Revelation 4:11 TPT You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power, for you created all things, and for your pleasure they were created and exist.
Worship – to some, the mention of worship produces the memory of a church choir singing traditional hymns, to another, it is a crowd with hands lifted high, passionately singing songs of praise to our God. But worship is far more than the 15-minute prelude to the Sunday sermon. Worship is a lifestyle; it is everything we do to honor and proclaim the worthiness of God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
So, what is true worship? Romans 12:1 tells us that worship begins with becoming a living sacrifice, a life of total surrender to one who gave His life for us. Worship that brings God glory comes from the deepest recesses of our heart and is never based on our situation or circumstances but on who God is. Worship begins with acknowledging He is a God of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7). It also includes acknowledging who we are—the apple of His eye, chosen and set apart for His glory, the one that God pursues and withholds nothing to have an intimate relationship with each of us.
The call to worship is not exclusive to man. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13). Jesus even stated, “If these people kept quiet, the stones themselves will cry out in worship!” (Like 19:40). All of creation, in heaven and on earth, is called to worship our worthy God.
There are many examples in scripture on the role and responsibilities of angels. Delivering messages from God (Luke 1:26), fighting spiritual (Daniel 10:10–14) and physical battles (2 Kings 19:35), bringing comfort (Matthew 4:11), serving the people of God (Hebrews 1:14), or anything else commanded by God (Psalm 103:20). But no angelic role is more prominent in scripture than that of worship: “I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne with the four living creatures and the elders and sang in a loud voice, ‘The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!’” (Revelation 5:11-12 GNT). Yet, how much more than the angels do we have reason to worship and honor our God!
A popular worship song has the following line: “I have a song of thanks not even the angels can sing.” Stop and consider that we see aspects and facets of God the angels can only dream about. He is our redeemer: canceling our sin and rescuing us from darkness, moving us into his marvelous light (Colossians 1:13–14). He is our healer: providing physical, emotional, and spiritual healing to our body, mind, and soul (Psalm 103:3, Jeremiah 33:6). He is our defender; our rock, fortress, a refuge in times of trouble, a strong tower for us to run into and be safe (Psalm 62:6). Psalm 18:2 states, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” And he never, ever will leave or abandon us.
Worship is a choice. When life is hard and unmanageable, when we have every reason to focus on ourselves and our circumstances, then is the time to worship. For one reason only: He is worthy.
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Gary and Sandy Anthony
Hebrews 13:15 NASB Through Jesus Christ, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.
Nehemiah 9:6 NIV You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
Psalms 145:3-5 NIV Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
Psalm 29:1 NLT Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Revelation 7:11-12 GNT All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!
Hebrews 1:6 NIV And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God’s angels worship him.
Psalms 103:20-21 NIV Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
Psalms 148:1-2 NIV Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Luke 2:13-14 NIV Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
Psalms 150:6 NLT Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Psalms 95:6-7 NASB Come, let’s worship and bow down, Let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
Psalm 99:5 GNT Praise the Lord our God; worship before his throne! Holy is he!
1 Peter 2:9 TPT But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual nation set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would proclaim his glorious wonders throughout the world.
Isaiah 25:1 NLT O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things!
Psalms 95:6-7 NLT Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.
Ephesians 1:3 TPT Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts!
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