Worship -- Who? How? Why?

        Our worship belongs solely to God, Our Creator, Provider, Sustainer, and Redeemer.  Man's chief purpose in life is to worship God, both in his lifestyle and with his words.  Worship is the means by which we acknowledge God's worthiness and greatness.  Starting in Genesis and running through Revelation, we find this has always been and will always be God's purpose and goal for mankind.

        (Matthew 4:10)  When Jesus was talking to the devil; He minced no words about who was to receive worship.  True worship does not have a form of ritualistic externalism, but has an inner reality, which is fresh every day and is always accompanied by a proper heart attitude of obedience.  That is why Paul could say in (Romans12:1) This is a spiritual act of worship, which is liberated by the Spirit to a fresh inner reality of service to God as He intended.

        (John 4:23) (Phil.3:3)

        We worship God through submission and obedience to Him.  Recognizing His Sovereignty, we stand in awe and humility before the Omnipotent God.  Outward signs of worship, such as folding, lifting, clapping our hands, or bowing our knees, must be accompanied by an inner attitude of worship.  Worship must first originate in the heart of man before it can call for action to occur in any other part of the body.  In order for worship to be in the heart of man, it must be generated by love.  It is not enough to fear God, man must love God!

        Bowing is a sign of obedience, respect, submission, homage, humility, and awe as the sovereignty of God is recognized.

        The clapping of the hands represents the giving of approval or thankfulness.  The lifting of the hands may portray one who is reaching out to God for an answer or one who is submitting to God.  Bending the knee and prostration before God is evidence of submission to the will of God.  In the New Testament, lying prostrate is done only before God; however, it is appropriate to bow at Jesus' feet in worship.

        (Psalm 18:6) God hears the prayers that are directed to Him.  Prayer, as worship, expresses an adoring attitude.  It is mentioned so often in both the Old and New Testaments that we have reason to understand that it is a necessary form of worship.  Prayer is the umbilical cord between believers and God.  Prayers can be petitions (requests or supplications), intercession (prayers on behalf of someone else), and praise (worship that includes the human spirit's attitude toward God.)

        There are many key prayers in the Old Testament that are worth further private study.

                David's prayer regarding the Temple (2 Samuel 7:18-29)

                Solomon's prayer of dedication (1 Kings 8:22-53)

                The prayers of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:5-11; 9:5-37)

                The prayers of Ezra (Ezra 9:6-15)

                Job's dialogues - Reveals the honesty God desires in prayer.

                (Jonah 2:1-10) Shows the depths from which prayer is inspired.

        Christ lived a lifestyle of prayer and even taught the disciples the manner in which we ought to pray.  Paul was another who set an example of a prayer filled lifestyle.  Both corporate and individual prayers are important to the believing community's health and should be emphasized.

        (Genesis 1:1)  We worship God as the Creator.  To acknowledge this fact brings about the recognition of our full dependence upon Him.  (Acts 17:28)  It is in God that we live and move and have our being."  He created the universe with His powerful Word.  He has unlimited power, authority and force, and is elevated over all His creation.  (Acts 17:24-26) As Creator, He is worshipped as Lord in Heaven and praised by His earthly creation.  He alone is Lord over all.

        (Isaiah 43:7)  God created the universe so His glory would be manifested.  His creation reflects His awesome and magnificent nature as well as displaying His power and magnitude.  

        (Colossians 1:16)  Jesus Christ is the instrument of creation.  All things which He hath created give Him response; therefore, it is His desire that man also respond to Him with worship.

        (Romans 1:18-25)  

        God not only created all things, He is able to provide for all their needs.  He is more than able to keep that which He has created.  It is God that is responsible for our every gift.  The blessings of shelter, food, protection, health, and all other benefits should constantly remind us that we owe Him a great debt that we can never repay.  Our worship of God should never be an attempt on our part as repayment of those blessings.  God gives us the blessings because He loves us; we worship Him because we love Him (Psalm 103:2-4)

        God's wisdom is constantly presented in the Bible relative to creation.  lf He was able to create the universe, should He not be able to direct and order human lives created for His worship?  It is good to reflect upon God's provision and sustenance.  God did not leave His creation, but sustains it by controlling the universe while ruling over and preserving all His creatures. Everything was made for His good purposes.

        In the Old Testament, priest offered service to God for other people.  In the New Testament, Christ became our High Priest and offered Himself as the only sacrifice sufficient to remove man's sins, clear man's conscience, and reunite him with God. (Hebrews 9:11,12)

        While Israel failed to serve God on their wilderness journey, Christ fulfilled all His purposes by completely surrendering to God the Father.  The fall of Adam and Eve created the need for a man to be redeemed to God.  Sin had separated man from God, making it necessary for him to be ransomed or bought back.  In the Old Testament, God redeemed Israel out of Egypt's bondage and called them to worship Him.  Israel failed to fulfill God's plan but Jesus Christ gave His life and shed His blood on Calvary that all who believed on Him might receive redemption.

        (Titus 2:13,14)  is speaking of Christ.  With the price of His blood, Christ bought back that which through creation was rightfully  God's.  

        (Galatians 4:9)  Those  who believe on Christ Jesus are set free from sin with its bondage and guilt.  It is impossible to worship God without redemption.

        The experience and realization of redemption motivate and inspire us to worship.  Although Israel responded with worship after their redemption from Egypt, they failed to live up to God's plan for them.  Being Himself, God's desire for a holy nation and a kingdom of priests did not die with Israel's failure but came into fulfillment with the New Testament Church which Christ Jesus redeemed and set apart.

        From the beginning God created man to worship Him and that goal for man has never changed.  The times of worship have changed, the ways of worship have changed, the styles of worship have changed, and the rites of worship have changed but the one to worship will never change.