WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TRULY WORSHIP

Article #76 by Jennifer on Thursday, April 09, 2009 at 07:31 AM

Introduction:
A. Text: John 4:23-24
B. Many of us have attended religious services all our lives, and “worship” has come to be such a commonplace thing that we may not even think about the purposes it might have.
C. Those of us who are members of a congregation that designates itself as a church belonging to Christ believe strongly that worship ought to be what God wants it to be - we do not engage in worship practices that have no scriptural authority because we want worship to be what it ought to be.
D. But do we understand that proper worship is not only rendered in the correct form, it does what it ought to do?
E. When worship is what it ought to be, what happens in worship?

I. GOD IS GLORIFIED
A. The principal thing that happens when we worship is that God is glorified, praised, honored.
1. Worship comes from the Old English weorthscipe (”worth + ship”).
2. Worship is the expression of tribute to God’s worth - His praise-worthy nature, attributes, and works.
B. God is to be glorified, and the Bible is full of praise to Him - Revelation 5:8-14.
1. 1 Timothy 1:17 - “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
2. Jude 24-25 - “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless, Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
C. Many of our songs are hymns, songs of praise to God - e.g. “Worthy Art Thou.”
D. But all that we do in obedience to God’s commands is worship, either explicitly or implicitly.
E. We need to be more “worshipful” about our “worship.”
F. To the extent we glorify God in worship now we are enjoying a foretaste of what heaven will be.

II. WE ARE STRENGTHENED
A. While the glorification of God is the primary thing in worship, it is in the very act of glorifying God that we receive strength for our spiritual lives.
B. God does not need what we are able to offer Him in worship. Cf. Psalm 50:7-15.
1. David prayed - “Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come form Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee.” (1 Chronicles 29:13,14)
2. “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:24,25).
C. We need worship, and God has given it for our benefit.
D. What God is looking for in our worship is not merely a certain set of actions that are meaningful to Him in themselves - 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:14-17; Isaiah 66:1,2; Micah 6:6-8.
E. What God wants is the obedient wordshipfulness of our hearts.
F. The collective relationship and worship of the saints is a part of what God has provided for the edification of the body - Ephesians 4:11-16.
G. The worship of the church is not merely an end in itself, it is a means to an end - it is like a “filling station” on a journey, a “huddle” in a football game, etc.
H. We neglect the worship of the saints only at our peril - Hebrews 10:23-25.
I. The degree of strenghth we receive in worship has much to do with how much we are glorifying God.
1. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:24-25).
2. God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Conclusion:
A. Not just any “worship” glorifies God and strengthens the saints.
1. Only when we truly worship do these things result.
2. Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
B. When we glorify God we are strengthened, which in turn results in a greater glorification of God, which in turn results in greater strengthening, etc.
C. Not only do we receive strength in worship, we receive joy.
1. It is indeed true that the chief end of man is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
2. The glorification and the enjoyment of God are inseparable!
D. We ought to be glad for all that worship is: (Psalm 122:1).
E. We need to be thankful for every assembly of the church - fully appreciating what goes on every time we worship as we should.

~Steve Stilwill