I.
Worship
A.
A heart-attitude rather than a
specific action.
Worship in Old Testament is Hebrew: Strong�s #2360 (s�a�h\a�) bow down.
(hj;v);
1.
What does �bowing down�
indicate?
A willingness to serve the object bowed down to. A willingness to give priority
and resources toward the object. Be it God, money, sports, youth, health,
business success, acclaim, etc.
B. Is it possible to live without worshipping? If men don�t worship God, history has shown they will worship something !
1. Other gods. Ex. 20:3; Ex. 23:13;
2. Men. Job 2:46; Dan. 2:46; Acts 8:10; Acts 10:26; Acts 12:22; Acts 14:11-13; Acts 28:6; 1Cor. 3:21
3. Antichrist. Dan. 11:36-37; 2Th. 2:4; Rev. 13:4; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 13:12; Rev. 14:9; Rev. 16:2; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:4
4. Angels. Rom. 2:18; Col. 2:18; Rev. 22:8; Rev. 22:8
5. Satan. Isa. 4:10; Matt. 4:10; Rev. 13:4
6. Created things! Rom. 1:25
7.
Demons. Deu. 32:17; Ps.
9:20; Rev. 9:20
Idols are merely a front for demons.
8. Heavens (sun, moon, stars). Gen. 11:4; Deu. 4:19; Deu. 17:3; 2K. 17:16; 2K. 23:5; 2K. 23:11; 2Chr. 33:3; Job 31:26; Isa. 47:13; Jer. 8:2; Jer. 10:2; Jer. 19:13; Acts 7:42; Rom. 1:25
9. Idols, images (the words of man�s hands). Ex. 20:4; Ex. 32:1-3; 2K. 17:16; 2K. 21:3; Ps. 106:19; Isa. 40:19-20; Isa. 44:15; Isa. 44:17; Jer. 10:3; Jer. 10:9-14; Dan. 3:5-15; Dan. 3:18; Acts 7:40; Rev. 13:15; Rev. 14:9; Rev. 14:11; Rev. 16:2; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:4
C. Worship that God seeks
1.
God alone. Ex. 20:3; Ex.
4:10; Mat. 4:10
We are to honor Jesus as we �honor the Father.� Mat. 2:2; Mat. 8:2; Mat. 9:18;
Mat. 14:33; Mat. 15:25; Mat. 28:9.17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 5:18; John 5:23; John 9:38; John
20:28; Acts 7:59 (compare Ps. 31:5); Php.
2:9; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 5:13; Rev. 7:10
2. In Spirit and Truth. John 4:24
3. Worship is a response to a right-understanding of His glory.� Rom. 2:2
4. Motivated by a desire to be in His presence - the ultimate blessing of redemption. Ex. 29:42-45; Ex. 33:18-23; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 27:4; John 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 21:3; Rev. 22:3-5
D. Worship in vain.
1. Hypocrisy - appearance without substance. Isa. 29:13; Amos 5:21-27; Matt. 15:7-9; Rev. 3:15-16
2. While disobedient.
a) Sacrifice while disobedient is fruitless and rejected. Ps. 69:30-31; Pr. 21:3; Jer. 7:21-24; Hos. 6:6;� Mark 12:33
b) We demonstrate our love through obedience. Isa. 50:10; Luke 6:46; John 14:21-23; John 15:10-14; Acts 5:32
3. In the flesh. Rom. 8:8
II. Prayer
A.
How is prayer related to
worship?� Prayer is a primary means of
communication and fellowship with
God.
Pictured as incense (an offering with a sweet smell) before God. Ex. 30:8; Ps.
141:2; Luke 1:10; Acts 10:4; Rev. 5:8; Rev. 8:3
B. God desires the prayers of believers. Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18; 1Ti. 2:8
C. The believer has a unique and full access to God through Christ. Rom. 5:2; Eph. 2:18; Eph. 3:12; Heb. 4:16; Heb. 10:19
D. When is prayer not heard? Avoid these for your prayers to be effective (James 5:16).
1. Wrong motives. James 4:3
2. Iniquity in my heart. Ps. 107:9; Ps. 107:9 (prayer becomes sin!); Isa. 59:2
3. Disobedient and unrepentant. 2 Chr. 7:14; Pr. 28:9; Jer. 11:14; Jer. 14:12; Lam. 3:44; Zec. 7:13
4. Worship of other gods. Jer. 7:16
5. Unrighteous. John 9:31; 1 Pe. 3:12
6. Mistreating one�s wife. Mal. 3:7; 1 Pe. 3:7
7. Justice is lacking. Isa. 58:3-9
8. Forgiveness is lacking. Mat. 6:15
9. Lack of concern for the needy. Pr. 21:13
10. Double-minded (inconsistent and confused). James 1:8
11. When innocent blood is shed. Isa. 1:15
12. Those hating instruction, lacking fear of God. Pr. 1:28
E. For what do we pray?
1. According to God�s will. Dan. 9:23; Mat. 26:39; Luke 11:2; Luke 22:42; John 4:34; Rom. 8:27
2. God�s kingdom to come on earth. Mat. 11:2; Luke 11:2
3. Jerusalem. Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6-7
4. Giving thanks for God�s provision. Mat. 14:19; Mat. 14:22; Mark 6:41; John 6:11; 1Ti. 4:5
5. Intercede for others. Ex. 8:9; Ex. 8:28; Ex. 9:33; Ex. 10:18; Ex. 32:11; Ex. 32:30-32; Jer. 15:1; Ps. 106:23; Acts 27:24 (Christ is our role model. Isa. 53:12; John 17:15-24; Acts 7:60; Acts 12:5; Rom. 1:9-10; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 6:18-19; Heb. 7:25; James 5:14-16; 1Ti. 2:5; Rev. 8:3)
6. Confession of sin, asking for forgiveness. Dan. 9:3-15; Mat. 6:12; Luke 18:13; 1 John 1:9
F. How do we pray?
1. With fasting. Ne. 1:4; Ps. 35:13; Dan. 9:3; Mat. 17:21; Mark 9:29; Luke 2:37; Luke 5:33; Acts 9:9; Acts 10:30; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23; 1Cor. 7:5
2. In the Spirit. Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 6:18; Jude 1:20
3. In both public and private. 1K. 8:22-53; Ps. 35:18; Mat. 6:6-18; Luke 18:10
4. With a clean heart. 1 Ti. 2:8
5. With Godly fear. Heb. 5:7
6. With persistence. Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 11:5-10; Luke 18:1; Acts 1:14; Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2; James 5:16
7. Continually - with an attitude of constant communion with God. Eph 6:18; 1 Th 5:17 (cf. Luke 2:37; 18:1; Acts 10:2; 1 Th 3:10); 2 Th 1:11