Principles of Worship

Principles of Worship
What do you think when you hear the word "worship?"
What do you consider to be "good" worship?

Worship is a complicated matter, but it should really be quite simple. Unfortuneatly, many people do not even know the basics of worship, or fully understand how to properly and completely enter a state of worship.
What does worship mean?



proskuneo¯
pros-koo-neh'-o

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

American Heritage Dictionary
wor·ship
(wûr'ship) n.
The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
Ardent devotion; adoration.
often Worship Chiefly British Used as a form of address for magistrates, mayors, and certain other dignitaries: Your Worship.
v. wor·shiped or wor·shipped, wor·ship·ing or wor·ship·ping, wor·ships v. tr.
To honor and love as a deity.
To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
v. intr.
To participate in religious rites of worship.
To perform an act of worship.

Worship, then is the act of rendering homage to God, homage that belongs only to God. Sounds simple, right. Let's be sure that we are entering into worship properly. There are many important elements of worship. I will outline a few, seven to be exact. In preparing this study, I was surprised to find, once I'd completed it, that there were seven points I wanted to make. Seven, in Scripture, is symbolic of completeness. I don't know if that is significant or not, but in any case, let's move on.

Elements of Worship.

Music is a part of Worship
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,The pleasant harp with the lute. 3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. -Psalm 81: 1-3

David instituted music and instruments as part of worship. Music has the ability to lift the spirit, to touch emotions in ways that the spoken word cannot. Music can minister to the hardest soul.

Confession and Repentance are important before entering worship

2 Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.4 Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God. Neh 9: 2-4

"Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!'" 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Jer 7: 2-3

We must come before God as clean as possible, having searched out our hearts to be sure that anything that is not of God is exposed. We must make commitment to turn from the things that would separate us from God. After all, in worship we are entering into his presence!

Celebration is part of Worship
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. 3 'Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
44 So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD. Leviticus 23: 1-3, 44

God declared time for us to worship Him, and those times were to be times of celebration. They were holy times, times dedicated to the Lord, where people did no wor, fellowshiped with each other and the Lord.

Worship takes preparation
26 For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. 27 And they lodged all around the house of God because they had the responsibility, and they were in charge of opening it every morning. 28 Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and took them out by count. 29 Some of them were appointed over the furnishings and over all the implements of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the incense and the spices. 30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. 31 Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office over the things that were baked in the pans. 32 And some of their brethren of the sons of the Kohathites were in charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath. 33 These are the singers, heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night. 1 Chron 9: 26-33

16 Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did. 17 And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up. 18 So Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread out the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 20 He took the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses. Exodus 40: 16-21

Worship takes time and preparation. Preparation on the part of all of us who worship, but especially on the part of those who lead worship. While human skill should never be the focus of worship, we owe it to God to excel in our craft, to excercise our giftings, be it singing, playing and instrument, running the soundboard, putting up the projections, whatever. It should never be thrown together. Leading worship is a priviledge, and as the word says, to whom much is given, much is expected. Leading worship is also a great responsibility. This means things like practicing with your instrument, being healthy with your voice, caring for your equipment.

Worship must be real

13 Therefore the Lord said: " Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Isaiah 29: 13

God desires us not to go through the motions, but to truly worship. Christ called us to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. If your worship isn't genuine, then you might as well stay at home. Your not impressing anyone - anyone who matters, anyway.

We should be free to worship as God leads us

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Colossians 2: 16-17

In other words, worship with abandon. Do not fear what others think; do not worry that your voice is bad. It is sweet to God's ear. And do not judge others by the quality of their worship - if they can sing on key, or dance well, or clap on the beat. God sees the heart! Let no one tell you that only a certain style of music is right, or that instruments are sinful, or that you can only sing to the Lord in church - worship as the Spirit leads you.

God alone is worthy of worship.
8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." Rev 22:8-9

God alone is who we should worship. (it's one of the commandments, remember?) Sounds simple, right? Trust me, it's not. As as worship musician, I have found myself from time to time being more concerned with the performance than the act of worship. Worship is not about how good the music is, or how well the singers sing, or how perfect the sound is. It is about the communion you have with your heavenly Father at that point, about the ushering in of the Holy Spirit, about the glory given to Christ.

In the 1990's, Soul Survior church in Watford, England had a great worship team. They skillfully played some of the best music in a country that was leading a worldwide worship revival. But the worship in that particular church, though technically beautiful, was cold and spiritually dry. The congregation was stuggling to find a purpose to their worship.
The pastor, Mike Pilavachi, one week removed the sound system and instruments from the church, and told the band that they would not be needed that Sunday. When the congregation arrived for service, Pastor Mike asked them one question: What are you bringing as your offering to God today?

After some moments of awkward silence, the congregation began singing a few a cappella songs, and began to discover a fresh relationship with God. Eventually, instruments and music were reintroduced, but the new perspective on worship remained. The place hasn't been the same since.

One of the worship leaders and founders of that church, touched by the journey that they had gone on, went home one day and wrote a song about his reaction to the experience. The song was meant to be a personal cry to God, but the writer shared it with Pastor Mike, who suggested he share it with the congregation. The worship leaders name is Matt Redman, and of course, the song became Heart of Worship.

When the music fades, and all is stripped away, and I simply come,
Longing just to bring something that's of worth, that will bless your heart...
I'm coming back to the Heart of Worship, and it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it, but it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus.