The first chapter of the Bible says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27)
The point of an image is to image. Images are erected to display the original. Point to the original. Glorify the original. God made humans in his image so that the world would be filled with reflectors of God.
The angels cry in Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” It’s full of millions of human image bearers.
“The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). God created us to know him and love him. The universe is declaring the glory of God and one of the reasons we exist is to see it and be stunned by it and glorify God because of it.
Psa 29:2, Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Isa 43:7, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
1 Cor. 1:9, “For God is faithful through whom you were called into Fellowship with His Son Christ Jesus.”
He wants to have fellowship with you because He loves you. Fellowship in Greek is the word koinonia. It means intimacy, communion, and fellowship.
Ac 17:26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live Ac 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Ac 17:28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’
Worship is the place that God promises to “meet with us,” because worship is something that is done on the inside – i.e., in our spirit. As Jesus tells us in John 4:23-24, “the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Worshiping the Lord, then, means coming into His presence, adoring, praising and loving Him in the same nature as He – in the spirit.
Our heart is what matters when we worship, not our voice. In other words, we can only worship God to the degree to which we know Him-the degree to which our heart is filled with love for Him. When we really know and love Him, it becomes easy and natural for us to worship.
The goal and purpose of worship is to magnify, exalt, love and adore the only true God, Jesus Christ. It’s our expression of His worthiness. Sadly, the motivation for some Christians to worship, especially in church, is so that we might have “an enjoyable experience,” not necessarily to honour and please God.
The Apostle Paul described true worship perfectly in Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Thanksgiving is first of all an attitude of the heart. This is where true worship of God begins.
Jack Hayford stated: The worship of the Lord releases the power, the pathway and the purpose of what He wants to do in His Church. Throughout Scripture, whenever the Church is at prayer or in worship, there is great release of divine power. Worship is the means by which He re-establishes rulership. Where God’s presence is, there will be power. Where worship is released, God’s presence will abide. Our hearts are the ground on which the battle is decided. If we will worship, God’s power and rule will be established in and through us to flow to others.
Tommy Walker stated: When we worship, the invisible God is at work doing invisible and powerful things. We get refreshed and refueled; we find unspeakable joy and indescribable peace. We discover the breakthrough strength of God, which enables us to walk in the truth, live in His presence and see Him fight our battles for us. It is how we can put the beauty of the Gospel on display, receive His many blessings and at the same time be a blessing to the world.
Psa 29:2, Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Psa 96:9, Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Heb 12:28, Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29, for our God is a consuming fire.
0 Comments