Lesson 226: “Worship - Part 2 of 2"
At least once in a lifetime, all Moslems/Muslems should make a pilgrimage to Mecca to worship Allah. Praise be to our God who is Omnipresent (all present), Omnipotent (all powerful) and Omniscient (all knowing) making it possible for Christians to worship anywhere, everywhere, any time and all the time. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you” (1 Cor. 3:16)? Worship to God can and should be within us, in our homes, work places and among friends; not only in public worship buildings. Beautiful churches and elaborate cathedrals should reflect God’s glory and give praise and honor to Him (and the majority do just this). However, we Christians are elegant within ourselves since God is enthroned upon the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3). We are the Spirit-built cathedral of God. Where two or three come together in my name (two being Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and the third being yourself), there God is also (Matt. 18:20). Walk into this worship by faith and feel and hear God in your midst.
Read Hebrews 12 once more, paying close attention to verses 22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22). Rejoice that wherever you are that Mount Zion is open to your worship and Jesus Christ is seated there “with us” in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6). No matter where you worship physically you are worshiping spiritually in the City of God, coming to the throne as holy people washed clean by the blood of the Lamb!
We read in Acts 20:7 (among other places) that the first day of the week, the day that Christ arose, is specified for worship. In reality we are to worship at all times, offering our bodies as living sacrifices, as this is our spiritual act of worship (Rom. 12:1). Peter tells us how to worship at all times through speech and service (1 Pet. 4:11). Christians begin a lifetime of worship the second of salvation and continue through-out eternity. If and only when we practice our every day worship will we be prepared for our “weekly” gathering together of the assembly (Heb. 10:25). “The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; His love endures forever.’ Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud”’ (2 Chro. 5:13). By faith we too see God’s glorious presence because God is in our midst. Worship by repenting and confessing our sins, be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, participate worthily in the Lord’s Supper; give offerings and tithes and receive His blessings.
Worship is made acceptable by the power of the Holy Spirit. “For it is we, who are the circumcision (in heart); we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus and who put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). Worship should not cause us to become drowsy, miserable and anxious to leave the service. Rather it should be a joyful, enthusiastic activity. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:19-20).
The results of true worship are indeed rewarding and worth seeking:
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Pleasure for the believers – Psalm 16:11
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Strength – Psalm 73:25-26
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God’s delight in the believers – Isaiah 62:3-5
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God sings over you – Zephaniah 3:17
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Mercy and grace – Hebrews 4:16, 10:19-22
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The devil flees – James 4:7-8
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The entire church body gains strength – 1 Corinthians 14:26
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God defeats the enemy – 2 Chronicles 20:20-22
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You find and give forgiveness – Matthew 5:23, Mark 11:25
10. The heart is opened; sin exposed; sin confessed; sin forgiven;
God hears – Psalm 66:18-19.
“AMEN! PRAISE AND GLORY AND WISDOM AND THANKS AND HONOR AND POWER AND STRENGTH BE TO OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN” (Rev. 7:12).