Worship (intro) part 1 Perhaps a word of explanation is in order to clarify what I mean by worship. There are hundreds of examples of worship in the Bible. I will site only two of many from Old Testament & New Testament to illustrate my point. (1a) When Abraham sent his servant out to find a bride for Isaac, the servant devised a scenario that would indicate the one God had chosen to be Isaac's bride (Gen. 24). When the old servant saw his prayer being answered right before his eyes, it says he bowed and worshipped the Lord. (2a) At the last moments of Jacob's (Israel's) life, Joseph brought his sons to his father and Jacob recounts all that God had wrought in his life and what God had in mind for all his sons. In the Hebrew translation (Gen. 49) it says that Israel pulled (raised himself- but the word is also "worshipped") as he arose on his staff (summoning the last measure of energy in his body) and he blessed Joseph's sons as well as his own sons. He was speaking beyond his human understanding and knowledge as he blessed/prophesied to each of the boys before him. When Israel finished he breathed his last. That was another account of true worship as Jacob reflected back on God's faithfulness and sovereignty. Therefore what he spoke was out of a spirit of worship. I'm not sure any of them including Israel, really understood all that was spoken at that time. (1b) In this NT example the word "worship" does not literally appear, but the implication is very clear from the context that this was worship in spirit and truth. In LK 1 Mary goes to visit Elizabeth who is with child, and John, leaped in Elizabeth's womb at Mary's presence. Upon Mary seeing and hearing this (as well as recalling what the angel had told her) she says that her soul magnifies the Lord and her spirit rejoices! (v. 46-47) (2b) Paul in describing a gathering of saints together (I Cor. 14), says that he chooses to pray in (with his) spirit AND with understanding (his mind), he will sing in spirit and sing with understanding also. Why does he say this? I believe Paul is saying I can worship God personally/individually in spirit, but when we come together, I will also MAGNIFY the Lord with my soul so that others will profit. The rejoicing that Mary was experiencing at that moment was personal and Elizabeth may not have known what was going on inside Mary, but Elizabeth was brought into Mary's joy when her soul magnified the Lord. So, what does all this mean? I believe we worship in spirit, which is a personal and intimate matter that can be done anywhere, anytime. As the 1a and 2a examples illustrate - when we see God in action, actually working in an undeniable way in our lives, we will (in spirit) bow in worship to Him right there. The 1b and 2b examples are when the saints come together, NOT specifically to worship, but to encourage one another (edify/build up). Elizabeth and Mary were mutually doing this. Paul says toward the end of ch. 14 that *this* is the primary purpose of us gathering together – to encourage/edify/build up one another.
When we come together as the assembly (ekklesia) for mutual encouragement, we may sing, pray, prophesy (speak forth and bless) in a proper order. No one man is running the show. As each participates each may also be brought into the spirit of worship, but that is toward God, yet our sharing with understanding..expression of our soul (mind) is toward the saints for edification of the body.
I’m sure we all have on many occasions gathered with saints, prayed, sang, etc. and yet within our hearts, we knew there is no spirit of worship coming forth :(. Yet other times, just sitting quietly and listening to another, we would be bowing in spirit to God in true worship. I don't believe "worship" can be controlled or manipulated, it is an intimate communion between God and man; worship happens. It can happen in solitude and silence or with others. The place or time is not limited to “this mountain…” neither that, nor this time nor that. Worship cannot happen until a spirit connection (Spirit to spirit/spirit to Spirit) is made.
No one can control or manipulate worship, only God by His Spirit - but what about praise? Is there a difference in praise and worship? charlie - bowing out :) |
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