Spiritual Disciplines
Living as a Worshiper
As we progress in the Spiritual Disciplines, it is important to note that no act of spiritual growth happens unless we truly “Draw Near to God”. I think this is important to note because in the midst of the all the struggles and strife we face today, God is clearly saying to all, “DRAW NEAR TO ME.”
So as we examine the Spiritual Disciplines, do not see them as review of something you already know, but rather as a reminder of what God is calling us to do. Today’s Discipline is motivated from a heart that wants only to draw near: Worship.
John 4:23-24 (NLT)
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
God is seeking “True Worshipers”; those who would dedicate their lives to worshiping Him.
1. Worship Defined
A. An encounter
Exodus 3:1-6 (NLT)
One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. 2Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up. 3“Amazing!” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go over to see this.”
4When the LORD saw that he had caught Moses’ attention, God called to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
5“Do not come any closer,” God told him. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.” 6Then he said, “I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he hid his face in his hands because he was afraid to look at God.
Worship is first and foremost an encounter with the living and holy God.
The best definition of worship I have ever heard is, “Recognizing who God is and responding to it.”
When I hear this I think of it in two parts:
The daily response:
Seeing God in all things, and praising him for it
- In the beauty of His creation (Driving the Roads)
- In the blessings of life
- In the trials of life (When God is in control)
The Intimate response:
- In my time of prayer, devotion and praise or doing these corporately with others
True worship is the only response we can give when we recognize that the He is the creator, our savior, perfect and just and deserving of our 100% devotion in praise!
At God’s command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face. Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before God. God is our friend, but he is also our sovereign Lord. To approach him frivolously shows a lack of respect and sincerity.
When you come to God in worship, do you approach him casually, or do you come as though you were an invited guest before a king?
Recognize who God is, and respond accordingly! This goes beyond praise and worship, but in our lifestyle. More on that later…
2. Priority in Worship
WORSHIP IS NOT FOR ME! (Repeat)
Have you ever said, “Man I got so much out of worship today!” If that’s what worship is to you, then you are not worshiping God. You are now worshiping yourself!
Matthew 4:10 (NIV)
For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Worship is for God’s pleasure, not ours! When we make it out to comfort ability, we are trying to serve ourselves.
Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
In this scripture God was talking about those who were giving stale prayers, insincere praise, empty words and man made rituals without any meaning.
We have to realize that God’s heart is not touched by tradition, but by passion and commitment!
So many times we get caught in the trap of needing to be “served in worship”, but the truth is, if you have not taken into account the very purpose of worship, you have made it about something else.
True worship in:
- Foreign Languages to your own
- Without instruments (CD)
- Different Styles of Music
- In my car
Moses was in the middle of the desert!
True worship is not bound by style, geography or circumstance! It flows directly from the condition of our hearts. If we feel we can’t encounter God, we need to examine what it is in our own hearts that is an obstacle!
3. Discipline in Worship
If we are going to worship corporately or individually, we must train ourselves in the steps to Encounter God in worship.
A. Prepare
Sunday Morning Woes
- We’ve allowed other things to grow in the gardens of our heart!
Mark 12:30 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
A true worship experience is often a direct result of preparation for worship. Prepare your heart and mind to worship the Lord with ALL you have.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 (NASB)
Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
Remember what it means to listen—to quiet your own voice and focus.
B. Lay it all Down & Assume the position!
Before you can offer your praise and worship to him, you’ve got to lay everything down, because it will only hold you back.
Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV)
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Do whatever it takes to rid yourself of all distractions! Close eyes, move, kneel…
Books in a bag Analogy – Think of your life as a backpack. The more we cram in it, the heavier and more arduous it will be to carry. Most times we carry it into worship with us, but God is calling us to lay it all down. Once that burden has been removed, we are now free to worship “WITH ALL” we have.
C. Present
1 Chronicles 16:29 (NIV)
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Give God his due! Remember that your worship is not for you, but for God!
I’m reminded of when the Three Magi brought gifts to give to Jesus. They weren’t just ordinary, everyday gifts, but the very best they had to offer!
He deserves our best! We just talked about how great our God is, but do we truly apply that within our worship?
Psalm 9:1-2 (NIV)
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Worship the Lord with the utmost respect, love and praise!
4. Lifestyle of the Worshiper
We must remember that worshiping our Lord goes beyond the time of worship in church or individually, and that is worship within our lifestyle.
Hebrews 13:15 (NLT)
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
Look at the word “continual”. Does that mean I’m always singing? No, it is speaking to worship on a much deeper level. It is the kind of worship that not only professes our love of God through our lips, but also permeates through everything we do.
It comes from a heart that truly “Recognizes God in all things, and responds and acts to it.”
“The secret to a lifestyle of worship: doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus. Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going to work, and place it before God as an offering. Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of His presence.” – Rick Warren
Anything done in God’s name can be considered an act of worship!
Now when I say this, I don’t mean literally, like, “I can murder as long as it’s in God’s name!” Because a TRUE act of worship would never contradict God’s laws and commands. How would you do that in your life?
Through:
- Hobbies
- Work
- Routines
- Families
- Friends
- Jesus’ Love
Whatever we present, we must present our best! Make your life a praise offering, the only way I know to do this is to stay plugged into God daily.
And I say this not as just something we do to draw close to God, and grow, but as a way to keep ourselves in proper position.
Psalm 115:1 (NIV)
Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
- Prayer
