Man is essentially a worshipping creature. It is part of his nature. His choice is not whether he will worship, but only whom he will worship. In the Scriptures, God demands his worship. He will not share our worship with anyone or anything else.
Thanksgiving, praise, and worship should be compared to the three areas of the Tabernacle of Moses. The Outer Court represents thanksgiving; the Holy Place represents praise; and the Holy of Holies represents worship.
According to Psalm 100, we enter His gates with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving relates to what God has done. As come to the Outer Court of the temple preparing ourselves to enter the Holy of Holies, we begin with a recounting of what the Lord has done. This involves much action of the body. It involves the raising of the hands. Perhaps the clapping of the hands, a loud voice, excitement, and the exuberance that marks the beginning of our approach to the Lord.
We move then to the Holy Place where we offer up praise. Praise is a function of the will which is represented by the Table of Showbread in the Holy Place. It also flows out of an enlightened mind which is represented by the Golden Candlestick. A mind set on fire by the Holy Spirit, enlightened by the power of the prayer language. Praise like that is as a sweet-smelling fragrance, aroma from the golden altar of incense, representing our emotion.
First, we choose (will ourselves) to praise God, then we sanctify our minds through the power of the Spirit. Eventually our emotions take over and bring us through the veil into the presence of God in worship. When we come to that final act of worship it is the divine invitation of the Lord Himself that draws us within the veil.
No man can program himself for worship. It is an act of the will to thank God, it is an act of the will to praise God. It is an act of God’s will to invite us into His presence as we worship. It is only when our relationship with God is consummated in worship that we truly feel that we are where He is, and He is where we are.
In John 4:23, Jesus says that “true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeks such to worship him.” It is an amazing fact that God seeks people who will worship Him. The great God of the Universe takes note of the humble men and women who choose to worship Him. No matter what you are going through today, choose to give thanksgiving, praise, and worship to God. I promise you will not regret it.
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Make It Personal
Have you ever made a connection between your own act of worship and the three areas of the Tabernacle of Moses? The Bible leaves no stone unturned. Knowing people, who are by nature worshippers, would need to understand how to worship in a manner pleasing and acceptable to God, He gave Moses very clear instructions.
How about we practice worshipping together, according to the pattern of the Old Testament Tabernacle?
First, we enter his Gates with thanksgiving.
God, thank you for ___________. (You fill in the blank.)
Thank you for the wonders of creation–the sunrise, the gentle breeze, the chirpping birds.
Thank you for seeing us through difficulties of the past.
Keep giving thanks. This is an act of the will. We choose to give thanks.
After thanking God at His Gates, we are invited to move into the Holy Place and give Him praise. The Holy Place contains the Table of Showbread, which symbolizes God’s everlasting covenant with His people and His continual provision for their needs. Go ahead and give God praise right now for this unbreakable covenant He has established with you. Praise God for His eternal promises.
After a period of time, our emotions will begin to catch up with our choice to give thanks and praise. Do you sense now God’s invitation to draw closer? Do you hear his loving invitation into His presence, into the most holy place, the Holy of Holies? This is where we all long to be, in the presence of God, the great God of the Universe.
Our Abba Father God longs to welcome us into his presence. When we follow His instructions, we’ll find our way to his throne. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Scripture Meditation
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100 NKJV
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:23 NKJV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
Praise and Worship