by Jonathan Meo
How do we approach the Holy God that we serve in order to worship Him? How are we supposed to approach the Holy God that we serve when we worship Him? I believe that some very crucial truths in scripture are often neglected due to changes in our society and its values, and we fail to honor God the way He has chosen for us to honor Him through worship.
The way that I am about to write out the way worship is to be approached is the way God has determined in it through His word and these words though some from Paul have been overseen and approved by the authority of the Holy Spirit to instruct us and give us guidance into the very center of what worship truly is. Again this truth is not popular. God's truth is never popular. If you want popularity, find another God- because, "small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Mathew 7:14)
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First of all the primary and most fundamental truth we can learn about worship is this: In order to worship God acceptably we must do so in reverence and in awe with thanksgiving, for our God is a consuming fire.(Hebrews 12: 28,29) We must therefore when we come before God not think that we can be flippant and frenzied in His presence- rather before God, we must be truly reverent and awefilled, humbly bowing our heads to our powerful and mighty Maker. There is no other way to acceptably worship God than in this reverence and amazement. Now I pose the question. Do we think of "worship" this way- have we jumped on the "worship" bandwagon seeking personal fulfillment and entertainment rather than humbly and acceptably with fear and trembling coming to the throne of God? Have we mistaken our times of "worship" to be simply times of personal satisfaction and selfish desire, or have we truly desired to be broken- devastated- torn to pieces, crushed and bowed low (shown who we really are in contrast to Who He really is) so that we might behold the awesome splendor and glory of the mighty King of Kings!
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Second how are we to go about the actual worship of God? What is proper? What does scripture say? This is very important, yet so many believers think it trivial and of nonsense , regarding what I am about to say. When we worship and come before a Holy God- no one is to receive glory except Jesus Christ. If anyone does recieve glory other than Christ in a service where we are meant to worship Christ then we are at fault and God will hold us responsible in the consequences of disobedience to Him. This is surely why the church as a whole may fail to be effective for Jesus Christ!
From this simple truth, many churches could be united and the roles of men and women reconciled- instead of the ruthlessness and division of the "liberation" of women we could be united and stand on the truth that God created the man to be the spokesman and to love and serve even to death his wife, yet the woman in full submission to Christ should serve him, her husband with joy and satisfaction in him just as we serve Christ and enjoy satisfaction in Him. Now- that was even hard for me to say. Not because I do not believe it is the truth, but because I know just how unpopular and how criticized that truth really is!!. I will tell you one thing to be sure- women are not liberated by a society who has taken their value from them and ascribed it to sexual attraction and godless passion. It is evident to me throughout the scriptures that a woman gains honor, respect and security from the husband she serves and the family she raises under his leadership and under the authority of Jesus Christ. She with him, just as we with Christ are of no lesser value than Christ, rather we are co-heirs with Him. So then the woman made for man shares in his rights and is equal in value with him, yet her roles are distinct and different than her husbands.
What does this have to do with worship? Here is the answer: if God is to receive all the glory then the glory of a woman must be covered up. 1 Corinthians 11:3 - 10 states this,
"Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. [Therefore] Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-[listen to this]- it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. For this reason and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head."
There is more to understand about our roles as men and women who profess to worship God than society tells us. We look to the word of God for the Lord's answer. And it is very clear: the head of woman, the head of man, the head of Christ which is God. (The church is the body of Christ- so that man and woman together make up his body. -making sense yet? :)) This is how God is to receive glory- that a woman should cover her head, because her hair is her glory and her head is man, that a man should keep his head uncovered for his head is Christ, and that Christ displays his glory for His head is God and displays His glory therein.
So, men, remove your hats when you pray and prophesy (that is speaking the words of God) and so worship God- and women, cover your heads when you pray and prophesy so that acceptably you might come before Him and worship Him in propiety. Also, women need to dress modestly, not with elaborate jewelery and excessive adornments, nor with indecency in appearance. Rather their "dress" should be of good deeds appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2: 8,9)
If your reading this article and you've come this far, be encouraged! These practices are not just practices for "religious" sake. They have meaning and special significance and if followed correctly with the knowledge of their origin, God will be most honored and pleased when you come before His presence. Did I not tell you that the worship of God is no small thing? He is holy!! Most holy!! We must approach God the way He has decreed!
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Third. Now, regarding music in the church. Get ready for a ride you've never even been on I bet. This truth I am ready to share with you is something way overlooked by the church as a whole. Yet it is imperative to understand this revelation and its support in scripture. Music in and of itself has no power to change the actions of man. I'd say it again but you could just read it once more. Go ahead and do that. ....... I'll write to you a passage that the Lord has pointed out to me from the prophet Ezekiel that reveals the depth of the claim that has just been stated. This is from Ezekiel 33:30-32:
"As for you, son of man, your country men are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to eachother, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' [so they acknowledge that Ezekiel is saying what God is saying] My people come to you as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
Oh gracious God! Jesus, the Christ has revealed so much wisdom in this one statement! That music in and of itself has no power to change the actions of men. What a many thing would be changed in our assemblies if we knew that this was the case! It is not the style of music that will bring kids in and save them- it is the Spirit behind the music expressed throught the depth of wisdom and truth of the gospel presented in the music that has the eternal power to save! Music, like pen and ink, is simply the vehicle for that power. It must be written correctly and beautifully in order for it to explain the contained truth in its fullness. If the music we play is not founded by the Spirit of God- both written and sung by Him alone through us- then it will be completely ineffective for salvation and the people who hear it might understand its message, but never change their actions. This calls for so much prayer my brothers and sisters!! We must pray for the church and its endeavors, so that in everything we might be most effective in bringing the gospel of Christ to unbelievers and be most appropriate in the way we approach our God.
With these things now known to you, begin to search them out. Find out the truth about worship for yourself. Jesus Christ is the person to Whom all glory and honor and praise and worship is due. Let us praise Him for His great work on the cross in the shedding of His blood to atone for our sins. Let us give glory to the Father that Jesus Christ is Lord! We only begin to grasp a glimpse of His love -only start to scratch its surface -when we come to Jesus Christ in reverence, awe and propriety and so worship God in spirit and in truth. May He be ever pleased by our spiritual act of worship (being a living sacrifice) and our truthful act of worship (praising and glorying in Him specifically for His honor), so that we might be fully and utterly satisfied in Him and He most assuredly and perfectly glorified in us!