As we were driving by a church the other day, I read their sign, which invited people to join them for worship.  As I pondered these words, I started to consider what it means to worship and what 'true worship' entails.

 In the Old Testament, especially found in the Psalms, the word most often used for worship is 'shachah' (shaw-khaw) which means: to prostrate in homage to God, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, and bow down.  Psalm 95:3-6, "For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. 5 The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

 In the New Testament, the most used word for worship is 'proskyneo' (pros-koo-neh-o).  It is derived from two words:  'pros' meaning "toward" and 'kuneo' meaning "to kiss".  Proskyneo is used to express - to prostrate oneself, bow down, do obeisance, show reverence, do homage, worship and adore.

 Before we discuss worship, we need to understand the relationship God desires to have with us.  Deuteronomy 6:5 declares that we are to love God with all our heart, soul and strength.  In basically, quoting this verse in Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27, we see that Jesus considered this to be the first and greatest commandment. 

 King David, who was described as a man after God's heart, prayed in Psalm 139:23 and 24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties (anxious thoughts, doubts); 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  David prayed and asked the Lord to search him and know his heart and see if there was any wicked way in him.  The Hebrew word for 'know' means; to perceive, see, find out and discern. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for 'wicked' means; worship of idols. An idol is a false god. If we place anything above God, it is an idol.

 Let's look at Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  This verse reveals that God's Word is alive, effective, and is a discerner of a man's thoughts and the intents of his heart. It is through  reading and studying the Word of God that we come to understand what is in our heart.  When we read the Word, the Holy Spirit, reveals and convicts us of any misalignment or sin that we have allowed into our lives.  The Greek word for 'heart' is kardia. As used in this verse, it means: the soul, mind, the seat of our thoughts, purposes and endeavors.

 So then, we must examine our hearts and evaluate our relationship with our Father God and His Son, Christ Jesus as we consider worshiping Him.

 Matthew 4:9 and 10 are foundational scriptures to look at regarding worship. "And he (satan) said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "  ONLY God is to be worshiped.  Then, we see Jesus telling the Samaritan woman, in John 4:23 and 24." But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  The word 'spirit' means: the rational spirit, the power by which a human being feels, thinks, wills and decides.  'Truth' means: in truth, truly as accords with the divine nature.

 Pastor John Piper expresses in his teaching that "worshiping in spirit and truth is achieved as we worship from our spirit and that right worship, good worship, and pleasing worship depends on a right mental grasp of the way God really is - Truth!  True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things."  This includes our will, thoughts and desires.  To worship is to give honor and respect to someone or something greater than yourself.

 When we recognize the awesomeness of our Almighty God and know the abundance of His goodness, mercy, and grace toward us - how can we not worship Him from the heart?  His majesty and glory is above all that we can ever imagine or think.  The more we know God, the more we are driven to worship Him, for He and He alone is worthy.  We just read in John 4:23 that God is seeking those who will worship Him; not out of conpulsion, but freely from a heart of love and reverence.

 True worship comes from the heart and is demonstrated in the life we live and in the words we speak, by which God is glorified.  Worship, however, is more than what we do in church, it should flow from our hearts in everyday life, in everything we do. 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

 Remember how David prayed that the Lord would search him and know his heart?  Do you have a willingness to allow God to search your heart so that you can worship Him with a pure heart?  Matthew 15:8 and 9, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"  In these verses, Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees concerning the condition of their heart.  In verse 6, in relation to the commandment concerning honoring their father and mother, He says "Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition"  I believe it is important that we let God check our heart condition every so often, to see if we have fallen into routine and tradition in our worship, rather that expressions of our heart.

 Matt Redman wrote a song titled, "The Heart of Worship".  This song calls us back to worshiping with a heart of love, reverence and adoration for God and His Son, Jesus.

I will end my blog today by sharing his words with you.

 

The Heart of Worship

(When the Music Fades)

by Matt Redman

 When the music fades

All is stripped away

And I simply come

Longing just to bring

Something that's of worth

 

I'll bring You more that a song

For a song in itself

 Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

 You're looking into my heart

 

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

 

King of endless worth

No one could express

 How much You deserve

Though I'm weak and poor

All I have is Yours

 Every single breath

 

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper than within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart

 

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord for the thing I've made it

 When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus