The Doctrine of Worship Key Verses: Psalm 84 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD ; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Hebrews 12 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, John 14 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 4 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." 1 Chronicles 16 29 ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his [1] holiness Psalm 95 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
The Doctrine of Worship I. Definition: To attribute worth to God. To express reverential adoration and awe of Almighty God. To live your life consumed with passionate affection for The Lord. To be relentless in your pursuit of God Himself. Setting the desires of God as the single most important thing in your life. Always being concerned about how your life effects the Kingdom of Almighty God. II. Old Testament Example: Genesis 22 2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Genesis 22 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring [1] all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
III. New Testament Observance: Matthew 2 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east [1] and have come to worship him." Matthew 2 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." Matthew 2 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 14 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 28 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Luke 2 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. [1] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 4 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. Luke 24 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
III. New Testament Observance: John 4 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 9 37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you." 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped Him. Acts 13 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 16 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. Acts 24 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, Romans 12 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 1 Corinthians 14 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" Orderly Worship 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
III. New Testament Observance: 1 Timothy 2 Instructions on Worship 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2 9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. Hebrews 12 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." Revelation 4 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Revelation 5 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 7 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
III. New Testament Observance: Revelation 11 1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. Revelation 11 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Revelation 14 6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 15 4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 19 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!" Revelation 22 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"
IV. Prophetic Connection Genesis 2 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 3 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3 21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side [1] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. John 10 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Revelation 21 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
V. The Christ Connection Matthew 2 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east [1] and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." Matthew 2 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 14 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 15 8 " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' [ 1 ] " 10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. Luke 4 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' [1] " Matthew 28 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Luke 24 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
V. The Christ Connection John 4 21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 9 37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you. 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. VI. The Believers Participation Guidelines for Worship * First of all, we must choose to worship Prepare yourself to meet the almighty God: 2 Samuel 12:20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. Fall Down: Psalm 95 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
Come with a Pure Heart Hebrews 10 22 let us draw near to God with a(sincere heart)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. We must come in Faith: Hebrews 11 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Worship by offering your life to God through Christ John 14 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 4 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and(truth),for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in(truth.) Recognize and appreciate the mercy we have received: Romans 12 Living Sacrifices 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual [1] act of worship. In view of this Mercy Romans 5 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
Guidelines for Worship Recognize the one thing that is needed: Luke 10 At the Home of Martha and Mary 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. [1] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Find a secret place: Matthew 6 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Through Christ blood is the only way to worship God acceptably You can enter The Most Holy Place only through the blood of The Lord Jesus. Enter by faith. Meditate on what the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God has done for you. This is the way to commune with the Lord. John 14 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Guidelines for Worship Through Christ blood is the only way to worship God acceptably You can enter The Most Holy Place only through the blood of The Lord Jesus. Enter by faith. Meditate on what the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God has done for you. This is the way to commune with the Lord. Hebrews 9 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, [1] so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 10 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, Direct your desires and affections upon Him alone: Psalm 27 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Set your heart to know Him: Philippians 3 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Pray the Holy scripture to Him as an act of worship: 2 Chronicles 29 30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
VII. Worship and service in humility should never be separated: Galatians 6 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 1 John 3 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. VIII. Direction for Prayer and Meditation for Repentance: Galatians 5 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? Galatians 5 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature [1] ; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." [2] 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Life by the Spirit 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.