Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   Are we worshipping God in the way He wants? What does acceptable worship look like? I hope our series of studies these last few weeks have been helpful to you.

                   As we conclude this study concerning the reasons for our worship to God, I hope we can see why worship is so important to God. When we assemble together to worship, we are not assembling to please men, for free baby-sitting, to meet a date, or for “social hour” (Jn. 4:24; Acts 2:42)! Our worship needs to be taken seriously and reverently because we are assembling to offer our spiritual sacrifices to God Almighty (Heb. 13:15; I Pet. 2:5)!

                   After studying the reasons for worship, may we be humbled and embarrassed by the times we have asked, “Do I have to go?” or, when we offer a multitude of excuses for not assembling to worship the God of Heaven. We need to remember that God is holy and deserving of our worship. Let us examine ourselves and make sure we offer our worship to God in a way that is pleasing to Him (Jn. 4:24). We do this by offering our spiritual sacrifices cheerfully, lovingly, and whole-heartedly; recognizing that we are here to worship the God of the Universe, our Creator, and our Sustainer! (Acts 17:28)

Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   We have been studying about God’s reasons for worshipping Him. As we study this, we understand that God wants us to worship Him in a certain manner. Are we worshipping God in the manner He wants? What does acceptable worship look like? Let us study from John 4 and answer this question.

                   John 4 records the occasion when a Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well where He was resting. When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman, He told her, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). Christ made it clear that those who are going to worship God, “must” do it in a certain way. Our worship “must” be “in spirit and in truth”, without exception!

                   To worship God “in spirit” means to worship God with the right attitude. To worship God “in truth” means that we worship according to what God has revealed. Notice that God has commanded both in worship to Him! Specifically, every aspect of our worship must be done “in spirit and in truth”, therefore, our singing, our prayers, our preaching, our giving, and our partaking the Lord’s Supper must be done “in spirit and in truth” (Acts 2:42, 20:7; Eph. 5:19; I Cor. 16:1-2). When we understand this, then perhaps we can see why it is so repulsive to God when folks turn aside from His commands to do something that God says is, “vain worship” (Matt. 15:8-9)! Let us learn this lesson well!

Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   We continue our study on reasons why God wants men to worship Him. One aspect of worship that deserves our attention is the fact that our worship to God is a sacrifice. Perhaps we have not thought about it in this way, but the Bible reveals that this is so.

                   In Old Testament days, God demanded that the people offer animal sacrifices to Him. Today, however, God does not command this. Jesus Christ made that sacrifice for sins “once and for all” at the cross (Heb. 7:27, 10:9-10, 14, etc.). Yet, this does not mean that God does not want any sacrifices! God demands that we give ourselves as “living sacrifices” to Him (Rom. 12:1-2). In fact, all our lives ought to be sacrificed in the Lord’s service (II Cor. 5:14-15).

                   Assembling to worship God constitutes a sacrifice. Hebrews 13:15 says, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Therefore, when we sing, pray, or preach, this is “the fruit of our lips”. This is a sacrifice to God. When we cheerfully give of our means, and when we reverently partake of the Lord’s Supper, these are sacrifices as well! Too many have forgotten the significance and importance God places upon our sacrifices in worship!

                   Let us beware, though, that we worship God with the right attitude and not allow this sacrifice to become a “ritual” (Jn. 4:24). This will render our worship vain (Matt. 15:8-9)!

Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   Yesterday, we began a study that focused on why God wants men to worship Him. Let us continue this study.

                   Let us remember that our worship to God is just that, it is worship “to God”! If we are guilty of worshipping anyone or anything else, then we are in sin. Worshipping other things besides God is not an unusual thing with man. Jesus condemned the Pharisees and told them their worship was in vain because they had laid aside God’s commands in order to do what they wanted (Matt. 15:8-9). In like manner, we cannot think that we are going to please God in worship if we are not following His prescribed method for worship, as we studied yesterday.

                   Friend, worship has always been something that God mandated. We know this was the case with Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-7), and we also see this in the Law of Moses. The books of Exodus and Leviticus describe the way God wanted to be worshipped in those days.

                   In the New Testament, this fact has not changed. God commands our worship be “in spirit and in truth” and offered to Him through preaching, prayer, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, giving of our means, and singing (Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Jn. 4:24). Therefore, our worship is “to God,” for He is the one who told us what He wants! When folks stray from this pattern, their worship is no longer “to God,” but instead is vain!

Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   When studying about what God considers acceptable worship, men tend to focus upon what God said we must do in worship (Acts 2:42; I Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 5:19; etc.). This is a good and necessary study. However, have we ever studied why God wants men to worship Him in the first place? Let us learn the reasons why we are to worship God.

                   The first reason we need to worship God is because God has always expected worship from His creation! From the beginning, we see God demanding worship, and telling folks what is acceptable to Him in worship. In Genesis 4:1-7, we see Cain and Abel worshipping. The reason that Abel’s worship was accepted and Cain’s worship was rejected was because Abel’s sacrifice was “by faith” while Cain’s was not (Heb. 11:4). These men knew God’s will, and had the same opportunity to obey or disobey. Therefore, when Abel accepted God’s will, God responded in kind. When Cain disobeyed, then God did not have respect for his offering.

                   From that time forward, we see God has expected worship from men and told men exactly what pleases Him in worship. We never see a time where God accepted whatever man decided to “throw up” to Him. On the contrary, God expects man to worship Him and do it on HIS terms, or it will not be accepted (Jn. 4:24; Matt. 15:8-9).