In Spirit and Truth Principles of Worship Inner/Outer, Intellectual/Emotional, Reflective/Celebrative August 3 rd, 2014

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1 In Spirit and Truth Principles of Worship Inner/Outer, Intellectual/Emotional, Reflective/Celebrative August 3 rd, 2014 Introduction Open your Bibles to Matthew 2 Worship Series First half on what and the second half on how Standard or Christian Worship John 4 Truth (foundation what) Spirit (response how) Worship in the Old Testament hw"x' (hawa) = to prostrate oneself (face to the ground) db;e[' (abad) = to work or serve Worship in the New Testament proskuneo (proskune,w) = to kiss the hand, kneeling to do homage latreuo (latreu,w) = to serve, minister to, render religious service pipto (pi,ptw) = to descend, fall, fall down sebomai (se,bomai) = to feel awe or fear, venerate, adore 1 P a g e

2 Sermon Is Worship to be an Inner or Outer Experience? Inner Experience o John 4: Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Jesus is addressing the outward form which has become a substitute for the inner experience of worship o Philippians 3:3 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, Worship is at it s core an inner experience in spirit and truth And yet much of the Bible is filled with outer experiences of worship Outer Experience o 2 Chronicles 29:30 Singing {Hezekiah} 30 Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped. Inner worship will often come out in singing Psalm 66:2-4 2 P a g e

3 o Nehemiah 8:6 Shouting Amen or Lifting Hands {Ezra} 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen! while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Inner worship will often come out in shouting amen or lifting your hands Psalm 63:4 o 2 Samuel 6:14 Dance {David} 14 And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. Inner worship will often come out in dancing Psalm 149:3 o Matthew 2:11 Giving {Wise Men} 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Inner worship will often come out in giving Exodus and Leviticus = OT sacrifices o Nehemiah 9:3 Scripture Reading and Confession {Israelites} 3 While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God. Inner worship will often come out in reading God s Word or confession of sin o Address a concern in outer worship = clothing o 1 Timothy 2 Modesty o James 2:2-4 Clothing{Early Church} 3 P a g e

4 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? What you wear (outer) ought to help you express your (inner) worship Is Worship an Inner or Outer Experience? Worship is at the least an inner experience but usually will manifest as an outer experience How hurtful it must be to God that the one thing we should be unified in, worship, is the place of wars ( worship wars of the last few decades) and the wars have focused on the outer experiences which should be the fruit of an inner experience Is Worship to be an Intellectual or Emotional Experience? Intellectual Experience o John 4:24 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Worship must be in truth truth is an intellectual experience o Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Worship will include the presentation of our lives including the renewing of our minds o Warning: dead worship is often characterized by high intellectualism {Pharisees} 4 P a g e

5 Emotional Experience o John 4:24 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Worship must be in spirit spirit is an emotional experience o Psalm 100:2 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Gladness and joy are emotional responses in worship o Warning: false worship is often characterized by high emotionalism {Elijah and prophets of Baal} Is Worship to be an Intellectual or Emotional Experience? Worship is an intellectual and emotional experience Is Worship to be a Reflective or Celebrative Experience? Reflective Experience o Revelation 4:1-11 Holy, holy, holy Isaiah 6 = Isaiah and the throne room of Heaven Celebrative Experience o Revelation 5:4-14 new song and blessing 2 Samuel 6 = David before the ark; OT festivals Is Worship to be a Reflective or Celebrative Experience? Worship is a reflective and celebrative experience 5 P a g e

6 Conclusion Principles of Worship o True worshippers will worship in spirit and truth o Worship is at least an inner experience but usually will manifest as an outer experience o Worship is an intellectual and emotional experience o Worship is a reflective and celebrative experience o This is worship Response As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to worship God with our whole being. If you have never come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then this morning I would invite you See Jesus and see who you can become if you will follow Him As disciples of Jesus Christ Worship God 6 P a g e