DATE
NO COST RELIGION!
1 Chronicles 21:14-25.
1Ch 21:14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.
20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
23 And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: David’s purpose in this scripture is to prepare a place of worship. A place of worship can be anywhere. It can be in your quiet time place at home. It can be in your car on the way to work. It can be here at church. No matter where it is, it is a place of great significance, and God expects something of each of us when we come into His presence.
Notice David’s words of the same account in 2 Sam 24:24, “….neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing….” David was not going to lower himself nor the Person of God by omitting or missing a great opportunity to worship God. A sacrifice that cost nothing was of no value to David. We have so many today that want a religion which costs nothing. David said, “Not me!” David is saying, “When I worship I expect there to be a cost attached.”
There is a large number of religious people alive today that attempt to go into the presence of God as though they would any other function of their daily life. Going to meet God is different than going to Wal-Mart. It is to be different than going to the lake to fish and play. Meeting with God is not the same as going to a football game, or to our kids soccer match. It is not the same as taking the children to the amusement park. When we set out on the path to the House of God He expects a different appearance and a different attitude than the normal places we go.
Let me add this: Neither are we admonished to make our acceptance based on our dress or appearance.
Also, if you go to God’s house to show your clothes or your fashion ability then you have missed the purpose of worship, and your worship will be void.
More and more we are seeing churches rise up with the contemporary flag. I don’t think we should call them contemporary. Don’t give them some pretty name – call them what they are – apostate. The Bible warns of the apostasy of the latter days, and we are certainly seeing it today.
The churches leaving biblical procedures for worship would have to be classified as apostate. I am very aware that all churches do not have to use the same program procedures to be biblical, but God does tell us how to come into His presence, and everyone must follow His expectation.
Why are there so many churches either drifting away from, or rising up contrary to the Bible description of what a church is to be? Why are so many churches changing their music, the style of service? Why? Why?
Let’s discuss that thought for a few minutes.
I. THEY DO NOT KNOW THE HOLINESS OF GOD
Most of these churches are led by men (or women) who have no idea the holiness of God.
A. He Commands Holiness. “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” This is not optional. It is expected of every believer, and to ignore this is to reject God’s only plan for worship.
Neither does God leave holiness for the individual to define. Holiness is to be God like – Not like God, but God like – there is a difference. “God like” would be to have a resemblance of God – possess some of the traits of God.
B. His Holiness Demands Our Best.
1. The priests had to go through a cleansing and preparation before making atonement.
Le 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (KJV)
Here are two O.T. priests, the sons of Aaron, who decided they would go the contemporary route and God sent fire and devoured them. May I say to any of our young folks, or younger families that may not know the value of the tradition that is held in the matter of worship, to cast this away for that which is being offered by the contemporary religion may be more than you want to pay. Bible worship has been defended by every generation since the days of Christ upon the earth, and for as many as 50 million the cost was their life. Therefore, how can we say the way of our fathers was wrong for us today. God says, “Don’t offer any strange fire.” I for one do not want to tempt God with “strange fire.”
Later we see again: Nu 3:4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.
Nu 26:61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD. (KJV)
2. There are three different places in the Scripture that God tells us about these two sons of Aaron, and how their death came about. I wonder is God trying to emphasize a point here?
It seems to me that God is telling us that the first two men who tried the contemporary route were devoured with heavenly fire.
There is strange fire being offered all over this world and calling it worship – church service – and every other religious name they can think of. God is the author of worship, and every worship encounter must be formulated according to His plan. Too many have taken the idea that each generation can toss any thing up toward heaven and call it worship, or church service and expect God to accept it. That is the fartherest thing from the truth. If it doesn’t meet with God’s expectation He will reject it and may do so at the death of the one making the offering, whether it be an individual or an assembly.
So I say to any that may rise up in favor of the “contemporary” effort you may be forced to pay a price that you didn’t want to pay. Ask Nadab and Abihu. Apparently they were bored with the old traditional way of offering burnt offering, and decided to attempt something new and it cost them their life.
When organizations calling themselves “a church” make mockery as is being done by thousands today, God is not honored and He will reject the offering being made.
C. Nothing Less Than Holiness Will Be Excepted.
I have had people tell me, “We are living in the age of grace, therefore God does not hold us to the same law He once did.” Grace does not allow a Christian to take God for granted. Neither does mercy minimize His expectation. God is always God in every situation. Never again will He lower Himself to the human level and take sin upon Himself. He has done that once and for all.
I have heard folks in making an excuse for their sin say: “Well, I think God expects us to sin.” No He expects us to work real hard in trying not to sin, and when we fail and do sin He has a plan of forgiveness, but His first and initial expectation is to overcome sin in our lives.
He told the woman taken in open fornication to go and sin no more. Joh 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.(KJV) He told her to quit sinning.
There was an expectation that sin would be stopped. I know that the flesh of man sins, but a believer can by the fullness of the spirit of God control the flesh and diminish sin to a point where there is less and less sin on purpose in one’s life, and that is the thing God expects of each of us.
II. THEY DO NOT KNOW THE WRATH OF GOD
A. God’s Wrath Is Expended Upon Disobedience.
1. All transgression to God’s law is sin and thus is disobedience.
2. We talked about recently the wrath of God that came to Achan in Joshua 7.
B. God Doesn’t Always Tell Us What His Wrath May Consist Of.
Sometimes His wrath may be a severe slap on the hand and sometimes it may much more severe.
Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant.
2Sa 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
2Sa 6:4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. (KJV)
Uzzah had no ill in mind. His intentions were right. He saw a need and attempted to correct the problem but it cost him his life.
Here we see the danger it is to follow good intentions, or to do anything in God’s service without his express word. But, besides that, men are improper judges of the actions of God; and that God’s judgments are always just, though sometimes obscure: it is reasonable. It matters not what you may think God will do or won’t do. He does according to His Word and will not deviate from that.
So we don’t know how His wrath may unfold upon sin and disobedience.
III. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WORSHIP MEANS
A. God’s Holiness Demands Our Worship.
Worship is not setting aside Sunday AM when the whole family sets out for the house of God with the tithe envelope in the pocket and a greeting for all church friends. Most of the people who enter into these doors never worship. Two or three hymns, and offering and a sermon do not constitute a worship service. We must enter His presence with holiness and reverence for His Majestic Person.
He’s God.
He’s Holy.
He’s to be revered.
We Have Already Discussed What His Holiness Demands.
B. Any Time We Come Into His Presence We Are To Be Presentable According To His Expectations.
God expects us to come before Him set apart from the world. Ex 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, (KJV)
The people would be coming into God’s presence and He demanded that they come in a different manner than they would go to work, or to play. Their attendance in God’s presence demanded a preparation on their part.
I have seen brochures of churches in this city who invite folks to “come as you are.” Some say, “Bring your children in their play clothes. Wear your soccer shorts. Come comfortable.” Not according to Ex. 19:10.
The unsaved people dress like that, and I suppose that is ok, but when they have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ – they change and are anxious to please Him.
The Contemporary Churches:
IV. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF THEM
A. He Expects Our Total And Complete Obedience.
We have eluded to this some already.
One such church says, “Would you like to go to an informal church where the worship is upbeat and alive?” I wonder which Bible they found that in? I have not found where the pulse of the service was to be upbeat. If God is present they will be alive – so why does a certain tone need to be set for the service to be enjoyed.
If a preacher/pastor will go into the word of God to study it with the intent of finding out what He says concerning a certain subject or practice, he will find the answer. Most if not all the contemporary have entered into the word of God to try to prove their side of the story, and not seeking the truth or the will of God at all.
B. He Expects Our Total And Complete Devotion To His Will.
Nowhere do we see where God says, “Do the best you can, and that will be OK.”
V. MOST DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT BEING A CHRISTIAN IS!
Most of the membership and even the leadership of these contemporary churches do not know that salvation is by grace through faith in the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ. They still hold on to some form of “works salvation” theory.
A. Salvation Can Only Come At A High Cost.
1. Salvation cost Heaven its greatest Asset – The Lord Jesus Christ.
2. His suffering on the cross. The Passion of Christ. His suffering.
3. His agony as He died.
4. The awful price He paid for sin.
B. The Cost Of Being A Christian.
All throughout the N.T. we are commanded by the writers to be diligent in our living for Christ. No one will live a total Christian life until they have totally given themselves to God to be led by Him and to allow Him to make the future plans for them. Most are not willing to pay the cost of the Christian life. There are many Christians that are not living the Christian life. They got saved and then refused to pay the price of selling out totally to God.
Peter - 2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (KJV) Notice this: “And beside this…” or beside being saved – beside salvation – after salvation. There is more to follow after salvation and Peter is saying it requires our diligence to obtain it. That is a cost to the believer. Peter goes on in the next several verses telling what that cost is.
Paul - Ro 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The word “Sacrifice” always speaks of a cost or a price. It will cost all of us to make the sacrifice that Paul making reference to.
James - Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (KJV) This cannot be done without the person experiencing a cost.
The Christian life is a constant battle against the earthly forces of evil – our battle is not to gain eternal life – that was granted at the point of believing – but the battle is for Christian victory.
C. Victory Comes By Following A Formula.
1. Salvation first. Salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Baptism second.
3. Church Attendance.
4. Bible study.
5. Prayer.
6. Worship.
7. Exercise of faith and faithfulness.
8. Leading our friends and family members to the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you omit any one of these articles of victory you will be defeated and discouraged.
Let me deal just a moment with Worship.
Worship will not be experienced apart from Bible reading and prayer. When you have engrossed yourself in Bible study and prayer and the awareness of the presence of God then you will begin to worship Him. The further one gets into Bible study and prayer the closer and more real God becomes to them. The time will come when while engaged in these activity of worship that the Lord will make Himself real and you will know He is beside you. Then worship begins. You will know that He is present in the same room with you. You can feel His presence. There will be times when you will be afraid to open your eyes for fear you will see He who is too Holy and Majestic for human eyes to see, and you want to just lye prostrate before Him in holy worship. That has happened to me. There have been times when it seemed I could hear the ruffling of silken garments.
I have read in the biographies of some of the “Old time” preachers that were in prayer and worship and family members said they could hear conversations and groanings coming from someone other than the person in worship. I believe that was God present in the room with them and had made Himself manifest by His Spirit and the individual was communing with that Spirit. That’s Bible worship. That will never be experienced in the “contemporary realms”. It is just not available to them.
That’s why we don’t have church like we used to have. We have removed the element necessary to experience worship, a reality of the presence of God. We have created a scenic epic of worship and have invited God to attend. He says, “What you have there will not permit Me to attend.”
In the Bible, when God came aboard, all activity stopped. There was a “holy hush” that came over the individual or individuals that caused them to know that God was present and all human output was brought under the power and presence of God. That’s worship.
INVITATION
BETH HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH
PO BOX 891523
OKC OK 73189-1523
405-691-8701
www.bhbc.net
icasteel1@cox.net
