#1: What Is Worship? Series

This passage is of special importance because it is the only passage in which one of these words is used to describe what Christians do when assembled together. The words for worship are never applied to Christians worshipping together except for this one case. The Bible doesn’t talk about this assembly as being our worship time... like we do. It talks about Christians assembling to take the Lord’s Supper and of them assembling to hear God’s word... but worship is something you live every day.

The Greeks had come to use this word for the sacrifice of prayer; they compared their prayers to sacrifices to the gods.

PHOBOS

EULABEIA

SEBOMAI

Group of words referring to “fear.” The first is familiar, like the word phobia.

Look at Hebrews 5:7--

Heb. 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

The word "reverent" is "fear." The King James version talks about "holy fear."

We see this idea in Revelation 14:6-7, how these words are used to describe Christian worship:

Rev. 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 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.”

My mind doesn’t like to think about fearing God. But some examples help. For example, did you know that you are surrounded by electricity? There are wires all over the place in this building. It’s full of electricity. Aren’t you scared? No, probably not. Are you scared every time you turn on a light switch? I doubt it. You’re probably not scared of electricity. But if I asked you to stick a fork in the socket, would you do it? Or do you fear electricity?

I’m not scared of God. I don’t walk around saying, "Oh, He’s around me! He’s going to get me." But I am scared to cross Him. I’m scared to rebel against His will. He is a just God, and He has given me laws and guidance. I will do what He wants because I fear Him.

I fear the laws of this land. I don’t hide from every policeman I see, but I know that if I do something wrong, I’d better start hiding.

That’s the fear we are talking about.

What do we learn from this word study? Word studies aren’t always exciting. What do these words tell us?

1) Worship that once was physical is now spiritual. God doesn’t ask us to bow to Him like the ancients did to their idols. The Bible does talk a lot about kneeling in prayer; I don’t think that’s excluded. That’s a constant thing, even in the New Testament.

2) Worship means service, daily service, not just special times of worship. Sometimes we say that we are going to have a "time of fellowship," which means food, right? Fellowship isn’t limited to what is done in a fellowship, is it? It does give us more chances to have fellowship, but it’s not the only time we do it. We come together to worship, and there are things that we do differently in public worship than in private worship. But there should be worship every day of our lives. We serve God, and that is worship.