What is true worship today in this grace age?

Answer Request:
Since we have so many denominations, and so many different ways of worshipping within Christian world alone— which one is doing it correctly? The Worship that the bible speaks of— God is looking for worshippers who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. All denominations think they are correct, but what does God say?

This is a sensitive question because everyone trusts and believes they worship correctly, but let us not focus on the many voices and opinions, but rather the that REALLY counts ... what does God's word say about it?

The following content is compiled from a larger online study by Arthur Licursi and can be found on his website here.

What does Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (us), write about worship? It might be surprising that in his 13 epistles he only mentions the word "worship" 3 times.

1. 1 Cor. 14:25 (KJV) And thus are the secrets of his (the unbeliever's) heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship (Gk. proskuneo, prostrate to) God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
   
   Paul is hypothetically speaking of one who has now come to be convicted by what he has heard at a meeting of the believers. We all must bow our heart to the Lord when we see so great a salvation. Any spontaneous genuine bowing of the heart to the Lord is genuine worship.
2. Philip. 3:3 (KJV) For we are the circumcision, which worship (Gk. latreuo, minister or serve) God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
   
   Here the word "worship God in the spirit" would be more properly transliterated as "to serve God in the spirit." Paul encourages all believers to "walk in the Spirit," under the influence of the Spirit, so as to serve the Lord to the fullest as their true worship, offering their very selves as a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:2).
3. Col. 2:23 (KJV) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in "will worship" (Gk. ethelothreskeia, sanctimonious, self-righteous worship), and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
   
   Here in Colossians 2:23 "will worship" (Gk. ethelothreskeia, sanctimonious, self-righteous worship) is spoken of disapprovingly, as from one who is self-righteous.

Thus, we have not one instruction from the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, to tell the members of "the body of Christ" today that they should outward emotional worship in what many would call "congregational worship services." Rather, Paul goes on to guide us in the inward matter of our heart relationship with the Lord. In Paul's latter epistles written after the Acts period has closed we see a transition to the inner matters of the heart – appreciation to the Lord by the inward union and relationship. Ephesians 5:19 (KJV) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody IN YOUR HEART to the Lord; Thus we see there has been a transition from the "outward worship" to an "inner, heart relationship and worship."

There is nothing wrong or evil about outward expressions of thankfulness to the Lord in a personal or congregational way, but the element that is required for worship to be genuine is that it must emanate from the inner man of the heart (1Cor 13:1-3). Actually, the external things are irrelevant. Paul speaks of the "heart" 29 times in 28 verses. Everything Paul guides us to is genuine and found in the believer's inner relationship with the Lord. Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

One last thing to take note of.

Consider Paul's use of the word "thanksgiving" in his writings. While Paul does not use the word "worship," except quite sparingly as we have already seen, he does repeatedly use these words; "thanks," "thanks be unto God," "giving thanks." Thanksgiving is mentioned over 30 times in Paul's thirteen epistles to the members of "the body of Christ."

"Thanksgiving" is our proper worship or attitude toward our Lord, whether spoken or unspoken. To be "thankful" means you've been humbled; you've accepted the place of being nothing but a "recipient" of God's love, life, favor, and blessing – God is the giver and we are recipients of Him.

God completed our creation (Col 2:9-10) by giving us the Spirit of the life of His Son (Rom 8:9-10) to be in our spirit at our core (Dan 7:15)). Our spirit-union (1Cor 6:17) with Christ, and our following Christ's indwelling life and guidance is what God had eternally planned and intended for us. Our co-operation with Him in us is the most worshipful attitude for us to maintain. All that we "do" unto the Lord must be rooted in Him as He leads, permits, and restrains us. Humility is expressed by our receptivity and our daily dependence upon Christ as our indwelling life-source and guide. This then is our proper worshipful relationship with the Lord.

Our greatest worship is a thankful heart while we simply live by trusting God our Father and yielding to the indwelling Christ whom He has given to indwell us as our very life (Col 3:4a, Gal 2:20). I believe; to receive Christ's life and take Him as the Lord of our living, as He was given by the Father and meant to be, is the greatest worship of all.