WHAT DOES WORSHIP
LOOK LIKE
What is worship? Is it singing when others sing? Is it
praying when other pray?
Is it waving and clapping your hand in church service? Are
we just going through
the motions?
Worship is an outward expressing of an inward change toward God.
God is spirit and they that worship the Lord, must worship
Him in spirit and in truth
John 4:24
John 4:24
[God is a Spirit] this
is one of the first, the greatest, the most sublime, and necessary truths in
the compass of nature! There is a God, the cause of all things-the fountain of
all perfection-without parts or dimensions, for he is ETERNAL-filling the
heavens and the earth-pervading, governing, and upholding all things: for he is
an infinite SPIRIT! This God can be pleased only with that which resembles
himself: therefore he must hate sin and sinfulness; and can delight in those
only who are made partakers of his own divine nature. As all creatures were
made by him, so all owe him obedience and reverence; but, to be acceptable to
this infinite Spirit, the worship must be of a spiritual nature-must spring
from the heart, through the influence of the Holy Spirit: and it must be in
TRUTH, not only in sincerity, but performed according to that divine revelation
which he has given men of himself. A man worships God in spirit, when, under
the influence of the Holy Spirit, he brings all his affections, appetites, and
desires to the throne of God; and he worships him in truth, when every purpose
and passion of his heart, and when every act of his religious worship, is
guided and regulated by the word of God. "
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright ©
1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Matt 15:8-9
"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts
are far from me.
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by
men.'"
Worship starts in the heart. Worship is the Greek word
sebomai (seb-om-ahee)
Which means to revere or adore.
Worship cannot be your own invention or what you feel like
doing.
How to insure out worship is for real
1. GO to God and wait for the power
of His grace.
2. Meditate
on the greatness of Him before whom we are.
3. Mortify
those lusts that are apt to withdraw our minds.
4. Before
the duty there must be an actual preparation or a solemn discharge of all
impediments, that we may not bring the world along with us.
5. Be
severe to your purpose.
6. Bring
with you to every holy service strong spiritual affections.
7. Remember
the weight and consequence of the duties of religion.
8. Let
every experimental wandering make you more humble and careful.
9. A
constant heavenliness and holiness of heart.
10. Frequent
and solemn meditation.
11. By
use a man gets greater command over himself.
Matthew 15:7-9
God only to be
worshipped and loved: --
I THE TRUE OBJECT OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, which is
here called drawing
nigh unto God and honoring
Him.
II. To DIRECT THE RIGHT MANNER OF
PERFORMING RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.
1. God is to be worshipped in the
way of His own appointment.
2. God is to be worshipped with the
whole man, with our bodies and
spirits which are His.
3. God is to be worshipped by the
assistance of His spirit.
4. God is to be worshipped in the
exercise of all suitable graces under the
influence of His spirit.
5. God is to be worshipped with an
eye to His glory, as our ultimate end.
6. God is to be worshipped in the
name of Christ as our only Mediator.
Reflections:
1. How must every one, more or
less, stand reproved for defects in
worship.
2. How becoming, glorious and
delightful must it be to offer up such
worship to God, as is agreeable to His will.
3. What glorious provision has God made in the gospel
to assist this noble
homage.
(Dr. Guyse.)
What does worship look like
1. Worship looks like
love. God is love
Matt 22:37-40
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.'b 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'c 40 All the Law and
the Prophets hang on
these two commandments.
"
2.
Worship looks like
obedience
Rom 6:16-18
obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that,
though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of
teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to
righteousness.
2 John 6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As
you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
NIV
3.
Worship looks like giving
2 Cor 9:7-8
Each man should give what he has
decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good
work.
3. Worship looks like
forgiveness
Matt 6:13-15
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not
forgive your sins.
Matt 18:21-23
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times
shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.f
NIV
4. Worship looks like tolerance
Rom 2:3-4
3 So when you, a mere man, pass
judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's
judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the
riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's
kindness leads you toward repentance?
4. Worship looks like
humbleness
Matt 18:3-4
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like
little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles
himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5. Worship looks like
kindness
Rom
11:22
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to
those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his
kindness.
6. Worship looks like one who displays the fruit of the spirit,
Gal 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
7. Worship looks like prayer.
1 Thess 5:17-18
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus
concerning you.
8. Worship looks like
trust.
Isa 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
9. Worship looks like respect
for family
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your
wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you
of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
NIV
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