• Worship is love expressed.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Exodus 3:1-5 NLT

One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground…

WHY WORSHIP

Matthew 2:11 (NKJV)

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

5 Reasons Why Worship Even When You Don’t Feel It

#5) By Faith

#4) God’s Word Says So

#3) It’s A Command Not A Suggestion

#2) It Demonstrates Faithfulness & Authenticity

#1) He Is Worthy!

HOW WE WORSHIP

#1) Clapping

Two main Biblical reasons why we clap:

A) Victory (Job 27:23; Nahum 3:19)

Nahum 3:19a (ESV)

There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you…

B) Joy of the Lord (Psalm 98:8; Isaiah 55:12)

Psalm 47:1 (ESV)

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

#2) Shouting

Galatians 4:27a (ESV)

For it is written,

“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!…

#3) Singing

Psalm 95:1 (ESV)

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Psalm 96:1 (ESV)

Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!

Numbers 21:16-17 (NLT)

From there the Israelites traveled to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Assemble the people, and I will give them water.” There the Israelites sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Yes, sing its praises!       

#4) Bowing & Kneeling

Psalm 95:6 (ESV)

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

• Bowing is an act of submission
• Kneeling is an act of honor

Matthew 4:9-10 (NLT)

“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’ ”

#5) Lifting Hands

Psalm 63:4 (ESV)

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 134:2 (ESV)

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!

#6) Dancing

Psalm 149:3 (ESV)

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

Psalm 150 (ESV)

1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!

2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!

4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

WHAT Should Happen While We Worship

Three important things that must occur in a worship experience:

#1) LOOK

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

#2) LISTEN

Psalm 9:3 (ESV)

When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 68:8 (NLT)

the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before you, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

Acts 3:19 (NKJV)

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

#3) LEARN

Psalm 103:7 (ESV)

He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

• ways = ḏereḵ = way, road, distance, journey, manner of moral character.
• There are fanatics that want to see miracles more than spend time with the God of the miracles!

Psalm 73:1-17 (NLT)

1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.

2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.

7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!

8 They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.

9 They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.

10 And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.

11 “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

12 Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

14 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

15 If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.

16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

• There are things in life that we do not understand, but it is not until we enter in His Presence that we can understand.

CONCLUSION

Luke 7:31-32 (NLT)

“To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’

• Some of you are missing out on your day of visitation because you don’t want to dance, sing, shout, kneel, or raise your hands.
• The closer you get to Him, the less you can take with you.

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

• Will you worship Him?