Priorities In Worship, Part 5
Hebrews 10, 24–25
Hebrews 10:22-25NKJV Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:22-25MSG So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
The threefold goal of worship is to, honor God, strengthen the church, and impact the world.
If these three adjectives are to be accomplished in our worship, then we must follow the biblical pattern for worship.
There are seven essential components of an effective worship service.
1. Powerful prayer.
2. Meaningful music.
3. Passionate praise
4. Tithing and giving.
5. Preaching the word.
6. Teaching the word.
7. Personal testimonies.
Let’s look at each one of these:
1. Powerful Prayer. -Prayer was a priority in the Old Testament temple. When king Solomon dedicated the new temple, the Lord responded by filling the house with his glory.
Then the Lord spoke to Solomon and the people, saying, 2 Chronicles 7:15-16NKJV “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”
The Lord’s promise demonstrates that he was not interested so much in the burnt offerings, sacrifices, and the rituals. -Instead, the Lord spoke of his house, as a chosen and sanctified place where prayer would be answered.
Jesus taught the priority a prayer.
Jesus told his disciples that prayer was a priority for the individual believer, and for the church. Jesus’ emphasis on prayer caused him to utter a powerful remark concerning the purpose of the church.
Mark 11,17NKJV “Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.”
What comes to mind when we say the word church?
-It is common today for the church to be called- A house of worship, a house of preaching, a house of fellowship, a house of service, or a house of music.
However, Jesus insisted that the church should be called, a house of prayer for all nations.
Without sincere prayer, Worship is empty. Without prayer, the church cannot fulfill its mission in the world.
Paul taught the priority a Prayer. -The apostle Paul affirms very strongly the priority of prayer and worship.
Writing to Timothy, Paul gives instructions for the proper conduct of worship. Paul begins by this command;
1 Timothy, 2, 1NKJV “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,”
When, describing the worship service, Paul emphasizes prayer first of all.
-Along with the ministries of music and preaching, the ministry of prayer is a powerful aspect of the churches influence in the world.
The early church practiced fervent prayer. Remember the apostles Peter? In prison, and most likely headed to be killed.
The church prayed fervently, Peter was awakened, and instructed to leave. Locked iron gates was no match for God.
Again, Prayer was a vital part of worship in the early church. Even before the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered for worship….Act1:14…and they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.
Acts 2:42NKJV “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Why would we not think that prayer is vital for the twenty first century?
In Paul’s instructions to Timothy, Paul mentions different kinds of prayer. -Supplication. Prayers. Intercession’s.
Along with these three categories, the New Testament speaks of prayer in terms of asking, seeking, invocation, and petition.
The most common Greek term that is translated as prayer is used for all types of prayer.
Some New Testament terms suggest that the following types of prayer should be offered during worship services.
Invoke. An invocation is a prayer that calls upon the Lord to answer. Normally we speak of invocation as the opening prayer that calls upon God to be present in the worship service and to bless the churches time together.
1 Peter 1:17TPT “Since you call on him as your heavenly Father, the impartial Judge who judges according to each one’s works, live each day with holy awe and reverence throughout your time on earth.”
A petition or request. This usually is done with a specific prayer request.
Every church should post a list of needs that the members can use to guide their petitions. – Crane Eater Community Church uses a GroupMe app.
This includes prayer for the sick, for the elderly, and for those who are grieving.
Philippians 4:4-7KJV “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7TPT “Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! 5 And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. 6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,” 7“then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.”
After reading these verses several times over, The Lord spoke this simple word to me,
“This promotes powerful living.”
Intercession. Intercession is a prayer that is offered on behalf of someone else.
The churches intercession should include prayer for the lost:
1 Timothy 2:4NKJV God desires, all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Supplication. A supplication is a prayer that is offered with urgency and passion because of the great need.
Ephesians 6:18NKJV “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
The manner of prayer. The early church practiced what may be called concert prayer. Which means that everyone prays aloud
together in unison.
A great example is found in, Acts 4:24NLT “When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—”
Our worship services always should come with a time for the saints to seek God.
Hosea 10:12NLT “I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.”
The necessity of prayer. Anytime we come together we will have a prayer service. -It’s that vital!
2. Meaningful Music.
In late 1990's in Watford, England, Matt Redman's church had a high caliber praise band and worship team, yet the pastor knew that the congregation had lost its way in worship. So the Pastor asked "When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?"
Matt Redman says the question led initially to some embarrassing silence. Eventually, heartfelt prayers and heart-driven songs were sung as they experienced God in a fresh way. Through that experience, Matt wrote this: When the music fades,all is stripped away, and simply come Longing just to bring something That's of worth that will bless your heart I'm coming back to the heart of worship,and it's all about You, Jesus I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it When it's all about You All about You, Jesus.
The first biblical reference to music is found in the book of, Genesis 4:21 Jubal, one of the sons of Lamech, is said to be the father, of all those who play the harp and flute.
In the final book of the Bible, we read about the people of God in heaven.
-Revelation 15:2-3NLT I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.
Between Genesis and Revelation, we find hundreds of examples of men, women, and children, who worship God through one form of music or another.
The Holy spirit and music.
The apostle Paul makes a direct connection between being filled with the spirit and worshiping God through music and singing.
Ephesians 5:18TPT “And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.”
The definitions of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs suggest that God is pleased with worship music to Him.
Commands to sing to the Lord.
Music and singing are not optional. The Lord takes pleasure in our worship, and he instructs us to sing unto him.
1 Chronicles 16:23NKJV Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Psalm 95:1NKJV Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Music in heavenly worship.
Revelation 5:9NKJV And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll,?And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
John explains that only the redeemed are able to sing this new song.
Revelation 14:3NKJV They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
The Psalms and music.
The Psalms may be read, recited, or chanted, but they were originally meant to be sung. This is a fact that testifies to the value of music and worship
The Hebrew word, mizmor translated Psalm, is a song sung to an instrumental accompaniment.
Passionate praise. -Our praise should always be passionate, for nothing more than our salvation.
Thanksgiving and praise. Worship is the expression of our love, relationship and consecration to God.
Our expressions of Thanksgiving, praise, and worship are the only things we can give to God that he did not create.
1 Thessalonians 5:18NKJV...in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Praise. -Praise is not based on our feelings or our moods. Praise is a choice of our will.
The psalmist wrote in, Psalm 22:3 that God is enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Psalm 150:6NKJV Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Exuberant praise.
-Such as, shouting, leaping, dancing, clapping, lifting the hands, and the use of musical instruments like the tambourine.
Expressions of praise. The lifting of our hands.
Nehemiah 8:6NKJV And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Clapping our hands.
Psalm 47,1NKJV Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
Shouting.
Psalm 32:11NKJV Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Dancing.
2 Samuel 6:14NKJV Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.
Standing. In the Old Testament temple, there were no chairs and no pews. The priest stood continually before the Lord as a ministered to God, 2 Chronicles 5:12NLT And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets.
Kneeling, Bowing.
In the Old Testament, the psalmist invites us, Psalm 95:6NLT Come, let us worship and bow down.n Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
Speaking in tongues. -Acts 2:11NKJV Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
Benediction. Tonight we’ve only talked about prayer, and music as they relate to worship.
