Spontaneous Worship
True worship is a spontaneous response of gratitude to God's revelation of glory, recognizing his incredible love and mercy.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the significance of spontaneous worship, as demonstrated by Moses in Exodus 34:8, where he worships after experiencing a profound revelation of God's mercy and love. This moment marks the first instance of Moses worshiping, highlighting that true worship arises from an overwhelming recognition of God's glory rather than mere prayer or intercession. Wilkerson points out that worship is a heartfelt response to God's grace, acknowledging that we deserve destruction due to our sins, yet God still loves us. He encourages believers to embrace God's glory and let it inspire their worship, reminding them that true worshipers claim the blessings of God's promises. Ultimately, the revelation of God's nature should be the foundation of all worship.
Text
"Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped" (Exodus 34:8). The revelation of God's nature overwhelmed Moses when he saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient our Father is with his children -- even the stiff-necked ones who grieve him.
It's important to note that this is the first mention of Moses ever worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God's glory, Moses tearfully prayed and interceded for Israel and even talked with God face to face. But this is the first time we read the words, "[Moses] worshiped."
This tells us much about the church today. Christians can pray diligently without ever really worshiping; indeed, it's possible to be a prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a worshiper. Worship cannot be learned, it is a spontaneous outbreak -- the act of a heart that's been overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and his incredible love for us.
Worship is a response of gratitude that recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures. But, instead, God came to us with the powerful revelation, "I still love you!"
At this point in scripture, Moses was no longer pleading for sinful Israel and he wasn't asking the Lord for guidance. He wasn't even crying out for a miracle of deliverance or for power or wisdom. He was marveling at the revelation of the glory of God!
The revelation of God's glory should be the wellspring of all our worship. We should regularly lay claim to his glory; it is our assigned right and it is meant to be claimed. When Paul says, "I do not set aside the grace of God" (Galatians 2:21), he means, "I won't nullify God's offer of mercy by rejecting it." Those who truly worship God claim the blessing of his promises and see the glory of his love in Christ.
Lay hold of God's glory today and allow him to guide you into a new revelation of worship.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Worship
- The Difference Between Prayer and Worship
- The Revelation of God's Glory
- Laying Hold of God's Glory
- Allow God to guide you into a new revelation of worship
- We should regularly claim the blessing of God's promises
Key Quotes
“Worship cannot be learned, it is a spontaneous outbreak -- the act of a heart that's been overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and his incredible love for us.” — David Wilkerson
“Worship is a response of gratitude that recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures.” — David Wilkerson
“Lay hold of God's glory today and allow him to guide you into a new revelation of worship.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Make worship a regular part of your life by claiming the blessing of God's promises and laying hold of his glory.
- Recognize the difference between prayer and worship, and make sure you are responding to God's revelation of glory with gratitude.
- Allow God to guide you into a new revelation of worship, and be overwhelmed by his incredible love for you.