Worship

Worship

August 14, 2011

Introduction

Worship! What is worship? How important is worship? How do we worship? These are questions that are far easier to ask than to answer. As we turn through the pages of the Bible, it is almost like everybody knows what it is to worship. Not only that, but man seems to be a worshipping being. So what can we way about worship? Is there a clear definition of worship in the Bible? If not, how do we find out about worship?

Body

I. The first reference to worship does not involve word worship.

(Gen 4:3-8 NKJV) And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. {4} Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, {5} but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. {6} So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? {7} "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." {8} Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

A. Obviously, this was an act of worship.

B. It would seem that some form of instructions must have been given, but we do not know what they were.

C. One thing is clear, and that is that a sacrifice was involved in this act of worship.

II. Abraham offers a great sacrifice to God.

A. God’s instructions were clear as to what He wanted.

(Gen 22:1-3 NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." {2} Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." {3} So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

B. Abraham was acting on God’s command.

1. The first time the word “worship” appears in the NKJV of the Bible.

(Gen 22:4-5 NKJV) Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. {5} And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

2. Abraham prepares to take Isaac’s life.

(Gen 22:6-10 NKJV) So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. {7} But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" {8} And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. {9} Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. {10} And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

3. Abraham passed the test.

(Gen 22:11-12 NKJV) But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." {12} And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

C. Part of worship is giving God what He wants.

III. Part of worship is loyalty to God and Him alone as God.

(Exo 34:12-15 NKJV) "Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. {13} "But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images {14} '(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), {15} "lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice,

A. It was this loyalty to God that Satan challenged with Jesus.

(Mat 4:8-10 NKJV) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." {10} Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

B. Worship is giving to God.

(Heb 13:15-16 NKJV) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. {16} But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

C. Worship is acknowledging God.

(Prov 3:5-9 NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; {6} In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. {7} Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. {8} It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. {9} Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

IV. Take time to be holy.

A.     How do we take time to be holy?

(Exo 20:8-10 NKJV) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {10} but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

1.     We are not suggesting a return to the Sabbath with all of its rules and regulations, but how about time for worship?

2.     We do have some examples from the New Testament.

a.     Jesus taught daily in the temple.

(Luke 19:47-48 NKJV) And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, {48} and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

b. The early church met daily.

(Acts 2:46-47 NKJV) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, {47} praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

c. Paul preached on the first day of the week.

(Acts 20:7 NKJV) Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

d. There was giving on the first day of the week.

(1 Cor 16:1-2 NKJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: {2} On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

B. When did the practice of mid-week and Sunday evening services start? Who started this practice?

According to the "Dictionary of Christianity in America," the Puritans of the 1600's in America had a Sunday morning and a Sunday evening gathering time as well as a Thursday morning lecture. These practices almost certainly go back to the Puritans in England.

The mid-week meeting had its beginnings in prayer meetings that were occasionally mentioned before 1800 but became popular through the efforts of Charles Finney and D. L. Moody in the 1800's. Moody held noon prayer meetings in conjunction with his preaching campaigns. During the years 1857-1858, an awakening occurred that was later called the Prayer Meeting Revival. By 1900, prayer meetings or mid-week services became common in most evangelistic and many Protestant churches. By the mid-1900's, the prayer emphasis of the mid-week service was often replaced by a teaching or preaching service.

While the extra services are not commanded in scripture, they surely have its blessings. The apostolic church often met on a daily basis: "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
See All...). Hebrews 10:25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
See All... tells us, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Therefore, the closer we get to the end of this age, the more often we should meet together as a church. Perhaps it is time to add a new one. Thanks for this interesting question.

David Reagan

From http://www.learnthebible.org/the-origin-of-sunday-and-wednesday-evening-services.html

Conclusion

I. While the Bible does not have a dictionary definition of worship, I hope we understand the main concepts of worship.

II. Worship is clearly to honor and serve God.

III. Worship clearly involves giving and sacrifice.

A. Our study began with the sacrifices of Cain and Able.

B. It steps up to the sacrifice of Abraham.

C. The New Testament basically begins with the sacrifice of Jesus as the Lamb of God.

V. What will we give?

A. Will we give Sunday and Wednesday evening as well as Sunday morning?

B. Will we honor and serve the living God above all else?

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