What is Worship | Paula Finch | 16th February 2025

Ps Paula begins a new series about worship by asking the question, 'What is worship'?

Worship is not about singing songs or hymns, it is a lifestyle living devoted to God. We are all designed to worship, but do we always worship the correct thing? Worship comes from 'worth-ship', meaning to give worth or value to something.

Psalm 29 tells us (NIV) "Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness". Psalm 95 (NIV) tells us "Come, let us bow down in worship,.....".

The Apostle Paul's definition of worship shows this complete devotion of life to God. In Romans 12 we are told (NIV) "Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship". Other translations (NLT) use the word plead instead of urge to emphasize Paul's point here....

Hence the Lord is the only one who is appropriate to worship, anything else or anyone else is idolatry. Genuine God-centered worship exalts God, and God Alone, and is offered for His pleasure alone. True worship is God focused. He is the only one who is appropriate to worship, anything else or anyone else is idolatry. 

Ps Paula explains the story of the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 5. The Philistines had captured the ark of God and placed it in Dagon's temple. However, the next day they discovered their false god Dagon had fallen face down before the ark of the Lord. Any idols we have in our lives will also eventually fall down before God! Nothing can Stand in God's presence!

Philippians 2 (NIV) tells us "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,....".

This is a challenging message from Ps Paula to begin this new series on Worship.....