12.3 What is worship (part 1)?
Worship is traditionally defined as an expression of devotion and love to Father God, through songs to Father God, and music. We think of a Sunday worship service where believers express their thanksgiving, proclaim His praises and sing beautiful songs of worship. It is a joyful celebration of the finished work of Christ.
An Experience of Entering God’s Presence
Worship is also an experience of entering into the presence of Father God. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people (Ps 22:3, KJV). In the Old Covenant, the high priest could only enter before the presence of God in the Holy of Holies under the covering of the cloud of incense (Lev 16:11-13). The cloud of incense represents worship, which brings us into the presence of God. Sometimes, God’s presence may be manifested tangibly. At other times, it is our consciousness of His presence within us.
We know our position is in Christ and being in Christ, we live in God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. Eph 2:6 says we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in us and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, but most believers may not be experiencing His presence all the time.
For example, after a busy week of work, a believer may be so conscious of his challenges at work that he may not be conscious of God’s presence. God could be the furthest thing on his mind. He goes for a church service and as the service begins, he realizes that he is now coming before God’s presence. How many of us have experienced that before? Thanksgiving, praise and worship help us to be conscious of God and to experience the reality of His presence.
The Psalmist uses the earthly tabernacle to illustrate the progression of entering into God’s manifested presence. The tabernacle consists of the Outer Court, the Inner Court (Holy Place) and the Holy of Holies.
The Psalmist says, “Enter into His GATES with thanksgiving, And into His COURTS with praise” (Ps 100:4). Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the Lord in the BEAUTY OF HOLINESS!” The beauty of holiness speaks of the beauty of His holy presence. God’s presence is with the ark of God, which is kept in the Holy of Holies. Therefore, we can see it as a progression through the gates into the Outer Court, followed by the Inner Court (Holy Place) and into the Holy of Holies.
This is true spiritually as well. During a worship service, we often start with lively songs in thanksgiving, and then we progress deeper into praise. Finally, we sing slower worship songs and enter into worship, where we find ourselves at the feet of our Lord, before His presence. Worship is a natural response to the presence of God. This explains why the four living creatures around God’s throne worship Him without rest, day or night.
Today, the New Covenant believer not only enters, but he can remain in God’s presence perpetually. This happens when we grow in our consciousness of God’s presence through worship.
An Experience of Entering God’s Presence
Worship is also an experience of entering into the presence of Father God. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people (Ps 22:3, KJV). In the Old Covenant, the high priest could only enter before the presence of God in the Holy of Holies under the covering of the cloud of incense (Lev 16:11-13). The cloud of incense represents worship, which brings us into the presence of God. Sometimes, God’s presence may be manifested tangibly. At other times, it is our consciousness of His presence within us.
We know our position is in Christ and being in Christ, we live in God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. Eph 2:6 says we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives in us and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, but most believers may not be experiencing His presence all the time.
For example, after a busy week of work, a believer may be so conscious of his challenges at work that he may not be conscious of God’s presence. God could be the furthest thing on his mind. He goes for a church service and as the service begins, he realizes that he is now coming before God’s presence. How many of us have experienced that before? Thanksgiving, praise and worship help us to be conscious of God and to experience the reality of His presence.
The Psalmist uses the earthly tabernacle to illustrate the progression of entering into God’s manifested presence. The tabernacle consists of the Outer Court, the Inner Court (Holy Place) and the Holy of Holies.
The Psalmist says, “Enter into His GATES with thanksgiving, And into His COURTS with praise” (Ps 100:4). Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the Lord in the BEAUTY OF HOLINESS!” The beauty of holiness speaks of the beauty of His holy presence. God’s presence is with the ark of God, which is kept in the Holy of Holies. Therefore, we can see it as a progression through the gates into the Outer Court, followed by the Inner Court (Holy Place) and into the Holy of Holies.
This is true spiritually as well. During a worship service, we often start with lively songs in thanksgiving, and then we progress deeper into praise. Finally, we sing slower worship songs and enter into worship, where we find ourselves at the feet of our Lord, before His presence. Worship is a natural response to the presence of God. This explains why the four living creatures around God’s throne worship Him without rest, day or night.
Today, the New Covenant believer not only enters, but he can remain in God’s presence perpetually. This happens when we grow in our consciousness of God’s presence through worship.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 10:27 PM
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