"This is a month to dedicate yourselves to Me in worship. A lifestyle of worship! A lifestyle of worship! In all that you are, and in all that you do, worship Me!"
Don’t get me wrong. Not that at other times, you don’t worship. But this is a key month to dedicate yourselves to Him again in worship.
In John 4:23-24, Jesus says, "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. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
The word 'worship' here is 'proskuneo' in Greek, and according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it means 'to kiss (like a dog licking his master's hand)'. Other definitions of this word 'proskuneo' are 'to prostrate with a kiss' and 'to prostrate oneself in reverence and adoration'.
By the way, 'to prostrate' can be defined as 'to lay oneself flat on the ground face downward, especially in reverence and submission'.
Two times the Lord said, "A lifestyle of worship!", and I knew He had wanted me to write about this today. And so here am I, O Lord, at Your service!
I am fascinated by this particular definition of 'proskuneo': 'to kiss (like a dog licking his master's hand)'. If you have a pet dog, you'd know what this means. To the dog, you are like the world to him! To the dog, you are 'the leader of the pack', 'the master', someone whom he would look to and put his fullest trust!
With this illustration above, we can now understand better the very essence of what 'worship' ('proskuneo') is, in the context of your relationship with the Lord your God: Like a dog licking the master's hand, you look to Him (your Master) and put your fullest trust in Him (your Master) in all that you are, and in all that you do!
Contrary to what many people think, worship isn't just in songs and melodies. Worship is a lifestyle! For those in worship ministry, your lifestyle reflects your ministry, and not just in your singing of songs, or playing of musical instruments. As someone who has been involved in worship ministry, I must admit that no doubt musical skills are important, but without a heart and lifestyle of worship, all these skills will become nothing before God. People may be impressed by your musical skills/talents, but God isn't.
Note: The Oxford Dictionary defines 'lifestyle' as 'way of life of an individual or group'; and Dictionary.com defines it as 'a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group'.
Today, I want to introduce two words for 'worship' that you can find in the New Testament. First, 'proskuneo' (which I have explained above), and second, 'latreuo'. The second word is found in Philippians 3:3 written by the apostle Paul: 'For we are the circumcision, who worship ('latreuo') God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh'. The word 'latreuo' here in Greek means 'to minister (unto God), to serve God, to render service (unto God)'.
The apostle Paul then continued writing: '...If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eight day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith...' (Philippians 3:4-9, NKJV)
In the context of the verses above, 'latreuo' can therefore be defined as 'to minister (unto God), to serve God, to render service (unto God), without putting confidence in the flesh'. In other words, not by one's own ability, but God's ability!
The apostle Paul (who was entrusted by the Lord to write half of the whole New Testament) understood what true 'worship' is! He was living a lifestyle of worship through and through! The Bible never mentioned him playing musical instruments! But that doesn't mean he wasn't a worshiper of the Lord! Singing songs? Okay, the Bible mentioned that before! Not in a worship conference, or on stage in a worship service, but you know where? Inside the jail, together with Silas, and in the midnight hour! (Acts 16:25-26) Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he sang hymns to God! It just came naturally to him, even in the 'darkest' of hours! He was living a lifestyle of worship from the inside-out! Not a facade, not for show, but a 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' before the Lord!
You see, you don't have to be in worship team/ministry to be a worshiper! But if you are in worship team/ministry, all the more you are to live a lifestyle of worship! Not just in songs and music, but in every facet (aspect) of your everyday life!
In all that you are, worship Him!
'Proskuneo': Looking to Him and putting all your trust in Him.
'Latreuo': Ministering unto Him and rendering service unto Him, putting no confidence in your own flesh.
For instance, my writing ministry is a form of worship unto the Lord. I did it upon the instructions (blueprints) given by the Lord, and just wanted to bless the Body of Christ unconditionally. I have never expected people to start writing to me and ask if they can use my materials. But many did!
People of God, in all that you are (i.e. 'called to be'), 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' Him!
In all that you do, worship Him!
'Proskuneo': Looking to Him and putting all your trust in Him.
'Latreuo': Ministering unto Him and rendering service unto Him, putting no confidence in your own flesh.
The same it is with those many years of sowing seeds of God's love and kindness among the youths/college students in our (my wife and I) earlier years in full-time ministry. We did it upon the instructions (blueprints) given by the Lord, and just wanted to avail ourselves to care for these young people unconditionally. It was done as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). We have never expected anything in return, and we have never expected these young people to remember us later in their lives. But some did!
People of God, in all that you do (i.e. 'called to do'), 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' Him!
The Lord knows how to reward you!
Yes, even if you have not expected it, and you just wanted to render your unconditional service unto Him as a sweet aroma of worship (Philippians 4:18), be it in your time, your energy, your giving of finance, etc. Because He is a good God, and He loves to give you every good thing (Romans 8:32, Psalm 34:10), even in ways you have not imagined, or even if you never realize it. Colossians 3:23-24 says, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily (with an abounding heart), as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ'. Ephesians 3:20 says, 'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us'.
And just as the Lord had spoken to Abram those days in Genesis 15:1, He is also saying these words to you who 'proskuneo' and 'latreuo' Him: "Do not be afraid, ... I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Let it be so! Hallelujah!
