1“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me. 4But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; 9about sin, because they don’t believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more; 11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.
12“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. 14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you. 15All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.
16“A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
17Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” 18They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”
19Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’ 20Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. 22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
25“I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
29His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech. 30Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”
31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
We are back again where we left off in chapter 4. We are watching worship. Real worship starts when we get our eyes off ourselves, and we put our eyes on God. We briefly reviewed the Hebrew word avodah. That is the Hebrew word meaning three things: worship, service, and labor. It is God’s word for ALL THREE. Many think that worship can only be expressed with hands up, singing praise to God, but God’s definition is much broader than that. We can do many different things to engage in worship. Everything around us and in our lives should be a “praise prompter.” My dad used to look at green plants and praise the Lord. He would say, “Just think about photosynthesis! Think about how God allows the plants to live and the earth to breathe. He put it all in balance.” He used to marvel at the presence of DNA in each of our cells. He would tell me, “Son, DNA is God’s fingerprint in the world”. When Dad declared these truths, he was engaging in worship. Admiring nature and proclaiming God’s evidence in it is worship.
Our recognition of the world around us should stimulate worship. I’ve heard it said that “Our theology should form our hymnology.” When we sing of God’s attributes, we are engaging in worship. Worship includes, but is not limited to, the following:
We can worship through music. Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. (Psalms 96:1-3, NKJV). We sing of God’s eternal nature. We sing of his truths.
We can worship through prayer. Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalms 141:2, NKJV). When we speak to the Lord and listen for His voice, we are in worship.
We can worship through praise and thanksgiving. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. (Psalms 146:1-2, NKJV). Words of praise, adoration, and recognition of God’s presence in our lives are worship.
We can worship through the study of God’s Word. Scripture tells us: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalms 19:7-10, NKJV).
We can worship the Lord in our silence as we remember the great truths of God. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. (John 16:3-4a, NKJV).
We can worship God through giving. We must remember that God does not need our money, but He wants our hearts. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Jesus expands on this topic of giving in Luke 6:38. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (NKJV).
We can worship God as we serve others. 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14, NKJV).
Reader, you and I have the opportunity to worship Him in all that we think, say, and do. Choose to let your life be one of worship. Why? Because He alone is worthy. He alone is to be praised.