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God regards worship; as such, it demands thoughtful insight and consideration. Worship is an important matter because it is a spiritual service.
Psa 22:3 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises (worship) of Israel.
Tremendous things in righteousness are wrought just by worshiping God. Worship guarantees one-to-one encounter with God. When Solomon dedicated the temple, the power of God was so much that the priest could not stand to minister. The power of biblical worship is explosive, the benefits of worship are all encompassing, the purpose of worship is eternally profound, and the opposition to worship by Satan is very fierce. The devil vehemently fights our worship. The forces of hell don’t want you to be a true worshiper. As a matter of fact, the devil enjoys your disregard of true worship to God.
The schemes of Satan to prevent you from worshiping God include:
- He distracts you with daily activities.
- He influences the way you worship God if you insist on worshiping Him.
- He can literally prevent you from coming to church or the place of worship.
The biblical battles over worship are:
- The act of murder committed by Cain, Gen 4:2-10.
- The death sentence placed on Daniel, Dan 6:11-16.
- Moses earnest plea to Pharaoh, requesting the Israelites to go and worship God Ex. 5:1-10.
- The argument that ensued between David and Michal his wife, 2 Sam 6:16-23.
Jehoshaphat understood the secret of worship which most Christians today don’t know. Through worship, he conquered his enemies. When you worship God truly, He will conquer your enemies for you. He will manifest Himself to lift you above them.
2 Chron 20:21-24 And he consulted with the people, and he appointed singers to Jehovah and praisers to praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise Jehovah, for His mercy endures forever.
And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, who had come against Judah. And they were beaten.
For the sons of Ammon and Moab stood up against the people of mount Seir to completely kill and destroy. And when they had made an end of the people of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.
And when Judah came to the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked at the multitude. And behold! They were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
Three Important Aspects of Worship
1. You Must Personalize Worship
a. Personalize it unto God: His personal nature and works. Let your worship be unto God.
b. Attribute to Him what He has done for you personally, James 1:17.
2. You Must Verbalise Your Praise
Speak your worship. Tell Him your praise. The law of praise does not only believe in the heart but verbalises it. It is true your heart appreciates God; but it is better and evidential if you articulate it with your mouth. Talk about His greatness, works, beauty, glory and power. Tell God how good He is to you.
3. Mobilise Your Body
You can’t complete the act of worship without involving your body in it. Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.
You present your body to God as a living sacrifice to God by:
- Committing it to God as an act of worship.
- Committing it to God as an act of dedication. 1 Cor 6:19-20.
The Anatomy of Worship
The different parts of our body are anatomized as physical useful organs and objects of worship. These are:
1. Your Knees
Kneeling down means to submit to authority. When you submit to authority; inversely, you can use the authority you submit to. Kneeling humbles you before Jesus. If you kneel before the Lord, then you will stand before the world. Whenever you kneel before Jesus you are fulfilling the scriptures. Phil 2:9-10, 1 Pet 5:6.
2. Your Head
Your head is an organ of worship. It can be bowed down or raised up to God. When you bow your head it connotes worship, and lifting it up a sign of victory. Ps 3:3, 27:5-6.
3. Your Hands
This is clapping or lifting up your hands as a sign of appreciation or triumph. Lifting up hands also is a sign of dedication. When you lift up your hands, you stretch forth to receive the outpouring of His power of healing, prosperity, deliverance and uplift. Ps 63:4, Hab 3:3-4.
4. Your Lips
This is speaking the word or telling someone about the word of God, Ps 51:15, 63:3, 71:23. When you use your lips to worship God:
- It breaks down your heart and neutralises hypocrisy and the fear of men.
- You become better equipped to speak to people.
5. Your Tongue
Your tongue and lips are tuned together; it can deliver you from double speaking. The only way to tame the tongue is by dedicating it to worship. Jam 3:5-8, Pro 12:18, Ps 35:28, 51:14.
6. Your Eyes
At worship, something happens to your vision. Your spiritual eyes are opened to see the glory of God. You worship God with your eyes by dedicating it to God only and not engage it in seeing dirty movies, pictures and scenes. Also dedicate the eyes of your heart; that is, the vision of your spirit. Is 6:1-9, Eph 1:17-18, Ps 25:15, 121:1, 123:1.
7. Your Feet
You use your feet to worship God by standing before Him either in prayers or in the sanctuary during praise and worship. To stand in worship is to give attention and make God realise He has been welcomed. It is a sign of readiness. Dancing feet is an act of worship also. Feet that worship God don’t go to clubs, shrines, occult gatherings, e.t.c. Eph 6:13-14, Ps 30:11.
8. Your Whole Body
This is prostrating or bowing down before the Lord. It is a sign of dedication unto the Lord. It is also a sign of remorse or repentance before God. Mark 5:22-23, 7:25-29, 2 Sam 12:15-20.
Conclusion
God is not looking for prayer warriors that will deal with the enemy. He is not looking for the filthy rich that will flaunt wealth and opulence all about in the church; neither is He looking for choreographers or acrobats who engage in gymnastic entertainment in the name of godly or holy gyration. He is looking for people who do know their God, who have discovered the essence and are acquainted with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of reverence, that He alone should be adored in an unwavering and uncompromising worship.
John 4:22-24 You worship what you do not know, we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
God is a spirit, and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.
Food For Thought
When you become a person that gives much praise and thanksgiving to God, it will deliver you from bitterness.
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes, and give me the understanding of true worship.
God bless you.
