Module 10: The Act of True Worship

Introduction

Having learned about the church, it is time to embark on understanding how to truly worship God.

The act of true worship is often misunderstood among modern believers. Some think worship is about singing and joyfully spending time in church. Others perceive it as pouring out their hearts to God in songs and prayer. Some look at singers on pulpits and altars as true worshippers.

Although these perspectives hold some truth, worship carries far greater significance in the sight of God. In these last days, God is seeking true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth, as we will explore in this module.

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Defining Worship

Worship is a heartfelt response from believers towards God. We express reverence, honor, adoration, and devotion to Him through worship. It is also a personal covenant between a believer and God.

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Why We Worship

We worship God because:

• Of His nature – He is our Heavenly Father and the Creator of mankind and the universe.
• Of His Word – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). His enduring Word gives us a reason to worship Him.
• Of His presence – God graces us with His presence in our churches, homes, and workplaces, shielding us from the enemy’s influence. We acknowledge His presence through worship.
• Of His blessings – He has provided us with everything that pertains to life. Expressing gratitude through worship is essential.
• Of His mercies, kindness, and compassion – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). God has not dealt with us according to our sins, giving us a reason to worship Him.
• Of His grace – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Without grace, humankind would have no hope for salvation.

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Manifestation and Acts of Worship

The act of worship is expressed in various ways, including:

• Heartfelt prayer – “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)
• Melodic singing – “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)
• Joyful praise – “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” (Psalm 98:4)
• Obedient living – “A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day.” (Deuteronomy 11:27)
• Sacrificial giving – “Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.” (Proverbs 3:9)
• Selfless service – “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

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A True Worshipper

Jesus Christ warned that many people do not know how to worship. Some honor Him with their lips, while their hearts are far from Him.

Scriptural Reference:

• “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me…” (Matthew 15:8-9)

Some believe worship is confined to a specific place or building, while others worship a God they do not understand.

Scriptural References:

• “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.” (John 4:21)
• “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know…” (John 4:22)

Jesus Christ then defined a true worshipper as one who worships in spirit and in truth.

Scriptural Reference:

• “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23)

So then, who is a true worshipper? Six critical aspects define a true worshipper:

1. Worships in truth – Worship must be grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ. A true worshipper has a personal relationship with Him, and the songs they listen to align with the Word of God and the revelation of Christ.
2. Worships in spirit – True worship requires fully yielding one’s heart to God. It should not be confined to a specific place or moment but should be a continuous, heartfelt practice.
3. Worships in all seasons – Worship should not be limited to moments of emotional overwhelm. Instead, a true worshipper praises God in every season, always prepared to worship (2 Corinthians 11:27).
4. Worships in adversity – A true worshipper increases their devotion to God even in difficult times. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.” (Acts 16:25-26)
5. Worships in victory – A true worshipper recognizes that every success and blessing comes from God and acknowledges Him in times of triumph.
6. Never compromises worship for worldly desires – When Jesus was tempted by the devil and offered the world in exchange for worship, He responded: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” (Matthew 4:8-10)

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Service and Worship

In the sight of God, worship cannot be separated from service. Every act of service, in any capacity, is regarded as an act of worship.

This truth can be traced back to the first man and is evidenced throughout scripture. Worship in scripture is correlated with the Hebrew word ‘abad’, which means to serve, work, labor, or till.

Scriptural References:

• “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)
• “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Adam, the first man, was created to work and serve God. He was placed in the Garden of Eden to cultivate the ground as an act of worship. This principle also applied to the children of Israel when they were delivered from captivity in Egypt.

Scriptural References:

• “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.” (Exodus 8:1, KJV)
• “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.’” (Exodus 8:1, NIV)

Notice that the KJV version uses serve, while the NIV version uses worship. Therefore, as believers, everything we do—whether in labor or service—must be Godly, as it is an act of worship to God.

Remember, whether at work, in business, family, school, institutions, or church, every task you undertake is a service and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ. Reflect on these questions:

• How do you respond to your boss or employer when given a task?
• How do you treat your customers or clients in your business?
• How do you teach your students, or how do you respond to your educators?
• How do you address elders? Do you honor them?
• Do you give yourself wholeheartedly to serving in menial church tasks such as cleaning, assisting ushers, or helping the media team?
• When was the last time you witnessed about Jesus Christ and led someone to faith?

True worship is not about having a good voice, standing at the pulpit, or leading worship songs. It is about selflessly serving others and, ultimately, God.

Scriptural References:

• “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord…” (Colossians 3:17)
• “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” (Colossians 3:22)

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Digest Questions