WORSHIP

Our approach to God

Genesis 22

1. And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I.

2. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, 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 early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4. 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 we will worship, and come again to you.

To Worship God

• Means different things to different people

• Our desire: to understand how God expects us to worship Him today

• Our commitment: to worship God according to His revealed will

Review

• The Power of God (His authority)

• Power to create, command, enforce, judge, save or destroy

• God’s power is revealed through His creation

• God’s will has been revealed to us through His Word

The Work of the Church

• Teaching (evangelism)– The primary work of the church

• Benevolence (limited to needy saints)– The church is NOT authorized, nor

equipped to relieve the needs of the whole world; but, it can relieve needy saints

• Worship

God seeks worshippersJohn 4:23-24 But the hour

cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. 24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Ignorant Worship

John 4:20-22 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. 22. Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

Ignorant Worship

• A real possibility (many do not “know” to worship God)

• Is a “risk” that many take– To displease God will bring serious negative

consequences

• There is NO reason for a man to worship God without knowing what to do – we have the scriptures

Unacceptable Worship

• Worship offered in the wrong spirit

• Worship not according to Truth

• Matthew 15:7-9– Vain worship

– According to the commandments of men

Acceptable Worship

• John 4:24 …they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

• God seeks such worshippers – vs. 23– Those who will submit themselves to

His will

– Those who humble themselves in His service

Submission

• Hebrews 5:8-9

• John 8:28-32

• those who would be true disciples will imitate Jesus… – always doing the things that please God

– things as are revealed in the Word of God

– ABIDING in His Word, the truth

Old Testament Lessons

Two offerings – Genesis 4:3-5

• Cain’s offering was rejected

• Abel’s offering was accepted– Hebrews 11:4

– Romans 10:17

The Assembly 1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be assembled together

vs. 26 When ye come together

vs. 28 keep silence in the church

ACTIVITY PASSAGE TEXT

Singing 1 Corinthians 14:15 I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also…

1 Corinthians 14:26 When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching

Teaching 1 Corinthians 14:26 When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching

Collection 1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store

2 Corinthians 9:7 for God loveth a cheerful giver

Praying 1 Corinthians 14:15-161 Timothy 2:1-3,81 Thessalonians 5:17

I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also

Lord’s Supper 1 Corinthians 11:18-20 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. 19. For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. 20. When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper:

Special consideration 1 Corinthians 14:34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak

Approaching God

• All worship must be offered according to God’s revelation

• Those who add other activities (not authorized in scripture), or corrupt the divinely prescribed activities will be REJECTED by God

Nadab & AbihuLeviticus 10:1-3 And Nadab and Abihu, the

sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them. 2. And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah. 3. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that Jehovah spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Respecting God

• Involves keeping His commands exactly like He gives them

• The sons of Aaron did not do what God had said, rather they used a strange fire to offer the incense– Leviticus 9 (esp. vs. 23-24)– Leviticus 16:11-13

It is important

• Assemble at the right time

• Eat the Lord’s supper the right way– For the right purpose

• Our collection be a free will offering

• That we preach the gospel

• That we sing and pray