Pastor Ernie Song started by stating the Christian worship is very different from any other. A proper understanding of worship is essential for our walk with God. The key principles are:
1. Worship matters to God because He is the One ultimately worthy and He is the One ultimately receiving it. We are the temple of the Living God. Worship is about God - to bless and exalt Him.
2. It matters to us because worshipping God is the reason for which we were created.
3. We must not offer unto God what we think He wants of us. We must remind ourselves what matters to God, and not rely on our own strength to earn God’s favour.
4. We must seek God to know what He requires of us as worship unto Him.
5. Therefore, God is the One who defines worship, not us; which comes from His Word and Rhema.
God's definition of worship comes from two sources:
1. God's Word. This is general and applicable to everyone.
2. God's Rhema - His spoken Word through the Holy Spirit. This is specific and applicable to the individual. Pastor Ernie asked us to reflect on God's Rhema so as to highlight issues pertaining to our personal conduct, especially with regards to relationships with our spouses, children and co-workers, rather than focusing on giving a word to others about their conduct.
From Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we learn what worship is according to the Scripture. We should worship God with all our heart (mind), all our soul and all our strength. If we have only heart (mind) and strength, we will be legalistic, leading to the rigid statement "It must be done this way." If only strength and soul, we will get confused, asking the question "Why am I doing it?" If only heart (mind) and soul, we will be “overly emotional”, leading to not knowing why we are crying! We need actions leading to a transformed life to back up our worship. We must come before the Lord first and have intimacy with God. This then drives our service and gives the reason for our service.
What drives our worship? Worship involves emotions and requires focusing on and being released emotionally to feel God's presence. Pastor Ernie asked what the difference is between a Coldplay concert and worship. Both are similar in many aspects on the surface. Our emotions can be triggered by the performer, music, atmosphere and stage leadership. Tommy Tenney cautioned that "The Lord doesn't want us to be infatuated with His hands and the blessings they bring to spirit, soul and body. He wants us to fall head over heels in love with Him! The addicted however, are just consumed with the next anointing fix." Authentic Christian worship is built on the foundation of the knowledge and experience of God. Worship should lead to the revelation of God, which in turn should lead the Christian to further and a deeper worship. The Bible reveals God to us as we read His Word, and makes the revelation personally relevant to us through His "Rhema Whispers" to our hearts.
Pastor Ernie elaborated on our theological foundations for worship. They are:
1. God is so great. We are so insignificant. (1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 103:14-16)
2. God is so holy. We are so sinful. (Isaiah 6:2-5)
3. In spite of our sinfulness, God has chosen to love us as a perfect Father. (Psalm 8:3-4, 1 John 4:9-10)
4. In spite of unworthiness, God has chosen to use us. (John 15:16)
How should we approach God in worship?
1. With all our mind, all our soul and all our strength.
2. With a bow and a kiss. God is our King and we honour Him as a divine privilege; we love God as His child, we give of our best unto the Lord. Just as a father is pleased by the love expressed by his children, God is blessed by our worship!
Discussion Questions
1. Pastor Ernie outlined key principles of Christian worship. Why do we worship God? What does worshipping God mean? [10 min]
2. Pastor Ernie elaborated on the theological foundations for worship. While all are important, share with the cell on which of these truths you most relate to when you worship together in the church or cell and why. [10 min]
3. Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Pastor Ernie shared on the traps of legalism, confusion and being overly emotional in our worship of God. Share what triggers you to worship God? How can we avoid those traps? [10 min]
4. How should we approach God in worship? Share one / two steps you want to take up to live out a life of worship. [10 min]
