Why Worship Matters

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Why does worship matter? It matters because God created mankind for His own glory (Is. 43:7) and worship is the means that we give God the glory He is due. If the chief end and purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever then worship is absolutely necessary, for through worship we not only glorify God but we get to enjoy Him and become captivated by His majesty, splendor, greatness, beauty, glory, grace and love… Living in this broken world with injustice, greed, murder, immorality, deceit and evil it is so refreshing and delightful to focus in through worship on our God who is Holy, Just, Loving, True, Righteous, Pure and Faithful. It is the best thing for mankind to worship God. Those who don’t worship The Lord will something else, which is called are idols or gods. David wrote that those who chase after other gods will be filled with sorrow (Psalm 16:4). Idolaters set themselves up for the worst heart break when they give their highest allegiance and affection to something else rather than God. God knows that He is the only one worthy and trustworthy of all our affection and allegiance. He is perfect. He will never let us down. He will always be faithful, just and true. Those who love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength will not be in any way disappointed or heartbroken. Actually they find their highest joy and satisfaction worshiping and loving God (Psalm 16:11). Worship matters because it brings God glory and it is for our own good that we worship Him.

We know that worship matters because Satan tempted the Son of God to bow down and worship him. But Jesus standing firm in His allegiance to the Father quoted Scripture saying “You shall worship The Lord your God and Him only shall you serve (Matthew 4:7-10). The spiritual battle for worship in these last days seems to be intensifying according to the book of Revelation (13:15-18). Those who don’t worship the image of the beast will be killed and those who don’t receive the mark of the beast won’t be able to buy, sell or trade. Those who are true worshippers of God now will resist the temptations of the evil one to worship anything else.
Worship matters because it is what we Saints will be doing for all eternity and it is what taking place in Heaven right now. Jesus taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). When the glory of God covers the earth like the waters cover the sea and all the earth worships God then we will see the fullness of the the kingdom of God and will of God done on earth as it is in Heaven. Worship matters because is manifests the kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. The book of Revelation gives us some glorious snapshots of the extravagant worship that is taking place around the throne of God (Rev. 4-5).
The closer we get to God and the more clearly we see Him the deeper and more extravagant our worship will be. The deeper and more extravagant our worship becomes the more others will see The worthiness of the God we worship. Or as Edmund Clowney said “When we worship God as we ought that’s when the nations listen”.

A Gospel-Centered Perspective

The Apostle Paul faced many trials & afflictions in his pursuit to do the will of God. He wrote to the Philippians that should rejoice in the Lord always and this was something he personally practiced. When he lost the privilege of physical freedom Paul rejoiced in God through singing & prayer (Acts 16:25). What does it take to rejoice when we are faced with adversity? What is different about the person who rejoices in God when life gets tough & the person who gets bitter?
I believe one thing that enables that kind of rejoicing in adversity is perspective. It helps to have perspective on why you should rejoice in adversity.20130222-135333.jpg
Here is some reasons why you should rejoice in adversity.
1. God commands it (Philippians 4:4, 1 Thess. 5:16)
2. God is at work to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:12)
3. God is still in charge and in control (Ephesians 1:11, Psalm 33:9-11)
4. God is for you who are in Christ (Romans 8:32)
5. God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28)
6. God is developing character in you (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-3)
7. God’s love for you will never be taken away (Romans 8:39)
8. God has written your name in Heaven (Luke 10:20)
9. God is teaching you to trust Him (Deuteronomy 8:3)
10. God is glorified in you (Philippians 1:21, 1 Peter 1:8)