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XIII.
Prayer and Public Worship
Chapter 144
:
Public Worship
1. HOW only can God be
truly worshiped?
"God is a Spirit: and they that
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in
truth." John 4:24.
2. How are we
instructed to worship the Lord?
"Give unto the Lord the glory due
unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty
of holiness." Ps. 29:2.
3. What attitude is
indicative of reverence in worship?
"O come, let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." Ps.
95:6.
4. Is singing a part of
divine worship?
"Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise."
"Come before His presence with singing."
Ps.100:4,2.
5. Does the Bible
approve of the use of musical instruments in the
worship of God?
"Praise Him with the sound of the
trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery
and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel
and dance [margin, pipe]: praise
Him with stringed instruments and
organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals:
praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals."
Ps. 150:3-5. See also Ps. 92:1-3.
6. What is promised to
those who wait upon the Lord?
"They that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk,
and not faint." Isa. 40:31.
7. Is Christ's presence
limited to large congregations?
"Where two or three are
gathered together in My name, there am I in the
midst of them." Matt. 18:20.
8. What were David's
feelings concerning public worship?
"I was glad when they said
unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."
"My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth
for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my
flesh crieth out for the living God." "For a
day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house
of my God, than to dwell in the tents of
wickedness." Ps. 122:1; 84:2,10.
9. What admonition has
Paul given concerning assembling for public
worship?
"Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another: and so much the more,
as ye see the day approaching." Heb. 10:25.
10. Does God take
account of the meetings of His people?
"Then they that feared the Lord spake
often one to another: and the Lord harkened,
and heard it, and a book of remembrance was
written before Him for them that feared the
Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they
shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that
day when I make up My jewels [margin, special
treasure]; and I will spare them, as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him." Mal.
3:16,17.
11. Is there a blessing
in habitual church attendance?
"Blessed are they that dwell in Thy
house: they will be still [ever and constantly]
praising Thee." "One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that I will seek after; that I may
dwell in the house of the Lord all the days
of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in His temple." Ps. 84:4; 27:4.
12. What caution is
given regarding behavior in God's house?
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the
house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to
give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider
not that they do evil." Eccl. 5:1. See 1 Tim.
3:15.
13. What day has God
specially designed for public worship?
"The seventh day is a Sabbath
of rest, an holy convocation." Lev. 23:3.
14. How has God
commanded us to keep this day?
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it
holy. . . . In it thou shalt not do any
work." Ex. 20:8-10. See Isa. 58:13,14.
15. Are offerings an
appropriate part of divine worship?
"Give unto the Lord the glory due
unto His name: bring an offering, and
come into His courts." "Vow, and pay unto the
Lord your God: let all that be round about Him
bring presents unto Him that ought to be
feared." Ps. 96:8; 76:11.
16. Will there be
public worship in the new creation?
"As the new heavens and the new
earth, which I will make, shall remain before
Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your
name remain. And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one
Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to
worship before Me, saith the Lord." Isa.
66:22,23.
RULES ON GOING TO CHURCH
1. Go
early to church. Not only be punctual, but be in
your place before the hour announced for the
service to begin.
2. Go in a reverent spirit. On the way remember
whither you go. Avoid lightness of manner and
conversation on worldly topics.
3. Before you enter and as you enter the church
breathe a silent prayer of invocation for the
influence of the Holy Spirit.
4. As you take your place, bow your head
reverently in prayer for yourself and for all
others who enter the sanctuary.
5. Resolve that you will foster no thought, fix
your eyes on no object, utter no word, that will
tend to divert your mind from the holy purpose
for which you have come into this place.
6. As the minister enters the pulpit, offer an
earnest silent prayer in his behalf.
7. In all the service take an active part, as
hearer, as worshiper.
8. At the close of the service, after a moment
of prayerful silence, greet with cheerfulness
and good will all whom you happen to meet,
remembering that Christian fellowship is a part
of Christian worship.- Bishop Vincent.
NOTE.-An excellent suggestion is contained
in the notice posted at the doorway of many
churches: "Whosoever thou art that entereth
this church, remember it is the house of
God. Be reverent, be silent, be thoughtful.
And leave it not without a prayer to God,
for thyself, for him who ministers, and for
those who worship here."
BEFORE Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations, bow with sacred Joy;
Know that the Lord is God alone;
He can create, and He destroy.
His
sovereign power, without our aid,
Made us of clay, and formed us men;
And when like wandering sheep we strayed,
He brought us to His fold again.
ISAAC WATTS. |
