WORSHIP REDEFINED!

[Dr Benard Etta]

 (When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven,(Hallowed be thy name)

For so long, our definition of worship has been limited to special moments when we sing, lift up our hands and praise the name of the lord. There is nothing wrong with singing, lifting up holy hands and praising God; but there is more to worship than the above. Christ told the woman of Samaria in the gospel of John, “Ye worship ye know not what.”

It’s more than two thousand years since Christ spoke those striking words to the woman of Samaria. Do you know what? He is still saying the same words today to several millions of God’s people around the world who fill church buildings day in and out in the name of worship, “Ye worship ye know not what.”

Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Joh:4:20-21

To the woman of Samaria as seen in the above scripture, worship was a traditional rite handed down by her ancestors and should be carried out in the same traditional environments. This is the summary of what the religious mentality of worship is all about. God is looking for a generation of true worshipers who will worship the father in spirit and in truth.

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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Joh:4:23-24

WHAT IS WORSHIP?
Worship is the act of total surrender to God and living for his will, plans and purposes. It’s bigger than singing some religious songs and weeping in a religious service. Worship is part of our ministry to God; it’s not a religious ritual, but an altitude of respect which should be expressed in all we do and say, to hallow the name of the Almighty God. In the words of Christ to His disciples on prayer, worship was included by the statement (Hallowed be thy name). Worship in all its forms helps to lift up our spirit and to enable us to be more receptive to God.

Note!
Worship does not raise God higher, for He is already higher above all gods and He fills all things. You can’t improve on perfect! Worship does not lift God for God is already lifted; worship lifts us to where God is, from where we can be graced with His anointing. Worship should be an integral part of the life and ministry of a New Testament believer in season and out of season.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab 3:17-18)

When we live a life of worship, we would be able to go through challenging seasons without losing the freshness of God’s presence. Worship as a life of total surrender to God and living for his will, plans and purposes keeps us in the presence of God perpetually, where mountains becomes plane. I encourage you to practice a life of worship (a life of total surrender to God and living for his will, plans and purposes). It’s uplifting and refreshing.

What is considered as worship today has given birth to religious charlatans who live like the devil from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday morning they sit in church as humble devils to appease their religious consciences with few songs in the name of worship. May God save the church!

God created us to live for his will, plans and purposes which were to serve as our worship to Him.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev 4:11

God created all things for His pleasure. What is that pleasure? The pleasure has to do with his will, plans and purposes. The pleasure of every manufacturer is the functioning of his product in accordance to his will, plans purposes. We only worship God effectively if we live fully for his will, plans and purposes. This does not demand for one to go up the mountains or Jerusalem to worship; God is spirit, he is everywhere. He is not looking for a religious ritual in the name of worship, but for people who will live fully for his glory.

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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Joh:4:23-24

May the Spirit of the Lord come on you as you commit yourself fully today for God and all what his passions are in Jesus name! Cheers! Dr. Etta