What is Worship?

 

I.                    Introduction – What is Worship?

A.     Hebrew and Greek Words for worship

1.      Old Testament shâchâh, seg-eed'(Daniel – Chaldee)

2.      New Testament proskuneō, sebomai, threskeia

a.       Definition: is to “bow down”, “kiss toward”, “to show deep respect”

 

II.                Is there a difference between worship and service?

A.     People are confusing worship with service.

1.      While worship is service to God, all service is not worship.

2.      Some argue that making a sandwich, going to work, painting a wall, doing gymnastics, constitutes worship. 

a.       They are exercising their talents. “Showing deep respect” behind the velvet picture of Jesus.

b.      Heavenly Pizza in Upper SanduskyMaking pizza in worship of God?

 

B.     New translations removed "service" from Romans 12:1 replaced with "worship"

1.      latreuo - the word only means serve – Thus it is simply an action

2.      Worship vs. Service

a.       Old Testament

·        Ex. 20:5 (shakah), Deut. 8:19 I Kings 9:9, Jer. 25:6

b.      New Testament

·        Mat. 4:10, Luke 4:8

·        Mat. 4:10 says not to worship men, but 2 Cor. 4:5 identifies apostles as man’s servants.

3.      Worship and service cannot be the same if the scriptures are true.

 

III.             Is Everything We Do Worship?

A.     Worship involves specific actions with a sincere heart, commanded by God.

  1. If not, then there could not have been

a.       vain worshipMatt. 15:8-9

b.      will worship

·        Col 2:20-23  If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, Handle not, nor taste, nor touch (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

c.       worship in ignoranceActs 17:23

d.      true worshipJohn 4:23-24

  1. Everything is not worship, or the Bible is not true.

 

B.     Advocates of “Everything Worship” quote I Cor. 10:31:

  1. This scriptures does not say Everything is Worship.

a.       The scriptures don’t teach this.

 

  1. We know that if we don’t have a “Thou Shalt Not”, it doesn’t mean we have permission.

a.       We must have Authority for what we call worship.

 

  1. God’s Authority defines worship.

a.       It is by His Authority that we determine what is worship.

b.      It is by the new Testament that we determine what worship is.

 

  1. Everything is not worship, or the Bible is not true.

C.     Dispensations Compared – There were Commanded Acts of Worship, but not the same.

  1. Garden of Eden – We do not know how Adam and Eve Worshipped
  2. Patriarchal Dispensation - We know there was a pattern of worship

a.      Cain and Able

 

  1. Mosaic Dispensation – The Law of Moses – Tabernacle/Temple Worship

a.       Nadab & Abihu

 

  1. Christian Dispensation – Assembly – Examples on Worship

a.       I Cor. 11:27 – Corinthians were partaking of Lord’s Supper Unworthily.

 

  1. Different acts in 3 dispensations, men punished for not following God’s commands.

a.       If everything is worship, these men would not have been punished.

 

D.    If Everything is Worship to God, then many folks in Bible did not know it

1.      Abraham didn't know it - Genesis 22:1-5 - “will go yonder, and we will worship”

2.      Elkana didn't know it - 1 Samuel 1:3 – “Go up yearly to worship and sacrifice … in Shiloh

3.      Saul didn't know it - 1 Samuel 15:25 – “return with me that I may worship the Lord”

4.      David didn't know it - Psalm 132:7 – “Let us worship at His footstool” - Temple

5.      Jeremiah didn't know it - Jeremiah 7:2; “enter by these gates to worship”

 

6.      The wise men didn't know it – Mat. 2:2 – “Have come to worship Him”

7.      The devil didn't know it - Matthew 4:9 – “Fall down and worship me” Didn’t want to Worship God

8.      Jesus didn't know it - Matthew 4:10; “worship the Lord your God” not bow to satan

9.      Greek Prostelytes didn't know it - John 12:20 – “going up to worship at the feast”

10.  Ethiopian Eunuch didn't know it - Acts 8:27 - “come to Jerusalem to worship”

11.  Paul didn't know it - Acts 24:11 - “went up to Jerusalem to worship”

 

12.  If Everything is Worship to God, then the Bible has it wrong.

 

IV.              Is God an Insecure Egomaniac who Needs Worship?

A.     Some Ask Why does God Desire us to worship Him?

1.      Is he an Ego-maniac that everything has to praise Him?

a.       He created them all!  They should desire to praise Him!

·        Do you not commend the worthy in many aspects?

 

2.      God is all powerful, knows all things, sees all things.

a.       How could our praise make him more glorious?

b.      How could anything we do boost His Ego?

c.       John 17:5 – Glory “Before the World Was” - Doesn’t desire current glory of humans.

 

3.      Oprah talks of her religious experience and hearing that “God is a jealous God.” 

a.       She has equated that jealousy with insecurity on God’s part.  In her words she was amazed God could be “Jealous of her”.

 

b.      Definition of Jealous: Vigilant in guarding something:

·        God is not Jealous of Oprah, he is Jealous For her.

·        God doesn’t want to see her soul lost to false teachings and evil actions.

 

 

 

 

 

B.     Why Does God Desire Us to Worship Him?

1.      Think About Our Current Status

a.       We no longer call a man a Drunk.  He is a problem Drinker.

b.      Kids no longer get red ink on their paper – It could hurt their feelings.

c.       Tag is being removed from School because it fosters insecurity.

 

2.      What about Reality?

a.       A Drunkard needs to realize he is out of control and in trouble.

b.      Kids need to understand when they do something wrong, so they can improve.

c.       When you play tag, if you get tagged often, its time to learn to run faster, use the other opponents as barriers, or some other strategy.

 

3.      When we recognize God, we are recognizing Reality.

a.       There is a God

b.      We are not Him.

 

4.      God is Love.

a.       He is perfect, He is sinless, He is righteous, He is Holy.

b.      He is trying to keep us from the pain and destruction of Sin!

 

5.      Common sense screams “Worship God!”

a.       Are you not thankful for your family?

b.      Are you not thankful for your every breath?

c.       Are you not thankful for every blessing?

d.      Our utter thankfulness is why we should worship God!

 

6.      God Wants us to Worship Him because He loves us.

 

V.                 How Do We Worship God?  The Authority of the New Testament Tells Us! John 4:24

A.     “God is Spirit and those that worship Him must worship must worship in Spirit and Truth.”

1.      In John 4:24 is an Aim (God)

a.       God is the Target.  Our worship is the Arrow.

b.      We Aim Our Worship toward Him.

c.       We do not aim it toward man, moon, beast, or idol.

 

2.      In John 4:24 is Action (Those that worship - Us)

a.       We shoot the arrow

b.      We have to do something.

c.       Your Salvation is up to you!  Will you do nothing?

 

3.      In John 4:24 is  an Absolute (Must)

a.       If you want to be a child of God, You Must.

b.      You Must worship.

c.       You can refuse, but you will not be a child of God if you do so.

 

4.      In John 4:24 is Attitude (Spirit)

a.       Your heart has to be engaged in worship.

b.      Ex. I can see faces made at the preacher (“am I enemy know that I tell you the truth”)

·        I can see the notes passed.  I can see talking and giggling. 

·        I can see the left over handouts wadded up or left on the pews.

·        I can see the lack of singing.  I can see the Bibles closed.

·        I can see the checking of the watches and impatience.

·        God can see it too. 

5.      In John 4:24 is Authority (Truth) – Truth Guides us

a.      Psa 25:5 - Guide me in thy truth, and teach me; For thou art the God of my salvation; For thee do I wait all the day. 

b.      Psa 86:11 - Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name. 

c.       Joh 17:17 - Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.

d.      Psa 96:13 - Before Jehovah; for he cometh, For he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with his truth.  Truth is what will judge us.

e.      Psa 119:142 - Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth.

f.        Psa 119:151  -Thou art nigh, O Jehovah; And all thy commandments are truth.

g.      Psa 119:160 - The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

h.      Remember God did not destroy Nadab and Abihu because of their heart.  He did so because they did not worship in Truth.

 

B.     Worshipping in Spirit and Truth is not a New Testament Phenomena

  1. Some like to look at the Old Testament and say it was just about obedience.  It wasn’t.
  2. Some like to look at the New Testament and say it is just about spirit.  It isn’t.
  3. I Sam. 12:24 - serve him in truth with all your heart;
  4. I Kings 2:4 - walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul
  5. I Kings 3:6 - he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart
  6. II Kings 20:3 - I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart
  7. Josh 24:14 - serve him in sincerity and in truth;
  8. Ps. 86:11I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.
  9. Is. 38:3 - I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart

 

C.     God has established Aim, Action, Absolute, Attitude and Authority for our Worship.

 

VI.              What Constitutes Proper Worship of God Today in Spirit and Truth?

A.     Lovingly Desiring to Bow Our Hearts Down To God While:

  1. Singing as Authorized by the New Testament
  2. Giving on the first day of the Week as Authorized by the New Testament
  3. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper as Authorized by the New Testament
  4. Praying as Authorized by the New Testament
  5. Teaching Truth as Authorized by the New Testament.

 

B.     You will find no other Authorized Actions within the Worship of the Church.

 

VII.           Closing

A.     How many of you are here worshipping today?

1.      Worship is not just showing up and going through the Actions.

2.      Christians forsaking the assembly aren’t worshipping either.

3.      Sometimes a person will say:

a.       “I just know God would be pleased with ___X____.”

b.      Why would anyone expect God to be pleased with something he didn’t ask for?

 

B.     Everything man does is not worship, even if he says it is in Jesus’ name.

  1. Actions must be Authorized.

C.     If we engage in an Authorized act of worship, with a wrong attitude, we are guilty of sin.

D.    Though we may serve God in many ways.  All service is not worship.

E.     God desires us to bow down to Him in reverence, because He is worthy and loves us.

 

F. Are you ready to do so?  Are you ready to Worship God in Spirit and Truth?  Take the Step Today.

 

Outline by Travis Main
http://www.thatchristianwebsite.com/