When We Worship

Joshua Davis

September 14, 2022

We were all created to worship God. My goal tonight is to bring understanding on the topic of worship. Tonight I want to focus on two aspects of worship; God’s worthiness of it and what takes place spiritually when we worship Him.

Isaiah 43:21 (ESV)

the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

We all have the ability and the capacity to worship.

-No one has to teach a 2 year-old to say, “That’s good!” after biting into a slice of pizza.

-An athlete (whom you’ve never met) scores, and you exuberantly celebrate.

-Your child gets honor roll, and you have to tell your friends how awesome he/she is.

These are everyday examples of worship. The issue isn’t that we don’t like to worship or don’t know how to. The issue is that we don’t understand that we were made to worship and the importance of worship as a lifestyle.

Worship IS:

• Valuing or treasuring of God above all things
• Life lived in obedience and surrender to Him
• Declaring the worth of God

Worship is NOT:

• A musical performance/time of entertainment
• It’s not the opening act for the preacher
• A space filler to buy you time to get coffee, be late, etc.
• Worship (corporately) isn’t to get your heart ready to hear the Word.

Malachi 1:6-11 (MSG)

6 “Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me!

“You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’“By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship.“You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’

7-8 “When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.

9 “Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you. You priests have gotten everyone in trouble. With this kind of conduct, do you think I’ll pay attention to you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.

10 “Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want any more of this so-called worship!

11 “I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They’re saying it everywhere: ‘God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.’

His Worthiness of Our Worship

How do I get into a mode of worship? I ground my heart and thoughts in gratitude.

You will not give thanks for what you do not value.

It is the Gospel that reveals the worthiness of God and produces gratitude in us. The gospel isn’t a one-time presentation to get someone to accept Christ.

Isaiah 53:1 (MSG)

Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?

2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.

One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried – our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole.Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him.

7-9 He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off — and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true.

10 Still, it’s what God had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.

11-12 Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,” as he himself carries the burden of their sins. Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly— the best of everything, the highest honors— Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Meditation on what God did to bring me back to Him through His only Son produces worship out of me when everything around me seems to be falling apart and when everything is going well. The Gospel brings me to the conclusion that the Father has done it all and that Jesus is more than enough! It leads me to believe that if God can remedy a problem by giving His Son for me, and Jesus obediently giving His life for me then there really isn’t anything too hard for God. Don’t worry; worship!

Personal Experiences

In my personal life, I’ve learned that gratitude moves Him, and talking about Him moves Him. I love to sing about His holiness and how worthy He is! I’ve learned that when I do these things, His presence comes. I’ve also learned that hunger attracts Him.

1. Small group- testimonies & revelations
2. First Men’s Encounter- weighty presence / Holy Spirit arrested me
3. The Stirring- The Fear of the Lord / “What a Father!”
4. PM’s office- pre service prayer/worship

There just isn’t anything like the presence of God! Now I would encourage you to not seek a feeling, but to worship God with your whole heart whether you feel Him or not.

Heavenly Praise & Worship Releases God’s Kingdom

During our back-to-school outreach, I heard on more than one occasion how the environment felt peaceful, inviting, and loving. We value family, and these things are a byproduct of what we have cultivated. Because we have intentionally cultivated “family,” things associated with “family” have been released in the atmosphere. It is embedded in our DNA.

What would happen if we cultivated the presence of God individually? What if we individually guarded our time with the Lord to make sure we continue to burn for the Lord? When we come together there would be unity in our pursuit of Him, and an increase of His presence!

Ex. Coals separately don’t have much of a fire. Coals gathered together make a big fire.

Psalm 22:3

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Enthrone

To place on a throne; to exalt to the seat of royalty.

(Websters Dictionary 1828 – Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – enthrone, n.d.)

Throne

In Scripture, sovereign power and dignity.

The place where God peculiarly manifests his power and glory.

(Websters Dictionary 1828 – Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – Throne, n.d.)

The throne is a seat of authority. From it decrees are made, orders are given, rewards are given, and things are established. When we praise God, we create a throne for Him to sit on and manifest His power and glory.

There is a release that happens in the spirit realm when we praise God, and this release is connected to our praise. However, His power is not the object of my worship; He is.

Isaiah 30:32 (ESV)

And every stroke of the appointed staff that the Lord lays on them will be to the sound of tambourines and lyres. Battling with brandished arm, he will fight with them.

Psalm 149:6 (ESV)

Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,

Even when David established the Tabernacle of David, he had his army commanders appoint those that would minister to the Lord.

1 Chronicles 25:1 (NLT)

David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:

Look at how there is a release of God’s power and glory as praise is offered to Him!

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NLT)

After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”

22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

Acts 16:25-33 (ESV)

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

We must move from passivity in our praise and worship into intentionality. Your praise and worship could be linked to God moving in this nation. Your praise and worship could be linked to your own personal breakthrough. Prayer is often thought of as the only vehicle for accomplishing God’s will on the earth. I want to submit to you that it is both prayer & worship.

“Soldier in the army of the Lord”

A soldier is sent on behalf of a governing authority to complete a task or mission. Soldiers don’t “play” soldier. When told to move out, soldiers don’t get the opportunity to get ready. They are already prepared. In the same way, true worshipers are already prepared for worship. Prayer warriors have already prayed before the prayer meeting. True worshipers and prayer warriors don’t have to be pumped up to do what they were created to do.

Sons & daughters make the best worshippers. Worshipers make the best prayer warriors.

Sons & daughters are those that know who God is as a Father and who they are in Jesus. It is the children that get things done in the kingdom. Things in the kingdom aren’t accomplished through striving and effort. You weren’t brought into the kingdom by your own efforts either.

Sons & daughters of God simply worship Him.

How to Worship

John 4:21-24 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

This passage speaks of 3-fold worship:

1. Ignorant worship- “ye worship ye know not what” – John 4:22
2. Intelligent worship- “we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews” – John 4:22
3. Spiritual worship- “ the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth”

“In Spirit”- refers to the level, or depth where true worship occurs. It comes from the heart. This worship reflects deep devotion to God.

The worship in spirit is the worship of the Father IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the Spirit of Sonship! (Gal. 4:6, Romans 8:15)

“In Truth”- Truth is a person. His name is Jesus. (John 14:6- I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…)

Worship in truth revolves around Jesus; not ourselves. Worship in truth is based on the truth and teachings of God’s Word. It is also based on our position in Him.

When we worship we bring ourselves into agreement and alignment with the Lord and His Spirit. As we come into alignment, His will becomes more apparent, and we can begin to release in prayer & worship what God wants to accomplish.

Worship (proskuneó- 4352)

To do reverence to, to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior, to kiss the hand to (toward) one

It suggests the willingness to make all necessary physical gestures of obeisance

Closing:

Worship isn’t a matter of intimacy only; but intimacy and authority. The reality is that when we worship the Lord, we are giving Him what He’s worthy of and at the same time bringing ourselves into alignment with Him. When we worship, we are building a throne for God to dwell in. We are creating space for the King of kings to rule, decree, and establish.

Action Points:

• Ask yourself, “Am I passive or intentional about worshiping God privately and corporately?”

Pray this: “Father, you’ve created me to worship you; teach me how.”

• Carve out time in your personal devotional time to worship the Lord along with prayer and Bible reading.

 

• Do you approach the Lord in worship with the fear of God?