Worshipers fall into two categories: (1) Those that have a worshipful experience, and (2) Those that simply go through the motions. Worship is not ritual, but experiential. Worship that is spiritual and truth-based will exhilarate the heart and life of the person gathered with those of like precious faith. The Bible teaches us about true and spiritual worship. Let’s look at Isaiah 6.
Worship is an act of reverence (v. 1-2). Two extreme aspects of God are: (1) The transcendence of God (i.e., God is above and beyond anything earthly), and (2) The immanence of God (i.e., God is present in every part and moment of the created universe). Isaiah was overcome with God’s transcendence, and thus, worship begins with reverence.
Majesty: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” (v. 1). Greatness: “and the train of His robe filled the temple” (v. 1). Supremacy: “above it stood Seraphim” (v. 2). Holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (v. 3). Glory: “the whole earth is full of His glory” (v. 3).
Worship is an act of confession (v. 5). There is something about being in the presence of God that makes us aware of our own unworthiness (Luke 5:6-8). Isaiah came to this realization and exclaimed, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of Hosts.” Isaiah recognized that his guilt was genuine and so was the guilt of the people. Therefore, he confessed. The word “confess” is a compound word (homologeo) taken from (homo) “the same” and (logeo) “to speak or say.” Confession is an agreement with God. The broken spirit and contrite heart are the marks of the believing soul.
I am lost: “woe is me, for I am undone.” I am lost because I have sin: “I am a man of unclean lips.” I am among lost people: “I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.”
Worship is an act of grace (v. 6-7). Isaiah’s confession and contrition were met with God’s gracious provision of mercy as He promised in Isaiah 57:15. This is symbolic of what Christ has done for us. Through His death, our sins have been blotted out, and our guilt has departed. Isaiah is an excellent Old Testament illustration of the powerful principle taught in 1 John 1:9.
Worship is an act of faithful service (v. 8). Worship is the motivation to application; we must live what we love! Isaiah did not discuss his call with the Lord, as did Moses (Exodus 3:11-4:15) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-10), but he accepted the appointment and made himself available to his Master. Isaiah’s prompt response and surrender to the Lord’s call reminds us of two fishermen in the New Testament who also heard and surrendered (Matthew 4:17-19).
How do we prepare to meet God? We must cultivate the lifestyle presented in Romans 12:1!
