Notes for Tonight's Jesus Walk

Worship is a response to God.

A response requires a cause.
No worship where there is no cause.
God causes worship. It is His gift.
A response is an action.

Worship is a voluntary action.

It cannot be coerced, manufactured or passively watched.

A worship response ascribes greater worth or value.

Directed from lower to higher.

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘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.’ “

Revelation 4:10-11

A worship response includes thanksgiving for the cause of worship.

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalms 100.

Worship is a privilege.
Admission into the inner sanctuary of God’s presence; where God lives.

This is the Holy Place.

The place of the believer’s offering, sacrifice, petition and praise.

“We are standing on holy ground...” It is true because of God’s presence.

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.” Psalms 22:3-4

Worship is an offering.
It involves giving to God in response to His gifts.
As imitators of Christ, we give what Christ gave.
Life, honor, surrender of will, service, possessions.
Offering is God’s due and but a return of His blessings.

“I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof...Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High...” Psalms 50.

Worship is a garment.

Covers the nakedness of the old man that the holiness of the new man

may be seen. It is the means to:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Paul told the Church at Ephesus:

“...put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  Ephesians 4:22-24

The worship garmentShields the soul from anxiety, depression, weariness,

and a host of problems.

“Depression and praise cannot coexist in the heart.”

This is why we once sang:

“Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by. Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”

Worship is power. Jesus told His disciples to await the power of the Holy Ghost before carrying out the Great Commission. Worship unites and fills us with the Spirit--the result is power and gifts that will yield fruit. Truth and Spirit are needed for worship that pleases God. No just an emotional reaction--”Worship erupts from a heart of gratitude and praise.”