The Importance of Worship

Worship = extreme devotion & intense love & admiration

Act of Worship = pray, sing, give thanks, praise, kneel or bow

Jn. 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (Truth = a particular belief or teaching)

*These verses tell us that the Lord seeks 'true' worshippers & that there is a right way & a wrong way to worship. True worshippers worship in 'spirit,' not with the music & not to be seen. Worship is a serious act of adoration & reverence! Our worship should come from our intense love & thankfulness to God. It should never be taken lightly. When we gather to worship in church, it is not a time to be carnal. We should teach our children this as well. Ps. 96:9 says, "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

*This is how He expects to be worshipped! In holiness & acknowledgement of His power!

Ps 98:4  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

*Jesus wants to 'hear' our praises, but if we just go through the motions, without heartfelt worship, we are just making noise!

Dan 3:1 - 26

*Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold & it was commanded that everyone was to fall down & worship the image when all kinds of music was played & those that didn’t comply were to be thrown into a furnace of fire

V. 8 - The Chaldeans came to the king & said “There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (golden = Zaw-hawb - to shimmer image = the visual impression of something )

*They could have pretended to worship the image, but they chose to show outwardly that they belonged to God! They were thrown into the fire, but God was there in the fire...God wasn’t in the worship of the king’s image or music, he was where 3 men said, “we worship one God & Him only do we regard.” Even in their fear, they said, in verse 16,"we are not careful (cautious / careless) to answer thee in this matter." *No matter what the threat, they held fast to their trust & integrity with God! They went on to say, "Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the furnace, but if He doesn't, He will deliver us out of your hand! What courage - what faith! To face a possible, terrible death & yet hold fast to God. They had to have a tremendous love for God!

Dan. 6:1-26

*King Darius made a decree that anyone asking petition of any God or man besides the king would be thrown into the lion’s den...

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

*Daniel could have changed his normal routine & hid when he prayed, but he sought God as he always did .

*When Daniel was found praying & making supplication to God, they told the king...

13 ....That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

*Even tho the king liked Daniel & didn't want to see him harmed, he had been tricked into making the decree & by law it couldn't be changed.

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17 And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

*Daniel knew his God & he knew his own life - how he served God - how he loved God. He told the king - "I am innocent & I have done you no wrong, so my God has sent His angel to protect me!"

Because of Daniels steadfastness in the faith, he was delivered.

God was glorified! But still, Daniel had to choose to either surrender to the king's decree or trust in God. He didn't know if God would deliver him or not. He did trust however, that whatever happened, because he was God's, death would be better than disobedience.