WORSHIP: MEANING AND APPLICATION I. Introduction. A. God intended for men to worship. 1. From the beginning: Cain & Abel. 2. The encouragement: Psalm 95:6. B. But what do we mean by worship? 1. English word(worth-ship): Honor; worthy; to pay homage to a deity. 2. Greek words: To do reverence or homage by kissing the hand towards; to do reverence or homage by prostration; to bow one's self in adoration; to revere, stressing the feeling of awe or devotion(from W. E. Vine). C. Note John 4:20. D. Worship is not confined to a single act--but--a single act can be worship. 1. Worship is primarily a condition of one's heart: what may be worship to one is not to another(illustrate: meats at Corinth). 2. Whatever the act(s), must be acceptable to be approved of God. E. Worship can be said to be: 1. A privilege. 2. A duty. 3. A necessity. II. Body. A. All worship has an object. 1. The object may be acceptable/not acceptable. 2. Paul encountered devoted people: Acts 17:23. a. Object: Idols. b. Paul uses the "unknown" to make Jehovah "known." 3. Israelites had numerous warnings of "wrong" object: Exodus 34:14. a. But repeated: weakness of mankind. b. Objects ranged from golden calf to brazen serpent. 4. The folly of some: Isaiah 2:8. 5. Even men will elevate themselves to become such objects: Daniel 3. 6. Often done in ignorance: John 4:22. 7. The proper object of worship: John 4:23. B. All worship, to be acceptable, must be controlled by the will of Jehovah. 1. Even in idolatry, they believe their "gods" are controlling, through "priests" that worship. 2. While some(Quakers) have laboured to remove the outward forms--they are regulated(not to do certain things--demonstrate certain manners). 3. Proper actions are learned only through revelation: John 4:24. 4. Useless unless properly regulated by deity: Matthew 15:9. 5. At certain times, God's law permitted: a. Bowing: Genesis 24:26. b. Animal/plant sacrifices: Leviticus 23. c. Varied types of praise: Psalm 150:3-5. 6. Regulated by law of Christ since Pentecost. a. The standard: Colossians 3:17. b. Before can offer anything in worship, must first be approved by God! C. Worship is to benefit the participants. 1. Idolatry is harmful. a. Emotional betrayal. b. Spiritual calamity. c. Intellectual disaster. c. Even can affect physically. 2. When regulated by commands of men: vain. a. As useless as idolatry. b. Becomes deceptive and hypocritical. c. Places men above God. d. Often appeals to the emotional side of man and neglects the spiritual intellect. 3. Takes proper attitude to benefit: I Corinthians 13:1. 4. Some are led to believe they are benefiting in certain activities of man's worship, but are only satisfying the flesh: Colossians 2:23. a. Great cathedrals; impressive choirs; stunning apparel; formal rituals--do gain attention of multitudes--but... b. One may leave EPCOT with same feeling! 5. True spiritual benefits of worshipping the God of heaven include: a. A satisfying knowledge of pleasing God: John 4:22. b. A feeling of reverence and awe: Psalm 111:9. c. An inspiration/stimulation to improve one's devotion to the Almighty. D. Only those who are submissive to Jehovah may claim the right of worship. 1. Remember John 4:24. 2. The worship of Pharisees was "vain"--why? 3. It was Paul's aim to properly instruct those at Athens: Acts 17:27-28. 4. The Gentiles were censored: Romans 1:25, 28. 5. Does it occur to us how God reacts when: a. We do what we want to do? b. We let the smallest interference hinder us? c. We rob him of the praise he should receive? d. We are willfully neglectful of our service? James 4:17. E. The worship of which we speak is, in fact, primarily an individual activity. 1. Remember the beginning of the lesson? 2. Even under the Old Covenant: offering up sacrifices. 3. Can offer up daily(Hebrews 13:15-16): a. Prayer. b. Adoration. c. Sacrifices. d. Singing. e. Teaching. 4. May help in answering some questions: singing with an instruction(radio, etc.). 5. Or, participating in public programs(schools, etc.). F. Worship can be a joint participation on the part of the collectivity(congregation). 1. Still--individual action: Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. a. So--if one next to you is not living right, will not(or should not) affect your worship. b. If anyone in assembly not meeting requirements of Lord(as giving), not affecting you. c. Becomes wrong when force individual to become a part of unscriptural actions(instrument). 2. Even Lord's Supper is an individual act done in an assembly(who passes it does not keep participant from being right). 3. One worships by himself or blends his actions with other disciples to offer up sacrifices to the God of heaven: Hebrews 13:15. III. Body. A. All disciples must face the question: What does worship mean to me personally? B. Disciples who believe in the benefit of worship have no problem worshipping!