Why Do I Worship? Series

Why Do I Worship?

1 Chronicles 13:1-14, 15:1-16

Why do I worship?

We are coming to the end of a series of sermons on different attitudes that we need to change. Today, we are going to talk about changing my attitude about worship.

What was the reason that the people in this passage decided to worship God? What is the reason that you and I decide to worship God? DO you and I come here to worship God because we like to sing? Do you and I come here to worship God because we like the kind of music that we hear at this worship service? Do you and I worship God here because we like the time of day that it is done? Do you and I come here to worship God because you and I have to do it as a job? Why do you worship?

I want to challenge you this evening to look at worship in a different way. You see, there is a right way to worship and a wrong way to worship.

The Ark of the Covenant is the metaphor for worship in these verses. More importantly, the Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of God. The Ark was a reminder to the people of Israel of the power and presence of God in their lives. The Ark held the Ten Commandments, and the Aaron’s staff. These objects represented the ways and powers of God that He had showed in the lives of the people. But the Ark when it was carried properly, allowed God to speak to the people and lead the people. When the Ark (as a symbol of His presence) was carried, the people could see God in their lives.

Worship, as seen here is defined as "seeking the presence of God."

and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."

(1 Chronicles 13:3 NASB)

Worship is therefore seeking the presence of God. How do you seek the presence of God? How should we worship? We should worship or seek the presence of God in a way that God wants it. We should worship God or seek Him in a way that honor and glorifies God, not me.

Let us first talk about what the presence of God is NOT. God wants worshipers who worship Him in spirit and truth. So how do I seek God’s presence in my life?

THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS NOT:

PROP - You don’t worship the tools of worship. You don’t worship the Ark (the container of the covenant.) You don’t worship the guitar, the piano, the screen, the overhead projector, or any other thing.

PERFORMANCE - You don’t worship the worshipers who seek God, nor should you worship the style. Worship cannot be planned for maximum efficiency. You can’t simply say that we need to worship in this order with so many songs. Worshiping God is not the same as going to a concert.

The presence of God is not a performance. You can’t plan "How to get into the presence of God." Entering the presence of God is an art, not a science. You cannot fake worship. Worship is not like watching TV. You go to the TV to turn off your MIND. You go to worship to turn on your HEART. Real worship requires your head and your heart.

PLACE - You don’t worship the location. This church is no holier a place to worship God than any other place. Until this point in the history of God’s people - the people of Israel, there was no place for them to worship. The tabernacle was simply a tent. The ark rested in a tent.

We went to a museum of Jewish history while we were in Paris this past week. I was amazed at how many props that were used in worship in the life of Israel. There were pieces of clothing. There were rings, bells, and the shofar horn. There were objects used in the sacrifice of the animals before God. There was a podium where the Word of God was read. There was even an object used to help a person point to the words of God. But there was no place.

After the Babylonians came to Israel and scattered the Jews, they built boxes that held all these tools. But in their entire history, there was no actual place. Now David help with his son Solomon to build a building that would house the ark and could be used to show the presence of God. But God never was limited to a place. He has never been limited to any place. Wherever there have been worshipers who have seeked God, they have found Him. He said this many times.