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Praising & Worshipping Him

 

Lesson Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18 (The Reason why we worship)

 

Worship is what we do and pay to God, while praise is the Christian’s response to what God has done for them. Worship is homage. More importantly, worship is an offering. It is the falling down and prostration before God, because of who He is and what He has done. Praise is an inward disposition of joy for and because of God, with outward manifestations evident through formal worship. The praise of the church is coupled with the praise of God by the angels (Luke 2:13). Our current worship and praise replaces the Old Testament forms of sacrifice, worship, and praise. One can praise God silently, but at some point it cannot help but break through the surface. Praise is ill impacted when the Christian spirit is not right. The early church praised God (Acts 2:47), because they were distinctly aware of what God had done for them. One cannot grow stale in the inner-workings of what God has done and continues to do in the Christian life.

 

Through analysis of John 4:23-24, it is apparent that worship must definitely be conducted in truth, according to the command of God. Jesus instructed the woman at the well that the worship in the Mountain of Samaria or Jerusalem would become outdated, and out of step with God’s New Testament covenant. Thus, any worship will not suffice. We live in a country today where some want to metaphorically worship in Samaria and others in Jerusalem. Yet, worship must be according to truth. Today God is not to be worshipped in a Samaritan or Jerusalem mountain, but in spirit and truth.

 

The spirit element of worship is intrinsically connected  to obedience. Worship is alive, not when external limbs or objects are loud, but when Christians actively seek first the Kingdom and righteousness of God (Matthew 6:33). True worship cannot commence until sinful lives are transformed into righteousness, headed for transfiguration. Therefore, when the preacher,  pastors, or deacons look among the congregation and behold faces of gloom, boredom, and disconnectivity, elements or purge must be expounded because worship and praise are not being properly fulfilled. Worship is primarily a mental process, the disposition of reverence to God,  with praise being the physical manifestations of the reverence. Therefore when the mental and internal view of God is distorted, blocked, or hindered, proper praise cannot be executed from its source, which is obedience.

David was a man of great worship and praise, but like any child of God, when he found himself in sin, his worship, and more so his praise, could not be right. On the streets of healing and contrition he said after his adulterous escapade and murder conspiracy, “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” Psalms 51:9-11).

 

 

·        2 Timothy 2:20-22 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

·        1 Corinthians 5:7 “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us…”

Learning from the Context of First Occurrence:

 

 

·        Offering (Offered the best/disrespects the person & offering when faulty): Genesis 4:3 “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”  Genesis 22:2 “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

·        Oblation (Highly seasoned by the provider): Leviticus 2:12-13  “As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour. 13And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.” (A gift/present in the form of sacrifice)

Notes:

 

Worship/Ritual/Tradition:

Worship in unconscious ways has been transformed into a ritualistic experience with fixed formats and time frames, devoid of freedom and uniqueness. Due to the more ritual type format, the act of worship and praise can be outwardly conducted, with no true internal connection. Could Abraham have been disconnected from his worship on the mountain? It was too critical a time for him to be physically present, yet emotionally, distant. An example of this notion is the taking of communion to the sick and shut-in. Communion is not a stand-alone process, it is one element of worship.

 

The older generation has stopped researching and studying biblical issues where different positions have been advanced. There is a reluctance to even study, consider, or reconsider. This has left an educated Black segment in the body frustrated and impatient. Thus the problem: Polar opposites with one group that no longer wants to listen, and another group that has thrown laws concerning expediency and liberty abuse to the wind. As seen in the life of Moses, education is critical in keeping up with the people: 40 years in Egypt, 40 years as a Shepard, and 40 years in the wilderness. To understand the polar opposite that has developed in the body, notice 1 Corinthians 8 and Galatians 5:13-15.

 

The Socialization of Worship:

At some point we must deal with Acts 3:7-9. Dispositionally, diversities of people will worship the same, but praise differently.

 

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Terminology Defined:

 

Aspects of Worship:

 

Case Studies of Those who praised after salvation & healing: Mark 2:12; Acts 8:39; Mark 8:24-26 Interesting; 

 

Cultural Understanding:


Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?