Psalm 19:1-3 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” All of creation was made to worship. The heavens along with the trees, flowers, mountains, valleys, and every living thing was made for one purpose and that is to worship the Creator. Mankind was also made to worship. We were created in the image of God. Romans 1:19 says, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” We were created with the inner knowledge that there is a God. We were created with the desire to know God. We were created with a longing to worship. The one thing that sets man above the rest of creation is the fact that we are not forced to worship. God created us out of love. In His Divine sovereignty and out of a heart of love, God gifted us with a free will. We are not forced to love Him. We are not forced to serve Him. We are not forced to worship Him. This is what makes our worship of God all the more beautiful. Our worship of Him comes out of a heart of love and devotion.

In view of how we are created in His image. In view of the love of God and our choice to worship Him. We are compelled to consider the question concerning the need to worship. Why must we worship God? Why is it so important? Why is it important, not just for God, but for us?

Worship is our purpose. Have you ever wondered why you are here? Why did God give you life? What are you here for? What is your purpose? Read Psalm 8. The Psalmist asked the question that we ask today. Why man? Why us? God gave us dominion over all other created things. We are special in the eyes of God. We are the crown jewel of His creation. Therefore, above all of His creation, mankind should be the ones who worship Him completely. In his book, Prolegomena, Christopher Cone writes, “God possesses incomparable glory. He created as an expression of His glory. He reveals Himself to His creation that it might be filled with His glory and that all will ascribe to Him the glory due His name. The existence of all things serves the purpose of Divine Self-expression and Self-glorification, in perhaps the same manner as the symphony reflects the skill of the composer, the masterpiece reflects the brilliance of the painter, and the piercing words reflect the heart of the poet. God’s overarching revealed purpose in all things is to bring glory to Himself.”[1] The theological term we use to explain our purpose to bring Him glory is called, the doxological purpose of God. Charles Ryrie defines God’s doxological purpose, “A basic and working conception of the purpose of God as His own glory.”[2] It is with the doxological purpose of God in mind that John wrote, “He must increase and I must decrease.” Therefore, when it comes to worship, we must understand that worship is our ultimate purpose. We were created to give God glory. Our entire purpose for living is to glorify Him. When we fail to worship properly, we fail in our purpose. When we fail to worship properly, we miss-out on God’s best for us. Life has no meaning and no purpose apart from bringing glory to God. His glory is what we live for. In all that we do it is for His glory.

Worship makes us useful. Since we were created to worship God, it makes all that we do much more important. It gives us a sense that everything that we do is worthwhile. Apart from God’s doxological purpose, everything we do is meaningless. There is no reason to go to work, to pursue education, to care for those in need, to engage the culture, etc. The doxological purpose of God gives meaning to what we do. It makes us useful. Oswald Chambers said, “Worshipping God is the great essential of fitness. If you have not been worshipping, when you get into work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.”[3] This is the very reason why discord and division can creep up in the life of a church. When believers are not worshipping God both privately and publicly; the ministry of the church is hindered. If we do not spend time in our personal prayer closets, it not only hurts us, but it hurts everyone in the church.

The key to being useful for the Kingdom of God begins in the prayer closet. Matthew 6:6 says, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and they Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” There are several things we see in this verse that points to how worship makes us useful.

First of all, we are to enter in. We have got to enter into the presence of God. How is it possible for us to enter into His presence? Read Hebrews 10:19-22. We can enter into the presence of God by the blood of Jesus. We can have the boldness to enter in because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Jesus is our High Priest, He is our mediator. Through Jesus we can come into the presence of God and worship Him.

Secondly, we are to enter into our closet. This refers to our quiet place. We all need a place and a time each day where we get alone with God. This should be a special place that is set aside for worship.

Third, we are to shut the door. As you enter into your prayer closet, you must shut the door. You must separate yourself from all distractions. This can be a difficult thing to do, but it is most needful. It is not a matter of can I or how do I, it is a matter of must. You must daily enter into the presence of God and shut the door. You cannot live without it. You cannot be useful. You cannot be successful, without first going into your prayer closet and shutting the door. You may say, ‘well, I am too busy, I just cannot remove myself from distractions and get alone with God.’ My friend, the busier you are, the more you need to spend time alone with God. Don’t say you can’t. You can find a way. Rearrange your schedule if you have too. Get up at 4:00 in the morning if you have too. Whatever it takes, enter into your closet and shut the door every day!

Next, pray to the Father. The time you spend in your prayer closet, must be quality time. Make good use of the opportunity and pray to the Father. Commune with Him. Talk with Him. Listen to Him.

Finally, He will use you. The text says that He will reward you openly. As you spend time alone with God every day, your will become useful for the Kingdom of God. More will be accomplished. God will do things through you that you never imagined possible. However, it begins with worship.

In His book, How to Worship Christ, Joseph S. Carroll writes, “You can be busy and not be troubled, or you can not be busy and be very troubled. It all depends on whether Christ is central in your life. We were created to worship Jesus Christ. We were created for Him, to become something to Him in order that He might find pleasure in us. But this demands discipline. This demand self-renunciation. This demands the mortifying of the flesh. This demands the taking out of our lives everything that does not contribute to the one great objective.”[4] My friend, it is not a matter of can I worship, it is a matter of you must worship. You need to worship. You must worship. It is your purpose. It was what you were created for.

[1] Cone, Christopher. Prolegomena. Tyndale Seminary Press. 2009.

[2] Ryrie, Charles. Dispensationalism Today. Moody Press. 1956.

[3] Chamber, Oswald.

[4] Carroll, S. Joseph. How to Worship Jesus Christ.