A New Worship - Part 2
1.
Last week looked at john 4 “worship in spirit
and truth” (missed clayritter.com)
a.
this week we’re going to unpack the definition
of worship, how it's described in the bible, relationship of music, and the result...
2.
What is Worship?
[Merriam Webster Dictionary]
a.
Reverence offered a divine being or supernatural
power; an act of expressing such reverence
Origin
3.
Old English weorthscipe, meaning “worthiness,
respect, reverence...
4.
In essence, worship is when something has great
worth to us, we give devotion, honor, and reverence to it, I.E. we “worship”
it.
5.
It is a responsive word; we worship something or
someone as a response to what that thing or person means to us, or what it does
for us.
The Words of
Worship
Look at some of the
words in scripture that are translated as “worship” or "praise" as
the two are interchangeable
Old Testament
6.
Two words, yadah and todaw are closely related,
and account for most of the times the word ‘praise’ appears in the Old
Testament.
a.
Both of these words give us the idea of ‘casting’
or to ‘shooting’ - in a sense lifting our praises up to God!
b.
One example is Psalm 54:6
‘I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.’
Psalm 54:6
7.
Another commonly used word for praise is hawlal,
where we get our word ‘hallelujah’.
a.
This word means ‘to shine,’ to ‘boast and rave.'
b.
It's often used in the plural form, giving the
idea to celebrate in the midst of the congregation,
c.
“LOUD PRAISE!”
Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the
Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the
seer. So they sang praises with gladness
2 Chron 29:30
8.
Zamar which gives the idea of ‘praise with a musical
instrument.’
Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with
an instrument of ten strings. Ps 33:2
9.
Finally there is barak, which contains the idea
of bowing, kneeling in homage to God.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel
before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6
New Testament:
10. sébomai
– (seb'-om-ahee) meaning ‘to hold something (someone) in high respect;
reflecting the reverence or awe (veneration) of someone who is devout.
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and
honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they
worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Matt 15:9 - (Jesus
quoting from Isaiah 29)
11. latreía
(lat-ri'-ah) - "render sacred service"
12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
12. These
words help us form a picture different aspects of worship;
a.
Lifting up praises, celebratory praise, loud
praise
b.
Praise to music, kneeling
c.
Reverence, honor, respect, awe,
d.
Service to the Lord
Worship - A Relationship
thing...
13. Not
uncommon for a person who is new to church, or new to CCW, when they first
attend a service, they experience something unique - but authentic….
a.
They see the congregation “worshiping,” music,
lowered lights, some people have their eyes closed or arms raised,
b.
To the uninitiated, it may seem a little strange.
14. Important
to understand that this isn’t a cultural thing (maybe in part), but in reality
it’s a ‘relational thing’ that’s happening
a.
A connection is happening between the congregation
and God, you could consider it a form of communication
b.
The people are focused on God, singing praises
of thanksgiving and love and adoration to Him
c.
And God is literally moving in the hearts of His
people.
15. You
could relate it to the relationship between a father and child
a.
There are times when communication is
logistical; “what time do we have to be at the game, dad?”
b.
Other times of joy, laughing together, enjoying
the relationship
c.
Other times when the communication is more
personal and intimate – a hug, “I Love you Dad… I love you too”
16. For
the Christian, the relationship with God should be just as natural as the
relationship between a father and child – a relationship of honor, respect,
love, and devotion
a.
(which, by the way, is why God instituted the family,
to be a representation of the relationship we can have with Him)
b.
A time of worship is one aspect of that
relationship
17. For
the person that doesn’t have a relationship with God, worship in this setting
might not make sense, might even seem strange...
a.
Because there is no relationship with the Lord –
HE IS NOT THEIR GOD!
Why do we associate
worship with music? (WORSHIP+MUSIC)
18. Noted
last week that “worship is not just about the music,” but music DOES have a
place in our worship… always has...
1 Chron 25:1, 6-8
Moreover David and the captains of the army separated
for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who
should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.
6 All these were under the direction of their father
for the music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and
harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were
under the authority of the king. 7 So the number of them, with their brethren
who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two
hundred and eighty-eight. 8 And they cast lots for their duty, the small as
well as the great, the teacher with the student.
19. Basically,
King David put together a worship team!
a.
Skilled / instructed / schedule / discipleship
b.
Same thing we do today, we simply have different
instruments, and different songs
c.
yet the songs we sing are still based on the word
of God.
d.
Musical gifting - used for God's glory!
20. Music
that is not "worship" isn't bad, but some music is intended to lead
people into ungodly behavior (my story)
"Right
Worship?"
21. There
is a tension in the church surrounding what some might consider the “correct
style” of worship music
a.
There are hundreds of churches in our town, if
you visited each one, you’d experience different styles of worship.
b.
“Global River - Lifepoint - PC3 - First Baptist
…
c.
Even in our own church, some Sunday’s it’s
“stripped down” with only a few instruments, other Sunday’s we’ve the full band
d.
Will the “real worship” please step forward!
22. Christians can get pretty persnickety about
worship; what they feel is right worship, or "true worship"
a.
I’ve had people complain “I really don’t like
the worship the way we do it now...” I have to say
b.
Where did we ever get the idea that worship is
for us?
c.
Where did we get the idea I’m supposed to “like”
the worship, like a like jazz, but don’t really care for classical?
d.
Where did we get the idea that we can judge how
people worship God based on musical style?
23. From
what we’ve seen in the bible so far, God isn’t counting the number of guitars,
or the types of instruments, at all
a.
Jesus simply said “God is seeking those who will
worship in spirit and truth.”
b.
If we want to be technical, then we’d need to go
back to temple worship
c.
We’d have to re-create ancient Jewish
instruments, sing in Hebrew, blow a shofar, worship only in the temple...
d.
(which BTW isn’t possible, there is no temple
today, there will be a temple, Millennial kingdom, and in heaven)
24. Note
– Prior to the reformation, the congregation was not allowed to sing in
church! They would stand in silence
while the clergy sang, usually in Latin!
a.
The reformation started by Martin Luther brought
congregational singing BACK to the church.
b.
Many of the “old time gospel songs” that some
would say are what the church should be singing (as opposed to this “new”
stuff) were actually written to the tune of the musical styles of that day, and
were considered blasphemous!
c.
So for us to say that there is a right or wrong
style is just ridiculous.
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:17
25. REALITY: Every generation will have their own style,
and that is OK, as long we're worshiping in spirit and truth, singing words
that are true.
Strong God
|
Psalm 68:4-6: "Sing to God, sing in praise of
His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds, rejoice before Him—His name is
the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His
holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners
with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."
Psalm 68:18: "You have ascended on high, You
have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the
rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there."
|
Father to the fatherless
Defender of the weak
Freedom for the prisoner
We sing
This is God in His holy place
This is God clothed in love and strength
Sing out, lift your voice and cry out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God
Sing out, lift your hands and shout out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God
|
You can Dance, you
can Sing
26. After
God brought the Israelites through the Red Sea…
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took
the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and
with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the Lord, for He has
triumphed gloriously! Exodus 15:20-21
Then David danced before the Lord with all his might…
2 Samuel 6:14
What happens when we
worship
#1 Worship brings obedience
27. Last
week we discussed the fact that Jesus didn’t tell the woman to “go get your
life right,” we looked at the reality of what happens when we come face-to-face
with God...
a.
We realized that the things that we ran to in an
attempt to fill our hearts were cheap substitutes for the cleansing,
refreshing, life-giving water of life that Christ gives us.
b.
Yet - We still must also recognize that there is
an aspect of obedience at work related to worship.
“...these people draw near with their mouths and honor
Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me…” Isaiah 29:13
c.
A sign of true worship of the Lord is expressed
in an obedient heart.
28. I
want you to note I said expressed, not achieved: In the same way that salvation
doesn’t come as a result of righteousness;
Righteousness comes as a result of salvation.
a.
Worship does not come as the result of
obedience; Obedience comes as the result of worship
29. OT
- worship in the temple was accompanied by a sacrifice, the sin offering (Lev
9), the blood providing atonement (payment) for the sins of the people.
a.
The atonement, the forgiveness of God for sins
of the people, was part of their worship experience.
b.
The praise was a declaration that they had been redeemed,
they could now stand righteous before a holy God!
30. Today
- Jesus said we no longer would go to Jerusalem to worship at the temple,
rather we would worship wherever we are at, in spirit and truth
a.
But our worship is still accompanied by
sacrifice, the blood of Jesus Christ, which provided atonement once and for all
for our sins…
b.
Hebrews 9 speaks to this:
Hebrews 9:10-14
1 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to
come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that
is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with
His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained
eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a
heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God? Hebrews 9:10-14
31. So
you see, our praise is our declaration that we’ve been redeemed, and we can now
stand righteous before a Holy God!
32. Now
certainly, if we come into God’s house, and lift our hands and our voices to
worship God, but there is a disconnect in how we are living our lives, then we
are like the people described in Isaiah 29,
“they honor me with their mouths, but their hearts are
far from me.”
33. OK,
so does that mean if I have sin in my life, I shouldn’t worship God? NO!
a.
The act of worship becomes part of our cleansing…
#2 Worship Brings Cleansing
Hebrews 10:19-22 19 Therefore, brethren, having
boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way
which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and
having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22
34. Notice
the writer speaks of drawing near “with a true heart in full assurance of
faith,”
a.
this doesn’t describe a person with perfect
obedience coming to God, rather a person whose heart is close to God (their
hearts are far from me).
b.
The act of drawing near in worship is an act of
cleansing…
Isaiah 6
5 “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes
have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his
hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he
touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your
iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.”
#3 Worship brings victory
– in 2 Chron 20 the Ammonites, Moabites came against Jehoshaphat
c.
The Lord told him “the battle is not yours – but
Gods”
#4 Worship transforms
us
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18
We become like
what we worship.
35. Think
about it; The person that worships money, every decision they make is sifted
through how it will impact them financially. They become cold, calculated, like
the god they worship.
a.
The person that worships their body, every
decision they make is sifted through the effect it will have on their
body. They become vain, like the god
they worship.
b.
A fulfillment of Romans 1:
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him
as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and
their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man
and birds and animals and creeping things. Rom 1:21-23
36. For
the person that worships the true and living God, every decision is sifted
through “will this please the Lord? Will
it honor the Lord?” They become more
like the God they worship.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be
conformed to the image of His Son, Rom 8:29
37. Worship
is a majestic gift that God has given us, a time when we can be filled and
moved by His Spirit,
a.
a time when we can communicate our praise to
Him, a time when He is speaking to us, whether it’s...
b.
Personal worship - just you and God
c.
Corporate worship - with the family of God
d.
Life-giving worship - in all we do
Communion
Let’s take some time to worship, then we’ll take communion
Obedience – cleansing – victory -
transformation
38. But
if all we do is take in, and we’re not pouring out, then we will become stagnant.
a.
What happens if you dam a stream, and the water
backs up? It becomes stagnant, foul, no
good for anyone.
b.
Jesus said “...the water that I shall give him
will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life”
c.
A fountain is moving, fed by the source, but
always flowing out,
That passage in Isaiah, after he was cleansed, what happened next?
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom
shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
Copyright © 2014 Clay Ritter.
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