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WORSHIP: WARREN WIERSBE

Real Worship
By Warren Wiersbe
The Priority of Worship
Writes of how most of his religious experience comes from the independent ecumenical
church where the word worship was rarely found anywhere other than on the cover of a
book.
We may see differently on certain church matters of doctrine and practice but one thing
we can all agree on is: You and I personally, and the church collectively, are
desperately in need of transformation. We are weary of business as usual!
We need and want a transforming experience from the Lord,

the kind of spiritual visitation that will help to heal our broken homes and
our split churches;
that will strip away our religious veneer and get back to reality;
that will restore true spiritual values and replace cheap counterfeits weve
been foisting on ourselves and the lost world;
that will, most of all, bring such glory to God that the world will sit up and
take notice and confess that God is truly among you. (1 Cor. 14:25)

So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you!
Churches are made up of people like you and me, and we both know that churches can
not change until the people change and people can not change until they are
transformed by the Spirit of God to become like the Son of God.
The following statements by Paul should become prayers for our own lives.
2 Cor. 3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflecta the Lords glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who
is the Spirit.
from glory to glory or from one stage of glory to another
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what Gods will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will. 1
Substitutes for Worship
a Or contemplate
1
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
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TRUE WORSHIP: WARREN WIERSBE

Religious trends over the years have produced many substitutes for worship.
Separation or separated churches
Separation apart from worship can and usually does become a brittle piety
that breeds arrogance, legalism, and unbiblical isolation from both the world and
church.
Personal evangelism
Evangelism divorced from true worship can become merely a program tacked on
to an already overloaded ministry calendar. Evangelism is essential to fulfilling
the great commission and the five-fold purpose of the church, but it must be the
result of worship or it wont glorify God.
Bruce Leafblad said, If God is to be first in our churches, our ministries, and
our homes then worship must come ahead of everything else we do because we
worship is that process whereby we place God first in front of everything we do.
So, therefore, worship comes first then the work and works follow.
Isaiah became an evangelist after attending a worship service in the temple and
seeing God high and lifted up. (Isaiah 6:1)
World Missions
Were admonished to preach missions, to give more and more to missions, to
challenge our people to go into the whitened harvest fields of the world with the
gospel. But missions like separation and evangelism must be a product of
worship, otherwise, it is only a new gimmick to motivate the church, and the
motivation will not last, nor will it meet the need.
In a sense, Abraham was the first foreign missionary named in the Bible. God
called him to leave his home and go to a distant and unknown land to bear witness
to the true living God. How did this missionary venture begin?
Stephen explained in Acts 7:2 that The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham.
This sounds sort of similar to Isaiahs experience in the temple. (Isa. 6:1)
This sounds sort of similar to the outpouring on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) when
they were all together in one place and in one accord. They had been fasting, praying,
and in worship seeking the face of God and waiting on the promised Holy Spirit for days
when Power from on high descended upon each of them making them world-class
disciples and witnesses unto men from many nations.

TRUE WORSHIP: WARREN WIERSBE

In fact, did you know that Pauls missionary call came to him while he was sharing in
worship in the church at Antioch.
Acts 13:2 - As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 2
When missions is divorced from real worship, the human need can become more
important than the divine glory; and the strategy used might be the result of human
observations rather than a God-given spiritual vision.
Its when we worship God that we discover afresh that His thoughts and ways are far
above ours and that whatever we do will have to be guided and empowered by Him.
This applies to:
Bus ministries, prison ministries, youth rallies, discipleship programs, church growth
seminars, worship and prayer conferences, mens/womens ministries, childrens ministry
progams, drama and arts programs, denominational promotions, and even choir ministry
eventsall of which promise to bring new life to the congregation but none of which
really have done the job. Why?
Because they had been divorced from real worship and therefore could not produce fruit
and glorify God.
Many of these things are good and important to the local church, but they are not good in
themselves.
They are good ONLY if they are birthed in the throne-room of God,
ONLY a by-product of real spiritual worship,
ONLY a result of seeing Him high and lifted up,
and ONLY if we have heard His call.
These have been things that been said to bring success to our churches. Today, our
churches are suffering from our so-called success, AND THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO
RETURN TO WORSHIP! RETURN TO WORSHIP!
God wants to expand our vision of Him, deepen our experience of worship, and broaden
our love for Gods people and our ministry to those who need Christ.

The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak
Harbor, WA
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TRUE WORSHIP: WARREN WIERSBE

GOD IS TRYING TO CALL US BACK TO THAT FOR WHICH HE CREATED US.

(A.W. TOZER), to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever. Lets heed that call together.
Lets begin this journey anew right now.
Closing prayer
Father, thank you for your patience with me! When I think of how many worship
experiences I have wastedand how many worship services I have criticizedI feel
very ashamed.
Thank you for inviting us on this worship pilgrimage and for those who are going with
me. Guide us. We have so much to learn!
Help us to return to worship with our whole hearts that we may experience You in evergreater glory, that we may experience the blessings of your throne, and that we may truly
understand what makes a successful church. Jesus, You are everything! Apart from
Your presence we can do nothing. More than anything else, we want to learn to worship
You. Help us now as we give ourselves to you once again -- In the Name of Jesus, Your
Son, and our Savior. Amen.