01.09. Worship and Prayer
9. Worship I.Worship
A. A heart-attitude rather than a specific action.
Worship in Old Testament is Hebrew: Strong’s #2360 (sûaµhÆ) bow down. (hj;v);
1. What does ‘bowing down’ indicate?
A willingness to serve the object bowed down to. A willingness to give priority and resources toward the object. Be it God, money, sports, youth, health, business success, acclaim, etc.
B. Is it possible to live without worshipping? If men don’t worship God, history has shown they will worship something !
1. Other gods. Exodus 20:3; Exodus 23:13;
2. Men. Job 32:22; Daniel 2:46; Acts 8:10; Acts 10:26; Acts 12:22; Acts 14:11-13; Acts 28:6; 1 Corinthians 3:21
3.Antichrist. Daniel 11:36-37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:4; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 13:12; Revelation 14:9; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4 4.Angels. Romans 1:25; Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8 5.Satan. Isaiah 14:14; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 13:4 6.Created things! Romans 1:25 7.Demons. Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalms 106:37; Revelation 9:20
Idols are merely a front for demons.
8. Heavens (sun, moon, stars). Genesis 11:4; Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 23:5; 2 Kings 23:11; 2 Chronicles 33:3; Job 31:26; Isaiah 47:13; Jeremiah 8:2; Jeremiah 10:2; Jeremiah 19:13; Acts 7:42; Romans 1:25
9.Idols, images (the words of man’s hands). Exodus 20:4; Exodus 32:1-3; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; Psalms 106:19; Isaiah 40:19-20; Isaiah 44:15; Isaiah 44:17; Jeremiah 10:3; Jeremiah 10:9-14; Daniel 3:5-15; Daniel 3:18; Acts 7:40; Revelation 13:15; Revelation 14:9; Revelation 14:11; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4 C.Worship that God seeks
1.God alone. Exodus 20:3; Exodus 23:13; Matthew 4:10
We are to honor Jesus as we “honor the Father.” Matthew 2:2; Matthew 8:2; Matthew 9:18; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 15:25; Matthew 28:9; Matthew 28:17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 5:18; John 5:23; John 9:38; John 20:28; Acts 7:59 (compare Psalms 31:5); Php 2:9; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 7:10 2.In Spirit and Truth. John 4:24
3. Worship is a response to a right-understanding of His glory. Romans 11:33-36 results in Romans 12:1-2
4.Motivated by a desire to be in His presence¾the ultimate blessing of redemption. Exodus 29:42-45; Exodus 33:18-23; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 27:4; John 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:3; Revelation 22:3-5 D.Worship in vain.
1.Hypocrisy - appearance without substance. Isaiah 29:13; Amos 5:21-27; Matthew 15:7-9; Revelation 3:15-16 2.While disobedient. a)Sacrifice while disobedient is fruitless and rejected. Psalms 69:30-31; Proverbs 21:3; Jeremiah 7:21-24; Hosea 6:6; Mark 12:33 b)We demonstrate our love through obedience. Isaiah 50:10; Luke 6:46; John 14:21-23; John 15:10-14; Acts 5:32 3.In the flesh. Romans 8:8 II.Prayer
A.How is prayer related to worship? Prayer is a primary means of communication and fellowship with God.
Pictured as incense (an offering with a sweet smell) before God. Exodus 30:8; Psalms 141:2; Luke 1:10; Acts 10:4; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3 B.God desires the prayers of believers. Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:8
C.The believer has a unique and full access to God through Christ. Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:19 D.When is prayer not heard? Avoid these for your prayers to be effective (James 5:16).
1.Wrong motives. James 4:3 2.Iniquity in my heart. Psalms 66:18; Psalms 107:9 (prayer becomes sin!); Isaiah 59:2
3.Disobedient and unrepentant. 2 Chronicles 7:14; Proverbs 28:9; Jeremiah 11:14; Jeremiah 14:12; Lamentations 3:44; Zechariah 7:13 4.Worship of other gods. Jeremiah 7:16 5.Unrighteous. John 9:31; 1 Peter 3:12 6.Mistreating one’s wife. Malachi 2:14; 1 Peter 3:7 7.Justice is lacking. Isaiah 58:3-9 8.Forgiveness is lacking. Matthew 6:15 9.Lack of concern for the needy. Proverbs 21:13 10.Double-minded (inconsistent and confused). James 1:8 11.When innocent blood is shed. Isaiah 1:15 12.Those hating instruction, lacking fear of God. Proverbs 1:28 E.For what do we pray?
1.According to God’s will. Daniel 9:23; Matthew 26:39; Luke 11:2; Luke 22:42; John 4:34; Romans 8:27 2.God’s kingdom to come on earth. Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2 3.Jerusalem. Psalms 122:6; Isaiah 62:6-7
4. Giving thanks for God’s provision. Matthew 14:19; Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:41; John 6:11; 1 Timothy 4:5
5. Intercede for others. Exodus 8:9; Exodus 8:28; Exodus 9:33; Exodus 10:18; Exodus 32:11; Exodus 32:30-32; Jeremiah 15:1; Psalms 106:23; Acts 27:24 (Christ is our role model. Isaiah 53:12; John 17:15-24; Acts 7:60; Acts 12:5; Romans 1:9-10; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 6:18-19; Hebrews 7:25; James 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 8:3)
6.Confession of sin, asking for forgiveness. Daniel 9:3-15; Matthew 6:12; Luke 18:13; 1 John 1:9 F.How do we pray?
1.With fasting. Nehemiah 1:4; Psalms 35:13; Daniel 9:3; Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29; Luke 2:37; Luke 5:33; Acts 9:9; Acts 10:30; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23; 1 Corinthians 7:5 2.In the Spirit. Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20 3.In both public and private. 1 Kings 8:22-53; Psalms 35:18; Matthew 6:6-18; Luke 18:10 4.With a clean heart. 1 Timothy 2:8 5.With Godly fear. Hebrews 5:7
6. With persistence. Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:5-10; Luke 18:1; Acts 1:14; Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2; James 5:16
7. Continually¾with an attitude of constant communion with God. Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (cf. Luke 2:37; Luke 18:1; Acts 10:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:10); 2 Thessalonians 1:11