John 4:23-24; “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Worship means: the attitude and acts of reverence to God. Note the first part of this meaning states the attitude or a heart condition. See, you can say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. However, if you haven’t made up in your mind that you will live this statement out, it is an intellectual statement and has not entered your heart.
When our head knowledge of God has not become heart knowledge, we are just as susceptible to deception and disbelief as Eve. We must know God intimately through the study of Scripture.
The Hebrew meaning is to bow down or prostate oneself. Again, the act of bowing is an act of surrender or giving of one’s will.
God is spirit means He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere, and He can be worshiped anywhere, anytime. It is not where we worship that counts, but how we worship. And we know that “Truth” is God’s Word.
"The life of a true worshiper is a life that is lived in obedience to God." The most important characteristic of Worship is SACRIFICE.
Romans 12:1; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
In the Old Testament, animals and birds were used for sacrificing and worship, however, since the death of Christ constituted the perfect sacrifice, our sin debt was paid in full. The sacrifice today comes from an act of our will.
Sacrificing our wants and desires for God’s desire for our life.
Sacrificing our belief system for the truth of the Word of God.
Sacrificing our time to make time to study and learn about our savior.
Sacrificing our money to ensure God’s purpose for His church is achieved.
Sacrificing our will to ensure harmony is exhibited in our home.
Sacrificing with our mouth and continuing to praise God with our conversation. It doesn’t matter that you are used to saying what comes to your mind. People don’t need to know how you feel. Unless your motive is to edify your brother/sister, or to bring unity to the situation, keep your mouth closed.
Just a little tidbit; you cannot worship God with unforgiveness in your heart, and I know some of you are saying that I have forgiven but I won’t forget. Let me share with you how to determine if true forgiveness has taken place. If the “won’t forget part” is ruling your actions, you have not forgiven.
"We cannot ascribe worship to anyone if we don’t know what their worth is to our life. Until we know [God] by knowing His Word, we will never worship God the way He wants to be worshiped."
"God does not need our stuff. His desire is to have a relationship with us. His desire is to place His Holy Spirit within us that He might be our God and that we might indeed be His holy people. Once we align ourselves with God—that is once we give Him first place in our hearts as Master—then and only then will we bring to Him the gift that He truly desires from us, TRUE WORSHIP.
What happens when we have True Worship:
We become aware of God’s holiness and greatness. (Isaiah 6:1–4)
We become aware of our sinfulness and our need for forgiveness. (Isaiah 6:5)
We repent and receive God’s forgiveness. (Isaiah 6:6–7)
We hear and understand God’s call. (Isaiah 6:8)
We respond to God with obedience. (Isaiah 6:8)
God gives guidance as we follow Him in obedience. (Isaiah 6:9–13)
Benefits of Worshiping God
1) He promises His strength (2 Corin. 12:9; “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”)
2) Understanding (Eph. 3:20; “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us….”)
3) Support (Heb. 13:5-6; For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. So, we may boldly say; The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me.”
God designed us to worship him through our act of Love, for He said if you Love me keep my commandments.
He gave us emotions so we could cry out to him.
He gave us imagination so we could visualize ourselves in His presence.
He gave us our mouth so we could tell others about His goodness and what He has done for us.
He gave us our legs so we could run out and tell a dying world what Christ has done for me.
He gave us our hands so we could reach out to others and help them in their time of need.
He gave us His Word as an anchor to our soul in time of trouble or distress.
There is a very important component of Worship, and that is Praise.
Let’s clarify; praise is different than thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the act of expressing gratitude to God for what He has done for you. Praise is glorifying Him for who He is, His character, His being, and His attributes.
Praise: The Lord is merciful, slow to anger and full of grace, His loving kindness endures forever.
Thanksgiving: God thank-you for healing my body and delivering me from my illness.
It’s important to realize that God wants them both.
In Closing let’s look at three true worshipers: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan. 3; 12-30). King Nebuchadnezzar had made a decree that anyone hearing the sound of the horn, flute, and harp in symphony shall fall down and worship the gold image. Now Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had decided in their mind that they would not worship an idol God. The King called them in to give them a second chance and told them that they would be delivered to the burning fire (When is the last time you stood firm on a commitment to God no matter what the cost) however, he was wasting his time. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stated in V. 16 “We have no need to answer you in this matter, if that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand. But if not, let if be known to you that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
The King got so mad that He told his servants to heat the furnace seven times hotter (See sometimes before God delivers us from a trial, he will allow the situation to become more intense). The furnace was so hot that when the servants opened it to throw them in, they were burned up. SMA was bound in the midst of the fire. As the King looked in, He asked did we not throw three in the furnace, they answered yes. He said LOOK, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire and they are not hurt and the fourth looks like the Son of God.
See when we make up our mind to worship God at all costs He can work freely in our lives.