LET US PRAISE GOD

INTRODUCTION

“Praise” is found 248 times on the Bible

26 times in the New Testament

160 times on the Psalms

There are 3 Greek words translated “praise” in our New Testaments

ainos – used only in praise to God

epainos – a strengthened form of ainos – meaning approval, commendation, and praise

ainesis – a sacrificial offering as an act of worship – found only in Hebrews 13:15

Hebrews 13:15 KJV 1900

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

The “sacrifice of praise” has reference to the voluntary peace and thank offerings of the Law (cf. Lev. 7:11-25).

The sacrifices of praise indicated in Hebrews 13:15 are offered through Christ; as with every other form of praise and prayer, it is only through Christ that anyone can have access to the Father

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV 1900

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 10:19–22 KJV 1900

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The great lesson of the Transfiguration is the truth that only Christ is God’s spokesman for today; there was a time when Moses was to be heard, and a time when the prophets (Elijah, et al) were to be heeded (Matt. 17:1-5), but Christ is to be heard now in all things (Heb. 1:1-4; Acts 3:22-23).

1 Peter 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 KJV 1900

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Mark 12:29–31 KJV 1900

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The fruit of the lips includes prayers and singing.

We are to be ever grateful for heaven’s blessings; we cannot be obedient or pleasing unto God without sincere gratitude.

Ingratitude is one of the most common and most serious affronts to God.

There is an old story about a farmer giving thanks for a meal in a city restaurant. Other patrons made fun of him and asked if everyone where he came from gave thanks for their meals. His terse reply silenced them: “The pigs don’t.”

In this lesson we will discuss the “sacrifice of praise” as it pertains to worship...

DISCUSSION

The sacrifice of praise to God is a matter of great importance and great significance, as is clearly seen in God’s word.

Jesus taught on worship (Jn. 4:19-26)

Paul, on Mars Hill, preached on worship (Acts 17:22-31)

The second recorded controversy between God and man was over worship (Gen. 4)

The word “worship” is found 119 times in the Bible

When God discusses something once it is important

How much more important is that which is mentioned so frequently in God’s Holy Word

Worship is a matter of extreme importance

There needs to be more preaching and teaching on Christian worship - on the “sacrifice of praise,” because you look around and...

Many people, evidently, do not enjoy worship, because:

They are late in coming

They are early to leave

They seem bored

They don’t participate

Too many church services start at 11:00 dull - then the clock strikes 12 noon and the church gives up her dead.

John 4:24 is the classic text on Christian worship, and an analysis of this text reveals:

The absolute of Christian worship - must

The action of Christian worship - worship

The aim of Christian worship - Him

The attitude of Christian worship - spirit

The authority of Christian worship - truth

ABSOLUTE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP - MUST

The word “must” is a modifier

The Bible teaches that:

Faith is a must (Heb. 11:6)

Baptism is a must (Mk. 16:16)

Worship is a must (Jn. 4:24)

We can no more omit the “must” in worship than we can the “must” in baptism or faith

The word “must” is the strongest word in English

“Must” is heaven’s imperative - it is the mandate of the Master

There is no choice in breathing - if you want to live

There is no choice in worshipping - that is, if you want to live spiritually - it is a must

The word “must” modifies three elements which constitute Christian worship

“Must” modifies the object of worship - Him

“Must” modifies the attitude of worship - spirit

“Must” modifies the standard of worship - truth

Thus, the object, the attitude, and the standard of Christian worship are vital - they are a must!

ACTION OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP - WORSHIP

Webster defines “worship” as “courtesy or reverence to worth; hence honor and respect. An act of paying divine honors to deity; religious reverence or homage.”

The word “worship” it translated from several different Greek words, three of which are used more than once:

PROSKUNEO

Occurs 60 times in the New Testament as is always rendered worship - used in John 4:24

Thayer: “to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence ... to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence”

SEBOMAI

Occurs 10 times in the New Testament

Definition: “To stand in awe; to venerate, to reverence, to worship, to adore”

LATREUO

Occurs 21 times in the New Testament - translated 17 times as service and 4 times as worship

Definition: “To render religious service of homage; to worship God in the observance of rites instituted for worship”

From these word studies it is clear that true worship entails participation

We must be participants - not spectators

In true worship we are not the audience - God is!

Our aim, then, should be to please God

Some say, “I just don’t get anything out of worship”

This shows they have a false concept of worship

If you are not getting anything out of worship it is because you are not putting enough into it

Mere attendance must never be equated with worship

Matthew 15:8 KJV 1900

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Worship is drawing nigh unto God - not the church building

Isaiah 66:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, And trembleth at my word. 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; He that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; He that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; He that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, And will bring their fears upon them; Because when I called, none did answer; When I spake, they did not hear: But they did evil before mine eyes, And chose that in which I delighted not.

God would not accept their worship

AIM OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP - HIM

The Bible brilliantly teaches us that God is to be the sole object of our worship

Exodus 20:1–5 KJV 1900

1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Matthew 4:9–10 KJV 1900

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Since God is the exclusive object of our worship, this would exclude all else as an object of worship - e.g. angels, Pope, etc.

Remember, in Christian worship God is the audience

ATTITUDE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP - SPIRIT

New Testament worship is spiritual

We are to offer up spiritual sacrifices

1 Peter 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

We are to draw nigh unto God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith

Hebrews 10:22 KJV 1900

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Our worship is to be rendered with grace in our heart unto the Lord

Colossians 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Ephesians 5:19 KJV 1900

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

New Testament worship must come from the heart

“...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)

“singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16)

We are to worship God “acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28)

Matthew 15:7–9 KJV 1900

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Are we worshipping in spirit when we sing:

“I want to be a soul winner for Jesus” - and yet, never talk to the lost about Jesus

“More about Jesus would I know” - and yet, seldom study our Bibles

“All to Jesus I surrender” - and yet, give not as we have prospered

How do we worship in spirit?

Prepare your heart - prayer, proper mind set, rest

Maintain a worshipful atmosphere

Psalm 89:7 KJV 1900

7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

Habakkuk 2:20 KJV 1900

20 But the Lord is in his holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before him.

Cultivate a deep awareness of God

God is omnipresent

Proverbs 15:3 KJV 1900

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.

God is with us in a special sense in worship

Don’t let things become commonplace

Put your heart into it

Study Bible examples of worship

AUTHORITY OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP - TRUTH

What is truth?

John 17:17 KJV 1900

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Colossians 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Peter 4:11 KJV 1900

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

A worship not according to truth...

Leviticus 10:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

God authorizes 5 items of worship: Singing (1 Cor. 14:15); Praying (Acts 2:42); Preaching (Acts 20:7); Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-30); Giving (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

All acts of worship must be carried out as God has commanded

WORSHIP DEPICTED

Exodus 30:34–38 KJV 1900

34 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. 37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. 38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

a. God has always instructed His people how He wanted to be worshipped

b. Notice that this perfume, actually a sweet smelling incense was made for GOD ALONE (v. 37). The recipe was not to be duplicated for any man - to do so would cause one to be cut off.

1) What is the point? The fragrance was for God alone. It rose to God's nostrils - it was unique for Him

2) This is a great picture of worship! Our worship rises up to God - it is to be unique, separated, holy, and well pleasing unto HIM.

3) This is one of the great problems in the church today - many are losing sight of God and focus on themselves and their wants

2. One of the primary functions of the church is to supply the incentives for worship and to provide the proper environment for worship.

a. When worship is not the growing experience of Christians - the church could be at fault, or the individual could be at fault.

b. If the church is at fault, it will eventually perish - unless it remedies the situation

1) The church must provide vibrant, meaningful periods of worship.

2) The church must make sure that every individual has the opportunity to worship God properly

3) This would include the proper atmosphere, that is, a place of reverence and holiness, and would include actions done according to God's precepts

c. If it is the individual's fault, he will wither away spiritually unless a change is made.

1) You see, meaningful worship is the heart of the

life and work of a Christian.

2) An individual must realize that… worship is not something that is done to him, but that which is offered toward God.

3) Many say, "I just don't get anything out of worship." This is because they are putting little or nothing into their worship.

FORMS OF UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

1. The worship of false gods

a. Sadly, all this began with Cain. After refusing to worship properly and then killing his brother… Genesis 4:16

1) Cain left God

2) There is no wonder then that there is a long line of idolatrous activities in the way of Cain

b. Romans 1:20-23

1) When men reject God - they will worship the false gods they create

2) Man will always worship something

c. Man's false gods generally fall into two categories:

1) Earthly, material gods

a) Job 31:24-28

b) Many worship their possessions, that is, placing them above God in value

2) Images

a) Deuteronomy 4:14-19

b) God can never be reduced to an image

d. God repeatedly warned Israel against this

1) Isaiah 2:6-9

2) Every religion that does not properly acknowledge God in true worship is idolatrous

e. Another form of false worship is…

2. The worship of the true God in the wrong form

a. Not only is the right object established in Scripture, but the right form and manner is as well. God did not say worship Me and then give no instruction as to the how

b. An illustration of this is in Exodus 32.

c. While Moses was gone, the people under Aaron's leadership fashioned a golden calf as a representation of Jehovah God

d. Another form of false worship is…

3. The worship of the true God in a self-styled manner

a. Nadab and Abihu

1) Leviticus 10:1-2

2) They administered the incense in a self-styled manner, that is, they did it their way - not God's.

3) In doing this they did not sanctify God before the people

4) God's displeasure is seen in sending fire down from heaven to devour them

b. Saul

1) 1 Samuel 13:8-14

2) Saul had performed a function that only a priest was to perform

3) Saul had no authority to do this - an obedient heart is at the heart of true worship

c. Uzzah

1) 2 Samuel 6:1-9

2) Uzzah was a Kohathite, responsible for transporting the Ark of the Covenant - he knew it was not to be touched and how it was to be transported, but he took the liberty of doing it his own way

3) Needless to say, God was displeased

d. The Pharisees

1) Matthew 15:1-9

2) They built their own self-styled system of worship established deep in their own traditions

3) We must distinguish between truth and tradition.

4) Realize that tradition is only bad if it violates Scripture or is treated as authoritative as Scripture

e. Another form of false worship is…

4. Some worship the true God with the wrong attitude

a. We may eliminate false gods and self-styled forms of worship, but if we do not have the proper attitudes in worship - we are not involved in true worship.

b. Hosea 6:4-7

c. Mark 7:6

d. If we are doing the right things to the right God, but our attitudes are not right, then our worship is still not acceptable.

Pslam 107