Can you think of something quite worthy to you?
The title is “Worth” but we’re talking about worship; today our personal worship. Next week we’ll look at corporate worship.
Worship – What is it?
People have different ideas of what worship is, so it is important for us to define.
The primary word for worship in the Hebrew means to bow down in worship. (Shachah)
The primary Greek word for worship, proskunow means “to kiss”, as in to kiss the hand of a superior. commonly associated with bowing down or lying prostrate on the ground with the idea of kissing the ground before someone.
In the book of Genesis, we see a great example of worship – The story of Abraham and Isaac.
Genesis 22:5 (NIV) He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Notice – Abraham worshiped God because he trusted the promise maker over the promise.
Isaac is the son that Abraham waited for, for many years!
The heart of worship is knowing and trusting God intimately!
It is important that we look at our time with God as an opportunity to simply be with Him, to worship and delight in Him.
Worship comes from the heart
Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV) “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’
Ways to Worship Personally
Start with prayer – Acknowledge it’s only through what Christ has done that we have access to worship the Father.
Ephesians 2:18 (NIV) For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Matthew 6:9-14 (NIV) – The Lord’s Prayer can be a model.
Confess any sin in your life
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Praise Him for who He is – praise His attributes and character. Wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace!
1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV) Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
Psalm 107:1 (NIV) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 86:15 (NIV) But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Worship is having a heart of gratitude
Having gratitude for God’s many blessings is perhaps the greatest weapon we have against self-focus.
James 1:17 (NIV) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Study and Memorize God’s Word
Psalm 119:97-100 (NLT) Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. 99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. 100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
There are all kinds of resources to help us
Journaling
Giving – Giving is worship for us. We humble ourselves before God and remember that ALL we have belongs to Him. It is a joy to give back to Him what He blesses us with.
Serving – When we serve others, if we do it in the name of the Lord, it is worship. Romans 12:1-2
Worship through music – not JUST our singing together, but private worship.
Again, it starts with the heart. I must have a desire to worship in order to do so.
When to worship
HAVE SET TIMES FOR WORSHIP
Morning devotions
Nightly reflection
Daily commute
Conclusion