AAEVS - The Importance of Worship (Part 1)

"Our vision is to be a congregation of saints who offer their bodies as living sacrifices unto God, ordering our services in accordance to His revealed word. We will practice family-integrated worship as we offer these spiritual sacrifices. This is our reasonable worship and means that we submit to His will (as found in His word). We desire to display this by setting apart the first day of the week to worship the Lord with fellow saints. We do not view the Lord’s Day worship as drudgery, but as an occasion to celebrate His victorious work on our behalf and rejoice in the rest He has provided for us. Because the Lord’s service is a reverential occasion, we will seek to prepare ourselves on Saturday evening for public worship on the Lord’s Day." ~ Worship Paragraph 2

"Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house." Haggai 1:8-9

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." ~ Romans 12:1

We've looked at why the Kingdom is important; we've looked at what the Kingdom looks like here and now.  Now we'll look at how the Kingdom of God is established which is the worship of God in this world. What do we mean by "worship?" What is it? Some people say that worship is performing special rituals; others say worship is a good feeling when certain religious activities are practiced. But what is worship, particularly how does a Christian worship the true and living God? And why does it matter? First, let's look at a couple of ministers' definitions to get a sense of what worship is.
 

One comes from Isaac Guess, pastor of Ripley PBC in Ripley, MS. In his article, "Refocusing Worship" he gives his definition:

Consider the meanings of the New Testament words for worship as given by Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: “to make obeisance, do reverence to, serve, stressing the feeling of awe or devotion.” Vine notes that worship is “the direct acknowledgment to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done such acknowledgment.” Worship, then, is an awe-filled, reverent display of praise to God. Notice that it is to be completely God focused.

The other one comes from Douglas Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, ID. In a sermon clip from Canon Wired, he gives his definition which is that the believer makes himself or herself available to do what is directed by God. 

Looking at them together, they are not the same. So then are they contradictory? Not if you note that they are drawing from a common source. As Doug Wilson stated in the clip, this is exemplified in Isaiah's encounter with God in Isaiah 6 (as well as Paul's conversion in Acts 9.) So what are three important elements of worship found in those accounts? 

1. The Realization of God and His Holiness

We see God for who He is, putting away human misconceptions, feelings, and upbringing. He is totally separate from creation, distinct in the righteous, majestic, beautiful way. Isaiah experienced it when he saw the Lord seated on a throne, being praised by the heavenly host. Paul experienced it when the light of God's glory came upon him on the road to Damascus.  

2. The Realization of Self and Redemption

Once we see God and how holy He is, our attention turns back to ourselves and we see that we are insignificant in His presence; we see ourselves as sinners wrapped in sinfulness, worthy to be eternally miserable in this life and the next. But then God shows His grace in Christ and we see His everlasting love in salvation. Isaiah experienced it when he recognized his sin and received God's cleansing. Acts 9 does not mention how Paul saw himself in the presence of Christ, but elsewhere in Scripture he expresses deep regret over his past conduct. So perhaps when Jesus revealed Himself to him, Paul realized that he was fighting bitterly against God's redemptive plan and was like the disobedient Israelites of old. But then perhaps he recognized who was speaking to him, the promised Messiah that would take the sins of His people on Himself; obviously He didn't have to take the time to reveal Himself and change his heart, but He did which showed Paul that God loved him from eternity.

3. The Realization of Duty and Privilege

Now that we experience a piece of the majesty and splendor of our Lord, He calls on His people to work out His redemptive plan in the world through His power. Seeing His glory and His grace, how can we let this opportunity pass by? We have been drafted in His army and adopted into His family, how could we turn Him down and refuse? Isaiah experienced it when God called for someone to represent Him to Israel. "Here am I, Lord! Send me!" Paul experienced it when he learned of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. "Lord, what will you have me to do?" 

So why is worship so important to the Christian life? I'll give four reasons why in the next post.