The Revelation of Jesus Christ
“Earthly Worship”
Understanding Biblical Worship
INTRODUCTION
John unveiled a picture of heavenly worship; what worship on earth? Most of what we learn about earthily worship, we learn by Biblical observation. God left wide latitude as to the mechanics or form worship takes. AW Tozer called worship the missing Jewel in the evangelical church. The resurgence of emphasis on worship is a relatively recent phenomenon.
When Multnomah Press published Ron Allen and Gordon Borror’s book on worship in 1982 just over 30 years ago, they set of a firestorm of criticism. Now there are more books than you can count on the subject from the philosophy of worship to practical how-to manuals. Back then you would rarely find a “worship pastor” in a conservative evangelical church. Today it has become the second paid staff person hired in many churches. The shift in emphasis has been around long enough to already swing to abuses or imbalance.
Today I will focus on laying a foundation for understanding biblical worship that will enable us to avoid the pit falls and imbalance our culture has caused in the church. There are more church splits and denominational divisions over worship style than most any other issue.
High church, contemporary church, evangelical, liturgical, free form, spontaneous.
People’s concept of worship is all over the place. We call church the “worship service”. We generally consider “music” and “worship” as synonymous. Comments like “anointed worship” generally refer to an inspiring music package. Worship leaders are generally musicians. Worship is equated with warm or enthusiastic feelings. We give more consideration to what is going on and how we feel than what God thinks. Contemporary music is called praise and worship music. Worship Songs.
I feel the same sentiments as Matt Redman who composed the song “Heart of Worship”.
I want to take a most complex subject and try to distill it down to its foundational elements.
Key passages
First let us consider a few key passages. One of the key passages of the New Testament regarding the foundation of worship comes from Jesus’ conversation of a woman of questionable reputation. Not only a Samaritan but was presently living in adultery after five failed marriages. In answer to her question about where one should worship Jesus presented the heart of worship.
21 Jesus said* to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:21-24
Worship is not a place but a person. Worship is primarily internal not external. God seeks genuine worshippers. Genuine or true worshippers worship in spirit and truth. The only acceptable worship is in spirit and truth. (Must worship)
3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, Philippians 3:3
Worship is Spirit empowered and inspired. Worship is Christ centered not man centered (confidence in fleshly merit). The reason we do not have a great deal of Biblical data concerning the actual form of worship practiced by the gathered church is that worship was more of a life style than a formal service.
Key Terms
There are several words used translated “worship” in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The basic concept communicated has to do with bowing or serving in honor or reverence to one of perceived worth or exalted position. One of the main Hebrew terms as to do with deciding to Do something or to respond.
The first three commandments have to do with reserving such honor to God and God alone.
1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:1-7
Our English word for worship is both a noun and a verb. The basic biblical concept is active not passive. Worship is a verb. Worship is something we do. The English word “worship” meant to attribute worth to something. There are other words related to the practice of worship like praise, adoration, exaltation.
Key Definition
Webster defines worship as “to honor, or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power.
Worship is the Spirit empowered response of the created
to the Spirit enlightened revelation and realization concerning the Creator’s
person, work and presence.
Why I used created and Creator is that all of creation worships; angels, animals, humans.
Worship has to do with Revelation and response. Worship is the response to revelation.
Worship is more than music.
Worship involves the word, prayer, giving, serving, surrender.
Worship is more than a Sunday service.
Worship is a lifestyle of daily commitment to know and respond to God.
Worship is more than what pleases us.
Worship is intended to bring Him pleasure which ultimately brings us pleasure.
Worship is more than a place.
Worship takes place anywhere, anytime with anyone.
Worship is more than an emotional experience.
Worship flows out of our innermost being and affects our entire being.
Worship is not passive, but is participative.
Worship is not simply a mood; it is a response.
Worship is not just a feeling; it is a declaration.
To worship God as to ascribe to him supreme worth for he alone is worthy.
Key Elements
Worship is spirit empowered.
Only a regenerated person can truly worship God. Unbelievers may enjoy the music. They may be emotionally moved by what they see. They may have some kind of pleasurable experience but they are not worshipping. You cannot please God without faith. You cannot please God without obedience. You cannot please God without surrender.
Saul tried to dismiss his pattern of disobedience with a worship service.
22 Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25 "Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the LORD." 26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." 1 Samuel 15:22-26
11 "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:11-17
The most mentioned response of worship to God is surrender and obedience.
Worship flows out of a Spirit-surrendered heart.
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
AW Tozer
If Bible Christianity is to survive the present world upheaval, we shall need to recapture the spirit of worship. We shall need to have a fresh revelation of the greatness of God and the beauty of Jesus. We shall need to put away our phobias and our prejudices against the deeper life and seek again to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He alone can raise our cold hearts to rapture and restore again the art of true worship.
Worship is stirred by Spirit-enlightened revelation and realization concerning God; His person, Purpose and work and presence
True worship is stirred by enlightenment concerning God (truth). Remember, those who worship God MUST worship in spirit and truth. The Psalms are filled with examples of responding to revelation of God. This grand Hebrew Hymnbook overflows with references to the person, work and presence of God. Each of these stirs a corresponding response.
His person
Holy, Holy Holy!
Almighty!
Eternal God!
When God granted Moses’ bold request to see his glory, this is the declaration that followed.
6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." 8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. Exodus 34:6-8
Since God is infinite, we will forever learn new things about who he is.
O Light Eternal, surpassing all created brightness, flash forth the lightning from above and enlighten the innermost recesses of my heart. Cleanse, chear, enlighten, and enliven my spirit with all its powers, that it may cling to you in ecstasies of joy. Oh, when will that happy and wished-for hour come, when you will fill me with your presence and become all in all to me? So long as this is not given me, my joy will not be complete.
These attributes of God would stir worshipers. Depending on the particular attribute, varying responses would stir in the heart. We will discuss some of those responses in the next section.
AW Tozer
Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men....
With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence
If Bible Christianity is to survive the present world upheaval, we shall need to recapture the spirit of worship. We shall need to have a fresh revelation of the greatness of God and the beauty of Jesus. We shall need to put away our phobias and our prejudices against the deeper life and seek again to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He alone can raise our cold hearts to rapture and restore again the art of true worship.
His purpose and work
Referring back to the Hebrew hymnbook, it is also filled with references to God's work and his eternal plan and purpose. These things were the catalyst for numerous responses. Romans called for a worshipful surrender of our whole lives in light of the "mercies of God". The writers of the songs encourage us to look at his glorious work in creation which demonstrates his love and magnificence.
His presence
After Jacob’s most engaging encounter with the manifested presence of God he exclaimed,
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis 28:16
R.C Sproul writes in Table Talk,
If people find worship boring and irrelevant, it can only mean they have no sense of the presence of God in it. When we study the action of worship in Scripture and the testimony of church history, we discover a variety of human responses to the sense of the presence of God. Some people tremble in terror, falling with their face to the ground; others weep in mourning; some are exuberant in joy; still others are reduced to a pensive silence. Though the responses differ, one reaction we never find is boredom. It is impossible to be bored in the presence of God if you know that He is there.
Brother Lawrence's best known for his book called, "practicing the presence of God". Brother Lawrence decided to live his life in the presence of God. He continually concentrated on being aware of God's presence at all times in all places. No one leaves and awareness or realization of God's presence without response. It seems the problem in worship today is a failure to really know God; a failure to really appreciate what he has done; and an ignorance of his presence with us as individuals and among us a family gathered together in his name.
The words of the songs we sing can bring greater awareness of these things for us. The teaching of the Word is a direct link to revelation about God. Public prayer as a vehicle to address God together acknowledging his presence. We must continue to remember that it is not about us. We need to come back to the heart of worship. We need to bring in more than a song, for a song in itself is not what he has required.
The final element of our definition has to do with the response to revelation and realization.
Worship is a response to spirit enlightened revelation and realization.
The Spirit enlightened as to revelation and realization but also empowers the response. True worship deserves the engagement of our whole being. Worship should not just stop the mind or the emotions that engage every aspect of who we are and who God has made us to be.
In fact, I think worship that does not engage our whole being is not complete worship. Worship his decision to do something stirred by the Holy Spirit in our whole being. It is the decision to respond in a way that brings pleasure to God. We have made worship focus on our pleasure not his. We have made worship and emotion rather than an action in response to the Spirit’s stirring in our inner being. Every truth of the Scriptures has a corresponding response and that response is worship.
Physical responses
Kneeling, standing, dancing, bowing, raising hands, laying straight on the floor, working, serving, giving. All of these are responses to a renewed realization of God in his presence and a hard line to please him.
Intellectual responses
We engage our mind to explore and meditate on the person of God. We fill our mind and renew our mind with God's truth.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
Emotional responses
Joy, awe, fear, sadness, shame, gratitude, love. We are a culture that is so man centered that how I feel becomes more important than how God feels. We are more concerned about my experience than his exaltation. Become more concerned about what pleases us that what praises and pleases him. Become more focused on his attention to us than our adoration of him.
Verbal and musical responses
sing, shout, speak, praise, adore, exalt, bank, cry out, witness, encourage, play musical instruments.
Volitional responses
Commit, obey, give, serve, submit, love, sacrifice, minister to the Lord, give our bodies a living sacrifice, believe, trust. We seek to honor God in our lifestyle. As you can see, this is a lifestyle this doesn't all happen in the morning service on Sundays. Worship is a life response to a relationship with God. We have become wrapped up in the ritual we are forgot the relationship. The form has become so complicated we have lost the friendship.
AW Tozer
As a visual concept, worship involves every part of our being—our physical posture, our will, and our emotions. Worship is not just words or music or kneeling. It is multiple parts of our lives focused simultaneously towards giving honor, reverence, respect—and even awe—to God our King for who He is and what He has done. It is the awareness of and natural reaction to the presence of God in our midst. The mind and the body, the mouth and the heart are all involved. As speaker George Mallone remarked rather succinctly, "When Christ comes again, we will not sit."
God still seeks worshipers today. But we answer the call. Will it make a difference when we gather together? Will it make a difference in how we conduct our lives for daily basis?
In light of the revelation of God today that the Spirit is brought to your heart and realization of our need to truly worship him what we do? Ephesians talks about ever learning what’s pleasing to him.
3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. 4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. Psalms 27:3-4
1 How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalms 84:1-12
William Temples wrote
Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; and purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose -- -- and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.
Worship is the Spirit empowered response of the created to the Spirit enlightened revelation and realization concerning the Creator’s person, work and presence.
