"In the experience of too many Christians, Sunday morning starts at 11:00 AM sharp and ends at 12 o'clock dull." - Anonymous
How can we avoid the experience of dull worship? Learning how to make worship meaningful is the goal of this series on Real Worship. (READ TEXT) Today, let's consider what constitutes Real Worship.
1. Real Worship is personal - v. 1 - "I saw the Lord."
When Isaiah went that day to the temple, a place of public worship, he had a very personal experience with God. Such should also be true of us. When we come to the worship services of our church, we should each have a personal encounter with God if we have really worshiped. Yet, all too often, such is not the case. We come to the house of God, sing songs about God, hear the Word of God, yet never personally encounter God.
Dennis Wise wrote an article in the Boston Globe in which he told about his love for Elvis Presley: "I loved Elvis. I followed him his whole career. I have every album he ever recorded. I've seen every movie that he ever made. I once even bought some boots when I was in junior high school that looked like his. My classmates made fun of me, but I didn't care, they looked like Elvis. Later I got a face lift and a hair contour like his. I have won Elvis look alike contests and wanted him to notice so I would storm the stage during and after his concerts so he would notice me. I don't think he ever saw me. I have ticket stubs from his concerts, Elvis clippings from programs all over the world, I even have some Elvis pillows from Japan.
Yeah, Presley was my idol. My only regret was that I never really saw him. I mean, really saw him. Sure, I went to his concerts but there was no contact. I once even climbed the walls around Graceland to catch a glimpse of him. I think it might have been him that I saw walking through the house as I looked through my binoculars, but I never really saw him. It's funny, all of the effort I put in following him and I never could seem to get close."
Too many are like this man when it comes to worship. They go through all the motions yet never "see" the Lord in it all. Why? Because unlike the Elvis fan, there is no passion to see the Lord.
The key to experiencing personal worship is passion!
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
"Too many of us worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship." - Anonymous
Jim Smith went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note during the prelude, and he winced. In a song that featured the playing of drums, he thought it was entirely too loud. He saw a teenager talking when everybody was supposed to be bowed in silent prayer. He felt like the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate and it made him boil. He caught five grammatical errors in the sermon by actual count. As he slipped out through the side door before the closing prayer, he muttered to himself, "Never again! What a waste of my time!"
Ron Jones went to church one Sunday morning. As he joined with the congregation in singing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," he thrilled to the majesty of it. He heard a young girl take a moment in the service to speak of the difference her faith made in her life. He was glad contribute to a love offering his church was taking for missionaries in Nigeria. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday - it answered a question that had bothered him for a long time. He thought, as he walked out the doors of the church, "How can a man enter this place and not feel the presence of God?"
Both men went to the same church on the same Sunday morning. And each found what he was looking for. Oh, may we approach our worship service with the passion of the Psalmist, who said:
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
2. Real worship is corporate - v. 1 - "the temple"
Isaiah had his experience of personal worship in a place of public worship. Which highlights the fact that God has ordained that His children worship Him corporately. Why? Because there's an experience of God's presence found when we gather together with God's people for worship that is not experienced in private worship.
"For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them."
- Matthew 18:20 (Amplified)
A British preacher, living from 1838-1925, W.L. Watkinson, illustrated the treasure of corporate worship this way: "In the establishment of one of our great goldsmiths is a vast iron safe with many locks, containing immense treasure. But no one person can open that chest; the keys are in the hands of many trustees, and only by their
concurrence can the hidden wealth be made manifest. Thus it is in the natural and in the spiritual world. The wealth of the divine blessing can be reached only through the brotherhood of saints."
How can we experience Christ among us when we gather for worship?
The key to experiencing corporate worship is participation!
Spectating is popular in our day. Thousands of people gather each week in stadiums, arenas, and around television sets to watch sporting events and other programs (like reality TV). It's because of this that we get that famous definition of a football game: "A football game is 22 people on the field, who are in desperate need of rest, being watched by 22,000 people in the stands, who are in desperate need of exercise." We can bring this mentality to church. Too often, we come to worship as a spectator. This isn't a new.
Many years ago, the Danish pastor, Soren Kierkegaard compared worship to a drama with actors, prompters, and an audience. But people, he said, have been cast in the wrong parts. We think that the worship leaders are the actors, that God is the prompter, and the congregation is the audience. Rather, the proper order of things, he insisted is that a worshiping congregation are the actors, the worship leaders are the prompters, and God is the audience.
The question isn't, was I pleased with the worship service; but was God pleased? Worship leaders must do our part to lead; but each of us must do our part to participate.
"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people." - Psalm 22:22 (NLT)
3. Real Worship is heavenly - vs. 1-3
When I participate in corporate worship with a passion to experience personal worship, I gain a perspective that results in heavenly worship. We're told Isaiah had this experience the year king Uzziah died. In this worship experience, Isaiah was reminded that though the earthly throne was unoccupied, heaven's throne was still occupied! He was, as it were, transported to heaven, to join the inhabitants there in praise to God!
In the same way, when we passionately participate in worship, we are reminded that God is on His throne; and in this, we join together with the saints and angels above in praising our King and Lord.
Real Worship is focused on God, not on myself. My perspective is that I am coming together with others on earth and in heaven, before the throne of the almighty God of heaven and earth.
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." - Psalm 22:3 (ESV)
The key to experiencing heavenly worship is perspective!
And our perspective is elevated when we passionately participate in worshiping God together! Interestingly enough, this verse can also be translated as follows:
"Yet you are holy, dwelling in the praises of Israel." - Psalm 22:3 (ESV)
When we passionately participate in worship together, God moves among us; and one of the ways He does this is by elevating our perspective to recognize, as did Isaiah, that no matter what is changing here below, nothing has changed above! Our God is the great I Am. God is still God, and He is still for with us and He is still for us!
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace."
Conclusion: Is worship for you a time to fall asleep rather than feel inspired? To be bored rather than to be blessed? Then examine your . . .
Passion for personal worship - Do I come seeking a fresh glimpse of the person of Christ?
Participation in corporate worship - Do I come seeking a fresh glimpse of the presence of Christ?
Perspective on heavenly worship - Do I come seeking a fresh glimpse of the power of Christ?
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
