FOREWORD:

As I have moved about amongst God's people, I find that the hearts and minds of many are exercised about the subject of worship. There is a real desire to have a better understanding and to be able to worship more inteligently.

When I have ministered on the subject there has been a very lively interest, and I have been asked to write something about worship. This article is a response to that request.

There seems to be a lack of teaching on the subject of worship, with the result that there is much ignorance about it. The following thoughts and suggestions are put forward for your consideration. May they lead us to search and study the scriptures, that we may learn what they have to teach us. May it result in a richer and more inteligent response in worship to our Great God. May His Holy Name be glorified!

WHAT IS WORSHIP:

Worship is the deepest spiritual emotion that the redeemed soul and spirit of man is capable of. True worship is addressed to God alone. The Tri-une, Eternal, Only Wise God, who has revealed Himself in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son .

It may be addressed to God in His absoluteness, in His tri-une majesty and glory, that is including all the Persons of the God-head. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Worship may also be addressed to the Person of the Father, or to the Person of the Son, but never in scripture is worship addressed to the Holy Spirit personally. In fact no where in scripture do we have an example of anyone speaking to the Holy Spirit. He is the one who speaks to us. However when we worship God in the absolute,we worship the Holy Spirit as God, along with the Father and the Son.

The most intimate form of worship is addressed to God in a direct and personal manner; that is; using the personal pronouns. Worship may be impersonal, we have a demonstration of both in Rev.5. In verse 9, we hear those surrounding the throne, the inner circle, saying "Thou art worthy", but the hosts of angels and other families of the redeemed, in verse 12 say, "Worthy is the Lamb". As the circle widens to gather in both heaven and earth, we hear the countless multitude saying, "To Him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb".... In both these latter cases the manner of address is impersonal.

THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ADDRESS TO GOD:

It may help to point out the different levels of address to God, of which the scriptures speak, and seek to distinguish the one from the other. They are:

(a) PRAYER AND SUPLICATION:

Prayer is good, it is commanded of God, 1,Thess.5;17, it is a desireable and wonderful priveledge, but it is not worship.

In prayer we are asking from God, whereas in worship we are giving to God. Some brothers pray publicly, asking God for things and mistakenly think that they are offering worship.

THANKSGIVING:

As with prayer, thanksgiving is commanded, is right and is desireable, but again it is not worship. It is right that we should give thanks to men, to those who help us, serve us, give to us etc., but we are never to worship men, we are to worship God alone. Thanksgiving should always be included in our prayers. To give thanks is greater than asking.

(c) PRAISE:

It is said that praise is comely for the upright, Psl.33;1. God also says that "Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth Me", Psl.50;23. But again, praise is a little less than worship. I may praise my child for their success in studies, I may praise my wife for her cooking, but I am never to worship them. We thank and praise God for what He gives and does, but we worship Him for what He is.

(d) WORSHIP:

Worship is the highest form of address to God

There are two Greek words used by the Lord Jesus in Luke 4;8. The first word is "PROSKUNEO", which means to bow down, to fall on the knees, to kiss the hand that is held out to us, as a token of affection and reverence.

This denotes a sense of awe and wonder, an appreciation of the One in whose presence we are. It suggests a sense of deep adoration, of affection, of wonder. It is more than a physical posture, though it may involve that, it is the posture of my heart. It is the deepest and the richest spiritual emotion and response that the redeemed spirit and soul of man are capable of. True worship is prompted by the indwelling Holy Spirit and can only be offered in His power

An ilustration may be taken from John chapter nine. Once the blind man had received his sight he was full of thanks for what Christ had done for him, but he knew only that He was a "Man called Jesus". After he had been cast out for his testestimony, the Lord Jesus found him and asked whether he believed on the Son of God. When Jesus had revealed to the man that He was the Son of God, he exclaimed "Lord I believe!" and he worshiped Him. He now knew that Jesus was more than a man, and now that the greatness of Jesus was revealed to him, he was overcome with awe and wonder. His heart was filled with both gratitude and adoration, and he fell on his knees, he prostrated himself in reverence and worship.

The second word used in Luke 4;8, is the Greek word "LATREUO", which means to serve, to minister to, to perform sacred services.

This shows us that worship is not only by lip, but by life. The deep sense of awe and adoration that I feel affects the whole of my life. My service for God is then a continuation of worship. I not only offer the deep adoration of my heart, but I also offer myself, my body, as a living sacrifice, this is my reasonable service. Rom.12;2.

Worship then, is what I offer to God. It is my deep inner appreciation of the worth and glory of the Person whom I am addressing. It is something more than the appreciation of the work or the gifts that the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit have done, or given, for They are personally greater than all the wondrous works that They have done, and the gifts that They have given. The gifts that the Father has given are unspeakable, but He is personally greater than the gifts He has given.

There are examples in the New Testament of worship being ascribed to the Father, Eph.1;3. There are examples of worship being offered to the Son, Rev.5;9. There are examples given of worship being offered the Tri-une God in His absoluteness, Majesty and Glory, 1,Tim.6;15 & 16, but no examples are given of worship being offered to the Holy Spirit personally. This is not because He is inferior personally to the Father, or the Son, but is because of the position He has taken in wondrous grace, in which He serves and glorifies both the Father and the Son. He finds His pleasure and satisfaction in seeing and hearing those in whom He dwells- Those to whom He moves or prompts, worshiping God, the Father and the Son. In fact, He Himself within us and through us, cries and causes us to cry, "Abba Father"! Gal.4;6, & Rom.8;15.

Worship involves the whole person, the spirit, the soul, the body. Mary said in Luke 1;47,"My SOUL doth magnify the Lord, and my SPIRIT doth rejoice in God my Savior. But her body was also involved, because her mind, her mouth, her tongue and her voice were used in the worship of God.

THE PERSONS OF THE GOD-HEAD:

To worship inteligently we need to be able to distinguish between the Persons of the God-head. We can never seperate them, because God is One, but we may distinguish between the Divine Persons, the glory, the work and the offices each person fills. If we fail to distinguish, there will be some confusion in our minds and in our worship. For example: I often hear believers thanking the Father for dying for their sins and for shedding His blood for them on the cross. I would say with reverence, that the Father never died, nor did He shed His blood for anyone, because the Father never became man. That glory belongs to the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me point out here, that though we may say these things in ignorance, yet God knows our hearts, and He knows what we mean. So we must not be discouraged, but we should seek to learn so that we may worship more inteligently. We worship the Father through the Son, and in His name, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He serves us as our Great High Priest. He removes from what we offer, that which is unsuitable and offers to God, from what we present, that which is acceptable to Him and will bring joy to His heart.

It is not my intention in this short paper, to try to bring out from the scriptures the particular glories, work and offices of each of the Persons of the Trinity. But I would suggest to my brothers and sisters, to carefully and prayerfully syudy the New Testament, to learn what are the glories, the work, the offices of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

PREACHING IS NOT PRAISE OR WORSHIP:

For many years I have moved amongst assemblies in Kerala, and assemblies in other countries that have been established by dear brethren who have come from Kerala. Assemblies in which the language of Malayalam is used. In these assemblies I have found a practice that I have found no-where else in the World. That is, that so much time, which should be devoted to worship, is instead given to preaching or exhortation. I have seen as many as six brothers stand and read a passage from the Bible, draw some thoughts from it, and exhort the believers to worship. I believe that they may think in doing so that they are worshiping the Lord, whereas they are not worshiping at all. They are not speaking to God, or offering worship to Him, but speaking to the saints, exhorting them to worship, when they themselves are not doing so. I often feel that it would bring much more glory to God, if they were to read a verse or ashort passage, then use the thoughts that they draw from it, in offering to God the worship of their hearts.

I am told that at a missionary conference held in Kerala in 1992, a brother in ministry said, "The Lord is not wanting to hear your preaching, He wants to hear your praise". I believe he was correct.

If these dear brothers were to do as we have suggested, they would do more to stimulate others to worship, than by exhortation. Because when true worship, that comes from the heart is offered, it will usually touch and move the hearts of other believers.

WORSHIP DOES NOT FLOW FROM SELF OCCUPATION:

Worship does not come from occupation with ourselves, or with our sins. It flows from our hearts as we are occupied with God, whether it be the Father,the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

I have found so often in the time of worship, that believers are thinking of their sins, of the things that they have done, of all that they have been forgiven. They are remembering all that Christ suffered because of their sin and guilt. This can be a subtle form of self-occupation.

In true worship I am not occupied with myself or with my sins, but with my Lord and Savior, or with my Heavenly Father. In true worship I speak to Him about Himself. An example of this can be seen in Psalm 45. There David says "I will speak the things which I have made touching THE KING". As a result of his thoughts being occupied with THE KING, his heart was welling forth with a good matter.

By way of contrast, in Psalm 32, David is thinking of his sins and what he has confessed and been forgiven. But Psalm 45 is so much richer in response and worship than Psalm 32.

We are told to forget the things which are behind, Phil.3;13. We are told that God will remember our sins no more, Heb.8;12. Then let us not seek to remind God of the things He does not wish to remember. Let us go on to maturity, Heb.5;12 to 6;3.

INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE WORSHIP:

There are two aspects of worship, (a). Individual or personal worship. (b). Collective, when we worship as a company of God's saints, gathered to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(a), Individual or personal:

Individual or personal worship is what I offer to God, when alone in His blessed presence. I offer to Him my personal appreciation of Himself, of His Person, of His worth, of His gifts, of His grace and of His work. This is a sweet and wonderful experience. It enriches our souls, changes our lives and sometimes like Moses, makes our faces to glow with happiness. This is to be encouraged. However when we are gathered together it is a little different.

(b), Collective worship:

When in assembly, though the worship and response comes from my heart, yet when I worship and praise God audibly and publicly, I am expressing the feelings and adoration of the whole assembly. It is not just my own feelings and thoughts, but I am leading the assembly. By the Holy Spirit I become their voice.

So then in collective worship we should generally use the plural pronouns; we, and us, instead of I, and me. Our and ours, instead of my or mine. We see this in Rev.4;11, "O OUR God, and in chapter 5;9 & 10, "Thou hast redeemed US to God....made US kings and priests". When we do this, and the saints respond with AMEN!, they are saying "it is so", "what he has said is just what we feel and would say".

THE USE OF HYMNS:

The inteligent use of the hymn book is also important.

Hymns, wisely chosen and sung with joy and feeling, contribute so much to the richness of collective worship. We should get to know our hymn book better and learn to use it wisely.

It would not be inteligent or wise for one brother, (as is done in some places), to announce all the hymns. Neither is it desireable to sing all the hymns at the commencement of the meeting. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to prompt and to lead us.

When we gather to remember the Lord Jesus, it not the elders or the evangelist who are in charge, it is the Holy Spirit. We must give Him His place and allow Him to preside and to lead. This emphasizes the need for each of us to be in personal communion with the Lord throughout the week. Then when we gather the Holy Spirit will be not be grieved, He will be in liberty and we will be in communion with Him and sensitive to His leading.

If this is not so, our sisters will feel frustrated, because the thoughts and feelings of their hearts, (which the Holy Spirit knows), will not be given expression to. (We will explain this more fully later).

Sometimes numbers of hymns are sung at the commencement of the meeting, to allow the late-comers to arrive. The lack of punctuality, shows a lack of interest & a lack of self-discipline and organization in our lives.

When the Lord and His disciples gathered to keep the passover we read, "When the hour was come He sat down". He is never late. Should we be late?. If we had an appointment with the Prime Minister, or the President or the Queen, would we dare to be late? How much more then should we be punctual when it is the King of Kings whom we come to meet?

The remberance meeting is not a time for the singing of our favourite hymns, or Gospel hymns, but hymns should be chosen and sung, that are suited to the occasion. If we are in communion with the Lord, often a hymn may be brought to our minds even before coming to the meeting. We may even be singing it over to ourselves. The rich thoughts and lovely language moving my heart. Thus I come to the meeting prepared and there will not be a long pause when the meeting is to begin.

When a hymn is sung in the Spirit, He may use the thoughts that the hymn expresses to move another brother to worship. The thoughts that brother expresses, or the particular glory that fills the vision of his soul, may stimulate another brother to worship, or bring to his mind a hymn that expresses the same thought. This emphasizes the importance of our knowing the hymn book.

It is a proffitable thing for us to gather in groups in each others homes, and to spend time, accompanied by a keyboard or some instrument, to learn the hymns, the tunes and how to sing them. Usually God places in an assembly a person who has a good voice and an understanding of singing and of music. Such should be encouraged to help the believers to sing better, and to sing to the glory of God. This will assist in enriching the time of worship, and indeed all of the meetings. It will help in our outreach meetings also, because good singing attracts people. It will bring more glory to God and be proffitable to His people.

Often there are rich and beautiful hymns in the book that are forgotten and never sung. They are sometimes replaced by short and repetitious chorusses, of little depth and little value.

THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

What we have discussed in the previous chapter will help us to understand the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8;14 & 15, show that the characteristic of the sons of God is that they are led by the Spirit of God. He gives liberty and utterance, producing a sense of relationship, enabling us to cry "Abba Father"!

However it must be pointed out that this leading and communion does not only happen when we are assembled to remember the Lord and to worship Him. If the Holy Spirit is greived within me by my allowance of sin, or by carelessness in my daily life during the other days of the week, then I cannot expect to experience His leading when we gather.

Because of this, the liberty,( or the lack of it), and the quality of the worship, when we gather, is often a reliable indication of the spiritual state of the saints individually, and also of the state of the assembly.

But let us suppose that we are in a healthy spiritual state and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Then in my personal Bible readings and devotions, and in our family Bible reading, prayers, and meditation, God's Spirit will reveal to us the glory of Christ and of the Father, John 16;14 & 15. Then when we gather, our "golden bowls" will be full of incense, and our harps (hearts), will be in tune, Rev.5;8.

But though our hearts are full, we will not be clashing with each other, or all be worshiping, singing, shouting, at the one time. The leadership of the Holy Spirit brings in the beauty of order, not confusion and chaos. You will find that the hymns and praises will compliment each other, and a beautiful theme will run right through the meeting.

Our sisters too will have their part in worship, but not audibly, for a woman is not suffered to speak in the assembly, 1 Cor.14;34. Sometimes our sisters feel frustrated because of this, especially when the brothers, ( who have the priveledge of speaking, praying and worshiping audibly), are silent and have nothing to offer to the Lord. But as incense is sweet, permeating all, yet is silent, so the fragrance of the adoration that is in the hearts of the sisters, should be expressed by the brothers. This will be so, if we are led by the Holy Spirit.

For example: a sister who enters into the spirit of the meeting, may have a hymn occupying her mind. She may even think to herself, or silently say to the Lord, "If I was a brother I would anounce that hymn". Imagine her joy when a brother anounces the very hymn that is in her mind. This is how the Holy Spirit leads. It is her hymn, it is being sung, yet she has not spoken or breached the Lord's commandment.

This applies to worship as well. The very thoughts that are in a sister's heart will be expresed by a brother, almost as if he knows what is there in her mind and heart. All this makes worship, when led by the Holy Spirit, a rich and thrilling experience. Yet we have not come to seek thrills, but to remember and to worship the Lord.

In July 1992, I was in the Montazh assembly in Heliopolis, Egypt. The language spoken was Arabic and I knew only a few words of that language. But after the meeting a sister came to me and said, "We were in heaven this morning".

Sometimes I have had sisters come to me and thank me for anouncing their hymn, or for offering their sacrifice of praise. This is so thrilling to the sisters, and encouraging to the brothers, but more importantly, glorifying to God.

THE LORD'S SUPPER, AND WORSHIP:

Over the centuries, the Lord's supper has been shrouded in mystery and superstition, until in some churches it is no longer the Lord's supper, but the practice of a sad form of idolatory. Even in our assemblies, sometimes through ignorance it is regarded as a means of grace. Many would not miss the Lord's supper, lest they miss a supernatural blessing. This is just another form of superstition.

Some mistakenly think that when they take part in the Lord's supper, that in eating the bread and drinking of the cup, they are performing an act of worship. no where in the Bible does it teach this. The purpose of the Lord's supper is double. Firstly it is to cause us to remember the Lord Jesus himself, "This do in rememberance of ME". Secondly it is to enable us to show forth His death, until He comes. The first is inward, the second is outward, but niether rememberance, or showing forth His death is worship in itself.

However the rememberance of the Lord, the calling of Him to our minds, will surely move our hearts to worship. In most of the assemblies the Lord's supper is celebrated at the end of the time of worship. In this case it becomes the climax to which the worship and praises of the saints lead up to. In other assemblies it is celebrated at the beginning of the meeting, in that case it sets the tone of the meeting, and the calling to mind of the Lord Jesus, (if we are right with God, and in the Spirit), will surely move our hearts to worship and adoration.

Both could be correct, there is no explicit command given in the word, as to where in the meeting it should be celebrated, at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end.

In Acts 20;7, we are told that it was on the first day of the week that they assembled to break bread. However the Lords supper was not partaken of until after mid-night. It was preceeded by ministry, and followed by fellowship, discussion. However we should not take this example as a pattern to be ridgidly followed, because the circumstances were special.It was Paul's last visit to Troas, he was about to depart on the morrow and perhaps would never see them again. It was his last opportunity to speak with them and this would explain why he spoke for a long time, until mid-night.

It is not my intention to expound on the Lord's supper in this paper, but just to show that to partake of that supper is not an act of worship, but of rememberance.

One other thing should be said. The worship offered publicly while we are gathered, should be offered in such a way as to be heard by all of those assembled. If it is not heard by all the saints, then it is not understood. If it is not understood, then how can the saints say "Amen", see 1 Cor.14;15 & 16. This means that those who do take audible part, should do so in a clear voice that is loud enough for all to hear. Often the saints are frustrated and dissapointed when they can't hear what the participating brother is saying.

Sometimes it would help if the table was placed in the centre of the gathering, instead of being placed at the front, as if it is some kind of altar.It also means that large gatherings (for worship) are a mistake, for these help to create such problems.

Large gatherings tend to produce a more formal atmosphere and to discourage the more timid of the brothers from taking part audibly.

THE USE OF MUSIC IN WORSHIP:

There is nothing in scripture, (to my knowledge), to tell us that it is right or wrong to use musical instruments in the time of worship. This has become a contentious issue in these days.

Some want to bring in all kinds of instruments, and to change the time of worship into a time of entertainment, to change it into a kind of sacred concert, (or in some cases, a not so sacred concert). Others are greatly offended by the very thought of introducing an organ.

I am sure of this, that if the Holy Spirit is free, if He is not grieved and is given His proper place, then music is not necessary.

I am also quite sure, that if the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the hearts of the saints are not right with God, then no amount of music can ever make up for this. Some will argue that muscial instruments were used in the worship of God in the Old Testament, and that they are mentioned in the book of Revelation.

My answer to this is that in the Old Testament musical instruments are typical, and that in the book of Revelation, they are symbolical. I am sure that if what the scripture teaches us,(as we have sought to bring out in these suggestions), is followed, then musical instruments will niether be needed, nor will they be desired.

IN CONCLUSION:

As we conclude, let me state that this small paper is not meant to be a "Handbook of worship Practice". It should never be regarded as such. These are suggestions only, but suggestions that in practice have been blessed of God over generations of Assembly experience.

Let us, like the Bereans, demonstrate spiritual nobility by accepting the word with readiness of mind, but then let us search the scriptures to see if these things are so. Acts 17;11. My only desire is that God may be glorified and the saints may be enriched.

May there be a revival of true spiritual worship, (John 4;23,) that the offering of the saints, (Judah and Jerusalem), may be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in the former years, (Mal.3; 3 & 4.)