True Worship
John 4:23
23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
How do you make worship, worship?
John 4:24
24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Aspects of worship:
I. It is Upward - God the Father is worshipped
Worship God not His servants:
Revelation 19:10
10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Worship is not intended to bless us.
It is not what we think about worship but what God thinks. It is for Him, not us.
True worship is God-centered worship.
II. Worship is outward
Psalm 22:22
22 I will tell of your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.
Psalm 35:18
18 I will give you thanks in the great congregation; I will praise you among a mighty throng.
Psalm 108:3
3 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to you among the nations.
Psalm 111:1
1 Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly.
Psalm 22:3
3 Yet you are holy, O you who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
God inhabits the praise of His people.
We have to be pro-active in our worship.
We are talking about true worship here. We are talking about meaning it, getting into it. Some people say that they do not do that, that they are not that type of person. Here is a good example: How many of us jumped out of our seat at the last big football game we watched and shouted for joy? Ok then, do not say that you are not that type of person who shows outward emotion.
Why can't we be that excited about God?
III. Worship is inward
- We must worship in spirit and in truth.
- True worship must have personal integrity.
- God sees through the hypocrisy.
Psalm 9:1
1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.
- With your whole heart!
- True worship is heartfelt.
- Do you really believe it? Then sing it!
- You will tell God with your heart, not your voice.
Application:
- Always remember to keep the main thing the main thing – God is the object and focus.
- We must worship God intentionally, not "going through the motions" or vain repetitions.
- Choose to develop a heart of a true worshipper, a goal.