Worship
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
(Phil 3:3 KJV) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
True worship flows through the human spirit to the Father. Your spirit and the Spirit of God unite to form one continuous channel of mutual blessing bridging heaven and earth. God isn’t interested in pretense. He wants your heart.
Isa 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
This description applies to many Christians and churches today. Everything is so dry and dead, like a marriage devoid of love. Worship with the mind and body alone is valueless. Your spirit is your means of contacting God. He lives in limitless eternity. Can that which is finite encompass the infinite? Neither can the temporal satisfy the divine.
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
David was a man after God’s own heart. He knew how to please the Father.
Psa 111:1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my WHOLE HEART, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
You were created to worship God. You fulfill your ultimate purpose in expressing your love and adoration for the One who is truly worthy.
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for He commanded, and they were created.
When God breathed into Adam, His life-giving Spirit was divided and now only together with you can the creator of the universe be complete. God needs you, the real you, your spirit. He illustrated this principle with flesh and blood when He took a rib from Adam and formed Eve. Adam was incomplete and unfulfilled apart from his wife. Worship reunites God and man, one heart, one mind, one purpose.
The Hebrew word for worship "shachah" deals with a bodily posture, (prostrate or stooped), yet it represents a deeper attitude of mind, spirit and above all the will. Our God is the great king above all Gods. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are greater than our ways. His paths are beyond searching out. Who has ever given to God that God should repay Him? Worship puts us in a right relationship with our creator. It builds intimacy, fellowship, loyalty, trust and love. Because we love Him we choose to praise Him, to honor Him and to serve Him. He alone is worthy!
Of importance to healing is the fact that worshipping God ushers in His Spirit or presence. Remember that the power of God is the Spirit of God, and He works together with the Word of God.
Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Solomon’s dedication of the temple climaxed in one of the greatest manifestations of God’s tangible presence in the entire Old Testament.
2 Chr 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
2 Chr 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
It doesn’t matter what the bondage or the trial, worship brings the Spirit of God and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!
Jehoshaphat
2 Chr 20:1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Chr 20:2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
2 Chr 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
2 Chr 20:4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
2 Chr 20:14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
2 Chr 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chr 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
2 Chr 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Chr 20:22 And WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SING AND TO PRAISE, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
2 Chr 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
2 Chr 20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
2 Chr 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
Paul and Silas
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Acts 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
Acts 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Acts 16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
I want you to notice that the worship came BEFORE the deliverance, not just after. Worship is a choice. You may not feel like worshipping but you make yourself do it. Pretty soon the feeling comes. Worship is a positive feedback control system for God’s presence (power). This guarantees that His power is used only by His people who worship and serve Him. As the worship increases, God’s presence increases. His presence causes the worship to increase, which in turn increases His presence. His power compounds exponentially until it reaches a crescendo at which point the need, being totally overwhelmed by God’s abundant provision, is met. Sort of a benevolent circle!
We have already discussed in earlier chapters how the Spirit performing the Word produces divine healing. The Spirit through worship was directly involved in many biblical healings.
The Leper
(Mat 8:2 KJV) And, behold, there came a leper and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
(Mat 8:3 KJV) And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
The Synagogue Ruler’s Daughter
(Mat 9:18 KJV) While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
(Mat 9:19 KJV) And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
(Mat 9:23 KJV) And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
(Mat 9:24 KJV) He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
(Mat 9:25 KJV) But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
(Mat 9:26 KJV) And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
The Canaanite Woman’s Daughter
Mat 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 15:25 Then came she and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs.
Mat 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
I want you to notice that only the worshippers of God (the Jews) had a right to healing at that time. At first Jesus refused her but when she worshipped Him she got her healing.
The Madman of Gadara
(Mark 5:1 KJV) And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
(Mark 5:2 KJV) And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
(Mark 5:3 KJV) Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
(Mark 5:4 KJV) Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
(Mark 5:5 KJV) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
(Mark 5:6 KJV) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and WORSHIPPED HIM,
(Mark 5:15 KJV) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Worship causes devils to flee!
1 Sam 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit DEPARTED from him.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt WORSHIP the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil LEAVETH him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
So far we have only been describing the effects of worship. Just what is worship? Unfortunately, Hollywood, the music industry, politicians and sports professionals appear to know more about worship than the average Christian. They certainly are more diligent and enthusiastic about it. Worship was created for the King above all Gods and it rightfully belongs to Him. He will not share His glory with anyone.
We have already made the observation that the key to worship is the attitude of the heart. All else is secondary. Avoid having the form of religion but denying the power thereof. In the bible certain things accompany worship. Many are physical types of deeper spiritual realities.
First, proper preparation was necessary for meeting with a Holy God. The priests in the Old Testament observed complex rituals that had to do with washing and dressing, sacrificing and ministering to God. Failure to comply occasionally proved fatal.
Before the appearance of God on Mount Sinai the people had to be ready.
Exo 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exo 19:11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exo 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
Exo 19:13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Exo 19:14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
This preparation is symbolic of the preparation we should observe today. We can only come onto God washed in the blood of the precious lamb without blemish, the blood that cleanses us whiter than snow. We also need to examine ourselves.
1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1 Cor 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
1 Cor 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1 Cor 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
As I mentioned earlier the Hebrew word for worship is "shachah". It means to prostrate or bow oneself in homage. It also means to fall down flat. This is interesting because it is the normal reaction of the flesh to the presence of the Spirit of God.
Dan 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
Dan 10:16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Dan 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Dan 10:18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
2 Chr 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
Many of the actions accompanying worship are inspired by the Spirit of God. They can be imitated in the flesh but then they fail to bless. One sometimes feels a grieving in one’s Spirit when they are done out of turn. There are other Hebrew words that accompany worship that have to do with bowing the head and kneeling. They all express deference to God’s authority. When God really is present these actions are automatic.
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The tongue confessing brings us to our next point. Worship cries out! It says something. It shouts with a voice of triumph, it praises with a loud voice, it raves and boasts about our God! This is inspired utterance under the influence of the Holy Ghost like prophecy. In fact, they are the one and the same. If one looks at the psalms, a collection of worship songs, they can find both praise and foretelling masterfully intertwined.
Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Acts 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Silence is not without place in worship but it is to be the peaceful tranquillity of the Spirit not the lifeless indifference of the flesh.
Music is a constant accompaniment of worship both in heaven and on earth. Music is spiritual! It was devised in heaven to adore the Father. Just ask a neo-Darwinian evolutionist about the survival value of music. Music creates an environment in which spirits can operate. We saw this in Solomon’s dedication of the temple and David’s inspired playing of the harp. Music facilitates the activity of God’s Spirit.
2 Ki 3:14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
2 Ki 3:15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, WHEN THE MINSTREL PLAYED, THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM.
2 Ki 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches...
Unfortunately, music facilitates the activity of any spirit. Taverns and recording studios are both well aware of this fact. The latest dance or rock group likely originated in an inner-city ghetto full of drug abuse, violence and every unclean spirit. They then did the rounds of the bars before exploding onto the charts. See how powerfully music has influenced the moral climate of America in the past forty years.
Singing, dancing and lifting of the hands are found in both Testaments. These are also to be free of human choreography. Anytime they are planned in advance or attract attention onto an individual they are out of place and cease to be a blessing. Their purpose is to increase God’s glory.
2 Sam 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
2 Sam 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
Thanksgiving and joy accompany true worship. How often these are lacking in Christian churches! If the worship in your church is dead and lifeless go someplace else!
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and REJOICE, ye righteous: and shout for JOY, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psa 33:1 REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with THANKSGIVING, and into his courts with praise: be THANKFUL unto him, and bless his name.
Service follows worship. It creates in you both the power and the desire to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Said another way, You will serve what you worship. Many things are worshipped in modern secular society. Are you serving money? Are you worshipping pleasure? Are you serving your flesh?
(Mat 4:10 KJV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Prayer is an integral part of worship. The offering of incense in worship represents prayer.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Prayer is communion with, adoration of , or supplication to a Holy God. It ascends like incense into heaven where it is a sweet smelling savor onto Him.
An element of worship we ignore in large part today is sacrifice and offering. We just pass the plate. Offerings are to be an important part of the worship service. We are in covenant with God. We were bought with a price. All we have is His but all He has is ours!
2 Chr 5:6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.
I realize that today God does not require of us literal sheep and oxen but instead spiritual sacrifices. The final blood sacrifice was made by the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in OBEYING the voice of the LORD? Behold, to OBEY is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Psa 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have MERCY, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 12:33 And to LOVE him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye PRESENT YOUR BODIES a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of PRAISE to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS to his name.
Are you offering the sacrifice of praise continually? Once a week? Never? You should start! As well as spiritual sacrifices the word teaches us to give to the work of God.
Phil 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a SACRIFICE acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
What better time to give to God than during worship. God says He wants a cheerful giver.
2 Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
You can’t be cheerful a cheerful giver when you are thinking about unpaid bills. If you are worshipping and thanking God for His goodness to you it becomes much easier. Jesus said to pay your tithes.
Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Don’t give only "sacrifices" that cost you nothing give financial support to God’s ministries.
2 Sam 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Special meals or feasts were part of Old Testament worship. The pagans ate food sacrificed to idols. Today we eat "the Lord’s supper". The items consumed and the accompanying rituals often have deep spiritual meaning. Everyone knows that the lamb at Passover represents Christ. The bread was His body broken for us and the wine was the precious blood that washes away all of our sin. Partaking of the bread and the cup makes us all one in Christ.
1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
1 Cor 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1 Cor 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
1 Cor 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
I left what I feel to be the most important and neglected of all the elements of worship, reverence, till last. Charismatics have become too familiar with God. They fail to show Him the honor due His holy name. Some unsaved people show more respect for God and His ministers than many Christians do. Veneration is a vital key to worship. It takes you beyond praise and into deeper communion with the Father. Loss of respect is rampant in the society around us. Institutions and professions once revered are now the object of constant ridicule and denigration. It threatens to destroy the fabric of our society. It must be kept out of our relationship with almighty God. There are great benefits for those who reverence Him.
Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Psa 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psa 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psa 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
Psa 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psa 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Psa 112:3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Prov 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Prov 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
The words translated "fear" in the King James bible refer to reverence and awe not to what we understand as being afraid.
I would like to end this chapter with an illustration of proper worship from the Word of God; Hezekiah purifying the temple. Watch for the various elements of worship contained herein. Notice especially the preparation involved and how sacrifice was an integral part of the service
(2 Chr 29:15 KJV) And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.
(2 Chr 29:16 KJV) And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.
(2 Chr 29:17 KJV) Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
(2 Chr 29:18 KJV) Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
(2 Chr 29:19 KJV) Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.
(2 Chr 29:20 KJV) Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.
(2 Chr 29:21 KJV) And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
(2 Chr 29:22 KJV) So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.
(2 Chr 29:23 KJV) And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:
(2 Chr 29:24 KJV) And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
(2 Chr 29:25 KJV) And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.
(2 Chr 29:26 KJV) And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
(2 Chr 29:27 KJV) And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
(2 Chr 29:28 KJV) And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
(2 Chr 29:29 KJV) And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
(2 Chr 29:30 KJV) Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
(2 Chr 29:31 KJV) Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
(2 Chr 29:32 KJV) And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.
(2 Chr 29:33 KJV) And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
(2 Chr 29:34 KJV) But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
(2 Chr 29:35 KJV) And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.
(2 Chr 29:36 KJV) And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.