Worship: The involvement of Body, Mind and Spirit
Various Scriptures
Pastor Don Walker
Twentieth Street Baptist Church
Body -- Mind -- Spirit
This is a practical expression of how we are made.
Each is important and vital to the whole.
Not all three are always working together -- Why?
Often there is an overemphasis upon one or two of the areas.
How does God relate to us?
One or two of the three: body or mind or soul?
He relates to us in all three dimensions.
If God relates to us in all three areas, what does this say about how we should worship?
How do we relate to God with our bodies?
1. One way is through kneeling.
The primary word for worship in the Old Testament means “to bow down.”
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker…” PS 95:6
Paul prayed “For this reason I kneel before the Father….” EPH 3:14
Why Kneel?
Kneeling is a symbol of Humility and Submission.
The day is coming when everyone will kneel before God.
Philippians 2:10 and 11 says -- ... at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2. Another way to relate to God with our bodies is clapping. Clapping is a Biblical expression.
“Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1). The Psalmist even calls on nature to praise the Lord with clapping: “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD…” (Psalm 98:8, 9a). Isaiah says, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).
3. A third way of relating to the Lord with our bodies is to...
Lift our hands.
It’s common in the Old Testament “Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD” (Psalm 134:1-2).
Sometimes associated with charismatic churches.
There is symbolism in lifting hands:
--it is a symbol of surrender
--it is a symbol of trust
--it is a symbol of openness
--it is a symbol of affection
4. Another physical way of worshipping is to sing.
Singing to the Lord is evidenced throughout scripture. The psalms... After the Last Supper, they “sang a hymn.” Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail “were praying and singing hymns to God.” Paul proclaims “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Man alone expresses himself in music.
Singing says a lot about a congregation. “Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God, but children of the heavenly King will speak their joys abroad.”
We may have some problems with these physical forms of worship.
William Hendrickson found that in the Bible there are:
4 references to bowing the head
6 to standing with reverence
9 to lifting the eyes to God
12 to kneeling in adoration
14 to hands lifted up
28 to people lying prostrate before God
If the frequency of references is related to their importance, it would seem that we are practicing the opposite of what the scripture says.
The point is this: a Bible believing and practicing church has the freedom to worship God within the boundaries of the Word of God.
How do we worship in Mind?
1. We have the capacity to remember.
When we remember is causes us to be grateful.
Throughout the Bible thanksgiving is portrayed as an act of worship.
2. We have the capacity to plan ahead.
Is there any reason we should not set on minds on worship even before we get to church?
3. A third area of relating to God is in spirit.
This is not in reference to the Holy Spirit.
This is in reference to spiritual acts of worship.
Spiritual acts of worship.
1. A spiritual act of worship comes in giving to God.
The offering is an opportunity to worship.
Some give out of duty
Some give out of their mood.
Some give out of a sense of worship
2. Prayer is a spiritual act of worship.
Prayer goes beyond normal conversation.
True prayer is an expression of the heart.
3. We worship through the Word of God.
As we speak to God in prayer, He speaks to us through His word.
Jeremiah says: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16).
We can worship in body, mind and spirit. May we worship with open hearts as we come before the Lord and bow down.
Check out other messages by Pastor Don at www.GoToJesus.org.
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Pastor Don Walker, Twentieth Street Baptist Church, 1956 Fifth Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia 25703, email: pastordon@home.com
