Worship
Course: The Higher Calling to Worship (1)
Introductory Lesson 1
Title: The Life of Worship
Worship
in spirit and in truth is more than an outward expression of worship.
·
Worship
is seen in the Psalms through
Praising, Music and Dancing (Psalm 150)
Singing, Making a Joyful Noise,
and Kneeling (Psalm 95)
Praying and Lifting Hands (Psalm
141:2)
Bringing an offering. Psalms 96:8, ‘Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his
name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.’
·
All
of these can be done without worshipping.
Worship is more than singing,
praying, kneeling, praising etc.
We can do all these things in a
worldly manner.
Even praying can be worldly, and
praising can be empty words.
·
True
worship must be the outward expression of our love for God.
Worship must come from a pure
heart overflowing with love for the Lord.
It must be agape love – His love
in us.
It always begins with the desire
of our heart.
We must desire God above
everything else.
Introductory View of the Life of Worship: Going higher into worship
The
Spirit of God leads the worshipper into higher realms of worship.
The worshipper must always go up to worship
by ‘seeking first the
1)
The
Worship of Thankfulness and Praise
(Psalm 100:4). When the
worshipper has gone up to worship the entrance into worship is by thankfulness
and praise, ‘…be thankful unto
him, and bless his name’.
2)
The
Worship of a Surrendered Life (Romans 12:1). The worshipper moves higher into
worship by presenting his or her life as a ‘living sacrifice’.
Worship moves from here into a new
realm. It is the place of anointed
worship. It is also the place of
brokenness because the anointing flows out of broken vessels.
3)
The
Worship of an Anointed Life (Acts
The anointing brings opposition from those
who resist the moving of the Holy Spirit.
4)
The
Worship of Fellowship with His Sufferings (Acts
These leads to the highest place of worship
where the worshipper rejoices in God’s eternal plan and purpose that was
fulfilled through Jesus Christ and is now being proclaimed through the
Church.
5)
The
Worship of Knowing the Eternal Plan and Purpose of God (Ephesians 3:1-13). This is the place of angelic worship. The angels always see the glory of God
(Isaiah 6:3)
There is another realm of worship that is
reached when the worshipper enters into eternity. The worshipper is lifted to worship in
heaven where he or she continues to offer anointed worship to the Lord. There is no end to true worship. Death for the worshipper is a continuation
of worship from time into eternity. The
greatest joy of worship in eternity is that the worshipper will see the King in
His beauty, face to face.
Main Points
1.
Worship
is the heart of the Christian life.
Disciples of Christ desire to be like Him in Holiness and to seek after
Him.
Without worship Christianity will
be associated with living a good life, but holiness is more than this.
Holiness comes through
relationship and worship must come out of holiness.
Holiness looks to the Lord but
morality looks only at outward actions.
Matthew
Worship will keep the Church from
becoming legalistic and judgmental of others.
The disciple of Christ must learn
to worship at all times, and in all situations and circumstances.
This can be compared to the
excitement of a love relationship. It is
the excitement of being together that makes the relationship so special.
2.
Worship
is born out of our relationship with the Lord.
Christ must be at the centre of our life. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers was
that Christ would dwell in their hearts.
Ephesians
3. Worship must be in spirit and in
truth, (John
4.
Effective
ministry in the body of Christ must always be worship.
All the great men and women of faith in
scripture were first and foremost worshippers.
Ministry to others flows out of worship that
is rooted in love for Christ.
5.
Our
worship will determine how we will enter into heaven. 2 Peter 1:10-11 ‘Wherefore
the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:
for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Salvation is the free gift of God, Ephesians
2:8. It is dependent upon faith alone in what
Jesus Christ has done for us. But how we
enter into heaven is dependent upon our relationship with Christ. The Bible says we need to be concerned about
the way we will enter into heaven. The
only way to be ready for eternity is to always be living in the place of
worship.
Illustration:
Olympic Games - the athlete brings honour to the nation.
The person who wins gold at the Olympic
brings honour to his or her nation.
Often an athlete will shed tears when the national anthem is played and
the national flag is raised. The joy of bringing honour to one’s nation is a
great achievement.
6.
There
is no higher calling than the call to worship, (Psalm 27:4).
Those who seek to worship the Father in
spirit and in truth must have one desire.
Summary:
The whole
of the Christian life is a life of worship.
The life of worship will be characterised by the desire
1)
To
be holy
2)
To
seek after Christ
3)
To
keep God's word
4)
To
be motivated by the love of Christ
5)
To
honour the Lord
6)
To
have a closer relationship with the Lord.
Textbook
- The Higher Calling to Worship