What is to worship? We think in most part it may be to sing some hymns or praise songs, perhaps for others, it is to raise their hands, and for others, perhaps to shed many tears. This is in most part an outward appearance or manifestation to worship and these are fine but the question still remains, what is true worship? What is to worship in spirit and truth? What is true worship in the spirit in which only God can determine within the hearts of men? Humans may see the outer appearance of one another as we display physical motions and emotions. But only God can see the heart and determine true worshipers. We must ask ourselves, am I a true worshiper of God? Or am I just a noisy gong and/or a clanging cymbal? Sadly, there are many clanging cymbals in the pews of the churches.
In Exodus chapter 20, the ten commandments were given to the people of God and the second commandment states as follow.
Exodus 20:4 You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;5 You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, 6 But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
This commandment was given to God's people as a warning. This and all the other commandments were given to God's people and not to the unbelievers. The unbelievers are already dead in their sins. Today, most Christians do not think they have idols and they do not think they are worshiping or bowing down to other idols. We in most part think of idols as some wooden image or a figure like buddha . And since most of the Christians are not bowing down to wooden idols or buddha, we in most part think we are safe. But yet the warning was for us and yet many today continue to have divided hearts as we are worshiping other idols.
The word "worship" first appeared in Genesis 22:5 "And Abraham said to his servants, Settle down and stay here with the donkey, and I and the young man will go yonder and worship and come again to you." Abraham was heading to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his only son Issac as God had commanded. Issac was to be a burnt offering unto God. Today, we are to be living sacrifices who are burnt offerings. His Fire is to baptize and consume us burning all the flesh and sin away and to be that living sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, the term "bow down" usually preceded the word "worship." In the Old Testament, the people worshiping was described as those who would bow down. In today's church, very few bow down to worship God. But to bow down was a physical manifestation or a symbol to express what was in their hearts. Today, many in our churches do not understand the word "Holy" and we do not respect the altar/sanctuary. Many come to worship HIM late. Many come half hearted. Many come to put on an act. Many come for the approval of men. Many come to church out of obligation. God is seeking those who will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is seeking for those who are truly in love with HIM.
What is true worship? Is it to physically bow down? In 2 Samuel 12, King David had despised the commandment of God. King David had Uriah killed and had stolen Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. King David repented and God forgave him but there were still consequences. As part of his judgment, God pronounced judgment and told King David that his child with Bathsheba would die. God struck the child King David bore with Bathsheba. King David fasted, prayed, and laid on the floor hoping God would change His mind. How many of God's people today fast, pray and lay on the floor interceding for their loved ones? On the seventh day, the child died. After the child had died, King David arose from the floor, washed, anointed himself, changed his apparel, and went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. When we have lost a loved one, how many of us arise, wash, prepare and go to worship the Lord? No, many of us cry out with "Why!"
In the book of Job chapter 1, after Job had lost all his possessions, sons and daughters, he arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped. After Job had lost everything, he further shaved his head and fell to worship.
Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped 21 And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! 22 In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.
Let us look at the definition to "bow down."
Bow Down: to submit to someone or something; to yield sovereignty to someone or something; to obey someone or something. To show obedience or respect by bending the head down or the body forward.
In the Old Testament, people had bow down to show and symbolize submission, yielding sovereignty, respecting and showing obedience. When King David lost his child, he worshiped God's sovereign decision. King David showed he was totally committed to God. When Job lost everything except his wife, he still worshiped God. Perhaps, this is what it takes for some of us to truly become humbled. When we have nothing left and as we face God, will we respect His Sovereign decision for our lives and worship HIM or will we become angry with HIM? When we are filled with distractions, wealth, family, recreation, self exalting, and self willed, are we truly worshiping God or are our hearts somewhere else?
When we submit or yield and give more attention to someone or something else than God, then we are committing idolatery and we are spiritually bowing down to another. God requires us to give all of our hearts to HIM. God requires us to give all of our surrender to HIM. God requires us to give HIM all of our service. God requires us to give HIM our full obedience. Abraham was about to give God Issac as a burnt offering. Abraham did not question God. He obeyed waking up early the next morning taking Issac. His only son, Issac, was his most precious possession in which he had waited for so long. Do you have the heart to forsake your most prized possession whether it be intangible things or people?
Luke 14:26 (AMP) If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters—[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple.
What if God took your child? What if God took your family and all your possession? What if God took everything? Will you still worship HIM? Will you still submit, yield, and obey to HIS Sovereignty? Does God have to take something from you to show you that you have not been worshiping HIM? Will you get angry like Cain because we do not like God's decision?
True worship is when there is nothing in our lives that is above HIM including our families, possessions, time, career, our own lives, or anything. And if God took it all including your family, would you still worship HIM and respect HIS Sovereign decision? God requires a true broken contrite spirit that brings forth the fragrance of Jesus.
Let us make sure whether we are in comfort, trials and/or tests that we have given our full hearts to HIM. May we pass HIS tests to show our faith approved and genuine. True worshipers in spirit and truth are those who are burnt living sacrifices (dead to themselves) for HIM and those who are faithful to HIM in truth following and keeping HIS commandments. Many say they Love God but have they fallen in Love with HIM?
Naked we came and naked we will go. It all belongs to God. Give HIM the Glory and Worship.
Fire of God Church
An International Holy Fire Ministry
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Amen! Glory to God!!
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