Bible
words
B1
Hebrew שָׁחָה
which
has the idea of bowing down (Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon) to a
superior. It is recognizing the authority and position of another.
C1
Of people bowing before God: Genesis 22:5 NKJV And
Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the
lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.
C2
Of people bowing before a king: 1 Samuel 24:8 NKJV David
also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul,
saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind
him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.
B2
Greek: προσκυνέω proskynéō which has a similar idea.
C1
Literally to kiss the hand of a superior and/or to kneel before in
greatest respect and acknowledgement of superiority.
C2
1 Corinthians 14:25 GNB their
secret thoughts will be brought into the open, and they will bow down
and worship God, confessing, "Truly God is here among you!"
C3
An example: Ephesians 3:14-15 GNB For
this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, 15 from whom
every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name.
(The word worship is not here, but this is the action and attitude).
What
is it
B1
Fellowship: 1 John 1:3 NKJV That
which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may
have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with His Son Jesus Christ.
C1
Why were we created? Answer: To have fellowship with God and serve
Him forever.
C2
God does not need fellowship. God enjoys fellowship. The word
“fellowship” in most of the verses below are translated “walk”
in more literal versions. GNB is a commentary version.
D1
Noah: Genesis 6:9 GNB (9-10) This
is the story of Noah. He had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah
had no faults and was the only good man of his time. He lived in
fellowship with God.
D2
Enoch: Genesis 5:22 GNB After
that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other
children.
D3
Apostles: Matthew 20:17 GNB As
Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside
and spoke to them privately, as they walked along.
D4
Believers:
E1
Revelation 21:3-4 GNB I
heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: "Now God's home is
with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people.
God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. 4 He
will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more
death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have
disappeared.
E2
Isaiah 57:15 GNB "I
am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and
holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant,
so that I can restore their confidence and hope.
E3
Micah 6:8 GNB No,
the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to
do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble
fellowship with our God.
E4
John 14:23 GNB Jesus
answered him, "Those who love me will obey my teaching. My
Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live
with them.
C3
As a shepherd, God leads us:
D1
John 10:4 GNB When
he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow
him, because they know his voice.
D2
Isaiah 40:10-11 GNB The
Sovereign LORD is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the
people he has rescued. 11 He will take care of his flock like a
shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his
arms; he will gently lead their mothers.
B2
In spirit and truth: John 4:23-24 WEL "But
the time is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is looking for such as
this to worship him. 24 "God is spirit, and for those who
worship him, it is necessary to worship in spirit and truth."
C1
There is outward worship
D1
This worship is merely in form and ritual.
D2
It is described as
E1
Isaiah 29:13 (This is quoted in Matthew 15:8)
F1
Isaiah 29:13 NKJV 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.
F2
In another version: Isaiah 29:13 GNB The
Lord said, "These people claim to worship me, but their words
are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion
is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply
memorized.
C2
There is inward worship
D1
Reverence (often translated “fear”): Psalm 2:11 NASB Worship
the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.
D2
Holiness We have all sinned. We must confess them and ask
forgiveness, then we can worship God. Psalm 96:9 NET Worship
the LORD in holy attire! Tremble before him, all the earth!
D3
Our sacrifices
E1
In righteousness, that is, with right intent, motivation: Psalm 4:5
CSB Offer
sacrifices in righteousness and trust in the LORD.
E2
Our bodies, that is, to live God’s way according to His rules and
to honor and glorify Him: Romans 12:1-2 GW Brothers
and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's
compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of
worship is appropriate for you. 2 Don't become like the people
of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will
always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good,
pleasing, and perfect.
E3
Our words: Hebrews 13:15 NRSV Through
him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
E4
Our gifts of help: Hebrews 13:16 NRSV Do
not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such
sacrifices are pleasing to God.
(We do this first for our own family, then our church family, then
the greater church family around the globe, then others). (See also
Philippians 4:18).
E5
Our prayers: 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NRSV First
of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are
in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in
all godliness and dignity.
E6
To preach the Gospel:
F1
John 20:21 GNB Jesus
said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me,
so I send you.
F2
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
E7
To stand for the faith: Jude 1:3 NKJV Beloved,
while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common
salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to
contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to
the saints.
E8
To teach unbelievers what the Christian faith is and to teach
believers good doctrine (what we believe and live): Matthew 28:20 GW
Teach
them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I
am always with you until the end of time.
B3
In faith: Hebrews 11:6 GNB No
one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have
faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
C1
We have a reasonable, evidential faith, not blind faith.
C2
God gives the grace. Faith is an everyday occurrence.
C3
God is perfectly trustworthy: Psalms 9:10 GNB Those
who know you, LORD, will trust you; you do not abandon anyone who
comes to you.
C4
God is the only source of 100% truth: Titus 1:2 GW My
message is based on the confidence of eternal life. God, who never
lies, promised this eternal life before the world began.
C5
His love is enduring despite the trials, testings, and tribulations
we face: Romans 8:37-39 GW The
one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these
difficulties. 38 I am convinced that nothing can ever separate
us from God's love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can't be
separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the
present or anything in the future, by forces 39 or powers in
the world above or in the world below, or by anything else in
creation.
B4
By being alert, that is, not being in the silence: 1 Peter 5:8 GW
Keep
your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling
around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.
C1
Someone who is passive, bypassing their brain, and into the silence will
be deceived, for they cannot decide what is true or false. Our ability to
judge has been silenced as well.
C2
Demons, yes, the devil himself can appear to be light: 2 Corinthians
11:14 GNB Well,
no wonder! Even Satan can disguise himself to look like an angel of
light!
C3
Be alert to resist: James 4:7 NRSV Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you.
C4
If not alert, awake, and active, will we be ready for Jesus’s
coming?
D1
Matthew 25:13 NRSV Keep
awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
D2
Revelation 3:3 GNB Remember,
then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from
your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief,
and you will not even know the time when I will come.
C5
We may not be able to recognize and resist temptation: Matthew 26:41
GNB Keep
watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak.
C6
An example: Luke 12:35-36 GNB Be
ready for whatever comes, dressed for action and with your lamps lit,
36 like servants who are waiting for their master to come back
from a wedding feast. When he comes and knocks, they will open the
door for him at once.
Revelation
4:9-11 GNB The
four living creatures sing songs of glory and honor and thanks to the
one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. When they do
so, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits
on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They throw
their crowns down in front of the throne and say, 11 "Our
Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. For
you created all things, and by your will they were given existence
and life.
Worship
is not a repetitious exercise of rituals and formulas. These create a
veil that actually prevents us from enjoying the presence of the
Lord. Worship is the heart poured out in gratitude and awe,
expressing our appreciation of who He is and what He has done for us
by His grace through Jesus Christ—Dave
Hunt
