True Worshiper

[Psalm 96]

One of the three main goals of our church is “to raise true worshipers.” It is one of our church’s purposes that all members of Victory Presbyterian Church, who serve the Lord, are established as “worship witnesses.” This purpose statement is: “We, through worship, praise God’s presence, and even to unbelievers, we proclaim that by bowing down and worshiping God, ‘God is truly among you’” (1 Corinthians 14:25). This purpose statement is based on 1 Corinthians 14:25: “The secrets of their hearts will be revealed, so they will fall down and worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.”

Today, I want to reflect on the central message of Psalm 96 under the title “True Worshiper,” focusing on how a true worshiper lives. I will contemplate four aspects of this, and through this, I hope to receive the lessons God has for us. May we be increasingly built up as true worshipers.

First, a true worshiper glorifies God.

Look at Psalm 96:7:
"O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength; give to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts."

In Psalm 90, the Bible teaches us how to live a life that, even in the vanity of this world, is valuable in God’s sight. There are four key principles:

1. Fearing God,

2. Being satisfied with God’s love,

3. Living for God’s glory,

4. Desiring God’s grace.

We should not seek our own glory, but rather seek God’s glory in our lives. In other words, we should focus on what God does for us (His works) rather than focusing on what we do for Him. Only by doing this can we bring glory to God. In Psalm 96:8, the psalmist commands, “Give to the Lord the glory due to His name…” But how can we truly glorify God?

(1) We can glorify God by praising Him.

Look at Psalm 96:1, 2, and 4:
“O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (v. 1),
“Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day” (v. 2),
“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods” (v. 4).

We are to praise our great God with a new song. We must also praise God with joy and gladness (v. 11). By doing so, we give glory to God. But why should we praise God greatly to give glory to Him? The reason is because of “His salvation” (v. 2). We must praise God with a new song every day for the salvation He has bestowed upon us.

(2) We glorify God's name by proclaiming His deeds.

Look at Psalm 96:3:
"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples."

I remember Pastor Charles Swindoll, in his book Grace Awakening, saying that “the greatest heresy in the church is to focus on what we do for God rather than on what God has done for us.” I believe one of the reasons for this is that when we focus on what we do for God, we end up seeking our own glory. However, if we focus on God’s works, we seek His glory. Therefore, we must resolve to proclaim God's deeds every day, now and in the future. Especially, as the second verse of our passage teaches, we must declare the salvation that God has given us in Jesus Christ every day. By doing this, we give glory to God's name.

Second, a true worshiper offers to God.

Look at Psalm 96:8:
"Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts."

We often hear the phrase, "I’m going to church to worship," but worship is not something we just go to do—it is something we bring to God. In other words, worship is about offering our body, heart, soul, and material possessions to God. A true worshiper is someone who voluntarily gives everything to God. However, for the Jewish people, the issue was that while they praised God with their lips, their hearts were far from Him. God looks at the heart, but the Israelites gave offerings without sincerity. Look at Isaiah 1:11-13:
"The Lord says: 'What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.'"

Countless offerings made without a sincere heart are of no benefit to God. He does not delight in them. To God, these offerings are meaningless. He tells us not to bring them. Even if we bring offerings while at church, but live our lives in the world and act wickedly, God cannot bear it. Therefore, when we worship God, we must offer to Him offerings that are fitting in His sight. In other words, we must offer sacrifices that come with a heart of devotion. The Apostle Paul urges us:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1).
We must not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, discerning what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2), and live according to His will by offering our bodies, hearts, and possessions to Him. Only then can we be called true worshipers.

Thirdly, the true worshiper lives a holy life.

Look at Psalm 96:9, the first half:
"Honor the Lord in the beauty of holiness..."

As worshipers of the holy God, we must reveal His holiness in our lives. If we claim to worship God but our lives do not reveal His holiness in this world, then we are not glorifying God nor fully dedicating ourselves to Him. We must not separate worship from life. In other words, we must not divide Sunday worship from our weekly lives. Worship is not something given only on Sundays for one hour; it should be reflected in our entire life after worship. The life that should be given to God is a holy life. When we, as worshipers, live a holy life, we can display God's majesty, power, and beauty to this world (v. 6). Also, through our holy lives as worshipers, we can reveal that "all the gods of the nations are idols" (v. 5), and show that only God is worthy of worship.

Finally, the fourth point: The true worshiper fears God.

Look at Psalm 96:9, the second half:
"... let the earth tremble before Him."

The true worshiper, while worshiping God's holiness, does so with reverence. We must fear God above all other gods (v. 4). Our God is great (v. 4), the Creator (v. 5), the one who has honor, majesty, power, and beauty (v. 6), and He rules over the entire world and the universe (v. 10). Our God is also a God who judges righteously (v. 10). Therefore, the one who worships this righteous, true, and holy judge (v. 13) should fall before Him in fear. We must fear God. We must approach God with reverence and worship Him. We should never take God lightly. This is why King Solomon said:
"When you go to the house of God, guard your steps..." (Ecclesiastes 5:1).
We must enter the house of God, draw near, and listen to His word (v. 1). And we must not speak hastily or recklessly before God (v. 2). If we make a vow to God, we must fulfill it without delay (v. 4).

I want to be the true worshiper that God seeks. I want to glorify God, offer my whole heart, soul, and gifts to Him, live a holy life, and walk in reverence before Him. I pray that the Lord will establish me as a true worshiper.

With the desire to be established as a true worshiper,

Pastor James
(With a heart that longs to glorify God)