Worship Time from Deep to Deep - October 2005

[Jonny]

Wulf has asked me to post the notes from the worship time at the beginning of Deep to Deep, so here they are:

WORSHIP

The word worship appears 153 times in the NIV Bible, broadly split into 2 themes: Worship only the Lord and do not worship anything else.

EX 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
Exodus 34:14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

But how do we worship?
Is it something that comes naturally to us as God's people?
Do we approach worship with reverence and awe?

1CH 16:25-31 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,
ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.
Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"

The God we worship is the creator of heaven and earth. He is God almighty, not all matey. But He is our friend and he does love us. Surely that is something that is worth putting ourselves out for.
But what is worship? Singing? Praying? Reading His word?
Paul says

RO 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 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 God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So every time we come together with others for a corporate act of worship, we should be coming before our living Lord as in humble obedience. We should prepare ourselves so that our worship is acceptable.
And the way we do that is by living a life that is a life of worship before him. Putting Christ first, letting Him be at the very centre of our beings and living according to His teachings and His example. He gives us free will to choose whether to worship him or not, but when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour He gives us that free gift of eternal life.

HEB 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

[Alyson]

Thanks, Jonny, for posting these notes. While reading them, I got inspiration for how to begin the service I will be leading on Nov. 1st.

God bless you.

Alyson