The Essence of True Worship

[Dr. Walter]

Are there vital essentials for worship to be true worship (Jn. 4:24)?

Are there vital distinctions between personal versus acceptable public worship?

Can you worship God any way you please or must it be pleasing to God?

Does God accept emotional verbal adoration at the expense of Biblical content, form and order?

 

[Dr. Walter]

Are there vital essentials for worship to be true worship (Jn. 4:24)?

Are there vital distinctions between personal versus acceptable public worship?

Can you worship God any way you please or must it be pleasing to God?

Does God accept emotional verbal adoration at the expense of Biblical content, form and order?

Can true worship be summarized in the following statement:

"True acceptable public worship is obedience to God's revealed will in regard to Biblical motive, content, form and order for public worship" - 1 Pet. 2:5 "acceptable" - 1 Cor. 14:40 "order"; 1 Cor. 14:30 "God is not the author of confusion" -"must" - Jn. 4:24

 

[Tom Butler]

I think some elements of private worship and public worship could overlap. Hymn singing, scripture reading, prayer. Maybe even listening to a sermon on tape could be a form of private worship.

One good definition of worship I read (wish I could remember who said it) is "Worship is telling God the truth about himself." One corollary could be, "it's also telling each other the truth about God."

 

[Dr. Walter]

I think some elements of private worship and public worship could overlap. Hymn singing, scripture reading, prayer. Maybe even listening to a sermon on tape could be a form of private worship.

One good definition of worship I read (wish I could remember who said it) is "Worship is telling God the truth about himself." One corollary could be, "it's also telling each other the truth about God."

I beleive you are right that personal worship and public worship overlap in some areas as it is individual persons involved in corporate worship. However, don't you think that public worship takes on additional aspects that do not occur in personal or private worship?

For example

1. The Time of worship
a. Personal - anytime - 1 Cor. 10:30
b. Public - appointed times - Lord's day -Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10

2. The Place of worship
a. Personal - anywhere - 1 Cor. 10:30
b. Public - appointed place - the house of God - assembly of more than one person - 1 Cor. 11:18,20; Mt. 18:20

3. The Sacfifice of worship
a. Personal - everything you say and do - 1 Cor. 10:30
b. Public - the appointed sacrifice - gospel truth centric - Heb. 10:1-18

True Public worship involves the appointed public time, place and sacrifice according to "due order" as prescribed by the revealed will of God (1 Cor. 14:40). The essence of worship is submission to God's revealed will in all that you do as individual persons and in keeping with the due order, form and contents of God's revealed will for public worship.

 

[davidoregonJr]

John
Chapter 4

23: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John
Chapter 4

024: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Matthew
Chapter 15

8: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

[Dr. Walter]

John
Chapter 4

23: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John
Chapter 4

024: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Matthew
Chapter 15

8: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Excellent texts in regard to worship. Note the "must" in John 4:24 that is inclusive of both characteristics of true worship.

1. There "must" be a spiritual capacity for worship "in spirit" = regeneration
2. There "must" be spiritual fellowship for worship "in spirit" = cleansing
3. There "must" be a spiritual motive for worship "in spirit" - God looks on the heart - Mt. 18:9

There also "must" be worship that conforms to the content, form and order of the revealed will of God "in truth." - Mt. 18:9

Good job!

 

[DHK]

I beleive you are right that personal worship and public worship overlap in some areas as it is individual persons involved in corporate worship. However, don't you think that public worship takes on additional aspects that do not occur in personal or private worship?

For example

1. The Time of worship
a. Personal - anytime - 1 Cor. 10:30
b. Public - appointed times - Lord's day -Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rev. 1:10

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (Mark 1:35)
--Jesus had a set time and a set place.
He taught us to do the same thing:

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6)

2. The Place of worship
a. Personal - anywhere - 1 Cor. 10:30
b. Public - appointed place - the house of God - assembly of more than one person - 1 Cor. 11:18,20; Mt. 18:20

--Our personal worship should have a set time and place. See above.

3. The Sacfifice of worship
a. Personal - everything you say and do - 1 Cor. 10:30
b. Public - the appointed sacrifice - gospel truth centric - Heb. 10:1-18

There are specific sacrifices spoken of in personal worship.
The sacrifice of praise, the words of our mouth; the sacrifice of our bodies as a living sacrifice; the sacrifice of thanksgiving, etc.

True Public worship involves the appointed public time, place and sacrifice according to "due order" as prescribed by the revealed will of God (1 Cor. 14:40). The essence of worship is submission to God's revealed will in all that you do as individual persons and in keeping with the due order, form and contents of God's revealed will for public worship.

God desires to meet with the believer in a time and place which is secret (that is alone) where the believer can travail with God in prayer. This he cannot do in public, or just "anywhere, anyplace."

 

[Dr. Walter]

This he cannot do in public, or just "anywhere, anyplace."

Exactly my point! Public worship has distinctions that cannot be harmonized with personal worship in the Scriptures.

However, 1 Corinthians 10:30/Rom. 12:1 demand that your WHOLE LIFE is a sacrifice being offered up to God in worship EVERYWHERE and ALL THE TIME. It is either a "sweet smelling incense" or a foul one.

On the other hand public worship has to do with more than "one" person but with the public "assembly" which the very word demands must include more than "one" person but at the very minimum "two or three." There are public offerings that cannot be administered by "one" person as they require at least "two or three" minimum. There is a "place" identified as the "house of God" set apart for public worship that cannot be defined as "one" person but must at least be inclusive of "two or three" (1 Tim. 3:15). There is an appointed "day" for public worship - "The Lord's day" (Rev. 1:10; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2) WHICH DOES NOT EXCLUDE APPOINTING OF OTHER DAYS IF DESIRED (Heb. 10:25; Acts 2).

There is overwhelming Bibical evidence that distinguishes personal from public worship and distinguishes essentials for public worship that are not and cannot be implemented in personal worship by "one" person.

 

[billwald]

The NT describes the proper attitude of the worshipper but does not describe an acceptable order of worship, content or format. Why not? Maybe because everyone knew what worship was. Worship was what went on in the Temple.

 

[Dr. Walter]

The NT describes the proper attitude of the worshipper but does not describe an acceptable order of worship, content or format. Why not?

It certainly does demand an "acceptable order" for Public worship in 1 Cor. 14:26-40 which is finalized by the words "Let all things be done "decently and IN ORDER."

It certainly does demand "acceptable" sacrifices for Public worship (1 Pet. 2:5).

It certainly does demand an "acceptable" and qualified ministry to officiate in public worhip - 1 Tim. 3:1-13 - over the "house of God - 1 Tim. 3:15).

Maybe because everyone knew what worship was. Worship was what went on in the Temple.

The descriptive phrase "the house of God" in 1 Tim. 3:15 in direct association with a qualified ministry (1 Tim. 3:1-13) demands the "due order" (1 Chron 15:13) that characterized the Old Testament "house of God" (Deut. 12) with its qualified ministry and ordinances.

Indeed, the New Testament "house of God" is characterized by the same traits of the Old Testament "house of God"

1. A qualified and appointed public ministry - 1 Tim. 3:1-15
2. Qualified and appointed ordinances - Mt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:18-30
3. Qualified and appointed time and place for worship - 1 Cor. 11:18,20; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2
4. Qualified and appointed "sacrifices" offered - 1 Pet. 2:5

 

[billwald]

During Acts, the Jerusalem Church worshipped in the Temple. Paul preferred to worship in synagogues when he was out of town.

The verses you cited described attitude and (also) describe Islamic worship. They do not describe content.

 

[Dr. Walter]

During Acts, the Jerusalem Church worshipped in the Temple. Paul preferred to worship in synagogues when he was out of town.

The verses you cited described attitude and (also) describe Islamic worship. They do not describe content.

They describe "order" and "content" - see I Cor. 14:25-30, 40.


24....prophesy......26 ¶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

The "content" of a worship service is filled with "prophesy....psalm...doctrine...tongue... revelation....interpretation"

The principle of a worship service is governed by "all thngs be done to edifying"

The "order" is defined by verses 27-30; 40


The "content" is defined by ordinances (baptism, Lord's Supper) by "tithe" and "offerings" and by "sacrifices" (1 Pet. 2:5 with Hebrews 13 by prayers.

The precise "order" of this content is not defined but is governed by operating principles:

1. All things by the principle of edification
2. All things done "decently and in order"
3. All things done that glorifies God - 1 Cor. 10:31
4. All things done in keeping with God's revealed will - 1 Cor. 14:37-38.

 

[chadman]

God desires to meet with the believer in a time and place which is secret (that is alone) where the believer can travail with God in prayer. This he cannot do in public, or just "anywhere, anyplace."

If the believer cannot travail with God in prayer in public, why are told in the scriptures to pray without ceasing? I pray in public all the time - just not on the corner, and I pray in public in services with others, and in prayer groups...which is public of course because it isn't just me. I am not sure why we are saying this? This God CAN do, anytime, anyplace.

 

[chadman]

To all - Can the Church 'worship' (latria) when assembled publicly?

 

[DHK]

This is true DHK. But also where two or three are gathered in His name He is there. In that setting, cannot our Godhead be worshiped in prayer and adoration, etc?

God CAN meet with any number of people anywhere he pleases.
However:
1. The verse you quoted Mat.18:20, does not define a church, but rather part of a process of "church discipline," and is often taken out of context.
2. The Lord emphasizes a personal relationship with him, and thus personal time with him. "And when you enter your room and pray to your Father in secret, your Father who sees you in secret shall reward you openly." Every believer needs to have daily in their lives a time of devotion where they can get away from everything and spend time alone with God. This is imperative.
3. God's instrument of blessing in this age is the local church. All of Paul's letters were written to local churches or pastors of local churches. The purpose of Paul's missionary journeys was to establish local churches (he established more than 100 on three journeys).

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
--We assemble ourselves after the manner of "some," which were the apostles as they gathered in assemblies or local churches. We are to do this on a regular basis.

No one is saying that God cannot be worshiped in any other place. For example you can pray while your driving down the road, just don't close your eyes while your doing it.

 

[chadman]

God CAN meet with any number of people anywhere he pleases.
However:
1. The verse you quoted Mat.18:20, does not define a church, but rather part of a process of "church discipline," and is often taken out of context.
2. The Lord emphasizes a personal relationship with him, and thus personal time with him. "And when you enter your room and pray to your Father in secret, your Father who sees you in secret shall reward you openly." Every believer needs to have daily in their lives a time of devotion where they can get away from everything and spend time alone with God. This is imperative.
3. God's instrument of blessing in this age is the local church. All of Paul's letters were written to local churches or pastors of local churches. The purpose of Paul's missionary journeys was to establish local churches (he established more than 100 on three journeys).

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
--We assemble ourselves after the manner of "some," which were the apostles as they gathered in assemblies or local churches. We are to do this on a regular basis.

No one is saying that God cannot be worshiped in any other place. For example you can pray while your driving down the road, just don't close your eyes while your doing it.

I agree on all your points 1,2,3 and Hebrews assembling together. Worship due to God alone can be and should be accomplished privately and corporately.

 

[DHK]

I agree on all your points 1,2,3 and Hebrews assembling together. Worship due to God alone can be and should be accomplished privately and corporately.

I won't argue that.

 

[chadman]

I won't argue that.

Thanks bro, cuz I am in trouble if you do, LOL.

 

[davidoregonJr]

Love thy God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.

I say unto you

Worship thy God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength.