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(Exodus 20:4-6)
Introduction: We have been talking about the worship of God, that which is
His due by right of being our covenant God. But do we even understand what
worship is? What the word means? The word ”worship” means ”worthship.” It
is ascribing to something the worthiness to ”receive special honor in
accordance with that worth” (Harrison 5 6 0 ) . In the worship of God, it means
to tell of God’s wonderful works and holy attributes, and to proclaim to Him
and others that He is worthy to receive all honor, praise, glory and adoration
on account of them. And since worship is to be given in accordance with the
greatness of the One receiving it, our infinite God is worthy of infinite
praise.
The Bible teaches us that we are to worship God alone. When Jesus was
confronted with the devil’s temptation to give Him all the kingdoms of the
world if He would but fall down and worship him, Jesus replied, ”BEGONE,
SATAN! FOR IT IS WRITTEN, ’YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM
ONLY”’ (Matt. 4 : l O ) . Jesus recognized that this usurper, this vile creature
had no worthiness in him. God is the only Being worthy of worship. And so He
alone must be worshiped.
But not only is He alone worthy of honor, He also claims the right of
exclusive worship from His children by virtue of His gracious covenant with
them. But far from this being offensive to the child of God, it is his
delight, for the child of God loves nothing more than to ascribe to his
gracious Lord the glory which is His. But as the Lord has been showing us in
the Second Commandment, in order for Him to receive our worship, it must be
done according to His will. God does not accept anything that we call worship
as worship. He has told us what we may do, and what we may not. And if we
love Him, we will certainly give Him the worship that He commands, rather than
only pleasing ourselves.
This evening, we will want to look briefly at what God tells us are
those things which He commands and accepts as worship.
I. First, There Are Those Elements of Worship Which Are More Common. They
Are the Things That Make Up the Bulk of Our Regular Worship. And
Remember, that When We Talk About Worship, We Do Not Mean only the Worship
Service, but All Public and Private Worship.
A. The First of These I Would Like to Mention Is that of Prayer and
Thanksgiv ing .
1 . Paul writes, ”BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY
PRAYER ANn SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE
MADE KNOWN TO COD” (Phil 4:6).
a. It is a means of calling down the blessing of God. And it
is a precious means of building up the saints.
b. It is one of the spiritual weapons in our arsenals to tear
down the strongholds of the enemy ( 2 Cor. 10:3-4).
c. Prayer is talking to God. Prayer is the breathing out of
the regenerate spirit. It is the vocalizing of our holy
desires to God.
d. What the breath is to the body, so is prayer to the soul.
If we judge the body to be dead which doesn’t breathe, so we
must judge the soul to be dead which doesn’t pray.
b. You must also pray by the help of His Spirit (Rom. 8:26).
(i) The Lord tells us of "THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND OF
SUPPLICATION" which was poured out on the house of
David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, at the
time of His crucifixion (Zech. 12:1 0 ) .
(ii) This is the same Spirit that you need to help you in
your prayers to God. "WITH ALL PRAYER AND PETITION
PRAY AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT" (Eph. 6:18).
(iii) He is the divine nature of which you are a partaker (2
Pet. 1:4). He is the One who moves you to desire holy
things. That is why He is called the Holy Spirit.
His working in your soul is what causes you to cry out
after holiness, and you need His help if your prayers
are to be pleasing to God.
d. And lastly, you must pray for those for whom it is lawful
to pray.
(i) You may pray for all who are alive. Paul writes to
Timothy, "FIRST OF ALL, THEN, I URGE THAT ENTREATIES AND
PRAYERS, PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS, BE MADE ON BEHALF
OF ALL MEN, FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, IN
ORDER THAT WE MAY LEAD A TRANQUIL AND QUIET LIFE IN ALL
GODLINESS AND DIGNITY" ( 1 Tim. 2:1-2).
(ii) You may also pray for those who shall live hereafter,
even as our Lord prayed, "I DO NOT ASK IN BEHALF OF
THESE ALONE, BUT FOR THOSE ALSO WHO BELIEVE IN ME
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