John 4:21-24 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 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. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
I. What is worship?
Old Testament
1. The principal Old Testament word is shachah, “depress,” “bow down,” “prostrate” (Hithpael), as in Ex 4:31, “bowed their heads and worshipped”; so in 94 other places.
2. Other words are: caghadh, “prostrate,” occurring in Isa 44:15,17,19; 46:6, but rendered (English Versions of the Bible) “fall down.” In Dan 2:46; 3:5-7,10,15,18,28, it (Aramaic ceghidh) is “worship” (English Versions of the Bible), 7 times associated with “falling down” and 5 times with “serve.”
3. The Old Testament idea is therefore the reverential attitude of mind or body or both, combined with the more generic notions of religions adoration, obedience, service.
New Testament
The principal New Testament word (59 times) is proskuneo, “kiss (the hand or the ground) toward,” hence, often in the oriental fashion bowing prostrate upon the ground; It is to render homage to men, angels, demons, the Devil, the “beast,” idols, or to God. It is rendered 16 times to Jesus as a beneficent superior; at least 24 times to God or to Jesus as God. The root idea of bodily prostration is much less prominent than in the Old Testament. It is always translated “worship.”
Next in frequency is sebomai, “venerate,” and its various cognates, sebazomai, eusebeo, theosebes, sebasma. Its root is sebas, “fear,” but this primitive meaning is completely merged into “reverence,” “hold in awe”: “In vain do they worship me” (Matt 15:9, etc.).
latreuo, is “serve” (religiously), or “worship publicly,” “perform sacred services,” “offer gifts,” “worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for His worship.”
General Observations. It is as natural to worship as it is to live. The feeling and expression of high adoration, reverence, trust, love, loyalty, and dependence upon a higher power, human or divine, is a necessity to man. These sentiments, toward something or somebody, and whether real or imaginary, appeal to a greater or less degree to every man. And that something determines his worship. “Worship is as old as humanity. It has its root in a necessity of the human soul as native to it as the consciousness of God itself, which impels it to testify by word and act its love and gratitude to the Author of life and the Giver of all good” (Keil, Bib. Arch., p. 55).
(From The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
II. What is Pentecostal worship?
Pentecostals have developed a distinctive style of worship. Noise, singing, shouting, running, leaping, praising and praying are all expressions of worship. Worship actually goes beyond this, It is an attitude of the heart first, then it is a demonstration of the body.
A. We pray aloud together.
Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
B. We lift up our hands together.
Psalm 134:1-2 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
C. We clap our hands.
Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
D. We play instruments in church services.
Psalm 68:25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
Psalm 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
Psalm 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
E. We make a joyful noise to God.
Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
F. We testify out loud.
Psalm 26:6-7 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
III. The renewal of praise and worship in the revival of the church age fits with Bible prophecy.
Acts 15:13-18 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
What is the “tabernacle of David?”
The house, or family of David? This certainly is part of the prophecy.
But there may be a further meaning of this as well.
2 Sam. 6:11-18 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. 12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
IV. There is to be a dimension of New Testament praise and worship that is spiritual.
A. Spiritual singing.
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
B. Spiritual praying.
1 Cor. 14:14-15 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
V. Yet, our demonstration of worship in the body is not necessarily worship in the Spirit.
Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 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.
Outward manifestation must be tested by inward worship.
VI. Worship is our response to God.
A. We respond to his commission through obedience.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Submission to God and spiritual authority is vital to discipleship!
B. We respond to his promise through our belief.
Luke 24:48-49 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
C. We respond to his blessing through our thankfulness.
Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
D. We respond to his ascension through our recognition of his Deity.
Luke 24:51-53 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
These are truly the elements of worship!