SUMMARY - Dr Barber explains 3 verbs which together give us a simple and yet profound picture of the nature of true worship.
"We hear much today about worship. It is defined everywhere from emotions felt during a song to chill bumps when the preacher gives an illustration. But, what is true worship? How do we know we have worshipped? There are three Greek words for worship in the NT.
The first word is proskuneo the word used when the "magi" came from the east to worship the Christ child. [Mt 2:2+] Proskuneo means to lie down prostrate before one that is worthy to be worshipped. It involves the attitude of humility on the part of the person who is bowing. It also involves an understanding and recognition that one is in the presence of THE ONE THAT IS WORTHY. It is a response word, not an emotion, but an immediate response in the presence of deity.
The next word we want to look at is the word latreia (related word latreuo). This is the word that means to serve. It is the word used in [Ro 12:1+] Isn't it amazing how many people say that they have worshipped and have never bowed down and have never said "yes" to Christ and to His perfect Will in their lives?
There is no praise unless
there has been true worship.
The next word that we want to look at is the word sebomai. This is the word that involves one's lifestyle that has bowed before Christ and has said, "yes" to Him. It is the word that is translated as "devotion" among other things. It is what one is like during the week that shows others that he is under the Lordship of Christ. It is the word used in [Php 3:3+] Our lifestyles are determined by our attitude towards Christ and who He is. Now, think for a moment. The next time you hear a wonderful song, or a sermon that touches you, remember that you have not worshipped until you have responded with a surrendered heart to what you have heard. Until it affects your lifestyle you have not yet worshipped. Praise is that which emanates from having worshipped God in our lives. There is no praise unless there has been true worship."