Study 21 – Creating an Atmosphere to Bring His Presence II

“How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” —Genesis 28:17

Introduction

Worship is more than a declaration; it’s a sincere attitude of humility, reverence, respect, and fear of the Lord. In our worship, Jesus must be crowned. He must occupy the throne of our lives – the Holy of Holies within us. We know that faith is a muscle that grows when exercised. Worship works in a similar way; there is always room to go deeper in it. From deep worship will come guidance for the future for an individual, a family, a city, or a nation.

Worship may be expressed by a physical posture, such as bowing the head or body, kneeling, or falling prostrate before the Lord. If we worship in a sincere and humble way, it becomes something that goes well beyond singing or talking to God – it becomes an atmosphere that can be conveyed even through physical contact with others, such as embrace, through which we transmit everything that flows out of our relationship of worship with the Father. People who worship in spirit and truth break through to the atmosphere of eternity, where the centre of attention is no longer self but God. In His presence, they are not concerned with how they feel or what they are experiencing. They know God requires worship, and this conviction surpasses every temporal situation. Worship is not a feeling, but an attitude expressed by one who knows that, without God, he is nothing.

Study Questions

Part I: Honouring the Lord Through Worship

1. In order to honour the Lord properly, we are to worship Him in what way? (1 Chronicles 16:29b)

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2. Who is able to approach the presence of the Lord? (Psalm 24:4a)

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We cannot fake worship or communion with God.

3. Recall the type of worshippers the Lord seeks (John 4:23b)

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KEY DEFINITIONS: Praise focuses on proclaiming the works of God. Worship focuses on the person of God. Praise is initiated by us. Worship is God’s answer to our praise. To praise is to seek God. Praise is like building a house for God. Worship is God moving into that house. In praise we talk about God. In worship we speak to God, and He answers us. In praise we are keenly aware of God’s love and greatness. In worship, we are keenly aware of His holiness. Praise is the parade of the King. Worship is His coronation.

4. (a) To whom should we not give the glory that God is due? (Psalm 115:1a)

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(b) What two reasons did the psalmist list for giving glory to the name of the Lord (Verse 1b)

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5. What did the apostle Paul write in his first letter to Timothy as a declaration worship toward God the King? (1 Timothy 1:17)

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When a person stops worshipping God, he or she also stops knowing Him.

REFLECTIONS ON WHERE OUR LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP BEGINS

Each Christian is responsible for “taking” his worship to church with him. In other words, our worship begins at home, in our secret place with Jesus – our prayer closet, office, or car – and it follows us everywhere we go and at all times. One reason we have not seen God’s glory descend upon our lives is that we do not have a continuous and effective private life with Him, which is what allows His presence to be seen in public. Worshipping God in private is an attitude that flows forth, spontaneously and from the heart, when no one sees us, when the responsibility to minister to people is not there, when we do it simply out of love, without seeking any rewards. Those special, private moments cause God to powerfully manifest His presence and to speak and minister directly to our hearts. Our greatest desire should always be to experience new and deeper moments in God’s glory because only His presence will transform the human heart. Our efforts cannot accomplish this.

Part II: Revelations of True Worship

6. What language does Scripture use to indicate that true worship is intimate communion with God the Father and Jesus Christ? Complete the following:

• Isaiah 54:5a: “For __________ _________________ _______ __________ _____________________, the LORD of hosts is His name.”
• Revelation 21:9b: “Come, I will show you _________ ______________, __________ ______________________ ______________.”
• What is the Lamb’s wife described as having? (Verse 11a)

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7. (a) What fundamental aspects of God should we exalt during our worship? (Psalm 34:3a)

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(b) Above what is this aspect of God exalted? (Nehemiah 9:5b)

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(c) To whom did God give the name that is above every other name? (Philippians 2:9-10a)

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(d) What is the proper response to the name of Jesus from all those in heaven and on earth? (Verse 10b-11a)

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(e) What will this full acknowledgement of Jesus bring to God the Father? (Verse 11b)

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8. There is a recurring phrase in Psalm 119 that serves to remind us not only of the basis on which our intercession should be offered to God, but also our praise and worship. Complete the following as a representative of these phrases:

Psalm 119:25b: “Revive me ___________________ _______ ___________ _____________.”

If our worship lacks the Word, God will not honour it or release His power through it.

9. Through what means do believers experience God’s glory in worship – just as they will when Christ returns, as the below verse indicates? Complete the following:

Isaiah 40:5a: “The glory of the LORD shall be _____________________…”

10. (a) Solomon expressed his heartfelt worship of God at the beginning of his prayer to dedicate the new temple. What did he say as he knelt down and lifted his hands toward heaven? (2 Chronicles 6:14)

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(b) Record how the Lord responded at the end of Solomon’s prayer, making His presence known to Solomon and the rest of the Israelites. (2 Chronicles 7:1)

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11. At the Lord’s instruction, the Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land engaged in worship seven days in a row before they defeated the city of Jericho by God’s hand.

• What were Joshua’s instructions to the priests for their parts in their worship? (Joshua 6:6)

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• Describe the actions of the seven priests carrying the trumpets as they entered into worship. (Verse 8a)

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• Where did the armed men march, and where did everyone else march – those who were called the “rear guard”? (Joshua 6:9a)

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• Besides the sound of the trumpets, what other sound was incorporated into the Israelites worship? (Verse 20a)

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• When God’s people obeyed His instructions for worship, what happened to the wall of Jericho, and what did God’s people do? (Verse 20b)

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Each time a new sound of worship overflows in a church, the atmosphere changes and old structures are broken.

12. When the disciples were gathered “with one accord” on the day of Pentecost several weeks after Jesus ascended to heaven, they were likely praying together as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 1:13-14.)

• Describe the sound that could suddenly be heard at the manifestation of God’s Spirit. (Acts 2:2a)

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• What other “sounds” were manifest in this visitation by the Spirit? (Verse 4b)

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Prayer of Activation

Father of glory, You are the King eternal, immortal, and invisible! You alone are wise. Let honour and glory be Yours forever. We want to praise You until the spirit of worship comes and worship You until your glory descends. Open our eyes to recognize Your presence and Your glory as we respond to you in spirit and in truth. Then, impart to us Your salvation, healing, deliverance, revelation, transformation, and activation for service. In Jesus’ name, amen!