The Principles of Worship

 Title: "The Principles of Worship"

Text: Genesis 22:5-7, Hebrews 10:25

Intro:

"Are most of God's people taking worship for granted?"

Why am I preaching this on a Wednesday night? It's for the faithful individuals who attend not only on Sunday mornings and afternoons but also on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Abraham said to his men, "My son and I will go up and worship God and come back." What a positive statement, not just from him but from his son as well. He knew he was going to offer his son, but he believed that God honors faith, obedience, and faithfulness (Hebrews 11:8-9).

A. Worship involves Compliance - "Obedience to God is the beginning of worship to the Lord."

Abraham obeyed whatever God commanded.

• It speaks of the seriousness of our spiritual responsibilities.
• It speaks of sincerity and respect for our Savior.
• It speaks of submission to the Sovereign One who created us.

B. Worship involves Control of Self - it takes discipline to obey God and do what He says (Genesis 22:3).

• It speaks of submission to the control of the Holy Spirit of God.
• It speaks of separation from the world and wrong associations.
• It speaks of steadfastness in doing what is right.

C. Worship involves Consistency - a daily walk with the Lord is vital for stability and victory in the Christian life.

• It speaks of faithfulness.
• It speaks of fruitfulness.

D. Worship involves Cessation - involves denying your will and putting God's will first in your life (Matthew 6:33).

Stop those things that hinder you from obeying God's commands.

E. Worship involves Contriving - it means preparation. Preparation for worship is very important in everything.

Confess your sins to God and receive His forgiveness.

Come to the House of God with a good spirit, ready to receive God's instructions from the preaching of His Word.

Bring your offerings to the Lord out of the blessings God has given you.

F. Worship involves Conduct - The attitude of faith should be followed by the application and action of our faith.

It involves active participation.

• Learn to behave yourself in the House of God.
• Learn to participate in the services of the Church.
• Learn to be a blessing to others.

G. Worship involves Completeness - It involves the whole being of a person, including the mind, emotions, and will.

Jesus scolded the Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-8.

God wants us to worship Him from the heart.

H. Worship involves Cleanliness - Sin should be confessed to the Lord. God wants us to have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4).

Hindrances to worship:

• Unbelief and doubt.
• An unsurrendered heart, characterized by rebellion and self-will (Luke 9:23).
• Unconcern, which may manifest as apathy, discouragement, or fatigue.
• Unconfessed sins.
• An unfriendly attitude.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, worship is not merely a ritual or a routine; it's a profound and deeply personal connection with our Creator. These principles of worship remind us of the reverence, obedience, and devotion required when we approach God in worship.

As we examine our hearts and lives, let us strive for compliance, self-control, consistency, and a wholehearted commitment to worship. Let us cease from our own desires and contrive to prepare our hearts and minds to meet with God. Our conduct during worship should reflect our faith, and we should approach it with completeness and cleanliness, confessing our sins before the Lord.

May these principles guide us in our worship, allowing us to draw nearer to God and experience the fullness of His presence in our lives.