It is well to understand the difference between prayer, preaching, teaching and worship. They are each most important in themselves, and all of God, and ought not to be confounded.
In the preaching of the gospel, God is addressing the world; in teaching, He is speaking to His saints; but in worship we address God, we render adoration to Him. Ministry is from God to man; worship is from man to God. Hardly two things could be more distinct, and yet the distinction is rarely seen.
In Christian worship, we draw near to God as our Father in Christ Jesus and address ourselves to Him. When we know God as He has revealed Himself in the person and work of Christ, we have holy liberty in His presence, and render the praise, thanksgiving, and adoration of an overflowing heart.
It may be well to notice the difference between prayer and worship, nearly allied though they be to each other, and even suitably mingled together, as “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks” (1 Tim. 2:11I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (1 Timothy 2:1)). We have always much to give thanks for; still, the two things in themselves are quite distinct. We bring our empty cups to God in prayer and beseech Him to fill them. This shows our knowledge of God and our confidence in Him. But in worship it is the cup more than full as it overflows in thanksgiving and praise.