worship: defined & practiced

Worship: Defined & Practiced

The Worship of GodExodus 20:1-6; Revelation 5:11-14

Worship Defined:•“reverent honor and homage paid to god or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred." (dictionary.com)

Worship Defined:•Hebrew: [shachah /shaw·khaw] AV translates as “worship” 99 times, “bow” 31 times, “bow down” 18 times, “obeisance” nine times, “reverence” five times, “fall down” three times, “themselves” twice, “stoop” once, “crouch” once, and translated miscellaneously three times. 1 to bow down. 1a (Qal) to bow down. 1b (Hiphil) to depress (fig). 1c (Hithpael). 1c1 to bow down, prostrate oneself. 1c1a before superior in homage. 1c1b before God in worship. 1c1c before false gods. 1c1d before angel. (from the Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

Worship Defined:•Greek: [proskuneo /pros·koo·neh·o/] 60 occurrences; AV translates as “worship” 60 times. 1 to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence. 2 among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence. 3 in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. 3a used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank. 3a1 to the Jewish high priests. 3a2 to God. 3a3 to Christ. 3a4 to heavenly beings. 3a5 to demons.

God-consciousness followed by an

appropriate response.

Colossians 3:1-2

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are

above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things

that are on earth."

James 2:19

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe

and shudder!”

An appropriate response is something we do to bow down before the Lord and honor His

greatness.   Some Outward Responses: • Instrument playing• Running sound/technical equipment• Read scripture out loud• Raising hands in worship• Verbally praising God • Helping someone in need

An appropriate response is something we do to bow down before the Lord and honor His greatness.  

Some Inward Responses: • Prayer• Recalling/studying/memorizing scripture• “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

We are to worship God because

He demands our worship

God Working For His Own Glory• God creates for his glory. Isaiah 43:6–7• God elects Israel for his glory. Jeremiah 13:11• God saves them from Egypt for his glory. Psalm

106:7–8• God restrains his anger in exile for his

glory. Isaiah 48:9–11• God sends his Son at the end of the age for his

glory. 2 Thessalonians 1:9–10

John 17:24

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be

with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me

because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

We worship God because

He is worthy of our worship