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(Go To Meeting)
Steve Durham—August 10, 2024
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Let's turn to Deut. 6:3 and we see something here where God is inspired Moses to tell us how we are to worship God.
Deuteronomy 6:3: "Hear therefore, O Israel, and be diligent to observe it, so that it may be well with you, and that you may greatly multiply, as the LORD God of our fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel. Our one God is the LORD, the LORD. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart" (vs 3-6).
So we love God and we hear his words and we act on that in this relationship and it's an all in relationship and it's from the heart and the mind that's what true worship is. That's repeated again:
Matthew 22:37: "And Jesus said to him… [the young lawyer] …'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"
That's an 'all in' total. Worship and commitment in the relationship between us and Jesus Christ and God the Father in us,
John 17:11 and 21 Christ says we are all one! We have His mind in us and we're to come to the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ.
In Rom. 12, Paul gives us a pretty good definition, if you think about this all-in attitude; another Scripture that we talk about, recite and we think about quite a bit.
Romans 12:1: "I exhort you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice… [a reference to the sacrificial system] …Holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. Do not conform yourselves to this world…" (vs 1-2).
We're called out of the world we're not to be part of it; we live in it and God is with us.
"…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in order that you may prove what is well-pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God" (v 2).
This sort of encapsulates are all in attitude of worship. Worshipping God is well pleasing to Him. It shows that He knows that you are with Him, your heart and mind are with Him. He'll transform our minds and our attitudes with the Holy Spirit once we are baptized and has hands laid on us and we see the Holy Spirit. That's the life changer.
So, He shows us all in devotion of one's life to God. This Scripture gives us some insight and understanding about our calling and our purpose to God and in God. As we grow in that we learn more about God and we learn to love Him and we worship and praise Him.
So, today I'm going to talk about just an introduction to worship. There's so many facets to it so many different aspects:
- we've got praise, gratitude and thanksgiving
- we've got gathering together and worshiping
- we've got individual worship of thanks to God
- we have prayer, which is a portion of our worship worshiping God verbally
- we have meditation
So, there are a lot of different things to worship. What is the basic one-on-one worship. I want to talk about both the false worship—because there is false worship—and the true worship toward God and what the Bible says about worship.
Why we as true Christians, with God's Holy Spirit, worship the true God and not a false God. That would be ridiculous for us to do that, but sometimes we get off a little bit and we don't know it and we are not following God and worshiping God, We are actually headed off into the world into another area of false worship.
Why is worshiping God and worshiping the true God's so important to a true Christian. Sort of an obvious question, but think about it. After all it's the reason why God created us: to worship Him! To glorify Christ and the Father. We're going to see that, but first the definition of worship. It always helps to have a definition, and there are two, the Hebrew and the Greek.
There are a lot of varying shades on this: the Hebrew word literally denotes the active bowing down. When you see the queen or you see the king or you come in the presence of royalty you bow down.
The Greek word 'proskuneo' is worship and it means to encounter God and praise Him. That's what we do we worship, and we've encountered God we built a relationship with Him. We can't help it; it's just amazing.
Both terms seem to define worship as an activity or an action on the surface. It is a physical action. However true worship, or to truly worship God involves more than just activity or action. It's part of it, but true worship comes from a realization of Who God is. That is gained by having a relationship with the true God.
- He has to be in our lives
- we have to be walking with Him
He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Eternal Life!
He's the life the Eternal Life the hope of the Eternal Life that we're looking for, an abundant life now and in the future. A more in-depth definition of worship would be:
Worship is the reverential response of the creation or the created to the glory and the magnificence of God. Once you realize that, you can't help but worship Him in reverence and fear, which is a reverential fear!
Not a shaking in your boots.!
That's the response, or we could say worship is the believers response of all that He is:
- mind
- emotion
- will
- body
To all that God is, does and says; that's your response! Your whole response your mind your heart. Emotion is part of that will talk about that but we can't be led by emotion only. It is a mind and heart connection!
Again it's a loving response that is balanced by the fear of the Lord and it is a deepening response. We grow in grace and knowledge in this relationship. We grow as we come to know God and Who He is and how He works in our lives, and even more even more in our worship. It becomes more relevant, more real.
That's the reality of this life. It's not the physical; it's the reality the spirit in the heart and mind.
Who should we worship? Sound strange for us, but is not strange to the world! We know what true worship is, but let's look at the other side here. Let's look at how the world thinks and worships.
Sidebar: Satan-worship is the fastest growing religion in the United States and probably the world. It's a religion. It's always been vogue to worship other gods; it's always been the thing to do to worship other gods. The world's Christianity worships a false counterfeit god—the god of this world—Satan the devil.
2-Corinthians 4:2[transcriber's correction]: "For we have personally renounced the hidden things of dishonest gain… [that's what we do when come in contact with the true God] …not walking in cunning craftiness… [witchcraft] …nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the Truth, we are commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing; in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God… [we're made in His image] …should shine unto them. For we do not preach our own selves… [very important] …but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake, because it is God Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, Who shined into our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (vs 2-6).
The world has been blinded, but the world has a part in this, as well.
Romans 1:21: "Because when they knew God… [What did they do with it?] …they glorified Him not as God… [they didn't worship the true God] …neither were thankful; but they became vain in their own reasonings, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
That's why opinions are so I try to keep them out of Go To Meeting. I try to keep all these political and all these other things keep them out. We think about what God has to say in His Word; that's where we focus so that our foolish hearts won't be darkened!
Verse 22: "While professing themselves to be the wise ones, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man… [idols of all sorts] …and of birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things. For this cause, God also abandoned them to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to disgrace their own bodies between themselves" (vs 22-24).
We're seeing this grow and it's coming becoming more in our face more in the society.
Verse 25: "Who exchanged the Truth of God… [which they once had] …for the lie; and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the One Who is Creator, Who is blessed into the ages. Amen." That's what's happened! That's where they are!
The question in some people's minds who haven't been called, I understand that, and they're going along happily in their darkened state their darkened mind and heart.
Christianity says, 'We worship God.' They have a counterfeit god that's off not doing what God says to do. Some even ask: 'Should we worship Christ?'
Satan would love to do away with Christ and those that follow Him and the Plan of God. Satan is desperately trying to uproot that and destroy it.
For example: Jehovah's Witnesses. I'm sure all these people are sincere and I'm not trying to put them in a bad light but let's just look at what they say.
Jehovah's Witnesses say that Christ is an archangel Michael, and not to be worshipped. That denies Christ and takes Him out of the picture, takes away the deity of Christ!
- some say Christ was a prophet. 'He was a good prophet. but He wasn't God'
- some say that He is the brother of Lucifer
Look how all these are attempts to take Christ out of the deity that He is, and the God Family. The world worships Satan and has from the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden; that's when it started!
Heb. 1—Paul explains the relationship of Christ to the angels. Very important that was going on at that time, and guess what, it's going on again; it's happening again.
The superiority of Christ over the angels the subject of Heb. 1 is very important regarding a problem that the Churches were having about angel worship. I think the converse of that is what I'm going to talk about later:
- How do angels worship God?
- How did the good and the righteous angels worship God?
It's going to help us understand how and why we should worship God in our lives, how His creation worships Him.
To worship the true God, our Creator our Maker our Provider our Sustainer etc., etc. is the ultimate purpose for which humans were created. Again, God said, 'I have created them and made them for My glory.'
Isa. 43 gives us another insight into God, the way God looks at us and how we should then respond to that. If you know somebody loves you, and you begin loving them, you draw close to them, and you're in a much better relationship once you get to know a person.
Isaiah 43:4: "Since you are precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore, I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not; for I am with you…. [no one is going to take you out of Christ's hand] …I will bring your seed from the East, and gather you from the West. I will say to the North, "Give up"; and to the South, "Do not keep back"; bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth; even everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory… [to glorify the Father] …I have formed him; yea, I have made him'" (vs 4-7). Just think about that! Meditate on that!
Psa. 29 shows us that we are to give God the glory due to Him. The worship, glory, praise, worship; synonyms. Give the glory to God.
The Psalms are full of praise to God. David was a man after God's heart. He had the thinking with Christ's mind and the thoughts of the Father and praising God. He had plenty of time to look around and see the wonders that God has done and the things in his life. Same way with us.
We take the time to meditate, to pray, to think about Who God is. We're going to go through some of that here. I can't cover it all, but we're going to hit on some of those things.
Psalm 29:1: "To the LORD, O you sons of the mighty, give to the LORD glory and strength."
- your strength
- your time
- your effort
- your mind
- your heart
- your being
Verse 2: "Give to the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness." With God's Holy Spirit, true worship, Spirit and Truth!
Verse 3: "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters…" Think about these things. This is our God,
"…the God of glory thunders; the LORD is above many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars…" (vs 3-5).
He talks about the flame of fire (v 7), the wilderness shakes (v 8).
Verse 9: "The voice of the LORD causes the does to give birth and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says 'Glory!'"
The angels sing 'Holy, Holy, Holy. (Isa. 6); it's almost as if it's around the clock Giving praise to God.
Verse 10: "The LORD sits upon the flood; yea, the LORD sits as King forever."
When you come into His presence, you bow down. We'll see that God bows down to you, as well. The King, the Lord, the Creator, bows down and listens.
Verse 11: "The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace."
Christ said in John 14, 'My peace I give you not as the world. I give it to you.' Then right after that, He says He'll send the Comforter. Right before that He says the Comforter will come, the Holy Spirit.
So everything we do. I know this is more than action, but everything we do in word, which is thought and heart, and in deed, we do to Christ!
Colossians 3:17: "And in everything—whatever you do in word or in deed—do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."
His name is worthy of praise. We do it in His name and giving thanks for Him and the Father. Everything you do, every minute of the day, pray without ceasing, the thought process.
What am I doing? I'm thinking of God! The world doesn't think that way. They kicked God out of everything. Who is God?
This is an amazing subject. It is what we are. That's what our purpose is. Think about worship differently. As we go through this think about:
- Who we're talking to
- why we're talking to Him
- what the purpose of our being is
- what He created
- how He thinks about us, His creation
1-Corinthians 10:31 "Therefore, whether you eat, or you drink, or you do anything, do all things to the glory of God."
- worshipping Him in everything you do
- praising Him
- giving it to His glory
That's how you glorify the Father!
- we are submitting to God
- we're yielding our will
- we're taking on His will
We realize that He is worthy of worship!
1-Chron. 16:23—The Ark of the Covenant had been in the Philistines hand and David had given that back to David and Israel, and they were ecstatic. I think David gave everyone a loaf of bread and something to drink and it was like having a chicken in every pot. It was exciting.
1-Chronicles 16:23: "Sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Show forth from day to day His salvation. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all people. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods, for all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens" (vs 23-26).
- He's the Life-giver
- He's the Law-giver
- He's the Provider
- He's the Sustainer
- He's the Creator
- He answers our prayers
- He listens to us
Verse 28: "Give to the LORD, O you kindred of the people, give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth. Yea, the world is established, it shall not be moved" (vs 28-30).
Not one, neither the Law, not one jot or tittle based on heaven and earth. Being here forever, the spiritual Earth.
Verse 31: "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. And let them say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns.'"
Verse 34: "O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."
Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever. Because of that we're not consumed. He is a merciful God!
Verse 35: "And say, 'Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us, and deliver us from the nations, so that we may give thanks to Your Holy name, and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel forever and ever.' And all the people said, 'Amen, and praised the LORD'" (vs 35-36). They worship God!
Look, look at all the things we gather from who God is and how He sees us and why He is worthy of praise. That's our responsibility and purpose.
Psalm 145:1: "I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever." A continual state of worship!
Verse 2: "Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts" (vs 2-4).
We're supposed to pass that on generation to generation to our children.
Verse 5: "I will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and of Your wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of Your awesome works; and I will declare Your greatness. They shall pour forth the memory of Your great goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works" (vs 5-9).
He sits on a throne of mercy and comfort. He is a God of mercy and of comfort.
Verse 10: "All Your works shall praise You, O LORD; and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom…" (vs 10-11)
That's what we're to seek and God will take care of everything else; seek first the Kingdom of God.
"…and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom… [He's going to be King forever] …and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down" (vs 11-14).
An interesting cycle here is that wheat has a crown and barley has a crown. What they do, as they ripen they bow:
- the grain bows—barley and wheat
- the first fruits bow
- we bow to God
You even see it in creation in other ways!
Verse 15: "The eyes of all wait upon You, and You give them their food in due season…. [He provides for us] …The LORD is righteous in all His ways and loving in all His works. The LORD is near unto all who call upon Him, unto all who call upon Him in Truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry… [He's listening, He bows down and he listens] …and will save them. The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless His Holy name forever and ever" (vs 15-21).
Rev. 5:12—this is the future. Christ is the Lamb now, in the future and forever. Some want to take that name away from Him. An attempt to take the deity of Christ away. He is the Lamb; He redeems us.
- His blood is precious
- He is the sacrifice
- He's the High Priest
- He's our Advocate and Intercessor
Redemption comes through Him. Reconciliation of the entire world, bringing the entire world and all the people back.
Revelation 5:12: "Saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessing.' And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth…" (vs 12-13).
Even the fallen angels, every creature, every spirit being, every human
"…and those that are on the sea, and all the things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him Who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing, and honor, and glory, and sovereignty into the ages of eternity.' And the four living creatures said, 'Amen.' And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him… [submitting, yielding to Him] …Who lives into the ages of eternity" (vs 13-14).
We worship Him for many reasons. We were nothing. Read the book: From a Speck of Dust to a Son of God: Why Were You Born? {truthofGod.org}
But look, we didn't exist and God chose to create us. He knew us. He has a purpose for us, and He's working that out. That purpose is awesome. Why wouldn't we want to worship Him?
- He created us
- He loves us
- He's given us everything we have
1-Corinthians 4:7: "For what makes you superior to others? And what do you have that you did not receive?…."
Everything you have, everything physically! Then also the talents and abilities and the skills are all to glorify God, praise Him for that! We're a we're an empty vessel. He gives us these things for purpose:
- to praise Him
- to glorify Him
- to grow in Holy, Righteous character
- to become sons of God
- to be in His Kingdom with Him and His Family forever
Verse 7: "For what makes you superior to others? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you also received it… [which you did] …why are you boasting as if you did not receive it?"
In other words, identify the fact that that's why you're the way you are. God gave that to you and you bless Him. The whole purpose is to worship Him and to glorify Him.
- He created us in His image
- He calls us
- He draws us (John 6:44)
- He provides for us
- He meets all our needs, everything (Philp. 4:19)
- He provides for the hungry (Psa. 107:9)
Oh, by the way, He expects us to do this, too. To imitate Him, and to be like Him in character.
- God will take care of you (Luke 12:6-7[transcriber's correction])
- observe the lilies of the field (Matt. 6:28-30)
And he said, why are you worried? 'I'm going to take care of you. If I do that for them, I'll do it for you.'
- God protects us; He is our Shield (Psa. 91:4-6)
- He protects us from disaster(vs 9-10).
- when things happen or we get in a tight spot, He rescues (v 14)
When we get in those situations, He's always there, and there's there may be a reason why He lets us leave us in there for a while to learn, to grow, to learn the lessons through trials and troubles. That's why Paul said, 'I rejoice in those.' He knew this. He knew the outcome, what God was doing.
- God protects us from Satan, from the evil one (Psa. 37:28)
So. we don't have to worry about that. Not be Fearful, anxious or worried. What can man do? What can what can Satan do unless God allows it? But even then:
- He has you and he has a purpose for you, a purpose for our good (Jer. 29:11). He loves us!
- He watches over us like a shepherd watches over the flock (Psa. 121:7-8).
- He's a loving Father A loving parent, and He corrects us when we need it, out of love (Heb. 12:6)
- We are renewed daily (2-Cor. 4:16)
Our spirit is renewed daily when we're down. And we go to God, He renews us. Every day, His mercy, sir.
Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…"—when we're weak and we're down.
- We can rest in His presence; He gives us rest. He's there with us all the time! (Psa. 91:1).
Psalm 55:22: "Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved."
This is Who our God is. This is who Jesus Christ is: our big Brother, our Friend, and all the things that He is, He says:
Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are overly burdened… [which we get sometimes] …and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me… [the whole point] …for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light'" (vs 28-30). He cares for us. He shows us:
- His love
- His kindness
- His patience
- His forbearance
- His blessings and promises
I have a book right here that I read a lot. It's the Bible Promises, and it's encouraging. When you get down, read:
- what He does
- how He blesses us
- how He promises
He's a loyal and faithful God
- He's working to bring all of us to glory
- He gives us grace
- He gives us His love
- it's a gift
- it's the hope of eternal life
- He gives us an inheritance in heavenly places
Ephesians 2:5: "Even when we were dead in our trespasses…"
Before Christ came, we were dead with the sin that we have and the carnal nature, human nature.
"…[He] has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.) And He has raised us up together and has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (vs 5-6).
Romans 4:17 "…Who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not as though they are."
We will be sitting together in the Holy of Holies when we pray, we go in to the Throne.
Ephesians 2:7: "So that in the ages that are coming He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them" (vs 7-10).
Ephesians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace…[Paul says this a lot in his opening salutations] …be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (vs 1-2),
They want us to have that. They do everything to make that possible.
Verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ; according as He has personally chosen us…" (vs 3-4).
He personally created man; He created it with His hand.
"…for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be Holy… [this is a purpose] …and blameless before Him in love… [He made that possible through His sacrifice] …having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will… [here's the purpose]: …to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son… [there's another gift and benefit] …in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches… [heavenly riches] …of His grace" (vs 4-7).
Verse 8: "Which He has made to abound toward us in all wisdom and intelligence; having made known to us the mystery…" (vs 8-9).
Another awesome thing He's done; opened up our minds to the understanding of the Plan of God for mankind, what He's doing. It's called a mystery!
"…the mystery of His own will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself; that in the Divine plan for the fulfilling of the times, He might bring all things together in Christ, both the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth" (vs 9-10). Another reason to worship Him!
Verse 11: "Yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose, Who is working out all things according to the counsel of His own will."
You know, it's what He does, whatever He wants to do, and this is His will. This is the plan that He's done and he's put into action and it's going to happen.
As we come to understand Him and grow in that and the love back to Him, we want to worship Him, we want to praise Him. The more we do, the more He responds, the more draw we draw close, the closer He draws to us.
Verse 13: "In Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." That's an amazing thing!
You look at the rest of the world, they don't, they don't get it. They don't understand it, but God has chosen; it's His will to call you. Why me? I don't know!
Verse 14: "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory"—to worship Him! He's given:
- His grace
- His love
- His peace
- every spiritual blessing
- heavenly things
- He personally chose us
He predestined according to His purpose, Holy and blameless before Him in love! That's how we stand!
Verse 6: "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son; in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins" (vs 6-7)—through His Holy Spirit!
We have wisdom and intelligence; we're able to do these things. God helps us with that leads and guides us.
"…hearing the Word of the Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance" (vs 13-14).
WOW! Why wouldn't we want to worship God and praise Him? See the relationship?
- we are priceless in His eyes
- we aren't priceless of ourselves
- we are priceless in his eyes
- we're fearfully and wonderfully made
- God shaped and molded you in your mother's womb
He's talking about that to Jeremiah. God created you in His own image and you were redeemed, and you are deeply loved and valued by God. When you get down and depressed, know that Satan's moods and His attitude are bombarding us. Think about these things
- were deeply loved and valued by God
- we're priceless to Him
- He sees us all the time
- He knew us before we were born
Psalm 139:14[transcriber's correction]: "I will praise You, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Your works are marvelous and my soul knows it very well."
When we come to understand that we can praise Him and worship Him even more, and we draw close to Him. We don't want to be in the world. We don't want to be a target of all those negative moods and emotions that come at us from Satan. That's where it comes; not from God!
When you're grumpy and grouchy, when you're down and weary, you're worn out and you're moody. We don't have control of our emotions, they aren't Godly emotions. So we have to we have to ask God for help, and He'll hear us.
Jeremiah 1:4: "And it came to pass, the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.'" (vs 4-5).
He appointed us as called out ones, as sons and daughters! (Rom. 8:14-16; 1-John 3).
- we are sons of God
- we are children of God
- we are predestined to be a son
Job 10:8: "Your hands have made me and shaped me, together all around; yet You destroy me."
No! He's not going to abandon His heritage! He began a good work in you and He's going to complete it as a purpose for us, giving us hope in a future.
Genuine worship, true worship by the true believers to the true God is God-centered worship. It exalts God only, nothing else! No other idols, no people, no self. It's God! It is offered for His pleasure alone because He alone is worthy.
Psalm 86:1: "Bow down Your ear, O LORD, answer me, for I am poor and needy…. [David knew that] …Preserve my soul for I am Holy…" (vs 1-2).
- given me Your Holy Spirit
- given me Your character
"…O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You. Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I cry unto You all day long" (vs 2-3).
- he's thinking of Him all day long
- he needs Him constantly
- he's needy and poor
Verse 4: "Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul."
- I praise you
- I worship you
Sidebar: The world will have praise-worship, and they'll do praise dancing and they'll do all this stuff emotionally and getting all worked up emotionally. Singing, dancing, music and things like that are elements of worship, but they aren't the things initiated. It's from the heart and from the mind. So, be careful of that Pentecostal emotionalism that goes on in many religions!
Verse 4: "Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul, for You, LORD, are good and ready to forgive… [IF we repent] …and rich in mercy to all those who call upon You" (vs 4-5). That's what we have to do.!
Verse 6: "Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me" (vs 6-7). David knew that, and God will!
Verse 8: "Among the gods there is none like You, O LORD; neither are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O LORD, and shall glorify Your name, for You are great and do wonderful things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your Truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O LORD my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore, for great is Your mercy toward me; and You have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave" (vs 8-13).
He resurrects us to be firstfruits, to be on the Sea of Glass in His Family forever!
Verse 14: O God, the proud have risen against me, and the company of violent men have sought after my life, and have not set You before them. But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and Truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy upon me; give Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your handmaid. Show me a token for good… [it says that heresies must be among you] …so that they who hate me may see and be ashamed because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me" (vs 14-17).
It's all based God centered on his greatness and his glory. It's an inward posture, an inward attitude and an inward man of the heart. The attitude of bowing down (Psa. 86); humble, all filled recognition of God's worthiness, honoring Him, revering Him at all times as a supreme authority over our lives.
Psalm 51:15[transcriber's correction]: "O LORD, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise… [worship] …for You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (vs 15-17).
Psalm 95:6: "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker, for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would but hearken to His voice" (vs 6-7).
God is worthy to receive praise and worship (Psa. 86; 145).
It's God's Word and His Purpose in us. Worshipping God is central to the relationship and the Word of God; to our lives and the future.
Revelation 4:11: "Worthy are You, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power because You did create all things, and for Your will they were created and exist."
So a simplified definition of worship can be stated as a continual heart attitude. A bowing down in reverence and in humility before the Supreme Lord and Creator of the universe.
Worship is the heartbeat of the believers existence! Or it should be! A lifelong celebration of the worthiness of God and his greatness and His awesome ability, power and presence; Who He is.
To worship is to respond to one's whole being in adoration, exaltation, humble submission and obedience to God.
David says this is what we need to do, as well. Have God in your mind constantly and our relationship with God.
- we are nothing without Him
- we would not exist without Him
- we don't have anything without Him
He gives us everything!
Another key is to remember that when it happens. Some will keep a journal of the things that happen, God's direct intervention in your life. It's very important to do that so you can bring it up in times when you're down or when you're weak, when you're depressed, despondent or in despair—which happens! Bring it back up and look at that. See what He does, how He works with you in life and has, and what He will do.
Psalm 95:6: "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker, for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand…." (vs 6-7).
Remember about worship and what it is, and then every opportunity you get worship Him!
Scriptural References:
- Deuteronomy 6:3-6
- Matthew 22:37
- Romans 12:1-2
- 2 Corinthians 4:2-6
- Romans 1:21-25
- Isaiah 43:4-7
- Psalm 29:1-5, 9-11
- Colossians 3:17
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
- 1 Chronicles 16:23-26, 28-30, 34-36
- Psalm 145:1-21
- Revelation 5:12-14
- 1 Corinthians 4:7
- Isaiah 40:31
- Psalm 55:22
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Ephesians 2:5-6
- Romans 4:17
- Ephesians 2:7-10
- Ephesians 1:1-11, 13-14, 6-7, 13-14
- Psalm 139:14
- Jeremiah 1:4-5
- Job 8:10
- Psalm 86:1-17
- Psalm 51:15-17
- Psalm 95:6-7
- Revelation 4:11
- Psalm 95:6-7
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- John 17:11, 21
- Hebrews 1
- Psalm 29:7-8
- Isaiah 6
- John 14
- John 6:44
- Philippians 4:19
- Psalm 107:9
- Luke 12:6-7
- Matthew 6:28-30
- Psalm 91:4-6, 9-10, 14
- Psalm 37:28
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Psalm 121:7-8
- Hebrews 12:6
- 2 Corinthians 4:16
- Psalm 91:1
- Romans 8:14-16
- 1 John 3
- Psalm 86; 145
Also referenced: Book:
From a Speck of Dust to a Son of God: Why Were You Born? {truthofGod.org}
SD:bo/po
Transcribed: 11/15/24
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