“Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.So, they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.” Luke 24:50-52 NLT
Four Truths About Worship
- When I worship Jesus, I am doing the main thingI was created to do
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:15-18 NIV
- When I worship Jesus, I am deepening the rootsof my faith
“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives…” Colossians 3:16a NLT
- When I worship Jesus through musicandsongsI am learning how to pray
“Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3:16b NLT
- When I worship Jesus, spiritual battlesare won
“Many Christians view this world as a playground rather than a battleground.”
“I love you, Lord, my strength.The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,and I have been saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3 NIV
How are We to Worship?
- We are to worship in Spiritand truth
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 NIV
- We are to express outwardly, the inward reality of our faith
“Come, everyone! Clap your hands!Shout to God with joyful praise!For the Lord Most High is awesome.He is the great King of all the earth…Sing praises to God, sing praises;sing praises to our King, sing praises!For God is the King over all the earth.Praise him with a psalm…” Psalm 47:1-2, 6-7 NLT
- We are to worship as a way of life
“So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” Romans 12:1 GNT
“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1 MSG