Worship: A Study in the Scriptures (by Diane Dew)

WORSHIP
"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.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him
in spirit and truth." John 4:23, 24

'Worship Pure' by Rik Berry.
Used by permission.

I. Man was created with the capacity for fellowship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:9
2 Corinthians 13:14
Philippians 2:1
1 John 1:3, 6

A. When Scripture says that God made man "in His own image," it speaks not of a
physical but a spiritual likeness; for even as God is Spirit (John 4:24), so He made man.

Genesis 1:26, 27
Romans 8:16
1 Thessalonians 5:23

B. Thus, only worship that is by the spirit is truly worship at all.

Isaiah 26:9
John 4:23, 24
Romans 1:9
1 Corinthians 14:14, 15
Philippians 3:3
1 Peter 2:5

II. Truly spiritual worship is very meaningful to God.

Psalms 45:11; 132:7

A. He Himself seeks true worshippers.

John 4:23
Psalms 14:2

B. He desires our worship (Song of Solomon 5:2; John 4:23-24). It is to Him
a very special "treasure" (Psalms 147:10-11; Isaiah 33:6).

1. He calls us His "jewels," His "precious treasure."

Exodus 19:5
Psalms 135:4
Malachi 3:17

2. We are precious to Him (Isaiah 43:4); His desire is toward us (Psalms
132:13, 14).

C. God even set aside certain persons, in the Old Testament, whose sole
responsibility was to be ministry to Him.

Ezekiel 44:15-16, 28 "But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that
kept the charge of My sanctuary .... come near to Me to minis ter unto Me ...
They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to
minister unto Me ... And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their
inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession."

1. In many Christian circles an over-emphasis is placed upon man's ministry to
man. Our ministry to God must come first, and the other will follow.

Matthew 22:37-39
Luke 17:7-10
Acts 13:2
Hebrews 12:15
1 Peter 2:5-9

2. God is extremely possessive of His people.

Psalms 4:3 "But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is
godly for Himself."
Psalms 135:4 "For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself,
and Israel for His peculiar treasure."
Isaiah 43:1 " .... thou art Mine."
Hosea 2:19 "And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever ..."
Malachi 3:17 "And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord ..."
Ezekiel 6:18; 44:15, 16 2 Timothy 2:19 (Numbers 16:5) "The Lord
knoweth them that are His."

3. We are His portion (Deuteronomy 32:9; Jeremiah 12:10), "the apple
of His eye" (Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalms 17:8; Zechariah 2:8).

III. Scripture sets forth the standard of worship that pleases God.

A. Though greatly coveted by Satan himself (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17;
   2 Chronicles 11:15; Psalms 106:37; Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-7; 1 Corinthians
   10:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:34; Revelation 9:20; 13:4, 8, 12), our worship is to be
   directed toward God alone.

Exodus 20:1; 34:14
Deuteronomy 5:7; 6:13
Matthew 4:10 (Luke 4:8)
Acts 10:26; 14:15
Colossians 2:18
Revelation 19:10; 22:8

B. It must proceed from the heart.

2 Chronicles 29:9
Isaiah 29:13
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16

1. The worship God desires of His people is not formal or artificial.

Isaiah 29:13
Matthew 15:6-9

2. God is not impressed with fancy ritualism (Isaiah 1:11-15; Amos 5:21-24;
Acts 17:25), fleshly sacrifices (Isaiah 5:14-17;66:2; Hebrews 10:6), or
wordy phrases (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Matthew 6:7).

C. The acceptance of our worship depends on the purity of our hearts.

1. Holiness.

Psalms 29:2; 93:5

2. Righteousness.

Amos 5:21-24
Malachi 3:34

3. Humility (the Hebrew SCHACHAH, "worship" = Lit., "to bow one's self down").

Isaiah 66:1-2

4. Reverence.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
Hebrews 12:28
Revelation 14:7; 15:4

5. Truth.

John 4:23, 24

6. Faith.

Exodus 4:31
John 9:38
Hebrews 11:6

7. Unity.

2 Chronicles 5:13
Ezra 3:1
Nehemiah 18:1
Acts 1:15; 2:1-3, etc.
Acts 4:24 "with one accord"

8. Willingness.

1 Chronicles 28:9
2 Chronicles 29:30 "with gladness"

D. Scripture encourages the use of musical instruments and singing in worship.

      Exodus 15:1, 20
2 Samuel 6:5
     1 Chronicles 15:16, 22, 28, 29; 25:1, 3, 6, 7
     2 Chronicles 5:12-14; 29:25-30
     Ezra 3:10-11
     Psalms 33:3; 35:27; 47:1; 98:4; 150:5
     Isaiah 38:20
      Ephesians 5:19

E. We are exhorted to offer praise and worship to God "with a loud voice,"
shouts of joy and clapping of hands.

2 Chronicles 5:13
Ezra 3:11
Psalms 33:3; 35:27; 47:1; 150:5
Luke 17:15

F. We are to worship God both in the assembly (Exodus 33:10; 1 Chronicles 29:20;
2 Chronicles 29:28; Nehemiah 8:6; 9:3; Psalms 22:22; 89:7; 107:32; 149:1;
Hebrews 10:25) and in the privacy of our own homes (Genesis 24:26, 48; 2
Samuel 12:20; Job 1:20; Daniel 6:10; etc.).

G. Man's physical position in worship is of no importance.

1. Sitting.

Acts 2:2

2. Kneeling.

2 Chronicles 6:13
Psalms 95:6
Daniel 6:10

3. Standing.

Exodus 33.10
2 Chronicles 20:19
Revelation 7:9, 10

4. Lying prostrate to the ground.

Genesis 17:3; 24:52
Joshua 5:14
1 Kings 18:39
2 Chronicles 7:3; 20:18; 29:29
Nehemiah 8:6
Job 1:20
Matthew 2:11; 28:9
Revelation 11:16;19:10

5. Bowing head.

Genesis 4:3; 12:27; 24:26, 48; 34:8
Exodus 4:31; 12:27; 34:8
1 Chronicles 29:20
2 Chronicles 20:18; 29:30
Nehemiah 8:6

6. Lifting hands.

2 Chronicles 6:12-13 (1 Kings 8:54)
Nehemiah 8:6
Psalms 28:2;63:4; 134:2; 141:2; 143:6
Lamentations 2:19
Luke 24:50
1 Timothy 2:8

H. We can worship God anywhere (John 4:20-21), for God is omnipresent
(Psalms 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Matthew 18:20).

1. "God does not dwell in temples made with hands."

1 Kings 8:27
2 Chronicles 6:18
Isaiah 66:1, 2
Jeremiah 7:4
Matthew 24:1, 2
Mark 13:1, 2
Acts 7:48-50; 17:24-25, 29-30

2. His place of habitation is within His people (Psalms 22:3; 132:13-14).
We are the house of God.

1 Corinthians 3:9, 16, 17
2 Corinthians 6:16
1 Timothy 3:15
Hebrews 3:6
1 Peter 2:5
Revelation 21:3

3. In the early church, people worshipped anywhere: in a house (Acts 2:46;
12:12; 20:20; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15;
Philemon 2); on the third floor of a building (Acts 20:8, 9); in prison
(Acts 16:25); etc.

IV. What were worship services like in the days of the early church?

Meetings of the early Christians were informal and simple.

A. Gatherings took place in the homes of believers.

Acts 2:46; 5:42; 12:12; 20:20
Romans 16:5
1 Corinthians 16:19
Colossians 4:15
Philemon 2

B. The setting was informal. Scripture describes people even sitting
on the floor, in the windows, etc. (Acts 20:8-9; 2:2; Luke 10:38, 39).

C. Communion was celebrated in simplicity.

Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7
1 Corinthians 10:16, 17

D. Psalms and hymns were sung.

Matthew 26:30
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16

E. Epistles (letters) from the apostles were passed from church
to church and read in the assembly of believers.

Acts 2:42; 15:21, 30-31
Colossians 4:16
1 Thessalonians 5:27

F. Prayer was offered.

Acts 2:42; 12:5; 1:14
James 5:14-16

G. Teaching took place on a regular basis (Acts 2:42; 11:26; 20:7;
28:23, 30-31), often daily (Acts 2:46; 5:42).

V. Although worship is often man's response to a miracle (1 Kings 18:39; Matthew
14:33), healing (Matthew 9:8; 15:31; Mark 2:12; Luke 5:25-26; 13:13; 17:15-18;
18:43; Acts 3:8; 4:24) or the word of the Lord (John 9:35-38), pure worship –
that in which there is no "profit motive" – flows from a heart of gratitude and praise
despite circumstances.

A. Paul, in prison. Acts 16:25

B. Job, in the midst of severe trial. Job 1:20-22

C. David, at the death of his son. 2 Samuel 12:15-23

VI. Worship builds us up spiritually (1 Corinthians 14:4, 14-15; Jude 20)
and brings us to maturity in Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). In this way, though
it is intended to bless God (Psalms 26:12; 34:1; 103:1; James 3:9; etc .),
a blessing is imparted to us as well.

A. Rest.

2 Chronicles 14:7; 15:15
Psalms 91:1
Proverbs 19:23
Matthew 11:28-30
Mark 6:30-32

B. Strength.

Psalms 105:4
Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:1

C. Life.

Psalms 19:23; 22:34;6 9:32
Proverbs 19:23

D. Faith.

Romans 4:20
Colossians 2:7
Jude 20

E. Joy.

1 Chronicles 29:9
Psalms 16:11
Luke 24:52

VII. What is the Christian Sabbath? Must we worship on a certain day of the week?

A. Under the old covenant a particular day was set aside as the day of rest.

Exodus 16:23-26; 20:8-11

1. "And God did rest the seventh day from all His works."

Genesis 2:2-3
Hebrews 4:4b

2. The Sabbath day was a gift from the Lord.

Exodus 16:29-30

3. Essentially every form of work was forbidden (Exodus 20:8-10;
31:14), including cooking (Exodus 16:23); gathering wood (Numbers
15:32); building fires (Exodus 31:13); etc.

4. The Sabbath was to be a sign of covenant between Israel and God,
to commemorate their slavery in Egypt, where they could not rest.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Ezekiel 20:12-20

5. Breaking the Sabbath was a serious offense, punishable by death!

Exodus 31:14,15; 35:2
Numbers 15:32-36

B. However, the Sabbath was meant to serve merely as a type or shadow.

Colossians 2:16, 17

1. To the Christian it speaks of a spiritual rest, ceasing "from his own
works, as God did from His."

Hebrews chapters 3; 4, especially 4:9-11

2. The observance of days is bondage!

Galatians 4:9-11

3. Believers are not subject to such laws.

Matthew 12:1-15
Romans 14:5-6, 14
Galatians 5:1
Colossians 2:16-17, 14

4. Paul admonished members of the early church to allow no man
to judge them on the issue (Colossians 2:16), nor to impose such
regulations on others (Romans 14:3-6, especially verse 5).

C. True, the early church met on "the first day of the week" (Acts 20:7;
1 Corinthians 16:2); but they also gathered together daily for worship,
prayer, teaching, and communion (Acts 2:46; 5:42; etc.).

D. The phrase, "The Lord's Day" (from Revelation 1:10) actually refers
biblically to "the day of the Lord" (his day of judgment and rulership –
see Ezekiel 13:5; Zephaniah 1:18; 2:2, 3; Malachi 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2;
2 Peter 3:10). The apostle John did not mean that it was Sunday.

E. The keeping of rules and regulations, rather than drawing people closer to
God, can actually become the stumblingblock of their fall if it leads to an
attitude of self-righteousness and neglecting of the higher law of love.

Matthew 12:1-15; 23:23

1. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Galatians 5:1

2. "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself."

Galatians 5:14

3. Those Pharisees who questioned Jesus' healing (yes, and even His disciples'
plucking the ears of corn) on the Sabbath, "went out and held a council
against Him, how they might destroy Him."

Matthew 12:15

F. To the true believer, worship is not a weekly obligation but the continual
lifting up of one's heart and spirit to God.

1. "Day and night." Revelation 7:15

2. Continually. Luke 24:53; Hebrews 13:15

3. "Evening, and morning, and at noon." Psalm 55:17

4. In the early morning. Exodus 34:4

5. At midnight. Acts 16:25

6. All day. Proverbs 23:17b

7. Every day. Acts 2:46; 5:42

VIII. This is what we will be doing for all eternity (Psalms 22:27-28; 66:4; 86:9; Isaiah 66:23; Zechariah 14:16-18; Revelation 7:15) and the very purpose for which we were created (Psalms 149:4a; Revelation 4:11).

Complete, printed and bound copies of studies (100+ topics, 900+ pages, 8 vols.) may be obtained from:

Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234 U.S.A. (ORDER HERE)

(This is a ministry to the Body, not a moneymaking venture.)

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