Worship is an aspect of communication with God that is defined by use in Scripture as giving God credit for Who He is and What He has done.
Within Paul’s worship, he often writes of remembering the saints (Romans 1:9). And he encourages the saints to continue in worship (Romans 12:9). Worship is the predominate word for communication with God used in Scripture and is to be done in everything, while not being anxious, often after thanksgiving and before asking (Philippians 4:6). Worship is even to be given on behalf of all men, along with supplication and intercession (1 Timothy 2:1). Through the worship of the resurrected Church, we see that it involves acknowledging that Christ is the Creator of all things, and that He is alone worthy to take the scroll that no one else in heaven, on earth, or under the earth had been found that could much less even look at the scroll, for none were worthy to open it (Revelation 4:1-11).
Worshipping is not an emotional thing; rather, it is done in the spirit (John 4:24) and therefore is not restricted to singing. Even the angels worship the Son (Hebrews 1:6) and they cannot sing. Many modern “worship” songs today are nothing more than repetition of words that neither express who God is or what He has done but are designed for the purpose of making the worshipper feel good (Matthew 6:7) or build up their self-esteem. Of course, there is nothing wrong with singing to God, but in our worship let us not be like the hypocrites who through public worship, repetition, and the use of many words seek to make a show for men to see, stirring up the emotions rather than truly expressing who God is and what He has done (Matthew 6:5).
Within Scripture we also see worship being used of the Church, for God will make those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones claiming to take the place of the Jews, worship the saints of the Church (Revelation 3:9). For in doing so they will give proper credit to those who are truly of the Church. No, the Church does not receive the same worship as God, nor is reverence given to the Church as it is to God. However, in seeing that the false Christians among us will give proper credit to those who are true Christians we gain a better understanding of what worship is. A true Christian bases their salvation on the fact that Christ died concerning sin and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). False Christians are those who claim salvation by works of any kind, or by another gospel, even those who say it is by faith alone, but that faith is turned into a work because you have to keep on believing in order to stay saved. Their salvation is not based upon the facts of Christ’s death for sin and resurrection, but on your continued belief in God. True repentance (changing of the mind) cannot be undone, even if a person walks away from God for a while. The reality is that person believed the Gospel for salvation, and they now belong to God (Hebrews 6:4-8).
Worshipping is a type of communication to God that is something that we should constantly be doing because it involves the use of our spirit, our rational part, and is giving God proper recognition (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This type of mental focus will impact everything we do throughout our day, for we are to worship while lifting pious hands, hands that are working out holiness (1 Timothy 2:8). In our worship we should remember other saints, express our appreciation for what God has given to us, supplicate and intercede on behalf of all, separating ourselves out to God through our actions, all while giving God credit for Who He is and what He has done. For this is true worship.
Worship (προσευχή)
Worship is an aspect of communication with God that is defined by use in Scripture as giving God credit for Who He is and What He has done.
Within Paul’s worship, he often writes of remembering the saints (Romans 1:9). And he encourages the saints to continue in worship (Romans 12:9). Worship is the predominate word for communication with God used in Scripture and is to be done in everything, while not being anxious, often after thanksgiving and before asking (Philippians 4:6). Worship is even to be given on behalf of all men, along with supplication and intercession (1 Timothy 2:1). Through the worship of the resurrected Church, we see that it involves acknowledging that Christ is the Creator of all things, and that He is alone worthy to take the scroll that no one else in heaven, on earth, or under the earth had been found that could much less even look at the scroll, for none were worthy to open it (Revelation 4:1-11).
Worshipping is not an emotional thing; rather, it is done in the spirit (John 4:24) and therefore is not restricted to singing. Even the angels worship the Son (Hebrews 1:6) and they cannot sing. Many modern “worship” songs today are nothing more than repetition of words that neither express who God is or what He has done but are designed for the purpose of making the worshipper feel good (Matthew 6:7) or build up their self-esteem. Of course, there is nothing wrong with singing to God, but in our worship let us not be like the hypocrites who through public worship, repetition, and the use of many words seek to make a show for men to see, stirring up the emotions rather than truly expressing who God is and what He has done (Matthew 6:5).
Within Scripture we also see worship being used of the Church, for God will make those of the synagogue of Satan, the ones claiming to take the place of the Jews, worship the saints of the Church (Revelation 3:9). For in doing so they will give proper credit to those who are truly of the Church. No, the Church does not receive the same worship as God, nor is reverence given to the Church as it is to God. However, in seeing that the false Christians among us will give proper credit to those who are true Christians we gain a better understanding of what worship is. A true Christian bases their salvation on the fact that Christ died concerning sin and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). False Christians are those who claim salvation by works of any kind, or by another gospel, even those who say it is by faith alone, but that faith is turned into a work because you have to keep on believing in order to stay saved. Their salvation is not based upon the facts of Christ’s death for sin and resurrection, but on your continued belief in God. True repentance (changing of the mind) cannot be undone, even if a person walks away from God for a while. The reality is that person believed the Gospel for salvation, and they now belong to God (Hebrews 6:4-8).
Worshipping is a type of communication to God that is something that we should constantly be doing because it involves the use of our spirit, our rational part, and is giving God proper recognition (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This type of mental focus will impact everything we do throughout our day, for we are to worship while lifting pious hands, hands that are working out holiness (1 Timothy 2:8). In our worship we should remember other saints, express our appreciation for what God has given to us, supplicate and intercede on behalf of all, separating ourselves out to God through our actions, all while giving God credit for Who He is and what He has done. For this is true worship.