WORSHIP 101

by Desert Rose 

Another word I think that's worth reclaiming is 'WORSHIP'. Today worship is used to refer to the time of singing we have in our service. We ask, "Where do you worship?" or "Did you enjoy the time of worship?"

Interestingly, the first time we encounter the word worship in the Bible is in Genesis 22

2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Abraham had waited 25 years for his son and heir and now God was asking Abraham to sacrifice him? How did Abraham respond? Read on.

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?""Yes, my son?" Abraham replied."The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Wait. There was no worship leader rostered for this worship service. No musicians, musical instruments or back-up singers. No music to touch Abraham's emotions and lead him to peaks of praise. No congregation to chorus the cheerful refrain of joyous hymns. No pageantry and props of a carefully coordinated liturgy. This was between God and Abraham. There would be no spectators.

What happened next?

11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!""Here I am," he replied.12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Abraham was willing to execute God's command even if it meant the death of his dream. That was his act of worship. And we know his obedience won God's eternal blessing.

But today corporate worship has become a time where we simply render lip service to God. Many sing beautifully and clap enthusiastically but they return home to continue their rebellious existence. How can we say we worship God when we trivialize His commands? Can a musical performance (no matter how flawlessly executed) take the place of true worship which is obedience to God's word? God is looking for worshippers - those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

'When the music fades

And all is stripped away

And I simply come

Longing just to bring

Something that's of worth

That will bless your heart

Bridge:

I'll bring you more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what you have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart

King of endless worth

No one could express

How much you deserve

Though I'm weak and poor

All I have is Yours

Every single breath

Refrain:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

Coz it's all about you

It's all about you Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I made it

When its all about You

It's all about You Jesus'