Section 13

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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

Preparing For Eternity
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