WORSHIP -

TRANSFORMED  LIVING

“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:2

“But we all ... are changed ... even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

BY  DR. JACK McALISTER

Reprinted by Maranatha Revival Crusade, Perth

by permission of Jack McAlister,

International Prayer Mission, Sylmar, California

Printed by MRC in August 1984, in Secunderabad, India

This is a study of the marvel and mystery

clearly stated by Jesus Christ, “The Father SEEKS Worshipers”

“TRUE Worshipers who Worship in Spirit and Truth.”

First and foremost we must always remember . . .

WORSHIP IS PRIMARILY FOR GOD

Just as Calvary was primarily for God . . .

to satisfy His justice, righteousness, and judgment against sin.  

At Calvary “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.”

(2 Corinthians 5:19)

God did not say, “I seek dedicated, educated, hard workers.”

HE SAID, “I SEEK WORSHIPERS.”

FOR CHRISTIANS - WORSHIP IS JOB #ONE!

.... our first, primary responsibility and joy.

Worship and Praise is the Foundation for

Personal and Church Growth

Worship builds fellowships of Believers.

“Perhaps the greatest need in all of Christendom is
for a clear understanding of the biblical teaching about worship.”  

- Dr. John Mac Arthur Jr.

We WORSHIP God for who He is ... concerns His character.

We PRAISE God for what He does . . . concerns His actions.

-  Pastor Jack Hayford

In this seminar manual,

“Ps,” is an abbreviation for Psalms.

LORD spelt with four capital letters, stands for the Hebrew letters – YHWH,

 which is the sacred Name of God. It is usually pronounced as Yahweh.

CONTENTS

A GREAT SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE

WORK – WORSHIP

A. W. TOZER STATEMENT REGARDING WORSHIP

INTRODUCTION

SECTION 1   

WHY DO I WORSHIP?

SECTION 2  

WHY DON’T I WORSHIP?

SECTION 3  

WORSHIP - WHO, WHERE AND WHEN?

SECTION 4  

HOW GOD SAYS, “WORSHIP”

SECTION 5  

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I WORSHIP?

PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN ALL 66 BOOKS OF OUR BIBLE

A GREAT SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE IS JUST AHEAD FOR YOU!

God says, “Be not conformed to this world (a great danger we face), but be transformed.”  Then God graciously tells us how —

“By the Renewing of Your Mind”

Transformed Living is not just a “catch phrase.” This is something God guarantees to do. God can ... and He is the only One who can. He renews minds - through His Word.

Mary attended a recent seminar and wrote afterward:

“God has shown me - no matter what I’ve done to change - ONLY WORSHIP will change my life of resentment, anger and bitterness. He will do the changing as I worship Him - and bring joy into my life.”

A nationally known TV preacher attended and said:

“I have taught God’s Word around the world - but now I realize I knew nothing about the importance of Worship. I know now that I’ve been out of balance in my relationship with God. I have “short changed” Him of the Worship and Praise that is rightfully His. I repent. God has moved me to a new level of understanding in this Seminar!”

These are two who were TRANSFORMED by the renewing of their minds. Minds are renewed by the Word of God. This Seminar involves 422 Scriptures. God’s power is behind His Word. Christ says, “These words are not just words - they are spirit and they are life.” No wonder the Holy Spirit produces . . .

“TRANSFORMED LIVING”

2 Corinthians 3:17.  “But we all … ARE CHANGED, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Christ says, “According to your faith be it unto you.” (Matt 9:29).  Believe that He will change your life - He will. Then together we will rejoice in ...

“TRANSFORMED LIVING”

A Personal Word . . .

For more than 35 years I served Christ and His Body with almost no awareness of the place of Worship and Praise. Only in the very recent past has God opened “the eyes of my understanding.”

I am particularly indebted to Jack Hayford; as my Pastor he modeled all the truths which 1 am endeavoring to share in this Seminar. He has seen a congregation grow from 18 members to a happy fellowship of almost 10,000 - as a direct result of practicing Biblical teachings about Worship.

I am also grateful to Pastor John MacArthur Jr., whose recent book, “THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY” provided a strong scriptural base for Worship. I highly recommend his excellent Moody Press book.

My understanding of Worship has been further enriched by the books of A. W. Tozer (he wrote some very strong statements about Worship); Judson Cornwall, Anne Ortlund, John Powell, Jim McAlister and others.

Above all - I am exceedingly grateful for the illumination of the Holy Spirit concerning more than 200 exhortations, instructions and statements about Worship and Praise - written by King David.

No single truth has so transformed my personal life and ministry. Please join me as we go forward in an ongoing, daily ministry to God. We shall discover more Worship truths as we walk down this path of Praise and Power.  -  Jack McAlister

WORK - WORSHIP

Work, work, work. The Christian ethic is work.

Worship, worship, worship. The Father’s ethic is worship.

We don’t seem to hear Him say,

I desire your worship, I seek your worship,

            and when you worship Me,            I will hear your prayers.

I’ll bring your wandering children home,

vitality to weakened relationships,  

vigor to your sick and wounded,

and courage to the sorrowful.

But we plunge headlong into our work forgetting that our work is of value only —

after we worship, and that He created us above all other creatures to worship —

and experience new levels of intimacy with Him.

How sad that we don’t realize the truth in the words,

“The chief end of man is to love God and enjoy Him forever.”

When we worship we get to know Him — who He is —

how He thinks, and that He acts according to His plan.

He does mighty things for His worshiping children.

“Greater things shall ye do,” He said.

We are so busy …

going through the motions of worshiping, playing our games,

(My Bible is marked more than your Bible —

I tithe 20% of my gross; I witness to 5 people every week;

I am going on a 40-day fast),

that we are becoming experts in religious one-upmanship.

We are proud of our good works,

going to church, making a living,

caring for our homes, majoring on minor things,

and minoring on essential things –

so that in the end we are consumed by boredom, frazzled to nothingness,

not knowing that He created us with an empty,

aching, yearning feeling that can only be filled as we worship Him.

                     - Hazel McAlister

A. W. TOZER

This saintly giant served as a pastor in Christian and Missionary Alliance churches from 1919 to 1963.  For 23 years he edited “The Alliance Witness.” Following is an excerpt from his writings:

“WORSHIP, THE MISSING JEWEL OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH”

Why did Christ come? Why was He conceived? Why was He born? Why was He crucified? Why did He rise again? Why is He now at the right hand of the Father?

The answer to all these questions is, “In order that He might make worshipers out of rebels; in order that He might restore us again to the place of worship we knew when we were first created.”

Now because we were created to worship, worship is the normal employment, of moral beings. It’s the normal employment, not something stuck on or added, like listening to a concert or admiring flowers. It is something that is built into human nature.

Every glimpse of heaven shows them worshiping; Ezekiel 1:1-5, the creatures out of the fire were worshiping God; Isaiah 6:1-6, we see the LORD high and lifted up and hear the creatures saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts”; Revelation 4:8-11. God opens heaven and we see them there worshiping God the Father; and in the fifth chapter, verses 6 to 14, we see them worshiping God the Son.

Worship is a moral imperative. In Luke 19:37-40 the whole multitude of disciples were worshiping the Lord as He came along, and some rebuked them. The Lord said, “Don’t rebuke them; if they didn’t worship Me the stones would cry out.”

Now, worship is the missing jewel in modern evangelicalism. We’re organized; we work; we have our agendas. We have almost everything, but there’s one thing that the churches, even the gospel churches do not have: that is the ability to worship. We are not cultivating the art of worship. It’s the one shining gem that is lost to the modern church, and I believe that we ought to search for this until we find it.

INTRODUCTION

Worship is commitment to a major life principle.

In one to three years you will see great fruit in your personal life and in the spiritual vitality of your church.

Worship is not a “spiritual fad” - something that comes and goes.

Worship  does not have to do with the salvation of your soul.

Worship releases God’s Presence and power in your life.

Worship is an all-encompassing response to a great and holy God.

“Worship is the essential expression of service rendered to God.”

                                                                                                                        - Dr. John MacArthur Jr.

Worship is the supreme duty of the creature toward the Creator. It is …

...  a grand celebration of God’s goodness and majesty.

...  honor and adoration directed to God.

...  ministry to God - giving God something of yourself.

...  doing for God what He cannot do for Himself.

Literal Definition: “ascribing to God His worth,” & “to prostrate oneself before God.”

TO GOD, SUCCESS IN LIFE IS LEARNING TO WORSHIP

Worship is not . . . “waiting on the Lord,” prayer, petition, intercession.

There are many passages of Scripture related to Praise and Worship. Luke tells of angels praising God; wise men worshiping; shepherds returning and glorifying and praising God. The Gospels and Acts tell of the blind, the lepers, and others, healed - who worshiped and praised God.

This study does not attempt to cover all OT or NT instructions or exhortations or statements regarding this glorious subject of Worship and Praise. We shall focus attention on the Psalms and the words of Christ in John Chap. 4.

THE DISCOVERY OF ALL GREAT BIBLE TRUTHS INVOLVES …

SEARCH … “WITH ALL THY HEART.”

THIS JOYFUL SEARCH SHALL END WHEN WE WORSHIP IN ETERNITY.

HOW IMPORTANT IS WORSHIP TO GOD?

Here are two small clues:

1.   God describes the creation of all the world in 31 verses.

      God describes the creation of the place of Worship (the Tabernacle) in 243 verses!

2.   In Exodus 30:34-36 God tells His people how to make incense (a symbol of Worship).

     He says - if you make this special incense for yourself - you will be cut off. No one can take from God what He planned for Himself . . . that is holy.

When Christian worship is dull and joyless,

Jesus Christ has been left outside.

That is the only possible explanation.  - James S. Stewart

SECTION 1

WHY DO I WORSHIP?

PS. 47:7.  “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.”

PS. 119:27.  “Make me to understand the way of Your precepts: and I shall talk of Your wondrous works.”

PS. 119:130.  “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

I worship, NOT because I’m told to, or should do . . . but  BECAUSE I WANT TO.

PS. 45:1.  “My heart overflows with a good theme ...”

The Foundation or Key to Worship is KNOWING GOD

‘‘The only way to know God is to make knowledge of God the primary pursuit of your life.”  -  Dr. John MacArthur, Jr.

“Our greatest need is constantly to revise our concept of God, who is always infinitely greater and more loving than our finite minds can possibly grasp.”  -  Rev. John Powell.

CAN WE UNDERSTAND GOD?

Jeremiah. 29:13.  “You shall seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

PS. 22:26.  “Those who seek Him shall praise the LORD.”

The most basic essential in Worship is the Worshiper’s understanding of God.

We can learn about Worship best from the One we worship. Christ’s major teaching regarding Worship is in John 4:4-10

JOHN 4:10. “... IF YOU KNEW…

(1)     the gift of God   &  (2)  and who it is . . .”

JOHN 17:3.  “This is life eternal, that they might KNOW You, the only true God.”

KNOWING GOD IS A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER

2 THESS 1:7-8. “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God.”

Our first study of Worship revolves around these three Scriptures.

JOHN 4:10.  Christ: “If you knew the gift of God . . . and who God is ...”

PS. 103:2.  David: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

PS. 68:19.  “Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits.”

People only worship gods who benefit them (REAL OR IMAGINARY).

Because of the benefits ... PEOPLE WORSHIP THE GOD OF MONEY.

We now study . . .

SEVEN MAJOR ATTRIBUTES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD

AND HOW EACH ONE BENEFITS YOU.

EACH TRUTH WILL INSPIRE YOU TO WORSHIP.

ALWAYS REMEMBER . . . FIRST AND FOREMOST

WORSHIP IS FOR GOD

Primarily - we go to church to give Him worship.

Secondarily- we receive from Him through His Word.

I.    God Is Omniscient

HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING

JOHN 4:7-29. The Samaritan woman first learned about His omniscience. “Call your husband ...”

“Come and see a man who told me all things I ever did.”

God KNOWS ... the knowable and the unknowable.

God KNOWS ... all - He’s the only One who does.

ROM. 16:27.  “The only wise God.”

GOD DOESN’T LEARN  -  He knows ... who taught God?

No secret word ... thought ... deed. God doesn’t count your hairs - He knows.

PS. 147:5.  “Great is our Lord and of great power; His understanding is infinite.”

God sees beyond the exterior:

REV. 2:23.  “I am He who searches the minds and hearts.”

God hears our thoughts as if on NBC or ABC or CBS radio.

ISAIAH 66:18.  “I know their ... thoughts.”

SPURGEON: “While the subject of God humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around on this narrow globe ... The most excellent study for expanding the soul is the science of Christ and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Eternal One in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole of man.”

BENEFITS TO YOU

(1)      God knows all ... loves you perfectly and therefore ... Romans  8:28 … He can make all things work together for your good.

(2)      It’s great comfort to know He knows everything about me ... I’m insignificant? Never mind ... HE KNOWS ALL.

MALACHI: Great judgment prophesied ... God’s people wondered ... will we be swept away?

MAL. 3:16, 17. “Then they that feared the LORD spoke often to one another: and the LORD gave attention, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for those who feared the LORD, and that thought upon His Name.”

And then the assurance:

“And they shall be mine, says the LORD of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

REV. 13:8. God has a book with your name in it - no one is outside of His knowledge ... He knows we belong to Him.

MATT. 6:25-33. He who looks after birds, lilies, grass, knows all about you and will look after you.

(3)   Truth of Omniscience helps protect you from sin. God is a teacher who never leaves the room!

2 COR.  5:10. We will all give account to God.

1 COR. 4:5.  God will bring to light hidden things of darkness.

(4)   He knows all ... and He corrects me in love. Peter denied Him three times.

JOHN 21.  Christ confronts Peter three times ... “Do you love Me?”

Peter’s appeal : “You know all things ... You know I love You.” God sees beyond our disobedience and failure ... to a heart of love for Him.

Closing ... regarding His omniscience:

PS. 40:5. “Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts which are toward us; they cannot be recounted to You in order. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be more than can be numbered.”

2.   God Is Omnipresent

GOD IS EVERYWHERE at all times.

JER. 23:24. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?”

GOD IS NOT CONFINED to a building, location or object.  Unsaved in the nations associate their god with a place.

JOHN 4:20. “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain.”

Some Scripture appears misleading:

GEN. 11:5. “God came down to see the city...”

Putting this difficult truth into language we understand it means: He was giving that city His special attention ... God doesn’t travel.  He’s everywhere!

Even His closest friends didn’t always recognize Christ.

JOHN 20:14. “... she turned ... and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.”

GOD HAS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH BELIEVERS – the “temple of God.”

1 COR.  3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

GOD IS PRESENT WITH EVERYONE.  Like the sun’s rays that may fall on a rotten corpse ... a corpse doesn’t corrupt the sunbeams.   Nothing defiles Him ... God is everywhere ... unmixed with any thing ... nothing corrupts Him.

BENEFITS TO YOU

(1)        Assurance.  All our experiences and emotions GOD SHARES.

HEB. 13:5. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Can a believer be separated from God?

2 TIM. 2:13. “If we believe not, yet He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

(2)   God is there and INVOLVED

MATT. 28:20. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (I am present and I will help you.)

(3)   A shield from temptation ... NO “private life.”

1 COR. 10:13. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what you are able.”

For unbelievers: “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb 4:13). … the thief … adulterer ... murderer …  gossiper … the unforgiving.

3.    God Is Omnipotent

PS. 106:2. “Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD, who can show forth all His praises?”

No one understands God perfectly ... He’s unlike anyone we know.

THE ALMIGHTY ... takes the same effort to make the butterfly or the universe ... God never needs strength replenished. He never sleeps.

ISA. 40:28.  “The Creator of the earth does not faint, or become weary.”

PS. 21:13. “Be exalted, O  LORD, in Your strength, so we will sing and praise Your power.”

PS. 150:2. “Praise Him for His mighty acts. Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.”

EPH. 1:19. “The exceeding greatness of His power.”

God’s power is most clearly seen in these four areas ...

(1)       CREATES SOMETHING FROM NOTHING  ...  Ps. 33:6

fearfully and wonderfully made ... Ps. 139:14            

all things ... visible and invisible ...  Col. 1:16

(2)       SUSTAINS HIS CREATION

HEB. 1:3. “... upholding   all ... by the word of His power.”

(3)   ABILITY TO REDEEM THE LOST ... greater than creation (in creation there was no devil to oppose, no death, sin). In Redemption He chooses nobodies ... weak ... despised ... to confound the mighty.  1 Cor. 1:26-28

(4)   ABILITY TO RAISE THE DEAD... will ultimately raise ALL.

JOHN 5:28,29. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice.”

SUMMARY:

PS. 40:5. “Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts which are toward us; there is none to compare with You.  If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”

BENEFITS TO YOU

1.  HIS POWER INSPIRES WORSHIP.

2 KINGS 17:36. “The LORD who brought you up from Egypt with great power . . . Him shall you worship.”

2.  WHEN I REALIZE MY WEAKNESS.

PHIL. 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ.” God’s power sustains us in daily life. None of our problems are a match for His power.

EPH. 6:10. “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

3.  NO FEAR OF FALLING.

JUDE verse 24. Profound Praise!!! “He who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the Presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”

2 TIM. 1:12. “He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him.”

ROM. 8:33. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

ROM. 8:34. “Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died; yes, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

ROM. 8:35. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

ROM. 8:38. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come.”

ROM. 8:39.  “Neither height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

PS. 111:4, 6. “He has made His wonderful works to be remembered ... He has shown His people the power of His works.”

4.    God Is Immutable

He is unchangeable and unchanging:

PS. 102:25, 26, 27.  “You are the same … Your years will never change.”

MAL. 3:6. “For I am the LORD. I change not.” (This explains why the disobedient are not immediately destroyed).

JAMES. 1:17. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

God never gets better or worse ... nothing to change in His character ... or in His will.

NUM. 23:19. “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?”

God told Jonah to say; “Nineveh will be destroyed.” Jonah preached ... God blessed them. Did God change?  No. Nineveh changed. Nineveh repented. God responded.

HEB. 13:8. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

All change ... but not God ...  Everything else gets old.

BENEFITS TO YOU

1.         His love is forever

2.         His salvation is forever

3.         His promises are forever

ROM. 11:29.  “... the gifts and promises of God are without repentance.”

2 TIM. 2:13.  “If we believe not: yet He remains faithful: He cannot deny Himself.”

PHIL. 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.”

We worship an unchanging, all powerful, all knowing, ever-present God. If that is beyond your ability to comprehend ... good. If you think anyone can fully understand “God” ... then that is not the real God.

5.    God Is Loving-Kindness

PS. 36:7.   How excellent is Your loving-kindness ...”

PS. 42:8. “The LORD will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”

PS. 48:9, 10. “We have thought of Your loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of Your temple.”

PS 51:1. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”

PS. 63:3. “Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.”

PS. 89:33. “Nevertheless I will not break off My loving-kindness from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.”

PS 107:43. “Whoever is wise, and shall observe ... even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD.”

PS. 138:2.  “I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your Name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth: for You have magnified Your Word according to all Your Name.”

BENEFITS TO YOU

Your life and all your future is in the hands of a God who is worthy of your perfect trust and confidence. He will never treat you unkindly. HE CANNOT for “GOD IS LOVE.”

For further study ... (all in the Psalms).

PS. 17:7;   25:6;   26:3;   40:10-11;   69:16;   88:11;   92:2;  103:4;  111:8;  119:149.

“The true worshiper lives a life of contentment, regardless of circumstances.”

        - John MacArthur Jr.

CONTENTMENT TESTIFIES:

“I completely trust the loving-kindness and wisdom of my God.”

6.  God Is Merciful   (Mercy means:  “giving you another chance.”)

PS. 31:7.  “I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy.”

PS. 37:26.  “He is ever merciful.”

PS. 40:2, 3. “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God: many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the LORD.”

PS. 100:5.   “The LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting.”

PS. 103:8. “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.”

PS. 103:11. “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy to them that fear Him.”

PS. 103:17. “... the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him.”

PS. 106:1. “Praise the LORD, O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.”

PS. 107:1. “O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.”

PS. 117:1, 2. “Praise the LORD all you nations; praise Him, all you people. For His loving-kindness is great toward us.”

PS. 5:7. “I will come into Your house by Your abundant loving-kindness; and in reverence I will worship toward Your holy temple.”

PS. 136. “For His mercy endures forever.” (This is the only statement in entire Bible which appears 26 times in one chapter!)  God only deals with us in mercy.

For further study: (all in the Psalms).  Ps. 18:25;   26:11;    41:4;   41:10;   56:1;   57:1;   116:5;  117:2;   119:58;  119:76;  119:132.

7.    God Is Holy

Holiness summarizes all His other attributes and characteristics.

When angels worship God — they don’t say, “Eternal, Eternal, Eternal”; or “Wise, Wise, Wise”; or “Mighty, Mighty, Mighty.” . . . They say, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

Webster:  Holy: “spiritually whole; of unimpaired innocence, or proved virtue.”

EX. 15:11. “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

God is the standard of holiness:

He never does anything wrong … He is totally without sin or error. When angels sinned, they were cast out of God’s Presence. When men choose to reject Christ ... in the end they are sent to a place prepared for the devil and his angels.”

In Salvation God Imputes Holiness to Us

ROM. 3:21. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.” God hates sin in every form ... He must punish sin.

The Supreme Demonstration of Holiness . . . The Cross

God bore man’s sin in Christ . . . shows his hatred of sin ... His power over it.

HEB. 9:26,    “... He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

Penalty Of Sin is Death . . . He Paid that Penalty

HIS HOLINESS demanded it.

PS. 22:3.  “You are holy, You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”

PS. 29:2.  “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His Name. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

PS. 30:4.  “Sing to the LORD, O you His saints ... give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

PS. 93:5. “Your testimonies are very sure. Holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forever.”

PS. 97:12.  “Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

PS. 98:9.  “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.”

BENEFITS TO YOU

Because God is holy, and we are aware of our unholiness, we can never escape the fact that all His blessings toward us are “of grace” - His unmerited favor. This truth should protect us from Satan’s most dangerous weapon … PRIDE.  “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Jesus Christ.”  

Climax … David’s answer to “Why Do I Worship?”

PS. 96:1-7.  “O sing to the LORD a new song: sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His Name: show forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Give unto the LORD glory and strength, O families of the people.”

For further study … WHY DO I WORSHIP   (Psalm 19)

vs. 7.   (1)  “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.”

(2) “The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

vs. 8,   (3) “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:”

(4) “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”

vs. 9.   (5) “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever.”

(6) “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”

SECTION 2

WHY DON’T I WORSHIP?

I.    Satan Opposes Worship

More than anything else we will ever do ... Satan will try to stop you from worshiping. First — because he knows God seeks Worshipers, and he is dedicated to defeat the purposes and will of God.

Secondly — Satan knows the great value of worship and understands that worship is of supreme importance to God, and empowers the life of any who practice it. Many Bible scholars believe that Ezekiel 28 teaches that Satan (“the anointed cherub that covers”) once led the choirs of heaven that were devoted only to worshiping God. Satan’s fall, described in Isaiah 14 tells us that Satan wanted to be equal to God and be worshiped.

This is clearly confirmed in Matthew 4. After Satan showed Christ all the kingdoms of this world in verse 8, and then to climax his temptation of Christ, he said, “All these things will I give You if You fall down and worship me.” Christ immediately replied, “You shall worship the LORD your God and Him only shall you serve.”

From OT and NT scriptures we learn that Satan’s strategy is to divert worship from God to himself ... or anyone or anything else.

Rom. 16:20 teaches. “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” God will do it as you worship!

Christ gave believers power and authority over all devils, (Luke 9:1), and said believers will “cast out devils in My Name.”  (Mark 16:17)

Hebrews 2:14. “Through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” By His life, death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ stripped the devil of all the power and authority he had usurped.

Satan will try in many ways to prevent you from worshiping. Don’t listen or talk to him. Refuse to allow him access to your mind, and thereby render him powerless to prevent you from praising and worshiping God.

James 4:7. “Submit yourselves therefore to God (and his instructions to Praise). Resist the devil (by the Word and Worship) and he will flee from you.”

It works !!!

2.    Sin Prevents Praise

PS. 66:18. “If I regard iniquity in my heart the LORD will not hear me.”

ISA. 59:2. “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you. . .  so that He does not hear.”

We are told to “lift up holy hands” (1 Tim. 2:8)

2 TIM. 2:22.  “Call on the LORD out of a pure heart.” SIN is forgiven totally by confession and cleansing.

1 JOHN 1:9. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

ROM. 5:9. “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved by wrath through Him.”

ROM. 6:14. “Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under law but under grace.”

ROM. 8:1. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”

John Wesley sang: “He breaks the power of cancelled sin and sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the vilest clean; His blood avails for me.”

3.    Guilt Prevents Praise and Worship

If sin is not forgiven — we should feel guilty. Some people still feel guilty after God has forgiven their sin. Many feel they must “do something” to be free from guilt. When God says, “Forgiven” — there is nothing more we can or should do.

After we’ve confessed sin to God and therefore been forgiven … Satan is overjoyed if we wallow in thoughts like, “What a wretched sinner I am.” Because he is a liar ... he wants you to believe lies. God calls forgiven sinners “saints.” That’s what you are ... believe it.

It is so easy to say, “I can never forgive myself.” It’s more important to have God say, “Forgiven!”  Who is right ... you or God?

There is a danger of an “unforgiving spirit” -  even if it is toward yourself.

EPH. 4:32. “Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

Christ knew all about the sin of the woman in John 8:11, but said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.” He says the same to you!

God knows all the facts about your sin ... and says, “Forgiven!” Get your eyes off failure; look at a loving, forgiving Christ.  “Look and live!”

We are all sinners … saved by “amazing grace.”  Believe it and enjoy it ... you’ll be a worshiper.

2 COR. 5:17.  “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things have passed away; all things have become new.”

Believe it!  Praise God for forgiveness!  Worship Him for His love!

4.    Fear Prevents Worship

            We are afraid             of             …

                        of             ……………………..

                        of ……………………..………

                        of             ……………………..

                        of …………………….…….…

                        of ……………………………..

                        of ……………………..………

More than any of the fears that you can write above, we are afraid of fear itself.

2 TIM. 1:7. “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Satan plans to instill binding and controlling fear in all of us.

God planned a healthy fear to protect us (fear of sin, etc.)

After His resurrection, Jesus said, “Fear not; for I am with you.”

GOD’S CURE FOR FEAR IS LOVE

1 JOHN 4:18. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”

During thunder at night my little girl feared. I said: “Don’t be afraid ... Daddy is here.” Soon soothed, she was asleep.

A chorus smuggled out of China was:

“THE MARCHING SONG OF THE CHURCH”

I will not be afraid, I will not be afraid,

With God beside me, His love to guide me,

I’ll not be afraid.

5.   A Wrong Self-image Prevents Worship

“How great I am” or “How worthless I am” ... BOTH ARE WRONG

a.    Luke 18:11. Publican: “God I thank You that I am not as other men.”

It’s difficult to praise God when all you see is yourself!

ROM. 12:3. “I say ... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.”

The heart of praise and worship is to look at God ... not at ourselves.

b.   We should not say, “How worthless I am.”

1 PETER 2:5. “You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

Don’t speak badly about yourself.

Some are almost useless because they say, “Others can do it better than I.”

A Danger ... we may be proud of humility.

ROM. 12:3.  “But think soberly according to the measure of faith that God has given to each one.”

What we are is not important. It’s what we’re becoming!!!

None of us are worthless.  God is making us ... HIS person ... HIS doing ... HIS graces ... HIS promises ... HIS provisions.

6.   Wrong Concepts of God Prevent Worship

Some see God as ruthless, unreasonable, merciless, impersonal, inaccessible, and uninvolved.

Many wrong concepts are gathered in childhood ... in school, from our friends, from art, or horror stories.

Go to the Bible ... study ...

God is ………………         God is ……….…………..

God is ………………         God is ……….…………..

God is ………………         God is ………….………..

Other wrong concepts limit worship ... such as ...

*   God is a permissive, “anything goes,” type of God.

     In fact, we all need and should desire guidelines.

*   God is like men... He does not keep His word.                              

    “God is not a man that He should lie.” (Numbers 23:19)

     In fact, harboring questions of doubt ... doom you to Praise-less-ness.

*   God is unjust ... He has been unkind or unfair. 

     In fact, “God does all things well.”

SECTION 3

WORSHIP — WHO, WHERE, AND WHEN?

I.    Who Worships Our Great God?

PS. 67:3. “Let the people praise You O God; let all the people praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.”

PS. 69:34. “Let the heaven and earth praise Him: the seas and everything that moves in it.”

PS. 86:9. “All nations that You have made shall come and worship before You . . . and glorify Your Name.”

PS. 115:17, 18. “The dead do not praise the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord.”

PS 138:4, 5. “All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes; they shall sing of the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.”

PS. 148:11-14. “Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth, both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalts the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD.”

PS. 150:6. Last verse in Psalms (God’s manual on Praise and Worship): “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”

For further  study:   Ps. 89:5;   96:1,  113:1;  118:21, 28;   119;7,  135:1;  140;13;  145:10.

2.    Where and When do we Worship?

a.   In the congregation

PS. 22:25.  “My praise shall be of You in the great congregation.”

PS. 20:2.  “(The LORD) send you help from the sanctuary ...”

PS 35:18. “I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among many people.”

PS. 42:4. “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the House of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude keeping festival.”

PS. 107:32. “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.”

PS. 111:1. “... I will praise the LORD with my whole heart ... in the congregation.”

PS. 134:1. “Bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the House of the LORD.”

For further study:  Ps. 134:2:  22:22;   150:1

b.   Among the heathen or the nations

PS. 18:49.  “I give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations (where you work?) and sing praises to Your Name.”

PS. 57:9. “I will praise You, O LORD, among the people: I will sing to You among the nations.”

PS. 108:3. “I will praise You, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises to You among the nations.”

Please note . . . Every time nations are mentioned in Psalms we are encouraged to sing!

c.    We Worship “always”

We cannot neglect worship six days a week and worship meaningfully on Sunday.

PS. 34:1. “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall be continually in my mouth.”

PS. 71:6.  “My praise shall be continually of You.”

PS. 71:8.  “Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the day.”

PS. 72:15.  “... daily shall He be praised.”

PS. 4:4.  “In your anger, do not sin. Meditate in your heart when you are upon your bed, and be silent and still.”                                      

PS. 107:8, 15, 21, 31.  Four times David cries out for men to praise God in public and private: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.”

PS. 113:3.  “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the LORD’s Name is to be praised.”

PS. 119:164.  “Seven times a day I praise You because of Your righteous judgments.”

PS. 145:2.  “Every day will I bless You; and I will praise Your Name forever and ever.”

PS. 71:14.  “I will praise You more and more.”

Gradually . . . Become a “Praise Person” … More and More

For further study:  Ps. 27:4;  107:22;  108:1;  145:5;  146:2;  148:1.  

This Truth is very important.

d.   We will Worship in Eternity

PS. 17:15.  “I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”

PS. 22:27.  “... all the families of the earth shall worship before You.”

(24 times “WORSHIP” is mentioned in Revelation)

REV. 4:10, 11. “... worship Him who lives forever and ever, saying, You art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power ... for You have created all things and for Your pleasure they are and were created.”

REV. 7:11, 12. “And all ... fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, saying . . . Blessing, and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor and power and might be unto our God forever and ever.”

He is just as worthy of worship NOW as He will be in eternity. We can begin our highest function and service in eternity NOW.

Twice in Revelation, worshipers hold vials filled with incense defined as “the prayers of all the saints.” (Rev. 5:8; 8:3) The Greek word “prayers” can also be translated “worship.” All our praises are preserved by God in the form of incense. When the great worshipers in heaven stand before God . . . they present all the worship of all the saints of all time.

3.    Our Worship and Praise is Preserved in Heaven for Eternity

REV. 7:11,12.  (see above). This clearly tells us that we shall worship and praise for eternity. We will praise forever - because the object of our praise and worship is Jesus Christ .... and He is forever.”

REV. 5:13.  “. . . unto Him who sits upon the throne forever and ever.”

PS. 52:9.  “I will praise You forever ...”

SECTION 4

How God Says to “WORSHIP”

OUR “OPINIONS” ARE OF NO VALUE  -  GOD TELLS US HOW.

First we will study INTERIOR WORSHIP. . .

Then we will look at 10 EXTERIOR WAYS WE WORSHIP.

READ JOHN 4:11-24

A.    INTERIOR

1.   “In Spirit and In Truth”

This entire study concerns SPIRIT AND TRUTH.

The Samaritans (like some Christians today) had much spirit - but little truth.

The Jews (like millions of Christians) had much truth - but little or no spirit.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PROBLEM OF WORSHIPERS.

Either extreme makes worship unacceptable to God.

God gave Moses elaborate, detailed plans about how to worship. God repeatedly told Moses; “See that you do all things according to the pattern I showed you on the mount.” For centuries worship simply involved obedience to all instructions God gave to Moses.

Then David introduced into worship, entirely new elements of praise and rejoicing - with the first major emphasis on singing. David is the great example and instructor for all worshipers.

Then Jesus came! Much of the book of Hebrews is devoted to telling us that the flesh and blood “Tabernacle of Worship” came down ... we can now see the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ.

Thus we see God’s gradual revelation regarding worship in the lives of Moses, David and finally Jesus Christ. (Much “light” was given along the way by Isaiah and others).

2,     With Joyfulness and Gladness

This was a great truth introduced by David to God’s people … THE SPIRIT OF WORSHIP.

PS. 5:11.  “... let all who put their trust in You REJOICE : Let them ever shout for joy …   let those who love Your Name be joyful in You.”

PS. 28:7.  “My heart greatly rejoices; and with my song I will praise Him.”

PS. 40:16.  “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You: let such as love Your salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.”

PS. 63:5.  “My soul shall be satisfied … and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”

PS. 81:1. “Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.”

PS. 89:15. “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.”

THIS OVERFLOWING JOY WAS EXPERIENCED BY ALL THE EARLY CHURCH CHRISTIANS. THIS JOY OF THE LORD WAS THEIR STRENGTH AS THEY FACED CRUEL PERSECUTION.  

1 PETER 1:8. “Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

Further study:  Ps. 16:9;  20:5;  21:6;  27:6

“I’ve never adored the Lord before,” said a longtime Christian at a conference recently. There were tears in her eyes. “I’ve attended worship services all my life, but I never worshiped until today.”

3.   With Intensity 

This may be our greatest new discovery in this study: Worship is neither casual nor optional.

THE SECRET OF THE ONLY MAN CALLED “A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART” -  DAVID.

PS. 9:1.  “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart ...”

PS. 9:14.  “That I may show forth all Your praise ... I will rejoice in Your salvation.”

PS. 26:8.  “Lord I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your honor dwells.”

PS. 39:3. “My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue.”

PS. 48:1. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.”

PS. 63:8.  “My soul follows hard after You ...”

PS. 66:2. “Sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.”

PS. 71:23.  “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You.”

PS. 86:12.  “I will praise You, O LORD my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Your Name forever.”

PS. 96:4.  “The LORD is great and greatly to be praised.”

PS. 103:1. “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me; bless His holy Name.”

PS. 112:1.  “Praise the LORD.  Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments.”

PS. 138:1. “I will praise You with my whole heart; before the angels will I sing praise to You.”

MATT. 22:37, 38.  “You shall love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”

B.    EXTERIOR

PHYSICAL ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP

(all are expressions which overflow from the heart.)

ROM. 12:1, 2. “... that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Both in the OT and the NT the essential concept of Worship is “service.” Both Hebrew and Greek words signify service of “slaves.”

Worship requires physical involvement.  It is not something that is just done “in the heart.”

Think of the OT — The worshiper comes to Aaron with a lamb — being prepared for sacrifice. Imagine he says; “Wait - this is something I only do in my heart.” And Aaron replies: “Yes, you do it for your heart — but the animal goes with it.” All OT worshipers understood this. You worship from your heart ... your body goes with it.

We worship with our regenerated spirit. Romans 1:9. We worship with our renewed minds. Philippians 2:3-5. We worship with our revived emotions- “fervent in spirit.” Romans 12:11-15. We worship with our whole being.

All worship should be Bible-based  -  Worship “with understanding.”

Physical Response in Worship

Worship can include various actions related as described in Scripture.

1.       kneeling,

2.       standing before the LORD,

3.       prostrate,

4.       playing instruments,

5.       singing,

6.       weeping,

7.       joyful praise,

8.       with testimony,

9.       sharing together in groups,

10.   verbalized prayer,

11.   silent prayer

12.   with prayer requests,

13.   reading the Word aloud.

14.   upraised hands,

15.   clapping hands,

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES IS INVOLVEMENT ... OF ALL

1 COR. 14:26. St. Paul said: “When you come together, each one has a psalm, or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”  (“for edification” is very important.)

EXPRESSIVE WORSHIP ... God wants us to avoid boredom and ritualism.

1.   Singing

Enjoy God and let God enjoy you; 300 times we are exhorted to sing.

Song   (1)  gives us a Praise vocabulary

(2)    a uniting of hearts in Praise

(3)    a release of our inner emotions in Praise.

PS. 47:6.  “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises.”

PS 59:16.  “I will sing of Your power; I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning.”

PS. 69:3. “I will praise the Name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD more than an ox or bullock.”

PS. 98:1.  “O sing to the LORD a new song; for He has done marvellous things.”

PS 101:1.  “I will sing of mercy and judgment; to You O, LORD, I will sing.”

PS. 105:2.  “Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; tell of all His wondrous works.”

PS. 147:7.  “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.”

PS. 149:1.  “Sing ... a new song, and His praise in the congregation.”

Eight times we read, “Sing a new song.” God doesn’t want Worship to be boring or without newness!

HOW IMPORTANT IS SINGING? ... Here is a glimpse ...

1 Chron. 9:33.  “... the singers were employed in that work day and night.”

For further study: Ps. 13:6;  9:11;  68:4;   59:17;  149:1;  135:3; 7:17.

A Chant ... Judges 5. 

Responsive song (two groups).  Nehemiah 12:27-43. 

In unison ... 2 Chron. 5:12-14

2.       Upraised Heads and Eyes

PS. 24:7. “Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.”

PS. 123:1. “To You I lift up my eyes, to You who are enthroned in the heavens.”

3.    Shouts of Joy

PS. 32:11. “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice ... and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

PS. 100:1-2. “Make a joyful noise to the LORD all you lands. Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His Presence with singing.”

PS. 132:9.  “... let Your saints shout for joy.”

4.       Clapping of Hands

PS. 47:1. “O clap your hands, all you people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

PS, 98:8.  “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy.”

 “The continual offering of praise requires stamina; we ought to praise God even when we do not feel like it. Praising him takes away the blues and restores us to normal.”  - Harold Lindsell

5.   Upraised Hands

ONLY IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIBLICAL REASON AND MEANING OF THIS ACTION - not because it is a Pentecostal or charismatic thing to do.

(Raising hands is an expression of praise and exulting God. It also expresses surrender of our clean hands and life to the Lord. And further, it is an expression of blessing the Lord.)

PS. 28:2.  “Hear the voice of my supplications ... when I lift up my hands.”

PS. 63:4.  “So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your Name.”

PS. 88:9.  “LORD I have called to You daily. I have stretched out my hands to You.”

PS. 119:48.  “My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments which I have loved.”

PS. 134:2.  “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD.”

PS. 141:2. “Let my prayer be counted as incense before You; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.”

1 TIM. 2:8. “Therefore I want the men everywhere, to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

For further study! Nehemiah 8:6; Habakkuk 3:10; Ezra 9:5; Lam. 3:41; (and Lam. 2:19 for your children).

“It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.”  - Calvin Coolldge

6.   With your voice

PS. 66:8.  “O bless our God, you people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard.”

PS. 26:7. “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.”

PS.  28:6.  “Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplications.”

PS.  51:15.  “O LORD open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.”

PS. 109:30.  “I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; I will praise Him among  the multitude.”

PS. 145:21.  “My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD: and all flesh will bless His holy Name forever and ever.”

PS. 149:6.  “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth.”

7.    With Instruments

PS. 33:2, 3. “Praise the LORD with harp; sing to Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.”

PS. 98:6. “With trumpets and sound of cornet shout joyfully before the King, the LORD.”

PS. 144:9.  “I will sing a new song to You, O God, upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You.”

PS. 149:3.  “Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel (or tambourine) and harp.”

PS. 150:3-5. “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise Him with the harp and lyre . . . tambourine and dancing . . . stringed instruments and pipes.”

David made 4,000 instruments to praise God!

1 Chron. 23:5.  “... Moreover ... four thousand praised the Lord with instruments which   David made for giving praise.”

These were percussion instruments, stringed instruments and wind instruments.

8.    With Silence

PS. 46:10.  “Be still, and know that I am God.”

HAB. 2:2. “But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

ZECH. 2:13. “Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD: for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”

9.   Serving Each Other . . . “Ministry Time”

Greek and Hebrew words for worship are related to “service.”

GAL. 6:2. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Form small groups of 3 or 4.

Explain to visitors, “We do this because we love each other, and Galatians 6:2 tells us to.  If you are a visitor and would prefer to just listen ... you are very welcome. We show that love is not just in our hearts; we care enough to help. Prayer is our greatest help.”

A greeting to each other early in the service helps prepare the way for ministry.

10.   With Gifts and Offerings

PS. 96:8, 9.  “Give to the LORD the glory due to His Name: bring an offering, and come into His courts.  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

EX. 34:20.  “... and none shall appear before Me empty.”

Hundreds of verses in the Bible (especially the O.T.) are used by God to describe offerings, sacrifices, gifts, etc. - related to worship and praise. It is impossible to worship God “with all your heart,” and not desire to give Him tithes, gifts, offerings and love offerings.

SECTION 5

What Happens When I Worship?

(ISAIAH chapter 6)

William Temple said, “To Worship is . . .

to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God

to feed the mind with the truth of God

to purge the imagination by the beauty of God

to open the heart to the love of God

to devote the will to the purpose of God.”

1.    We Become Like the God We Worship

Ps. 135:15-18 (NEB).  “The gods of the nations are idols of silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths that cannot speak and eyes that cannot see; they have ears that do not hear, and there is no breath in their nostrils. Their makers grow like them, and so do all who trust in them.”

People become like the gods they worship.

Don’t worship cars, houses, money, etc.

TRULY GREAT NEWS - WE BECOME LIKE OUR GOD.

WORSHIP CHANGES US.

2 COR. 3:17, 18.  “Now the LORD is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the LORD, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.”

2     We Become Properly Related To God

Master - Servant.    King - Subject or Citizen.    Creator - Creature.

Worship helps deal with pride and an “out of control” ego. On the other hand worship makes us somebody ... it gives us a personal relationship with a limitless source of help for all our needs.

3.    Prisons Open

Liberation from many habits and attitudes is one of our great needs. God intervenes after we praise.

ACTS 16:25, 26. “At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God ... and suddenly there was a great earthquake ... immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s hands were loosed.”

When God liberates us ... the results are amazing.

SOULS ARE BORN INTO GOD’S FAMILY!

ACTS 16:27-30. “And the keeper of the prison ... said ... “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Both he and his household believed on Christ. Worship leads to the release of God’s power. His power causes people to say, “What must I do to be saved?”

WORSHIP LEADS TO SOUL WINNING

4.    We Identify With Saints In Eternity

A.W. Tozer said:  “Every glimpse inside heaven shows them worshiping.”  Ezek. 1,              Isa. 6,   Rev.  4 & 5.

PS. 23:6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the LORD forever.”

We worship now, and prepare for our ministry to God in eternity.

We have already read and studied the great anthems of praise and worship of eternity. (Rev. 7:9-12; 19:4-10; 5:9-13)

They worshiped, saying; “Worthy is the Lamb.” (Rev. 5:12)

HE IS JUST AS WORTHY NOW AS THEN !

Let us daily prepare for eternity now by

WORSHIPING AND PRAISING EVERY  DAY.

5.   God Moves Towards Us in Specific Benefits

PS. 16:7.  “I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel.”

PS. 18:3.  “I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised; so I shall be saved from mine enemies.”

PS. 18:19.  “He delivered me because He delighted in me.”

PS. 37:4.  “Delight yourself in the LORD and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

PS. 92:4.  “For You, O LORD have made me glad through Your work.”

ONLY WORSHIPERS REALIZE TOTAL FULFILLMENT

PS. 16:11. “You will show me the path of life.  In Your Presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

WHAT A GLORIOUS FUTURE LIFE

FOR ALL WHO DAILY OBEY DAVID’S EXHORTATION TO WORSHIP!

6.   God’s Power is Released

THOSE WHO WORSHIP RECEIVE THE POWER AND THE

COMMISSION TO EVANGELIZE THE WORLD.  

Matt. 28:16-20

Jesus tells worshipers to evangelize the world.

MATT. 28:17-20.  “. . . they worshiped Him. And Jesus spoke to them: ‘Go therefore and teach all nations . . . and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’.”

CHRIST HAD SUCCESSFULLY TAUGHT DISCIPLES TO WORSHIP

THEY WERE READY FOR HIS GREAT COMMISSION

Nehemiah tells worshipers to evangelize the world.

NEH. 8:6, 10.  “... they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD. . . Then said he to them, go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared.”

David tells worshipers to evangelize the world.

PS. 67:2, 5, 7.  “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your saving health among all nations. Let all the people praise You … then all the end of the earth shall fear Him.”

WHO EVANGELIZES THE WORLD . . . WORSHIPERS.

THEY BUILD BODIES OF BELIEVERS

7.   We Bring Joy To God

When you become a true Worshiper, God says, “Eureka!” (an exclamation of pleasure). All heaven’s choirs sing with joy!

God says, “I have found what I was seeking - a TRUE worshiper who worships Me in Spirit and truth!”

We’ve always heard of man seeking and finding God. More exciting is, God seeking true worshipers, and finding them.

When asked, “What do you do?” say, “I am a WORSHIPER.”

If they say, “I thought you were a carpenter or a housewife,” say: “That’s only part time, temporary work … I’m really a worshiper ... that’s what I’ll be doing forever ... I’ll never be unemployed! I do it because I love to ... not because I’m paid to.”

Conclusion . . .

NEHEMIAH. God’s children returned from captivity … rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem ... celebrated by gathering and reading God’s Word for six hours … then they worshiped.

NEH. 8:6. “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”

After Worship - Verse 10.  “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy to our Lord: and do not be sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Today you’ve worshiped and brought joy to the Lord.

HIS JOY WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH

TO ASSIST YOU IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP

A FEW OF DAVID’S DEEPEST EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP

PS. 18:2. “The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower.”

PS. 32:7. “You are my Hiding Place; You shall compass me about with songs of deliverance.”

PS. 33:1. “Rejoice in the LORD ... for praise is becoming to the upright.”

PS. 34:3. “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His Name together.”

PS. 89:1. “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever. With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations.”

PS. 100:4. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His Name.”

PS. 104:1. “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, You are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.”

PS. 104:33, 34. “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet. I will be glad in the LORD.”

PS. 145:3. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

For further study ...  (All these references are in the Psalms)

PS. 22:23, 29;  30:12;  45:11;  50:14;  50:23;  54:6;  56:4,10;  56:12;  57:5,11;  65:1;  66:l; 68:32;  75:9;  76:10;  78:4;  92:1.

If the order of your worship service is so rigid that it can’t be changed; it had better be changed.  - Theodore A, Raedeke.

PRAISE IN ALL 66 BOOKS OF OUR BIBLE

q   q   q   q   q