The way of worship: because holiness still matters

way of worship
way of worship

 

 

Worship belongs to God alone; that’s always been the way.  In the most basic definition I would say that the way of worship is how we acknowledge that God is God.  It’s how we love him, which is why praise, celebration, thanksgiving and prayer are all part of the expression, but let’s dig deeper, because holiness still matters.

 

I’ve been reading through the Old Testament for last couple of weeks, because I am following a reading plan through the entire Bible in 90 days. In the course of reading the LORD has been reminding me and revealing more about why worship is so important to him.

 

As I sat making notes the other day, I kept hearing these words: worship ALWAYS requires a sacrifice.  Let me tell you, this takes on a whole new level of meaning when you are in the middle of reading how God required his people to worship.

 

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament—God’s requirements regarding worship—is intense and after reading through all the details of that process I am relieved to be living under a new covenant.

 

Humanity could not keep up, so in his mercy, God, provided the sacrifice—Jesus. Through his shed blood and resurrection we now enjoy access to the presence of God. Thankfully the days of blood sacrifice are long gone!  That said holiness still matters.

 

“But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:15-16

 

The grace of God covers sin and opens the way, but holiness still matters. Worship is about consecration.

 

 

way of worship

 

 

About Holiness

 

Holiness is about purity and cleanliness.  In the Old Testament that was very literal. God established the law—a way of worship—as a means of justifying the sins of his people.  It was a strict standard developed to make the people of Israel right before God.

 

“For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all its commands.”

Romans 10:5

In the New Testament we learn how Jesus, the Messiah—our savior—fulfilled all the requirements of the law, when he died on the cross and God raised him to life again.

 

“For it is believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

Romans 10:9-10

 

The Good News is that you do not have to make yourself right—God will do it—but you have to choose him.  Salvation is God’s amazing gift of grace, but there is also a life-long process of sanctification wrapped into that.  We are called to be holy, just like God.

 

God calls his children to this holy standard, because there is no room for sin in his presence.  Holiness is important, because it is about truth and belief—there is no room in his presence for lies.  The way of worship must begin with consecration, which is a practice of humility, surrender, and sacrifice.  Consecration requires cutting down the idols, because God will not tolerate duplicity.

 

 

way of worship

 

 

The way of worship begins with humility

 

True humility does not share space with pride. God is God—period.  All the money, power, and influence in the world cannot elevate you to the place of God.  We see this “God-complex” in men and women, who achieve greatness, but forget humility.  Pride will always look to usurp the throne—be careful!

 

I love the story of King Josiah, one of the kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 34-35).  He was eight years old when he became King, because his father was assassinated by his own officials.  Josiah’s father and grand-father were proud men, who refused to follow the LORD.

 

Despite the examples of his father and grand-father, the scriptures tell us that Josiah was a righteous king.

 

“He did what was pleasing in the LORD’S sight and followed the example of his ancestor David.  He did not turn away from doing what was right”

2 Chronicles 34:2

 

Josiah began to seek the LORD at a young age, which led him to purify the land of idolatry. In the process of restoring the Temple the high priest discovered the Book of the Law.  After the priest read the scroll to Josiah, the scriptures tell us that Josiah was utterly wrecked! (2 Chronicles 34)

 

He recognized, with humility that his father and grand-father had led the nation into disobedience.  Not only that, but he acknowledged his own participation in the disobedience—ignorance doesn’t give you a pass!

 

His humility and repentance turned things around for Judah.  Josiah humbled himself and led his people in the way of worship that the LORD had established.  He completely rid the land of pagan shines, altars, and idols, turning an entire generation back to God.

 

 

way of worship

 

 

 Humility leads to surrender

 

 

The way of worship begins with humility and quickly leads to surrender.  While humility acknowledges God’s high standing, surrender is the active choice to lay down the lies.  Surrender is about agreeing with God; it’s about believing what He says is true and submitting to that truth.

 

Salvation gives you access, but surrender is actually the way in.  You cannot maintain pride and humility, because they are diabolically opposed.  Surrender let’s go of everything, because it is the literal embodiment of humility.

 

God’s love is miraculous.  He saved us so that he could restore us.  That process of restoration is about complete healing, it is the process of sanctification.  You were designed for more and he is not satisfied with anything less.  If you want the fullness of all he has for you, then pursue his presence.

 

Surrendering the lies is the ongoing sacrifice for you and me.  The enemy is sneaky, so don’t assume that you are safe.  If there is a chink in your armor he will find it.  He will twist the truth and he will play dirty, always with the intent to gain legal access to your heart.

 

“Guard you heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Proverbs 4:23

The best way to protect your heart is to surrender it to the LORD.  Absolute surrender gives way to complete transformation.  Fix your eyes on his, remember his promises, and practice his truth.

 

 

way of worship

 

 

The way of worship always requires a sacrifice

 

The Old Testament way of worship required a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the Israel.  As we have already discussed, that final sacrifice was completed through Jesus Christ, but I believe that there is still a sacrifice required.  We were made for worship; this is how we love the LORD.

 

“Then Hezekiah declared, ‘Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, bring you sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD.’ So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings too.”

2 Chronicles 29:31

 

Consecration was necessary before the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving could even be offered.  What that means is that surrender created space for repentance, which validated the offering.

 

The way of worship still requires a sacrifice, but there is no room for duplicity.  Holiness cannot be faked.  You are either for God or you are against him—there is no middle ground.

 

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23-24

Surrender and obedience are both beautiful expressions of sacrifice when offered from a place of humility and honesty.  When you surrender fear and trust God instead, by obeying his word, it becomes a holy, fragrant offering of worship.

 

God is not interested in your good deeds unless they are birthed from humility and surrender.  The way of worship is about love and honor, but everything about that must be holy.

 

 

way of worship

 

 

The way of worship develops intimacy

 

The way of worship is all about restoring brokenness.  When God created Adam and Eve, they enjoyed a special, holy intimacy in the garden.  It was perfect, beautiful, and whole.  After the fall that holy intimacy was broken.

 

God did not just wipe his hands and walk away; he has pursued his creation relentlessly.  He pursued Abraham, making an everlasting covenant, promising to make him a great nation.  God established Israel through Abraham.

 

God reveals his extravagant love, over and over, through the word of his testimony found in the Bible.  He never lets up, because he knows how good wholeness is.

 

The way of worship brings us back to the holy place, where healing a complete restoration happen.  Worship is not about proving you are good enough, because the blood of Jesus did that.  The way of worship is about oneness with the LORD—intimacy.

 

Worship—true worship—places God alone on the throne, believing and trusting his sovereignty over all things.  Deep intimacy births revelation.  You were created to enjoy community with God.  Pursue his presence, surrender to his will, and enjoy his lavish love.

 

The way of worship is about living with the LORD in restored wholeness.  Humility, honest surrender, and offering to the LORD are only the response to his perfect, holy love that reaches out first.

 

Holiness matters, but it’s never been about the outward behavior, it’s always, always, always about the place of your heart and soul.  You have been declared holy, so walk in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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