(22) Authentic Worship

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly.

(Psalm 111:1 NAU)

Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise his holy name!

(Psalm 103:1 NET)

God is looking for authentic worship! Authentic worship begins with accurate worship. Worship that is based on truth and expresses truth. But it is not enough for worship to be accurate. Even if the words spoken or sung are directly from scripture, this is not enough. God does not just want the head, He wants the heart. He doesn’t want us to just express the right words from our mouths. He wants to engage our hearts. Accurate worship must be coupled with authentic worship. Worship that comes from the heart.

Worship is not an unexpressed feeling, nor is it an empty formality. True worship is balanced and involves the mind, the emotions, and the will. It must be intelligent; it must reach deep within and be motivated by love; and it must lead to obedient actions that glorify God. (Warren Wiersbe)

Authentic worship must be built on accurate worship. Accurate worship must be expressed authentically from a heart that affirms the words, believes the words, feels the emotion of the words. The truth of the character and glory of God and the truth of the Word should produce a multifaceted response in us. It should impact our heads – our thinking. It should impact our hearts – our values and emotions. It should impact hour hands – our actions. Authentic worship involves our whole being, intellect, emotion and will.

Those of us who hold truth and holiness in high regard tend to do really well with the head and the hands when it comes to obeying God’s Word and worship. We are often lacking in heart. We shun feelings and expressions of emotion. Especially when it comes to worship.

I once had a friend tell me that His church taught that there should be no physical or emotional aspects to worship in worship. You were to sit or stand still and sing the words without any feeling. We will clearly see from scripture that this is totally unbiblical.

John Piper has pointed out, "Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead...True worship must include inward feelings that reflect the worth of God's glory."

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
(Psalm 32:11 NAU)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next: When God Says, "Stop Worshiping!"