The Disciple Maker Series

Wells of

Worship

The Kiss of Adoration

T o n y  G o o d m a n

E   C   L   I   P   S   E

Equipping Christian Leaders Internationally:

Pastorally, Spiritually & Educationally

Cover: ENTITLEDESIGN

Illustrations: Anna Goodman

Workshop: Daniel Goodman

www.eclipseafrica.com

Copyright © Tony Goodman January 2007.  The right of Tony Goodman to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations (normally in italics) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society) and used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockwood Foundation and used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, copyright © 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (The Message) are taken from THE MESSAGE (The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H Peterson) copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 and used by permission of NayPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked (KJ) are taken from the KING JAMES BIBLE

Scripture quotations marked (Amp) are taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, copyright © 1965 Zondervan Publishing House

Scripture quotations marked (Phillips) are taken from THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MODERN ENGLISH, copyright © 1960 by J B Phillips.

Series Dedication

With tremendous gratitude to God, I dedicate this series to my dear brothers and sisters in the Portuguese and English speaking countries of Africa, who are giving their lives to preaching the gospel, making disciples and planting churches in that magnificent continent where there is such desperate suffering and need.  Through your love, sacrifice and commitment, God will do great and wonderful things in these days of exceptional growth.

I am thinking, at this moment, of my dear friends Zé Paulo and Itla Semedo, Domingos and Maria Dias, Paulo and Felícia Mendes, Giro and Sábado Gomes, Joaquim and Segunda Correia, Quintino and Inácia Gomes, Zé Augusto and Eugénia Bedeslei, Moisés and Quinta Arriaga, and so many others that it is impossible to mention them all.  You are an inspiration!  It is such a privilege to know you and to serve Jesus with you. My prayer is that these books will become, as has been prophesied, like sacks of seed to help you to feed the hungry and to build them up in their faith.

But I also count it a joy to dedicate the series to my precious wife Sue and to my dearly loved children: Laura, Emma, Daniel and Hannah, all of whom are now, as ever, "contending at my side in the cause of the gospel" (Philippians 4:3). What a blessing!

Jesus said: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed), to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour" (Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18).

"Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 21:21).

Wells of Worship Dedication

I dedicate this book to Sue's mother Gwen, for whom worship truly was a way of life.  She frequently experienced God's tangible presence.  She was once asked how she knew when Jesus was there.  With a beautiful smile, she simply said: "It's him."

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Phil Campion, Julian Bryant, Bob Reeve, David Wallington, Margaret Hunter, Emma Lawrence, Joel Gill, Viv Cosh, Roger Smith and John Bament for their very helpful suggestions for changes to the draft copy of this book.  Almost all have been incorporated!  Responsibility for the final text, however, is mine alone.

I am extremely grateful to Graham Kendrick, John Kpikpi, Rhys Scott and John Groves who agreed to review it for me and who felt able to give it their warm endorsement.

I would also like to acknowledge my indebtedness to my brothers and sisters in Newfrontiers and especially to Terry Virgo, the overall leader of our family of churches.  I have learned so much about worship through you and have experienced so much of the tangible presence of God with you.  Thank you for your teaching, for your example and for your friendship.

Lastly, yet supremely, I give thanks to Jesus, who is my life and my greatest treasure.  May everything I think, say and do be an act of worship, O Lord, for you alone are worthy.

Table of Contents

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

Getting The Most Out Of This Series

CHAPTER ONE – PUTTING GOD FIRST

Introduction

Worship Requires Spiritual Resources

God Alone Is Worthy Of Our Worship

The Father Is To Be Worshipped

Jesus Is To Be Worshipped

The Holy Spirit Is To Be Worshipped

Worship Is To Be A Way Of Life

The Object Of Our Worship

The Father: His Character and His Names

The Son: His Character and His Names

The Triune God: His Words and His Deeds

The Motivation For Our Worship

The Purpose Of Our Worship

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER TWO - OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP

The Process of Worship

The Meaning of Praise

The Meaning of Worship

The Command to Worship

An Emotional Caution

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER THREE - ABRAHAM & HIS CHIEF STEWARD

Introduction

THE WELL OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Prompt obedience

Profound Love

Resolute Faith

God-Dependence

THE WELL OF HUMBLE SERVICE

Submissive Faithfulness

Wholehearted Devotion

Purposeful Prayer

Unashamed Worship

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER FOUR - MOSES & JOSHUA

THE WELL OF AWE

Producing radiance

Promoting security

Strengthening Trust

THE WELL OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Prepared for Battle

Ready to Obey Orders

Able to Stand on Holy Ground

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER FIVE - GIDEON & DAVID

THE WELL OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Honesty with God

Steps of Obedience

Unquestioning Faith

THE WELL OF GRACE

Knowing How to Repent

Knowing God's Character

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER SIX  - JEHOSHAPHAT & JOB

THE WELL OF DELIVERANCE

Seeking God with Prayer and Fasting

Knowing the Battle is God's

Facing the Enemy

THE WELL OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

Gratitude

Submission

Integrity

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER SEVEN - THE COMMUNITY OF GOD 1

THE WELL OF SIMPLE TRUST

The Promise of Deliverance

The Assurance of His Understanding

The Comfort of His Companionship

THE WELL OF SALVATION

A New Beginning

A Perfect Sacrifice

A Final Judgement

Absolute Protection

Unmerited Salvation

Universal Destruction

A Witnessing Community

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE COMMUNITY OF GOD 2

THE WELL OF ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE

His Friendship

His Pleasure

His Glory

THE WELL OF FULFILLED PROMISES

Consecrated by Prayer

Approved by Fire

Confirmed by Glory

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER NINE - THE COMMUNITY OF GOD 3

THE WELL OF REVIVAL

Opening the Doors to All

Consecrating the Leaders

Purifying the Sanctuary

Purifying the People

THE WELL OF THE WORD OF GOD

Uniting the Generations

Making the Room

Celebrating the Meaning

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER TEN - NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP 1

The Meaning of Praise

The Meaning of Worship

The Worshipers the Father Seeks

THE WELL OF INNER TRANSFORMATION

A New Spirit

A Steadfast Spirit

A Willing Spirit

A Broken Spirit

A Poor Spirit

A Strong Spirit

A United Spirit

An Uncontaminated Spirit

A Joyful Spirit

A Spirit of Power, Love and Self-Discipline

THE WELL OF TRANSPARENT SINCERITY

Truth in the Inner Being

Truth as Complete Sincerity

Truth as Reality Without Self-Deception

Truth as God's Wisdom

Truth as Intimate Knowledge of God

Truth as Liberating

Truth as Faithfulness,

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER ELEVEN - NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP 2

Worshipping the Son

Worship in Heaven

Worship on Earth

Our Spiritual Act of Worship

THE WELL OF PROFOUND LOVE

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER TWELVE - THE HOLY SPIRIT

He is a Well of Worship

He Opens the Way for Us to Worship

He Prepares our Hearts for Worship

He Equips & Empowers Us For Worship

He Motivates & Inspires Us To Worship

He Provides the Environment For Worship

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - THE PERFECT, THE PERFECTED & THE PRETENDER

Jesus in Worship

Saints in Worship

Mary

Simeon

Anna

Paul and Silas

THE WELL OF HEARTFELT GRATITUDE

Satan Seeking Worship

The Reason for the Exile

Satan's Origins

The Temptation of Jesus

Satan's Defeat by Jesus

Satanic Worship

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - CORPORATE WORSHIP

Essential Ingredients of Worship

Postures in Worship

Appropriate Songs and Scriptures

Worship Leaders Who Lead and Worship

Group Members Who Co-operate and Worship

Thorough Preparation

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

Appropriate Contributions

Difficulties in Worship

Giving as Worship

All-Age Worship

Summary

Assignment

CONCLUSION

Appendix 1

Hebrew Words Denoting Worship

The Fear of the Lord

The Justice of God

Greek Words Denoting Praise

Appendix 2 -  Drawing Near

Workshop for Worship Leaders

Introduction

The Biblical Basis for Worship

The Importance of Personal Worship

The Importance of Character

Investing In Your Call

Investing in Resources: Books and Recordings

Preparing To Lead

Useful Tips

Leading Worship for Small Groups

Leading an Evening Service

Leading a Sunday Service

Leading a Group of Singers & Musicians

Conclusion

Main Resources For This Book

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

This series of books is being written in obedience to a personal word from God to "do what only you can do".  (I guess the same applies to each one of us, for we are all uniquely made and uniquely equipped by a loving Father to serve him in a unique way.)  In my case it is about being able to write in simple Portuguese with a specific group of church leaders and workers in mind, where such tailor-made leadership resources are in short supply, if available at all.  This is an exciting time of expansion and rapid church growth and the need to move forward on pathways paved with solid biblical principles is greater than ever.

Having served God in Guinea-Bissau for fourteen years, through a time of transition from a "Foreign Mission" directed work to a "National Church Leadership" directed work, I have a great love and respect for African men and women called to lead God's people.  He has given me a specific desire to help the pastors among them to successfully discharge all the duties of their ministry.  Many have not had the opportunity to benefit from any form of structured training.  My prayer is that this series will compensate, albeit in a very small way, for this lost privilege.

My objectives in writing this series are:

To help every leader working with small groups or large churches to know who they are in Christ, to find confidence in God and to discover their unique blend of gifting.

To encourage those in isolated and remote situations to find strength in God and to persevere in bringing others to maturity.  (You have a special place in God's affections and your labours are never in vain.)

To provide resources for leading Bible studies, for equipping those in training and for preparing sermons.

To give outlines, examples and suggestions for conducting special ceremonies and services such as the dedication of children, weddings, funerals, the appointment of elders, etc.

I will endeavour to do this:

By underlining the need for truly biblical and Holy Spirit appointed leadership in local churches and families of churches.

By stressing the need for apostolic teams to be the master builders in church planting and growth.

By taking the teaching and experiences of the emerging church in the New Testament as the foundation, rather than any denominational emphasis.

By addressing issues that the Holy Spirit is highlighting throughout the world today.

By covering the essential areas of local church ministry in a thoroughly biblical, personal and practical way.

By establishing principles, summarizing arguments and succinctly stating in simple language the main points at issue appropriate to each subject.

Some of the other topics currently in preparation or being considered (with appendices in brackets) are:

Servant leadership

Spiritual gifts

Eldership training (Service of ordination)

Cell church structures

Apostolic teams

Church planting and missions (Service of valediction)

Church purposes (Vision and strategy)

Church government (Families of churches)

Church discipline

The Grace of God (The Lord's Supper)

Training future leaders

Marriage preparation and enrichment (Wedding service)

Divorce (Renewal of marriage vows)

Parenting (Service of dedication)

Sexuality and singleness

Demolishing strongholds

Church membership commitment course

Accomplishing the assigned task

True discipleship

"Face-to-face with God" weekends

Freedom in Christ

Victory over the enemy

Male and female roles in the church

Word and Spirit

Social action

Life and death (Funeral service)

I warmly invite any brother or sister, called to equip God's people for works of service, to write in, or to email me, with suggestions for revisions and new topics, or with questions.  There are many I can call upon for help.  We are here to serve you.

Getting The Most Out Of This Series

My Bible School principal used to say that a serious student of God's Word would try not to study a book that sought to expound its meaning without doing four things.  He or she would first pray and ask the Holy Spirit to be their teacher and guide.  They would then look up the majority of the verses referred to as they go, so as to check out their meaning in accordance with their biblical and historical context.  As well as their Bibles, they would try to have a pen to hand, together with a notebook.  They could then underline the most important sentences and paragraphs in the book being studied (and in their Bibles) and make their own personal notes in their notebooks.  It is not easy, but whenever I discipline myself to do these four things, I learn far more than I would by just reading the book itself.

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him and the son of man that you care for him?  Yet you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour" (Psalm 8:3-5).

It is probably best to study no more than one or two chapters at a time.  When we rush through this type of book we are in danger of retaining little of what God would teach us.

A word about the assignments.  These are included to help you to evaluate your own understanding of the material you have been studying, and to assist you to apply it in your life, and in your ministry to others.  Many of the questions lend themselves to group study, but, before using them in this way, try to work through them yourself.  The gems you, personally, dig out of God's Word will gleam all the more brightly as you share them with others.  Accountability is always a good thing.  Why not tell your pastor, or other trusted leader, that you are working through this book and ask them to give you their assessment on how well you are handling the assignments?

In all Scripture quotations, words that are in square brackets are not in the text but are included to give context, to clarify meaning and to aid understanding.

CHAPTER ONE – PUTTING GOD FIRST

Introduction

Worship Requires Spiritual Resources

In all the examples we will be looking at in this book, those who worshipped God were able to draw from spiritual resources that had become part of their lives.  I have called these spiritual resources "wells of worship".  We are all in desperate need of them, but once they are established, and maintained, our worship will flow freely.

Wells have to be dug by hand, driven, or drilled by machine.  In Guinea-Bissau hand-dug wells are often over 30 metres deep and over 1½ metres in diameter.  It is difficult and dangerous work.  Driven wells are not often this deep and consist of a small-bore pipe, which has been driven into soft ground mechanically.  Dug or driven wells reach below the water table in that vicinity.  Some are served by springs.  As the water table drops so the wells have to be deepened or abandoned.  Artesian wells are drilled.  They tap into water that is under pressure below a layer of relatively impermeable rock.  The pressure may be great enough to produce a head of water 50 metres high.  Clearly, wells vary considerably!  So do the spiritual resources of individual Christians.  Have we been digging spiritual wells?  In what state are they?  Have they become blocked or contaminated?  Are they in good condition? Are they deep enough to provide a plentiful supply?

We should be able to worship God in bad times and in good times, in sorrow and in joy, in sickness and in health, in persecution and in peace, in pain and in comfort.  To be able to do this, we need, personally, to have dug some wells, to be digging some new ones, and to be keeping them all unobstructed and uncontaminated.  What might these wells, collectively, represent?  Our salvation.  Only the saved can truly worship God.

"'Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord [God] is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.'  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:2, 3).

These verses move from the individual to the community.  Salvation must be received individually.  The family or community of God is made up of such individuals.  It cannot exist without them.  They cannot exist in isolation.  Just as we draw from the wells of salvation both individually and corporately, so it is with our worship.

In Hebrew the word "salvation" literally means "to make wide", "to make sufficient", "to bring freedom from distress and restriction".  To move from distress to safety requires deliverance by a Saviour.  King David wrote: "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens" (Psalm 68:20).  Jeremiah said: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for you are the one I praise" (Jeremiah 17:14).

The name "Jesus" means "Saviour".  His salvation brought about the defeat of Satan, the release of his captives, forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin's power.  It is this salvation that is likened to wells of water from which true believers need to draw on a daily basis.  The word "wells" in Isaiah 12:3 actually means "springs" or "fountains" so the picture is of wells that are fed by springs and therefore never lack a good and sufficient supply.

The same word is used in Psalm 84:6: "As they pass through the Valley of Baca (Amp: weeping), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains (Amp: early rain) also cover it with pools (Amp: with blessings)."  The word "baca" indicates a tree or shrub that grows in arid places.  In Hebrew it sounds like the word to weep.  We can dig out blessings (springs) during the hardest of times when we know God.  David wrote: "You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23:5).  We can dig and find a spring, but God can also pour out a blessing over us and transform our dryness into refreshment, and our barrenness into abundant growth.  Floods in desert regions cause seeds that have lain dormant for years, to burst into bloom.

Rephaim, the only valley of "baca" trees named in the Old Testament, was the place where a thirsty and dispirited David longed for water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:13-17).  Three of his mighty men demonstrated their courage and deep devotion to him by breaking through the enemy's lines and by bringing back to him the refreshing water he so desired.

Cool water brings refreshment.  Without a constant intake of water life cannot be sustained.  Water can also save life.  In the same way, when we have spiritual resources to draw from, our worship will always be vibrant, refreshing and life transforming.  But more than that, it will gladden the heart of God and honour and glorify his holy name.

God Alone Is Worthy Of Our Worship

God has revealed himself in the Bible to be Three in One: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  He is The Great I Am.  He is the one who made us, who loves us, and who has promised to meet our every need.

Jesus, the one and only Son of God, came to reveal the Father to us.  He said: "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).  He came to die in our place and to take the punishment we deserve, so that we might be forgiven.  He came to bring us into a personal relationship with the Father.  "To all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).  After dying on the cross, and rising from the dead, he sent this revolutionary message to his disciples: "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17).

Before he ascended into heaven he told them to wait for the Father's promise (the Holy Spirit) – to wait until they had been "clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).  Previously he had said of the Spirit: "He lives with you and will be in you."  "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:17, 18).  We know that an orphan is someone without a father.  Jesus said that he would come, yet it was the Holy Spirit who would come, and, in coming, he would be as a father to them.

We are loved by a triune God.  We are indwelt by a triune God.  We worship a triune God.

The Father Is To Be Worshipped

The emphasis of the Bible is on God seeking worshippers rather than demanding to be worshipped.  As we will see, there are very few direct commands to worship God, though there are many to praise him.  There is a difference.  Yet, clearly, he is to be the one and only object of our adoration and devotion.

What he really desires is that frequently, in sudden amazement, we will find ourselves overwhelmed by an aspect of his glorious being, or by the wonder of something he has said or done.  This revelation will produce in us a mixed response.  There will be a deep sense of reverent fear concerning his awesome splendour and holiness.  But this will be accompanied by a profound appreciation of his grace and loving kindness, so much so that we will sink to our knees, bow in adoration and worship him.  But we won't stay there for too long.  We will rise to our feet, and stepping forward confidently and joyfully, we will find ourselves wrapped tightly in the Father's embrace.  We will then be taken up with planting kisses on his smiling, loving and welcoming face.

God's desire is that these spontaneous acts of worship will become part of our daily lives.  He wants them to be a natural outworking of our personal relationship with him.

Jesus Is To Be Worshipped

God is Three in One.  We know we are to worship the Father, but are we to worship Jesus?  Absolutely!

A number of people are recorded as worshipping Jesus during his lifetime on earth: the Magi (Matthew 2:11); a man born blind that Jesus healed (John 9:38); those in the boat after he had walked on water (his disciples and, possibly, sailors and other passengers) (Matthew 14:33); Thomas (John 20:28); Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" (Matthew 28:9); those on the mountain in Galilee (his disciples and probably the "more than 500 brothers" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:6) (Matthew 28:17); and his disciples at his ascension into heaven (Luke 24:52).

In Isaiah 9:6 we read that Jesus would be called "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Jesus himself said: "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58).  In Hebrews 1:6 we read: "Let all God's angels worship him [God's Son]".  Paul wrote that through the Jews is traced the human ancestry of Christ, "who is God over all, for ever praised!" (Romans 9:5)  In the book of Revelation there are a number of references to worshipping the Lamb (5:12, 13; 7:9-11; 15:3, 4, etc.)

Although Jesus is to be worshipped he didn't seek it.  He sought to make his Father the focal point of worship.  When speaking of his Father he said: "For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it … So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say" (John 12:49, 50).  "The Father is greater than I" (John 14:28).  When teaching his disciples to pray he said: "When you pray say: 'Father, hallowed be your name'" (Luke 11:1, 2).  When tempted by the devil he said: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only" (Luke 4:8).  When praying just before his arrest, his words beautifully reflected his deep love for his Father, his joyful submission to him and his desire for his name to be glorified (John 17:1-26).

The Holy Spirit Is To Be Worshipped

Are we to worship the Holy Spirit?  Philippians 3:3 says: "We [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship in [by] the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (NASB).  In our worship, we are to be inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  We are also to worship by using the Spirit's gifts and by praying in the Spirit (i.e. in tongues) (1 Corinthians 14:13-17).  But should we actually worship the Holy Spirit?  Jesus said of him: "He will testify about me" (John 15:26).  "He will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears [from the Father and the Son] … He will bring glory to me" (John 16:13, 14).  The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself but to Jesus, just as Jesus did not draw attention to himself but to his Father.

When human beings fall down before one another or before angels and worship them, they are rebuked (Acts 10:25; Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9).  It seems to follow then, in the absence of any clear teaching to the contrary, that we are free to express our thankfulness, praise, love and worship to the Holy Spirit.  Let's not be hesitant then in worshipping him, even though he will be seeking to direct our worship towards the Father and the Son!

Worship Is To Be A Way Of Life

All human beings have an inbuilt desire and need to worship – to extol, to praise, to enthuse over, to be committed to, to live and die for something or someone.  There is passion in each one of us.  The question is what, or who, will we spend our lives worshipping?  Will it be money, wealth and riches?  Will it be sex?  Will it be sport?  Will it be someone we know and love?  Will it be ourselves?  Will it be a celebrity?  Will it be our reputation or fame?  Will it be material possessions?  Will it be a religion or a sect?  Will it be comfort and pleasure?  The list is endless.

The Bible makes it clear that all worship that is not directed towards the one and only Triune God, is, in fact, offered to Satan.  (See for example 1 Corinthians 10:20.)  This is a sobering thought and we must return to it in more detail later.

As a believer I need to recognize, as soon as possible, that worship is not forty-five minutes on a Sunday morning.  It is a way of life.  My constant prayer should be: "Lord, make my life an act of worship."

Does God come first in your life?  Does he come first in mine?  If we say he does, would our family, friends and work colleagues agree?  What would be the evidence?  Does God come first in our thoughts?  Does God come first in our affections?  We alone can answer these questions.  If I am a true worshipper, my answer will be yes to both.  Many things compete for first place.  Worship can only develop in spirit and in truth when God comes first.  "Praise is becoming, and appropriate for those who are upright in heart" (Psalm 33:1 Amp).  David said: "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips" (Psalm 34:1).

"My praise is continually of you … I will praise you yet more and more" (Psalm 71:6, Amp).

Do we take time to worship God on our own, or only when we meet with fellow believers?  Would we rather worship God on our own or with other members of his family?  Both are essential.  Perhaps surprisingly, the emphasis of the Bible, regarding setting time aside specifically for worship, seems to be on the people of God doing it together.  "Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion" (Psalm 65:1).  "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 20:5).  Let's make sure we do not neglect meeting up with God's people to worship him (Hebrews 10:25).

The Object Of Our Worship

The Father: His Character and His Names

How does the Bible describe God?  God is spirit (John 4:24).  He is infinite (1 Kings 8:27), eternal (Psalm 90:2) and unchangeable (Malachi 3:6), in his being (James 1:17), in his understanding (Psalm 147:5), in his power (Revelation 19:6), in his holiness (Isaiah 57:15), in his justice (Psalm 100:5), in his wisdom (Romans 16:27) and in his truth (Deuteronomy 32:4).  His power has no limits (Luke 1:37).  He is everywhere present, at all times (Jeremiah 23:24).  He knows everything about everything and everyone (Psalm 139:4).  He is good (Psalm 119:68).  He is kind (Romans 2:4).  And he has many other wonderful qualities.

What are some of the Scriptures that help us to praise God for himself, for his perfect being and flawless character?  "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love … The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made …  The Lord is righteous in all his ways …  The Lord watches over all who love him" (Psalm 145:8-20).  "You are a gracious and merciful God" (Nehemiah 9:31).  "Good and upright is the Lord … All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful" (Psalm 25:8, 10).  "All your words are true" (Psalm 119:160).  "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love (loving-kindness NASB) to all who call on you" (Psalm 86:5).

What are the names of God?  In the Bible, a person's name is often a description of their character.  It is good to learn God's names by heart so that they are on the tip of your tongue when you are worshipping him.  The word "God" itself is believed to refer to his essential divine goodness, that he is a totally worthy object of worship.

There are two names which are of a more general nature: Elohim and Yahweh.  Elohim refers to God as the Creator of all things, to the Almighty God of infinite power. Yahweh means: the Existing One, the God who is, The Great I Am, the God of relationship.  Variations and combinations of these names include: God Almighty, the Mighty One, the Living God, God Most High, the Lord, the Eternal God, the Lord of Hosts (his heavenly angelic armies) and the Rock.  Can you think of any more?

The following are specific names that can easily be remembered in three groups of three.  Some appear in the Bible as a new revelation of God.  Some were given to God by his people as an act of worship.

- Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16), our Peace (Judges 6:24), the God who makes us holy (Exodus 31:13).

- Our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1, 80:1), our Healer (Exodus 15:26), our Provider (Genesis 22:14).

- The God who meets our every need (Exodus 6:3), the God who is always there with us (Ezekiel 48:35), our Banner of Victory (Exodus 17:15).

When using these names in worship it is helpful to remember this verse: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

You will find much to praise God for in the following Scriptures: "You are my hiding place" (Psalm 32:7).  "You are my refuge and my shield" (Psalm 119:114).  "The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)  "You, my God, turn my darkness into light.  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  The Lord lives!  Praise be to my Rock!  Exalted be God my Saviour!" (Psalm 18:28, 29, 34, 46)

The Son: His Character and His Names

What are the names given to Jesus?  These too can help us to appreciate him more and thus to praise and worship him with greater devotion.  I am particularly touched by those that are found in the book of Acts because they are used with such wonder, love and praise, as the apostles, who knew him so well, proclaimed the gospel.  Some of these are: "the Anointed One", God's "Holy Servant", "the Holy and Righteous One", "the Author of Life", "Prince and Saviour", "the Name", "the Prophet", "the Son of Man" (of Daniel 7:13, 14), "Lord Jesus", "the Man", "the Judge of the living and the dead", "the Hope of Israel".

Alexander Cruden lists 134 names and titles given to Jesus in the front of his Complete Concordance.  Some of these are: "the Alpha and Omega", "the Apostle", "the Author and Perfecter of our faith", "the Beloved", "the Bright Morning Star",  "the Radiance of God's Glory", "the Chief Corner Stone", "the Desire of All Nations", "the Friend of Sinners", "the Redeemer", "the Word of God", "Lord of lords and King of kings".

The Triune God: His Words and His Deeds

"To him belongs eternal praise" (Psalm 111:10). Why?  Because of the perfection of his character, but also because of what he knows, does, says and reveals to us.  Consider the following Scriptures:

"Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord" (Psalm 139:4).  "Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies" (Psalm 68:34).  "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plans to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).  "His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation … He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:34, 35)

"I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all that the Lord has done for us – yes the many good things that he has done" (Isaiah 63:7).  "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well" (Psalm 139:14).

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:3).

"When I am afraid I will trust in you … in God whose word I praise" (Psalm 56:3, 10).  "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws" (Psalm 119:164).  "You have exalted above all things your name and your word" (Psalm 138:2).  "It pleased the Lord for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious" (Isaiah 42:21).

The Motivation For Our Worship

God wants the underlying motivation for our worship to be the joy of knowing him, the desire to be like him and the recognition that he is all that we need.  "They shall praise the Lord who diligently seek for, inquire of and for him, and require him as their greatest need" (Psalm 22:26 Amp).

It is clear from his Word that God is seeking spontaneous praise and worship.  The authors of the various books of the Bible, inspired by the Spirit of God, exhort us to praise him.  But when we look at the words that are quoted as coming directly from the mouth of God, these exhortations are few.  Why is this?  God wants us to praise him, not out of compulsion, but because we sincerely want to.  This desire will increase the more we personally understand him, and get to know him, particularly in the following areas:

- His personality and character: "From you comes the theme of my praise" (Psalm 22:25).  "Good and upright is the Lord … All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful" (Psalm 25:8, 10).  "As a Father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust" (Psalm 103:13, 14).

- His strong commitment to us:  "You are his people, his treasured possession … he will set you in praise, fame and honour … you will be a people holy to the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 26:18, 19).  "Israel, the people close to his heart" (Psalm 148:14).

- His deep love for us: "Shout with joy to God, all the earth!  Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! … who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me" (Psalm 66:1, 2, 20).  "I have loved you with an everlasting love.  I have drawn you with loving kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

The Purpose Of Our Worship

The purpose of our worship is to exalt God and to lift him high.  We do this by acknowledging his goodness to us, and our total dependence on him.  We lift him high when we express our deep satisfaction with him, and thankfulness to him, in the presence of others, whether they are believers or not.  We exalt his name and glorify him when we declare his greatness.  God says of us that we are the people he formed for himself that we may proclaim his praise (Isaiah 43:21).  God enthrones himself on the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3 NASB).

There are tremendous blessings for us too when we lift God high in worship and praise.  We develop a greater appreciation for God himself.   We are given a deeper awareness of his power, his tangible presence, his involvement with us and his commitment to us.  We begin to see him as he really is.  We express appropriate praise for the One who alone is worthy to receive it.  In doing so we are speaking out truth and lifting high the One who is perfect.  This has a profound effect on our inner being.  What we are doing is "beholding him" and extolling what we see.  As a direct result we are being changed into his likeness with ever increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB).  In that chapter the radiance and glory seen on the face of Moses (which was evident after he had been in God's immediate presence) is compared to the glorious work of the Holy Spirit.  Moses worshipped God and his face shone.  We worship God and become more and more like him!

Summary

To be able to respond to God in worship, in difficult and hard times, we must have access to personal spiritual resources.  We must have a history of positively responding to God in our everyday lives.

Our salvation is like a spring or fountain of water that provides a constant source of joy and thankfulness for all that Jesus has done for us.  It enables us to worship whatever our circumstances.

Put God first in your life.  Put him first in your thoughts and affections.  We all need to dig spiritual wells to provide the

Accept that he alone, the Triune God, is worthy of your heart's adoration.

Worship him because you want to and choose to, not because you think you ought to.

Worship him whenever he reveals something to you about himself, his purposes and his love for you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, by revealing to you, more of the Father's glory and the Son's glory.

Renounce and forsake the worship of anyone or anything other than God himself.

Worship God as a way of life.  Live your life as an act of worship.

Use the words of Scripture to worship him.  Look to Scripture to

Worship him out of your own personal knowledge of him and your own relationship with him.

Spend quality time with him every day, whenever possible.  Make this a priority.

Know that as you worship him you are being changed and becoming more like him.

Assignment

Are you able to draw on many spiritual resources in your own life?  Do you have a history of God's dealings with you?  What precious lessons has he taught you that lead you to worship him?

Are you truly saved?  Do you believe with all your heart: "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus, Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:8)?  What does it mean for you to draw water from the wells of salvation?

What are the two main names of God?  What do they represent?  What do they mean to you personally?

Learn by heart the nine names of God listed in three groups of three.  What has been your own experience of them?

Look up the Scriptures that accompany the nine names and explain how they were given and why they are so important.

Does God come first in your life?  Is your life an act of worship?  What steps might you take to make it such?

Have you been digging spiritual wells of worship?  Are they in good condition?  Which ones can you identify?

Are you spending quality time with God each day?  If you have become negligent in this area, why not put this right before reading the next chapter?  Getting into a routine that suits you will help, though flexibility will always be necessary.  You could try the following:  Choose a specific time and a specific place and always do your best to keep this daily appointment with God.  Read and meditate on a portion of Scripture.  Pray through the things about which God speaks to you and then move into praise and worship, followed by a time of praying for yourself and others.  As you go into the day or through the next day if all this is happening in the evening, seek to exercise faith, and to be obedient to God, regarding those things he has highlighted to you personally.  Remember, Jesus chose his disciples, first and foremost, "that they might be with him" (Mark 3:14).  He is more concerned about building a relationship with you than about the things you are seeking to do for him.  Abiding precedes serving. David reserved part of his daily "quiet time" to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27:4).  Take time simply to gaze.

CHAPTER TWO - OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP

The Process of Worship

We have just had our annual church weekend (January, 2007).  At such events there are usually opportunities for extended times of worship.  Something a little unusual happened in one of these.  The Holy Spirit gave me the interpretation of a tongue before such a message had been brought!  I began to pray that someone would speak out in tongues, but no one did.  Finally I shared with the congregation what I was experiencing.  I challenged the person, who, I believed, knew they should speak out, to be brave and to obey God.  Another lengthy pause followed.  Eventually, a lady I had never before heard speaking in tongues, did so, and I brought the interpretation, which in summary was something like this: "Lord Jesus, I see you sitting at a desk.  I know it's you.  The morning sunshine is streaming through the window as you pick up an old fashioned pen, dip it in ink, and begin to write.  It's a letter.  I can see my name at the top.  You are telling me how much you love me, how precious I am to you and how you are watching over me and keeping me safe.  I am overwhelmed by your words of love, kindness and reassurance.  Thank you, dear Lord, for you are telling me that I am utterly secure in you."

After the meeting I found out who the lady was and tracked her down.  She told me that, in her quiet time that morning, the Lord had told her he wanted her to bring a tongue, but she thought the idea was her own and had rejected it.  Even after I spoke up, her fear, initially, kept her silent.  However, as soon as I began to bring the interpretation, she saw herself as a little girl, back at school, and in the headmaster's study.  He had just been appointed and was a committed Christian.  He was giving her additional lessons and showing her the love and kindness she had missed, but had so longed for.  Unfortunately, very soon after starting the job, he suffered a fatal heart attack.  She had felt the loss tremendously.  Now Jesus was telling her that he, Jesus, had never left her and never would, that his love was infinitely greater than that of the dear man who had died, and that she could always rely on him at all times.  She told me that the interpretation had reflected all the same emotions she had been experiencing as she spoke in tongues.  She was overwhelmed by God's love and her worship, that morning, soared to new heights.

The process of worship will vary considerably, and so it should.  In the above illustration God himself took the initiative.  At other times we will need to stir ourselves to worship him.

There are probably as many ways to praise God, as there are individuals who worship him in spirit and truth.  Our God has made us to be creative, to use our imaginations, even to surprise him with variety and innovation in our worship.  Where to start?

Thoughts

What do we think about?  Who do we think about most?  What a challenge!  Worship must start in our thought-life.  Do we worship God there?  The Psalmists did.  "I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help I sing in the shadow of your wings" (Psalm 63:6, 7).  "We meditate on your unfailing love" (Psalm 48:9).  My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises" (Psalm 119:148).

"I will meditate on all your works" (Psalm 77:12).

Words

Words are the most common form of expression, yet a very powerful one.  God spoke and the universe came into being.  Jesus only had to say a word and the sick were healed.  We must think carefully about all the words we speak.  They should all glorify God.  The Psalmist wrote: "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord" (Psalm 145:21).  "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise" (Psalm 51:15).  "My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendour all day long" (Psalm 71:8).

Songs

Songs can stir the emotions powerfully.  Our emotions need to be stirred if we are to worship God.  Songs are sung by armies going into battle.  They are sung by supporters of football teams.  In all manner of contexts songs can bring tears to the eyes.  They can bring hope where hope has been lost.  They can lift us above our circumstances.  They can take us out of ourselves and give us a new focus.  Songs can be a very powerful means of expressing praise and adoration. "You call forth songs of joy" (Psalm 65:8). "For long ago, in the days of David, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God" (Nehemiah 12:46).  "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God" (Psalm 40:3).  "With singing lips my mouth will praise you" (Psalm 63:5).

Music and dance

"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet. Praise him with the harp and the lyre, praise him with the tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals" (Psalm 150:3-5).  There is no way that all this could be done quietly!  This doesn't mean that all praise needs to be noisy, but it shows that some of it does!  "Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.  Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp" (Psalm 149:2, 3).

When he was bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with dancing and singing, and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets (1 Chronicles 13:8; 15:28, 29).

The celebrating and dancing was before God.  It was not before people.  It was not a performance to be appreciated by them.  It was an expression of praise and worship to God, to be enjoyed by him.  There is a huge difference.  If a dance group perform before a congregation in order to lead them in praise and worship, they need to be synchronized, skilful, graceful and fluid in their movements.  But if an individual member of the congregation wants to dance before the Lord, at the back or to the side, they should be free to do so, without being accused of drawing attention to themselves.  Few of us have the ability of professional dancers but we should all be free to dance.  Should those who cannot sing a single note in key, remain silent during worship times?  Of course not!

Shouting, clapping and horn-blowing

"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy" (Psalm 47:1).   "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth … Make music to the Lord with … the blast of the ram's horn … Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy" (Psalm 98:4-8).

How all these expressions of praise can be incorporated into our worship times, presents quite a challenge!  Some of them I have rarely experienced, but, when I have, there has also been an awesome awareness of God's presence.  This was especially the case when a ram's horn was sounded.  I can also remember a time when a large group of worshippers, of whom I was one, broke out into spontaneous applause in appreciation of all Jesus had done for us through the cross.  It went on for about 15 minutes, rising and falling in volume, until reaching a final crescendo.  It truly felt like heaven on earth.

Other creative forms of worship

On a number of occasions I have been moved to worship and give thanks to God by watching an artistic presentation of profound truth or beauty.  Those that I can remember seeing, and listening to, include: paintings and drawings beautifully or disturbingly executed; colourful silk screen prints of aspects of the Passion; powerful, yet simple, dramas concerning the cross; poetry; solo or group singing; instrumental pieces; sculptures and riveting story telling.  No doubt there are many more.  Can you think of any?

The Meaning of Praise

As already stated there is a difference between praise and worship.  This is not so apparent when using the New International Version (NIV) because in it the Hebrew word meaning "serve" is often translated "worship".  Whilst service is part of worship it is not the heart of worship.  The heart of worship is the bowing down of self in wonder, love, gratitude and praise at some fresh revelation of the goodness of God.  In the NIV we read: "Let my people go so that they may worship me" (Exodus 8:1, etc.).  The King James Bible (KJ), the Amplified Bible (Amp) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB), all have "that they may serve me".  In 18 places in the book of Exodus, where the NIV has "worship", all these versions have "serve".  We will come back to worship but let's look now at the meaning of praise.  It seems there are four Hebrew words, with their derivatives, that describe various forms of praise.  (For a detailed analysis see Appendix 1.)  They show that praise includes the elements of deep thankfulness, total satisfaction, heartfelt adoration and profound appreciation.  To praise God is to sing to him and to shout joyfully about him.  It is to bless, to magnify, to exalt, to glorify and to commend him.  It is to play musical instruments to honour him.  It is to celebrate his goodness.  It is to stretch out one's hands towards him.

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart [I will stretch out my hands to you and confess your name]" (Psalm 9:1).

More than 10% of the Levites were assigned by David to praise the Lord with the musical instruments he had made for this purpose.  They were all to stand every morning to praise and thank the Lord.  They were to do the same in the evening (1 Chronicles 23:5, 30).  When the ark was brought to Solomon's temple we read: "The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord.  Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments [harps, tambourines and lyres] they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: He is good; his love endures for ever" (2 Chronicles 5:12-14).  Singing praises to God occurs about 30 times in the book of Psalms.

God promised Israel that Zion's walls would be called Salvation and her gates Praise (Isaiah 60:18) and for those who grieve in Zion "a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair".  He also promised that he would "make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations" and that he would establish Jerusalem "and make her the praise of all the earth" (Isaiah 61:3, 11; 62:7).

What comes as a result of praise?  Let's name just three things:  Radiance: "Those who look to him are radiant" (Psalm 34:5). Pleasantness: "How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him" (Psalm 147:1).  Victory: "As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir … and they were defeated" (2 Chronicles 20:22).  Can you think of any more?

God is to be praised in every area of his creation.  "Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them" (Psalm 69:34).  "Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you" (Psalm 84:4).  "I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live" (Psalm 146:2).

The Meaning of Worship

To praise God is to give expression to worship.  In worship we bow down.  In praise we reach out with our hands to extol.  Worship is an inner response.  Praise is an outward expression.

Because praise is an outward expression we can be exhorted to bring it no matter how we might be feeling.  Because worship is an inner response it requires a Holy Spirit revelation.  This too can come regardless of how we are feeling, but not without a readiness to humble ourselves.

There are two Hebrew words for worship.  The word sahah literally means to bow self down.  (For a little more detail on this and the word sagad see Appendix 1.)  I was genuinely surprised to find that there are not that many examples of such worship in the Old Testament.  They seem to come at times of crisis, at spiritually high points, and when revival is in the air.  They seem to occur when a person is overwhelmed with the love, grace, and sovereignty or power of God, at a specific moment in time.  We will look at, virtually, all of these in more detail later as they have so much to teach us about worship.

There seem to be as many references to the worship of idols by the people of God as there are to the worship of the Lord God Almighty!  In the King James Version of the Old Testament there are 58 references to sinful worship and 58 references to godly worship!  Clearly God has many competitors.  Or does he just have one?

It appears there are only five places in the Old Testament where human beings (as opposed to angels) are given any sort of command to worship God.  They are: 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalms: 95:6; 96:9; 99:5, 9.  However, there are frequent commands to praise God.

The Command to Worship

The Psalms encourage worship: "Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness" (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2, 96:9).  "Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care" (95:6, 7).  "Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy" (99:5, 9).  "I will bow down towards your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word" (138:2).

What does it mean to "worship the Lord in (or with, or for) the splendour of his holiness"?  The Amplified Bible reads: "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in holy array."  Most commentators seem to favour the literal and simple translation: "worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness".  In the preceding verse (Psalm 96:8) we read: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name."  What then is the difference between God's glory and his holiness?

In Isaiah 6:3 we read: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."  The word "holy" describes, and almost defines, who God is.  He is frequently referred to as the Holy One of Israel.  "Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you" (Isaiah 12:6).  Holiness includes both separation from evil and devotion to seeking God's honour.  God himself is totally separate from evil and totally devoted to that which is good and therefore to his own honour.

The word "glory" describes how God's holiness radiates out from him.  It is the "bright light" that surrounds his presence.  The glory of his name is the radiant revelation of all he is, all his magnificent attributes.  His glory is his honour and excellent reputation.  True worship reflects all this back to him in wonder, love and praise.

At the coming of the Lord, Ezekiel said: "the land was radiant with his glory" (43:2).   And when he saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple he "fell face down" (Ezekiel 44:4).  Under the New Covenant and the ministry of the Holy Spirit there is a sense in which God's glory shines around us at all times.

An Emotional Caution

I stated earlier in this chapter that our emotions need to be stirred if we are to worship God.  But in this there lies a subtle danger.  It is possible for us to value worship more for the good feeling it can give us than for the joy it gives to God.  It should give rise to both.  Worship can rightly be an intensely emotional experience – a taste of heaven – but this is not an essential ingredient of all worship and if we are seeking the experience rather than the glory of God can we truthfully call the activity worship?  Stirred emotions and heartfelt adoration cannot simply be equated because they occur during a time of corporate worship.  Many of us will know of people who, in such times, appear to be "lost in wonder, love and praise" yet whose lives are full of compromise.  Others can be seen to immediately engage in scathingly critical comments of fellow worshippers as soon as the music fades!  The essence of worship is an attitude of heart and can and should take place even if the emotions remain unmoved.

Summary

Seek to worship God in your thoughts, with the words you speak and with the songs you sing, whether with others or on your own.

Enter into praise and worship with those who do so noisily, as well

Recognize that worship can be expressed in many ways: playing instruments (including drums!), dancing, shouting, producing works of art, performing dramas, etc.

Never sit in judgement on a brother or sister for the way they express their worship to God.  God looks at the heart.

The heart of worship is the bowing down of self in wonder, love, gratitude and praise, at some fresh revelation of the goodness of

To praise God is to give expression to our worship in word, music, song, etc., by thanking him, exalting him, blessing him, glorifying him, etc.

To praise God is to acknowledge him, to proclaim all he is and all he has done, to reach out our hands to him in recognition of his greatness, to bring a sacrifice of praise, to confess his name, etc.

In worship we bow down.  In praise we reach out.  Worship is an inner response.  Praise is an outward expression.

The essence of worship is an attitude of the heart not the stirring of emotions.

Assignment

Are you disciplined in your thought life?  Do you often worship God there?  Our thoughts shape who we are.  "As he thinks in his heart, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7).  With what should we fill our

What expressions of joy and thanksgiving are unique to your culture?  What might be appropriate to introduce to your times of worship?

What is your favourite worship song?  In what ways does it help you to worship and praise God?

What is the heart of worship?  What are the differences between

Why is it impossible to worship God in spirit and in truth if we are

In your own words, what does it mean to worship God in the

Why is it dangerous to be seeking an emotional experience during a time of worship?

CHAPTER THREE - ABRAHAM & HIS CHIEF STEWARD

Introduction

What follows in the next seven chapters are most, if not all, of the instances where the word "worship" (Hebrew sahah) is used in a positive sense in the Old Testament.  As we have said, worship does not happen without our being able to tap into a ready supply.  For example, if we have never learned to die to our own personal agenda and to joyfully submit to God-appointed authority, we will have great difficulty in worshipping God in sincerity and in truth.  We will not have the resource of dying to self to draw from.  If we have remained stubbornly proud rather than submitting to God's work in our lives, as he sought to establish a broken spirit in us, our worship will be superficial.  It may not even be worship, because we do not have the resource of humility to draw from.

Jesus spoke of giving the thirsty "living water".  He said: "Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13, 14).

Let's look now at some "wells of worship" that were dug by different Old Testament saints.  What enabled them to truly worship God in the most difficult of circumstances?  The answer is that they were able to tap into spiritual resources that they had personally developed in their walk with God.  Let's not miss the fact that their worship occurred in life situations, not in organized times of worship.

The first reference to bowing self down (Hebrew sahah) is in the life of Abraham.  He considered the sacrificing of his own dearly beloved son, an act of worship.

THE WELL OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

See Genesis 22:1-19.  What did Abraham do when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac?  He drew from the well of the fear of the Lord, which was in his heart.  How did he demonstrate that this particular "well" was in good condition?  By the following:

Prompt Obedience

Even though God had asked him to do something that threatened to break his heart and to deeply challenge his understanding of God's goodness, he was quick to obey.  Even though he had waited patiently for many years for God to fulfil his promise in providing him with an heir, he didn't hesitate.

"Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

"Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey.  He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.  When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about."

Even though the journey took three days, he didn't waver in his obedience.

Profound Love

When God said to Abraham: "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and … sacrifice him …  as a burnt offering" it was not only a test of the level of his obedience, but also of his love.  Did Abraham love God more than he loved his son?  Through his obedience, he not only proved to God that he feared him, but he also proved that he loved him deeply.  When God said to him a short time after: "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son" he must surely have been thinking of what he himself would do many centuries later.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Resolute Faith

Abraham had purposeful, robust and serene faith.  In Hebrews 11:17-19 we read: "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.  He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death."

Abraham was willing to obey God because he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead.  "He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.  We will worship and then we will come back to you'" (Genesis 22:5).

God-Dependence

He was totally dependent on God.  His love for God remained rock solid.  Though what was being asked didn't make sense, he continued to trust God.  After all, it was through Isaac that he had been promised descendents as numerous as the stars in the heavens (Genesis 21:12).  When Isaac asked: "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" he replied: "God himself will provide the lamb."  This is exactly what happened.  Abraham knew his God.

In a 2006 interview, Pastor Abe Huber, who leads a church of 20,000 in Santarém, Brazil, representing 10% of the local population, shared one of the keys to his success.  "As a young adult believer I had great struggles with immorality and impurity.  After many battles I began to learn to depend on God and to enjoy profound intimacy with him in a deep personal relationship.  This has left an unforgettable mark on me."

Abraham lived in dependence on God.  He enjoyed a deep personal relationship with him.  God even called him his friend (Isaiah 41:8).  He obeyed God and passed the test and God said to him: "Now I know that you fear God." It was the fear of the Lord that enabled Abraham to worship.  This well was in excellent condition and plentifully supplied. (For a closer look at what it means to fear God see Appendix 1.)

Paul wrote: "Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men" (2 Corinthians 5:11).  Love compelled him to preach the gospel, but the fear of the Lord played its part as well.  When we are faithful witnesses we come to worship with a spring in our step and a gleam in our eye!

What was the result of Abraham's godly fear and consequent obedience?  Greater blessing than had already been promised.  Abraham was willing to do what God himself would later do on the same mount, for Moriah and Calvary were in the same vicinity.  "Because … you have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendents as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore … through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

THE WELL OF HUMBLE SERVICE

See Genesis 24:1-67.  The central character in this story is Abraham's trusted servant, yet, in the manner of all faithful servants, the focus of attentions falls on others.  He worshipped God in spirit and truth for answered prayer concerning blessings that others would receive.  His one desire was to honour God by pleasing his master.  True worship flows from such a servant heart.

If this was Eliezer, and the natural assumption would be that it was, then his dedication is truly remarkable.  He was about to serve the very one who had replaced him as Abraham's heir (Genesis 15:2, 3).  Before the birth of Isaac, Eliezer would have inherited Abraham's wealth.  The older Abraham got the less likely, in human terms, would the birth of a natural son become.  Yet, from the way Eliezer goes about the task he has been given, he had probably been more desirous of Abraham having a son than of remaining his heir.

Eliezer did not live for his own advancement or benefit, but to serve God and others.  Such people become the true worshippers the Father seeks.

What can we learn from this gracious man, who served his master so unselfishly?  What are the qualities that characterize the sort of humble service that leads to worship?

Submissive Faithfulness

Abraham insisted that his chief servant make a solemn vow that he would not get a wife for his son Isaac from the Canaanite people, but would go back to his own country and get a wife from among his own relatives.  He promised his servant that the Lord would send his angel before him to give him success.  The servant believed the promise and gladly and faithfully obeyed his beloved master, seeing the matter through to its full completion.  Deep love for God, trust in his promises, and joyful obedience, characterise all of God's faithful servants and lead them into worship.

Abraham's servant did not have a personal agenda.  He did not act out of personal ambition.  He was not taken up with his own advancement, or with the fulfilment of personal dreams and aspirations.  Because he had a servant heart, worship was as natural to him as breathing.  True worship always involves death to self.

Wholehearted Devotion

Throughout this story the servant's devotion to God and to his master shines out unmistakeably.  His prayer had begun and finished: O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham … By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master."  He asked nothing for himself.  All that had been in his heart was that the Lord would guide him, and that his esteemed master would find the wife of God's choice for his beloved son.

Purposeful Prayer

The servant took ownership of the task, made preparations and set out, but he depended solely on God for the outcome.  As soon as he arrived he prayed.  He didn't ask around.  He wanted to be absolutely certain that God's will would be done, so he made himself totally dependent on God.  His prayer was very specific: "May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar, that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink and I'll water your camels too' – let her be the one."  His prayer was in no way vague or general.  It was bold and purposeful.  It was also a very big ask.  One camel can drink up to 90 litres of water at a time!  God loves this kind of audacious praying.  When he answers we can do nothing else but worship.

As soon as he had finished praying Rebekah arrived and things worked out exactly as he had prayed.

Unashamed Worship

"Then the man bowed down [in public] and worshipped the Lord, saying, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master.  As for me the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives" (Genesis 24:26, 27).

With the success of his journey so wonderfully achieved, his first response was to worship God, then to thank God for his faithfulness to his master, and, lastly, to thank God for having guided him.  How often do we respond to events in this way?

When he saw that his prayers had been answered he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.  He praised and thanked God in his heart, but his appreciation for what God had done, so filled him with awe, that he also had to bow down and worship.  He did this publicly and unashamedly.

Most of us would find this difficult to do.  We can enter into worship in a corporate setting, but how often do we make it a strictly private affair in the daily routine of life, because "the fear of man" is in our hearts?  Or is the problem one step back from that?  Do we just fail, more often than not, to simply acknowledge the goodness of God to us?  True worship begins in the heart.  If an expression of worship is seldom on our lips, as we live out our daily lives, then surely true worship is rarely in our hearts.  If this is the case then "self" is the one who is loath to bow down.

Even after explaining to Laban in great detail how clearly the Lord had guided him, had answered all his prayers, thus confirming his will, he gave Laban the last word without any pressure or manipulation.  Then, when the family had all agreed, he let Rebekah decide.  Can we so rest in God's purposes?  Jesus did when he said to Pilate: "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11).

(This chapter can also be seen as a beautiful illustration of true discipleship, with Abraham representing the Father, Isaac the Son, the angel the Holy Spirit and the servant a follower of Jesus.  Although this cannot be pushed to include all details how many parallels can you see?  What do they teach us?)

Summary

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  It is, perhaps, the most important "well" to dig and to keep in good order.  It will enable us to worship him no matter what he asks of us.  We know it is part of our lives when we are prompt to obey, strong in faith, loving God and living God-dependent lives.

The fear of the Lord is not a cringing fear that would make us shrink back, but one that promotes boldness, drawing us into God's very presence.  It is to be in awe of him and to have

True worshippers have servant hearts.  They rejoice when others are blessed and God is glorified.  They seek little for themselves.  They abandon personal agendas. They have submissive hearts.  They love deeply.  They pray purposefully.  They worship unashamedly.

Assignment

Abraham's act of worship involved not withholding from God that which Abraham considered was most precious to him – his only son.  This request was unique and unlikely ever to be repeated, but the Bible does encourage us to bring a "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15).  What might this mean for you?

The evidence that we truly fear the Lord is that we do not fear people, circumstances or the future.  Do you fear such things?  How can you develop such a healthy fear of the Lord that you lose these other fears?

At one moment Eliezer is destined to inherit Abraham's wealth and at the next this dream is taken from him.  What can we learn from Eliezer's example in handling disappointment?

Eliezer's priorities were God, God's anointed leader (Abraham) and God's future leader (Isaac).  What can we learn from this?  What

Do you have a servant heart?  What, in your own words, was the evidence of this in Eliezer's life?

CHAPTER FOUR - MOSES & JOSHUA

In this chapter we will be looking at two more worshippers: Moses and Joshua.  The circumstances of their acts of worship were very different, yet in each case God himself appeared to them.  With Moses it occurred on Mount Sinai where God revealed himself as "a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28, 29).  With Joshua it happened just before going into battle, with the Lord appearing to him as his commanding officer.

We too can experience the tangible presence of God at significant moments in our lives.  We can also know his immediate presence in our own devotional times, and in our corporate times of worship, if we wait on him.  Indeed he wants us to expect and to anticipate his coming.  When he comes our worship truly rises into the heavenly realms.

THE WELL OF AWE

See Exodus 34:1-8, 29-35.  When God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai for the second time and proclaimed his name to him, "Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped" (Exodus 34:4-8). Moses knew the awesomeness of God.  Such a well of worship always had an abundant supply:

Producing Radiance

He was overcome with awe.  Yet when he descended from the mountain his face was radiant.  Psalm 34:5 says: "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered in shame."  Reverence and awe in worship can produce radiance in us because Jesus suffered our shame on the cross.  He gave himself up for his bride to present her to himself as a radiant church (Ephesians 5:27).  Radiance demonstrates the unspeakable joy of having our shame removed through being purified by his blood.

Promoting Security

Later Moses explained how he felt at the time, following Israel's worship of the golden calf.  "I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 9:19).  Hebrews 12:18-21 describes the scene: "a mountain … burning with fire … darkness, gloom and storm … trumpet blast … such a voice speaking … those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken … the sight was so terrible that Moses said: 'I am trembling with fear.'"

What had God proclaimed to Moses on Mount Sinai?  His name: "The Lord, the Lord God" (KJ) – The Great I Am.  Moses is simply overwhelmed.  Yet he immediately asks that this formidable, sovereign God go with them.  He felt totally secure and safe in God's awesome presence.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you … then you will look and be radiant"

(Isaiah 60:1-9).

Strengthening Trust

The worship Moses offered was a response to God's declaration that he is a God of infinite compassion, grace, longsuffering, patience, love, faithfulness and forgiveness; but that he is also a God of justice who will not leave the guilty unpunished.  Even the words: "he punishes the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 34:7) caused no hesitation regarding his worship.  Did he question God's justice concerning this revelation?  He certainly didn't appear to, in any way.  He bowed to God's sovereignty in total trust.  Did he understand what the statement really meant?  Did that matter to him?  It certainly didn't interfere with his worship.  (For a closer look at Exodus 34:7 and the justice of God see Appendix 1.)

THE WELL OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE

See Joshua 5:13-6:5.  Just before the battle of Jericho, Joshua was confronted with a man who had a sword in his hand.  He asked him: "Are you for us or for our adversaries?  And he said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord's host am I now come.  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped" (Joshua 5:14 Amp).

Victories in the realm of spiritual warfare promote worship.  When we experience the Lord stepping in and delivering us from some peril, we worship.  When he sends someone along to help us in a crisis, we worship.  When he speaks to us with words of comfort, encouragement and assurance, we worship.  When he brings us to the place of complete trust in his leadership, that he is indeed the captain of our salvation, we worship.  How did Joshua reach his point of worship?

Prepared for Battle

Joshua was preparing for battle.  He was probably trying to work out a strategy to lay siege to Jericho.  He "saw a man" rather than had a vision of an angel.  His drawn sword indicated his involvement in the battle.  What confused Joshua was that he did not recognise him and therefore did not know on whose side he was.  When asked the question the man replied, in effect, "I'm not on either side.  It's you who is on my side.  This is my battle."  We should always remember this.  The battle is the Lord's.  We are never alone.  Worshipping God at the beginning of a battle leads us to discover God's strategy, helps us to rely on him and encourages us to expect victory.

Ready to Obey Orders

Moses had a similar encounter with God at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17), but it was much longer because Moses argued with God!  He came round eventually and obeyed God, but his final response was not one of worship.  Joshua, on the other hand, accepted God's word, worshipped God for the encouragement it gave him, and was totally obedient.  The detailed instructions, regarding God's strategy for Jericho's defeat, required tremendous faith!  Yet Joshua never faltered.  If worship results from hearing from God, then obedience is much more likely to take place.  What a privilege it is to hear God's voice!

Able to Stand on Holy Ground

Joshua would have heard Moses tell of his experience at the burning bush.  When he heard the commander of the Lord's army say that he was standing on holy ground he knew he was experiencing a similar visitation from God.  What an encouragement for him as the new leader!  Being in God's presence is to stand on holy ground.  We can only do this because of the cross.  There needs to be a response in our hearts that corresponds to removing our sandals.  What might that be?

God wants us, frequently, to stand on holy ground, in the sense of experiencing his immediate and tangible presence.  In his excellent book about the prayer life of George Muller "Robber of the Cruel Streets", Clive Langmead says that being a Christian is about having "a direct meeting with God in his Spirit.  It may be instantaneous or take time, but accept no imitations.  God is really there and must be met."

Summary

God wants us to wait on him in our own devotional times and in our corporate acts of worship until we experience his manifest presence.  He truly does inhabit the praises of his people (Psalm

Radiance, security in God and confident trust in his character and his ways, all flow from acceptable worship, i.e. that which is offered with reverence and awe.

True worshippers do not doubt God's justice and goodness.  They can still worship God in the face of apparent injustice, because they know God and trust his perfect character.  (See Appendix 1.)

Terrible sins like murder, sinful lifestyles of crime and promiscuity, etc., can bring consequences to the children of the guilty.  The same can be true regarding the occult, suicide, etc.  Why?  Because Satan is at work.  The children are not guilty but Satan takes full advantage.  Why does God allow such things to happen?  Worshippers trust where they cannot trace.  Jesus came to set the captives free and those whom he frees are free indeed. (See Appendix 1.)

Engagement with the enemy, and victories in the realm of spiritual warfare, lead to worship.  The pathway to victory lies in being spiritually prepared for battle, being quick to obey the Captain of our salvation and knowing that the war will be won.

Assignment

Do you expect to experience the tangible presence of God in your quiet times and when meeting with God's people?  What Scriptures encourage you to believe for this?  What would hinder, and what would hasten, his coming in this way?

Do you stand in awe of God?  Do you tremble at his word?  Can you trust God where things seem unfair?  You can only do this as

How would you explain: "he punishes the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 34:7) to an enquirer who was troubled by them?  (See Appendix 1.)

Those who looked intently at Stephen (Acts 6:15) "saw that his face was like the face of an angel".  Like Moses, his face was radiant.  What causes a believer's face to be radiant?

What can you learn from Joshua's example concerning spiritual warfare?  What were the differences between the response of Moses and the response of Joshua to God's words?

CHAPTER FIVE - GIDEON & DAVID

Our next two worshippers are Gideon and David.  Again, the circumstances we will be looking at in each case, were very different.  It is interesting to consider how we each respond to the things that happen to us.  What are the things that bring out an immediate response of worship?  What experiences do we live through without stopping to acknowledge God's goodness, greatness, compassion, etc. and without expressing our worship and thankfulness to him?  The greater the number of wells we dig, the more frequent and natural our acts of worship will be.

THE WELL OF ENCOURAGEMENT

See Judges 7:1-25.  Besides his promise to deliver the multitudes of Midian into the hands of Gideon and his 300 men, God graciously allowed him to overhear an encouraging dream.  "When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshipped God" (Judges 7:15).  How do we keep ourselves in the place of encouragement?

Honesty with God

Gideon had started off with 32,000 soldiers.  This was reduced to 10,000 when those who were afraid were told to return to their homes.  Finally God whittled this down to 300, which was less than 1% of the original number!  God then said to Gideon: "If you are afraid to attack [the Midianites], go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying.  Afterwards you will be encouraged to attack the camp" (7:10, 11).  God didn't ask him directly if he was afraid because he wanted to encourage him, not to discourage him.  Gideon was honest with God and owned up to his fear.  Fear in itself is nothing to be ashamed of.  It becomes a problem when we let it paralyse us and make us ineffective.

Steps of Obedience

Gideon had followed every one of God's commands up to this point and he wasn't going to stop now.  "Gideon arrived just as a man was telling his friend his dream … 'A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp.  It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.'  His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon … God has given the Midianiites and the whole camp into his hands.'"  He carried out God's instructions and received the encouragement he needed.  His fear was dealt a fatal blow.

Unquestioning Faith

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation his response was to worship.  He was God-centred and God-dependent.  He could have simply thanked God for this encouragement; even praised God that he would be victorious.  But he worshipped instead.  His worship proved that he believed God without a shadow of doubt.  He bowed self down and acknowledged the greatness of God and the kindness of God.  His faith in God's word to him was such that he returned to the Israelite camp and proclaimed to his tiny army: "The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands."

Disappointment is usually beyond our control.  Discouragement is always a choice.  It comes down to whether or not we seek and embrace the many encouragements God gives us.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity … so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 15:5, 6).

THE WELL OF GRACE

See 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25.  After his adultery with Bathsheba God told David that the child born to them would die.  David prayed and fasted for the child, but he still died, in accordance with God's word.  "Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped" (2 Samuel 12:20).  How was he able to do this?

Knowing How to Repent

David had committed adultery and murder.  At first he was unrepentant, but when challenged by the prophet Nathan he responded: "I have sinned against the Lord" (12:13). Psalm 51 spells out the genuine nature of his repentance in more detail.  "Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.  Cleanse me … and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.  A broken and contrite heart you will not despise."  David was able to worship God in such circumstances because he knew how to repent and he knew that God would accept his sorrow as sincere and forgive him.  He was confident about God's response to true repentance.  To repent is to change your mind or purpose, to change direction.  You have been going your own sinful way.  You stop and do an about-turn.  You feel what the Bible calls "godly sorrow" over your sin (2 Corinthians 7;10), you turn your back on it and you go God's way.

Understanding Forgiveness

David knew that when God forgives he treads our sins underfoot and hurls them into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).  He prayed: "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways" (Psalm 25:7).  He wrote: "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12).  He knew that God would not keep a record of his sins and hold them against him (Psalm 130:3).  He knew that after being truly repentant and receiving forgiveness he could continue to serve as king, unless God told him otherwise.  The consequences of his sin were to follow him all his life, but his intimacy with God was immediately restored.

God does not keep a record of our sins (Psalm 130:3).  He chooses not to remember them, and, by his grace, we can do the same.  The New Covenant contains this promise: "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more" (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).  This had long been the deep desire of God's people: "Do not remember our sins for ever" (Isaiah 64:9).

Knowing God's Character

David was so sure of God's character, so certain about being forgiven and reinstated in right relationship with him, that, after he had worshipped God, he comforted his wife Bathsheba and lay with her.  The Pharisees of Jesus' day would probably have wanted her stoned.  I have heard some say that David never amounted to much after this moral fall, but that is to completely miss the power of repentance and forgiveness.  Through these God always gives us a fresh start.

What was God's response?  He enabled Bathsheba to conceive and bear a son.  "The Lord loved him, and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him 'Loved by the Lord'" (12:24, 25).  God accepted Bathsheba, and her new son, and even chose him to succeed David.  This is a wonderful example of God's amazing grace.  David could worship God because he understood grace and lived in the good of it.

Summary

True worshippers are quick to spot and to acknowledge God's goodness to them, by stopping, and taking time, to worship him.  They find a reason to worship him in everything that happens to them, even the negative things.

God will help us to overcome our fears, if we are honest with him about them and trust him to help us.

True worshippers are quick to receive encouragement.  They do not pretend they are not in need of it.  They do not belittle it, but draw strength from it.  They worship God for it, obey and step out in faith, spurning the risks.

True worshippers know how to keep short accounts with God and others.  They are quick to repent, quick to ask for, and to receive, forgiveness, and quick to get back on track with God.  Intimate fellowship is swiftly restored.

True worshippers live in the goodness of God's grace.  They do not disqualify themselves from fruitful service in the future, because of a past failure.  They do not allow Satan to take them on endless "guilt trips".

Assignment

Do you allow fear to paralyse you?  "Perfect love drives out fear" (1 John 4:18).  John Stott tells us that this refers to our love for God rather than his love for us (Tyndale New Testament Commentary).  The more we truly love and trust God, the less we will be paralysed by fear.  Why is this so?

Do you have a testimony of God encouraging you in the way he encouraged Gideon?  His spontaneous worship revealed his total trust.  How can such faith be built into our lives?  Why is discouragement a choice?

When Christian leaders are guilty of serious moral failure, how should their cases be dealt with, in the light of the way God dealt with David?

Have you ever failed God in a serious way?  Have you truly repented and received his forgiveness?  If so, what encourages you to believe God still has wonderful plans for your life?  What safeguards need to be put in place?

David lived in the good of God's grace.  Do you?  How was it that David felt free to worship God after such moral failure?

David knew the character of God.  Read through Psalm 18, which he wrote after God had delivered him from his enemies, and list the glorious qualities of God's character that are found there.

CHAPTER SIX  - JEHOSHAPHAT & JOB

Our next two worshippers were facing extremely difficult situations.  Jehoshaphat had heard that three hostile nations had joined forces and were marching against him. They were almost at his gate.  Job's circumstances were equally devastating, but of a personal nature, calling into question the very goodness and justice of God.

THE WELL OF DELIVERANCE

See 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.  God said to King Jehoshaphat: "You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you" (2 Chronicles 20:17).  When Jehoshaphat heard these words he wholeheartedly believed them.  Such faith revealed itself in his immediate act of worship.  How did this deliverance come about?

Seeking God with Prayer and Fasting

Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were greatly alarmed at the threat of the vast army arrayed against them.  The king's response was to proclaim a fast and to bring the people together to seek help from God.  Jehoshaphat's prayer is a great example of how we should pray in what might be deemed similar circumstances.  "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven?  You rule over the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you … O our God, will you not judge them?  For we have no power to face this vast army … We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

Knowing the Battle is God's

The king had brought together all the men of Judah with their wives and children and little ones.  Faced with the threat of the combined armies of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir, this vulnerable group had no choice but to depend on God, or accept defeat.  A prophet spoke: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours but God's."  How often do we fail to realise this?  Once we do we can encourage ourselves with God's promises: "The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).  "If God is for us who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

Facing the Enemy

It is not sufficient to know the battle belongs to God.  Normally he will not bring about a victory without our participation.  He requires us to confront the enemy and to look him full in the face.  "Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you … Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them … and the Lord will be with you."  It was after hearing these prophetic words that "Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord."  They worshipped before the battle had even begun, let alone won, because they believed God.  They went into battle singing his praises.  God's promise led to worship and worship led to praise.  In worship they acknowledged the Lord as God.  Through praise they proclaimed his greatness, his glory and his victory.  Their joy was immense.

THE WELL OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

After Job had lost everything "he fell to the ground in worship and said … 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised'" (Job 1:20, 21).  Job submitted confidently to the sovereignty of God.  This can be defined as God's right to rule as Sovereign (as King) over all his creation, including what happens to us personally.  He directs the details of our lives in order to fulfil his purposes for us.  He causes all things, whether good or bad in themselves, to become co-workers for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).

God allowed Job to be severely tested, just as he later allowed the same to happen to Peter.  "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you [all the disciples] as wheat.  But I [personally] have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31, 32).

Job served God faithfully.  He was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (1:1).  Satan believed he knew why.  The question he put to God amounted to this: "Would he still worship you if he were to lose everything he has?"  He had been enjoying God's protection and God had blessed him with a large family and great riches.  If all this were to be taken away from him, wouldn't he turn on God, blame him and curse him to his face?  We need to be able to answer the same question.  Do we worship God when all is going well, but sometimes turn on him when things go wrong?  What were Job's secrets?

Gratitude

Job knew that all he had was a gift from God.  It was all down to God's grace and loving-kindness.  It had nothing to do with his upright way of life.  He did not have it all because he deserved it, but because God had chosen to bless him.  His heart was filled with gratitude to God.  It was this attitude of thankfulness and appreciation that enabled him to keep free from resentment when it was all taken away.  He did not say: "The Lord gave and Satan has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised".  He did not say: "Once I was rich and had many children but now I have nothing; may the name of Lord be praised".  He actually said: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised".  He knew that God had allowed this loss to take place, and could have prevented it, yet it didn't threaten his love for him, his trust in his goodness, or his readiness to worship him.

Submission

Job did not argue with God.  He did not question God's dealings with him.  He did not, at this stage, complain that things weren't fair.  He submitted to God, even though he did not understand what was going on.  He was never told about God's confidence in him, or how this trial had come about (1:7-12), yet "he did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing" (1:22).  Instead, he worshipped.

Integrity

His attitude did change when the next trial hit and he was struck with a terrifying sickness, but he still passed the test.  And, for him, no test could have been more difficult: "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me" (3:25).  We can be immensely encouraged by Job's experience.  Whatever it is that we fear the most, God is able to bring us through it to a place of greater blessing.  In all his many words of complaint, Job continued to trust God.  He was even able to say: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (13:15).

What had been God's purpose in this trial?  Surely it was that their relationship would be deepened and that Job would have come to know him more intimately.  At the end of his ordeal, and before his prosperity was restored, he said: "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.  Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes" (42:5, 6).  In other words: "I used to have a personal relationship with you, but at a bit of a distance.  Now, having seen you face to face in my trials, I know and understand you more and have drawn closer to you.  Through my suffering I have come to love you more.  Because of this I am really sorry that I complained so bitterly and sat in judgement on you."

Summary

Worship flows out of confidence and trust in God coupled with the courage to face our problems and difficulties head on.

If we seek him in prayer and fasting, convinced that in our own strength all is lost, he will bring us through victoriously and with rejoicing.

When we are totally at ease with God's sovereignty our worship is sincere; we trust him and know that his ways are best.

When we recognize that all we have is an undeserved gift from him, and are grateful, we will submit to his dealings with us no matter what might happen.

When we are honest with him and pour out our hearts to him, even our anger and frustration, we will draw closer to him and our worship will deepen.

Assignment

How do you face personal and church battles?  How did Jehoshaphat face his?  How can we dig a well of God's deliverances?  At what stages in a battle should we find ourselves worshipping God?

What were the things that Jehoshaphat and the people did before engaging the enemy forces?  What was their part, and what was God's part, in the victory that followed?

How was Job able to worship God having suddenly lost all his possessions and been bereaved of all his children?  How was he

Do you believe and trust in God's sovereignty?  How can we learn to trust him no matter what might happen?  How can we continue to worship him, free from all resentment, when questions remain unanswered?

CHAPTER SEVEN - THE COMMUNITY OF GOD 1

We move now from looking at the worship of individuals to considering how the people of God responded to his words and actions in corporate acts of worship.  Although God wants an intimate relationship with us as individuals, he expects it to be an extension of his relationship with his people, the church.  The two go together.  The Bible knows nothing of individuals relating to God in isolation from his people, unless caused by temporary or unlooked-for circumstances.

THE WELL OF SIMPLE TRUST

See Exodus 4:27-31.  The first reference, to what might be called a corporate act of worship, is at the time of the Exodus.  Moses had met with God at the burning bush.  He had returned to Egypt and shared with God's people that their God was going to rescue them and set them free from their unbearable slavery.

"When they [the Israelites in Egypt] heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped" (Exodus 4:31).  Exactly what was it that led to such worship?

The Promise of Deliverance

When God gives us specific promises regarding setting us free from difficult circumstances, or providing a particular deliverance for us, our first response should be to worship.  When this is not the case it is probably due to a lack of faith.  We make room for doubts.  God sees this as a stubborn refusal to believe (Mark 16:14).  When we receive his promises with simple trust, we worship.  When God acts on our behalf, and brings about a radical change in our circumstances, or, may be, in our attitude towards them, we worship.

The Assurance of His Understanding

God is fully aware of all that is happening to us, and how this is making us feel.  We may be tempted to think that he has forgotten about us.  That is a lie of the enemy.  When God breaks his silence and reveals to us clearly that he knows and perfectly understands our situation, even the way we are feeling, we are humbled and we worship.

The Comfort of His Companionship

When God speaks to us and leaves us in no doubt that he not only cares about us, but is intimately involved with us in our suffering, we worship.  The Bible tells us: "In all their distress he too was distressed" (Isaiah 63:9).  He has promised never to leave us or forsake us ((Hebrews 13:5).  He is always intimately involved with us, especially in our suffering.

None of this can happen unless we mix his promises with faith, unless our trust in him is strong and sincere, unless we believe with all our hearts that he is, and always will be, good.   A well of simple trust contrasts completely with the cynicism and unbelief of people who do not acknowledge God.

THE WELL OF SALVATION

See Exodus 12:1-30.  Moses had been courageous and faithful in his obedience.  He had confronted Pharaoh on many occasions.  The Lord had judged the gods of the Egyptians by the many plagues he had sent.  But still the king continued to harden his heart and would not let the Hebrew people go.  One last plague remained.  This would finalize the Lord's judgement on their slave masters' gods by striking at the crown prince himself and all the other first-born in the land.  They would die.

"Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them: 'Go at once … and slaughter the Passover lamb.  Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the door-frame.  Not one of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.  When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood … and will pass over … and … not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.'"

Quite simply, those who were in houses daubed by the blood of the lamb were kept safe and those who were not perished.  No distinctions were made as to the personal righteousness of those in such houses.  Their salvation did not depend on anything other than where they were.  They obeyed God.  They put their trust in him, and in the blood, and were saved.

Moses went on to tell them that in the future they would regularly celebrate this deliverance.  He told them to tell future generations: "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians."  When the people finished listening to all Moses had to say, we read: " Then the people bowed down and worshipped."  They were in wonder at what God was about to do for them.  They were amazed at how much he loved them, cared for them and identified with them.

There are many parallels between what happened at the first Passover and what happened through the cross.  When we are saved we will always have so much to thank and worship God for, no matter what may be the circumstances of our lives.  We will always be able to draw water from the well of salvation.

A New Beginning

"This month is to be for you the first month."  What God was about to do for his people was so important that it was to mark the beginning of their calendar year.  To become a Christian is to be born again; it is to begin a new life; it is to have the slate wiped clean and to be given a fresh start.  "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A Perfect Sacrifice

The Passover lambs that were to be sacrificed had to be "without defect".  John the Baptist said of Jesus: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). We read in 1 Peter 1:19: "You were redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." Jesus himself is our Passover Lamb.

A Final Judgement

The passing over Egypt of the destroyer, and the striking down of every firstborn, would complete the Lord's judgements on all the gods of Egypt.  Demons reside in every idol and false god, so worshipping them is worshipping Satan.  We read of Jesus that he "shared in their humanity [those who would become his followers] so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).  Jesus himself said as he neared the cross: "Now is the time for judgement on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out" (John 12:31).

Absolute Protection

The blood of the lambs had to be smeared on the sides and top of the door-frame to each Israelite house.  When the Lord saw this, as he passed over Egypt, he would not allow the destroyer to enter the house and strike down those inside.  They would be perfectly protected.  As long as they remained inside such houses, they would be totally safe.  Our safety is being in Christ.  Only those who are in Christ have eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:21, 22).  It was the blood of Christ that "obtained eternal redemption" for us (Hebrews 9:12).

Unmerited Salvation

As we have said, the protection the blood gave to the occupants of the house did not depend, in any way, on how righteous they were, that is, on how well they had been keeping God's commandments.  Those who were doing quite well, and those who were making a thorough mess of their lives, were equally protected.  None of them was entitled to protection or deserving of it.  God chose to protect them.  He chose to treat them mercifully.  Our salvation is also by grace: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this [salvation] not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Universal Destruction

There was total protection for those within houses that were marked by blood, and no protection at all for any first-born who remained outside.  First-born Israelites disobeying God's instructions would have suffered the same fate as first-born Egyptians.  No distinction was to be made between the righteous and the unrighteous.  Good works would not have made the slightest difference.  Our good works will not be weighed in God's balances against our bad deeds to determine whether we go to heaven or hell.  The crucial issue is this: are our names written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27)?  Have we overcome Satan by the blood of the lamb (Revelation 12:11)?

"The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field" (Matthew 9:38).

A Witnessing Community

The Lord instructed the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the beginning of every year and to explain to their children the details of their amazing deliverance.  We too are commanded to tell others of all that Jesus has done for us.  Overcoming Satan, on a daily basis, is largely accomplished by the word of our personal testimony (Revelation 12:11).

When we meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the eternal security that the covering of his blood guarantees, the total defeat of Satan and the certainty of judgement for those who reject his offer of salvation, we can do nothing but tremble before God, in reverent fear, and worship him.

Summary

God expects us, as his children, to belong to a worshipping community.  Although he welcomes our worship when we are in isolation, he does not want private worship to replace corporate worship.

We should not allow delays, regarding a deliverance we are seeking from God, to make us cynical.  God will answer our prayers in his time and we will worship, if we persevere.  He has not forgotten us.  He does care.

We cannot truly worship God if we are not saved.  We might, in theory, be able to praise him, but we cannot worship him.  The "well" of salvation is personal, yet it is also corporate.  When we know we are saved, and appreciate the incredible cost of our salvation, we worship.

Our salvation provides us with a new beginning.  We are eternally secure because the sacrifice of Jesus was perfectly acceptable.  We do not need to fear the evil one because the cross brought about his total defeat.

Our salvation depends entirely on the death and resurrection of Jesus.  It is by grace alone.  Only those who are in Christ, and protected by his blood, are saved.  All others are lost.  We are commanded to proclaim this great salvation to all who will listen.

Assignment

Is there a well of simple trust in your life or has cynicism gained a foothold?  If God makes a promise that seems too good to be true, can you trust him to do it?  "In quietness and trust is your strength" (Isaiah 30:15).  How can a well of simple trust be established?

The well of salvation should give us an abundant supply that will enable us to worship whatever the circumstances.  Do you find that to be your experience?  How can the joy of our salvation be maintained as a source of worship?

Do you ever find yourself slipping back into a gospel of works, believing you can only approach God in worship if you have had a good day or a good week?  Why is this so deadly?

Look up the following verses: Hebrews 2:14, 15; 1 John 3:8; 5:18; and Colossians 2:15.  What do they teach us concerning the judgement of Satan?

We have seen that we overcome Satan in our daily lives through the word of our testimony.  Why is this so?  Might a failure to share our faith be the reason why we sometimes feel so defeated?  What should we do about this?

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE COMMUNITY OF GOD 2

God-appointed leadership is key to establishing a worshipping community.  But, for this to happen, the leaders themselves must be worshippers.  They need to model a lifestyle of worship.

It is not uncommon for church leaders to be looking around to see who is at the meeting, while the body of believers are worshipping God.  Sometimes leaders walk into the gathering and onto the platform just before they are due to preach, missing most of the worship.  However, leaders should be the most ardent of worshippers, and lead by example in this area, as in all others.  It is very special to see a well-known church leader or evangelist at a meeting early and clearly lost in wonder, love and praise during the worship time.  It not only paves the way for his or her message to be received, but also prepares the preacher's heart to deliver it in the power of the Spirit.

In this chapter we will see how two leaders enabled God's people to engage in wholehearted worship and powerful praise.  Moses and Solomon modelled worship.

THE WELL OF ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE

See Exodus 33:7-23.  Moses designated a certain tent outside the camp "the tent of meeting".  The people knew he went there to meet with God.  "Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped."  They worshipped because God was amongst them and was speaking to Moses.  He would bring God's word to them.  We are far more privileged than the Israelites, because we have direct access to God.  We can abide in Christ at all times.  And we are greatly encouraged to do this when our leaders take time to seek God.  What are the blessings of dwelling in his presence?

His Friendship

In that tent "the Lord would speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend."  Job said: "My intercessor is my friend.  He pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend" (Job 16:20). We read in Proverbs: "A friend loves at all times" (17:17). "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (18:24).  In Song of Songs the beloved says: "This is my lover, this is my friend" (5:16).  Jesus calls us his friends so that we can call him our friend (John 15:14).

Friendship speaks of the linking of two hearts.  It refers to a sharing of experiences that sets another person above being a mere acquaintance and makes them a close companion.  It indicates a fondness and devotion that develops as two people are attracted to each other and build a relationship.  It speaks of mutual love and affection, of kindness, warmth, acceptance and respect.  It involves enjoying and delighting in one another.  True friendship is found when a person loves someone for the moral qualities he or she has, and desires good for that person.  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, when they are lovingly and gently inflicted.

Jesus laid down his life for his friends and was known as the Friend of Sinners.  As a true friend he accepts us as we are and never judges us.  He said: "I did not come to judge the world but to save it" (John 12:47).  Such a deep and intimate relationship naturally leads to adoration and praise.  We are so unworthy of such a privilege.  In and of ourselves our moral qualities are few and flawed, yet this doesn't put him off!  He really does love us.  How can we do anything else but worship him?

His Pleasure

Moses pleased God and found favour with him.  God spoke intimately with him and shared his heart with him.  A realization of God's pleasure concerning us causes us to worship.  "How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God!"  (Psalm 139:17)  As a baby-in-arms brings such pleasure to loving parents, so we too bring pleasure to God.  "He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

His Glory

Because of the deep intimacy Moses enjoyed with God he asked to see his glory and God did not refuse him.  A revelation of the glory of God leads to worship.  How did God show Moses his glory?  By revealing himself in three ways: in all his goodness, in his name and in his mercy and compassion.

The name by which God revealed his glory to Moses was Yahweh.  As we have seen, this means: "I Am Who I Am".  God revealed his glory in this name.  He was saying to Moses: I am the active present reality; my saving acts are a visible declaration of my name; I am the God who chose you; I am the God of relationship; I will be a Father to you; I will always treat you with mercy and compassion; I am a good God.  This is my glory.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man [or woman] who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8).

THE WELL OF FULFILLED PROMISES

See 2 Chronicles 6:1-7:3.  At the dedication of Solomon's temple "when all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshipped" (2 Chronicles 7:3).

David had wanted to build a house for God, but Nathan, the prophet, was sent to him with this promise: "Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? … The Lord himself will establish a house for you … I will raise up your offspring to succeed you … He [Solomon] is the one who will build a house for my Name … I will be his father and he will be my son" (2 Samuel 7:1-29).

God had fulfilled his promise and the temple had been built.  When we have a well of fulfilled promises in our lives, we will always have a reason to worship God.  His Word is full of promises, all of which we can claim.  At the temple's dedication three things happened before worship reached its peak.

Consecrated by Prayer

Powerful prayer accompanied the promise's fulfilment.  Solomon went from blessing the people to praising God and on to asking that he would "hear from heaven" whenever they cried out to him in their need "forgive the sin of your servants" and "uphold their cause."  He took time to thank God for all his goodness and faithfulness and to intercede for God's people at some length.  We can learn so much from his prayer and would do well to follow his example, though not in the way he went on to live his life.  (See 1 Kings 11:1-13.)  His God-glorifying prayer ended with the words: "Now arise, O Lord God, and come to your resting place … May your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness" (2 Chronicles 6:41).

Approved by Fire

"When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices" (2 Chronicles 7:1).  This was the first of that day's manifestations of God's immediate presence.  The fire spoke of God's approval and acceptance of Solomon's prayer and the offering and sacrifices that were being presented.  It was a powerful demonstration of God's pleasure.  The fire also spoke of purification and of God's acceptance of the worshippers.

When Isaiah had a vision of God in the temple, "high and exalted" he cried out: "Woe to me!  I am ruined! … Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal … With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for'" (Isaiah 6:6, 7).

John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16).  This baptism of fire is a promise we should all claim.  It certainly lifts worship to a higher plain!

Confirmed by Glory

The second manifestation of God's immediate presence was glory.  "The glory of the Lord filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 7:1).  At last, God's House had been completed.  His finely detailed instructions had been followed to the letter.  The result was breathtakingly beautiful: lamplight that made the golden floral work gleam and sparkle; vibrantly coloured fabrics; walls of glowing gold; noble stonework, skilfully carved; majestic cherubim; regally and magnificently dressed priests.  Then King Solomon prayed his powerful prayer of dedication.  How would God respond?  How would he show his pleasure and his acceptance of all this hard and meticulously diligent work?  He would fill the temple with his glory.

The glory of God is the sun-like brightness and radiance that surrounds his presence.  It is the outward expression of his inner excellence.  The Psalmist likens it to his clothing: "O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty.  He wraps himself in light as with a garment" (Psalm 104:1, 2).  David asked: "Who is he, this King of glory?" and answered: "The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory" (Psalm 24:10).  Sin is spoken of as falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  When God filled the temple with his glory it was as though he was saying: "In no way has this temple and its dedication to me fallen short of my expectation."  And whenever we approach to worship him in spirit and truth, through the blood of Jesus, we can be confident of a similar response.  We can expect to experience, at the very least, a fresh glimpse of his glory.

Summary

It is utterly essential for the leaders of God's people to be worshippers.  They should be seen to be totally engaged with God during worship times.

When we abide in Christ, when we linger in God's presence, we enjoy intimate friendship with him.  We give him pleasure and he lets us see his glory, which emanates from his inner beauty.  This compels us to worship.

The certainty of God's love for us personally is foundational to our worship.

God reveals his glory to us by showing us his goodness and convincing us that he is always good; by revealing the meaning of his name, that he is the God of relationship, the God of Fatherhood; and by choosing to always treat us with mercy and compassion.

When God fulfils one of his precious promises to us we worship.  The natural consequences are that we have a fresh glimpse of his glory and experience an increased purification of our commitment to him.

Assignment

We must ask ourselves: Am I totally convinced that God loves me, cares for me, approves of me as a person, and accepts me as I am?  Do you have this assurance?  What Scriptures prove that these statements are true concerning you?

We must ask ourselves: Is the well of abiding in God's presence in good condition in my life?  Are we able to persevere in seeking him so that we truly meet him face to face?  "Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.  His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering

What blessings does abiding in Christ enable us to enjoy?  To what do they lead?

We have said that the word "glory" describes how God's holiness radiates out from him.  God revealed his glory to Moses in three ways.  What were they and what do they mean?  What is your personal response to this?

There are many promises in God's Word that we can claim for ourselves.  He wants to fulfil them in your life.  Are you a claimer of God's promises?  What was the last one you claimed?

Are you in need of God's refining fire?  Will God fill the work that you are doing for him with his glory?  How can you make sure he will?

CHAPTER NINE - THE COMMUNITY OF GOD 3

At a spiritual retreat for leaders that I was attending (2006), God spoke to us through a prophetic word saying that we were not to be revival-centred but needs-centred.  If we would be quick to preach the gospel, pray for the sick and believe God for signs and wonders, in response to the desperate needs all around us, the Spirit would come in power and surround us with revival.  Revival would follow our obedience.  We were greatly encouraged.  Many were sharing testimony of God's miraculous healing and of large numbers being saved.  In some churches God had been sprinkling gold dust on hands lifted up to him in praise and worship!  Revival had begun!

In this chapter we will be looking at the revival that took place under Hezekiah and seeing how it came about and how it led to profound worship.  We will also find out that a wholehearted return to God's Word, as happened under Ezra's leadership, is key to revival.  It leads us into a greater understanding of our glorious God and his wonderful ways.  This, in turn, draws us into worship.

THE WELL OF REVIVAL

Hezekiah courageously brought rebellious Israel back to God, and, as the burnt offering was being made, "the whole assembly bowed in worship" (2 Chronicles 29:28, 29).

Opening the Doors to All

Restoration leads to worship.  What was the first step taken?  Hezekiah opened the doors of the temple of the Lord.  The temple represented the presence of God amongst his people and was dedicated to his worship.  It was the only legitimate place for offering sacrifices.  It housed the Ark of the Covenant, where blood was poured out once a year to make atonement for the sin of the people.  It was a house of prayer for all the nations.  Opening the temple doors put God, once more, at the centre.

On two separate occasions, Jesus violently drove out from the temple those who had transformed it from a place of worship into a market place.  When he did this, at the beginning of his ministry, it caused his disciples to remember the Scripture: "Zeal for your house will consume me" (John 2:13-17).  When he needed to repeat his actions just before going to the cross, as the temple had again become a "den of robbers", children began to worship and praise him.  They shouted out: "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:12-17).  Jesus had come to his temple, where his authority was rightly exercised.  Its curtain, which symbolised the barrier between a holy God and sinful human beings, was soon to be torn in two from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51).

Jesus opened the way for all his children to enter into the holiest place in order to worship him.  We need to make sure that our corporate worship is accessible to all, that all are welcome, no matter how unworthy they may be feeling.

Consecrating the Leaders

The second step was to restore godly leadership.  When leaders are seen to be, and known to be, worshippers, the people follow their example.  Hezekiah's exhortation applies to all leaders: "My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him and to be his ministers and burn incense [to pray]" (29:11 NASB).  They first needed to consecrate and purify themselves from all defilement.  They then needed to lead with diligence, dedication and commitment, knowing that God had called them to serve him.

Elijah, who, on many occasions began his prophetic messages with the words: "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand", on one occasion fled and hid in a cave.  He was angry and afraid, and feeling very sorry for himself.  He had lost confidence to stand in God's presence.  But God called him out from hiding to appear once more before him (1 Kings 17:1; 18:15; 19:9-11 NASB).

Leaders are called to stand in God's presence and to listen to his instructions.  However, their main calling is to minister to him in praise, adoration and worship.  They also have the responsibility to lead and to pastor his people, and to pray for them, but this is their secondary calling.  Worship comes before service.

Purifying the Sanctuary

The third step was to purify the temple itself.  In applying this principle today we are, of course, not referring to church buildings, but to the corporate life of the communities of God's people who use them.  In this sense many churches need purification and restoration to the New Testament model.  God wants churches that are led and empowered by the Spirit and equipped with the gifts of the Spirit.  God wants churches that are centres of grace and loving-kindness and free from legalism.  God wants churches that honour God's Son and God's Word and are free from worldliness.  God wants churches that reach out to the lost and are committed to world missions.  God wants churches where the damaged, the lost, the outcast, the sinner and the despairing can find hope, love and acceptance.  We need revival and restoration.  This always leads to deeper worship.

Purifying the People

Hezekiah made sure all the necessary sacrifices and burnt offerings were made for the purification and consecration of the people, as well as for the temple itself.  As all this was reaching its climax worship began to break out.  First there was singing and the playing of trumpets and other musical instruments.  Then the whole assembly bowed in worship (29:27, 28).

"When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshipped.  King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer.  So they sang praise with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped" (29:29, 30).

THE WELL OF THE WORD OF GOD

After the wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, Ezra taught the people God's law, and at this new beginning "they bowed down and worshipped" (Nehemiah 8:6; 9:3).

Uniting the Generations

The wall had been completed in just fifty-two days, despite the overwhelming opposition.  Amongst the people themselves there was a great desire to make the most of this new opportunity to shine as the people of God and to fulfil his purposes for them.  "All the people assembled as one man … They told Ezra to bring out the book of the Law of Moses" (8:1).  They all came: men, women and children – all who were old enough to understand what was happening.  This was a people-initiative.

Making the Room

They wanted to get back to God's Word.  They wanted to properly understand it and to obey it.  They wanted to make room for it in their hearts (John 8:37).  As soon as Ezra opened the book everyone stood to show their respect and love for God's Law.  Ezra began by praising God, and the people "bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground" (8:6).  Then, after each section had been read, the Levites moved amongst the people "making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand" (8:8).

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).

Celebrating the Meaning

God wanted joy to be the response of his people.  They were his special possession; he had dealt with their sin; he had carried them through their trials.  But they responded to their new understanding of God's Word with tears of conviction and repentance.  They were overwhelmed by their failure, their short-comings and their sin.  However, Nehemiah gently rebuked them!  The first fruit of understanding should be joy and celebration!  "This day is sacred [holy] to the Lord."  In other words: "Today is about God's glory, beauty and holiness.  He should be the focus, and your response should be joyous celebration!"  Weeping can be self-centred.  God was overjoyed that his Word had found a place in their hearts and he wanted them to be joyful too!  At the very moment Jacob became aware of his true character (supplanter) God renamed him Israel (contender with God; prevailer) (Genesis 32:27, 28).  The moment Peter became aware of his sin, Jesus promised to make him a fisher of men (Luke 5:8-10).  The moment Isaiah confessed his uncleanness, God cleansed him and commissioned him as a prophet (Isaiah 6:6, 7).

God wants our response to revelation to be joy.  This proves we believe what God is saying to us and his joy becomes the source of our strength.  God's holiness here is linked with his glory, beauty, strength and joy, not with his justice and righteousness, as they had expected.

Previously the focus had been the temple – the sanctuary.  Now it would be God's Word.  Israel would become the people of The Book.

For us too, The Book needs to be at the heart of our worship.  Time needs to be taken for the Word to be read out loud and for all present to listen intently.  It is the Sword of the Spirit that penetrates our defences and "judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). It calls for a response.  It commands obedience.  It produces repentance.  It leads to worship.

God revealed himself to Samuel through his Word (1 Samuel 3:21).  He will do the same for us.  Worship naturally follows the reading of God's Word as the Holy Spirit quickens its awesome and liberating truth to us.

Summary

Revival and worship go hand in hand.  The steps that are needed to experience revival are: establishing the tangible presence of God; restoring leadership to its primary calling to worship and to pray; purifying church life of dead traditions; and purifying God's

Revival refers to the restoration of God's people as a community to a supernatural life of extraordinary growth accompanied by signs and wonders.  The church is the centre of God's affections.  It is the church that experiences revival.

The well of worship with the most abundant supply is the Word of God.  When we hunger after it, study it and begin to truly understand it, making room for it in our hearts, the sorrow of repentance and the joy of restoration meet, and worship flows.

We can all teach God's Word to others at a certain level, but in every church it also needs to be taught by those, who, like Ezra, have the gift of teaching.  It needs to be explained and applied in simple terms that all can understand.

Those who hear God's Word need help in responding to it in an appropriate way.  Church leaders need to make sure that the way in which their people live, reflects a correct understanding of biblical truth.

Assignment

Look again at Hezekiah's revival.  What part did worship play?  In what circumstances was it offered?

What is the primary calling of all spiritual leaders?  How well is this reflected in the way you live your life?  What changes do you need to make?

In your own words, what were the steps taken in Hezekiah's revival?  Which are most needed in your own situation?  How

When God reveals truth to us through his Word we worship.  How should we approach God's Word, and go about reading and studying it, so that we hear his voice through it?

We can dig wells of worship as individuals, and as local church families.  Which ones should we be digging, and keeping in good condition, corporately?  Can you think of any not mentioned in this book?

CHAPTER TEN - NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP 1

The Meaning of Praise

We have already looked at the way in which the essential nature of praise is described in the Old Testament.  When we come to the New Testament we do not find any passages that change or modify its essential character, yet we do find a greater variety and breadth of expression.  (See Appendix 1 for a detailed look at the meanings of the various Greek words that are used.)  In the New Testament to praise means to commend, to approve of, to sing and to play instruments to praise God.  It means to confess, to bless, to speak well of (to eulogize), to bring an offering, to glorify and to magnify God.

One of the Greek words literally means to tell a story (of God's goodness).  This encourages us to praise God for our own personal stories and of his grace at work in our lives.  Throughout the Bible, God's unfolding drama of redemption provides us with many stories that promote praise.

Another word literally means to twang on a stringed instrument.  By this definition electric guitars are certainly not out of place in worship!  "Is any one happy?  Let him sing songs of praise" (James 5:13).  Let him also twang away on his guitar!

The Meaning of Worship

The picture conjured up by the Greek words translated "worship" add a new dimension to the image defined by the Hebrew words.  The Old Testament sees the worshipper bowing self down in awe of God.  The New Testament sees the worshipper then rising to his or her feet and stepping forward confidently, joyfully and intimately, to kiss the Father's cheek.  We can be sure the Father will not remain passive!  Whether we come with confidence, or as the prodigal did with some misgivings, the Father will be filled with compassion for us, run to us, throw his arms around us and kiss us (Luke 15:20)!

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman about worship (John 4:19-24) he talked of "the Father" rather than "the Lord God Almighty".  They are, of course, one and the same, but why the emphasis on "the Father"?  Surely it was to encourage a more intimate and informal way of worship, free from the need to be in a specific place and to offer it in a specific way.

The Greek words for worship are fewer than those for praise (see Appendix 1).  This seems to reflect what we have seen in the Old Testament.  Worship resides in the heart; praise on the lips.  Worship is either present or absent, genuine or non-existent.  Praise, on the other hand, can either express the worship of the heart or be mere words.  Let's make every effort to avoid the latter at all times.

To worship literally means to move towards in order to kiss.  It means to fall down before.  It means to serve with devotion and reverence.

The Worshipers the Father Seeks

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true [emphatically genuine] worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.  God is spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23, 24).

The words "a time is coming and has now come" is a reference to something totally new.  It is the new way of direct access to God through the blood of Jesus without the need for any intermediary.  It is the new way of intimacy between child and Father.  It is the new way which is now open to all.  It is the way of grace.  "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us … let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith"( Hebrews 10:19-22).

What does it mean to worship the Father in spirit and truth?  It is in the human spirit, rather than in the Holy Spirit, though the latter does help us in our worship.  Leon Morris says: "A man must worship, not simply outwardly by being in the right place and taking up the right attitude, but in his spirit.  The combination 'spirit and truth' points to the need for complete sincerity and complete reality in our approach to God."  Truth in the New Testament means more than truth as opposed to falsehood and reality as opposed to mere appearances.  It also incorporates faithfulness, reliability and trustworthiness.  God is "the God of truth" (Psalm 31:5).  Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).  The very truth of God, truth itself, resides in Jesus.  "All truth is in Jesus – embodied and personified in him" (Ephesians 4:21 Amp).

Jesus said: "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him" (Matthew 12:34, 35).  This certainly applies to worship and God is seeking worshippers.  What else does he seek?  Those whose hearts are totally dedicated to him.  "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).  He is also looking for faith.  "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).  From this verse it is clear that God is not merely concerned with faith that he exists.  Many believe he exists.  He is looking for faith that seeks after him in search of an intimate relationship.  He is looking for those who believe that he is good, that he keeps his promises and that, as we take one step towards him, he rushes towards us and takes us into his arms.  God is not looking for faults: "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17).

The two words "spirit" and "truth" belong together and form one complex idea, but we will look at them individually to better understand this idea.  They provide us with two of the most important wells of worship.

THE WELL OF INNER TRANSFORMATION

David said: "Behold you desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart" (Psalm 51:6 Amp).

What sort of inner transformation produces a well of worship?  What sort of spirit is God looking for that will enable us to worship him?

A New Spirit

Nothing short of being given a new heart will do.  The old one is "deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (Jeremiah 17:9).  But God has promised us a new one.  "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19).  Only those who have been truly born again of the Spirit of God, through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone to save them, have new hearts (or new spirits).

A Steadfast Spirit

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast [right] spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).  David is asking God for a miracle, for a work of creation.  He is not asking for a "quick fix", but a sustained work of transformation.  Such a spirit perseveres.  The word "right" or "steadfast" translates a Hebrew word meaning "prepared, ready, established".  From such a spirit flows truthful and sustained worship.

A Willing Spirit

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Psalm 51:12).  Jesus commended his disciples for their willing spirit but warned them of the dangers of failing to keep watch because of the weakness of the body (Matthew 26:41).  The Hebrew word for "willing" literally means "free, liberal, noble".  Such a spirit is unrestrained in worship.

A Broken Spirit

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).  Brokenness comes with the recognition and acceptance of the reality of our own sinfulness.  It comes by revelation and often through a harrowing experience that uncovers our true self.  God in his grace and mercy immediately comes in with his solution.

Let's look at Jacob's experience again.  "Then he [the man] said: 'Let me go, for day is breaking.' But Jacob said: 'I will not let you go unless you declare a blessing upon me.'  The man asked him: 'What is your name?'  And (in shock of realization, whispering) he said: 'Jacob – supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler!'  And he said: 'Your name shall be called no more Jacob (supplanter) but Israel (contender with God) for you have contended and have power with God and with men, and have prevailed.'" (Genesis 32:26- 28 Amp).  This revelation, regarding the real Jacob, was the blessing he received.  At that moment he became a man with a broken and contrite heart and spent the rest of his life limping, yet majestic.  Nathan's word to David: "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7) bore similar fruit.

It is impossible to worship in spirit and truth without being a broken person.  Remember the essential meaning of worship is the bowing down of self.

A Poor Spirit

Jesus said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).  The word "poor" here was used of a person who was so poor that they were unable to look after themselves and were totally dependent on the charity of others.  Jesus is referring to "those who recognize that they are completely and utterly destitute in the realm of the spirit.  They recognize their (own personal) lack of spiritual resources and therefore their complete dependence on God" (Leon Morris).

A Strong Spirit

How does this square with what we have just said?  We read of John the Baptist: "And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel" (Luke 1:80).  In our own strength we are weak.  We need to recognize our weakness and to rely on the Lord for our strength.  "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10).

A United Spirit

Paul wrote these words to the believers at Philippi (2:1, 2): "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."  Being united with fellow believers follows inseparably from being united with Christ.

God even puts good relationships between all the members of his family before worship, because he insists that our worship be sincere and genuine.  Jesus said: "If you are offering your gift at the altar [which is an act of worship] and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23, 24).

This refers to when someone has something against you.  There may be no grounds for their being offended.  It may all be a misunderstanding.  But God wants it resolved before you engage in worship.  Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father.  God will not tolerate a refusal to pursue all means of reconciliation, where relationships have broken down between members of his family.  If we want God to listen to our worship, then we must be willing to listen to the concerns of those who we might have offended.

This same principle is referred to in Peter's teaching on the responsibilities of husbands.  He tells them that if they fail to show respect, honour and consideration towards their wives, God will not listen to their prayers (1 Peter 3:7).  "Be considerate as you live with your wives" is translated in the King James Version "dwell with them according to knowledge".  For every husband such knowledge will need to include, an understanding and appreciation of his wife's desires, dreams, goals and frustrations; her strengths and weaknesses in the physical, emotional and spiritual realms; what makes her tick; what she appreciates and what she finds it hard to bear.  The husband who is failing to do this cannot expect God to receive his worship no matter how enthusiastically he brings it.

In the case where we have something against someone else the answer is simple, though it may be extremely difficult and costly to carry out.  We must forgive as we have been forgiven, and because we have been forgiven, not because the one concerned is repentant and sorry.

An Uncontaminated Spirit

"'I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'  Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Corinthians 6:18-7:1).  Perfecting holiness means cooperating with the Holy Spirit in bringing that process of change to its completion, so that we become like Jesus.  In the Lord's Prayer, worship comes before asking for God's forgiveness.  We are to "enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4), not with a confession of our sin, thus drawing attention to ourselves and away from God.  Worship must always come first.  We are a forgiven people (Colossians 2:13, 14).  There is "now" no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1).  We can approach his throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16).  However, if we are quick to confess our sins and to repent, keeping short accounts with God and others, we are "purifying ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit".  (Perhaps these verses will encourage any addicted to smoking, to break free, as this habit most certainly contaminates the body.)

A Joyful Spirit

"Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, 'I praise you Father …'" (Luke 10: 21).  It was out of a spirit of joy that Jesus praised the Father.  He spoke of his joy being in us; of our joy being complete and said that no one would be able to take away our joy (John 15:11; 16:22).  Belief in Jesus fills us with "an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1Peter 1:8).  We are to "be joyful always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16), no matter what are our circumstances.  The psalmist commands us: "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs" (Psalm 100:2).  In the heavenly Jerusalem "thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly" await our arrival (Hebrews 12:22).  Worship that is in spirit and truth is full of profound joy.

A Spirit of Power, Love and Self-Discipline

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity [cowardice], but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline [self-control]" (2 Timothy 1:7).  The devil opposes us at every turn.  He seeks to intimidate us and to silence us.  He normally uses other people to do this.  What we need to do is to "fan into flame the gift of God" that is within us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is our responsibility to develop the spiritual gifts that God has given us, through constant use.  Muscles that are frequently and carefully used and stretched, almost to their limits, get stronger and stronger.  We also need to recognize that without God we can do nothing.  We need to believe in, and confidently act and speak from, our new spirit.  If we belong to Jesus we do have a spirit of power, love and self-discipline and need to stir ourselves to think, speak and act accordingly.

THE WELL OF TRANSPARENT SINCERITY

Contrary to what the world would say, truth is not relative.  Truth is absolute.  Truth is not that which simply appears to be so.  Truth is only truth if it also saturates the hidden motives of the heart.  The digging of a well of transparent sincerity, of total truthfulness, is absolutely essential to worship.  The Bible speaks of truth in the following ways:

Truth in the Inner Being

"Behold you desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart" (Psalm 51:6 Amp).  Jesus quoted Isaiah to the Pharisees and teachers of the law: "These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8).  The Pharisees had all the correct words and carried out all the correct religious procedures, but Jesus said of them: "They worship …  in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men" (Matthew 15:9).  "Everything they do is done for men to see" (Matthew 23:5).  We worship a God who does not look at the things people look at.  They look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

Truth as Complete Sincerity, without hypocrisy or half-truths.  Our worship must be sincere.  Although this seems obvious we can so easily be dishonest and insincere with God.  It is good to praise and worship God when it is the last thing we want to do, but we need to express our true feelings to him as well.

Take a look at Lamentations 3:1-11.  Jeremiah is honestly expressing his feelings about God and the way he feels God has treated him.  He even says: "He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness.  He has made my paths crooked.  Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding, he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help.  My splendour is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord."  Jeremiah is depressed, and no wonder.  He has faithfully obeyed God and experienced nothing but rejection, pain and persecution.  Finally he witnesses the destruction of Jerusalem and the terrible suffering of its people and he cannot cope.  Would God have wanted him to keep quiet about feeling let down by God?  Of course not!  He was being truthful, but was he saying something that was true?  Not at all!  However, God was willing to listen all the same.  God seeks worshippers who worship in spirit and in truth.  He then helps them to move from despair to certain hope, as he did with Jeremiah.  See Lamentations 3:19-21.  "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

David had similar experiences.  See Psalm 109:6-15.  Immediately after stating that he was "a man of prayer", something we would all aspire to become, he "prayed" in a most appalling way for someone who had wronged him: "When he is tried may he be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.  May his days be few.  May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.  May his children be wandering beggars.  May his descendents be cut off."  Surely we cannot justify "praying" in this way?  Did not Jesus teach us: "bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:28)?  Did not David himself normally show a generous and forgiving attitude towards those who set themselves against him?  People like Saul, Shimei and Absalom (1 Samuel 24:3-7; 2 Samuel 16:5-12; 18:5)?  Psalm 109:6-15 refers to someone who repaid evil for the good David had done for him and hatred for his friendship (see verse 5).  This does not justify David's attitude, but it does help us to understand why he felt so strongly.

The fact is God does want us to be honest with him.  We can get things off our chest and share out true feelings with him.  He can handle it.  We can then trust him to say something like: "All right my child.  I know you will come to feel differently after I have won you over, so I'll listen, but I certainly will not do what you are asking me to do!"

Truth as Reality Without Self-Deception, or living in unreality.  It is all too easy to become super-spiritual.  God hates this.  We are so quick to blame others, or the devil, for things we are totally responsible for ourselves.  We see and draw attention to the faults of others and remain blind to our own sin.  When the Pharisee prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get" (Luke 18:9-14), he was being sincere and speaking the truth.  But it was the truth as he saw it.  He was placing his confidence in his own righteousness and looking down on others.  He considered himself righteous and in no need of forgiveness.  The reality was that God would humble him (judge him guilty).  Leon Morris writes: "His trouble was not that he was not far enough along the road, but that he was on the wrong road altogether."  He was self-deceived.  If we are not careful, concerning the cunning of the devil, we will live whole chunks of our lives in unreality.  In such a state our worship is not in truth.

Truth as God's Wisdom

"Behold you desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart" (Psalm 51:6 Amp).  Jesus prayed for his disciples: "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17).  To sanctify is to purify, to consecrate, to separate for God, to make holy.  This is accomplished through God's word or God's wisdom.  We need to have a clear understanding of who we are in Christ, if we are to worship in spirit and in truth.  Prayer reflects what a person believes.  It is good to worship God with Scripture.  But we need to use Scripture as those who genuinely understand its meaning and experience its blessings.  When we do, our worship will be full of wonder, love and gratitude for God's amazing grace.

Truth as Intimate Knowledge of God and his ways.  Jesus said to the Samaritan women: "You Samaritans worship what you do not know [something you know nothing about]; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews [the Messiah is a Jew]" (John 4:22).  In order to worship God we need to know him intimately and to be thoroughly acquainted with his ways.  Moses said to God: "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so that I may know you and continue to find favour with you" (Exodus 33:13).  Paul wrote: "For my determined purpose is that I may know Him – that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of his person more strongly and more clearly" (Philippians 3:10 Amp).  Such knowledge promotes true worship.

Truth as Liberating

Jesus said: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31, 32).  Freedom in worship is a wonderful thing.  "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1).  God wants exuberant praise and worship.  The cross has set us free.  Jesus came "to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives" (Luke 1:74, 75).

Truth as Faithfulness, reliability and trustworthiness.  Yahweh is the God of truth (Psalm 31:5).  It is only as we know God that we know truth.  God reveals truth to us.  Truth in the Bible includes the qualities of God: complete reliability and complete integrity.  Engaging in idolatry that leads to sexual impurity is described as exchanging the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:21-25).  The truth of God lives in Jesus (Ephesians 4:21).  He said of himself: "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).  When the Father tells us he is seeking worshippers who will worship him in spirit and truth, he is referring to those who are being transformed into the image of his Son (Romans 8:29).  To worship in truth is to worship as Jesus did, and to worship through Jesus.

God is seeking worshippers.  "The Father looks for men who will worship Him like that (in spirit and in reality)" (Phillips).  A search implies that what is looked for is difficult to find.  Does that mean true worshippers are relatively rare?  It would seem so.  Doesn’t that motivate you to be one?  It certainly motivates me!

Summary

The New Testament has a greater variety and breadth of expression concerning praise than the Old, and it adds to its picture of true worship.  The New Testament sees the worshipper bowing self down in awe of God, then rising to his or her feet, stepping forward confidently, joyfully and lovingly, and kissing the Father's face.

God is seeking worshippers who worship, not simply outwardly by being in the right place, saying the right things and conducting themselves in the right way, but in spirit and truth.  There must be complete sincerity and total reality.  Their worship must come from the heart.

God puts good relationships between brothers and sisters in Christ before worship.  He requires us to put things right before we gather in his presence.  He will not listen to the prayers of husbands who refuse to live with their wives in an understanding and considerate way.

To worship in spirit does not (in this case) mean in the Holy Spirit.  It means in the human spirit.  Such a spirit needs to be a new spirit (a person who is born again); a steadfast spirit; a willing spirit; a broken spirit; a poor spirit, totally dependent on God; a strong spirit; a spirit united with other believers; an uncontaminated spirit (a pure spirit); a joyful spirit and a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.

When it comes to worship, God is looking for truth in the inner being (sincerity of heart); truth without hypocrisy or half-truths; truth that is reality without self-deception; truth that is the wisdom of God not man; truth based on an intimate knowledge of God and his ways; truth that liberates the worshipper and truth that speaks of faithfulness, reliability and trustworthiness.

Assignment

What is the essential meaning of praise in the New Testament?  Make a list of all the words we should be using if we are to praise God as the first New Testament believers did.  See Appendix 1.

What is the essential meaning of worship, taking the whole Bible into account?  On this definition have you been a true worshipper?  If not, what do you need to do to become one?

Using the list of the types of spirit we need in order to truly worship God, try to explain each one in your own words.  Which are true of you and which, to your knowledge, are lacking?  How might you develop a spirit with all these characteristics?

What aspects of the truth, as expressed in this chapter, are the most challenging to you?  How might you become more truthful?

Are the wells of inner transformation and transparent sincerity in good order in your life?  What changes need to take place?

It is all too easy to become super-spiritual.  What do you think super-spiritual means?  Why is this a danger for us all?  Why does God hate it?

Are you honest with God?  What should you do when you are feeling resentful towards him?  Why is Psalm 109:6-20 in the Bible?

If you are married, are you living with your spouse in a truly understanding and considerate way?  If you refuse to do so, God will not listen to your prayers or accept your worship.  What changes need to be made?

Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3, 4).

CHAPTER ELEVEN - NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP 2

Worshipping the Son

We see in the New Testament something of the same rivalry for our worship that came out in the Old Testament.  Satan tempted Jesus to worship him by offering him the kingdoms of this world.  Throughout the book of Revelation we see worship being offered to both God and Satan.  This is not, in any way, shape or form, to infer that they are near equals.  Satan is a created being.  He has none of the attributes of God.  He does not know everything.  He cannot be everywhere present at the same time.  He is, in fact, less powerful than a true believer, who is filled with the Holy Spirit, who is God-dependent and God-glorifying, who knows who he or she is in Christ, and who thinks and acts accordingly.

When the apostles talked of Jesus they sometimes referred to him as "the Name" (Acts 5:41).  Clearly, for them, he certainly was God in human form and, therefore, to be worshipped and praised.  Several others felt and acted the same way:

"We [the Magi] … have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2).  "On coming to the house, they saw the child … and bowed down and worshipped him" (2:11).  "And behold, a leper came up to Him and prostrating himself, worshipped him" (Matthew 8:2 Amp).  "Behold, a ruler entered and kneeling down, worshipped him" (Matthew 9:18 Amp).  "Then those who were in the boat worshipped him saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God'" (Matthew 14:33).  "But she [the Canaanite woman] came and kneeling, worshipped him" (Matthew 15:25 Amp).

"Suddenly Jesus [after his resurrection] met them [his disciples] … They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him … When they saw him, they worshipped him, though some doubted" (Matthew 28:9, 17).

"In these last days God has spoken to us by his Son … through whom he made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being … God … says … 'Let all God's angels worship him'" (Hebrews 1:2, 3, 6).

We can contrast this with inappropriate worship offered to men, and satanic worship offered to the dragon, the beast, the image of the beast, demons and idols:

"The  [unmerciful] servant therefore [manipulatively] fell down, and worshipped him [the king], saying, have patience with me and I will pay thee all" (Matthew 18:26 KJ).

"Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast" (Revelation 13:4, 8, 12; 14:9, 11).

"The rest of mankind … did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood" (Revelation 9:20).

Why had God sent the people of Israel into exile?  The answer is found in the New Testament as well as the Old.  It was because of the idols they had "made to worship" (Acts 7:43).

Worship in Heaven

The angels worshipped and praised God as they witnessed the creation of this magnificent universe (Job 38:7).

David exhorts the angels to praise God: "Praise the Lord you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.  Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will" (Psalm 103:20, 21).

Myriads of angels are constantly serving and praising God.  We get a glimpse of their thousands when God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai to give him the Law (Deuteronomy 33:2).  In Daniel's vision of the throne room of the Ancient of Days "thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him" (Daniel 7:9, 10).  Daniel also saw in a vision the coming of the Son of Man and its consequences: "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13, 14).

Around God's throne there will be myriads of men, women and children of every ethnic group, who will join the myriads of angels, to praise him throughout all eternity.  In Hebrews 12:22-24 we read: "But you have come to … the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands and thousands of angels in joyful assembly."  This is both our future experience and our present one.  Even now, when we worship God, we are joining the angels in their "joyful assembly".

It is, of course, in the book of Revelation that we get the clearest picture.  "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand … In a loud voice they sang: 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!'  Then I heard every creature … singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" (5:11-14)  "All the angels were standing round the throne … they fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God" (7:11).  "After this [the fall of Satan's city] I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgements" (19:1, 2).

Worship on Earth

The whole earth should be filled with praise and worship.  The whole of creation should worship God.  At his coming to meet with his people "his glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth" (Habakkuk 3:3).  God's mighty acts should be seen and known throughout the world: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). "Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth … Let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.  Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord" (Psalm 98:4-9).

God created us for his own glory (Isaiah 43:7) and, whatever we do, we are to do it all, for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  We were made for relationship with him.  He delights in us (Isaiah 62:4) and we delight in him (Psalm 84:1-12).  But it is only through the blood of Jesus that we can confidently enter the Most Holy Place and "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 10:19, 22).  It follows then that only as we make Jesus known throughout the world, and men and women, and boys and girls, put their trust in him, that the earth will be filled with thankful and joyful worship.  What a magnificent task!  What an amazing privilege is ours!  The true goal of missions lies beyond the evangelisation of the whole world to it becoming filled with worship.

Our Spiritual Act of Worship

Motivated by God's mercy towards us, we are urged to offer our bodies to him "as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" which is said to be our "spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1).  The Amplified Bible reads: "make a decisive dedication of your bodies – presenting all your members and faculties – as a living sacrifice".

The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can get up and leave the altar!  God wants us to give ourselves to him freely and willingly, because we love him, and because we want to serve him every day of our lives.  Serving God is to be an expression of our worship.  It is not to replace worship, but to flow out from it.  Worship, intimacy and relationship must come first.

In a marriage, husbands are instructed to love their wives.  They may see their "service" to their wives and families, in terms of working hard and providing for their material needs, as fulfilling this command.  Ask any wife and she is bound to disagree.  What she is looking for is affection, intimacy and a close relationship of mutual love, friendship and respect.  She wants her husband's "service" to flow out from that, not to replace it.

Serving God is defined as "offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God".  Our bodies truly are pleasing to God, once we have accepted Christ, "because by one sacrifice he [Jesus] has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy" (Hebrews 10:14).  As living sacrifices, we are to die to self, and to take up our cross, on a daily basis (Luke 9:23).  We will find ourselves, as Paul did, "always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body" (2 Corinthians 4:11).  When death is at work in us in this way, life will come to others (2 Corinthians 4:12).

Jesus linked dying with bearing fruit: "unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies it produces many seeds" (John 12:24).  The death of Christ is always bearing the fruit of souls being saved.  Our daily dying to self will also bear fruit for God.  We should not fail to note that witnessing to others invariably demands costly humility.

THE WELL OF PROFOUND LOVE

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength (Mark 12:30).  When it comes to worship, profound love for God, is, by far, the most important well of all.  Much could be written on this theme but we will restrict ourselves to just one application.

The more wholeheartedly we obey the great commandment, the more often spontaneous outbursts of praise and worship will flow from our mouths.  In the Bible such outbursts are called doxologies.

Paul concludes a long discourse on the spiritual state of Israel, covering chapters 9 to 11 of Romans, with the words: "For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all" (11:32).  (That is, all without distinction, rather than all without exception.)   Salvation is offered to all!  "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (whether Jew or Gentile) (10:13)!  This amazing truth leads to an outburst of praise and worship from Paul: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … To him be the glory for ever!  Amen" (11:33-36).

Something similar takes place in Ephesians 3:14-21.  Paul offers a breathtaking prayer for the saints in Ephesus, that they might be strengthened, and know, and experience, the full extent of God's love for them, and even "be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God"!  Then it seems he is so struck by the sheer magnitude of his prayer, and by the certainty of God's answer, that he is compelled to add:  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."

A further example is in 1 Timothy 1:15-17.  Paul was writing about Jesus coming into the world to save sinners and added: "of whom I am the worst".  The fact that he, of all people, was shown grace and mercy, proved to him that Jesus has unlimited patience with all sinners.  His gratitude, wonder and love for God caused him to worship.  "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen."

When Paul wrote of all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ, in Ephesians 1:1-14, he just had to sprinkle it with words like: "to the praise of his glorious grace" and "for the praise of his glory".  Praise and worship were always on the tip of his tongue.  Why?  Because he loved God so much.  (See also Romans 16:25-27 and Jude 24, 25.)

Spontaneous outbursts of wonder, praise and thanksgiving should frequently be on our lips, for everything God is, and for the many blessings he brings into our lives on a daily basis.  This will only be the case if we truly love him with all our hearts.  There are many moaning and complaining believers around.  How this will challenge them!  The world too is full of complainers and bitter people.  When it becomes natural for us to audibly express our love for God, and to thank and praise him for his many kindnesses, it will be a witness to them and touch their lives.  This will especially be so if we express our love for him when things are falling apart for us.  Others will see just how much we love and trust him.

Summary

In the Gospels, between his birth and his resurrection, many are recorded as worshipping Jesus, precisely in the same way that they would worship God.  He is the radiance of the Father's glory and the exact representation of his being.

Heaven is filled with worship.  Thousands upon thousands of angelic beings are worshipping and praising God at this very moment.  There is no satanic worship in heaven.  The book of Revelation describes warfare in the heavenly realms, but this does not refer to heaven itself.

The earth too should be filled with worship.  Our task is to make disciples of every ethnic group.  As the number of disciples grows around the world, so will the earth become more and more filled with worship.

Dying to self, and taking up our cross on a daily basis, is part of worship.  We are to live as those who are constantly offering up their bodies as living sacrifices.  This is our reasonable, and spiritual, service of worship.  We are to die to self that others might live.

The most important well of worship is our love for God.  The more we obey the great commandment to love him with every fibre of our being, the more profound will be our worship.

Spontaneous eruptions of praise and thanksgiving should frequently be on our lips for the many blessings God brings into our lives.  How this will challenge the many moaning and complaining believers among us!  But it will also witness to our non-Christian friends and acquaintances and touch their lives.

Assignment

Look again at the verses that show different people worshipping Jesus.  Why did they worship him?  Why should you personally worship him?  Write out ten good reasons.

We will worship God throughout all eternity, but this does not mean we will be attending one long worship service!  What do you think it does mean, bearing in mind that being in "heaven" will be

How can we make sure, that, as we evangelise and plant churches, they become worshipping communities?  How can we fill the earth with worship?

Is your service for God (your ministry) an act of worship?  If not, why do you think this is the case?  How can we make sure that all we do for God is done out of gratitude and love for him?

How deep is your love for God?  Are there any indications in you heart that your love for him is not all that it could and should be?  If so talk this over with a trusted brother or sister in Christ.

Are you spontaneous in your praise and worship during the normal course of life?  Are you looking out for daily opportunities to give glory to God?  Do your friends and family know you as a person for whom worship is a way of life?  How can you make sure it is?

CHAPTER TWELVE - THE HOLY SPIRIT

He is a Well of Worship

The Holy Spirit's involvement in worship is so important that we will devote a chapter to it.  I hesitate to refer to the Holy Spirit as a well of worship, but I do so simply to draw attention to an essential aspect of his ministry.  He alone can supply the spiritual resources we need to worship God in a worthy manner.

We have already seen that in our worship we are to be inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  We are also to worship by using the Spirit's gifts and by praying in the Spirit.   Philippians 3:3 says: "We [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship in [by] the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (NASB).  Jesus said of the Spirit: "He will bring glory to me" (John 16:12-15).  The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself, but to Jesus.

As we have already made clear, the Holy Spirit is God.  He is a person.  He is not merely a source of infinite power.  He speaks, he testifies, he selects men and women for leadership, turns them into leaders and sends them out to serve God's purposes.  He guides, takes decisions and communicates these to God's people.  He brings revelation, he teaches and trains; he equips and he empowers.  He comforts, he intercedes, he holds us back when necessary, and he leads on.  It is possible to sadden him, to lie to him, to resist him and to rebel against his instructions.  It is possible to blaspheme against him.

Jesus said: "Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven" (Matthew 12:31).  To blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is to speak out against him in an abusive, scornful, slanderous and thoroughly evil way.  It is to complain bitterly about what he is saying and doing.  It is to seek to injure him.  It is to actively reject and to stand in opposition to him.  When the Holy Spirit seeks to lift Jesus high, to reveal him and to glorify him, and someone tears him down with his words, that is blasphemy.  For those who always resist the Holy Spirit in this way, there can be no repentance, and, consequently, no forgiveness.

True disciples of Jesus desire, more than anything else, to live in unbroken fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and to swiftly obey his promptings.

He Opens the Way for Us to Worship

We have "fellowship with the Holy Spirit" (Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14).  He accompanies us in our evangelism: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17)  He makes us effective in our evangelism "by the power of signs and miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:19).  He is our Counsellor, our Advocate, our Comforter and our Encourager.  He is with us forever (John 14:16).  He speaks to the Father in our defence.  He is called alongside to help us.  He is like a fellow soldier who fights with us, back-to-back, to defend us.  He is like the Father, because Jesus said: "I will not leave you as orphans" and he is like the Son, because Jesus said, when speaking of the Holy Spirit's coming: "I will come to you" (John 14:18).  Who better to help us in our worship than the Holy Spirit?

It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are able to come into God's presence.  It is the sacrifice of Jesus that makes this possible, but it is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are brought to repentance (John 16:8-11) and born again so that we can enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5-8).  "For through him [Jesus] we both [Jew and Gentile] have access to the Father by one Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18).

He Prepares our Hearts for Worship

"We have … received … the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given to us" (1 Corinthians 2:12).  It is the Holy Spirit who brings home to us who we are in Christ and the full extent of the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ.

"We have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit" (Romans 7:6).  "If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18).  "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because … the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death …  The life controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:1, 2, 6).  The word translated "condemnation" includes what would follow on from being condemned in court, i.e. punishment.  Those who are in Christ stand forgiven forever.  Without the Holy Spirit's help, no one can benefit from the work of Christ on the cross.  And it is life in the Spirit that sets us free from the law and enables us to grow in grace.  He is the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29).  "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17).  The Holy Spirit sets us free from legalism to worship God on the basis of grace alone.

"God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5).  This enables us to rejoice in our sufferings, which produces perseverance, character and hope.  It is the love of the Spirit that encourages us to pray (Romans 15:30).  It is the Spirit who fills us with love for others (Colossians 1:8).  It is the Spirit who produces in us his fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

The certain knowledge of being a true child of God, a son or a daughter, rather than a servant, moves us confidently into worship.  It is only the Holy Spirit who can reveal this wonderful truth to our hearts.  "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [and daughters] of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'.  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:14-16).  "God sent his Son … that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Galatians 4:4-7).

He Equips & Empowers Us For Worship

The Holy Spirit helps us to pray when we are at a loss as to how to pray.  "The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express … the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will (Romans 8:26, 27).

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which is particularly empowering for worship, is the gift of tongues.  It is a heavenly language that enables the speaker to "declare the wonders of God".  "When the day of Pentecost came … all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them … we [God-fearing Jews from every nation] hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues" (Acts 2:1-11).

To speak in tongues is to express worship, praise and thankfulness to God in a language of "angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1).  The church is edified and encouraged to worship when a tongue is interpreted.  This is so often the case in my own church.  A tongue and an interpretation often pave the way for prophecy and other gifts of the Spirit.  The use of the Spirit's gifts lifts us to a higher level of worship.  "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God.  He … edifies himself.   I would like every one of you to speak in tongues.  Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.  So what shall I do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind … you are praising God with your spirit … giving thanks …" (1 Corinthians 14:2, 4, 5, 13-17).

Sometimes the Spirit inspires the singing of spontaneous songs, either in tongues or in a known language.   Either way the song will be like a prayer of adoration, expressing the singer's love for God in a wonderfully creative way.  "Be filled with the Spirit.  Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 5:18-20; 6:18).  "Pray in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20).

The gifts of the Spirit, used in worship, will also aid us in our evangelism.  This is especially true of the gift of prophecy.  "But if an unbeliever … comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner … he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is really among you!'" (1 Corinthians 14:24, 25)

He Motivates & Inspires Us To Worship

It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us the true meaning of all that the Father was doing through the life, death and resurrection of his Son.  "The mystery of Christ … has now been revealed by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:4, 5).

It is the Holy Spirit who enables and helps us to develop a personal relationship with the Father and the Son.  Jesus said; "If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23).  The Father and the Son indwell us through the person of the Holy Spirit.  "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better" (Ephesians 1:17).  "It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth" (1 John 5:6).

The fullness of the presence of the Holy Spirit does seem to vary.  It is particularly intense when we are suffering persecution for the cause of the gospel.  We are told that in such cases "the Spirit of glory and of God" rests on us (1 Peter 4:14).  The worship of the suffering church reaches heights some of us never experience.  However, the Holy Spirit always wants to bless us, strengthen us, and even give us a foretaste of heavenly glory, whenever we meet to worship.

He Provides the Environment For Worship

Although our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and he indwells us at all times (2 Timothy 1:14), it is always good to specifically invite him to come and lead us in our corporate times of worship.  His immediate presence will create an atmosphere of love, peace, joy, hope, and even glory, which will be so helpful and encouraging, and which will almost guarantee genuine worship. His love is spoken of in Romans 15:30.  In Romans 14:17 we read: "The kingdom of God is … righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."  It is by the Holy Spirit that we are able to "overflow with hope" (Romans 15:13). The Early Church was "strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:31).  "Will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious" than all that accompanied the giving of the law to Moses (2 Corinthians 3:8)?  Absolutely!  But only if we invite him and then follow his lead.

It is also the Holy Spirit who keeps us united as one.  We need to cooperate with him in this.  "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).  Psalm 33 tells us how pleasant it is when Christian brothers and sisters live together in unity.

We will return to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in a later chapter when we consider all that is involved in corporate worship.

Summary

The Holy Spirit is God.  He is the Third Person of the Trinity and his delight is to enable and empower us to worship the Father in spirit and truth.  He will supply all the spiritual resources we will need.

The Holy Spirit prepares our hearts for worship by revealing to us all the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ; by setting us free from the law and by immersing us in grace; by pouring God's love, joy and peace into our hearts; and by convincing us that we truly

The Holy Spirit helps us to pray.  His gifts of tongues and interpretation supernaturally enable us to offer praise and thanksgiving to God, and to tell of all his wonders, so that his

The Holy Spirit inspires and motivates us to worship by revealing and glorifying the Father and the Son to us, helping us to know them more intimately.

The Holy Spirit produces an atmosphere that draws us deeper and deeper into worship and reveals more and more of God's glory to us.

Assignment

How do we know that the Holy Spirit is a person and not just a source of infinite power?  How can we develop a personal relationship with him?

In what specific ways is the Holy Spirit our co-worker?  What do his names: Counsellor, Advocate and Comforter teach us about him?

How does the Holy Spirit prepare our hearts for worship?  How does he give us true understanding and move us from law to grace and from uncertainty to truly experiencing God's love, joy and peace?

What are the purposes of the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation?  How should they be used?  How can they help us in our worship?

How does the Holy Spirit create the perfect atmosphere for profound worship?  Why is the praise and worship of a suffering church often so sublime?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - THE PERFECT, THE PERFECTED & THE PRETENDER

Jesus in Worship

Every word that Jesus spoke about his Father, or directly to his Father, was worship.  He was passionate about his Father.  He loved him deeply and completely.  He was fiercely and totally loyal to him.  He knew him through and through and was utterly confident in his character and promises.  He had great affection for him.  He served him in complete obedience, even to the point of death.  He praised him.  He honoured him.  He lived in total dependence upon him.

He knew exactly how his Father would respond to those who were self-righteous and to those who were sorry for their sin.  We read of him: "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said: 'I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children " (Luke 10:21).  Jesus knew that God would not reveal spiritual truths to those who were wise in their own eyes, who were self-exalting and whose confidence was in their own wisdom and righteousness.  He knew, rather, that his Father would make known the need for repentance, the overthrow of Satan and the way to heaven, to those who would depend simply and totally on him.

The way in which he faced the severest trial that could ever be encountered, is a graphic illustration of his devotion: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup [the wrath of God against the sin of the world] be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39, 42).  "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you.  Take this cup from me.  Yet not what I will but what you will" (Mark 14:36).

The parable of the lost son reveals his profound love for his Father and his total confidence in him: "But while he [the lost son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20).

John's gospel is full of sayings of Jesus that draw attention to his love and devotion to his Father and to his constant desire to honour him.  Here are a few examples:

"The Father loves the Son" (3:35; 5:20).  "The Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing" (5:19).  "I always do what pleases him" (8:29).  "I honour my Father" (8:49).  "I know him" (8:55).  "Father, glorify your name!" (12:28)  "The Father is greater than I" (14:28).  "The Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (15:16; 16:23).  "The Father himself loves you" (16:27).

Saints in Worship

True disciples of Jesus Christ are "the perfected".  As we have seen: "By one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy" (Hebrews 10:14).  On the one hand, the Holy Spirit is at work in us, changing us by degrees into the likeness of Jesus.  But on the other hand, the death of Jesus on the cross has already made us perfect.  We are all painfully aware of our shortcomings and sin, but our trust is not in our own righteousness; it is in the righteousness of Jesus.   Our confidence in worship is based on "a righteousness from God … [which] comes through faith is Jesus Christ to all who believe" (Romans 3:21, 22). And we have this assurance: "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:8, 9).  "He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).  Who are some of the great worshippers of the New Testament?

Mary

Mary believed the words of the angel Gabriel, that she would give birth to the Son of God, and joyfully accepted God's plan for her life.  She knew others would wrongfully accuse her of being unfaithful to Joseph.  Even while Jesus was still a baby, just over a month old, she was warned of her own suffering to come.  "And a sword shall pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:35).  This was a prophetic word about the death of Jesus on the cross.  He was God's Son, but he was her son too.  Yet from the outset she was a true worshipper: "My soul glorifies [magnifies and extols] the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour" (Luke 1:46-55).

Simeon

The Holy Spirit was on Simeon.  He believed passionately that God would send the Messiah to redeem Israel.  This hope burned within him.  Then it was revealed to him by the Spirit, that he would not die before seeing God's Anointed One with his own eyes.  He believed God.  "Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.  When the parents brought in the child Jesus … Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke 2:25-35).

Anna

For many, many years Anna "never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying" (Luke 2:36-38).  She had been married for just a few years, and, after her husband's death, had devoted herself to seeking God.  Like Simeon, God guided her to the baby Jesus.  Immediately she began to thank God and to talk about the child to all who were waiting for the promised Messiah.

Paul and Silas

After Paul and Silas had been stripped and severely flogged for having cast out an evil spirit from a slave girl, they were thrown into prison and had their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:16-24).  This had been carried out on the orders of the magistrates, without trial, even though it was illegal to treat Roman citizens in such a way.

What was their reaction?  "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."  There was an earthquake, and, although all the doors flew open and everybody's chains fell off, none of the prisoners tried to escape!  The jailer thought otherwise and drew his sword to kill himself.  Paul prevented this and the man cried out: "What must I do to be saved?"  Paul shared the gospel with him and as a result he, and all his family, became Christians.

For Paul and Silas it had been a sacrifice of praise and the consequences were that God was glorified and his kingdom extended.

Praise and worship often spring out of a fresh understanding, or appreciation, of God's character, purposes, works, attributes, etc.  Sometimes this comes in a very personal way as the goodness of God impacts our lives.  Sometimes it comes through listening to God's word being expounded.  Sometimes it comes in the middle of a severe trial.  But often we need to bring a sacrifice of praise, for whether things are going well for us or not, God's name is always worthy to be praised.

THE WELL OF HEARTFELT GRATITUDE

"Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town [probably as a prostitute] learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume [certainly of great value], and, as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them" (Luke 7:36-38).  Jesus said of her: "Her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much [thereby proving her repentance to be genuine and her gratitude for forgiveness deeply appreciated]."  And he said directly to her: "Your sins are forgiven.  Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:47-50).

It had taken great courage for her to enter the house.  She risked rejection and disdain, which is what she got from the Pharisee.  Her tears were probably, to some extent, tears of repentance and sorrow over her many sins.  But they were much more an expression of overwhelming love and gratitude to the one who had forgiven those sins.  She, literally, could not stop crying.  Have you ever been like that over your deep appreciation of God's grace to you?  Have I?  They were not tears of sadness, but of joy!  What beautiful and profound worship!  Those who are righteous in their own eyes, like the Pharisee, can never worship in such a way.  Can they worship at all?  She really did not care what others thought.  She was not aware of her own humility in performing this service.  She just had to express her love and devotion to the one who meant so much to her.  Her well of profound gratitude was providing an abundant supply.

Before moving on we should note that it was an almost identical incident of extravagant worship, together with Jesus' positive response to it, which finally pushed Judas into betraying him (Matthew 26:14-16).  This should surely cause us to tremble if we are guilty of criticizing others, in the way they express their worship, or, of being jealous of the response they appear to receive from God.

Satan Seeking Worship

The Reason for the Exile

Israel and Judah were sent into exile because they forsook the Lord and worshipped other gods (2 Kings 17:16, 17, 36, 40; 21:1-15).  Many times in the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel there are references to God's people worshipping other gods and so incurring his wrath.  God said to Ezekiel about the elders of Israel: "Son of man, some of these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.  Should I let them enquire of me at all?" (Ezekiel 14:3)

God makes it clear: "I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols" (Isaiah 42:8).

We said earlier that all worship that is not directed to the one and only true God goes to Satan.  What is the biblical evidence for this?  What does the Bible teach us about Satan?

Let's take a brief look at those aspects of his origins, his being and his heart's desires that are essential to our understanding of his all-consuming lust after worship.  It is extremely important that we understand this so we can strongly resist the temptation to worship anything, or anyone, other than the Triune God.

Satan's Origins

The following two Old Testament prophetic passages are particularly instructive.  The first of these, refers, in the first instance, to the king of Tyre, but clearly reaches way beyond him to describe Satan himself.  The second refers to the king of Babylon, but also reaches out to describe Satan.  We know this because much of what is written could not possibly be applied to those kings.

"You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.  You were in Eden …  On the day you were created they [the myriad precious stones that adorned you] were prepared.  You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing wings, for so I ordained you.  You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness [unrighteousness, iniquity and guilt] was found in you …  I drove you in disgrace [as profane] from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.  Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendour [brightness].  So I threw you to the earth"  (Ezekiel 28:11-19).

"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star [Lucifer], son of the dawn!  You have been cast down to the earth …  You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God [angels]; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.  I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'  But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit"  (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Satan's pride drove him to want to replace God.  What he has wanted from the very beginning, and still seeks above all else, is to be worshipped, just as God is worshipped.  Whenever worship is given to any person, object, activity, so-called god or idol, etc., other than to God himself, Satan receives it.

The Temptation of Jesus

Before Jesus began his ministry "full of the Holy Spirit … he was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.  And he ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, he became hungry" (Luke 4:1, 2 NASB).

The temptation of Jesus was orchestrated by God himself and its purpose seems to have been twofold.  To expose him to the full power of Satan, when he was at his most vulnerable physically, and to clarify to him, as the Son of Man (a human being), what kind of Messiah he was to be.

Satan had overcome the first Adam.  Would the Second Adam, the Son of God, living as a "normal" human being, empowered by the Holy Spirit, be able to overcome Satan and set his captives free?  A man had been defeated.  Only a man could save the human race.  But what sort of Messiah was he to be?  Should he work miracles to supply his own needs or make himself totally dependent on his Father?  Should he perform spectacular wonders to prove his true identity?  Should he establish a glorious and splendid kingdom that could be seen by all?  These were the lines along which Satan tempted him.

We read: "The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And he said to him, 'I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  So if you worship me, it will all be yours'" (Luke 4:5-8).  Jesus did not argue the point.  He knew that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).  He had come to identify with sinners and to die on a cross to bear their guilt and shame.  Any glory and splendour would go to God alone, so he replied: It is written: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."

Luke 4:13 says: When the devil had finished all this tempting he left him until an opportune time."  We know from Hebrews that throughout his life he was "tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin" (4:15).  We also know that his greatest battle occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before he went to the cross.  But he was totally victorious!

"Worship the Lord your God and serve him only" (Luke 4:8).

Satan's Defeat by Jesus

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8).  "He [Jesus] shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).  "Having disarmed the powers and authorities [the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms], he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15).  "When a strong man [Satan] fully armed guards his own house, his possessions are safe.  But when someone stronger [Jesus] attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armour in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils" (Luke 11:21, 22).

It is absolutely essential for us to fully understand that Satan, and all his demonic forces, were totally defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Satan's kingdom came crashing down at that point in history, never to rise again.  All his accusations against us have been snatched from his hand, nailed to the cross and cancelled (Colossians 2:14).  He can no longer accuse us in heaven.  Jesus now keeps us safe and the evil one cannot harm us (1 John 5:18).  He has prayed that we will be protected from the evil one (John 17:15).

Although he is a defeated foe he is still very active in the world.  He remains our enemy.  He still seeks worshippers.  He still prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1Peter 5:8).  But he has no power over those who are in Christ Jesus.  We can always overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony and by not loving our lives so much as to shrink from death (Revelation 12:11).

Satanic Worship

There are many passages in the Bible that tell us that an idol, in and of itself, is nothing.  It is just "a block of wood" (Isaiah 44:19).  But whenever a person makes an idol, a demon attaches itself to it, so that when it is worshipped, Satan receives the adoration.

"They [the Israelites] made him [the Lord, their Rock and Saviour] jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.  They sacrificed to demons" (Deuteronomy 32:15-18).  "The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God" (1 Corinthians 10:20).

When people steeped in animism, or devout followers of other religions, get saved, they frequently become ardent worshippers of God, with an extremely high expectation to experience his tangible presence, and to see his miraculous power in operation.  They have seen supernatural, demonic power at work.  They naturally expect to see the overwhelmingly greater power of God operating in their lives.  Is it any wonder that their worship is so vibrant and that it depends little on professionalism in musicianship or multi-media presentations?

In the West people get saved, more often than not, from materialism, intellectualism and selfishness.  They then have to learn to die to these things.  Few have experienced supernatural power, whether good or evil, and their expectations can all too easily be self-centred rather than God-centred.  We need to face up to this and repent!  What God is doing in other parts of the world, he can do in our locality.  Our worship too can be supernatural, vibrant, powerful, life changing and God-glorifying!  Will you settle for anything less?

Summary

Jesus' whole life was an act of worship.  He was passionate about his Father.  He loved him deeply and completely.  Everything he said and did honoured him.  We especially need to be transformed into his likeness in the area of worship.

As worshippers, the beautiful examples of Mary the mother of Jesus, Simeon, Anna, the woman who poured perfume on Jesus' feet, Paul and Silas, are all to be followed.  We need to guard our hearts from ever becoming critical of others whose worship is more extravagant and exuberant than our own.

Satan seeks worship.  The worship offered to all false gods and idols, goes directly to him.  It was for this reason that God sent his people into exile in Assyria and Babylon.  We need to know our enemy, but worship and serve God alone.

Through his death and resurrection Jesus totally defeated Satan and all his demonic forces.  In the name of Jesus we can always

If Satan tried to become the object of Jesus' worship, he will certainly be seeking to become the object of ours.  Scriptures that describe his origins make it clear that his desire is to take God's place.  He still seeks worship, but he can only achieve this in the lives of individuals who turn their backs on God.

Assignment

What are some of the ways in which Jesus modelled a lifestyle of worship?  In which would you most like to follow his example?  Why is this?

Consider the "unknown woman" who poured costly perfume over the feet of Jesus and washed them with her tears.  How many essential ingredients of worship can you spot in her example?  Make a list.  There are many.

How many aspects of Satan's being can you define that show him to be totally inferior to God?  Make a list.

Why does Satan lust after worship?  How can this be illustrated in your own culture?

Write out the Scriptures that demonstrate the total defeat of Satan through the cross and resurrection of Jesus, plus those that assure us that we have no reason to fear him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - CORPORATE WORSHIP

Essential Ingredients of Worship

What are the essential ingredients of corporate worship that honour and glorify God?  What steps can church leaders take to ensure, that, whenever God's people come together in his name, they have every opportunity to personally bow self down and lift God high?

We can certainly encourage people to come with hearts and minds prepared and focussed for worship.  We can, perhaps, introduce the teaching of God's word earlier in the service, so there is time to respond to it in praise and thanksgiving later on.  We can call upon the Holy Spirit to be present in power and ask him to lead us.  We can encourage participation, regarding the gifts of the Spirit, and the sharing of testimonies.

We can create space for dancing and banner waving.  We can show appreciation for contributions made and ministry performed with skill, grace and sensitivity.  We can do many creative things.  Most important of all, we can emphasise, time and time again, that worship is an activity of the heart.  When we live a life-style of worship, fed by the many wells of worship we have been looking at, then our corporate worship can become a throne that the Lord is pleased to occupy (Psalm 22:3 NASB).  Such worship ensures his tangible presence.  All manner of blessings, healings and other signs and wonders then become glorious possibilities!

Postures in Worship

In the Old Testament, to worship was to fall on one's knees and to bow down, touching the forehead on the ground.  The Psalmist wrote: "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" (95:6).  A sick man knelt before Jesus (Matthew 8:2), as did a certain ruler (9:19), a Canaanite woman (15:25), a man with a demonized son (17:14), the mother of Zebedee's sons (20:20), a demonized man (Mark 5:6), a rich young ruler (10:17) and Peter (Luke 5:8).  Jesus himself knelt down to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41).  Paul knelt down to pray with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:36) and, on a beach, with the company of believers from Tyre (Acts 21:5).  When Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers he knelt before the Father (3:14).

Moses fell prostrate before the Lord to intercede for the Israelites after they had worshipped the golden calf (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25).  On Mount Carmel, when the Israelites saw the fire fall and consume the sacrifice "they fell prostrate and cried: 'The Lord – he is God!  The Lord – he is God!'" (1 Kings 18:39).  David led the people in worship saying: "'Praise the Lord your God.'  So they all praised the Lord … they bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord" (1 Chronicles 29:20).

When John saw a vision of the glorified Lord Jesus, he fell at his feet as though dead (Revelation 1:17).  Throughout that book we read of the elders falling on their faces and worshipping God.  For example: "Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him … and worship him" (Revelation 4:9,10).

When we meet together for corporate worship, I find it very special when some kneel and others prostrate themselves on the floor before God.  (Of course this does depend on the conditions existing in the place of worship.)  Normally we are asked to stand.  Personally I find it hard to stay sitting, or to sit down during worship.  It seems inappropriate and unworthy of the God we adore.  Obviously it is fine for those, who, for health reasons, choose to remain seated.  But surely the able-bodied can at least stand?

The priests and Levites were chosen by God to "stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name" (Deuteronomy 10:8).  David restored them to this ministry saying: "they were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord.  They were to do the same in the evening" (1 Chronicles 23:30).  Many years later Hezekiah had to repeat what David had done: "My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord your God has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense" (2 Chronicles 29:11).  The angel Gabriel said: "I stand in the presence of God" (Luke 1:19).  Revelation 7:9 and 10 give us a picture of the multitude of the redeemed "standing before the throne" and crying out: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  Standing is clearly appropriate for worship.  It is meant to indicate a burning desire, not only to praise God, but also to be ready to obey his every command.

Appropriate Songs and Scriptures

Worship leaders need to choose songs and hymns that have sound doctrinal content – that accurately express the truth about God, and all he has done, as revealed in his Word, the Bible.  Nothing in a song should contradict God's Word or fail to harmonize with it.  However, just because something is in God's Word that, in itself, does not automatically make it an appropriate theme for a song of praise or worship!  It has been known!

The words of songs should not only express praise and worship but also inspire and motivate praise and worship.  They should glorify God and be God-centred.  However, there are a number of Psalms that centre more on the worshipper, so these too can be included to some extent.  The vast majority of such Psalms also express thanks to God for his wonderful qualities, for his gracious ways and for his saving deeds on behalf of his people.

Songs of praise and songs of worship are different.  We can praise God whether we feel like it or not.  We can extol him, thank him, and celebrate all he is and has done by an exercise of the will and out of obedience.  We can offer a sacrifice of praise.  But we cannot worship God without our hearts being involved and engaged with him.  We can go through the motions, by singing such songs, but we are only truly worshipping God when we are "bowing self down" and lovingly adoring God "in spirit and in truth"; when we are acknowledging his sovereignty and are being overwhelmed by his goodness.  Worship is a response to God.  Praise is an expression of worship.

Some say we should start with praise and move on to worship, but on occasions we can do it the other way around.  Sometimes the Spirit will lead us to go back and forth.  Some praise songs are inappropriate in times of worship.  And some worship songs are inappropriate in times of praise.  This is why it is so important to be led by the Spirit.  It would seem best to group praise songs and worship songs separately rather than to mix them up just because they are in the same key or tempo.

When choosing songs for corporate worship, simple melodies and words, that the young can handle and understand, are to be preferred.  Some songs are better sung by the worship team and listened to by the congregation, but if this practice is followed, those singing need special grace and anointing so that God remains the focal point and the listeners still find themselves worshipping him.  It is probably best to avoid songs with difficult melodies, but good words, and songs with virtually meaningless words, that happen to have great melodies.

It is important to be introducing new songs.  This is because the Holy Spirit is always bringing to us a new and fresh appreciation of biblical truth that is particularly relevant to where he is leading us at any particular moment in time.   We need to lock on to his emphasis.  Anointed songwriters will pick up on this.  However, it is always good to mix the new with the old and well known.

Most of us find it easier to worship God when singing songs with which we are already familiar, but new songs can lift our worship to a higher plane.  They can be taught on other occasions, or immediately before the worship service itself begins, so at least the more gifted singers can familiarise themselves with them.  It is probably best to introduce new songs one at a time.

Worship Leaders Who Lead and Worship

Some worship leaders seem to think it is their job to stir up the congregation into loud and enthusiastic singing.  This is not the case and can actually hinder worship taking place.  The majority of God's children praise and worship him as a way of life.  When they join with others, to lift up his name and to hear from him, they come prepared and eager to express their love and adoration.  Worship leaders can either help, or hinder, this process.  They can sidetrack the meeting into little more than a singsong, or they can facilitate the worship that God so desires.  He seeks worshippers.  Who are we to get in the way?

Most worship leaders are true worshippers themselves.  They certainly need to be.  Because they are in the spotlight, with every eye upon them, it becomes a huge distraction if they appear to be simply carrying out a function.  This also applies to singers and musicians.  It is not about professionalism and excellence of performance.  When these things become the goal, worship goes out the window.  It is good to aim at excellence.  We should all do that within our area of gifting.  But sincerity and truth, humility and grace, gratitude and devotion are all more important than technical ability.  Someone who cannot sing should not be singing in the worship band.  But God still wants to hear them worshipping him in song.

Leading worship is a gift.  It requires all the skills of leadership, plus specific sensitivity to God and to the needs of his people, in the awesome atmosphere of worship.  That gift, at whatever level it functions, needs the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Anointing speaks of consecration to a sacred purpose, of setting apart to a holy calling, and of being clothed with the very Spirit of God.  An anointed worship leader, of moderate musical ability, will still be outstandingly effective in promoting true adoration and praise.

God is present.  Jesus said: "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).  The worship leader needs to follow the leading of the Spirit – sensing what God wants to do and how the people can respond.  He or she needs to understand the extent to which people are engaging with God during the worship time.  Are they making a spiritual connection with him?  Only God can reveal this to them.

Group Members Who Co-operate and Worship

As well as leading the congregation, the worship leader is giving direction to the worship group and singers.  He or she needs to be in good relationship with each member.  They, in turn, need to be in heart submission to the leader and cooperate with him, or her, at all times.  All directives need to be given clearly.  It should be obvious to the congregation that the leader is sympathetic, respectful and kind towards the members of the group. For their part, church leaders need to show confidence in their worship leaders and only intervene when it is really necessary and appropriate.

Joyfulness is part of worship.  Worship leaders and team members do not need to be grinning the whole time, but they do need to be seen as enjoying what they are doing.  When God's people see in the faces of the worship team a deep love and reverence for God, together with genuine joy and peace, they are greatly encouraged to worship God themselves.  Faces that reveal hearts at worship will also radiate love and grace towards the congregation when songs are being introduced, or contributions being made.

The obvious needs to be stated:  A critical or complaining spirit on the part of any team member cannot be hidden and it greatly hinders worship.  All directives to the congregation need to be clear and unmistakable.  Appropriate eye contact needs to be maintained.  The whole congregation needs to be brought in at the right time and with the right words.  Undue time should not be taken turning to songs in books, or in conversations between team members.  (Some team members seem to be oblivious that their every move, facial expression and interaction with others is seen by all and can be very distracting.)  Most songs need a short musical introduction.  Where the intention is to start with just voices, the congregation needs greater creative help so that all can begin together.  The worship leader also needs to have a good singing voice, i.e. better than average.

Thorough Preparation

Worship leaders should contact church leaders and preachers, regarding each meeting, so that the songs and Scriptures chosen fit the theme of the service.  Each song needs to be rehearsed so that the whole team can sing and play them well, give a strong lead and knowing how they are to start and finish.  It can be distracting for the congregation when a member of the worship team either does not play, or does not sing a song, that forms part of the prepared list.  Flexibility needs to be maintained so that songs and other Scriptures brought by members of the congregation can be incorporated.  Extra songs need to be practised so they can be used if needed.  When a song is introduced by a member of the congregation, with which the worship team is unfamiliar, it is better for the instrumentalists to stop, than for various ones to spend the whole time trying to pick out the key!

The worship team needs to have their own time of worship as part of their practice session.  Although we have said that all team members need to show themselves to be true worshippers, there is still scope for encouraging younger ones, who are developing their gifting, and who may find it difficult to actively participate at such times.

A short prayer time, immediately before leading the church in worship, focuses the team on God and their need to depend on him.  However, this should not be seen as a substitute for private heart preparation, springing out of a close and personal daily walk with God.

Good preparation can only take place if team members turn up to rehearsals and arrive on time.  It is also vital to arrive early for services and meetings so that related ministries, like the PA team, can harmonize their work.  It probably needs to be said that the PA team serve the worship team and not the other way around.

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

In the book of Acts it is the Holy Spirit who is in charge.  He is the one who fills God's people with power to witness (1:8) and equips them with the needed gifts to serve (2:4, 17; 19:6; etc.).  He speaks through them (6:10); even takes them to other places supernaturally (8:39); tells them what to do (10:19); promotes praise (10:46); inspires predictive prophecy (11:28); sets apart and sends out apostolic teams to plant churches (13:1-4); promotes joy (13:52); clearly guides important doctrinal and church government decisions (15:28); actually prevents the work of missions when the timing is not right (16:6, 7); compels Paul to go to Jerusalem (20:22); warns him of prison and hardships ahead (20:23; 21:4, 11); chooses and appoints overseers (shepherds) (20:28); and directs the advance of the gospel from being Jew-centred to Gentile-centred (28:25-28)).

When Paul speaks at length about corporate worship and related issues in 1 Corinthians 11:3-14:40, there are frequent references to the Holy Spirit and to the gifts that he gives.  The emphasis is on the body of Christ (the church), not the individual.  "To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (12:7).  Most corporate acts of worship must, therefore, be open for any individual, led of the Spirit, to make his or her contribution.  Those unable to do this now are encouraged to "earnestly desire the greater gifts" so that, in the future, they will be able to do so.  Then, in chapter 13, a greater motivational force than "earnest desire" is unpacked, namely the compelling power of love (13:1-13).  If we truly love one another we will want to serve one another.  The best way of doing this is through the Spirit's gifts.  In the body of Christ, no one is more important than any one else.  We have different gifts and therefore different functions to perform, but all are of equal value.

Appropriate Contributions

"When you come together everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church" (1 Corinthians 14:26).  Will this lead to a free-for-all?  Not if church and worship leaders are being guided by the Spirit and the teaching of God's Word.  "Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way" (14:40).  What needs to be remembered is that this refers to the order of the family, which at times can be a bit messy!  It is not the order of the army where everything is regimented.  It has more to do with the absence of attitudes that are critical, rebellious, disruptive and divisive.

Are there gender restrictions concerning who takes part, or in what way?  Absolutely not.  Those who will be required to give an account before God, and who bear overall responsibility, are the elders.  They are to father the church along the lines of the nuclear family.  The church is the family of God.  They carry the overall leadership responsibility.  (There is a separate book in this series on male and female roles in church.)

Is the list of 1 Corinthians 14:26 exhaustive, or might there be other types of contribution?  I am sure the list is just a starter.  God loves creative variety in worship and he loves testimonies that come straight from the heart.

How is the worship leader to make room for all of this, and to know what is appropriate, and what is inappropriate, to include?  He or she needs to be led of the Spirit, and assisted by church leaders, who are also looking to the Spirit for guidance.  Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us into all truth.  We can trust him to do this, but we need to be in faith and to give him scope in which to work.  We can quench him and leave him out, if we are not vigilant (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

As we have seen, he may inspire a word of prophecy, which brings a sinner under conviction.  As a result that person may "fall down and worship God, exclaiming: 'God is really among you'" (1 Corinthians 14:25).  When this happens the worship leader should be able to handle the situation, so that the Holy Spirit's ministry goes on unhindered.

It should be emphasized that the worship leader (as well as the church leaders) needs spiritual sensitivity to be able to pick up on what the Spirit is saying, what would be an appropriate response, and what might be the direction in which the Spirit wishes to lead the worship.  The meeting needs to be kept on track.  If he or she can reflect back in summary form what the Spirit has been saying, then God's people are helped and motivated to respond.

When might it be the right time to launch out into free, spontaneous worship?  The leader must trust the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Such spontaneous worship could include singing or praying out in tongues, singing a new song given by the Spirit as the very words are sung out in faith, and the reading of Scripture.  Sometimes this can happen with many participating at the same time, but usually this will be interspersed with times when the Spirit brings about a hush so that an individual contribution can be heard by all.

Concerning prayers and Scriptures, care needs to be taken that these are not so long that momentum is lost, and fewer individuals are able to take part.  Generally speaking, only prayers of adoration and praise are appropriate to worship times.  Intercession needs its own designated time slot.  However, in all of this, we must defer to the leading of the Spirit.

Concerning prophecies, prophetic pictures, tongues, interpretation, etc., these may become devalued, if the same few people are the only ones to use them week after week.  Especially if this is done in a forceful way.  Making light of the gifts, should not happen, but our human weaknesses need to be taken into account.  Those with these gifts need sensitivity to know when to use them and when to make space for others.  "The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets" (1 Corinthians 14:32).

Hopefully there will always be outsiders in our meetings.  It is good for the worship leaders to be able to explain what is going on when spiritual gifts are being used.  Some may feel visitors will be put off by open, spontaneous worship.  This is seldom the case and probably only occurs with "religious" people.  We are encouraged to believe, that, as spiritual gifts are functioning, the Holy Spirit is at work, bringing conviction of sin (1 Corinthians 14:24).

Difficulties in Worship

Some of us experience real problems when it comes to intimate worship, whether on our own, or with others.  We just do not seem to be able to break through into God's immediate presence.  The reasons will always be on our side, but not necessarily our obvious fault, or even our fault at all.  However, we fallible humans do tend to respond to bad things in our lives by adopting ungodly, protective and controlling mechanisms, which actually make us slaves to our past.  We can be guilty of subconsciously blaming God.  We may have problems with unforgiveness.

We have already looked at what it means to worship in spirit and truth.  It may be that I am living in a world of self-deception and unreality.  Maybe I am guilty of being super-spiritual and self-righteous. The reality may be that I am scared stiff of being found out as a fake. I may be severely damaged emotionally and in need of inner healing.  I may be demonized and in need of deliverance.  (Christians cannot be demon possessed but they can be oppressed by demons.  Satan takes full advantage of any traumas we suffer.)  I may have been abused sexually, physically, mentally, or even spiritually, through domineering or manipulative church leaders.  I may have suffered sustained violent, or verbal, abuse.  I may have been badly treated by a number of authority figures.  If any of this is true of me, I will certainly have built up a protective system around myself, in order to be able to cope.  I may be fiercely independent.  I may keep a tight lid on my emotions.

To break through into worship requires a releasing of these controlling mechanisms.  I need to repent of my ungodly responses to what might have happened to me.  I need to come to my heavenly Father for healing.  I need to come to my Saviour for deliverance.  I need to make myself vulnerable, believing that "a bruised reed he will not break and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out" (Matthew 12:20). I will need help in all of this.  Some may need specialist help, but the vast majority of us can reach true freedom in worship by opening our hearts to a trusted and mature fellow-believer.  They need to be able to open God's Word to us, helping us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2).  They also need faith to minister to us in the power of the Holy Spirit.  God longs to set us free to worship him.  There is such loving, healing and restoring power in his presence!

Giving as Worship

Giving should be an act of worship, an expression of bowing self down in order to honour God.  2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9, have much to teach us about giving, which parallels the Bible's teaching on worship.  God loves rich generosity in giving, which is an overflow of joy and seen as a privilege (8:2, 3).  God wants financial giving to follow on from the giving of our very selves to him (8:5).  He wants us, far more than he wants our money!  Giving is an act of grace in which we are to excel, as much as we would aim to do, in the areas of faith and love (8:6 7).  Giving illustrates the grace of the Lord Jesus in becoming poor that we might become rich (8:8, 9).  God doesn't want us to give reluctantly, or under a sense of compulsion, because he loves to receive gifts that have been cheerfully and willingly given (9:7).  Giving is a service performed for God, and for others, which promotes widespread thanksgiving to God (9:12).  Our giving encourages and motivates others to praise and worship God (9:13).  Giving enhances and promotes the gospel (9:13).  Giving lifts Jesus high (9:15).  Can you spot any more parallels?  Let's always seek to make the grace of giving an integral part of worship.

All-Age Worship

As the church is God's family, it is appropriate, that, at least on some regular occasions, those of all generations worship together.  It is important for children to see their parents "lost in wonder, love and praise".  The reverse is also important and can be both an encouragement and a challenge.  Children in worship can teach us so much and can be more in tune with the Spirit than adults.  In the temple area children shouted to Jesus: "Hosanna to the Son of David!"  When the religious leaders complained, Jesus replied: "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise" (Matthew 21:15, 16).

All-age worship promotes a sense of belonging to the wider family.  "God sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6).  God pours out his Spirit on children and they receive spiritual gifts.  It can be amazingly powerful, and of great encouragement, to hear a child prophesy or share a prophetic picture.  It can promote vibrant worship to hear children praying for the sick and seeing God answering their prayers.

All-age worship needs considerable preparation, and greater creativity, if children are to be engaged and adults not distracted.  But it can be done!  And it is such a blessing when it works well.  We need to instruct our children, not just by telling them Bible stories, but also by demonstrating what it is to worship in spirit and truth.  It has been said that adults can cruise in worship at great altitude, whereas children can do bungee worship (bouncing up and down, or being catapulted high, attached to a rope made of rubber)!  Perhaps they could teach us how to do it!

Summary

Standing with hands raised, kneeling, and even lying prostrate before God, are all appropriate to worship.

Worship requires hearts and minds that have been prepared and are ready to focus on God and his glory.

Worship normally needs to be led by a gifted and anointed worship

Worship leaders need the ability to summarize what God is saying, and to reflect this back to the people, keeping the meeting on track.  Church leaders need to have confidence in them.

Worship needs the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be operating under the oversight of the church leaders.

Songs and hymns need to be reasonably well known, with simple, clear words that are biblical, God-centred, God-glorifying, appropriate and conducive to worship.

Worship team members need to be true worshippers themselves, well prepared, in good relationship, competent, joyful and not self-conscious.

Songs and Scriptures chosen by the worship leader need to fit with, and complement, the preacher's message, and harmonize with the overall vision and ethos of the church.

The Holy Spirit needs to be invited, given room to operate, and obeyed by all participants.  Times of worship and times of praise are distinct but flow from (and into) each other, under the Spirit's guidance.

Space needs to be made for contributions from the congregation.  These need to be encouraged.

Some prophesies, and other contributions, will need vetting by church leaders before they are given.  All need to be weighed and tested against Scripture to make sure they truly are from God.

Giving is part of worship.  The worshippers and givers that God seeks can be described in the same terms, particularly regarding any reluctance or sense of compulsion.  God loves both cheerful givers and cheerful worshippers.

All-age worship should be encouraged.  We have a responsibility to the next and succeeding generations, to model worship, but we will also be blessed by their contributions and by their example.

Personal difficulties in breaking through into worship need to be brought out into the open with a trusted friend.  We should be understanding and never condemning.  There is freedom in Christ for all.

Assignment

Does the way you worship corporately truly reflect your culture, or has another culture been imposed upon you?  God loves variety.

Do your training programmes include the preparation of worship leaders?  How might such a programme look?

How could you promote greater participation in your own worship services?  How would you use the following Scriptures to justify any changes?  1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 5:18-20.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of all-age worship?  How might more women and some children be encouraged to use their spiritual gifts in corporate worship?

All God's servants need to be worshippers.  Set aside a day, or half a day, as soon as you can, to seek God, to abide in his presence and to worship him.  Write down what he teaches you and share it with God's people.

CONCLUSION

Well done for making it to this point!  Worship is the very heart of Christianity.  It is the reason for which the universe was made.  It was the purpose for which you were created.

The Father is still seeking worshippers.  Are you one?  Are you becoming one?  Are you growing and developing as a worshipper?  Has worship become a way of life for you?  Do you worship him in private as well as in meetings?

Together, let's make it our goal to please him more in this area than in any other.

Appendix 1

Hebrew words denoting praise

Halal: This means to be sincerely and deeply thankful to God.  It expresses the satisfaction felt by the believer who praises God for the greatness of his attributes, his qualities and his works.  It means to praise greatly, to express gratitude, to sing or shout joyfully, to bless, to magnify, to exalt and to play musical instruments in order to praise.  It means to hail, to acclaim, to boast of, to glory in, to celebrate and to commend.

Examples:  "In God we make our boast all day long" (Psalm 44:8).  "Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?  Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory (KJ: fearful in praises), working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)  "Save us, O God our Saviour … that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise" (1 Chronicles 16:35).  "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise" (Nehemiah 9:5).

Yadah: This means to acknowledge and proclaim God's character and works.  It means to praise, to be thankful, to express gratitude and to declare God's attributes and mighty deeds.  It means to stretch out the hand to acknowledge and to recognize.  It means to bring a sacrifice or offering of praise.

Examples: "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving (KJ: praise) honours me" (Psalm 50:23 NASB).  "Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God" (Psalm 42:5). Psalm 107 has the repeated refrain: "O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

Zamar:  This means to sing praise, to make music, to use and play instruments to praise God, and to dance.  For example: "Let them [Israel] praise his name [the Lord's] with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp" (Psalm 149:3).

Sabah: This describes adoration directed towards the power, glory and holiness of the Lord.  It means to praise, to commend, to adore, to bless, to declare blessed and to glorify.  For example: "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you" (Psalm 63:3).

Hebrew Words Denoting Worship

Sahah: The literal meaning of this word is to bow self down.   It means to pay homage to, to stoop, to prostrate oneself, to show deep reverence for and subservience towards, as befits a king.   Example: "When they [the Israelites in Egypt] heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped" (Exodus 4:31).

Sagad: This means to worship, to pay homage, to bow down, to serve and to have an attitude of respect and humble obedience towards the object of praise.  For example: "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego … They trusted in him and … were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God" (Daniel 3:28).

The Fear of the Lord

Psalm 112:1 says: "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands."  Psalm 128:1 says: "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways."  Ecclesiastes 8:12 in the Amplified Bible says: "I know that it will be well with those who (reverently) fear God, who revere and worship Him, realising his continual presence."  Exodus 9:20 says: "Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and livestock inside." There was such arrogance in Pharaoh's heart that he defied the Lord.  The fear of the Lord and pride cannot co-exist.  The former drives out the latter.

Psalm 22:23 says: "You who fear the Lord, praise him!"  In Psalm 130:3 and 4 we read: If you, O lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are to be feared."  Isaiah 33:6 says: "The Lord will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."  In Isaiah 66:2 the Lord says: "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

To fear the Lord is to be in awe of him and to have deep and profound reverence and respect for him.  It is to recognize him as the ultimate reality.  It is "the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7).  It means taking his Word seriously and living an obedient and disciplined life.  It is to love him sincerely and deeply and to walk in his ways.  It is to appreciate the cost of our salvation and to know that we are not our own, but have been bought with the precious blood of Christ.

The fear of the Lord is not a cringing fear that would make us shrink back, but one that promotes boldness – attracting us and drawing us into God's very presence.  It develops security.  It keeps us from sinning (Exodus 20:20).  God promises to fulfil the desires of those who fear him (Psalm 145:19).

"Who, then, is the man who fears the Lord?  He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.  He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendents will inherit the land.  The Lord confides in those who fear him, he makes his covenant known to them" (Psalm 25:12-14).   If we fear God we are set free from all other fears.  But if the fear of the Lord is not in our hearts we will never be the worshippers God is seeking.

The Justice of God

Can we accept things that appear unfair without receiving what might be, for us, an adequate explanation?  Can we simply trust God in such cases?  If we are unable to do so, it will certainly impede our worship.  When Abraham questioned God over the judgement to be meted out to Sodom, he said: "Will not the Judge [the Ruler] of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25)  He was exploring God's justice, but was happy to leave certain things "in the air" because he believed ultimately that God would always do what was right.  Worshippers need such trust.

God does invite us to debate issues with him.  He respects us and treats us as adults.  He says: "Come now, let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).  However, at times, we need to accept that "the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may follow all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29).  What we are agreeing to here is that when we do not understand his ways we will not let it hinder our obedience.

Of the four substantial one-volume Bible commentaries I possess, none makes any comment whatsoever on Exodus 34:7 ("he punishes the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation")!  Not very helpful, but understandable.  My own view is that these words were reserved for those who hated God, or acted as though they did.  In biblical examples, the negative things that happened sometimes followed as an inevitable consequence of their sin, rather than representing a direct visitation from God.  The phraseology used, in the above verse, shows us that God took full responsibility for allowing it to be so.  Can we trust him in this?  Certainly!

Sometimes the judgement was foretold.  This was the case with Eli who honoured his sons more than God.  See 1 Samuel 2:27-36.  He was told that his descendents would suffer as a direct consequence of his sin.

In Exodus 20:4-6 we read: "You shall not make for yourself an idol … You shall not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and forth generation of those who hate me".  Although this was part of the Old Covenant, there are solid grounds for believing that it is not part of the New.  "In those days people will no longer say: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes and their children's teeth are set on edge.'  Instead, everyone will die for his own sin" (Jeremiah 31:29-34).  However, even now, if a person hates God, their children, for a number of generations, may well suffer the consequences of that hatred.

Ezekiel chapter 18 makes it clear that each person is responsible before God for their own sin.  "The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son" (18:20).  No son or daughter shares the guilt of either parent.  God's heart is clearly seen in verse 23: "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?  Rather am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"  The issue is that serious sin does have inevitable consequences, particularly sins associated with the occult, and children can suffer because of the sins of past generations.  The reason is simple to understand.  We have an enemy the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone vulnerable to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  The good news is that Jesus came to bring healing and to set the captives free.

If, as a believer, you find yourself in any form of on-going bondage or emotional pain, or if you find there seem to be real, but unknown, obstacles in your life, preventing you from worshipping God in spirit and truth, the answer may lie in "the sins of the fathers".

If you think that this might be the case, you need to talk the issues over with your church leaders, and, with their help, to pray along the following lines:

"In the name of Jesus, I renounce, concerning any guilty members of my family who are now dead, all serious sin, all involvement with idolatry, the occult, false religions, spiritualism, cults and sects, and all ungodly vows that they have made and that are influencing my life. I bind and cast out all demonic powers affecting me now because of their sin, their demonic activity and their ungodly vows.  Leave now in Jesus name! Amen."

"In the name of Jesus, I break the power of every curse that has been said over me or passed on to me through members of my family already dead.  In the name of Jesus, I destroy such curses, and renounce all the works of Satan and set myself free to experience God's total blessing.  I bind and cast out all demonic powers influencing my life because of these curses.  Leave now in Jesus name! Amen."

We may not know about serious sin or involvement with the occult, false religions, cults, sects and spiritualism, concerning our forbears, yet this may well be affecting us now.  They may have made ungodly vows and put curses on future generations to which we belong.  We cannot confess as sin and repent of such things on their behalf, but we can renounce all their ungodly activities and words in so far as they touch our own lives.  We are not doing this to benefit them, but to free ourselves.  We cannot change anything for anyone who is already dead, but we do have authority, in Jesus name, to experience freedom ourselves.

Greek Words Denoting Praise

Ainos:  This word refers primarily to a story or narration.  It came to denote praise, but is only used of praise that is directed towards God.  It means to speak in praise of God.

Examples:  "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests'" (Luke 2:13, 14).  "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" (Luke 2:20).  "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people" (Acts 2:46, 47).

Epainos:  This is a strengthened form of the last word.  It means wholehearted praise, commendation and approval.

Examples:  "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples" (Romans 15:11).  "He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the one he loves … in order that we … might be for the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:5, 6, 12, 14).  "And this is my prayer … that you may be …  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).

Ainesis:  This word, meaning praise, is used in a metaphorical sense to represent a sacrificial offering.  Example:  "Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name" (Hebrews 13:15).  It reminds us that God is worthy of our praises at all times, even when we are going through the most difficult circumstances.  He greatly appreciates praise that is costly to bring.

Hymneo: to sing songs, hymns and psalms in praise of God.

Examples:  "When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (Matthew 26:30).  "At about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25). "I [Jesus] will declare your name [God's name] to my brothers [us]; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises" [literally "I will hymn you'] (Hebrews 2:12).

Psallo:  Primarily this word means to twitch or twang (to play) a stringed instrument with the fingers.  It is translated: to sing a hymn or to sing praises.  Example:  "Is any one happy?  Let him sing songs of praise" (James 5:13).

Exomologeo: to confess.  Examples:  "I will praise you among the Gentiles" (Romans 15:9).  "Jesus said: 'I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children" (Matthew 11:25).  We could call these public confessions.  When we praise God in the daily course of our lives non-believers hear us and are given an opportunity to respond to God.

Eulogeo: to bless, to speak well of, to praise.  Examples:  "Simeon took him [Jesus] in his arms and praised [blessed] God" (Luke 2:28).  "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel" (Luke 1:68).  "And they stayed continually at the temple, praising [and blessing] God" (Luke 24:53).  It is used when referring to the gift of speaking in tongues: "If you are praising God with your spirit, how can …  those who do not understand say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving?" (1 Corinthians 14:16)

Doxazo: This word primarily means to give an opinion.  In the New Testament it means to give glory to, to extol and to magnify.  Praise must come from the heart and express an honest opinion.

Examples:  "And they praised God because of me [Paul: what he had been and what he had become]" (Galatians 1:24).  "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).  "When the crowd saw this [a paralytic healed] they were filled with awe; and they praised God" (Matthew 9:8).

Megaluno: to make great, to magnify.  Examples: "And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies and extols the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour'" (Luke 1:46, 47 Amp).  "But you are … a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises [set forth the virtues] of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).  This is another word that helps us to understand the gift of tongues, i.e. we magnify the Lord when we use it: "For they heard them [the Gentiles] speaking in tongues and praising [magnifying] God" (Acts 10:46).

Greek words denoting worship

Proskuneo:  This word means to pay due respect to, to do reverence to and to fall down before.  Its literal meaning is to kiss (the feet or the hand) toward (from pros, towards and kuneo, to kiss).  Servants kiss feet or hands.  Sons and daughters kiss faces and are enfolded in the Father's embrace!

Examples:  "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only" (Matthew 4:10).  "Let all God's angels worship him [Jesus]" (Hebrews 1:6).  Before the Lamb, who was slain "the elders fell down and worshipped" (Revelation 5:14).

Sebomai: to revere, to honour, stressing the feeling of awe or devotion.

Examples: Lydia and Titius Justus are referred to as worshippers of God (Acts 16:14, 18:7).  The Jews charged Paul with "persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law" (Acts 18:13).

Latreuo: to serve with devotion and reverence.

Examples:  "For we (Christians) are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God, and exalt and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ and put no confidence or dependence (on what we are) in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3 Amp).  "I [Paul] worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way" (Acts 24:14).

Appendix 2 -  Drawing Near

Workshop for Worship Leaders

By Daniel Goodman

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you"  (James 4:8).

Introduction

It has already been made clear in this book: if you want to know more about worship, you have to know more about God.  Only a personal relationship with him, and a correct understanding of who he is, will enable you to worship.  Only the digging of personal wells of worship will do.  What follows is just a short collection of ideas and principles that come to nothing without a passion for God and his glory. It is vital to get this into your heart and mind right from the beginning.

This workshop looks first at building the solid foundation of a personal relationship with God, together with the development of godly character.  It then looks at some of the more practical implications of preparing to lead worship, and of leading it within different contexts.

My prayer is that through it God will help you to see him more clearly and to know him more intimately.  Jesus has made a way for us to draw near to the One who created us and we are always blessed when we come.  Open your heart, asking God to make you more like him, and open your hands, giving back to him the gifts that he has given to you, so that they may be used for his glory.

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).  "Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture" (Psalm 95:6-7).

There is some overlap between this workshop and the final chapter of the book itself.  The repetition is included as it is considered likely that the two will be read on different occasions.

The Biblical Basis for Worship

We were made to live God-dependent lives.  We were formed with an in-built need for fellowship with our Maker.  We were created to worship him. We need his constant presence if we are to find peace and joy in this life.

All through the Bible we are told to praise God:  "Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.  Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people" (Psalm 149:2-4).  Creation itself is told to praise God: "Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion" (Psalm 103:22). "The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1).  And heaven too is told to praise God:  Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will" (Psalm 103:21).

Question: Do you love God's Word?  How does God speak to you through it?  What would help you to understand it more?

Worship is a response to the greatest commandment, that we should love God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind (Matthew 22:37).  It is natural that, as sons and daughters of God, we should rejoice in him and worship at his feet.  Worship will continue even after preaching and evangelising have faded away, because worship is directly about God, and he is eternal.

Let us consider worship as we have come to know it in our churches today.  For the most part, in towns and cities, we seem to have developed a 'leader-singers-and-music-group' model of worship.  Is that in the Bible?  As with so many areas of church life (i.e. children’s work and youth work), there is not any single, hard and fast way of doing things biblically, but of course, there are plenty of guidelines and principles.  In the West this model seems to connect well with our culture.  It also seems to work in other parts of the world, although styles of music and presentation will vary considerably.  This is the model that will be the focus of our workshop.

If yours is a rural setting, corporate worship will be a lot simpler, but the general principles will still apply.  When it comes to available finance, this will vary tremendously from community to community, yet in the poorest of situations the Father often finds the richest and most costly worship.   So, be encouraged.

Question:  Look at 2 Chronicles 5:12, 13: 7:6.  What do you think the worship described here looked like and how do you think it was organised?

We are called to worship God as individuals and as a family of believers.  We are called individually and corporately to set aside time for worship and to make it a priority.  We also know that music has, both biblically and traditionally, played a huge part in worship.  We know that some are gifted as musicians and singers, and others are not.  Some are gifted at leading, and others are not.  "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.   If [a man's gift] is serving let him serve…   If it is [up-front] leadership, let him govern diligently" (Romans 12:6-8).  "And in the church God has appointed… those with gifts of administration [leadership guidance]" (1 Corinthians 12:28).

The worship leader is both an up-front leader and a guide.  He, or she, leads God's people in worship and seeks to guide them as they respond to what God is saying to them.  Worship leading can be seen as a spiritual gift.  It is the divine enabling to worship God in a public setting, in spirit and in truth, and in such a way as to draw others into adoration and praise.  It is the ability to help others to focus on God, rather than on themselves, or on personal issues.

The early church worshipped in Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 5:12), which was, apparently, 480 metres long and 40 metres wide!  Not a small area!  It has been estimated that thousands would have been meeting there.

Question:  How do you feel about worship-leading not being mentioned specifically in the biblical lists of spiritual gifts?  Do you believe it to be a spiritual gift?  How would you argue the case biblically?

The Importance of Personal Worship

It is essential that all involved in leading worship (including those playing or singing in the music group) have a healthy, personal relationship with God.  It is natural to spend time with the one we love.  All relationships need time and communication.  Knowledge of God and his will come from seeking his face.  It is here, on your own with God, that your personal story develops. You worship him, hear his voice, trust and obey his Word and then see the evidence of his faithfulness to you.  It is often in these times that God will give you a new song, or impress a verse or theme upon you, which you later share with others.

Why is this so important?

- Because, spiritually speaking, you cannot take people to a place you have not been to yourself.

- Because you cannot lead people in worship if you are not a worshipper yourself.

- Because personal worship helps you to maintain the proper perspective, seeing God, not people, as the most important part of worship.

- Because time spent with God helps you to become like him, making you a person who gives; a person who ministers; a person who worships; and a person who prays.

- Because leading others should be just one aspect of your life as a worshipper.  If it is the only dimension, then you need to rethink.  It would not be right to continue in such circumstances.

Motivation

Ask God to search you, like David did (Psalm 139:23), pointing out any areas you need to address. This will help you to consider your motives and to correct any wrong thinking.  Wrong thinking leads to wrong living.  Right thinking leads to right living.  Do you love the spotlight?  Do not underestimate the power of public acclaim.  Never feel you are above this temptation.  Continue to ask God to help you to love him more and to minister with humility.

Inspiration

Just as spiritually you need to lead others out of your own personal relationship with God, so, creatively, you need to minister to others out of wells of inspiration, out of wells of worship.  These will soon run dry if you are not walking with God.  Inspiration comes from him.  Seek it from him and seek it with him. Take time to be inspired by God.  Do your preparation with him.

"In the morning Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation"(Psalm 5:3).

Calling

To find God’s will, seek him, not his will.  Simple but revolutionary. Draw close to God’s heart.  This is his will for you!  All other guidance will flow from this.  Be open and be expectant.  Leading, in any capacity, is a big commitment, and you will do well to seriously consider the cost of a call to lead worship.  As a singer or musician it may mean risking embarrassment.  It will certainly involve a huge investment of time.  God will bless you for anything you have to give up, or trust him for, and it’s vital to take time to express your thanks to him each time he does.  "You are his pleasure when he is your treasure" (Sam Storms).

Question:  What are the hindrances and obstacles, that you have to overcome personally, in order to pursue intimacy with God?

The Importance of Character

"Here is a trustworthy saying: if anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) (1 Timothy 3:1-5)

What applies to church leaders, equally applies to worship leaders.  Indeed, God requires every believer, including musicians, to demonstrate God's character in their lives.  In some churches gifting may get you there initially, but only character will keep you there.

There are many reasons why worship leaders need to be of mature character.   Most obviously because God requires it.   But also because you will, inevitably, feel pressure, and, at times, find it hard to cope.  You need the fruit of the Spirit to be able to lead, and to keep on leading.  "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).  You need a godly character to handle criticism and avoid discouragement.

Protecting Yourself

Leaders and musicians sometimes experience a level of "celebrity".  They may be very gifted musicians or singers, which would make them especially vulnerable to the temptations of "elevated status".  You must consider yourself with sober judgement (Romans 12:3), and allow others to guide you, in your own assessment of your gifting.  It is vital that you are accountable to someone close to you who is a mature Christian.  Do not put yourself into situations, or lead in such a way, that draws attention to yourself.

Question:  What situations should you, personally, try to avoid?  Are you aware of any specific character flaws in your own life?  What are you doing to bring about change?

Protecting Others

Sometimes you will experience frustration because you feel inadequate.  Someone might let you down.  Perhaps the singers and musicians just never seem to get it right.  Maybe you feel God is not speaking to you.  In all these situations you need God’s grace.  Ask him to help you to be patient and self-controlled and not to lose hope.  Do not take it out on others!  Be willing to apologise when you need to.  Nobody is perfect!

If you see everything as a performance you will be quick to notice musical mistakes and not to include less able musicians.  Their worship is just as valid as your own.  It is impossible to separate worship from any other aspect of the Christian life.  "I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and delight of worshipping him.  A worshipper can work with eternal quality in his work" (A W Tozer).

Investing In Your Call

I believe that being a good steward of your gifting, and your talent, means investing time and effort into making it as good as it can be.  I believe we honour God, and those we serve, when we give ourselves to practising our skills, to good preparation and to becoming well grounded in the field of our gifting.  Relying on natural ability and personality will only get you so far.  God does use us, even when we are weak, but his abundant grace should not make us sit back; rather, it should spur us on to give our all, and to become the best we can.

Investing In Your Talent

If you are a musician you should try to get your own instrument.  Be prepared to work hard, save up and buy it yourself, if at all possible.  If you do, you will certainly value it more, and be more likely to look after it.  Make sure it is something you are comfortable with and that produces a good sound.  Generally, this will mean investing a considerable sum of money, but I believe it will be money well spent.  Ask God for whatever you really need and he will help you to get it.  My testimony is that God has been incredibly generous to me.  Someone I hardly knew paid for my first drum kit, and my first guitar cost me a quarter of what it was worth.  (Even then the money had been given to me!)

If you do a lot of solo singing, and you are in a large church, ask the leaders to consider buying you a microphone that suits your voice and with which you are comfortable.  It will help you to feel confident and will give a consistent quality to your singing.

As a musician or a singer it is good to have lessons.  There is always someone more able than you!  Generally speaking, people notice it when things go wrong, not when they go right.  Lessons will help you to make fewer mistakes and will help others to focus their attention on God, not on you.

Investing in Resources: Books and Recordings

It is good to have your own copy of the Bible long enough to become thoroughly familiar with it, so that you can easily find the passages for which you are looking. It is also good to get a few other translations, if these are available, and a basic concordance.  Do not worry about keeping these books in pristine condition.  Interact with them.  Scribble notes and ideas down in the margins.  Underline words that speak to you.  All this will help you later in your preparation.

Keep a good Christian book on the go.  The more you think about God the better.  Whenever you can, read books on leadership and teambuilding.

If funds allow, try to build up a recorded collection of worship songs, both for your own edification and as a resource for new songs and ideas.  Go with what appeals to you.  If they stir your heart they will stir the hearts of those you lead.  Whenever you get the chance, invest in more training.  Never feel you have arrived.  Always maintain a teachable spirit.  Go to whatever conferences you can.  Enjoy the ministry, the teaching and the fellowship.

Make sure you are always well prepared.  Try to have copies of the music and the words for all the members of the worship group.  However, it can be a drain on the leader if everyone in the group is expecting him or her to provide for all their needs, all the time.  Leaders are under a lot of pressure and need support.  A group member could offer to make sure all the other members have the copies of songs they will need.

Christian music books might be available, but I find a simple loose-leaf A4 file works best for my needs.  For backing singers, it is helpful to learn by heart as many songs as possible.  Try not to rely on a projector for the words, as the screen may not always be visible from where you are standing.

Question:  Are you prepared to make sacrifices, and to work hard yourself, in order to have the musical instruments and equipment necessary for this ministry?  What problems arise when instruments are poor in quality or have to be shared?

Preparing To Lead

There are three main areas of preparation needed.  Being prepared concerning what God might want to say and do in the meeting, being prepared in your own heart, and being prepared to bring the different elements of the service together into harmonious unity.

Being Prepared concerning what God might want to do

You can trust God to reveal this to you as you dwell in his presence and as you fellowship with him during the day.  If at all possible, find out what the preacher's theme will be.  Ask God for key Scriptures and appropriate Spirit-inspired songs that unpack this theme.  Once you have some idea of the direction God wants you to take, make sure you remain flexible.  You will need to follow the leading of the Spirit on the day.

Preparing Yourself

It is important for you to feel comfortable and confident.  Others will be looking to you and you need to help them to feel secure and relaxed.  Approach the task with humility and faith.  (See the list of tips below.)  A good, last minute prayer would be: "Lord Jesus, sing through me so that your people may be led into your presence and engage in worship as they never have before.  Amen"

Preparing to Draw Things Together

You will need to talk to the church leaders and make sure that you are aware of all that will be taking place in the meeting.  There may be some child dedications.  There may be a time of praying for individuals who are taking on new responsibilities.  There are many possibilities.  You will need to know how much time each element is likely to take and who will be leading them through.   Consider other things, like communion and the offering, and put together a list, which will form the basis for the service.

You will also need to find out who you will be working with (the PA team, the church leader anchoring the meeting, etc.); how much time you will have for worship; what equipment will be needed and available; whether the song books, overheads or computer programs contain the songs you have chosen; what is happening with regard to the children; and what arrangements need to be made for your own family.

Useful Tips

Be prepared physically, i.e. not too tired or hungry.

Tune up and make sure your equipment is working properly.

Feel comfortable in terms of what you are wearing so you are not self-conscious.  (Ladies need to be especially careful regarding their clothing so as not to draw attention to themselves or to their feminine appeal!)

Make sure your family is happy.  You need their support.

Be in excellent relationship with God and with others.

Leave plenty of time to set up and to run through some songs.

Take time to communicate with all members of the worship group and with other leaders.

Talk to the PA team, if there is one, and let them know of your requirements.  (The PA team should serve the worship group and

Be friendly and relaxed.

Be flexible.

Submit to leadership and expect their support.

Leave time to pray with all involved, just before the meeting starts; it will help you to refocus and to trust God.

Ask God to use you.

Enjoy God and enjoy yourself.

Question:  Which of these tips do you find the most difficult to implement?  Why is this?

Leading Worship for Small Groups

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy … everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort … he who prophesies edifies the church" (1 Corinthians 14:1-4).

All the general guidelines apply for any situation, but there are some things that are peculiar to each.  As there are only a few present, a home group meeting is the ideal place for those who are less confident to step out in prayer and spiritual gifts.  You may not have other musicians, in which case that dynamic does not need to be considered, but you may need to adjust your style of playing to provide both rhythm and melody.  Songs in lower keys work well as people do not like to sing too loudly in small rooms (which you sometimes have to do to reach high notes).  These times will be more intimate and reflective than celebratory, but will provide opportunities for all to take part.  Encourage people to pray and to use the gifts of the Spirit, and adjust your input in response to the things others are bringing.  Worship will only be one aspect of the meeting, so do not dominate.  Always prepare well and take it seriously, even though there are fewer gathered.  If you do not give it the value it deserves, others will pick up on this and feel disappointed.  It will show them that your motives are not pure.

Leading an Evening Service

"'But now bring me a musician!' Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him" (2 Kings 3:15).

Sometimes evening services are evangelistic.  In such cases special care needs to be taken to ensure a more professional approach.  Non-believers may not be so understanding and forgiving of poor singing or musicianship!  Take greater care over the performance aspect of worship.

Often evening meetings are times of prayer and worship, so allow plenty of time for each.  You may wish to use other musicians, or simply to lead on your own, and much of what applies to home group meetings is true of Sunday nights.  However, as the group is larger you may need to give a stronger lead.

In prayer and praise meetings encourage participation and the full spectrum of spiritual gifts.  It is very important to develop good doctrinal understanding and practice, as the truly scriptural ways of doing things honour God and bring out the best in his people.

Normally there are fewer restrictions regarding evening services. The conventions of a morning service are absent, as is the intensely intimate feel of a home group.  Be prepared, but be very flexible, seeking not to maintain your plan, but to use it as a starting point, or a resource of ideas to which you can return.  This is where your investment in books, recordings and training will prove invaluable.  You will need to be in tune with the Spirit, ready to play well-known songs and prepared to accompany those who might be given new and spontaneous songs by the Spirit.  Having said all that, you do not have to be spontaneous to be used, simply sensitive to God and flexible.  A plan devised the week before is no less valid than one that is impromptu.  Be yourself.

Leading a Sunday Service

Normally these meetings are quite large.  But, even so, it is always good to expect, and to allow for, some individual contributions from the congregation.  People will need to be brave to bring them, so it is important that you let them know how much you value their input.  Be confident, positive and clear from the start.  Wait until you have everyone's attention.  (As a general rule, unplanned-for contributions need to be checked out with an elder or church leader before they are shared from the front.)

Resist talking too much, especially between songs, as this can be very distracting.  Use a few simple thoughts, or Scriptures, to get people to focus on God.  Communicate with church leaders beforehand to make sure you understand their expectations concerning timing and responsibilities.

There are a number of things you need to avoid.  Do not give vague or impossible instructions.  Do not tell people off or exhort them too much.  Do not have unrealistic expectations.  Be aware of the limitations of the musicians and singers, both musically and in terms of biblical knowledge.  These larger meetings are a great time to celebrate and to sing those songs that need a large crowd to do them justice.

Question:  Are there any points anyone would like to discuss from what has been shared thus far?  What has been the most helpful?

Leading a Group of Singers & Musicians

Not all worship leaders will be able to manage a large musical group.  Be aware of your limitations and be content to work within your own measure of gifting.

Each instrumentalist has different requirements which all need to be accommodated.  For example, a drummer needs a lot more floor space than a flautist.  In the line-up, some need to be more prominent than others.  Establish your leadership and ask for everyone’s support.  Do not take it for granted that they know what you are expecting of them.

Be gentle and patient with people.  By the time you communicate your ideas to them, you will have had a chance to think them through.  Give others sufficient time to unravel what you want.  Establish clear lines of vision and means of communication, e.g. hand signals.  Creative people can be insecure about their contribution, so be considerate with your comments.  Build an environment in which people feel safe and valued.  If you have specific ideas about each part (i.e. bass and drums), communicate these clearly and allow time for feedback.

Take every opportunity to thank and to encourage each worship group member for their commitment, their hard work and their valuable contribution to this vitally important area of ministry.  Their wonderful skills, when used to honour God and serve his people, are such a tremendous blessing.  Give them appropriate praise for their musicianship, their helpful attitude and their many spiritual contributions.

Question:  What people-skills do worship leaders need?  Which are the ones you struggle with the most?

Conclusion

My own personal vision as a worship leader in my local church is:

To lead others in worship by having and demonstrating a passion to worship God myself.

To lead others into the very presence of God to worship the Father

To train, equip and release other worshippers in their gifting as singers, musicians and worship leaders by continuing to be trained myself.

Main Resources For This Book

Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W E Vine published by Oliphants London

Expository Dictionary of Bible Words by Lawrence O Richards published by Zondervan

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament by R Laird Harris published by Moody Press

Analytical Concordance to the Holy Bible by Robert Young published by Lutterworth Press

Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong published by Thomas Nelson

Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Psalms by Derek Kidner published by Inter-Varsity Press

Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on Genesis by Derek Kidner published by Inter-Varsity Press

Tyndale New Testament Commentary on Luke by Leon Morris published by Inter-Varsity Press

The New London Commentary on the New Testament on John by Leon Morris published by Marshall, Morgan & Scott

Cruden's Complete Concordance by Alexander Cruden published by Lutterworth Press

Table of Contents

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES

Getting The Most Out Of This Series

CHAPTER ONE – PUTTING GOD FIRST

Introduction

Worship Requires Spiritual Resources

God Alone Is Worthy Of Our Worship

The Father Is To Be Worshipped

Jesus Is To Be Worshipped

The Holy Spirit Is To Be Worshipped

Worship Is To Be A Way Of Life

The Object Of Our Worship

The Father: His Character and His Names

The Son: His Character and His Names

The Triune God: His Words and His Deeds

The Motivation For Our Worship

The Purpose Of Our Worship

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Two - Old Testament Worship

The Process of Worship

The Meaning of Praise

The Meaning of Worship

The Command to Worship

An Emotional Caution

Summary

Assignment

CHAPTER THREE - ABRAHAM & HIS CHIEF STEWARD

Introduction

THE WELL OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Prompt obedience

Profound Love

Resolute Faith

God-Dependence

THE WELL OF HUMBLE SERVICE

Submissive Faithfulness

Wholehearted Devotion

Purposeful Prayer

Unashamed Worship

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Four - Moses & Joshua

THE WELL OF AWE

Producing radiance

Promoting security

Strengthening Trust

THE WELL OF spiritual WARFARE

Prepared for Battle

Ready to Obey Orders

Able to Stand on Holy Ground

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Five - Gideon & David

THE WELL OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Honesty with God

Steps of Obedience

Unquestioning Faith

THE WELL OF GRACE

Knowing How to Repent

Knowing God's Character

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Six - Jehoshaphat & Job

THE WELL OF DELIVERANCE

Seeking God with Prayer and Fasting

Knowing the Battle is God's

Facing the Enemy

THE WELL OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

Gratitude

Submission

Integrity

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Seven - The Community of God 1

THE WELL OF SIMPLE TRUST

The Promise of Deliverance

The Assurance of His Understanding

The Comfort of His Companionship

THE WELL OF SALVATION

A New Beginning

A Perfect Sacrifice

A Final Judgement

Absolute Protection

Unmerited Salvation

Universal Destruction

A Witnessing Community

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Eight - The Community of God 2

THE WELL OF ABIDING IN HIS PRESENCE

His Friendship

His Pleasure

His Glory

THE WELL OF FULFILLED PROMISES

Consecrated by Prayer

Approved by Fire

Confirmed by Glory

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Nine - The Community of God 3

THE WELL OF REVIVAL

Opening the Doors to All

Consecrating the Leaders

Purifying the Sanctuary

Purifying the People

THE WELL OF THE WORD OF GOD

Uniting the Generations

Making the Room

Celebrating the Meaning

Summary

Assignment

Chapter Ten - New Testament Worship 1

The Meaning of Praise

The Meaning of Worship

The Worshipers the Father Seeks

The well of inner transformation

A New Spirit

A Steadfast Spirit

A Willing Spirit

A Broken Spirit

A Poor Spirit

A Strong Spirit

A United Spirit

An Uncontaminated Spirit

A Joyful Spirit

A Spirit of Power, Love and Self-Discipline

The well of transparent sincerity

Truth in the Inner Being

Truth as Complete Sincerity

Truth as Reality Without Self-Deception

Truth as God's Wisdom

Truth as Intimate Knowledge of God

Truth as Liberating

Truth as Faithfulness,

Summary

Assignment

Chapter eleven - New testament worship 2

Worshipping the Son

Worship in Heaven

Worship on Earth

Our Spiritual Act of Worship

The well of profound love

Summary

Assignment

Chapter twelve - The Holy Spirit

He is a Well of Worship

He Opens the Way for Us to Worship

He Prepares our Hearts for Worship

He Equips & Empowers Us For Worship

He Motivates & Inspires Us To Worship

He Provides the Environment For Worship

Summary

Assignment

Chapter thirteen - The perfect, the perfected & the pretender

Jesus in Worship

Saints in Worship

Mary

Simeon

Anna

Paul and Silas

The well of heartfelt gratitude

Satan Seeking Worship

The Reason for the Exile

Satan's Origins

The Temptation of Jesus

Satan's Defeat by Jesus

Satanic Worship

Summary

Assignment

Chapter fourteen - CORPORATE WORSHIP

Essential Ingredients of Worship

Postures in Worship

Appropriate Songs and Scriptures

Worship Leaders Who Lead and Worship

Group Members Who Co-operate and Worship

Thorough Preparation

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

Appropriate Contributions

Difficulties in Worship

Giving as Worship

All-Age Worship

Summary

Assignment

Conclusion

Appendix 1

Hebrew Words Denoting Worship

The Fear of the Lord

The Justice of God

Greek Words Denoting Praise

Appendix 2 - Drawing Near

Workshop for Worship Leaders

Introduction

The Biblical Basis for Worship

The Importance of Personal Worship

The Importance of Character

Investing In Your Call

Investing in Resources: Books and Recordings

Preparing To Lead

Useful Tips

Leading Worship for Small Groups

Leading an Evening Service

Leading a Sunday Service

Leading a Group of Singers & Musicians

Conclusion

Main Resources For This Book