The Word On Worship
The Word On Worship
John 4:19-24, Acts 17:23, Ex. 20:1-6
“Christian churches have come to the dangerous time predicted long ago. It is a time when we can pat one another on the back, congratulate ourselves and join in glad refrain. “We are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing !” It certainly is true that hardly anthing is missing from our churches these days except the most important thing. We are missing the genuine and sacred offering of ourselves, and our worship to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. My own loyalties and responsibilities are and always will be with the strongly evangelical, Bible believing, Christ honoring churches. We have been surging forward. We are building great churches and large congregations. We are boasting about high standards and we are talking alot about revival. But I have a question and it is not just rhetoric: What has happened to our worship ? “
(A.W. Tozer)
Could it be that the indictment which is upon us is the same as the one placed upon the Samaritans......”Ye worship ye know not what”
Isn’t it a sad statement that people could talk alot about worship......perform alot of acts........go through the routine.....and yet not know the one worshipped or not know how to worship !
The Samaritans claimed to believe in the same God as the Jews, yet they denied all O.T. scripture except the first five books. They also went against Biblical authority by building a temple themselves, and offering sacrifices there in public worship. Even worse, they incorporated into their worship....the worship of idols. Their worship was a hodge podge of different beliefs, traditions, and practices...........Is our worship like that......How much of our worship is truly Biblical.
This morning we begin a series on The Word on Worship ! That’s where we find the answer to our questions.......for our needs !
I want us to begin this morning by looking at the first two commandments in Exodus 20.
I. There Is A Relationship That’s Imperative To Worship. Vs. 1-2
a. We Recognize His Deity.
Any worship that does not recognize his deity is improper. The worshipper must have a proper relationship with The LORD God in order to be able to truly worship him. We worship him because of who he is. Much of today’s worship seems to draw attention to self. Many of today’s quote “worship services” are nothing more than frolicking frenzies that glorify self rather than God. Much of this I believe is due to the lack of a right relationship.....due to a wrong understanding of God and what he expects from us.
b. We Rocognize His Deliverance.
God reminds the Jewish people of his delivering power. He is the one who has brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
The worshipper today has been even more so delivered through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The “I AM” of the O.T. which delivered the children of Israel out of bondage is the “I AM” of the N.T. which delivers of through his sacrificial death to new life.
c. We Recognize His Desire. V. 5
He is jealous of our worship. God alone loves us completely, and is right in being jealous for us because of his perfect knowledge. He knows what is best for us, what is wrong for us, what is harmful to us, and therefore he is worthy of our worship. What an intense desire ! The God of the heavens and the earth, the God of all creation loves us, and desires that we worship him !
II. There Is A Remembrance That Impassions Worship.
What will cause us to worship God with passion....with our hearts ?
When we recall......remember what he has given to us, and done for us.
Rev. 4:9-11 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying Thou art worship, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
A missionary returning from Tobago told of leading a worship service in a leper colony. He was taking requests for songs.....in the back of the crowd, a lady raised her hand. This poor lady was missing her nose, and mouth as well as the fingers on the hand she raised.....her request.......”Count Your Blessings !”
Psa. 138:2
If we are not entering into his presence in a spirit of worship, if we are not bowing our hearts before him, if we are not singing praises to his name.....could it be because we have forgotten what all he has done for us.....could it be that we have become calloused in our hearts......maybe the thing we need do in order to really worship is first of all repent of our callousness, repent of our coldness, and our deadness !
III. There Are Restrictions Instituted In Worship.
There are some who would lump all the religions, and deities of the world together, and say that they are all the same, and lead to the same path.
The only thing wrong with this process is that “it’s not true.” In V. 2
notice the tiny word “the”. “The” makes all the difference in the world.” He is the God. He is the only one worthy of worship !
In these restrictions there is a warning against.....
a. Influence
The Egyptians as well as other neighboring countries all worshipped multiple deities. This is a warning not to take up their false gods, and worship them.
b. Images
They are not to fashion any image to make it a god or to represent a god.
This includes the carvings of things dedicated to gods
c. Idolatry
Spiritual adultery
If too much emphasis and attention is placed upon the singing, it becomes the object of worship......if too much is placed upon the preacher or upon preaching it too becomes the object of worship......the church bldg...etc.........
Other gods worshipped today......
IV. There Are Repercussions Involved In Worship.
God not only warns his children against the worship of false gods....but then adds what the repercussions or consequences will be if they fall into such practices. One of the worst impacts that these practices have is the impact it has upon our children.....and our children’s children. The way we worship....what we worship will be passed on to our children......those that worship false gods....idols....images etc.....are said to hate him(God)
V. There Are Rewards Included In Worship.
a. Worship Pleases.
Why should we worship ? Because it is right......we are obeying God when we worship ! It is pleasing to him.
b. Worship Prepares
Worship prepares me.....it prepares you. It causes us to be more like the one we worship.
Illust. Face Carved In The Mtn.
c. Worship Points.
Worship points our fingers to God.
It lets people know what we believe....who we believe in.....who we give glory to..........who is our worthy pointing people to ?
