True and sincere worship of Jesus Christ is a battle. It is a fight that is fought in the depths of our hearts and it requires the soul to be submitted to the Saviour. The following four points are reminders for every worshipper to exercise in order to fight the good fight of worship...and win.
1. Worship is not a momentary experience, but a lifestyle (Matthew 4:1-11 http://www.esvonline.org/search/Matthew+4%3A1-11/)
Times of good spiritual growth in life or in ministry can be quickly followed and filled with temptation. It's during these times that we must maintain the fight for the worship of the Lord in our hearts. This fight for adoration is not for a moment of homage but for some decisive act of loyalty (Mt. 4:8)
2. The Gospel Empowers our worship (Hebrews 4:14-16 http://www.esvonline.org/search/Hebrews+4%3A14-16/)
If we have a High Priest it means the Gospel is a functioning reality in our lives. Without Christ we don't have an Intercessor or Mediator, and without Him we cannot have sincere worship in our hearts. Therefore the Gospel is central to worship and it alone is the power in true worship.
3. How the Gospel functions in musical worship (Colossians 3:1-17 http://www.esvonline.org/search/Col+3%3A1-17/)
Music is one way of worshipping the Lord, and I think it functions as one of the primary means in which we can worship the Lord at any time. A simple reading of this passage shows that if the Gospel has made us alive (v.1), then we will put to death what is earthly (vv.5-11), and we will put on holiness (vv. 12-17). When those things are done some of how it is manifested in this life is in music! "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (v.16)
4. Where the Gospel must change us to worship. (2 Corinthians 3:18 http://www.esvonline.org/search/2+Cor+3%3A18/)
The first place the Gospel changes us is in our heart attitude, because our hearts are made new in Him. The second place is in our relationships, because in the Cross we can relate to one another eternally. The third place is in our outward worship, because a heart that is white-hot for the God of the universe can help but be engaged in worship.
So we fight throughout our entire lives to live in worship and our goal in worship is to be sincere. We don't want it to be in vain (Mt. 15:8,9). We want to honour Him with our lips because our hearts are closely knit to His, and we want our lives to reflect the greatness of His salvation and the greatness of who He is.
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