A Lifestyle Of Worship

As human beings we were made to worship. It is part of our nature to serve and worship the God of all of creation. . ‘Our entire being is fashioned as an instrument of praise. Just as a master violin maker designs an instrument to produce maximum aesthetic results, so God tailor made our bodies, souls and spirits to work together in consonance to produce pleasing expressions of praise and worship’ (Don McMinn). God wants, and delights in the fact that we worship Him. God wants our worship, He even demands it of us – ‘You shall worship the Lord Your God and Him only shall you serve.’ (Matthew 4v10)
In Heaven right at this very moment, angels are worshipping before God, bowing down in reverence crying, ‘Holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, Who was and Who is to come.’ (Revelation 4v8)
Before the beginning of time, God created Lucifer. His role was that of chief musician, to cover the throne of God and fill the heavens with music and praise in an atmosphere that allowed no-one, and nothing but God to be praised. Lucifer lived and sang out the glory and the high praises of God; it was his lifestyle – until the time that he turned away from God and fell from heaven. Satan’s agenda now is to hinder us from worshipping God.
God requires praise that’s due to His name!
So what does worship mean and how do we worship?
The word ‘worship’ comes from the old English word ‘weordhscipe’ meaning respect, adore, serve, pay homage, exalt to magnify. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word ‘worship’ is ‘Shachah’ which means to bow down or prostrate. In the New Testament the Greek word is ‘Proskuneo.’ ‘Pros’ meaning towards, and ‘Kuneo’ suggests to kiss. In its fullest meaning then, it is to kiss towards.

Worshipping God is more than turning up to a Sunday service for a great time of praise and worship. Worship is a lifestyle. Our corporate gathering together on a Sunday is important, don’t get me wrong; it is a time for encouraging one another; for edification and building up the Body of Christ – Hebrews10v25. And God promises to make His presence known whenever His people gather to worship Him. But our worship needs to be more than that.

Worship is an essential part of everyday life; whether you are in the car (I have had some great times worshipping while I am driving, but always keep your eyes open, and your hands on the steering wheel!), at home, at school, in the supermarket – wherever! You can experience intimacy with God anytime, anywhere! God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth – John 4v24. God is looking for true worshippers who will worship Him that way.

Romans 12v1 exhorts us to ‘present your bodies as a living sacrifice, the kind He will except.’
Sacrifice in the Greek is ‘thusia’ and means an act of an offering, or something that is offered – such as praise. Hebrews13v15 ‘Let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to our God. The fruit of are lips giving thanks.’
God wants all of us; our energy, our time, our material possessions. He wants everything about us, the good and the bad.
Make time to worship God as Mary did, sitting at the feet of Jesus, drinking in His presence. Don’t be distracted by the day to day demands of life as Martha was.

Worship is about service too. Many Christians think that worship and service are two separate ministries. They are not! The bible says that our service to God is worship. When we serve, we are actually worshipping! The Hebrew ‘adadah’ means ‘work; service.’ Joshua 12v15 ‘And if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day who you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve (worship) the Lord. A great story in the bible of service that worshipped God, is the story of the Good Samaritan, which is found in Luke 10v25. This Samaritan man was going about his daily business when he came across a man in desperate need of help. Instead of passing him by for someone else to deal with, he came to his ‘neighbours’ aid. What a loving man and a real act of worship, that act of worship must have gone straight to the throne room of God. As Jesus said ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘love your neighbour as your self.’

There is a cost involved if we are to develop a lifestyle of worship. Time, consecration to Christ, serving our fellow-man, and a full surrender of our lives to him.’ …and you will be used for a righteous purpose.’ (Romans 6v13) God wants our worship, to enjoy being in His presence, personally, corporately and actively, that is His greatest desire, for us to live a lifestyle of worship!

By Justin Bloomfield