of marriage is in many ways parallel to the relationship
between God and man. The Christian is spoken of as the "bride of
Christ" in Ephesians 5:25-32, as "married to Christ" Romans 7:4,
and as a "chaste virgin presented to the husband - Christ" 2
Corinthians 11:2.
The love that is spoken of between God and redeemed mankind is not
less than that between man and wife, but of an even higher tally,
physically and spiritually.
3. Devotion Not Duty
No marriage could survive as such if the wife exists only as the
servant of the house, faithfully performing every necessary duty
but never being involved in a relationship of devotion, both felt
and expressed.
Many Christians have a lopsided concept of worshipping God which
is similar to this. They have a sense of duty, responsibility,
and unworthiness. This is not satisfying to God or man. In some
instances the outward observance of duty can be a cover up for the
"conscious" lack of devotion. Jesus accused the Pharisees of
worshipping God with their lips, but their hearts were far from
Him. This is not even worship but a travesty of it. True worship
is in both heart and deed.
4. On The Same Wavelength
In order for a radio to receive and produce the signal broadcast
from the transmitter it must be tuned to the same frequency.
The same is true of worship - carnal observances with emphasis
upon special dates and places is meaningless, they simply do not
bring man into harmon with the fulness of God (in fact often they
are a hindrance as a substitute for His presence). Jesus told
the woman of Samaria, John 4, that it wasn't special places that
were important but special attitudes. He said it was essential
to be on the same wavelength. Since God is Spirit, He must be
worshipped in spirit. Anything else is inadequate. John 4:24.
Now we understand that our worship (through it will surely
encompass our soul and body) must proceed from our regenerated
spirit in an attitude of communion, love and adoration. Since our
spirit becomes the repository of the Holy Spirit we are able to
satisfy both the Father and ourselves, as the Holy Spirit assists
us and prays through us. Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:12 (9-
10), 1 Corinthians 14:2, Jude v20, Acts 2:4. (cp.v11)
5. The Place of Faith
No one can adequately worship God unless he does so by faith.
Hebrews 11:6 makes this plain. If the prayer, praise and devotion
are to be useful every word must be born in faith. Notice that
Jesus said that worship must be in spirit AND in truth. This
is more than refraining from lies. It is an appreciation of God's
revelation. It is an understanding of Christ. He is the truth -
John 14:6, 8:32. It is knowing what you are in Christ. It is
grasping the believers acceptance by God and of the Throne Rights
that have been conferred on the saints. Ephesians 1 & 2.
Colossians 1 & 2, Romans 8. There is no place for unworthiness in
God's presence. Unless you come by utter faith in the cleansing
power of Jesus' blood you cannot worship God. Note again Hebrews
11:6. The majority of Christians do not worship God in faith but
in feelings. They find it difficult to enter into any
manifestation of worship and praise because their feelings dictate
misery, depression or spiritual laziness.
6. The Place of Praise
Though worship encompasses both inward feelings toward God and
outward acts of service, devotion and response, one of the most
dominant aspects of worship revealed in the Bible is Praise - the
public and private outward expression of adoration of God and
rejoicing in His Presence. The Psalms are full of this, King
David was a master of it and significantly, was called the "man
after God's own heart."
The New Testament begins and ends in Praise. Luke 2:13,
Revelations 19:5.
A. Praise is the conditioner of the soul. We do not have to
prepare God for worship but we need to prepare ourselves.
Words and Acts or praise and adoration are a means whereby the
senses dominated soul can be brought into a state of readiness
to receive the manifestation of the presence of God.
B. Praise is the Outlet of the Spirit. As in no other way the
human spirit can express itself through the medium of praise.
Reflection, meditation and supplication are all good and
necessary but praise is an act of faith. Its use will expand
the spirit into a state of spiritual generosity. Songs and
words of adoration and thankfulness should be used frequently
both publicly and privately.
C. Praise acts as a Beacon for the Presence of God. The Bible
says that God inhabits the praises of His people. Psalms 22:3.
As soon as you activate yourself in words or acts of praise you
attract or release the presence of God to you. You can attract
the visible and conscious presence of God by releasing yourself
in praise. It gives God a chance to inhabit the human life to
a degree impossible without it. It should be the first thing a
Christian should do in his devotional life - Enter His gates
with thanksgiving and come into His courts with praise. Psalms
100:4.
D. Praise brings Victory. Thanking God and praising Him for the
answer before you physically have it is one of the greatest
acts of faith there is - note Paul and Silas were delivered
from the prison as they were praising God. Acts 16.
7. Spiritual Manifestations
There are two main kinds (distinct from manifestations of the
Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12.)
A. Expressions of love toward God in Praise:
a. Singing and Music. Psalm 68:4, 98:1, 108:1, Psalm 150,
Ephesians 5:19.
b. Singing in the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:14. Both the melody
and the tongue inspired by the Holy Spirit, but is
controlled and entered into by the choice of the person "I
will sing in the Spirit."
c. Lifting up Holy Hands. This is a sign of the spirit
deliberately reaching out to God. It also is an act of
faith. 1 Timothy 2:8 (without doubting). Psalm 134:2,
Ps. 141:2.
d. Clapping of hands. Psalms 47:1.
e. Dancing or leaping before the Lord. Psalm 149:3, 150:4, 2
Samuel 6:14. Luke 6:23, Jeremiah 31:12-13, Acts 3:8. This
is not "dancing in the spirit" which is never spoken of in
the Bible but a dance of rejoicing in God's presence in a
deliberate act of faith and worship.
f. Shouting. Psalm 98:4, 47:1, Luke 19:37; Revelation 5:12,
Acts 4:24.
B. Prostrations, Shaking, Weeping and Fear of God are all
reactions to His Presence. Daniel 10:7-9, Revelations 1:17, 1
Corinthians 14:25, Matthew 28:5, Ezra 3:12, 10:1, Mark 4:41.
8. The Highest Form Of Art
All human art is the expression of a persons inner feelings or
creative drive, and is for the benefit of those who experience it.
It is a form of communication of ideas and attitudes. Worship is
the highest form of art in the universe. We are creating beauty
for God's benefit alone. Our words or actions of adoration and
praise are only fully appreciated by Him even though we may be
blessed in it.
WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.
1 CHRONICLES 16:29; PSALM 96:9.
END of STUDY FOUR
