Worship : Is Giving to God

What is Worship? Defies adequate definition

The meaning of the term ‘Worship’ like other great words, such as ‘grace’ and ‘love’ is like the perfume of a rose or the delightful flavour of honey. It can be more easily experienced then described. Some descriptions:

“The overflow of a grateful heart, under a sense of Divine favour”.

Here the emphasis – “ Worship us a spontaneous thing. It is not something which has to be laboriously pumped up, but that which springs up, and overflows from a heart filled with a sense of the greatness and goodness of God. “

As David says in Ps.23:5, Ps45:1 “My heart boileth and bubbles up”

• “The outpouring of a soul at rest in the Presence of God”
• Here the emphasis is the spiritual condition of the worshipper.

Song of Solomon 2:3-4 – “I sat down under His shadow with great delight and His fruit was sweet to my task. He brought me to the banqueting house and His banner over me was love’.

• “Worship is the occupation of the heart, not with its needs, or even with its blessings but with God Himself” II Sam.7:18-22

Worship is actually “WORTHSHIP” ……In. Rev 4 & 5, we see the worship of the Living creatures – there is not not one mention of ONE request.

Distinction between Prayer, Praise and Worship

PRAYER : is the occupation of the soul with its NEEDS

PRAISE : is the occupation of the soul with its BLESSINGS

WORSHIP : is the occupation of the soul with GOD HIMSELF

e.g.      PRAYER : ‘Lord save my soul’

PRAISE : ‘Thank You Lord for saving my soul’

WORSHIP : ‘Thank You Lord for what Thou art’

“To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God”

– William Temple.