WONDERS OF WORSHIP

“God is Spirit, and those who WORSHIP HIM must worship in spirit and truth” – John 4:24

GOD’S WORD overflows with WONDERS of WORSHIP: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who WORSHIP HIM must worship in spirit and truth” (Jh.4:23-24).  Worship involves showing reverence and adoration for someone or something. The most common word for “worship” literally means “bend over” or “bow down,” describing a gesture of respect or submission. With specific reference to God, worship is the act of attributing reverent honour and homage to God, which would be sinful if rendered to any created being.  

God abhors idolatry: “for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exo.34:14). He said concerning Israel: “Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made” (Isa.2:8). There are people who worship their spouse; others worship money, possessions, or a man-made idol. Worship implies submission to whoever or whatever is being worshipped. For a Believer in Christ, worshipping God should be like breathing; a habit or lifestyle, not a one-off thing. Worship is active, not passive. Also, worship is not just a thing of the mouth, it’s an affair of the heart and mind.

Worship is so crucial to God; He seeks for worshippers! God personally seeks out those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. If we make worshipping God our lifestyle, He seeks us out Himself. God knows our addresses when He needs to pay a visit. The Helper of Destiny will break protocol to show up in our situations and attend to us. It’s against protocol for a prophet to touch a leper but when the leper worshipped, He was instantly healed: “And behold, a leper came and WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Mt.8:2-3).

The leper went on his knees to worship the Lord as a leper, but got up, completely cleansed and healed from leprosy. The mad man of Gadara was delivered from the bondage of unclean spirits after worshiping Jesus: “When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and WORSHIPPED Him” (Mk.5:6). Worshiping God delivers the oppressed from bondage! It’s unimaginable for a good worshipper of God to be inhabited by demons. The devil and demons don’t stay where people are worshiping God because nobody enjoys watching people praise their enemies.

The story of King Solomon attests to the Wonder of Worship in attracting material breakthrough. Solomon worshipped God by offering 1000 burnt offerings, and act of worship people in his days had never seen before. After this worship, God showed up and told Solomon to ask for anything. He asked for wisdom and God blessed him so much with it. He one of the richest and wisest men that ever lived (2Chr.1:1-16).

Worship is a weapon of warfare! When we worship God, He takes over and fights our battles. Worshipping God provokes divine intervention: “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly” (Psa.68:1-3). When we worship God, He arises to visit, and the enemies end up in trouble.

When we worship God in spirit and in truth, He responds mightily. The Almighty responded in David’s situation and in Psalm 23:6, he says: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” If we make up our mind to worship God despite all our challenges, He will respond, show up in our situations and bless us despite the machinations of our enemies.