By Russ Atmore
The Westminster Confession
of Faith teaches in the twenty-first chapter that nature itself shows us
that there is a God, and that this God has lordship and sovereignty over
all things. God is good, and performs good to all. In view of this God
is to be feared, praised, loved, called upon, trusted in and served with
all the heart, soul and might. God has also revealed an acceptable way
of worship. This way of worship is not according to the devices,
imaginations and machinations of man or the devil, but is only in accord
with Holy Scripture.
The triune God is the
proper object of worship; namely, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God can
only be approached through our precious Redeemer and Mediator, our
Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 2: 5 “For
there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus.”
Jesus told the Samaritan
woman at Jacob’s well,
John 4: 24 “God is
Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
It is incumbent upon all
who enter God’s house every Sunday to enter it in the proper spirit. The
lack of reverential fear for God is so lacking in places of worship.
This is due to our hearts not being right before God. This is due to our
lack of understanding of who God is and what He expects from us.
Here are some practical
suggestions to help you worship the Lord every Sunday.
Set
aside time every Saturday night to read the Word of God.
On Saturday evening set
aside time to be alone with God to prepare your heart for His presence
on Sunday morning. Choose a Psalm to read because they are full of
worshipful statements that will help you. As you prepare for bed, turn
your mind to the passage you have read and think through it, pray over
it, memoriZe it.
Psalm 63: 6 “When I
remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches.”
Purify your heart and mind by refusing worldly entertainment on Saturday
evening.
God
requires clean hearts and hands – hearts that are not tainted by the
world and hands that are ready to be lifted up to Him in prayer and
worship. Forget about the television on Saturday night. It will corrupt
your heart and mind. Do not be enslaved to anything that would ruin your
worship on Sunday morning. Get to bed early enough so that you won’t
fall asleep during worship.
Jeremiah 12: 3 “But Thou knowest me, O Lord; Thou seest me; And Thou
dost examine my heart’s attitude toward Thee.”
Be teachable and ready to receive God’s
Word for you.
Under
grace God has given to everyone of us the ability to think. Make sure
you have your Bible in church – don’t come without the Bread of Life.
Read it before the service starts to still your heart in the presence of
God. Listen attentively to the Word. Receive the Word as that which can
save your souls. Ask God to help you understand His Word. Turn to the
same passage that you read the night before, and pray over it again.
Proverbs 4: 20-22 “My son, give attention to my words, incline your
ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in
the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and
health to all their whole body.”
At
the close of the service, thank God for His Word that can make you wise
unto salvation.
Sit
quietly and drink in all that you have heard. Ask God to help you in the
week ahead to apply and live by His truth that you have heard. Thank Him
for His gracious Word to you. Apply the Word to your own life in God’s
sight. Pray that the Holy Spirit would enlighten you as you seek to
understand God’s Word. Ask God for His wisdom to help you live for Him
in the forthcoming week.
Psalm 130: 5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His
Word do I hope.”
Charles Spurgeon
(1834-1892) said, “My happiest moments are when I am worshiping God,
really adoring the Lord Jesus Christ, and having fellowship with the
ever-blessed Spirit. To me it is the nearest approach to what it will be
in heaven.” Is your worship like that?
|
