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| Created to Worship |
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“During the tenure of the great orator Henry Ward Beecher, a visiting minister (Beecher's brother) once substituted for the popular pastor. A large audience had already assembled to hear Beecher, and when the substitute pastor stepped into the pulpit, several disappointed listeners began to move toward the exits. That's when the minister stood and said loudly, ‘All who have come here today to worship Henry Ward Beecher may now withdraw from the church. All who have come to worship God keep your seats!’"
God has created us to be worshipers. Therefore, it is impossible to categorize people into two categories – worshipers and non-worshippers. Indeed, everyone worships something because that is the way we are made. The question is what or who we worship.
As Christians, we want to worship the God of the Bible. So in order to be someone who worships God, an understanding of worship is needed. Bishop Williams Temple, the renowned archbishop of Canterbury, offered the following definition of worship.
Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to his purpose--and all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.
Worship Holistically
The Bible exhorts us to love God with our mind, will, and emotions
Have our consciences quickened by God’s Holiness
In Isaiah 6 Isaiah is ushered in to the presence of God. The result is that he gets a revelation of the holiness of God. In Isaiah 6:3, it describes God as being holy, using the word three times in succession in order to emphasize the idea that God is in fact holy. This is the only time that a characteristic of God is mentioned three times in succession in the Bible. This is done so the attribute of his holiness will be seen in its proper perspective.
Nourish our Minds with God’s Word
Nourishing our minds with God’s Word is indeed an act of worship. But not only is it an act of worship, it provides the inspiration to worship. It was precisely God’s Word that prepared David’s heart for worship. “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8).
Have our imaginations purified by Looking at God’s Beauty
We experience God’s beauty as we worship the Lord, because God is the source of all true beauty. Psalm 27:4 declares, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in his temple.
Open our Hearts to God’s Love
Sometimes the hardest thing for Christians to fully embrace is the fact that God truly loves them. So important is the knowledge of God’s love that Paul prayed the following prayer for the Ephesian church so they could understand God’s love: “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19).
Surrender our Wills to His Purpose
When we are worshipping ourselves our prayer so to speak is MY will be done. However, when we are worshiping God our prayer is THY will be done.
Conclusion
Thus, worship according to Temple, becomes the chief remedy for our struggle with sin and worthless idols.
Today in the Word, April 1989, p. 22. |
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| Pastor Tim, Thank you for this article. I anticipate yet another great discussion around "The Art of Worship". When I think of the word art, I think of a skill, I think of someone (an artisan) who has to cultivate their skill. All the great artists would admit that it takes dedication, commitment, and repetition; hours, days, years, and perhaps one's lifetime toward the development of said skill. "The Art of Worship" brings to mind the "how do", how do I Worship God? How do I worship God, and do it well. Unfortunately, the Church (in general) is guilty of idolatry, and participates in the "cult of personalities. The said man or woman of God (the under shepherd ) has been ushered into the position of the holy. True and authentic worship of God has been displaced with worship of man. Our Worship of God is our ultimate purpose, it is more than an event of momentary songs, dance and praise. God is Holy, Holy, Holy, to understand this is to recognize that it will take a lifetime of practice, a lifetime of developing one's skill in order to get it right and even then, we still fall short. Pastor Aminata |
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Thank you Pastor Tim for these great words of inspiration, Worship in Spirit and in Truth! we lie to ourselves when we worship the Man, but we honor God when we worship Him! Thank you for this post, thank you for all your post.
Pastor Aminata, your words are spoken like a true Worshiper, thank you, thank you, thank you! |
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| Hey Pastor Tim, great stuff! Worshiping God is such an immense privilege! We are privileged to know who he is, to know his nature, and therefore to know how to worship him. He revealed himself to us -- what a loving thing to do! So we can worship him with our entire lives. But we are also privileged to be able to come into his special presence in the sanctuary (as we gentiles call it) and lift hearts and voices to him. Amazing, what we're really doing each Sunday! Worship of the Most High is such a privilege, that for reminding us! ~mike |
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| I was just readin that verse about presentin my body as a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1) I was ponderin on it and God spoke basically what you wrote about submittin my entire self to him. That is indeed true worship. A great word for a Monday morning, Pastor Tim. Thanks ya. God bless. |
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Pastor Tim I love worship & Praise giving my God my all.
Yes I have seen where worship has been use to idolize man
We do not think of ourselves as a worshiping culture, let alone an idolatrous culture, but our behavior suggests otherwise. Consider our weekly gatherings of up to 100,000 frenzied fans observing a ceremony of men dressed in strange garb acting out a violent drama of conquest. Others stay at home and join in by way of a small glowing shrine set up in the family room. Fans of professional football are probably not even aware that their behavior could be described as worship. Or consider the way thousands of young people scream and throw themselves at the stage where their rock-star idols are performing. Human beings were created to worship. To worship is to ascribe ultimate value to an object, person, or God-and then to revere, adore, pay homage to, and obey by ordering the priorities of our lives around that which we worship. The Bible teaches that God alone is worthy of our worship.
WORSHIP IS FIRST AND FOREMOST AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING AND HOLY GOD. |
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| As always, good stuff. The ancient church viewed the goal of salvation as union with God, and life on earth as believers as a constant process of drawing near through prayer, contemplation, the sacraments, etc., in order to achieve that purpose. I find that worship (as described in your blog) accomplishes that like nothing else. It's not so much about how good the band is or how "anointed" the worship leader is, but how much the individual, and hopefully the congregation, are willing to bow down before the Almighty and lovingly surrender all that is within them to He who is worthy to receive glory, honor and praise. (That said, well planned and anointed worship does provide the content for what the believer will say to God, as well as words and music that the Holy Spirit uses to speak to our circumstances and needs.) I believe that when Christians go beyond worship as entertainment or worship as a "pick me up", they encounter God and are transformed by his presence "from glory to glory". |
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I wish to add that true worship is to surrender your body as a living sacrifice to God for doing His will. In these last days, we find many worshipping groups who are just content with their mountain top experiences. But they do not do His will by preaching the gospel and by practising what they preach.
Job Anbalagan
Hear what your Beloved says to you today. |
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Thanks Pastor Tim! This is awesome. I've always felt that people were confusing praise and worship. I think you stated it very well. As a praise leader, I've come to realize I have only one goal: Am I leading in such a way that peopel focus Jesus. As a worshiper, I want every aspect of my life to be touched by and express God's love (which is why I'm pursuing 12 step). |
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Pastor Aminata, I really liked the illustration of the artisan who develops his or her skill. Likewise, we are to develop in our ability to worship. You are right. It takes a lifetime to develop this skill. Evangelist Keith, thanks for the reminder about worshipping God is Spirit and Truth. These are the parameters that define our worship. Asiamissions, thanks for the kind words brother. May you be blessed as well. Mike, the word that you used, privilege, was dead on. As I was reading your, the Holy Spirit seemed to minister to me through that simple word. He brought to my remembrance the Scripture in Hebrews 10 where it speaks of us entering the presence of God through the blood of Jesus. Thus, we enter in not by our works, or church attendance, or our performance. That would mean that we would have a right to worship Him. However, God has extended to us the privilege of worshipping Him through the blood of Jesus. Mullet, thanks. I can tell through reading your blogs that you do submit yourself to the Lord and are definitely being used of the Him MaKelly, I really like what you said about what worship is – ascribing ultimate value to an object. May we seek those things that are above. Cheryl, amen sister Danny, you have a great handle on the nature of worship. I loved what you said regarding the worship in the ancient world. “The ancient church viewed the goal of salvation as union with God, and life on earth as believers as a constant process of drawing near through prayer, contemplation, the sacraments, etc., in order to achieve that purpose.” Your response went into my sermon file. Job, you are exactly right. Romans 12:1 commands us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Jess, I really appreciate your heart for the Lord and your desire to worship Him. |
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| Amen. I have also heard it be taught, that that verse in Isaiah where they are saying "Holy Holy Holy" three times, is because of the trinity of God...it sounds like it makes sense..whatdya think? |
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| I never heard that, but that is an excellent point. It ceratinly makes sense! |
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Thanks pastor Tim. I think it's a daily struggle to remember who I belong to. I rented the movie the ultimate gift but I ain't watched it yet. I think it's more and more important every day to know our shepherds voice.
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Deb |
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October 01, 2007 at 12:18pm |
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| This is a great blog Pastor Tim, and good advice. |
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| Deb and Dave, thank you for your comments. Dave, you will enjoy that movie. |
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| I know in Terre Haute they tried to keep a prayer Chapel open 24/7 which is still open from 6:00 to 8:00 am the last I heard. It's a shame cause I think praise is an underestimated tool when it comes to light shining in darkness. |
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| I agree Dave. I believe that praise is an integral part of spiritual warfare |
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Great it is very much inspiring.
I love it, God bless you richly |
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| Rev. Chetachukwu, Thank you for the kind words and welcome to MyChurch |
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KitKat |
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October 02, 2007 at 4:06pm |
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I just printed off this blog to share with my Praise and Worship team at tonight's rehearsal! AWESOME Pastor Tim. Thanks again for being God's glove and catching the heart of God!
Blessings,
Kathy |
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Kathy, I am honored. My wife and I listened your your audio blog this evening. You are a truly gifted speaker and I mean that.
I like the phrase that you used, especially being an avid baseball fan, about God's glove and catching the heart of God. You have a great way with words.
PT |
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As a group, why cannot we worship our God in truth and in spirit by joining together in this forum? We do not need any building for worship. This is the place God has chosen for us to worship Him.
“Oh, our Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace and worship You through the Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. We fall before Your throne like the elders in the book of Revelation and worship You and the Lamb slain for us before the foundation of the world. We are made worthy to worship You. You have revealed to us through Your wonderful Names.
Oh, our Almighty God “El Shaddai”,
“Jehovah-Rapha” – “the-Lord-that-healeth-thee”,
Oh, “Jehovah-Jireh” – “The-Lord-will-provide”,
Oh, “Elohim” – the Creator God,
Oh, “Jehovah-Nissi”, “The-Lord-is-banner”,
Oh, “Jehovah-Shalom”, “The-Lord-Is-Peace”,
Oh, “Jehovah Mekkadishkem” “I am the Lord that doth sanctify you”
(Let us praise and worship Him by calling on His redemptive Names! As we call on His redemptive Names, while worshipping Him, we will really feel His presence with us and He will reveal us by His redemptive Names....)
While worshipping Him, we should know the significance of His redemptive Names in the following links:
Click here to read the revelations concerning His Redemptive names Part-I
Click here to read the revelations concerning His Redemptive Names
Please join me in worshipping our Heavenly Father.
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Gene |
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October 12, 2007 at 4:01pm |
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Pastor Tim,
I think you may have mentioned this but it's important that we don't confuse a "worship service" with worship. We are to worship God 24/7/365+. Those aspects of mind, will, and emotions are to be a part of us every day, all the time. It's when we separate worship into parts of the week that we weaken our entire relationship. |
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| Gene, I would add to your comment that we should never restrict worship to a place. ie OT worship; Woship in the temple. Now, we take the temple with with us. ie worshippers 24/7 |
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Rev 7:9-12
"9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
- Worship is to enthrone Jesus in our lives, He is the object of our worship |
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