What is the power of worship.docx

What is the power of worship?

Worship not only testifies to our love for, and appreciation of, God but it exerts a power on the

worshiper. Worship is an experience, a giving and receiving, a petition and a blessing, a

declaration and a benediction. Worship is an attitude. It is a frame of mind, a condition of heart.

We find a comprehensive definition of worship in the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary,

page 1153: Worship is "the attitude of humility, reverence, honor, devotion, and adoration that

properly mark the relationship of created beings to their Creator, especially in His presence."

This lofty experience is granted to fallen man as well as to the angels who never sinned.

Worship not only testifies to our love for, and appreciation of, God but it exerts a power on the

grace to His worshipers. The worship hour is to be made a precious occasion as its importance is

pressed home to the consciousness of each repentant, believ. ing soul.

The Lord has ordained that worship be attractive, beautiful, and inspiring. It is not intended to be

a sad experience. It is not meant to be enervating but invigorating. "Give unto the Lord the glory

due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of

holiness" (1 Chron. 16:29). This beauty God imparts through His holiness. We receive through

our willing recognition ofbour need and our sincere worship of Christ as our Saviour.

Why Is Worship Essential?

The ascending and descending on the ladder reaching from earth to heaven, from the heart of the

worshiper to the heart of God, is a heartening experience that God intends should characterize

our expression of devotion to Him. As prayer is talking to and listening to God, through Jesus

Christ, so worship is bringing our heavenly Father a sacrifice of love and devotion, and receiving

God. . . . They listen to the testimony of the witnesses for Christ . . . , and the praise and

thanksgiving from the worshipers . . . is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and praise and

rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts because Christ has not died in vain for the fallen

sons of Adam."Ibid., vol. 6, p. 366.

Meaningful worship unites us with heaven. This is why adoration for God, as expressed in

worship, is so essential. It has always been so and will continue to be eternally vital.

How Is Worship Achieved?

We should do everything within our9power to make the worship hour rich in possibilities for

development of Christlikeness in the lives of worshipers and of communion with God. Conscious

effort should be directed toward providing the atmosphere that will cultivate the spirit of worship

so that in every regard the attitude of humility, reverence, honor, devotion, and adoration might

characterize our relationship to God our Creator.

"Nothing that is sacred, nothing that pertains to the worship of God, should be treated with

carelessness or indifference." —Ibid., vol. 5, p. 491. This is straightforward direction we can all

understand. Thoughtful care should be exercised in preparation for, and participation in, the

Families should sit together. This presents an attractive picture. In this way children can be given

practical lessons in the proper attitude of worship. One of the most vital lessons is that of

remaining quiet. From Testimonies, volume 5, page 493, we read: "Sometimes a little child may

so attract the attention of the hearers that the precious seed does not fall into good ground and

bring forth fruit." Not only do quiet children bring blessings to other worshipers, but their own

young hearts can thus receive Heaven's direction. While we are saved as individuals, acceptable

worship is promoted by our sitting in family units. In the sanctuary we should remain quiet.

Leaders and laymen alike should preserve complete quiet except when called upon to speak to

the assembly. God speaks to the individual through the still small%voice. Quiet meditation fosters

communion with Him.

Leaders must give positive direction. Worshipers should never be given reason to feel that those

in charge do not know where they are going. Such questions as "Shall we sing?" or "Shall we

kneel in prayer?" are weak. When given the choice some persons might want to sing when it is

time to pray. "Let us sing" and "We will kneel as we pray" are more positive directions and

should be carefully gathered before the worship hour begins. Leaders should not invite

impromptu speeches on various subjects from the floor. Comments from sundry quarters on

church activities serve only to disrupt. All presentations should be smooth, clear, and decisive.

worship God with reverent and devoted hearts.

Make the presentation of tithes and offerings a sacred privilege. This area of expression is highly

charged with worship possibilities. Here is evidence of inward feeling. It is deep-seated. It

touches the inner recesses of heart and life. Every care should be exercised to ensure a

worshipful atmosphere. This is brought about by thoughtful reference to Heaven's sacrifice, our

privileges, worldwide opportunities, and by offering earnest prayer to our Father in heaven. The

Spirit of God cdn make the presentation of gifts in His sanctuary a heart-moving experience. And

it must be all this if it is to be an integral phase of our worship to God.

Employ music as a specific part of worship. The singing of suitable hymns will provide

expression to aspiration, conviction, and surrender. Hearts are converted. We should never use

music as a filler. It is worship. "As a part of religious service, singing is as much an act of

worship as is prayer. Indeed, many a song is prayer."—Education, p. 168.

While there are many considerations to9this broad and engaging subject, one more point should

Word of God. It is recorded of Aaron that he "spake all the words which the Lord had spoken. .. .

with the very atmosphere of heaven." What a glorious possibility! What a high privilege! The

power of God charging the atmosphere of heaven will reach our hearts. And this power is real. It

is not an idle phrase, an empty platitude. True worship of God is designed by Him to make us

happy now, give us security here, and also prepare us for heaven. The world needs this

transforming grace. The saints need it. "God teaches that we should assemble in His house to

cultivate the attributes of perfect love. This will fit the dwellers of earth for the mansions that

Christ has gone to prepare for all who love Him."—Ibid., vol. 6, p. 368.

"The moral taste of the worshipers in God's holy sanctuary must be elevated, refined,

sanctified."—Ibid., vol. 5. p. 496. In coming before God in the attitude of reverence and devotion

saints and sinners are brought under the influence of the power of the Spirit of God, which power

is inherent in the worship achievement. In order.to worship God acceptably our moral taste must

be elevated, refined, and sanctified. In turn, a sincere seeker after God receives, through the act

of worship, the very power to achieve this elevation, refinement, and sanctification.

There is a moving account of the impelling power of worship and its inseparable link with

sacrifice in the story of Abraham and Isaac. In Genesis 22:5 we read, "I and the lad will . . .

of worship. Conversation is brief. The theme is lofty. The love-filled answer from heaven is clear

and direct. And, brethren, it is no less real today. You and I can find in worship the power to

comply with God's commands, and in this experience receive Heaven's approbation.

Throughout the Sacred Scriptures the terms worship and serve are repeatedly used together. This

is Heaven planned. The Creator God who demands our worship is ready with joy to impart to us

strength for service. Let us remember that only as we serve can we preserve. The preservation of

the vital link with heaven is assured through willing worship of God. The Wise Men from the

East enjoyed a thrilling experience. Their eyes had been raised heavenward and they saw His

star, the record states, and came to worship Him. This was the happy lot of the eleven disciples

after the resurrection. It is recorded in Matthew 28:17 that "when they saw him, they worshipped

him." How true to life! When we, today, keep our eyes on heavenly things we too will see and

will worship. When we come to see Christ as our personal Saviour, then we will be moved to

worship Him.

The worship hour is indeed a sitting together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. How we

should treasure every opportunity for worship of our blessed Redeemer. In this hallowed place

we receive a sense of commitment, deeper dedication, and strength to obey.

can praise God, but all can’t worship. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship

him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24 KJV).” Worship is service. The goal is not to serve

ourselves, but to serve God. Worship is adoration. “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness (Psalm 29:2 NIV).” Adoring God means you’re

ascribing worthiness to God for who he is and for what he has done. The purpose of true worship

is to serve and adore God. Worship goes beyond the lifting of the hands, the expression of

adoration, and tears rolling down your face. That’s good and great, but worship is ultimately a

Worship is every saint’s replenishment station. When we worship, we are in a conversation that

is bound in communion with our Lord and Savior which results in joy. While we give God our

shouts, songs, and grateful hearts, he gives back to us living water, the bread of life, the breath of

his spirit, healing, and deliverance. We need to make worship a priority in our lives. God’s

presence is where we should long to be. In his presence, God’s overflowing love and light shines

through so that we can share all that he is with those around us. We must place a premium on

4 Important Characteristics of Christian Worship

While each church must find a form of worship that fits its particular mixture of people, gifts,

and our, often, frantic existence needs to be regularly and formally drawn back to its reason for

being: to honor and bring glory to God. Hymns and choruses that emphasize our human

pilgrimage and reactions can be perfectly appropriate responses, but only after God has been

lifted up and magnified in our midst. Worship thus infused with the wonder of God is also

uniquely appropriate to prepare people’s heart to hear and receive the preaching of the Word of

God.

A single theme for the time of worship and singing (which may or may not be related to the

theme of the sermon) directs the devotional thoughts of the participants. This theme may consist

of an attribute of God (love, holiness, faithfulness, etc.), a particular aspect of worship (prayer,

praise, thanksgiving, etc.) a theological concept (access to a holy God through Christ, the Second

Coming), or a special biblical component of redemptive truth (the Lamb of God, the Cross). It is

the theme which governs the selection of all music and readings employed in the service.

responsibility incumbent in worship leaders. Liturgical churches need not put as much planning

into their services because the story of redemption is beautifully and powerfully related in a

standardized form, but there is incredible potential for dynamic worship in the non-liturgical

worship as having God as the “audience,” the congregation as the “performers,” and the worship

leaders (music minister, choir) as “prompters” deserves careful consideration. The flow of the

service in our church incorporates a sort of dialogue between choir and congregation. Our trained

musical force offers a musical invitation to the people to approach God in reverent worship, but

the congregation is never left for long to sit and listen: they are regularly brought in to respond

and participate by singing or reading.