Kiss the Ring

Introduction

Worship and praise are two words used almost synonymously within the church, both of them igniting imagery of the Sunday morning worship and song service. However, a closer look at both the common and biblical meaning of worship reveals more than meets the eye

with few exceptions, both biblical and extra-biblical sources define worship as three arenas: feelings, perspective, and behavior

In the Bible we see worship expressed:

Worship expressed as an emotion

most familiar with

emotional responses to what God has done, is doing, or will do

the goosebumps and ecstasy that accompanies singing a favorite song

tears that overwhelm

Ex. 15:1-21 - Miriam leading Israel in boisterous singing and dancing with instruments

Neh 8:9-12 - the people weep as the Law is read

2 Sam 6:14-23 - David dancing with all his might before the Ark of the Covenant

Jn 11:32-45 - mourning turns into exuberant praise when Lazarus comes back

Acts 2:43 “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”

φόβος, -ου, ὁ phobos

fear, dread, terror; reverence, respect

think OT “fear of the LORD”

O

Worship is more than an emotion

Worship expressed as an attitude

somewhat familiar with

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Psalm 51:16–17 “ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I wouldgive it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Isaiah 66:2 “2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

Matthew 2:11 “11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”

- προσκυνέω proskyneō

… (to prostrate one’s self); prop. to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence … hence among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence, [to make a ‘salam’] … by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication.

Hebrews 12:28 “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,”

Worship is more than an attitude

Worship expressed as an action

least familiar with

Romans 12:1–2 “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. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

λατρεία, -ας, ἡ latreia,

… in the Grk. Bible, the service or worship of God acc. to the requirements of the levitical law …

-  to serve for hire;

- univ. to serve, minister to, either gods or men, and used alike of slaves and of freemen; in the N. T. to render religious service or homage, to worship,

Gen 22 5-12 - Abraham describes his obedience to offer Isaac as a sacrifice an act of worship

Micah 6:6–8 “6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

James 1:27 “27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

If you cannot worship the Lord in the midst of your responsibilities on Monday, it is not very likely that you were worshiping on Sunday! - A. W. Tozer

The beginning and perfection of lawful worship is readiness to obey. - John Calvin

Worship is giving to God the best He has given us. - Oswald Chambers

Life ought not merely to contain acts of worship, it should be an act of worship. - John Blanchard

Worship, by definition, is where the creature recognizes that he or she is a creature and God alone is the Creator. Worship is an act of submission, of placing oneself under the deity. - Ben Witherington III

Worship is more than an action

If you cannot worship the Lord in the midst of your responsibilities on Monday, it is not very likely that you were worshiping on Sunday! A. W. Tozer Whatever Happened to Worship? (20th century)

Conclusion

“Okay, pastor, you’ve told me that worship is more. So, then what is worship?”

Worship is our response both corporate to God for who He is and what He has done! Expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live. - Louie Giglio

Worship = Attitude + Service

emotions are not worship; they come in response to worship

a heart that puts Christ first with actions that prove the heart

Worship is a lifestyle

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

respect/honor him and obey him