od never intended for worship to satisfy man. Beginning with Cain, man has tried to turn it
around - worship must please him, not God. If our fleshly senses are not fulfilled, interested,
emotionally lifted, or entertained, then we go elsewhere in our search-to satisfy me, to
entertain my kids, etc. Hello! Are we so out-of-touch with Scripture that we fail to see our error.You can look in the Bible till you are blue in the face and you will not find where worship was ever intended to please man; but that is what we strive for today, isn't it?
By definition, worship is obeisance, a prostrating or bowing down before God . It was ordained by God to honor, praise and reverence Him, not man! From the beginning, with Adam and Eve and their children, Jehovah God instructed fallen man to bring sacrifices and offerings to Him - Gen.4:1f. Abel is said to have offered to God - "by faith, a more excellent sacrifice " - Heb. 11 :4. The Bible says that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" - Rom.10:17. It was revealed to early man how to worship and what to bring to the altar. It was to be an acknowledgment that God is supreme. He was to be praised and honored. Included was an awareness that man's transgressions had been an affront toward His glory. God's love, grace, and authority had been violated, therefore, a sacrifice of the best kind had to be offered.
These trespasses and violations continue with us today -
"There is none righteous, no not one"- Rom.3:10, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Rom.3:23. While God has outlined in His word a different mode of worship for New Testament disciples (the Lord's supper & preaching each Lord's day -Ac.20:7; singing - Eph.5:19; prayer - 1 Cor .14:15; contribution/offering -1Cor.16:1-2; 2Cor.9:6-7), the fundamental reasons for worship remain the same. We "must worship Him in spirit and in truth" -Jhn.4:23-24. Notice that Jesus says that it is worship to the Father, to God - "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." This worship each Sunday has to included an acknowledgment that God (not man) is supreme. He is to be praised and honored. There must be an awareness that we are weak and transgress and fall short of His glory. We constantly violate His love, grace, and authority, therefore, we bring to Him our "bodies as a living sacrifice, which is our spiritual service (or "worship') - Rom.12:1. New Testament worship does not have room for what entertains and pleases us. The 1st century Christians were not concerned or worried about being pleased, entertained, or emotionally filled with their worship. Neither should we.
A FEW THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS TO PROPERLY WORSHIP GOD ON SUNDAY:
