Date Used – Aug. 22, 99 -- LMBC Anchorage

TRUE WORSHIP

Gen. 22:1-12

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 ¶ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11 ¶ And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

INTRODUCTION:

When we truly desire to understand a particular doctrine, we may want to apply the law of "First Mention".

When a teaching is described in its initial setting, we find a consistency throughout the entire Word of God in regard to that teaching.

Here in our text verses we are able to see a beautiful picture of worship.

Here we have seen how God’s Friend Abraham, is being commanded by the Lord to something out of the ordinary, is commanded to worship God.

Now this command is not something that you will find ordinary people doing on an ordinary day. This is something very special and out of the ordinary.

God has called on Abraham to meet him in a special place at a special time and worship Him.

As we saw in Verse 5, Abraham took his beloved son and set about to worship God.

Can we even begin to compare what is known as "Present day Worship" to the type of worship Abraham was already experiencing deep within his heart en rout to Mount Moriah?

To be perfectly honest, much of what is called worship today is not real worship of God.

Some one has rightly said that true worship is "The missing Jewel of the Church."

There are over three hundred and fifty thousand churches in America owning billions of dollars worth of facilities dedicated to worshipping God.

Yet how many of these truly worship the living God.

Let us notice that when Abraham worshipped, he required no pipe organ, no rituals, not cathedral, no ornate clothing, no three hour music program, no artificial atmosphere.

What he did have was a heart entirely desirous to praise, honors, and adore God.

So we must ask and let the word of God answer, are we really commanded to worship God?

The first point I want us to look at this morning is -----

I. THE COMMAND TO WORSHIP.

A. FAILURE TO WORSHIP.

1. Lack of true, biblical worship is one of the outstanding evidences that indeed we are picturing the Laodecian Church.

2. We Must establish that worship is commanded both in the Old and New Testaments.

3. The Next major thing that we must understand is that the primary reason for man’s creation was to worship God.

4. Now in light of the Scriptures, how is worship defined?

a. "To make obeisance, to bow down, to honor, to adore

b. To exalt God within our hearts.

c. To pay homage, to serve the Lord, to give to God.

d. Worship includes the heart and the whole man.

5. Worship is not confined to praise only, in a broad manner it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement of God.

a. Admission of His nature, Attributes, ways and claims.

b. This is done by the outpouring of the heart in praise and thanksgiving and by deeds done.

Rev. 2:2-4 - I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

6. What we see first of all from this verse is workers, but not worshippers.

7. When the church lacks true worship, all the straight, hard, doctrinal teaching and preaching will still lead to cold, indifferent churches that are lifeless towards men’s souls.

8. Sermons may well be dead lectures if a pastor and church are failing to worship the Lord God.

B. FALSE WORSHIP.

1. An old saying certainly applies to the day and age in which we live is as follows.

"the less a person has on the inside, the more he needs on the outside"

2. A quick walk through your local mall will substantiate this wise axiom.

3. You will observe people in the world who have spiked hair, shaved heads, pierced body parts, outlandish clothes and tattoos.

4. This all be cause they have very superficial, unfulfilling, empty lives.

a. Have not the Lord’s church today to a certain extent, followed suit.

5. Do you feel sometimes like service to the Lord is more about "Attracting people and less about worshipping"?

6. We seem to go out for making services "visitor adaptable’, "seeker friendly" and even "politically correct."

7. Let us take a close hard look at what the Word of God says about attracting multitudes.

Luke 14:25-27 - And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

a. Now pay particular attention to Verse 33 here.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

8. Many Baptist today are changing their message, methods, and music alleging that they are having a "Worship Service"

9. In reality, they are attempting to appease the flesh and fill the void that has come because of a lack of relationship with God.

10. Cain practiced false worship, which God found unacceptable.

a. The result, Cain no longer knew the blessing of the presence of the Lord.

11. The Israelites, unreprimanded by Aaron had false worship around a golden calf.

Exo 32:1, 6 - And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

a. Now look at verse 6

6. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

b. Down to verse 8

They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

c. Finally look at verse 18

18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

12. This sounds like a charismatic service .. or maybe a "Purpose Driven" Baptist church.

13. What happened here was Aaron listened to the whims, wishes, and wants of the flock instead of obeying the command to worship God alone.

14. What happened back in Exodus is not unlike what goes on today in many churches.

a. Superficial services and not real worship.

15. True worship produces humility, soberness, reverence, and awe.

a. False worship consists of three erroneous actions:

b. False worship involves the worship of false gods.

c. False worship involves an attempt to worship, because of ignorance of the Scriptures.

d. False worship occurs when there is a wrong attitude.

16. None of these things would have happened at the foot of Mt Sinai had Aaron worshipped and obeyed God instead of fearing and accommodating the people.

C. FAITHFUL WORSHIP.

1. Genuine worship is done in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

2. This verse speaks of worshipping God with our whole heart, sincerely, from the inner man, with zeal and with spirit.

 

3. Faithful worship is the overflow of one’s heart to God.

a. Could it be that our churches lack true worship today?

2. When was the last time you experienced a time of genuine worship?

a. Where you bowed down, honored, and revered God.

3. When was the last time you experienced the awe that comes from being in His presence and had true devotion to God?

4. Today have you exalted Him in your own heart, paid homage to the King of Kings, loved Him and worshipped Him for Who He IS?

a. Can you recall the last time you led your family to do the same?

5. What then is worship? Is not given over to a true, faithful worship of our deserving Creator?

6. Consider the life of Able, the few brief sentences we read of him in Genesis are summed up for us in Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

D. A PATTERN IS SET FORTH FOR WORSHIPPING GOD IN HEBREWS 11.

1. Worshipping

a. As pictured in Abel’s life, he sacrificed to God.

b. This speaks of his salvation based upon the Blood atonement and faith in God.

c. A true worshipper will sacrifice his life to God.

2. Walking

a. By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.

b. Enoch walked with God, therefore God translated him.

c. This is meant to convey that Enoch lived and holy, godly, and surrendered life.

3. Working

a. By Faith Noah, being warned of God, moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house.

b. Noah moved by the fear of the Lord, worked for 120 years preparing the Ark.

4. Willing Obedience

a. By Faith Abraham, when he was tested was willing to offer up Isaac in true worship to God.

b. Abraham, loving, trusting friend of God exercised willing obedience to his God’s commands.

II. THE COURSE OF WORSHIP.

A. WORSHIP THROUGH PRAYER

1. In prayer we make obeisance, show reverence and devotion, pay homage to and express our deep love for God.

2. With our hearts we express our reverence and appreciation of God for who He is.

3. Expressing our awe at His attributes for He is holy, immutable, eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, just, righteous, living, merciful, gracious, longsuffering, forgiving, good, great, faithful, and fill of truth and wisdom.

4. We should worship him for who He is, as revealed by his names.

a. Elohim – Our TriuneCreator

Jehovah – Self-existent One

b. El Shaddai – God Almighty Who strengthens

c. El Elyon – Most High God

d. El Olam – The Everlasting God.

B. WE WORSHIP GO TRHOUGH SONG.

Col. 3:16 - Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1. Did you know that making a joyful noise comes naturally when one is overflowing with worship form within?

2. Often times I just begin sing a hymn God has brought to my heart as a form of worship and praise to God.

C. WORSHIPPING GOD TRHOUGH PREACHING.

1. Since real worship rejoices in spirit and in truth, worshipping during preaching should be natural.

2. By reverencing the Lord, agreeing with the Word preached, and rejoicing in the spirit, the child of God proves his devotion and worships God.

D. WORSHIPPING GOD THROUGH GIVING.

Pro. 3:9 - Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

1. The attitude one displays in giving of time, talent, tithe is a direct revealer of the heart’s condition.

2. Stingy, selfish people are not true worshippers of God.

3. Those who are not willing to part with that which the Lord has endowed them are not worshipping God.

4. Remember Abraham, worshipped by being sacrificially willing to part with his most precious possession.

E. WORSHIPPING GOD TRHOUGH PRAISE:

Heb. 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Eph. 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Psa. 9:1 - I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

1. Praising God is necessary in our personal lives.

2. We praise God because of His majesty, His Glory, His excellence, His greatness, His wisdom, His mercy, His lovingkindness, and His wonderful works.

Psa. 100:4-5 - Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

3. We should praise the Lord in health and sickness, in Wealth and in Poverty, in gladness and in sorrow.

F. WORSIHPPING GOD THROUGH LIVING HIM.

4. Love is an action word, in that it manifest what it does, by what it is doing, and by the heart attitude it demonstrates.

5. Jesus asked Peter if he loved the fish he caught more than he loved the Lord.

6. Some thing it ridiculous to love a fish more than god.

7. Think of the ridiculous things we allow in our lives that take first place over our love for Him.

III. THE COST OF WORSHIP.

A. WHAT DOES IT REALLY COST TO WORSHIP GOD? LET’S ASK ABRAHAM.

Gen. 22:9-10 - And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

1. We can see the price Abraham was willing to pay in order to give the sacrifice of praise to His God.

2. When we contemplate upon his actions, we are also made well aware of Abraham’s heart condition.

Such a beautiful picture of love, devotion, reverence, and obedience portrayed for us on the pages of Holy Writ.

3. There can be no questions as far as Abraham was concerned, no halting and faltering – what ever God asked for, He could have.

4. We see Abraham rising up early which speaks to us of his willingness to obey.

a. True worship will cost us something.

b. It will call for sacrifice to life

c. It will call for sacrifice of personal time.

5. It will command talent, giving, obedience, effort, and diligence throughout all out days.

6. True worship will provoke us to good works and to keep a "short List" of confessions to God.

7. It will certainly inspire us to keep Christ as the King of our hearts.

8. Yet the alternative – False Worship – Will cost us far more.

a. We will be without the power of God on our lives.

b. We will feel the absence of a close, intimate relationship with God.

9. It will cost us souls and instead of sacrificing to the Lord we will sacrifice what could have been ours, the power of God in our services.

10. He is worthy of our worship in Spirit and in Truth.

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