THE WORSHIP OF THE
by Rod
Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father
seeketh such to worship him. God is a
Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him In spirit and In truth”
(John
The New Testament gives the acts of
worship in which Christians are to engage. The acts of worship mentioned in the Old
Testament such as dancing, instrumental music, animal sacrifices, special
singers, and the burning of incense, were commanded only of the nation of
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s supper
or communion (1 Corinthians
Prayer
Prayers offered to God are to be a part of our public worship as well as our private daily devotions. There are many examples and precepts concerning prayer in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:1, 2, 8; Philippians.4:6, etc.). In our prayers to God we give thanks and praise His name. In our prayers we can pray for our needs and for the needs of others. Jesus gave us a “model” prayer in Matthew 6:5-15. He did not intend for us simply to repeat this prayer by rote but gave it as an example by which we could pattern our own prayers. Jesus Christ is our mediator and high priest. Therefore, our prayers must be addressed to God in the name of Jesus (John 16:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; l John 2:1, 2).
Preaching and Teaching God’s Word
God has commanded us to teach His
Word (Matthew 28:19, 20). Both saved and sinners need to be
taught. Therefore, a lesson from the
Bible is one of the acts of worship in which Christians are to engage (Acts
Giving
Giving of our means is a part of our worship to God. This is the way Christ’s church gets the necessary funds to do its work. God has given us the perfect plan for giving (1 Corinthians 16:2). We are told who is to give, “Let every one of you.” We are told when we are to give, “Upon the first day of the week.” We are also told how much to give, “As God bath prospered us.” We show our love for God when we give cheerfully and willingly to Him (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Singing
Christians are commanded to praise
God in song (Colossians
Neither has God commanded us to have special singers in our worship such as choirs. Every Christian must praise God in song just as every one must partake of the Lord’s Supper for himself. The purpose of our worship to God is not to entertain ourselves. Therefore, what we do in worship is not based on that which appeals to our physical senses, but must be based upon what pleases God!
True Christians want to worship God. In fact, it is impossible for a true Christian not to worship God. When we understand God’s greatness, His glory, majesty, wisdom, and strength, and reflect upon His infinite mercy in giving His only begotten Son to save us from our sins, our hearts will overflow with a “sacrifice of praise to God continually, that Is, the fruit of the lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
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