What is worship? To paraphrase A W Tozer, Worship is to feel in your heart and express in an appropriate manner a humbling, delightful sense of admiration, awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Art in Heaven. A.W. Tozer, quoted in D.J. Fant, A.W. Tozer, Christian Publications, 1964, p. 90.

            The last month has been extremely difficult for many people - the drowning in the Kingfisher Park and the terrible accident that claimed two lives and severely injured another person that we all know and love.

            Tragedies of this nature always leave people wondering where God was and why He didn't do something about it. When we read some of the stories from the Old Testament it makes us wonder if God may be behind these tragedies.

            However, a look at the New Testament will tell us that God does not do these things. They are the result of our fallen natures - and we all have one.

            This morning we will focus on worshiping God. A recent film clip I reviewed was on worship. The author noted that people leave churches because of worship style. The wrong type of music is played, perhaps the guitar is too loud, or the organ is too slow.

            The author then notes that worship is not about what you and I receive from church, but how we focus on God... how we seek to bring honor and glory to Him; about Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and about our commitment to God.

Dan Betzer writes,

I think that one of the most revealing chapters in the Bible is Matthew 1. It contains the Jewish genealogy of Jesus Christ, 42 generations in all. A lot of those people had pretty shaky backgrounds: Judah, one of Joseph's brothers, was a louse before an encounter with God; Rahab was a woman of "ill repute" in ancient Jericho; Manasseh was arguably the most despicable king to ever sit on the throne in Jerusalem. But look how God ultimately used them!

In recent weeks, a major Christian television program highlighted the testimony of that daring motorcycle jumping genius, Evel Knieval. I used to watch that fellow climb aboard his motorcycle and jump as many as 52 cars at one time. I saw his near-fatal fall in Las Vegas after missing the ramp. I saw him climb into his rocket-bike in a failed attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. His lifestyle was as far away from a follower of Christ as you can imagine. Then, Knieval met Jesus! His testimony is incredible! His every thought centers around Jesus! All he talks about is Jesus! What an amazing turn around!

Why are we so surprised when these conversions take place? Have we forgotten the woman at the well in Samaria? Have we overlooked Zacchaeus? Have we dropped from memory the thief on the cross? Let us never give up on that friend for whom we earnestly pray. Our Lord has proved far too many times that He is not willing for anyone to perish, but that all people can be reached with the Gospel. But how can they believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? That is our job as His witnesses!

            Someone has said that if you are walking closely to God that there is no such thing as a bad sermon... because reading the scriptures and praying to God should raise you to a higher spiritual level. I wish that were true, but the truth is, some of my messages aren't that good, and that is my fault, not yours!

            Yet there is an element of truth in the statement, for worship is focusing on God, not how much we get out of the service.