Biblical Worship Introduction:

What is worship? Myths that hinders us from worshiping God? Why worship God? A practice of worship

Scripture References:
(Joh 4:23-24) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. (1Ch 16:29) Give to Jehovah the glory of His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship Jehovah in the beauty of holiness. (Mat 4:10) Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." What is Worship? Homage rendered to God which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any created being (Exo_34:14; Isa_2:8) (Joh 4:23-24) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

1. There has been a change in worship- But the hour is coming, and now is...

Before Christ , men worshiped God in special places (temples,altars). But Christ opened the door into God's very presence and man can now worship God from any place in the universe.

2. The nature of worship - true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth
worship God in spirit means... with spiritual drive seeking the most intimate communion with God worship god in truth means... approach God in the right or true way worship God sincerely or truthfully not half heartedly

3. The reason for worship - for the Father seeks such to worship Him

God desires worship and He created man for this purpose

Myths that Hinders Worship?

Quiz:

Why did Jesus died on the cross?

For I tell you that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth in order to confirm the promises given to our forefathers, so that the gentiles may ___________ Rom. 15:8-9 Salvation is all about __________________ I will do whatever you ask in my name, _____________________ John 14:13

The essence of sin is that man seeks his own in everything, even in God - Martin Luther Myth #1: Salvation is for us

Often time we think that salvation is all about us not going to hell us not having to pay the penalty we deserve us getting God's mercy us receiving God's grace us getting to be with God for all eternity us having Christ prepare a place for us in His Father's mansion However, if we will study the scripture carefully we will discover that we were saved for something, the focus is on God! For I tell you that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth in order to confirm the promises given to our forefathers, so that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy Rom 15:9 The purpose of our salvation is for God's glory. And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. Gen 1:28; And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Gen 11:4 God's original purpose is to fill the earth with people who will give glory to His name God's image resides inside of us. It was the Father who put the image inside of us. As He redeems us He is redeeming His image that is woven into the fabric of who we are. God is expressing the very essence of who He is, He is love, He is merciful and gracious and yet He is holy and just If we are aware of the purpose of our salvation then there will be a different meaning of salvation. It will mean... pointing to God's mercy worshiping Him giving Him glory He deserve lifting His name on high exalting Him for His greatness singing His praise for ever and ever

Myth #2: Creations were created for us I heard in one Bible study that when God created the earth He was thinking of us and He designed the earth for us. Look at the order of how God created the earth, it was prepared for us. For so many years I learned to believe this until I came face to face with Colossians 1:16, For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. If the creation is for us, why did God create three quarters of the earth to be covered by water?

Why does the swordfish have brilliant and beautiful colors that will last only 30 seconds in the sun? Because it was designed to be seen in water. It's beauty is for God not for us. He only shares it with us. If it is all about us, why are there sounds we cannot hear that the dogs can hear? Why did God gave the eagle better eyesight than us? Why did God caused a baby horse to walk at birth and us needs at least 9 months to learn to crawl? Why do our bodies wear out? Why did God create us to need sleep while the giraffe needs only 5 minutes at a time totaling only 2 hours a day? We have more to do than the giraffe. Why are there galaxies we can't even see? O Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and for Your will they are and were created. Rev 4:11 The writer of the book of Romans acknowledges the fact that the creation declares God's glory.

Myth #3: Life is meant for us

Many people think that life is supposed to be fair because life is meant for us and God, if He is God, He must be fair. Is life really meant for us? What is the purpose of life? Jabez God answered his prayer and he was completely blessed (1 Cron. 4:10) Nameless young girl Live through a hell-on-earth experience in order to touch the Gentile's life (2 Kings 5) Stephen Full of God's power and grace and yet stoned to death (Acts 6,7) Which life was God fair to? Wrong question to ask because life wasn't designed to be fair. Life was designed to be a series of events to reveal God's glory and points us and others to that glory. 1Co 10:31 Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Myth #4: God cannot live for Himself We often think that God cannot live for Himself. We assume that if He will God must be on some kind of ego trip. Joh 12:27-28 And My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this cause I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name! Then there came a voice from the heaven saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. To fully understand why God live for Himself let us try to answer the question Whom does God live for? All of creation? - But creation is temporal. It exist for a time but will be gone someday (2 Pet 3:10). So why would an eternal God live for something temporal? Angels? Satan came to kill, steal and destroy (Joh 10:10). Not a good option. Human being? - Mar 7:20-22 And He said, That which comes out of the man is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Is man a good option to live for? God? - Why choose Himself? Because He is... the Lord of Glory the King of Kings the Great Physician the Righteous One the Shelter from the Storm the Architect and Builder of all things the Defender of widows the Helper of the fatherless the Source of eternal salvation the Alpha and Omega the Maker of all things

the Good Shepherd the Great Reward the One who holds the keys to the gates of hell the God of grace the God of hope the God of love the God who gives endurance the God who blots out our transgressions a very present help in times of need an awesome God a faithful God omniscient omnipresent merciful the only good God Whom should we live for if we have those four options? Why would God be any different? He lives to radiate His glory in billions upon billions of different ways.

Summary: Worship is a declaration that it is not about us, it's all about God!