Worship that Creates Real Disciples

It was his tenth birthday and earlier in the week eight invitations had been sent to his closest friends. It was going to be the best birthday celebration ever.

The boys played baseball and football till dark. His dad grilled hotdogs and hamburgers. They ate ice cream and cake. Then came the presents. He couldn’t remember any of the presents, just that he was with his best friends. Then came the highlight of the day—taking his friends to the high school basketball game. He bought eight 25 cents tickets and envisioned sitting in the middle of his friends, eating popcorn, punching one another and cheering their favorite high school stars.

But then something happened that he never forgot. His friends left him. Once inside, they forgot him. Without a word of thanks or even a “Happy Birthday,” they all went their own way to be with someone else.

Whitney’s story reminds me of how we often treat God in worship. Though we come to an event where He is the Guest of Honor, it is possible to give Him a routine gift, sing a few customary songs to Him and then totally neglect Him while we focus on others and enjoy the performance of those in front of us.

Jesus emphasized and obeyed the Old Testament command “Worship the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:10). It is the duty and should be the delight of every believer to worship their Creator. Psalm 95:6 says O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. God expects us to worship. It is our purpose.

Jesus also warns us of worshipping God vainly: Matthew 15:8-9 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…

How do we worship God authentically? How do worship God in such a way as to produce genuine disciples?

I. WORSHIP IS FOCUSING ON AND RESPONDING TO GOD

In John 20:28, Jesus appears to Thomas and shows him his wounded side and the nail prints in His hands. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Worship is when Thomas responds to Him by saying, My Lord and my God.

Revelation 4:8-11 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

In the next chapter we are told of thousands and thousands of angels, elders, and living creatures around the heavenly throne of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, crying out in worship, Revelation 5:12-13 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

The word “worship” comes from the Saxon word weorthscype, which later became worthship. To worship God is to ascribe the proper worth to God, to magnify His worthiness of praise, or better, to approach and address God as worthy. As the Holy and Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, the Sovereign Judge to whom we must give an account, He alone is worthy of our worship!

When we properly understand the worthiness of God we must respond with worship. If you could see God at this moment you would instinctively fall on your face and worship Him. That’s why we read in Revelation that those around the throne who see Him fall on their faces in worship. Furthermore, we are told that they throughout eternity fall on their faces and cry “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

So worship is first of all, focusing on and responding to God. But since we’re not yet in heaven, how do we do that. How do we focus on a God we cannot see?

1. By Focusing on God’s Creation, Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

2. By Focusing on God’s word, the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: and 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost. This is why the Bible should always have a high priority in our worship celebrations, both in the reading and preaching the word of God.

3. By Focusing on the Word of God, Jesus Christ, John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. and Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Since worship is focusing and responding to God, regardless of what else we are doing we are not worshipping if we are not thinking about God. You may be listening to a sermon, but without thinking of how God’s truth applies to your life and affects your relationship with Him, you are not worshipping. You may be singing, “How Great Thou Art,” but if you are not thinking God the greatness and majesty of God while singing it, you are not worshipping. You may be listening to someone pray, but unless you are listening to God and praying along with them, you are not worshipping.

II. WORSHIP IS DONE IN THE SPIRIT AND TRUTH

The most profound passage on worship in the New Testament is John 4:23-24.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Before we can worship in spirit and truth we must have His spirit and He who is truth living within us. John 14:17 the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Having the Spirit dwelling within does not guarantee that we will always worship in spirit and truth, but it does mean we can. To worship God in spirit is to worship God from the inside out. It means to be sincere in worship. No matter how spiritual the song you are singing, no matter how poetic the prayer you are praying, if it isn’t sincere, then it isn’t worship, it’s hypocrisy!

The balance of worshipping in the spirit is to worship in truth, the truth of Scripture. We worship God as He is revealed in the Bible, not as we want Him to be. We worship Him as a God of both mercy and justice, of love and wrath, a God who both welcomes into Heaven and condemns to Hell. We are to worship in response to the truth as revealed in Scripture.

We must worship in both spirit and truth, with both heart and head, with both emotions and thought. If we worship with just spirit we become too mushy and soft on

truth, just anything goes when we worship only by feelings. Worshipping only on the basis of truth leaves us with a grim, chilly and rigid formality.

Worshipping from the perspective of the truth moves us to worship in spirit. Those who no longer are moved by worship are not worshipping at all. Their presence is a response of duty not of desire or delight.

Often the breakthrough to experience worship in spirit in truth happens in worship. People often tell me they didn’t feel like coming to church but something happened during worship that refreshed them and restored their spiritual perspective.

III.WORSHIP IS EXPECTED BOTH PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY

Believers are expected to participate regularly in corporate worship.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (KJV) Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)

This means we cannot substitute media ministry for public worship by those who are able. There is some things God does only at the place of public worship.

How is it possible to worship God publicly once each week when we do not worship Him privately throughout the week?

How can not worship God publicly on Sunday if we have worshipped God privately throughout the week?

Just think of it. The Lord Jesus Christ is willing to meet you privately any time for as long as you would like!

IV. WORSHIP IS A DISCIPLINE TO BE CULTIVATED

“Worship the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:10). Worship requires discipline.

The more we worship God the more we become like Him. People become like their focus. We emulate what we think about.

Describing modern man, one has written, “He worships his work, works at his play and plays at his worship.”

APPLICATION:

1. Will you work on the discipline of both private and public worship? A.W Tozer said, “If you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him on one day a week.”

2. Will you put actual worship into your acts of worship. (Read David Clarkson’s quote on public worship, p. 96.

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