REASON'S TO WORSHIP
Motivations for Worshiping God
Gen 28:11-19 (NIV) " When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. {12} He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. {13} There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. {14} Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. {15} I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." {16} When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." {17} He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." {18} Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. {19} He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz."
Jacob realized "surely the presence of the Lord was in this place". He got up, took the stone and set up a pillar to God. Naming the place Bethel "house of God". By experiencing the presence of God, Jacob was lead to worship. He took an ordinary place and dedicated it to the Lord. We can and should worship everywhere! When Isaiah saw the Lord all he could do was fall down and worship. (Is. 6)
Maybe the reason we lack in true worship is because we fail to realize the presence of God.
When is the last time you can truly say you were in the presence of God? (the day you received Christ, your baptism, Church Camp, revival). Jesus said he is present when two or three believers are gathered in his name.
We fail to acknowledge his presence. Just like Jacob, we too are often unaware of God's Spirit. Acknowledge Him, open our hearts experience his presence, worship in spirit and in truth!
Judges 7:9-15 (NIV) " During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. {10} If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah {11} and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. {12} The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. {13} Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." {14} His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands." {15} When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands."
When God spoke to Gideon and promised him victory, he worshiped God before he did anything else! We need to take inventory of God's promises and His blessings in our lives. When we do this we'll be lead to worship the King. For he has blessed us with more than we could ever repay. Think about his promises, think about his deeds, and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Not only do have reason to praise Him for what He's promised and done in our lives at the present time but we can look to the future Kingdom as well.
Hebrews 12:28 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and worship God..."
1 Samuel 15:22-31 (NIV) " But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. {23} For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." {24} Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. {25} Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD." {26} But Samuel said to him, "I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!" {27} As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. {28} Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors--to one better than you. {29} He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind." {30} Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God." {31} So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
When Saul realized his own depravity he pleaded with Samuel to go worship with him. Acknowledging his sin made Saul see his need to commune with God. Sauls motives were all messed up. When we have sin in our life the first place we need to go is to the Lord.
When we examine our hearts, we are lead to worship. Too often we enter the sanctuary of God focusing on others or problems rather than looking to Jesus. We worry about everyone else and the sins that they need to confess. I hear people talking about how others took communion. "Do you believe that he took it?" or "I can't get other the fact that SAM didn't participate in communion this morning. I wonder what kind of sin he's committing?"
Examine your own life. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus". When you allow your heart to be broken by your sinfulness, you too will run to the arms of Jesus in confession and worship.
2 Sam 12:20 (NIV) " 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."
It's always amazing to see how people react in times of tragedy. Some walk away bitter. Some run to God. That's what David did. He was pleading God to save the child. When David received word that the baby had died, He ran to God and worshiped!
David saw his need to meet with God, so he cleaned up and he worshiped the Lord. In our time of need it's God's comfort, God's strength, God's sovereignty that drives us to worship. If you're here and broken inside.
Maybe you need to worship. Your heart is grieved, your soul crushed. Your prayers seems to be unanswered. Rather than just focusing on your need lift him up in praise and worship. He will renew your hope and he will sustain you through the trials of life.
Neh 8:5-6 (NIV) "Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. {6} Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground."
When Ezra opened the Book the people were motivated to worship. When we come in contact with God's word it should drives us to worship Him. Too often we allow our minds to wonder. We don't focus our attention and we allow ourselves to be distracted. When this occurs we fail to receive what God wants to say to us.
This also causes us our worship to be hindered. Do you want to meet with God? Read his word. Listen to his word Focus on His Word You will be lead to meaningful worship of the Lord.
John 4:23 (NIV) "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."
Look around there are many obvious motivations to worship. Ultimately we must worship God, simply because He desires that we worship him. We worship not just because of His word, His Sovereignty, His Forgiveness, His Promises, Or His presence, Jesus said that the Father "seeks", or desires for true worshipers to worship.
Jesus said that God desires us to worship Him. It's God's will for us to honor him in worship. Notice he didn't say they should worship, but that true believers we WILL worship.
What more do we need to motivate us. God has given us so many reasons to worship Him. So lets do it. Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth!
True believers WILL WORSHIP.
Expressions of Worship
How would you react if you won the lottery? Some cry, some shout, scream, jump up and down, some faint, some hug & kiss, etc.. Don't worry I'm not advocating the lottery. What is the appropriate expression for someone who just won a million dollars? There is no ONE expression! The same can be said of the way we express our love for our children or grandchildren.
Physical expressions, verbal expressions, buy presents, etc.. And the same can be said for the expressions of worship in the Bible. Let's just look at a couple of passages that illustrate the extreme contrasting styles of worship.
Psalm 46:8-11 (NIV) "Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. {9} He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. {10} "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." {11} The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 47:1-6 (NIV) "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. {2} How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! {3} He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. {4} He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah {5} God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. {6} Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
Worship ultimately takes place in the heart. We are active participants not passive observers. Yet heart felt worship will manifest itself with many expressions. I want to use two general categories that are found within these verses, and the various expressions within these two styles of worship.
I want to emphasis at the beginning that I am not trying to push any form of worship over another. People are so passionate and defensive when the issue of worship occurs. People with a tradition worship style condemn the Pentecostal and Charismatic as being too emotional and in the flesh. The Pentecostal and Charismatic condemn those who are more reserved in their worship as being dead, practicing empty ritual, and void of heart felt worship. I want us to understand worship from a Biblical perspective.
Psalm 46:10 " Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Hab 2:20 " But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
Heb 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,"
Sitting in stillness or meditation.
At one Church I attended the pastor had the people greet one another at a certain point in the service. One day I was talking to an elderly lady who is a godly person, and she said to me, "That is so hard for me to do". This was not an unfriendly person. She was wonderful with people and well liked. But she had been in Church for more than 60 years, and she had always been taught that you sit and meditate on Christ in all aspects of the service. Her explanation was that greeting people in the middle of the service 'broke her concentration'.
Some felt the worship service was too dry and the pastor wanted to liven it up. From her perspective it was reverent and truly worshipful.
Kneeling
Psalm 95:6 "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;"
I've visited other churches on a few occasions. There are several parts of their services that I like. One thing I find intriguing is the kneeling bench. Kneeling is a physical expression of humility and reverence. We all need to get down on our knees every once in awhile just to remind ourselves who we're dealing with.
Bowing or Laying
2 Chr 29:30 (NIV) " 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.
Rev 1:17 (NIV) "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last."
The words for worship in both the OLD and in the NEW TESTAMENT mean to lay prostrate, or bow down
Tears
I love to see people come into the Church and be ministered to by the Holy Spirit. To see God touching peoples lives to the point were tears begin to flow down their cheek. There are enough tears of pain, rejection, and fear in the world. We need to see some tears of joy in the house of God. It is nature human action, and I believe that tears in worship truly glorify God. They reflect something special which is happening on the inside.
II. ENTHUSIASM / EMOTION
Clapping Hands
We do at Ball games, and for specials at Church. Why do we do it? To show appreciate and encouragement. Some think it's heresy to do it as an offering to God?
Shouting
Psalm 98:4-6 (NIV) " Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; {5} make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, {6} with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King."
This is one that makes some uncomfortable. It doesn't mean it makes God uncomfortable.
ILLUSTRATION:
Tony Compolo tells the story about the time he was scheduled to speak in a Lutheran Church. Several younger people had showed up to hear him. The minister stood up and in a reverent tone of voice called the people to worship by reading a psalm, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord". At which point several of the visitors began yelling "Amen, Hallelujah, etc.". As Tony explained, "I don't know what that minister expected when he read those words, but one thing for sure was that he never expected people to actually do it." I think giving affirmation with "Amen" is a good thing. We need to be sure that we're not causing our brother to stumble, but then again we need to learn how to submit to God's word.
Dancing
Psalm 149:3 (NIV) "Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp."
2 Samuel 6:14-23 (NIV) " David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, {15} while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. {16} As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. {17} They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. {18} After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. {19} Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. {20} When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" {21} David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD. {22} I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." {23} And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death."
David danced when the arc came back to Israel. It's important for those of us who are skeptical of someone 'dancing' before the Lord to notice what took place. God took pleasure in David because it was an honest expression of his heart. Micah who was too reserved - God was displeased with.
To make someone dance is in the flesh is wrong
Raising Holy Hands
1 Tim 2:8 (NIV) " I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."
Raising hands should not be for show It serves as a physical expression of worship and honor.
CONCLUSION:
Consider how God views the attitude that a person demonstrates in the service. Does talking during the service indicate lack of concern for those who are trying to worship?
Does silence indicate a lack of friendliness to the visitor?
Do all services need to be alike?
Differing expressions of worship are equally valid.
Unity, love, and warmth are always proper.
All are acceptable!
All are NOT mandatary!
Be sensitive to the Spirit.
Find a form of worship that fits your personality and worship God from your heart. Don't judge those who's expressions of worship vary from your's.
One thing is for sure - God is clearly honored not only by our words of worship, but also our physical expressions during worship.
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