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Worship and Praise |
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| UNDERSTANDING WORSHIP The book of Revelation gives us a pattern of heavenly worship and also an indication of how we should worship. "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song saying,... Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of  thousands, saying with
a loud voice:
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and
wisdom, and strength and honor glory and blessing!" (Rev.
5:8-12)"Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever." (Rev. 5:14) This illustration tells us that heaven is consumed with the adoration of God. Traditionally, worship and reverence of God have been equated with silence. However, the book of Revelation says that when we are in the presence of God, we will not be silent. Prayers, songs, instruments and loud voices are the activities of the thousands that stand before God overwhelmed with His glory. John 4:23 says, "But the hour of coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." The worship of God by man cannot come
from mental assent, logic or emotional outpouring. It must come
from the Spirit of God and by the truth that is proclaimed in His
Word. The worship of God occurs when we come to the realization of
who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. It causes us to
stand in agreement with the heavenly hosts and proclaim: |
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