Come to Worship Part 1: Becoming a True Worshiper

Transcription

1 Come to Worship Part 1: Becoming a True Worshiper I. Introduction a. The purpose of this six part series is to give you an understanding of worship, catapult you into more intimacy with God, and to begin a worship movement in the region. b. We will learn why we worship, what it means to sing, dance, lift our hands to God and look at the importance and significance of corporate worship. c. To get the best out of this series, participate in the following: i. Don't just listen to each lesson once. Go home, download the notes and study them more extensively in your personal time with God. ii. Practice this lesson at home. Dedicate time each day to worship God for who He is. Include worship in your daily prayer time. iii. Come to church, ready to worship. II. True Worshipers John 4:19-23 NIV Sir, the woman said, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. Woman, Jesus replied, believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. a. The definition of worship in scripture means to revere and to adore. b. There is a difference between worshiping and becoming a worshipper. i. God is looking for true worshipers who worship Him from the heart. ii. These worshipers worship in spirit and in truth. c. People identify with so many things. 1. For example, race, position, activities or affiliations. 2. However, nothing can identify us more than the Word of God a. Being a worshipper should be the primary part of our identity.

2 III. IV. Characteristics of True Worship 1. True worship is not only done on Sunday. a. True worship is a lifestyle. 2. True worship is a product of the proper fear of the Lord. a. Fear means a reverence or respect of. 3. True worship stems from a heart of love. 4. True worship is not about the style of music that is used. a. True worship is anything that we offer to God out of love, obedience, and reverence. i. For example, serving in church, giving to God and living a life according to God s instructions as a sacrifice towards God are all forms of worship. 5. We worship God because of who He is. The Names of God a. God is referred to by several names throughout the scripture. i. This is because, in Hebrew culture, your name defines who you are. b. The names of God help us to understand the character of God and the attributes of God. i. By understanding the names of God, we can know Him better. ii. When we know Him better we can worship Him correctly. EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Genesis 7:1; Isaiah 9:6) etymologically, El appears to mean power, as in I have the power to harm you (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of might remains. ELOHIM: God Creator, Mighty and Strong (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible s first sentence, the superlative nature of God s power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1). EL SHADDAI: God Almighty, The Mighty One of Jacob (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) speaks to God s ultimate power over all. Also translated as the all- sufficient one or God who is more than enough and the One who supplies all of our needs. EL ELYON: Most High" (Deuteronomy 26:19) derived from the Hebrew root for go up or ascend, so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship. EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a

3 theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all. EL- OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3) God s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. EL- GIBHOR: Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6) the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15). ADONAI: Lord (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God s dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles. YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: LORD (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles LORD (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, Lord. The revelation of the name is first given to Moses I Am who I Am (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3). JEHOVAH- JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. JEHOVAH- RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) I am Jehovah who heals you both in body and soul. In body, by preserving you from and curing you from diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities. JEHOVAH- NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17. JEHOVAH- M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy. JEHOVAH- SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) the name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him. JEHOVAH- TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 33:16) As with

4 YHWH- M Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). JEHOVAH- ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, Yahweh- Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). JEHOVAH- SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There (Ezekiel 48:35) the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once- departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8 11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4). God is always there. JEHOVAH- SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) Hosts means hordes, both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do. V. Scripture References of Who God Is: Advocate (1 John 2:1) Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18) Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13) Amen (Rev. 3:14) Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1) Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2) Author of Life (Acts 3:15) Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2) Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10) Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13) Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15) Bread of God (John 6:33) Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48) Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7) Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) Christ (1 John 2:22) Creator (John 1:3) Deliverer (Rom. 11:26) Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20) Everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6) Gate (John 10:9) Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5) Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)

5 First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13) Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5) God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.) Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14) Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23) Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2) High Priest (Heb. 2:17) Holy and True (Rev. 3:7) Holy One (Acts 3:14) Hope (1 Tim. 1:1) Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27) Hope of Salvation (Luke 1:69) I Am (John 8:58) Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4) King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17) King of Israel (John 1:49) King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11) King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16) King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3) Lamb (Rev. 13:8) Lamb of God (John 1:29) Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19) Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4) Light of the World (John 8:12) Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5) Living One (Rev. 1:18) Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4) Lord (2 Pet. 2:20) Lord of All (Acts 10:36) Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8) Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16) LORD [YHWH] our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6) Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48) Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15) Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) Morning Star (Rev. 22:16) Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16) Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9) Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13) Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2) Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3) Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)

6 Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6) Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6) Prophet (Acts 3:22) Resurrection and Life (John 11:25) Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5) Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1) Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16) Ruler of God s Creation (Rev. 3:14) Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5) Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20) Son of David (Lk. 18:39) Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14) Son of Man (Mt. 8:20) Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32) Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9) The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11) True Bread (John 6:32) True Light (John 1:9) True Vine (John 15:1) Truth (John 1:14; 14:6) Way (John 14:6) Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6) Word (John 1:1) Word of God (Rev. 19:13)