Bow Down

Children are to honor their parents:

"Honor thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12)

We are to honor our elders:

"Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:32 - the KJV says "rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man").

We all must honor our governmental leaders:

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." (Romans 13:7)

Employees honor their bosses:

"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed." (1 Timothy 6:1 - NIV - "All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.")

Church members honor their church leaders:

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching." (1 Timothy 5:17)

In fact, all Christians, are to give honor to each other:

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)

So the answer is, yes we do honor men, but we worship God.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." (Ephesians 3:14)

So, when we pray, "let us kneel before the LORD" - let us bow down low before Him.

Standing before God represents demands and confrontations - kneeling is worship; "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

Sitting in God's presence suggests that we are passively waiting for Him to act - kneeling is worship; "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

Or, to put it in a more positive reference, when we sit we are like Mary who sat at Jesus' feet to hear His teaching - this is sitting at the table to partake of a nourishing meal. But when we kneel down, we worship. "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

When we stand we are like the soldier prepared for battle, clothed with the armor and like Paul writes, "having done all, to stand." But when we kneel down, we worship. "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

We can sing great anthems of praise; we can utter lofty phrases in prayer; we can clap our hands with delight; and we can shout the victory chant; but we have not worshipped until we have kneeled down.

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

The little boy who says "I'm still standing up on the inside" is in rebellion, to be sure. But when we say, "On the inside I'm kneeling down", then we are in submission.
For more info on Dr. Chadwicks Sermons, visit http://www.webedelic.com/church/sermons.htm