P&W

Series: Growing with the Lord

Action File

Praise & Worship

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks" John 4:23-24.

The faculty of praise and worship has been created within us by God. We find great fulfilment in worshipping the Lord, and this is something we can experience more of each day. God the Father is seeking worshippers and He has expressed just what kind of worship he is seeking:

1. In Spirit

True worship comes from the depth of our hearts. Our spirit, which has been made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5), is called the "inner man" (Ephesians 3:16-17). Worship takes place when our inner man, in response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, is released in love and adoration toward God.

2. In Truth

True worship is based on truth - truth in us (that which is genuine and sincere) - and the truth of Him (the understanding of who He is and what He is like, and what pleases Him - John 14:6;17:17). The Word of God clearly describes the expressions of praise and worship which God enjoys:

With the Mouth

1. Singing

"I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High...Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion..." Psalm 9:2,11 (Psalm 13:6; 40:3; 47:6-7; 96:1-3; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13).

2. Praising

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name" Psalm 103:1 (Luke 19:37-40).

3. Shouting

"...shout to God with cries of joy" Psalm 47:1 (Psalm 33:3).

With the Hands

1. Lifting

"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" Psalm 63:4 (Psalm 134:2; 1 Timothy 2:8).

2. Clapping

"Clap your hands, all you nations..." Psalm 47:1 (Psalm 98:8; Isaiah 55:12).

3. Musical instruments

"Praise the Lord...praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord" Psalm 150.

With the Body

1. Standing

"Behold, bless [affectionately and gratefully praise] the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, [singers] who by night stand in the house of the Lord" Psalm 134:1 (Amp.) (Psalm 24:3; 26:12; 119:120).

2. Kneeling, bowing

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker" Psalm 95:6 (Psalm 138:1-2; 1 Chronicles 29:20).

3. Dancing

"Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp" Psalm 149:3 (Ps.150:4; 30:11; Luke 6:23).

Copyright © 1981,1996 Paul, Bunty and David Collins. All rights reserved. This study may be freely used and reproduced, wholly or in part, by the Christian Church for the non-profit purposes of study and training only, provided copyright and contact information is included.

Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures quoted in these studies are from the New International Version of the Bible © New York International Bible Society, used by permission. Other versions referred to are: KJV (King James Version), NKJB (New King James Bible), TLB (The Living Bible), Amp (The Amplified Bible) and The Message. All versions used by permission.

These studies are "graceware" - distributed freely and without obligation. If you would like to help financially in the continuation of t his ministry, you can send your gift to:

For more information on Bible studies available, visit the Churchlink site on the World Wide Web at http://www.churchlink.com.au/churchlink. Enquiries to: [email protected]