TRUE OR VAIN WORSHIP -- WHICH?

     Once again we express our sincere appreciation to each one in our
radio audience this morning for your interest and your time. I realize
that time is a most important commodity, and I thank each one for
allowing me to come into your home on these occasions, in the
discussion of truth. It continues to be my desire to, in some measure,
be of assistance to you in a better understanding and appreciation of
the revealed Truth of God's Word.  We are all travelling down the path
that leads to eternity, with time and opportunity to serve our God. We
shall all appear before Him one day at the Judgment scene, to render
an accounting as to how we have lived these days in the flesh. Now, to
our lesson of the morning.
     The necessity of worshiping God is conceded by most people, but
how shall we worship is often considered of little importance. We hear
remarks like, "It makes no difference how we worship, just as long as
we are honest." Perhaps you may so think, but does that make it true?
Does the Bible, God's Word, say that? If not, then what right do you
have to say it?
     Christ has all authority. He said, "God is a Spirit: and they
that worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). You
will note that Christ did not leave this in the realm of doubt, or
choice, but said that we MUST, WE MUST, worship in Spirit and in
truth.  Not only is it essential (we must), but also, the HOW is of
great importance. In Matthew 15:9, Jesus states, "But in vain do they
worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Thus, man
might worship God, but that worship not be accepted by Jehovah, for
Jesus said that some worship Him in vain. What is vain worship? It is
worship that follows the doctrines of men. So states our Lord. When
the doctrines of men are used as our authority for worshipping God,
invariably there will come sinful practices. Man does not have the
ability, nor the capacity, to know what is best in worship to God.
     There is a clear distinction between common matters and worship.
Our worship must be either limited or unlimited. If it is unlimited,
then nothing can be rejected that men want to do. If it is limited,
then God's Word must limit it. What is your feelings this morning? Do
you believe that our worship to God can incorporate just anything that
comes to mind, anything that suits our fancy? May I just come up with
any whelm and say, "Lord this is my worship, and You must accept it,
because I have an honest heart"? There are many things that are
personal privileges that would be appropriate at home, perhaps in our
society, yet, would not be right when brought into the House of God
for our worship.
     In Old Testament times, the pattern for the tabernacle, its
worship, and all that was involved therein, came from Heaven. Hebrews
8:5, reads, "who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly
things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the
tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to
the pattern that was showed thee in the mount." God did not leave the
Israelites to do just anything that might have come into their mind.
He gave them instructions, not only of the necessity of their worship,
but also as to how that worship was to be conducted, as well as the
services of the tabernacle. When Nadab and Abihu brought in "strange"
fire, thus adding to that worship, they were punished by death. You
can read of that in Lev. 10:1-10. "Strange fire" was fire that was
brought in from a place different for what the Lord commanded. It came
from a difference source. Was it just as hot? Would it burn? Was it
fire? Yes to all of these. But, it was not done by divine authority,
thus, it did not please Jehovah, neither did He accept it. Nadab's and
Abihu's hearts may have been right, their conscience pure, but their
action was condemned by the Lord. Man just cannot bring that which is
without divine authority into the house of God and expect Jehovah to
accept it.
     A thing does not have to be sinful in its nature to be sinful in
worship. Since worship must be divinely prescribed, it is sinful to
introduce something that is not authorized into that worship. To do so
is to substitute human for divine wisdom. And that is presumptuous
sin. The sin of Nadab and Abihu was not in the nature of the fire, but
in the hearts of those who used it in worship, because it was used
without the authority of Heaven. And the lack of authority is equal to
a prohibition.
     The home and the church are different institutions. The home is
ours; we control it; the church belongs to Christ, He governs it.
Nothing sinful in its nature is permitted in either the home or the
church, but there are things that are right in the home that are not
right in our worship to Christ Jesus. Steak and potatoes are right on
the table in our homes; but, on the Lord's Table in our worship would
be wrong. The lack of authority makes steak and potatoes on the Lord's
table a sin. Steak and potatoes might appeal to our taste better than
unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, but man's taste is not the
criterion for judging what is right or wrong in the worship to God.
The only way to determine that is to open the Book and find our what
the Lord has said with reference to His Supper. He authorized
unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, and for man to come along and
substitute something else becomes presumptuous sin. It may be right to
sing patriotic and/or love songs, even country and western songs on
occasions in the home, but to bring that into the worship of God would
be sinful. We are told that our worship should be with "psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs." (Eph 5:19). Just because it might be pleasing
unto the ears of man does not make it pleasing unto the ears of
Jehovah. We may use instruments of music in our homes; that is our
choice. But to bring them into the house of God in our worship is
sinful. And why is that so?? Because there is no authority for them.
You might way, "Yes there is." I would then ask you, "Where do you
find authority for mechanical instruments to be used in worship to God
today?"  A thing is not right in worship because it is right in the
home; neither is a thing wrong in the home because it is wrong in
worship. God indeed recognizes a difference between what one might do
in the home and what one might do in worship. In 1 Corinthians 11:34,
Paul states, "If any man is hungry, let him eat at home." Thus, there
is a distinction between a common meal at home and mixing it with the
Lord's work.
     The Gospel of Christ appeals to the spirit and not to the flesh.
The Jewish system under the Old Testament Law appealed largely to the
flesh. In Hebrews 9:13, we read, "For if the blood of goats and bulls,
and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled,
sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh..." But, that system could
not take away sins. Listen to Hebrews 10:4, "For it is impossible that
the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins."  We now find
forgiveness through the blood of Christ Jesus, the sacrifice that was
offered for our iniquities, when we are willing to accept the terms of
forgiveness under the Gospel or Good News of our Saviour. And, yet how
often today do we see religious people seeking to appeal to the flesh
rather than to the spirit. Crowds are stimulated and raised to a
frenzy by fleshly appeals and exciting entertainments of the
performers.  Some religious services look more like the Grand Old Opry
than worship to our Creator. Now, I have nothing against the Grand Old
Opry, for I, too, enjoy those presentations. But, what I am saying is
that they have no place in the worship of Jehovah. It would seem to me
that the fleshly appeals have taken precedence over the spiritual
needs of mankind. My friends, if you will be honest with yourself, can
you not see that the appeal of so many religious programs is primarily
to please the fleshly appetites of our generation. How do you draw a
crowd. Entertain them. The multitudes followed Jesus as long as he
filled them with the loaves and fishes. But, when He gave them
spiritual food, that which the soul needs, they turned away from Him
and followed Him no more.  So, it is today. Stir man up in some kind
of a frenzy, fill his stomach, and he will follow you. But, give him
the truth of God's Word, the simple story of the cross; he turns away
and goes in search of something else. It reminds me of the words of
the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:3,4, "For the time will come when they
will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will
heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away
their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables." How many
today, in our day and age, have itching ears. They search for that
which satisfies themselves, rather that seeking that which satisfies
the God of the Heavens. So, they go in search of that which pleases
the fleshly aspects, rather than satisfying the spiritual needs of the
soul. The religion of Christ Jesus never had a circus atmosphere. The
religion of Christ Jesus is concerned with the salvation of the soul,
the forgiveness of sin, not with the entertainment of the physical
body. Joy comes from the realization that one is right with God, not
from some outward stimulant. In Acts 8:39, we read, "And when they
came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip;
and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing." Why
did the Ethiopian nobleman rejoice? Because he had just heard the good
news about the Saviour, Jesus Christ. He had just confessed his faith
in Christ as the Son of God. He had just been baptized or buried in
the water for the remission of his sins. As Christ had promised in
Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," this
man had done that and had confidence in the promise Christ made, was
cleansed from past sins. Was there any reason why he should not go on
his way rejoicing. He was now a child of God. He had been raised to
walk in newness of life. He was in fellowship with Jehovah.
     But, back to our major theme for this morning. True or Vain
worship, which?  Someone might say, "But, preacher, we need to use
these fleshly appeals to draw people. People are just not interested
in the old story of the cross. We need something else." To which I
answer, please read John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the
Father that sent me draw him..."  If drawn to the Father  by human
devices, it would be men drawing them, not Christ. And more often than
not, unless the fleshly appeals continue to be used, the crowds
dwindle.
     I am reminded of the words of the aged apostle Paul in Galatians
l:10, "For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men"
for if I yet please men, I would not be the servant of Christ."
Christ did not die upon the cross in order for us to have fun and
frolic in our worship. He died to save the souls of mankind. He did
not die to please men, he died in free men. And unless we are willing
to surrender our will to the will of the Heavenly Father we will never
please Him. I must have the attitude of those in Acts 2, who cried out
"What shall we do." Then I must listen to the answer, "Repent ye and
be baptized into Christ Jesus for the remission of your sins" (Acts
2:36, 38). The to be willing to determine what my worship should
include by going to the Book and finding "book, chapter, and verse"
for all that I do in my worship and service unto our King.

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