Worship is reverence paid to God. As believers in Lord Jesus Christ, we worship God, the Father in heaven, through His Son, Lord Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament pattern, where Jesus takes the prominence in our worship. Jesus said, in John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. John 10:30 I and my Father are one. Jesus said in John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

It is obvious here that the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and as the “Father” in heaven and Jesus are one the worship that we render to Jesus is acceptable to the Father in heaven. Here, it becomes necessary for us to know what exactly “worship” is. Worship according to New Testament pattern is not fleshly nor is it physical. God is Sprit (John 4:24), therefore, our worship should be in spirit and truth and not physical nor should be fleshly. We see Old Testament pattern of worship had in it, a physical structure called, Tabernacle, Priests with special clothing, Lamp stands, burning of incense, usage of musical instruments, and sacrifice of animals. These all give us physical and fleshly senses. New Testament pattern of worship is clearly described in Hebrews 9:1-12, where Jesus is seen as the high priest and perfect tabernacle, not made with the hands of men, nor with the blood of goats, or calves, but with his own blood, which he shed for us at the cross of Calvary, and obtained eternal redemption for us. Where do we offer our worship?

Who may worship God?

Are there any mandatory conditions attached? Can we still worship God according to Old Testament pattern?

The Church setting is one of the ways to worship God in spirit and truth corporately as believers in Christ, or by individual believers in spirit and truth, at any place and at any time. Ephesians 2:19-22 reads, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit”.

New Testament pattern of worship is centered around Jesus Christ, and spiritual aspects of life. The believers in Christ are one household of God and are built on the foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets. Lord Jesus Christ himself is the corner stone of such building. All those saved in the precious blood of Jesus are fitly framed together and grow in the grace of God and are parts of that holy temple of the Lord. We are built together for habitation of God through the Sprit.

Every born again child of God may worship God in spirit and truth and such worship as is rendered by the child of God is acceptable unto him. The observance of “Lord’s Table” by breaking bread and drinking from the cup, is a great way of worshiping Lord Jesus Christ, by remembering his death, burial and resurrection for remission of our sins; nevertheless, this is not the only way of rendering worship. Restricting ourselves to the observance of “Lord’s Table” only is the way of worship is tantamount to neglecting other ways of worshipping Jesus in spirit and truth. Worship is not only the remembering Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, but also offering reverence to God, who has supernatural power, by bowing down to him and acknowledging him as the Lord and Savior, and also by singing songs and hymns of worship. Old Testament pattern of worship is obsolete because Lord Jesus Christ is the high priest and the perfect tabernacle. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Here, Apostle Paul, was not referring to any physical structure, but was referring to the temple of God, who lives in spirit, which is the built habitation, made up of all the saved Christian believers. Apostle Paul goes on admonishing the saints in Romans 12:1 to present each one his/her body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. In 1 Peter 2:5 and 9 he writes that we are the living stones, built up to make a spiritual home, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, who has chosen us as his royal priesthood, in order that we may show forth, his praises. We are required to offer worship because he called us out from darkness into his marvelous light. In Hebrews 13:15 we are told “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”.

Are prayers worship?

The prayers of saints are offered by the four beasts and twenty four elders, before the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, as worship to Him, when Jesus opened the book of life.

Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints”.

Making melody in the heart:

Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” Apostle Paul writes here that Christians need to speak to each other and edify themselves by singing psalms and hymns. Signing praise songs edifies one another in addition to bringing glory to God. Passover was observed by singing songs, Matthew 26:30 “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives”. A song composed with fine tune and soft melody and rhythm will empathize God’s message that shows us how much he cares for us and loved us, through His Jesus Christ. A well balanced person with sound mind will be spiritual first, and, therefore, will reject rhythm and loud sound that results in body movements, which make a person to meditate more on rhythm and body movements than on the lyrics praising and honoring God.

Notwithstanding anything the greatest way of worship that we can offer to our God is to remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by taking part in the Lord’s Table. Lord Jesus Christ commanded us, in 1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come”. Although, the verse does not say, “worship”, yet by remembering Lord Jesus Christ and honoring him we render our worship. Acts 20:7 reads, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” It is not mentioned here that every first day of the week they took part in Lord’s Table, nor was there any reference that it is mandatory in worship, yet, observance on every first day of the week brings us closer to God. 1 Corinthians 11:26 starts with, “For as often as ye eat this bread..” Therefore, such worship as we do on the first day of the week should not become minimal in our lives. We should offer reverence to God every day by acknowledging him as our Lord and Savior, and all the blessing he showered on us.

Worship the Lord.....Moses fell on his face before the Lord; Ezekiel fell on his before the Lord; Apostle John fell on his face before the Lord; Twenty four elders fell on face down before the Lord; all the angels fall down face before the Lord; all the hevenly host fall face down before the Lord. None of them of them fell backwards unconscious!

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free". (John 8:32)