THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP

"True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is a spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

John 4:23-24

The dictionary defines "Essence" as the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work. So when we speaks of the Essence of Worship, we are speaking of that "True Worship" which God is after.

The Greek word (Strongs G4352) for worship - PROSKUNEO: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

The Hebrew word (Strongs H7812) for worship - SHACHAH:  - to bow down, to prostrate oneself  before God in worship

All of those in the Bible who encountered the living God in His glory fell on their face in worship. Both the Greek and Hebrew word speak about "bowing down" - do we see this often in our weekly worship service? Or more directly do we personally practice bowing down in our personal worship? But if bowing down becomes a form than it becomes a ritual and that's what God hates! (see Proverb15:8). When our worship becomes superficial, it is an attempt to brush Him off and get on with the self-life. It bears the appearance of devotion, but there is nothing of relationship in it - no love, no honor, no passion.  

The Essence of True Worship is an attitude of the HEART that continually acknowledges God and values His character. In order for us to understand the Essence of True Worship, we need to go the Bible and apply the Law of First Mention, a principle that states the first time a word or idea is mentioned in Scripture is significant, for it sets a foundation and framework for any other time the word is udsed throughtout the Scripture.


We first see the word "worship" in Genesis 22 in the account of Abraham offering up his son Isaac. "And Abraham said to his young men stay here with the donkey, I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you" (verse 5 emphasis added). Abraham did not go up to the mountain with a guitar or to sing a slow song. He was going up there to offer his most precious son Isaac! - this is the original context of the Essence of True Worship!  


What is the Essence of True Worship? What does it mean to present yourself as "living sacrifice"(Romans 12:1)? Is there a set time and place for it, or does it encompass all of our lives? Worship defines the relationship between God and His people and touches every aspect of our existence.


Apostle John W. Stevenson in his book "Worshiper By Design - A Unique Look At Why We Were Created" aptly defines that "A WORSHIPER - is one who is INTIMATELY acquainted with, and has a DAILY relationship with GOD exhibited through OBEDIENCE."  The life of a "Lifestyle Worshiper" involves Faith, Obedience and Sacrifice:
 Faith - Without faith it is impossible to please God

Worship Is In The Heart and not in the art

Obedience - Doer of the WORD

Sacrifice - Bowing Down to His ways

Reverence - The Fear of the LORD

Holiness - Set apart for His GLORY

Fellowship - Friend of GOD

THE ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIP is more than singing a song, a good feel or nice lyrics led by a worship team in the corporate gathering. We often think of worship as words and songs that come out of our mouths. It is so much more. It is a LIFESTYLE, a sacrificial way of living that acknowledges every moment of every day that there is ONE far more worthy of our allegiance than ourselves. When His interests consisitently supercede ours, and we act accordingly, we are worshiping.

TPWC will attempt to share and expound more on the series of the ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIP in the forth coming posts.

Have a blessed week!

TPWC

PRAISE REVOLUTION: QUOTABLES

"Praise is the greatest work God's children can ever do. It is the loftiest expression the Saints can ever show. The highest manifestation of spiritual life is seen in men praising God." Watchman Nee - Assembling Together

"Praise is not something we experience occasionally, but is a garment which will be worn constantly by the last-day church (Isaiah 61:1-3). The garment of praise is the perfect answer for the depressions which are common to this generation." E. Charlotte Baker - On Eagles Wings

"The sacrifice of praise is the choice of every believer. You cannot be a successful worshipper without recognising the importance of your will in offering a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving." Terry Law - The Power of Praise and Worship

"Praise is a door to God's presence." Warren and Ruth Myers - Praise is a Door

"To praise the Lord for something He has done for us is easy, to praise God after we have been emotionally stirred toward Him is not difficult, but to praise the Lord as a sacrifice is a different matter. The way we feel from day to day fluctuates and changes, but God's Word is unchanging. We do not rely upon feelings to be in an attitude of praise but rather we recognise that His unchanging Word and His constant characteristics demand a people with a constant and unchanging attitude to His Word and commandment. We are therefore enjoined to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips (not our feelings), giving thanks to His name." B. Maureen Gaglardi - The Key of David

"Praise releases the power of God into our lives and circumstances, because praise is faith in action. Praise is a permanent acceptance of what God has brought into our lives. We enter this attitude of praise by an act of our will, by a decision to praise God regardless of how we feel." Merlin R. Carothers - Power in Praise

Until the practice of praise in private is continuous and free, the practice of corporate praise will be inhibited by fear, self-consciousness and discomfort. The practice in the corporate sense is absolutely indispensable to the maximum worship experience." Jack R. Taylor - The Hallelujah Factor
"Praise is not a mass function, it is the response of an individual to His God. When a group of individual choose to unite in praising, their individual praises may blend into a group response, but every expression of the praise comes from a separate individual." Judson Cornwall - Let Us Praise
"Warfare through praise does not dictate to God what He should do ... it praises Him for His wisdom and might, recognising that He is capable of setting the problem in the best possible manner. We do not focus on the battle or the enemy; we look only to the solution - God!" - "But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits." (Daniel 11:32) Bob Sorge - Exploring Worship

"Praise is born in faith, is an instrument of war and a method of creating an atmosphere for the presence of the Lord. Praise requires effort, will power and boldness." - TPWC

PRAISE REVOLUTION: FAITH

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen

- Hebrews 11:1 -

FAITH has it's anchor in the unseen realm. It lives from the invisible towards the visible. FAITH actualizes what it realizes. The Scriptures contrast the life of FAITH with the limitations of natural sight. FAITH provides eyes for the heart. FAITH sees. It brings His Kingdom into focus. All of the Father's resources, all of His benefits, are accessible through FAITH. In fact Hebrews 11:6 tells us that: " Without FAITH it is impossible to please God." God is very committed to teaching us how to see. To make this possible He gave us the Holy Spirit as a tutor. The curriculum that He uses is quite varied. But the one class we all qualify for is the greatest of all Christian privileges - PRAISE and WORSHIP. Learning how to see is not the purpose for our PRAISE and WORSHIP, but it is a wonderful by-product. In fact we all need to exercise FAITH to PRAISE GOD. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that: "Without FAITH it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exist and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." We read in Hebrews 11:30, "By FAITH the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days." I believe it was the "SHOUT OF PRAISE IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE" to God's command that the walls came tumbling down. I believe Paul and Silas though chained in pains in the prison cell exercised FAITH that resulted in an earthquake and the opening of the prison cells.

PRAISING GOD IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE brings us into the realm of the miracles. This realm is called the Kingdom of God. The throne of God, which becomes established upon the PRAISES of His people, is the center of that Kingdom. It's in the environment of PRAISE and WORSHIP that we learn things that go way beyond what our intellect can grasp - and the greatest of these lessons is the value of His presence. David was so affected by this that all his other exploits pale in comparison to his abandoned heart for God. We know that he learned to see into God's realm because of statements like, "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." The presence of God affected his seeing. He would constanly practice recognizing the presence of God. He saw God daily, not with the natural, but with the eyes of FAITH. That priceless revelation was given to a WORSHIPER. The privlege of PRAISE and WORSHIP is a good beginning place for those unaccustomed to addressing some of these kinds of themes found in Scripture. It's in that wonderful ministry that we can learn to pay attention to this God-given gift: the ability to see with the heart. As we learn to PRAISE and WORSHIP with purity of heart, our eyes will continue to open. And we can expect to see what He wants us to see.

An extract from : When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson

PRAISE REVOLUTION: BLACK DOTS

"It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp" Psalm 92:1-3

No matter what the source of the evil, if you are in God and surrounded by Him as by an atmosphere, all evil has to pass through Him before it comes to you. Therefore you can thank and praise God for everything that comes, not for the sin of it, but for what God will bring out of it and through it. May God make our lives thanksgiving and perpetual praise, then He will make everything a blessing. We once saw a man draw some black dots. We looked and could make nothing of them but an irregular assemblage of black dots. Then he drew a few lines, put in a few rests, then a clef at the beginning, and we saw these black dots were musical notes. On sounding them we were singing:

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost"

There are many black dots and black spots in our lives, and we cannot understand why they are there or why God permitted them to come. But if we let God come into our lives, and adjust the dots in the proper way, and draw the lines He wants, and separate this from that, and put in the rests at the proper places; out of the black dots and spots in our lives He will make a glorious harmony. Let us not hinder Him in this glorious work! - C. H. P.

"Would we know that the major chords were sweet,

If there were no minor key?

Would the painter's work be fair to our eyes,

Without shade on land or sea?"

"Would we know the meaning of happiness,

Would we feel that the day was bright,

If we'd never known what it was to grieve,

Nor gazed on the dark of night?"

Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.- C.H.Spurgeon When the musician presses the black keys on the great organ, the music is as sweet as when he touches the white ones, but to get the capacity of the instrument he must touch them all.- Selected (An extract from - Streams In The Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowan)

PRAISE REVOLUTION: ENTHRONE

"But You Are Holy,

Enthroned In The Praises Of Israel"

Psalm 22:3

Another important principle in praise is the enthroning principle. The Lord inhabits, or dwells in; or is enthroned upon our praise.

In other words, our praises become a throne for our King. All the authority and majesty of the King is present in our most humble offerings. When we stop to think about that, it is awesome! He could choose to sit on some glorious planet somewhere that He created just for Himself - with sights and sounds that far exceed aything we could ever imagine. Instead, He is seated with us as we minister praises before Him. He has chosen us. We are the objects of His longing. We are His preferred dwelling place. When we praise Him, we become the sweetest and most desirable place for the Lord to dwell.

As we worship, we can sing praises over nations, cities and governments. We have the royal authority to proclaim God's dominion and kingdom in places far and near simply by lifting our voice and giving glory and honor to our King. He Who is enthroned in our praise will make Himself known through us. His glory will fill the earth as His glory fills and flows through the proclaim praisers.

PRAISE HIM FOR HIS ROYAL THRONE

Psalm 93:2 - Praise Him for His throne is established from time immemorial

Psalm 22:3 - Praise Him for He is enthroned in the praises of His people

Revelation 5:13 - Praise Him for He is enthroned in heaven (Psalm 11:4)

Psalm 9:4 & 7 - Praise Him for He judges from His throne

Isaiah 6:1 - Praise Him for His throne is high and lifted up

Matthew 25:31 - Praise Him for His throne is filled with glory

Hebrews 1:8 - Praise Him for His throne is forever and ever

Psalm 89:14 - Praise Him for His throne is founded on righteousness and justice (Psalm 97:2)

Isaiah 16:5 - Praise Him for His throne is established on mercy

Daniel 7:9 - Praise Him for His throne is a fiery flame

Revelation 4:3 - Praise Him for His throne is surrounded by rainbow

Revelation 4:5 - Praise Him for His throne is surrounded by lightning, thunder and voices

Revelation 5:11 & 12 - Praise Him for His throne is surrounded by a hundred million worshiping angels - plus thousands upon thousands

Isaiah 40:22 - Praise Him for He sits enthroned on the circle of the earth

(an extract from: Praise Him by Vivien Hibbert)