4. Evangelism & Discipleship, Giving & Praying, Grow Out of Worship; Not the Other Way Around
The disciples were worshiping on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy
Spirit filled them and drove them into the streets to bear a witness to
the living Christ (Acts 2). Isaiah was in the Temple worshiping when God appeared to him, forgave his sins, and called him as a prophet to the people (Isaiah 6). It was in the act of worship that the two distraught disciples had their eyes opened to recognize Jesus at their table (Luke 24).
5. We are to Give Him Worship and Glory in the Ways Scripture Commands
"Give to the Lord the glory due His name and bring an offering." So commands I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart--these, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17) Singing, praise, rejoicing. Praying, offering, humbling, loving. All
these are commanded in worship at various places in Scripture.
The Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, "Those who
worship God must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). That is,
with their inner being, the totality of themselves, their spirit, not
just their lips or their bodies going through the motions. And in
truth--the revealed truth of how God has prescribed worship to take
place. He is not pleased with "just anything" that we claim as worship.
We must balance our worship between spirit (the subjective part: body,
soul, emotions) and truth (the objective aspect: all that God has
revealed in His word).
Get the concluding part of this series in my next post
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