Sermon Central
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The Attitude Of Worship Series
Contributed by Terry Blankenship on May 29, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Why am I here? Where am I going? What is my purpose? We focus on verses 1-7 as we consider our attitude in worshiping our Savior.
The Attitude of Worship!
(Because of time constraint and emphasis, I only used the first seven verses. I completed the rest and had them in the notes for the church members to do further study.)
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them. Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes? The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a severe evil— just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? All his days he also eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
Introduction –Short film “James 3”
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/short-film-from-dg
The Attitudes of My Worship 1-7
Coming into the presence of God is a privilege & honor. It should never be taken lightly!
Too often; worship becomes man driven, mouth driven, me driven with a “Ok God, Bless Me!” mentality. We are the unholy coming before the holy, the unrighteous before the Righteous, the creature before the Creator!
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God;
1. Walk cautiously! Approach God carefully…His way! No filth or sin allowed. This is His day, His time. Approach Him with thanksgiving!
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil (sin).
2. Listen carefully! Listen to God’s Word…& respond appropriately. Fools worship is meaningless and sin!
Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. (For God is in heaven and you on earth); therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
3. Speak sensibly! Be careful what you promise God! We are finite standing in awe of the Infinite! Behave accordingly. Don’t make big dreams and plans in God’s name and then not keep them. Don’t over commit yourself and then bail our on God. You are a witness, both good and bad, for God.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.
