A. INTRODUCTION
1. First used for redemption. “The lad and I will go yonder and worship” (Gen. 22:5).
2. Also used as gratitude. “The (servant) bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord” (Gen. 24:26).
3. Old Scottish word for worship, worthship.
4. In Psalms, “O come let us worship and bow down” (Ps. 95:6).
5. Definition: “Worship is a (1) face to face encounter with the living God, (2) based on a regeneration experience, (3) prompted by the Holy Spirit, (4) resulting in the exaltation of God’s glory.”
B. WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT WORSHIP: JOHN 4:23-24
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
1. God doesn’t need anything but He wants our worship.
• When we worship we become more like God.
• When we worship, we complete God’s plan for mankind.
• When we worship, we add integrity to God in the eyes of others.
• Worship pleases God.
2. If you worship God, He will come to receive it.
3. Worship is a two-way street. As you exalt and worship God, He comes to minister to you. You can experience His presence.
4. Atmospheric worship. When God comes to you, you can feel His presence.
Where Is God?
1. Omnipresence: He is everywhere present, at the same time.
2. Indwelling presence: Christ comes into our life at salvation.
3. Institutional presence: The church is His body (Matt. 19:20).
4. Localized presence: Christ’s physical body in Heaven.
5. Atmospheric presence: When God comes to minister to you.
C. WHEN PAUL AND SILAS WORSHIPED: ACTS 16:25-26
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26).
1. The word prayer is proseuchomai: pros = toward and euchomai = the face. This is intimate fellowship with God.
2. Notice what they didn’t pray:
a. To be released.
b. To punish those who punished them.
c. Against injustice.
d. For healing of their backs.
3. The words “sang praises” huminos is singing the Psalms or “hymning.” Technically the Great Hallel. They sang, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).
4. Worship releases us from bondage. Since our worship brings God to receive it, God headed to the prison and:
a. The earth shook.
b. Prison doors were opened.
5. Soul winning grows out of worship. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
D. GETTING READY FOR GOD’S PRESENCE BY WORSHIP
“Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes . . . that they might bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD up from the City of David (into the Temple) . . . and the Levites took up the ark. Also King Solomon, and all the congregation . . . were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered . . . the singers . . . having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets, saying ‘For He is good, for His mercy endures forever,’ the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God” (2 Chron. 5:2,4,6,12-14).
1. Unity of presence. “All the heads of the tribes . . . all the congregation” (v. 2, 6). “They were all with one accord, in one place” (Acts 2:1).
a. Unity in purpose, worship, and heart.
b. Diversity in gifts, duties, and social standing.
2. Right place. “Solomon began to build . . . on Mount Moriah where the Lord had appeared to his father David” (2 Chron. 3:17).
3. Worship in God’s name where he puts His name. “My name shall be there” (1 Kings 8:29). God’s place was geographical in the Old Testament; it is spiritual in the New Testament (Matt. 18:20).
You Must Attend Church Worship
• Because Jesus’ name is there.
• Because God’s presence is there.
• Because God wants public worship.
• Because outsiders know God’s name is there.
• To be a testimony to outsiders.
• Your obedience makes you spiritual and you grow.
4. Come through blood cleansing. “Were sacrificing” (v. 6). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).
5. Music exalts God, i.e., singers and players.
6. Unified singing and playing instruments. “Trumpeter and singers were as one” (v. 13).
7. God came to receive worship, i.e., “The house . . . was filled with a cloud” (v. 13).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com.
