We were long denied the joy and pleasure and privilege of Worship, as it had become a matter of duty and service In the Old Testament times, it was an awesome and fearful thing to come into God's presence. Without the substitutionary atoning blood of Bulls and Goats, and Sheep as outlined in the Levitical System, God's judgment fell and many died a sudden and headwall death. Ellis resulted in a reluctance ad apprehension to worship. You may remember that the children of Israel told Moses, don't let God speak to us, let God speak to you and in turn you will speak to us. It would seem up to this present time, the devil has succeeded in our maintaining the mechanics, the trappings as it were, or the show of Worship, without our experiencing the efficacy and the sheer joy that God intended of our worship experience. “ In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.|” Psalm 16:11)

However, thanks be to God, because of the Redemptive work of Jesus Christ by his dying on the cross, the way to the Holy of Holiest and being in the very intimate presence of God was made fully open and accessible to us all, such that it is declared of us, ‘ Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us: that we should be called the children of God ---- Beloved now are we the children of God.” (1 John 3: 1-2) therefore we can, (as His children) now come boldly to the Throne of Grace and freely Worship our God and King. What a Privilege! What a Blessing!

Worship is the greatest exercise that we mortals can ever be engage in. The word “ Worship” engenders such thoughts as love for God, Fellowship and Communication with Him, an Admiration, Adoration and Reverence for Him, Great Honour, Respect, Devotion, Submission, it includes the spontaneous expression of Praise, Glorifying God, by Magnifying .and Exalting Jesus Christ. “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Co1l. 1:19). “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him” (Co11.2: 9-10).

Most of us will remember the question of the Christian catechism, “WHAT IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN?” The answer in brief is to Love, Serve and Worship God. (Duet. 11:13) “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments, which I command you this day, to love the turn your God, and to Serve Him, with all your heart and with all your soul.” The same reference was reiterated by Jesus. (Matt. 22:37) “Thou shall Love the lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” This was in response to the question posed by a lawyer and Pharisee, “which is the greatest commandment of the Law? (Psalm 103:1) “Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me Bless His Holy name.” I love the poetic expression of this Psalm. This in effect is a SOLILOQUY The Psalmist talks to himself, until he gets to the point or place or to the dimension where he knows, without a shadow of a doubt that he has met with God. True Worship is never superficial, it is profound, it's that deep longing to lose one's self in reaching out to apprehend God. Think of Jacob (Genesis 32:26) “I will not let thee go except thou Bless me.” Can you sense the desperation, the longing to receive from God? 'Think of Paul, “That I may know Him” (v 10).... “Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended” (v 13)...... of (Phil. 3:10-14) the expression of an insatiable appetite for more of God. How far does your Worship reach? Where does your Worship take you? How sustained is your Worship? How fulfilling is your Worship?

Every civilization, every tribe and nation and people have engaged in Worship. There is that innate desire, that longing to identify with a greater being the ourselves, a higher power, which most times turn out to be a god or gods of their own making. (Ref. The golden calf made by Aaron--Ex 32: 1-6). That desire to Worship has been described as the GOD shaped vacuum, which the TRUE AND LIVING GOD alone can adequately fill. Who or what we worship clearly defines whether we are truly children of God or not. The Hindus have their gods and deities, the Buddhists have their gods and deities, and the world of Islam has their god and their devotees, the indigenous natives of the islands of the seas, all have their gods. And the pantheists, dressed in modem vestments of anthropology readily endorse all those deities. Today there seems to be a spiritual Renaissance. It would be anathema not to have any consideration of worship in one's life. It is deemed essential and vital. It has been newly packaged attractively decorated and vigorously marketed as meditation, introspection, therapeutic yoga, transcendental meditation and the like. Let me caution you, these are demonic, which the Bible calls doctrines of demons. “Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demonic (1Tim 4:2).

The challenge is whether we will Worship the King of kings, whether we will Worship the Lord of Lords, whether we will Worship Jesus, the only one who is worthy of our Thanks and Praise, our Devotion and Adoration. Jesus in speaking to the Samaritan woman said “For the Father seeketh such to Worship Him. God is a Spirit; and they, that Worship Him must Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24).

(1) We must know, WHO we should Worship. (Dan. 3:17-18)
(2) We must know He WHOM we worship. (Acts 17: 23-24)
(3) We must know WHY we Worship. (Rev. 1: 4-6)
(4) We must know HOW to Worship. (Jn. 4: 23-24)
(5) We must know WHEN to Worship. (Ps. 34: 1)

OH COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN; LET US KNEEL BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD AND MAKER FOR HE IS OUR --?GOD AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF HIS PASTURE, AND THE SHEEP OF HIS HAND (Psalm 95: 6-7)

Let us examine of Worship and so have a closer walk with God.

Amen