Worship Meditations

There's a certain aspect of acknowledging the presence of God in all situations that is essential to true worship. Often in the Old Testament, when God displayed His presence through His mighty works on behalf of His people, their first response was to build an altar and worship Him.

When Jesus went to the mountain and was transfigured in front of His disciples, Peter's first response was an attempted act of worship. Where did he go wrong, though? He wanted to build tents for all three — Moses, Elijah and Jesus — as if they were co-equals. He didn't acknowledge the supremacy of Jesus over Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah were great men of God, but Jesus was God Himself, the creator of Moses and Elijah. In other words, Peter didn't acknowledge the presence of God in the person of Jesus Christ. That's why the voice of God upbraided Peter and said, "This is my Son, My chosen One. Listen to Him!" The Heavenly Father was telling the disciples to realize that God was in their midst and to act accordingly.

I think worship must be both individual and collective. I think it's individual first. Worshiping God starts with an individual's love, awe, and surrendered heart. But in order to continue growing that relationship, a believer must participate in corporate worship as well. Jesus has said when two or more worshipers gather together “there I am in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:20) I think a true synergy exists in corporate worship. Something different happens when people get together to worship as a unified whole, something greater than the sum total of the same number of people all worshiping by themselves in their closets.

Worship occurs in two settings: in an individual person and in a group of people who are gathered together for worship. The former setting consists of one person worshiping God on a personal basis, loving Him, praising Him, communicating with Him, submitting to His will, living in His presence. The latter may be a large group or it may be only two or three, as mentioned above. When true worship is offered to God by a group of believers, hopefully it is a group consisting of individuals who are surrendered to God. Such a body of believers can offer up a sacrifice of corporate worship that glorifies and is pleasing to God. Such a corporate worship experience, where God is manifested among His people, can, in turn, lead the individuals in that group into an even deeper walk with their Savior.

So then, there is a certain "cycle of worship" where individual worship enriches corporate worship, which then enriches individual worship again by inspiring people to walk more closely with God when away from the group.

Worship involves glorifying God with the spoken and sung word, saying along with the angels, elders and living creatures, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Rev. 5:12) It involves an audible confession of faith and expression of creed.

Worship involves not only words, spoken and sung, but physical movement: kneeling, bowing, falling face down, lifting hands, dancing. It involves visual elements, using color, line, shape and other visual elements in such a way as to lift the eye and heart upward to Him. It even involves the olfactory and gustatory senses, using such elements as incense. The "agape" meal, for example, could be considered a form of worship if it is shared with thanksgiving and a spirit of service. "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8).

Sensory elements are used in worship to "prepare the way" for God to reach into and effect changes in the worshiper's innermost being — his spirit. If the worship service does its job, the sensory elements (including music) will work together as a whole to glorify God to the individual, so that he/she is drawn inward into total surrender of self and outward into service for His namesake. The sensory elements are not ends in themselves; rather they are means toward a greater end.

Worship involves going, working, reaching out and serving in His name. It involves not only showing and telling God we love Him, but also showing and telling others that we love Him and why.

Worship involves prayer. I use the old ACTS acronym (apologies to whoever came up with it in the first place). ADORATION — "I love You Lord, and I lift my voice." "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty." CONFESSION: I admit that I, in my pride and arrogance, have sinned against God and others, and ask for Your cleansing. THANKSGIVING: "Thank You Lord for forgiving me and making it possible, through the shed blood of Your Son to have a relationship with You. SUPPLICATION: Interceding for, i.e., serving as a prayer agent on behalf of those who need a loving touch from the Savior — always with an attitude of submission to His will, whatever that may entail.

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