I like to imagine that out there we are the living and walking street lamps. The switch is our awareness of God’s ever presence in us, and He is our constant ever flowing power current.
In a Bible sharing meeting in response to a sister’s question on how she may overcome the persisting adversities in her workplace, the teacher suggested that she worshipped in those situations. After he left she asked the translator what he meant by worship in those situations. Does it mean singing hymns?
This exchange of conversation made me ponder after the session. What does it mean by worship? The pictures that come to my mind is how the people of faith worshipped God in the Old Testaments. They sacrificed. They sang hymns. They played musical instruments. They recited the words of God. They praised and exalted God with their voices. They lifted up their hands. They focused on God. They proclaimed His love, holiness, greatness, and goodness. They stood up, knelt down, and prostrated themselves on the ground.
What is the purpose of worship? Someone said, worship is the currency of exchange in heaven. I do not think we can use a monetary term to illustrate it, otherwise it becomes meaningless as it is no longer an action of faith in response to the grace (free gifts) of God. God is pleased with faith in action. Worship is a faith in action. It also serves as a spiritual weapon, as demonstrated in the Old Testament, by the famous seasoned warrior poet-king David, and king Jehoshaphat. In the New Testament a phenomenal demonstration by the power of God in response to worship was recorded in Acts 16:16-40. When Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, a great earthquake shook the foundation of the prison and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Back to the dilemma of the sister. She worked in a crowded environment with long lines of people queuing up for their turns. How to worship literally?
I believe worship’s importance relates to God’s presence. He builds His throne in our praises. God enthrones Himself on, and lives in, our praise (Psalm 22:3) Psalm 149:6 “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,” Praises are a significant part of worship. As we praise God the Spirit of the Lord works in us and gives joy to our heart and countenance. Joy lifts us up. The higher we exalt our God in our heart the higher we are lifted up from the mire.
Yes, we can worship in our heart. We can pray in tongues under our breath. We can switch the focus of our inner eyes to see God and His goodness. Isaiah saw God in the midst of a deep loss of security and certainty of future. It was darkness all round. Yet he went and worshipped God. Then he saw God, heard from God, and was refreshed, and commissioned by God. Paul reminded the believers that our body is the temple of God. Jesus said that we can worship God in spirit and in truth (anywhere). (John 4:23-24)
Our change of focus gives us the awareness of God’s presence in us. Yes, it can be likened to a dark room switching on a lamp. It can mean we turn on our light inside. I like to imagine that out there we are the living and walking street lamps. The switch is our awareness of God’s ever presence in us, and He is our constant ever flowing power current. As we worship God, we become aware of God’s presence and the light is lit up. No darkness can stand the presence of light, what more the brilliant glorious presence of God residing in us?
Light attracts. Darkness attacks. God is light. Be light, just as He is. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17) We shall know when the light is on. So will all around us.
David is well versed in this lifestyle. In Psalm 68:1 he declared, “Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.” “3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.” Before he won the battle he anticipated and saw the victory in his worship and rejoicing. God described David, a worshipful man, as a man after His own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
