Real Worship

• Command to Worship
• Matthew 4:10 “It is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
• Command to Worship
• John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
• Important how we worship God
• He created us and gives us life
– Genesis 1:26-27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

• Important how we worship God
• He sent His Son to die to free us from sin
– John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
• Thankful to Worship
• Psalms 84:2,10 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God…For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
• Thankful to Worship
• Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."
• Empty Worship
• Isaiah 1:11-17 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear…”
• Empty Worship
• Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
– Quoted by Jesus – Matt. 12:7
• Worshipping in Vain
• Matthew 15:8-9 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
• Culture Analyst Notes Church Trends
• Barna Research Group significant findings for 2006:
– “Although large majorities claim to be “deeply spiritual” and say their faith is “very important” in their life, only 15% who regularly attend church rank their relationship with God as top priority”
– “These figures may be another indicator that millions of Christians invest more of their mental energy in cultural literacy than in Biblical literacy.”
– “Widening gap between the intensely committed and those casually involved in faith matters”
• Preparation to Worship
• Conscious awareness of awesomeness of God
– Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Preparation to Worship
• Ill-prepared if we do not adequately know God
– Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.29 For our God is a consuming fire.
• Preparation to Worship
• God is personal, but we must show reverence
– Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
• Preparation to Worship
• Worship (proskuneo): to bow down or kiss the hand to do homage or express respect
– Going before the king one had to show respect
– 1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

• Reverence in God’s House
• Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
• Reverence in God’s House
• Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
• The Lord at Mt Sinai
• Hebrews 12:18-22 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow."21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.") 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels
• Moses at Burning Bush
• 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."6 Moreover He said,"I am the God of your father -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
• Prudence in God’s Presence
• Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
• Participation in Worship
• Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
• Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
• Participation in Worship
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
• Real Worship
• Coming with minds and hearts prepared to enter in eagerly to worship our glorious God
• Joining our voices and thoughts together with our brethren earnestly and lovingly
• Enjoying each part and willingly participating to honor God and edify one another