the worship of god

Theologian AW Tozer once said, “I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” Tozer also says this, “If you do not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him on one day a week. There is no such thing known in heaven as Sunday worship unless it is accompanied by Monday worship and Tuesday worship and so on.”

Worship is the believers response of all that they are - mind, will, emotions, body (life) - to who God is, what He says and does. Worship is a practice for eternity and starts everyday as we renew our minds.... Paul expressed this very idea when he said, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1) God's desire is to free us from every form of bondage so we may worship Him (Exodus 8:1). 

Check out some of the lyrics to this song called, "Throne Room" by Kari Jobe. The song features an incredible combination of theology, praise, and personal insight:

"You rendered heaven. The veil was torn in two. You gave us Your spirit, now we are close,

closer than we think. Creation is groaning, longing for the unseen. Here in this moment,

eternity's close, closer than we think. What are they singing? What is it like?

You are surrounded with thunder and light. Everything in us, the longing, the ache

To join with the heavens the anthem of praise. Holy, Holy. Holy, holy. The train of His robe,

filling the temple. The elders and angels, all bowing down, casting their crowns.

The lamb who was slain, You are the risen king, Jesus our Savior, Alpha Omega,

End and beginning."

Part of the reason Christ died on the cross was to give us all access into the Kingdom of God, right now and forevermore (Luke 17:21; Col 1:27). The 4-inch temple veil Kari is referring to was torn in two from top to bottom. This means that God Himself removed the barrier that our sin set up. No longer through Priest's and the blood of bulls and goats do we approach God but through the torn veil, which symbolizes Jesus' broken and torn body (Heb 10:20). God desires that we would seek to give Him perpetual praise and worship (Hebrews 13:12-15; John 4:24-26). Again, worship is a response to who He is and what He's done and continues to do….. As our hearts and minds are continuously flooded with Light, we are compelled to fall down and cast our crowns before the only wise King.... For He alone is worthy. Just as Kari Jobes song, we enter into the flow of the throne room of heaven when we worship in Spirit & in Truth:

"Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” ~Revelation 4:9‭-‬11

The wise men, who were Gentiles, fell down & worshiped the Lord too: "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ~Matthew 2:11 

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, fell at Jesus's feet as though dead and worshiped:

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. ~Revelation 1:17‭-‬18

When God showed Moses His glory, he fell down and worshipped: Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and He called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. "Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped." Exodus 34:8 

Even Christ's enemies were overwhelmed upon confronting the "Great I Am" and fell to the ground: "Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am He,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them) As Jesus said “I Am He,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! ~John 18:4‭-‬6

It is the glory and power of the One and only begotten Son that causes men and all of creation to bow before Him.... 

"We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14 

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

~Philippians 2:10‭-‬11 

He is the Image of the invisible God... He is before all things, created all things, and holds all things together.... It's in Him that we live and move and have our being. We cannot even get up and go use the restroom without Jesus. He's in charge of all, yet He took upon Himself all of God's charges against us...... In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence. -Eph 1:7-8

You see, we understand, that, the One who has absolutely ALL authority laid down His authority for a moment. Jesus emptied Himself of His divine privileges and assumed the form of a bondservant. For context, a bondservant was the absolute lowest position in the social ladder at the time. But yet it pleased the Father to reveal Himself in this manner. Christ pleased the Father when He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Through His service, He reconciled the world to Himself. Upon the cross, there was a transaction between the Father and the Son. He redeemed a people to Himself with His own blood (Rev 5:9)!

What a mighty Savior we have! A glorious Savior! As He propitiated the righteous anger of God toward US.... He fulfilled a successful mission of salvation: "And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” -Matthew 1:21

The cross is the ultimate act of worship. In perfect obedience, Jesus sacrificed His life for us all and for the Glory of the Father: Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You. -John 17:1 

Beloved, may we seek to worship and serve the Lord with all our being. May He strengthen us as we worship, praise, and pray. In His presence, there is power, restoration, reassurance, and fullness of joy. Remember that He will surely inhabit your praises and fill you with His glory once again…

Blessings

Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. -Hebrews 13:15

"But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23‭-‬24 

Andrew Dikas, former pro-athlete and Army officer is also a minister, theologian, coach, and writer. His desire in writing is to glorify God & provide creative insight on Biblical truths.