1 John 4:8 (NIV) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 4:23-24 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
1. True Godly worship understands how to worship God on His terms (The way He desires to be worshiped).
Genesis 4:2-7 2 Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."
2. True Godly worship is not based off our personal preferences.
I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
3. True Godly worship gives the song back to the congregation. “The song of the congregation has been stolen by the song of the stage,” -Bob Sorge
Psalms 35:18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
4. True Godly worship involves bodily expression. Psalms 150:6 Let everything that hath breath praise (Halal) the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
A. Singing and Shouting to the Lord (Vocal Worship) Psalm 100:1-5 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Paul and Silas sing in prison and are set free. (Acts 16:24-26)
Psalm 96:1-2 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
B. Lifting of Hands
Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. Lamentations 3:41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven. I Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. D. Dancing
E. Clapping
F. Bowing
G. Serving others
5. True Godly worship builds a culture of costly worship.
I Samuel 24: 21-25 21 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” “To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.” 22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.c23 Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.” 24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
