Jesus had the disciplines of prayer, fasting, thankfulness, sacrifice, giving, submission, service, stewardship, perseverance, self-control, worship, and love.
This final week we will look at the discipline of worship.
Remember that disciplines help us establish roots to keep us safe in hardship and trouble.
These twelve disciplines that I see in the life of Jesus are what we need to be fruitful in our walk as Christians. The world is watching us and sees everything we do. While the Church is waiting for the return of Jesus, the world is waiting for the manifestations of the sons of God - Rom 8:19-21.
Worship:
We all worship something or someone. Worship comes on various levels, from mere infatuation to total devotion to a cause or god.
It might be a crush on an idol or famous actor for some teenagers. For adults, it can be their job or their success in doing their job. Finally, it might be looking back and remembering things they achieved in life as older adults.
Worship happens typically to or for the thing that you most value. Nobody is devoted to something or someone invaluable to them. All idols demand worship, but God deserves worship. Therefore, God commands Israel not to make any other gods, bow to them, or serve them. Worship is devoted service to God or an idol.
As Christians, worship should never be from a place of enforcement. Instead, it should be the first thing we all do when we wake up. Worship comes from a grateful heart, and circumstances do not sway that grateful heart. People of faith worship whether it is going well or whether it is going bad. Difficult circumstances reveal the true worshippers.
When Paul and Silas were in jail, they worshipped - Acts 16:23-28.
And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately, all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."
I love this story. Everyone was listening to Paul and Silas and was touched by what they heard. They were all loosed from their chains when the earthquake happened, including the other prisoners. The story gets even better. Imagine the first thing prisoners would do after all their chains fall off, and all the prison doors are opened. Not this time. They all stayed despite the chance to escape. What kept them from escaping?
When was the last time our worshipped unchained someone? When was the last time our worshipped so captivated someone that they did not want to leave?
Worship is more than a song or a hymn. Worship is a lifestyle overflowing from a thankful heart. If you live a life void of the proof of your faith, your lifestyle is not a testimony of the One you worship.
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth."
How do we worship in Spirit and in Truth?
Twice Paul tells us how to do that!
Gal. 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
John defines the flesh as the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. This means: "I do what I want to do!"
Gal. 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Again we see our lifestyle is crucial. So before we even sing or lift our hands or even bow down in worship, let's start by getting our hearts surrendered to God first.
The word for "worship" in Greek is the picture of a dog licking his master's hand. If you ever had a dog, you would understand. There is proof of submission, obedience, and servitude in that act of the dog. He gives you all his attention and stands ready to act on every command you give him. He is happy to see you and wants to be with you. THAT IS WHAT WORSHIP SHOULD LOOK LIKE!
My last point on worship is this. Can we please stop singing songs about ourselves and what we have experienced? Worship through the ages was used to teach people theology. But, more than that, worship focused on God and what He did for us. We learned about the blood of Jesus, His sacrifice, atonement, forgiveness, restoration, and the hope of his return through the songs we sang. We could hear each other sing and beautiful voices filled the air. The music was harmonious and thankful hearts shouted with joy.
There are many forms of worship. Prayer can be used to worship. Thanksgiving and testimonies can be used to worship, and songs and dance can be used to worship. Solitude and meditation can be used to worship. Different people have different ways of expressing their worship.
What does your worship look like?