“EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT MOST CHURCHES THERE IS COMMONALITY OF MINISTRY, YET ONE THING IS OFTEN ABSENT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, IT IS WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS, WORSHIP!”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about this vital but often missing ingredient …

…Years ago, the great preacher and theologian A. W. Tozer called worship “the missing jewel of the church.” If he were still with us, I’m sure he would reconfirm that statement. Today with more than three hundred fifty thousand churches in America owning eighty billion dollars worth of facilities dedicated to ‘worshiping’ God, how much true worship really takes place? The answer probably is very little of what the Bible calls worship.  Dr. John MacArthur, a popular preacher and writer in his book, “The Ultimate Priority” writes: “Worship as the Word of God presents it, is internal, sacrificial, active, and productive. That is not at all like the world’s concept of worship, yet it is the only kind of worship God recognizes. It is the purest kind of worship—the kind that ascends to God as sweet incense, the kind that is expressed continuously in every aspect of our lives by sharing with others, doing good works, and offering praise to God. That is the kind of worship God desires. It is worship in its deepest, most spiritual sense.”[1] Now if we are honest the idea of worship is a bit confusing, for when you research this word you’ll quickly discover many think worship is simply some form of church music, or the recitation of rote high-church litany in some church service. However, looking into the Bible we can discover it is not any of those things in and of themselves. So after a second pause for another musical moment, I’ll return with a look at the Bible’s call and definition of what worship is, and what God expects in this area from those who claim the name of Jesus Christ…

… The Presbyterian Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with this question and then answers: “What is the chief end or goal of man? – Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” That is a marvelous statement of biblical truth, and reflects the proper Christian perspective that all of the Christian life should be focused on God and our fellowship with Him and other people. Thus we have what is called worship time, a day or hour(s) set aside to devote our attention to God and the things He has said He enjoys us doing. As I studied this idea of “What is worship?” I found it is almost impossible to give a complete description of what this is and to be, in the life of those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

For instance, worship in the Bible moves back and forth between personal experience and corporate expression. Personal worship may occur in very private circumstances or may be related to public worship. The early Christians were warned not to neglect meeting together in worship, “as is the habit of some,” in order to encourage one another in the faith and in their spiritual life. The writer of the Book of Hebrews said,

Heb 10:25 (NIV)  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Thus, assembling together in “worship” is an affirmation of what the worshipers believe and an opportunity for mutual response to the gracious actions and gifts of God.

Now worship in the Bible appears in varied forms and types. Times and places are among the major factors. Worship, especially of the corporate type, normally takes place according to some sort of schedule and or calendar. There are times and seasons for worship, even though in the Bible, God is present with His people at anytime. Sharpened awareness of God’s divine presence can result from intensive exercises of true worship during those special times and at special places. These occasions and places for today’s Christian are found usually in the weekly times of meetings known as worship, fellowship or bible study services. However, in times past as in ancient Israel there was the divine command for gathering together at special times expressly for worship,

Exo 23:14 (NIV)  "Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me… 17 Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD.”

Now let’s define this term worship. What exactly is it? Here’s a simple definition of Christian worship: “Christian worship is to joyously ascribe honor and deep adoration to the one true God, Jesus Christ.” Now the New Testament uses several words for worship. The first is “proskuneo,” a commonly used term that occurs in 53 verses in the New Testament and literally means “to kiss; to do reverence; to bow down or before.” It is the word for worship used to signify humble adoration. Some examples are:

Heb 12:28 (NIV)  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Rev 14:7 (NIV)  He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship  Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Now there is another word for worship in the New Testament which is “latreuo.” This suggests “rendering honor, or paying homage.” Putting them together, both words convey the idea of “giving,” because worship is just that -- giving something back to God! Modern Christianity seems committed instead to the idea that God should be giving to us. Indeed, God does give to us abundantly, but we need to understand the balance of that truth—we are to render honor and adoration to God, and we are to do it by publicly by expressing our humble adoration through the public and private prayers of our hearts and the verbal praise of our mouths.

Worship is vitally important because god commands it. Beginning with the Ten Commandments we read,

Exo 20:3-5 (NIV)  "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

The Creator of the universe who made you and me, and given us a place to live and have our being demands that we worship none other than Him, the one true living God. Now in the Old Testament God’s revealed name is YAHWAH. In the New Testament He has revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. Therefore all worship adoration and praise to God must be given to Jesus Christ alone. So then worship is simply the bowing down, adoration, praise and devoted service to do all that glorifies God the Son Jesus Christ.

Now when the church gathers for this special time(s) set aside each week, it must design the fellowship, ministry and services to do all these things. Traditionally, worship time therefore includes public and personal prayer, singing of hymns and praise to Jesus Christ, reading and instructional proclamation of the Word of God, and acts of dedicated and sacrificial service seen in the administration of our gifting and talents, and times of financial giving to sustain the house of worship and its ministries and advance the kingdom work.

Of course, to do all that may require more than a mere “hour of worship.” This is why Bible believing church groups have designed more. Sunday worship services can easily go upwards of two hours, filling the time with extended singing of hymns and newer praise and worship songs designed for the worshipper’s inner spirit and heart to commune with God, giving thanks for all He is and does for us. In addition, those who are talented will render a display of this usually in the form of singing or playing instruments to glorify God. Moreover, those gifted by the Spirit of God, will either teach or preach the Word of God expounding the Scriptures to edify, encourage, challenge and yes convict us of our sins and disobedience. Indeed, a true worship service, also includes a portion of time whereby the worshippers themselves publicly participate. 

How? I believe it is important to give time for people to quietly pray, lifting up holy hands to God with their praise and petitions. Moreover a worship service should contain time for public praise from the worshippers too. This last part is often neglected. Why? Because in America we are so time oriented. We begin promptly and want to end the same. However, this stifles any worship that is to go on if we put a time limit on meeting with God. In fact, the whole day set aside for God, which traditionally is Sunday, should be given to Him. This is why most bible believing churches hold morning and evening services, so that the entire worship day, is given back to God. How sad many churches have given up Sunday evening services and others struggle to keep them going. I wonder how God must feel, that we strain and suffer to worship Him; we long to get out of the services, and the preacher have short messages; and, that they be over so we can get back to our own self-centered lives and living. That is not worship at all!

Actually, why go to church on Sunday if you are not going to give back to God and do it with all your heart soul mind and strength. Now let me ask you – for someone who has been saved from their sins and the Hell to come, for someone who has experienced God’s intimate love, care, protection, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to reside in them – how can you balk at meeting with God, serving Him, and enjoying the acts of praise and adoration that should flow from your heart? This is why I think real worship is lost to so many of today’s followers of Christ.

The answer may well be the question of the century, if one is truly saved and regenerated with a new spirit within them that loves God and wants to serve Him, well… maybe it’s just not there.

Oh yes you can go to church, you can sing hymns, you can give money in the offering, but are you saved if there is no evidence of a new desire and direction to live for  and worship Jesus Christ, to center you entire life and being to glorify Him in everything you do?

I do not want to be in the shoes of anyone who finds worship, adoration and service to God a painful experience.

Now today much of what goes down as worship is nothing more than a pop “musical show” or “rock” concert. For many modern mega-style seeker oriented churches, entertainment is the main purpose of gathering, to excite and please the attendee. Preaching, prayer, verbal praise times are at best a minor part or just forgotten.

No don’t get me wrong! I’m not against music, not even contemporary worship music that has often been labeled as something evil and secular. However, music must not become the main purpose of gathering. We must never lose sight we come together to meet God, to give Him the glory due His name. The Psalmist captured the true spirit of worship when he wrote,

Psa 100:1-4 (NIV)  “ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

All too many worship services in our evangelical fundamental world are flat, dull, dead and just old boring! Friends, it ought not to be! Every worship service should as the psalmist declared, be a time for outward public expressions of joy. This can be seen in a physical way such as lifting hands to heaven, uttering jubilant praise and adoration. In addition, worship services should be uplifting and positive, not a funeral dirge of music and a quiet mundane message. Yes, there are to be times of quiet mediation and contemplation too. Many today do not attend so-called worship services at churches because of the failure here to maintain such an atmosphere of energetic excitement and joy. Still others attempt to manufacture it with high energy sounds of music and just plain noise. That is not what God wants.

So what is worship? Well it is to be a ‘way of life’ for the Christian and should not stop after the services end. Paul the apostle gives us an understanding of this when he wrote to the Roman Church and said,

Rom 12:1-2 (NIV)  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 Notice our spiritual act of worship is to offer our bodies or our life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This means everything we do, must be centered in finding ways God will be pleased with our words, our acts, our living and relationships with others. One important way we can worship God outside of special times and places to do this, is by personal witnessing our faith to others in need. Indeed, by living a life that will cause others to give thanks to God for you. Doing deeds of kindness, doing good for others, helping them in their times of need, without benefiting from it ourselves – these are ways to ‘worship’ God! The Bible tells us what true spiritual worship is,

1 Tim 6:18 (NIV)  Command them (church people) to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Titus 3:14 (NIV)  Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

Heb 13:16 (NIV)  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Now this is of course just a small glimpse into what worship is for the New Testament Christian, but the question is -- are you a worshipper? The answer begins with are you a really true Christian? A Christian is one who personally has met Jesus Christ and invited Him into their heart and life to take up residence and command and direct their lives forever. That last part is important. You do not receive Christ through a wafer on Sunday morning, nor do you receive Christ when a priest uplifts his hand of blessing. No one receives Jesus Christ without their personal act of calling upon the Name of the Lord Jesus to save them from their sins. No one can nor will, do that unless they’ve first come to understand who Jesus Christ is. Scripture says He is the infinite Creator God who became a man, entering the humanity He created, so He could qualify to be a Savior from our sins. Yes, the Bible says it well and importantly,

1 Th 4:14 (NIV)  “We believe that Jesus died and rose again …”

1 Cor 15:2-4 (NIV)  “ By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe and the giver of life to you and me, wants our worship. He has shown us His love and given to us His glorious act of substitutionary death for our sins, and now He wants all mankind to turn to Him and be saved and then to live for Him and worship Him now and for all eternity. I trust you’ve made your confession of faith to Jesus Christ, and that you are one of His worshippers in spirit and truth.  May the living and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ ever be praised now and forevermore. Amen…

…So much today that is called worship is far from it, for instead of God getting the glory man takes it for himself. Through personal praise and personal reward from TV preachers to singers and performers – they offer praise to God for their own glorification and reward. Well they surely get, it but on that day in eternity when we meet Christ face to face, only what’s done for Him will last. May you truly be a worshipper of God, and may your life be a sacrifice of praise to His glory.

 

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[1] MacArthur, J. 1998, c1983. The Ultimate Priority : John MacArthur, Jr. on worship (electronic ed.). Moody Press: Chicago