Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

Much of the worship we read about in the Bible is very “high energy”.

 

Worshipers were told to clap their hands and shout to God.

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! (Psalm 47:1 ESV)

Worship was meant to be joyful.

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11 ESV)

Worship frequently included dancing and the use of musical instruments.

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3 ESV)

Worship often included loud music.

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!   Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! (Psalm 150:3-5 ESV)

Worship described in the Bible:

• Worshipers were told to clap their hands and shout to God.
• Worship was meant to be joyful.
• Worship included dancing and the use of musical instruments.
• Worship included loud music.

Conclusion:

It might be o.k. for some of us to put a little more energy into our worship.

 (This applies to me. It may or may not apply to you.)

 

Note: To be authentic, any form of worship should come from the heart and soul.

… what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (Deuteronomy 10:12 ESV)

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,  (Psalm 86:12 NLT)

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss worshiping God.)

… “You shall love the Lord your God
 with all your heart
and
with all your soul
and
with all your strength
and
with all your mind…”
(Luke 10:27 ESV)

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Remember

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:13 NLT)

Today and throughout the year we ought to remember those who placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom.

Remember

Today and throughout the year we should also remember someone else who died for us.

 

Jesus Christ died for us so that we could have a rich and satisfying life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  (John 10:10 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us to free us from the grasp of sin and allow us to live for what is right.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed.  Once you were like sheep who wandered away.  But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.  1 Peter 2:24- 25  (NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  (1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT)

 

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance.

Remember Memorial Day

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

As some of you may know, I spent many years teaching Junior High students.  Many times I would say to a student, “Your body language is saying something to me that you really should not be saying.”  Their words were fine but their “body language” was showing disrespect.

“Body language” matters.  Communication is much more than words.

What “body language” do you use in worship?

Paul instructed people to pray with lifted hands.

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. (1 Timothy 2:8 NLT)

David prayed with lifted hands.

 I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer. (Psalm 63:4 NLT)

Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.  (Psalm 141:2 NLT)

The wise men bowed down to worship Jesus.

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. ….  (Matthew 2:11 NLT)

Psalm 95:6 is an exhortation to bow down before the Lord.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (Psalm 95:6 ESV)

Paul fell to his knees when he was praying.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, … (Ephesians 3:14 NLT)

Jesus looked up to heaven and said a blessing.

And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. … .    (Mark 6:41 ESV)

Jesus prayed with his face to the ground.

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

Joshua prayed with his face to the ground.

At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”  (Joshua 5:14 NLT)

Solomon stood and lifted his hands toward heaven.

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, (1 Kings 8:22 NLT)

 

Various positions are appropriate in worship.

Lifted hands

Bowed down

Kneeling

Looking upward

Face to the ground

Standing

Sitting

More important than the physical position is the message your “body language” is communicating.   Does your “body language” communicate submission, respect, humility, reverence and obedience

or

does your body language communicate showmanship and pride?

 

Remember, “body language” is an outward expression of what is in the heart.

Standing, sitting, kneeling, lying down, looking up or looking down, hands up or hands out are all fine.  Just be sure that your “body language” is communicating what you want it to communicate…

Worshiping a Holy God.

  (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:9-10 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

All throughout scripture singing was a form of worship.

Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. ….  (Exodus 15:1-18 ESV)

Miriam (the sister of Moses and Aaron) sang.

And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15:21 ESV)

Deborah and Barak sang to the Lord.

“Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel. (Judges 5:3 ESV)

David sang to the Lord.

David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.   He sang:
        “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
          my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  … (2 Samuel 22:1-51 NLT)

The temple had singers.

Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. (1 Chronicles 9:33 ESV)

The army of Judah had singers.

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21 ESV)

The Angels sang.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14 ESV)

Mary sang.  (The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise)

 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. …” Luke 1:46-55

The Disciples sang.

And when they (the disciples) had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26 ESV)

Paul and Silas sang.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, (Acts 16:25 ESV)

The scriptures list many others who worshiped God with songs.

 

All throughout scripture singing was a form of worship.

– Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord.

– Miriam (the sister of Moses and Aaron) sang.

– Deborah and Barak sang to the Lord.

– David sang to the Lord.

– The temple had singers.

– The army of Judah had singers.

– The Angels sang.

– Mary sang.  (The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise)

– The Disciples sang.

– Paul and Silas sang.

– The scriptures list many others who worshiped God with songs.

Conclusion:  We can all worship God by singing.

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! (1 Chronicles 16:9 ESV)

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. (Psalm 30:4 ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

Challenge:  When you are “singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs”,  allow yourself to transition from simply singing a song into worshiping a Holy God.

Worship, don’t just sing.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.      (Psalm 104:33 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

Where does our motivation to worship come from?

Our love for the Lord plays a significant role in our worship.

 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, ….” (Luke 10:27 ESV)

The Holy Spirit living inside of us plays a role in our worship.

 … be filled with the Holy Spirit,  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, … (Ephesians 5:18-19 NLT)

Our heart plays a role in  our worship.

…. and making music to the Lord in your hearts. (Ephesians 5: 19 NLT)

 Our knowledge of scripture plays a role in our worship.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

Our mind and our soul plays a role in our worship.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24 ESV)

 Our intellect plays a role in our worship.

Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. (1 Corinthians 14:15 NLT)

 

Where does our motivation to worship come from?

• Our love for the Lord plays a significant role in our worship.
• The Holy Spirit living inside of us plays a role in our worship.
• Our heart plays a role in our worship.
• Our knowledge of scripture plays a role in our worship.
• Our mind and our soul plays a role in our worship.
• Our intellect plays a role in our worship.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, … .” (Luke 10:27 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.  Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle that can be manifested in various ways.

We worship by recognizing and expressing the fact that God is a holy God.  We worship by recognizing and expressing the fact that God is perfect, without sin.

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
(Isaiah 6:3 ESV)

Exalt the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!
(Psalm 99:5 ESV)

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
(Revelation 4:8 ESV)

We worship by recognizing and expressing the fact that God’s ways are always right.

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

 God’s way is perfect.
 All the Lord’s promises prove true.
    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
(Psalm 18:30 NLT)

We worship by recognizing and expressing the fact that God is always just and fair.

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is!
(Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT)

We worship by recognizing and expressing the fact that there is only one true God.

To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God;
there is no other besides him. … know therefore today, and lay it
to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the
earth beneath; there is no other.  (Deuteronomy 4:35-39 ESV)

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.
(Ephesians 4:5-6 NLT)

We worship by recognizing and expressing the fact that:

– God is a holy God.

– God is perfect, without sin.

– God’s ways are always right.

– God is always just and fair.

– there is only one true God.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
(Psalm 100:4 ESV)

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Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.

Worshipping God is something every Christian should be highly motivated to do on a daily basis.

This series of posts will discuss different aspects of worship.

We worship God because He is the creator and sustainer of the universe.

We worship God because He created all things.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3 ESV)

 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 ESV)

 We worship God because He sustains the universe.

 “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.  “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. (Nehemiah 9:5-6 ESV)

He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17 ESV)

We worship God because He created us in His image.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:26-28 ESV)

We worship God because we were created for His glory.

Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.’” (Isaiah 43:7 NLT)

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
(Psalm 100:4 ESV)

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The New Living Translation of the Bible uses some form of the word worship (worship, worshiping, worshiped, worshipers) 496 times.  Scripture commands us to love God.  Scripture instructs us to worship God.

Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.

Worshipping God is something every Christian should be highly motivated to do on a daily basis.

This series of posts will discuss different aspects of worship.

Recently I’ve been trying to find a good definition for the word worship.  I asked numerous individuals to give me their definition of worship. Here are some of the definitions I received for worship.

• Glorifies God
• Praising God
• Communication with God
• Just loving God
• Anything you can do and love God while you do it, that is worship
• Obedience
• Who we are in proper perspective to God.
• Come into God’s presence. Tell Him how great He is.  Total submission.
• Focus on the Lord. Praise and thanksgiving.
• Everything that we spill out. Anything done in His name.

I also went on line to Webster’s Dictionary 1828.  Here is what I found.

Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – ONLINE EDITION
AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

WORSHIP, verb transitive

1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
   Thou shalt worship no other God. Exodus 34:14.

 

Still not satisfied, I decided to write my own definition of worship.  Here is what I came up with.

Godly worship is a 24/7 lifestyle of both knowing and responding.

We need to know:

• There is only one living and true God. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.
• God is holy, perfect and without sin.
• God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and everything in it.
• God (God the Son) is Savior and Lord.
• God is omnipresent. (He is present everywhere at all times.)
• God is omniscient.(He knows everything.)
• God is omnipotent. (He can do anything.)
• God is worthy of our worship.

 

We need to respond by:

• Confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead.

… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 ESV)

• Acknowledging that God is holy.

 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3 ESV)

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.  (Matthew 6:9 NLT)

• Loving God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37 ESV)

• Living a life of obedience to God.
• Living a life that brings glory to God.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

 

Does this define Godly worship?  Let me know what you think.

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” (Revelation 19:6 ESV)

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The New Living Translation of the Bible uses some form of the word worship (worship, worshiping, worshiped, worshipers) 496 times.  Scripture commands us to love God.  Scripture instructs us to worship God.

Scripture clearly teaches that the worship of God needs to be a priority in the life of every Christian.

Worshiping God is something every Christian should be highly motivated to do on a daily basis.

This series of posts will discuss different aspects of worship.

The focus of today’s post is simple.  Scripture tells us to worship the Lord.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!  
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:6 ESV)

 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; (1 Chronicles 16:29 ESV)

Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (Psalm 29:2 NLT)

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!      (Psalm 95:6 ESV)

Exalt the LORD our God; 
  worship at his footstool!  
  Holy is he!         (Psalm 99:5 ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.   (Romans 12:1 ESV)

And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
   “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, 
              and him only shall you serve.’”     (Luke 4:8 ESV)

 

Question.  What have you done today to give God the glory He deserves?

(Be sure to read future posts that will discuss the importance of worshiping God.)

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” (Revelation 19:6 ESV)

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What are you telling the next generation?

… we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,  about his power and his mighty wonders.  (Psalm 78:4 NLT)

Tell the next generation that God created the universe and everything in it.  (Part 1 & Part 2)

Tell the next generation that God is the sustainer and upholder of all His creation.  (Part 3)

Tell the next generation that God knows even the smallest details about His creation. (Part 4)

Tell the next generation Bible stories that … tell about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.  (Part 5)

Tell the next generation how God transformed your life. (Part 6)

Why should you talk to the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders?

(So)  that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; (Psalm 78:6-7 ESV)

Tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and mighty works:

• So that they know how God is working throughout history
• So that the next generation is equipped to tell others about God
• So that the next generation puts their hope in God
• So that the next generation keeps God’s commandments
• So that the next generation desires to be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

… we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,  about his power and his mighty wonders.  ( Psalm 78:4 NLT)

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