Is There Aright Or Wrong Way To Worship
While there is no one right way to worship, we can learnabout various parts of worship from the examples and instruction in the Bible.
- Worship can only come from a heart cleansed from sin .
- Hearing the Word of God can prompt worship .
- Worship often involves sacrifice .
- Worship is rooted in the fear of the Lord
- Worship is to be in spirit and in truth .
Our Goal And Desire Should Be To Have An Undivided Heart That Is Devoted To Jesus Christ Above Everything Else When We Have A Pure Single
Again, to quote Pastor Adrian Rogers:
“Are you seeking for Christ with all your heart? James 1:8 says, “He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” The word for doubleminded literally means “two souls.” Here’s a person trying to face both ways at the same time. Trying to live with one foot in the church and one in the world. Theyve got just enough of the world in them that they can’t be happy in church and just enough Christ in them they can’t be happy in the world. Theyve become a spiritual schizophrenic, a two-soul person. We are to love the Lord with all our heart.”
God cant have second place in our lives. If we want to worship Him then we must put God first, above everything else. When we love something more than God, we devalue Him. Were saying that a job, person, possession, or hobby is better than God. This is the opposite of Biblical worship. Its idolatry.
Characteristics Of Acceptable Worship
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God. Standing on the stairs were the LevitesJeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenaniwho called with loud voices to the LORD their God. And the LevitesJeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiahsaid: Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship youNehemiah 9
What are characteristics of acceptable worship, worship that God desires and honors?
In John 4:23, Jesus said this: 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.
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The Position Of Worship
There is no prescribed method of the position one must be in to worship and they vary widely among different congregations and nations. Some bow their head and lift their hands, some lift their hands and head, some lay flat on the floor, some kneel, while others simply stand and close their eyes. We can worship in words and in song but the Bible never clearly commands any particular position to worship.
Revelation 4:8-11 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE Lord GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever 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.
Matthew 28:17-18 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Worshiping In Spirit And Truth
When Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan Woman at the Well, He told her, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth but what did Jesus mean by saying the Father is seeking such people to worship him in spirit and in truth? The Greek word Jesus used for spirit is pneuma which can mean the Third Person of the Trinity but can also mean the human spirit or the vital principal by which the body is animated , so we must worship God by means of our own humanity and by the Holy Spirit, which gives us utterance when were at a loss for words when praying , but equally important is to worship God in truth or truthfully worship God and not just so that others may see. When we dont worship God truthfully, that is with insincerity, its all for nothing. That form of religion is useless to God and does not glorify Him.
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Write Down Things You Are Thankful For
Instead of just listing things in your head that you are thankful for, write them down. Put this list where you can see it and where it will be a constant reminder of the good things that God has given you in your life.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good His love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
Paul And Silas Singing In The Prison: Acts 1: 24
Surprisingly, this is my only choice that includes singing. However, this is no ordinary song service. Considering that this duet was coming from two men who were beaten, bruised, and in shackles, their worship was pure, heartfelt, and honest. This song caught heavens attention and when God started tapping his foot to the music, amazing things happened.
When we are faced with trials and hardships, lets remember that Satan may buffet our bodies but he cant imprison our praise!
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What Is The Importance Of Worship In The Kingdom Of God
Worship is about loving Jesus so much as our King that our greatest joy would be to do what He wants us to do. Worship is not mainly about feeling Gods presence, which is very valid and beautiful. This biblical worship doesnt just happen during an event or a worship service, it is something that can only fully happen in everyday life as we say yes to Him.
Jesus main message in the Gospels was that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He taught about it, demonstrated it, and invited people to come into it.
The act of bowing down in worship is a picture of the posture of the heart that obeys Jesus out of love for Him. Worship is directly connected to obedience to Jesus.
Jesus has already given us His orders, His commands. Were to keep them, observe them, and guard them closely. If were truly following His Holy Spirit, this great commission of Jesus will be highlighted as the original mandate from heaven for us today, to observe all that He has commanded us.
And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matt. 28:17-20
False Concepts Of Worship
Worship that is done from a works standpoint is also not a genuine act of worship. Nothing can bring restoration, reconciliation, love, or forgiveness from God accept by the grace that is lavished due to Jesus death and resurrection . Furthermore, worship should follow Biblical patterns and paradigms.
As I stated earlier, worship can be any action that is done unto the Lord. This is true as long as it is interpreted correctly with scripture. In no way are extremist things done in the name of the Lord an act of worship. Extremist Christians who murder or bomb buildings are not worshiping the Lord. Rather, they are succumbing to the evil of the world by taking matters into their own hands, instead of following Gods purposes. Gods heart is never for destruction, rather, His heart desires that all should be saved .
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What Is The Different Between Praise And Worship
Worship is completely different from praise but praise can be a part of worship.
As a Christian, if you understand the difference between praise and worship, you will have a better understanding of honouring God.
Worship, on the other hand, goes deeper than praise.
Worship is something that comes from the spirit.
The Worship God Doesnt Like
If theres a way God wants to be worshiped, then there must also be ways that just dont cut it. Take a look at Isaiah 1 and youll see God speak of His children that have turned against Him. To the Israelites, His own chosen people, God says that the sacrifices they bring before Him are meaningless. Detestable. His soul hates their festivals, and He wants to hide His face from them.
What possibly couldve happened that God would say these things to His own people? Isaiah 29 shows us that nobodynot the leaders or their followersunderstood the word of God. And when you dont understand or know something, theres really no chance you can properly follow or live by it. This is why God says in verse 13,
these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Isaiah 29:13
Like we saw in the previous section with offending the king, the one who made the mistake remains ignorant of it. They continue to profess their love and affection for the ruler in a way that is unacceptable. Although theyre there physically, their heart is a million miles away because they dont understand what the ruler truly desires.
How Does Improper Worship Make God Feel?
I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing
Luke 13:34
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The Definition Of Worship
First, lets work to define what true, Biblical worship is. The word worship comes from worth ship.
To worship something is to prize it above everything else. To honor it as the thing of highest importance and to act accordingly.
Anything can be worshiped. If a guy absolutely loves his car, invests thousands of dollars in it, and spends hours working on it, you could say that he worships his car. If a woman spends all her time at work to the exclusion of everything else, you could say that she worships her career.
Worship is when we give our deepest affections and highest praise to something. True worship of God is when we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Its when we prize God above everything else and put Him first in our hearts.
As it says in Deuteronomy 6:4-5,
The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Contrast this to what Jesus says in Matthew 15:8-9,
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
If we want to worship in a way that pleases the Lord, we need to start with our hearts. If we dont love God from the heart, then nothing else matters.
What Is True Worship
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Worship, what is worship? I would dare to say much of the church does not understand what real worship is. To many Christians equate worship with singing songs and while the praise in song is important, and its a dynamic of real worship, singing is only one of the important expressions of worship.
In Romans 12 the Apostle Paul appeals to the Christians in Rome about what real worship is.
Romans 12:1-2 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
First Pauls appeal is by Gods mercy, in other words, because God has shown you mercy, you should be a true worshiper. Paul may have been thinking of what Jesus told a woman who was confused about where and how to worship.
John 4:22-24 You worship what you do not know But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers Association.
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Worship Definition: How Does The Bible Define Worship
Trying to define worship is a little like defining love or hope. An attempt to do so could go on forever. But Ill try to keep it as short as possible.
Put simply, worship is declaring the greatness of someone or something.
It is the act of giving up your own glory to make sure everyone knows that the thing being worshiped is pretty awesome.
To put it even more succinctly, worship is bowing down to lift up.
In Christian circles, worship has also morphed to mean a certain type of music. Its on the radio and fills the the musical portion of our church services. While music is a vehicle by which many people worship and rightly so its not worship in its totality. Lets not call a slice the whole pizza.
The act of worship can be just about anything that honors God. As the apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Godthis is your true and proper worship.
Again in 1 Corinthians 10:31 he says, So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I like the fact that eating can be worship.
So how else does the Bible define worship? Keep reading.
Christian Worship: Definition Biblical Examples And How
Like all religions, Christianity has a specific way to worship God. Christian worship is a crucial part of the faith. In order to genuinely worship, it is important to understand why we worship and how we worship. There are many examples in scripture about worship that God approves of. Additionally, there are other forms of worship that God does not approve of.
What is Christian Worship? What is the Biblical definition of worship? Christian worship is both an attitude and action of granting God the adoration, reverence, and homage, that He is due. Furthermore, worship is the expression of Gods holiness, goodness, and power. Worship is also a way to express love for God. Christian worship takes the form of many different practices, lifestyle, and events. It is both individual and congregated.
I have compiled research about key aspects of worship that all Christians should know. It doesnt matter how long youve been a Christian, whether it has been one day, one year or twenty years. Our revelation of God should always lead us to worship.
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Biblical Examples Of Unacceptable Worship
God is furious when it comes to unacceptable worship. Many times, there have been consequences to those who worship in pride or selfishness. These examples teach us to have prudence and reverence in our worship. We should check our hearts to be sure that we have pure motives. Furthermore, we should give God the best that we have and not the fragments of what is left after we indulge.
True Worship Requires To Worship In The Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:19-20 tells us, And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. When we are filled with Gods Spirit, a natural result is heartfelt worship singing to God, and talking about Him to others.
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