What is Praise and Worship
In "worship", we honor and give respect to a divine being or supernatural power. Worship is not something that is accidentally done. We exercise conscious action to do it.
The Ministry of Praise & Worship brings worshippers to this reality.
The word "worship" is translated from the Hebrew word shachah and the Greek word proskuneo. Both words refer to a person willingly bowing himself to the ground before someone greater. The bowing represents the powerlessness of the person before the greater power.
God claims worship as His exclusive right. 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' “(Matthew 4:10).
Why Praise and Worship?
God alone is worthy of our devotion, praise and worship. He is God, our Creator, and we are commanded to praise and worship Him.
Exodus 20:2-3"I am the LORD your God...You shall have no other gods before me." Matthew 4:10, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
Psalm 96:9 says, "Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth."
Psalm 29:2 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."
A life of praise and worship fills our deepest needs, and amazingly, it also brings great joy to God.
How do we Praise and Worship?
John 4:23 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
In order to worship God in truth, we need to know that Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So, before we can worship in the way that God desires, we have to develop a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus, His Son.
The best way that we can praise and worship God is with our every thought and action. Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Pure Love from the Heart
Many people think that praise and worship is only singing songs at church, but it is so much more! It is also a condition of your heart -- a willingness to exalt God and yield to his will. Worship is an expression of love and awe to the God who gives us more than we deserve.
Whether you express your worship by singing, playing music, dancing or in some other way, remember that you are called to worship God with your every action, every day of your life. God is holy, loving, and worthy of all our worship and devotion.
The Importance of Praise
Praise to God is what we offer in acknowledgement of God's excellent being. It is offered for who God is.
Psalm 18:3 says, "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise…"
God so commands in Isaiah 43:21, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Hebrews 13:15 confirms this: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."
Praise originates in a heart full of love toward God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
How to Praise God
Praise to God is expressed outwardly through our everyday actions, as well as inwardly in our thoughts. It is an act of Christian worship.
Praise can be:
Expressed in song b) Expressed in verse c) Expressed in prayer
Done continuously
Psalm 34:1 instructs, "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips."
Psalm 71:6 says, "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you."
We can praise God inwardly: Psalm 9:2, "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
We can praise God publicly: Psalm 22:22 says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you."
Search out opportunities to bring praise to God!
We can praise God For:
- His holiness, mercy, and justice (2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 99:3-4).
- His grace (Ephesians 1:6).
- His goodness (Psalm 135:3).
- His kindness (Psalm 117).
- His salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)
