Maybe we shouldn’t walk out of church asking each other, “What did you think about worship today?” That almost sounds like worship is something that happened to us for the last hour. But maybe we should be asking, “Hey, how did I do??” If we ask ourselves that question, then it seems that we’re putting the right people on the spot.
Now, enough of this serious stuff… let’s talk about my favorite verb… worship.
The Where of Worship…
The woman at the well said to Jesus that the Jews told her to worship at the synagogue. And Jesus replied that soon there would be a time when God’s worshippers would understand that they are to worship Him is “spirit and in truth”…
From Psalm 150: Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise God in His mighty firmament.
That is everywhere… in spirit and in truth – outside and inside – it is more important that one worship than where one worships.
The Why of Worship/Praise…
From Psalm 150: For God’s mighty deeds…
He is the creator! He made all that is!
A few years ago I was talking at a church service about worshipping together. I made the point that it really brings the whole church together for one purpose. I used the band as an example. All of the musicians were EXCELLENT! But, if they all played their own thing when and how they wanted, it was a mess. And, I had them all play their favorite song. It was a mess! And it wasn't even that each musician wasn't playing their song very well. They were.
Then I asked the band to play a single song. It was awesome!
The same is true in our church. We are all fully capable for ministry. We are all wonderful in our talents and gifts and who we are as people of God. However, a church where we don’t worship together IN ONE SPIRIT… can be a mess. Everyone WANTS something out of the church- when we come together, like these musicians, everyone has to give up just a bit of themselves, but when they do the result is so much greater than the sum of the parts.
Now for the final part of the Psalm 150 – “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” That means no one is off the hook!!
God wants us to break the surley bonds of our own self-conciousness and get all wrapped up in the worshipping of God Almighty. I want you to sing out because when you sing out you give the person next to you the courage to sing out.
God wants YOU to praise His name! With everything that is going on in your life – it is YOU that God wants! We all have troubles in our lives right now – loss of family, sickness, problems with spouses, problems with children, trouble with work, trouble finding work… and God will give you great joy if you’ll praise His name. It takes YOU doing it to make worship pleasing in God’s eyes. Don’t let anyone do this for you… don’t be lead into thinking that I’m going to praise God for you – or the band, or the singers… Just like if you went home today and everyone in the sanctuary here called you up and gave you a compliment… none of them are any less valuable than any others – but the difference is that God knows your name and your heart. God knows what thrills you and destroys you. God wants YOU to worship Him. You personally.
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