Worship
I had a dream last week, that I was worshipping God with my hands held high
and I saw Jesus standing there. I prayed for the interpretation of that dream. A
few days ago as I was watching the revival in Lakeland Florida, I got our focus
has to be on Jesus as we worship.
Worship is reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God; the rituals or
ceremonies by which this reverence is expressed. The English word “worship”
comes from the Old English word “worthship”, a word that denotes the
worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion.
In Old Testament times Abraham built altars to the Lord Yahweh and called on
His name (Genesis 12:7-8) “and the Lord Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said,
to your seed will I give this land; and there built he an altar to the Lord Yahweh,
who appeared to him. And he removed from there to a mountain on the east of
Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east; and
there he built an altar to the Lord Yahweh, and called upon the name of the
Lord Yahweh”.
God established the form and principles of Israelite worship in the book of
Exodus. After they entered the Promised Land, Israel’s exposure to Canaanite
worship, affected the nation’s own worship. The Old Testament reveals clearly
that Israel adopted some of the practices of the pagan people around them. But
such idolatry was condemned by God and His prophets.
Some people worship the way they see others worship, but worship is something
that should be done straight from the heart. Worship in the New Testament
characterized by joy and thanksgiving because of God’s gracious redemption in
Christ. The early Christians worship focused on God’s saving work in Jesus
Christ. True worship was that which occurred under the inspiration of God’s
Spirit (John 4:23-24) Jesus said “but the hour comes and now is when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks
such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship
Him in spirit and in truth”.
Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is like worshipping Him like you are all
alone together, even when there are many people around you. You don’t see
the people, because you are focused on Him. Sometimes when you are in a
worship service and the music they are playing is not exactly what is in your
heart, don’t feel as if you have to sing the same sound, sing what is in your
heart, but do it orderly.
People have been trying to worship God the way that they want to, look at Cain
(Genesis 4:3-8) “and in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the
fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the
firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect to Abel
and to his offering. But to Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And
Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said to Cain, why
are you angry? And why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall you
not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin lies at the door, and to you shall be
his desire, and you shall rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother
and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel
his brother, and slew him”. Many people today try to worship God without going
through Jesus, but Ephesians 2:10 says “for we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk
in them”.
God tells Israel in Isaiah 1:10-15 that He hates their vain oblations, the new
moons and Sabbaths, even the solemn meeting. And warns that He will hide His
eyes from them. And again in Amos 5:21-27. They were worshipping God, the
way that the other nations worshipped their gods, but He rejected their worship.
Your worship to God, depends largely to your relationship with Him. How much
do you adore Him, Jesus said “you shall love the Lord your God with all you
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
Remember, be yourself and worship and talk to your heavenly Father on a one
on one basic. Not trying to please man.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: May 9, 2008
I had a dream last week, that I was worshipping God with my hands held high
and I saw Jesus standing there. I prayed for the interpretation of that dream. A
few days ago as I was watching the revival in Lakeland Florida, I got our focus
has to be on Jesus as we worship.
Worship is reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God; the rituals or
ceremonies by which this reverence is expressed. The English word “worship”
comes from the Old English word “worthship”, a word that denotes the
worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion.
In Old Testament times Abraham built altars to the Lord Yahweh and called on
His name (Genesis 12:7-8) “and the Lord Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said,
to your seed will I give this land; and there built he an altar to the Lord Yahweh,
who appeared to him. And he removed from there to a mountain on the east of
Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east; and
there he built an altar to the Lord Yahweh, and called upon the name of the
Lord Yahweh”.
God established the form and principles of Israelite worship in the book of
Exodus. After they entered the Promised Land, Israel’s exposure to Canaanite
worship, affected the nation’s own worship. The Old Testament reveals clearly
that Israel adopted some of the practices of the pagan people around them. But
such idolatry was condemned by God and His prophets.
Some people worship the way they see others worship, but worship is something
that should be done straight from the heart. Worship in the New Testament
characterized by joy and thanksgiving because of God’s gracious redemption in
Christ. The early Christians worship focused on God’s saving work in Jesus
Christ. True worship was that which occurred under the inspiration of God’s
Spirit (John 4:23-24) Jesus said “but the hour comes and now is when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks
such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship
Him in spirit and in truth”.
Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is like worshipping Him like you are all
alone together, even when there are many people around you. You don’t see
the people, because you are focused on Him. Sometimes when you are in a
worship service and the music they are playing is not exactly what is in your
heart, don’t feel as if you have to sing the same sound, sing what is in your
heart, but do it orderly.
People have been trying to worship God the way that they want to, look at Cain
(Genesis 4:3-8) “and in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the
fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the
firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect to Abel
and to his offering. But to Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And
Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said to Cain, why
are you angry? And why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall you
not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin lies at the door, and to you shall be
his desire, and you shall rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother
and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel
his brother, and slew him”. Many people today try to worship God without going
through Jesus, but Ephesians 2:10 says “for we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk
in them”.
God tells Israel in Isaiah 1:10-15 that He hates their vain oblations, the new
moons and Sabbaths, even the solemn meeting. And warns that He will hide His
eyes from them. And again in Amos 5:21-27. They were worshipping God, the
way that the other nations worshipped their gods, but He rejected their worship.
Your worship to God, depends largely to your relationship with Him. How much
do you adore Him, Jesus said “you shall love the Lord your God with all you
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
Remember, be yourself and worship and talk to your heavenly Father on a one
on one basic. Not trying to please man.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: May 9, 2008
