The Divine Purpose of Praise and Worship (Part I)

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:11-12).

The purpose of praise and worship is for God to release and reveal Himself to us (intimate things about Himself, us, and others). It is positioning us to receive more of His character to access more of the kingdom of God, the good things He has in store for us (ref. I Cor. 2:8-9; Lk 12:32; cf. Matt. 6:10; Lk. 17:21).

God, the Almighty, doesn’t need our words of worship, praise or adoration. Revelation 1:8 says, "He already is, which was and is to come," but it releases in us that which we say (ascribed to Him) which produces the image of His Son.

In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light, and there was light." God was already light before the earth was formed, but he released a part of Himself (His glory) to the earth. But that wasn’t enough of His reflection in the earth so he created man to be just like Him – made in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). Therefore, our praise and worship creates and sustains the image of God in us. It increases and releases area(s) of our lives from darkness just as the earth was dark, without form and void (Gen. 1:2). As we speak praises and worship to the Lord, the light of His countenance comes, which is His glory for us to see the path to follow (Is. 6:1; Ps. 23:1; 16:11; 34:5).