The fist Essential Element of Worship is praise. Perhaps this causes some confusion: the terminology is very important here. The “Praise and Worship” movement of recent years is simply a musical style trend, using the familiar words to label the movement and add ecclesiastical credibility to its music. The biblical concepts of “praise” and “worship” should not become separated as mutually exclusive in our minds. Scripture is clear that this is not the case. Worship is a broad concept that still has theologians and scholars trying to develop a full, comprehensive definition of it. And indeed, many have in very different yet applicable ways. For example, look up the definitions of worship by Gary Furr, John Piper, William Temple, David Peterson, D.A. Carson, John Frame, or Donald Hustad (just to name a few!)
Praise, however, is much more clearly defined. Praise is our act of expressing the greatness, holiness, and worthiness (among other attributes) of God. First, we are to seek a true vision of who God is and what God is like. Our pastor made a very insightful observation in his sermon on February 8. He said that you can often differentiate young or immature believers from mature disciples by the nature of their prayers. Less mature believers, he said, will continually thank God for what he has done, but the more mature Christians seek to first acknowledge God for his unique attributes and thank him not only for what He has done but for who He is.
In Isaiah 6, we see that the presence of God is continually accompanied by praise. The angels proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” This description first acknowledges for us that indeed Isaiah had approached the throne of the one true and living God; but it also gives us, even in its brevity, several of His attributes. From this short ascription we can derive that God is holy, set apart, and righteous; we see he is omnipotent, omnipresent, and that he is the Creator; and, we see that he is worthy to receive honor, glory, and praise.
We cannot fully worship God without praising Him. May our lips and hearts be filled with the praises of God for who He is.
Praise, however, is much more clearly defined. Praise is our act of expressing the greatness, holiness, and worthiness (among other attributes) of God. First, we are to seek a true vision of who God is and what God is like. Our pastor made a very insightful observation in his sermon on February 8. He said that you can often differentiate young or immature believers from mature disciples by the nature of their prayers. Less mature believers, he said, will continually thank God for what he has done, but the more mature Christians seek to first acknowledge God for his unique attributes and thank him not only for what He has done but for who He is.
In Isaiah 6, we see that the presence of God is continually accompanied by praise. The angels proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” This description first acknowledges for us that indeed Isaiah had approached the throne of the one true and living God; but it also gives us, even in its brevity, several of His attributes. From this short ascription we can derive that God is holy, set apart, and righteous; we see he is omnipotent, omnipresent, and that he is the Creator; and, we see that he is worthy to receive honor, glory, and praise.
We cannot fully worship God without praising Him. May our lips and hearts be filled with the praises of God for who He is.
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