Isaiah 45:20-25; Acts 2:1-12; Revelation 7:1-10
Introduction
The lexical meaning of the term 'Worship' is given as the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. The true meaning of the Christian worship goes much deeper than this.
Culture as defined to us in our primary school days; is the way of life for a group of people. That is the way we live - language, food, dressing, festivals, etc.
Christian Worship
Christian worship is being boxed to feelings or expressions of reverence to God only at a particular time. So worship has become an event or a programme that begins and ends in the course of time. Narrowly, others even consider worship to be that small moment in Church Service where we sing the adoration songs. This is also wrong.
Meanwhile, worship in the Christian certain is actually a lifestyle, a culture. Worship is the culture of Christianity which gives identity and credence to the faith. Worship is God's design culture - a way of life for all humanity that is set in its right perspective by the life of Jesus Christ on earth.
Culture is the collective identity of a society, and worship in its form is significant in shaping and reflecting the values, beliefs, behaviours, and doctrines of that culture. Worship practices often serve as the foundation of cultural values. Religious ceremonies for example, instill moral and ethical principles that guide the behaviour of a society. The values we worship do have a profound impact on how we treat one another and how we address issues like corruption, justice, equality, economy, etc.
After God created the heaven and the earth and all that is in it, He gave guiding rules to man to see our reverence or obedience to Him. We failed in the Garden of Eden when man disobeyed. Obedience is our expression of love to God and our love for God is demonstrated in worship.
Remember, culture is transmitted from one generation to another. This is the reason why God strongly asked the Israelites to pass on the commandments to their children;
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6:2-3 gives us a clear picture of what the angels do in Heaven; worshiping God always.
The Ten Commandments became the guiding measure of being in line with God's way for our life.
Jesus points us to the most important of the commandments, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:29-30.
Worship, therefore is our love for God with all our heart, soul, and mind. This never ends so long as we are still living on this earth. Worship is the way of life of the Christian. Let all the living assemble, come and draw near together before God (Isa. 45:20).
The power of worship carried by worship is so significant throughout the Bible which is found in two forms: Worship towards God directly and toward others.
God asked serious questions from Isaiah 45:21;
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD? What was He talking about as being told and declared is found in the subsequent verse, "To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’" Isaiah 45:23. It is from long ago and of old that God has sworn by Himself that we must worship Him.
The vertical dimension of our worship is important. God says, "“Only in the LORD, it shall be said of Me, are righteousness and strength" Isaiah 45:24. Our way of life must sing songs of praise to God and give good fragrance on His throne. David knew when he said, "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God." Psalms 40:3.
Another important dimension of worship is proclamation and demonstration. This is the horizontal dimension of worship. David says, "Many will see and worship, and put their trust in the LORD." (Psalms 40:3). To the Christian, worship is not a secret affair. It is what Jesus talked about saying, "“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light." (Luke 8:16).
In Acts 2, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit after waiting on God for 10 days after the resurrection, people saw the light. They spoke to everyone in their own language (Acts 2:7-11).
Christian worship propels us to witness Christ wherever we may be and the Spirit of God speaks to each heart and mind as He wills.
We do not just worship at church, because worship is a constant variable in the life of the believer. If you see worship as only when you have entered the Church, then you should know from now and have a transformed mind and life.
\We worship God in our houses, workplaces, on the street, in the courtroom, at the bar, at night club, etc. God is omniscient and everlasting, therefore, worshiping Him is not the same as the other religions do (cf Deut. 12:4).
Let me share only two divine power-of-worship:
i) The spiritually lost souls are drawn to Christ.
Our worship becomes the very bait with which God draws lost individuals unto His saving arms. In awe, the power of worship caused, "All [to be] ... amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”" Acts 2:12. The question is, 'What does this mean?' becomes the bait God needs for their attention to Him onto salvation.
All the mentioned Gentiles had the divine opportunity to receive Jesus Christ and be saved. Their understanding of the great works of Christ was founded on their culture - language. Each one could hear the disciples in their own language. Today, thanks to the Bible Society and other Bible Translators, we read the Bible in our own languages. Culture is indeed the power of worship. The greatest miracle is when a soul repents, therefore, the greatest miracle is experienced through our worship.
Apostle Paul told us, "An unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you." 1 Corinthians 14:24-25. Jesus said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32. While His words were about His death and resurrection, it is about our worship. When we lift Christ high in worship, He draws all people to Himself.
If Christians experience the fire of true worship then all manner of persons would be drawn to God in the beauty of His glory. Mahatma Gandhi is quoted, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” When worship is divorced from the way of life of the Christian, unbelievers like Gandhi will not find the attraction to be saved.
Parents, guardians, sisters, or brothers, what are the young ones learning from your life of worship? Do they see some breaks in your worship life or is it a constant continuous lifestyle? Remember that, children, unbelievers, and the teething Christian, are watching. Yes! They are watching.
ii) Divinely saved persons are sent out to declare the mighty works of God.
The Christian begins to experience the compelling Spirit of God to tell others about Christ. You may have or experience that, sometimes, you feel led to share Christ with someone or some people. The power of worship is to use you as a living vessel to serve God's word.
"I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple . . . my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts. . . . Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me'"(Isa. 6:1,5,8).
A worshipper is one set apart for God's power. God commissioned Isaiah to speak His word after the angel said to him, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:7.
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”"Matthew 28:18-20.
The great commission is God's heartbeat, the very reason for the existence of the Church. In the Acts reading, the Spirit used the disciples as vessels to proclaim Christ even in their own language. These wholehearted worshipers called the whole world to whole-hearted worship. You could describe the relationship like this: If you truly meet God, you will worship; and if you truly worship, others will be drawn to God; and, as you are drawn to God you are compelled to witness for Christ.
Conclusion
Are you on the right side of the word worship? Are you telling others about Christ? Is worship your lifestyle? Are you inviting others into the presence of God? God wants you to live on both sides of the word worship. You are to be intimately drawn to Him and also, you are to cast this power of worship to the feet of all to give glory to God.
