Psa 29:1 A Psalm of David. Give to Jehovah, O you mighty, give to Jehovah glory and strength.
Psa 29:2 Give to Jehovah the glory due to His name; worship Jehovah in the beauty of holiness.
The glory due unto his name - Rather, the glory of his name. His name is Mercy; his nature is love. Ascribe mercy, love, power, and wisdom to him. All these are implied in the name Jehovah.
In the beauty of holiness - בהדרת קדש behadrath kodesh, “the beautiful garments of holiness.” Let the priests and Levites put on their best and cleanest apparel; and let the whole service be conducted in such a way as to be no dishonor to the Divine Majesty. The Vulgate and others read, In the palace of his holiness. Let all go to the temple, and return thanks to God for their preservation during this dreadful storm. See on Psa_29:9 (note).A.Clark
Joh 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
Joh 4:24 God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.
A. The Definition of Worship.
There are three Greek verbs which are translated by the one English word, worship.
1. Proskuneo :”to bow or Prostrate oneself in submissive lowliness and deep reverence.
2. Sebomai: to look upon with awe
(an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand,sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; <dictionary.com>)
3. Latreuo :”to render service for”
Andrew W. Blackwood has defined worship as : “man’s response to God’s revelation of Himself.”
To worship God is therefore to ascribe to Him the supreme homage of which He alone is worthy.
B. The Reason for Worship.
1. We are to worship God for His Work in Creation.
Psa 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our maker.
Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders fell down before the One sitting on the throne. And they worshiped Him who lives for ever and ever, and threw their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 O Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and for Your will they are and were created. cp. Ps.8
2. We are to worship God for His Work in Redemption (Our Ransom/Rescue).
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.
A.Clark Comments ,"Thou - hast redeemed us to God - out of every - nation - It appears, that all these are said to be redeemed by Christ’s blood, plainly showing that His life was a sacrificial offering for the sins of mankind."
D. The Elements of Worship.Willmington p.713
Here we want to answer the questions such as, “How are New Testament saints to Worship God?
What Characteristics should be seen in their personal lives and in their local assemblies?
How can true worship be best effected in the local church?”
1. Through the Ministry of God’s Word.
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| Study the Word of God |
a. It should be studied.
Act 6:2 And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to us, leaving the Word of God, to serve tables.
It is not reason - Ουκ αρεστον εστι, it is not pleasing, proper, or fitting, that we should leave the word of God, that we should give up ourselves, or confide to others, the doctrine of salvation which God has commanded us to preach unto the people.
And serve tables - Become providers of daily bread for your widows and poor: others can do this, to whom our important office is not intrusted.
2Ti 2:15 Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.
Study to show thyself approved unto God - Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God Endeavour so to cultivate and improve thy heart and mind, that thou mayest not be a reproach to him from whom thou professest to receive thy commission.
2Ti 3:15 and that from infancy you (Timothy) have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise to obtain salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
b. It should be read both privately and publically.
1Th 5:27 I solemnly charge you in the Lord's name to have this Letter read to all the brethren.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, bestow your attention on reading, exhortation and teaching.
c. It should be taught
Act 2:42 and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer.
Act 6:7 Meanwhile God's Message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem very greatly increased, and very many priests obeyed the faith.
1Ti 4:6 If you warn the brethren of these dangers you will be a good and faithful servant of Christ Jesus, inwardly feeding on the lessons of the faith and of the sound teaching of which you been, and are, so close a follower.
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| Eric Hedeen is busy sharing the book of Romans with a faithful group of Malaumandas who have been coming to hear God’s Word taught |
2Ti 2:2 All that you have been taught by me in the hearing of many witnesses, you must hand on to trusty men who shall themselves, in turn, be competent to instruct others also.
d. It should be Preached.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
PREACH κηρύσσω kērussō
Thayer Definition:
1) to be a herald, to officiate as a herald
1a) to proclaim after the manner of a herald
1b) always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed
2) to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done
3) used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers
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| David de Vos at Reinhard Bonnke crusade (CFAN) |
2. Through keeping the Ordinances.
a. The ordinance of Baptism.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
Act 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
b. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come.
3. Through the singing of Psalms, Hymns, and Songs of the Spirit.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
PNT Be not drunk with wine. Wine was at that time the usual intoxicating drink. The passage forbids intoxication, which was a common vice of the time.
Excess. "Riot," in the Revision. How true! Enjoyment is not to be sought, as the world seeks it, in wine, but rather be filled with the Spirit. Then your songs will not be bacchanalian.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms. Under the influence of the Spirit when together you will sing psalms, such as those of the psalmist.
And hymns. Songs of praise.
Spiritual songs. Songs which express spiritual emotions. We find Christian hymns in the church at a very early period.
Singing and making melody. While the lips sing, the heart must join in the melody by an uplifting to God. Too much singing in the churches is only of the lips.
Giving thanks always. This is often done in songs.
In the name. All our worship is in the name of Christ.
CP. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. James 5:13
The Many Doxologies extolling the ‘Blessedness’ of God are found such as:
Rom 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Rom 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
2Co 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Eph 1:5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Eph 1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
The Glory of God.
Rom 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Gal 1:4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Gal 1:5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
4. Through lifting up Prayers, intercessions, supplications and thanksgivings
Act 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Act 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people
Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Eph 6:19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
Php 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing,
5. Through offering up of Sacrifices.
1Pe 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
1Pe 2:7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
1Pe 2:8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Rev 1:6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Every New Testament believer is a true Priest unto God.
The main function of a Priest was to sacrifice.
The Four-fold Ministry of the New Testament Priests:
a) The Sacrifice of our Bodies.
Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
That ye present - The word used here commonly denotes the action of bringing and presenting an animal or other sacrifice before an altar. It implies that the action was a free and voluntary offering. Religion is free; and the act of devoting ourselves to God is one of the most free that we ever perform.
Your bodies - The bodies of animals were offered in sacrifice. The apostle specifies their bodies particularly in reference to that fact. Still the entire animal was devoted; and Paul evidently meant here the same as to say, present Yourselves, your entire person, to the service of God; compare 1Co_6:16; Jam_3:6. It was not customary or proper to speak of a sacrifice as an offering of a soul or spirit, in the common language of the Jews; and hence, the apostle applied their customary language of sacrifice to the offering which Christians were to make of themselves to God.
A living sacrifice - A sacrifice is an offering made to God as an atonement for sin; or any offering made to him and his service as an expression of thanksgiving or homage. It implies that he who offers it presents it entirely, releases all claim or right to it, and leaves it to be disposed of for the honor of God. Barnes Notes.
b) The Sacrifice of our Praise.
Heb 13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise - Jesus has now fulfilled all vision and prophecy, He has offered the last bloody sacrifice which God will ever accept; and as he is the gift of God’s love to the world, let us through him offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, this being the substitute for all the Levitical sacrifices.
c) The Sacrifice of our good works.
Heb 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
d) The Sacrifice of our substance
Php 4:18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
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