To Worship God

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord has comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. ISAIAH 49:13

To worthily worship God as He desires to be worshiped, I must have absolute confidence in Him.  I cannot sit down with any person and enjoy fellowship if I have reason to fear he is out to get me or trick me or deceive me or cheat me.  My fellowship with Him must be based upon respect and confidence.  I have to trust him before I can have fellowship with him; and so when I go to God, I have to raise my affections and confidence to God.  In the presence of God, I must come without doubt and nervousness, without worry and fear that God will cheat me, deceive me or let me break down or do something wrong.  I need to be so convinced about God to the point that I can go into the presence of God in absolute confidence and say, “Let God be true and every man a liar.”

“With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And, “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
CHARLES WESLEY (1707–1788)

[From My Daily Pursuit: Devotions for Every Day By A. W. Tozer]

Present in Praise

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ACTS 13:2

IN WORD

A lot can happen when people worship God.  Many disciples were gathered together in Acts 2, presumably for worship, when the Holy Spirit came upon them in wind and fire.  The church was born, the first sermon was preached, and amazing things began to happen in Jerusalem and beyond.  In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit spoke with instructions: Send out Barnabas and Saul.

There seems to be a connection.  When people worship God—really worship Him with love in their hearts and truth in their minds—the Holy Spirit is there.  That’s no coincidence.  He inspires our worship, and the more we worship, the more deeply He dwells with us.  The God who is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3, NASB) is mightily and manifestly present when we worship Him.  If we want Jesus to be in our midst, all we need to do is follow His instructions: Gather two or more in His name.  Worship brings the throne room of heaven into the company of our fellowship.
But He does more than just show up.  He also fills us and gives direction.  God may hesitate to instruct people who aren’t serious about following Him.  But a group of worshipers who have made it clear that He is their desire will hear Him.  The volume of His voice grows louder when we worship. At this point of genuine worship in the early church, a mission to a lost world was launched.

IN DEED  Have you ever wished for such specific direction from God?  Be careful what you wish for; an obedient heart is a prerequisite for hearing His voice.  But given such a heart, worship Him.  Praise Him in the company of others with similar hearts.

This gathering of the Antioch leaders to worship and fast is too infrequently repeated in our age.  But if we will spend our lives in worship, He will direct us in how to spend our lives.

Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little. —MATTHEW HENRY

[From The One Year Worship the King Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]

Worship

Worship is the act of exalting, magnifying or ascribing adoration to the Lord.  In Scripture, the word 'worship' denotes an overall way of life, the act of sacrificing and a specific activity of devotion.

In worship our vision of God is enlarged; Jesus increases, I decrease (John 3:30)
As we worship, we find that God cleanses us (Hebrews 10:22) and gives us rest (Matthews 11:28)

Worship is appreciating God for His nature and worth.

Christian worship is always a response to God's revelation of Himself.  To worship God is to declare God's worthiness;  to ascribe honor to God;  to glorify God.

The primary responsibility of the church is worship.  Worship is our responsibility to God.

Worship is

a)  a response to divine revelation - it is something that comes about from the initiation of God.

b)  something we give to God as a community of believers.

c)  worship with all that we are and have (in spirit and in truth)

d)  worship must be something which is carried over to our everyday lives.

Worship cannot be compartmentalized.  It is integrated and active.  It is giving God the room to infiltrate the deepest recesses of our souls and, with His help, responding in kind.  Worship is a two-way street.  God being the initiator, we being the respondent. [LIVING Life]

Worship

Before I go any further, please understand that when I use the term "worship", I am not referring merely to church attendance.  Regular church attendance does not make us worshippers.  Having attended a church service begs the question, "Did you worship while you were in the church?"  "Did you go to meet God or just be part of a gathering?

The same is true in our worship to God, be it in public or private.  When we enter into God's presence in worship, there should be two-way communication, as well.
 
Worship is not three fast songs and two slow ones; it’s not about getting the right atmosphere so everyone gets going; rather, it’s the expression of your love to the Almighty God.  It is an expression of an adoration heart - heart of love and thankfulness.

It’s not just the responsibility of the worship leader or the preacher to create the right atmosphere – it’s everyone’s responsibility to worship Him and prepare their heart.

God wants to speak to us in our times of worship.  I believe that we can sometimes attempt to "manufacture" God's presence and His voice in worship.  But we must understand that God is perfectly capable of speaking for Himself.  Our job is as watchmen, listening for His voice (Proverbs 8:34).  We talk to God in worship - extolling Him for His greatness, wisdom, care, and love.  And just as in our times of prayer, God desires to speak to us in our times of worship.

In Psalm 51 when David prayed for God to create in him a clean heart, he states in verse 6, "Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ...".  The sole criteria God has given us for coming to Him in worship is "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).  This kind of worship is Holy Spirit-led, and in a manner according to the truth of God's Word.

You cannot separate prayer from worship - prayer is worship and worship is prayer.  Prayer is the highest form of worship.

When God says that He inhabits the praises of His people, He's not just talking about being present when we have the right atmosphere when we are singing.  It's our attitude that is utmost important.
 

Don't worship God to gain His benefits - worship Him for who He is.

Our worship is right only when we are right with God and with others.

True worship of Christ changes admiration into adoration.