A Few Thoughts on Worship

Bible words

B1 Hebrew שָׁחָה which has the idea of bowing down (Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon) to a superior. It is recognizing the authority and position of another.

C1 Of people bowing before God: Genesis 22:5 NKJV And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.

C2 Of people bowing before a king: 1 Samuel 24:8 NKJV David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.

B2 Greek: προσκυνέω proskynéō which has a similar idea.

C1 Literally to kiss the hand of a superior and/or to kneel before in greatest respect and acknowledgement of superiority.

C2 1 Corinthians 14:25 GNB their secret thoughts will be brought into the open, and they will bow down and worship God, confessing, "Truly God is here among you!"

C3 An example: Ephesians 3:14-15 GNB For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father,  15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. (The word worship is not here, but this is the action and attitude).

What is it

B1 Fellowship: 1 John 1:3 NKJV That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

C1 Why were we created? Answer: To have fellowship with God and serve Him forever.

C2 God does not need fellowship. God enjoys fellowship. The word “fellowship” in most of the verses below are translated “walk” in more literal versions. GNB is a commentary version.

D1 Noah: Genesis 6:9 GNB (9-10) This is the story of Noah. He had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah had no faults and was the only good man of his time. He lived in fellowship with God.

D2 Enoch: Genesis 5:22 GNB After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children.

D3 Apostles: Matthew 20:17 GNB As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and spoke to them privately, as they walked along.

D4 Believers:

E1 Revelation 21:3-4 GNB I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: "Now God's home is with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.  4 He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.

E2 Isaiah 57:15 GNB "I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope.

E3 Micah 6:8 GNB No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.

E4 John 14:23 GNB Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them.

C3 As a shepherd, God leads us:

D1 John 10:4 GNB When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

D2 Isaiah 40:10-11 GNB The Sovereign LORD is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the people he has rescued.  11 He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.

B2 In spirit and truth: John 4:23-24 WEL "But the time is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is looking for such as this to worship him. 24 "God is spirit, and for those who worship him, it is necessary to worship in spirit and truth."

C1 There is outward worship

D1 This worship is merely in form and ritual.

D2 It is described as

E1 Isaiah 29:13 (This is quoted in Matthew 15:8)

F1 Isaiah 29:13 NKJV Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.

F2 In another version: Isaiah 29:13 GNB The Lord said, "These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized.

C2 There is inward worship

D1 Reverence (often translated “fear”): Psalm 2:11 NASB Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.

D2 Holiness We have all sinned. We must confess them and ask forgiveness, then we can worship God. Psalm 96:9 NET Worship the LORD in holy attire! Tremble before him, all the earth!

D3 Our sacrifices

E1 In righteousness, that is, with right intent, motivation: Psalm 4:5 CSB Offer sacrifices in righteousness and trust in the LORD.

E2 Our bodies, that is, to live God’s way according to His rules and to honor and glorify Him: Romans 12:1-2 GW  Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you.  2 Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

E3 Our words: Hebrews 13:15 NRSV Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

E4 Our gifts of help: Hebrews 13:16 NRSV Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (We do this first for our own family, then our church family, then the greater church family around the globe, then others). (See also Philippians 4:18).

E5 Our prayers: 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NRSV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,  2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

E6 To preach the Gospel:

F1 John 20:21 GNB Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.

F2 Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

E7 To stand for the faith: Jude 1:3 NKJV Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

E8 To teach unbelievers what the Christian faith is and to teach believers good doctrine (what we believe and live): Matthew 28:20 GW Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.

B3 In faith: Hebrews 11:6 GNB No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

C1 We have a reasonable, evidential faith, not blind faith.

C2 God gives the grace. Faith is an everyday occurrence.

C3 God is perfectly trustworthy: Psalms 9:10 GNB Those who know you, LORD, will trust you; you do not abandon anyone who comes to you.

C4 God is the only source of 100% truth: Titus 1:2 GW My message is based on the confidence of eternal life. God, who never lies, promised this eternal life before the world began.

C5 His love is enduring despite the trials, testings, and tribulations we face: Romans 8:37-39 GW The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties.  38 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can't be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces  39 or powers in the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in creation.

B4 By being alert, that is, not being in the silence: 1 Peter 5:8 GW Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.

C1 Someone who is passive, bypassing their brain, and into the silence will be deceived, for they cannot decide what is true or false. Our ability to judge has been silenced as well.

C2 Demons, yes, the devil himself can appear to be light: 2 Corinthians 11:14 GNB Well, no wonder! Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of light!

C3 Be alert to resist: James 4:7 NRSV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

C4 If not alert, awake, and active, will we be ready for Jesus’s coming?

D1 Matthew 25:13 NRSV Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

D2 Revelation 3:3 GNB Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come.

C5 We may not be able to recognize and resist temptation: Matthew 26:41 GNB Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

C6 An example: Luke 12:35-36 GNB Be ready for whatever comes, dressed for action and with your lamps lit,  36 like servants who are waiting for their master to come back from a wedding feast. When he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him at once.

Revelation 4:9-11 GNB The four living creatures sing songs of glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. When they do so,  10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They throw their crowns down in front of the throne and say,  11 "Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were given existence and life.

Worship is not a repetitious exercise of rituals and formulas. These create a veil that actually prevents us from enjoying the presence of the Lord. Worship is the heart poured out in gratitude and awe, expressing our appreciation of who He is and what He has done for us by His grace through Jesus Christ—Dave Hunt