Worship 35

.HEAD 1 + Title: The Dangers of Worship Text: Selected
Tracing: Preached January 12, 1992 AM at SDCC.

.HEAD 1 + INTRO

Last week, after the morning service, someone commented that this was the first time they had ever been through an in-depth study of worship. How many of you can say the same? We tend to take worship for granted don’t we? We use the word but assume everyone understands it — even if we are somewhat fuzzy about it, everyone else probably understands it perfectly.

By and large, the modern church has neglected the subject of Worship. We have been enabled to do that by the combination of a failure to understand its meaning, a failure to recognize its importance, and a failure to remember its dangers! Should we give proper attention to these things, we would be compelled to take greater care with our worship!

To practice worship without an understanding of what the Bible teaches about worship is a bit like wiring a house with the power on — it may be exciting but its not the brightest thing you’ll ever do! Consider with me today the awful risks and dangers of Worship! De 8:19 “If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and

worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.” De 13 The consequences of improper worship can be great — People have been

stricken dead, nations have been conquered, kings have been deposed, and people have been threatened with punishment in hell for errors in worship!

Fortunately, there are only five basic types of errors in Worship.

.HEAD 1 + BODY
.HEAD 2 + Worship of False gods Ex 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” Ex 34:14 “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is

Jealous, is a jealous God.”

To whom do you look for help? Who do you credit for your blessings? From whom do you seek forgiveness? Who do you recognize as your superior and authority? Friends, family, government, SELF??? Consider today’s emphasis on self-esteem and self-acceptance — this is seeking forgiveness from oneself!

.HEAD 2 + Worship of the True God in a wrong form

Ex 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”

De 4:15-19, Isa 40:18-26

This may have been the sin at the base of Mt. Sinai — Aaron might have been attempting to represent the TRUE God whom they had seen perform many miracles in the Exodus. But worshipping a REPRESENTATION (any representation) of God is unacceptable! It limits the unlimited God.

Do you have a representation of God? Illus. Judge Thunder vs. Cosmic Creampuff. Do you caricature God, ignore some of His attributes, or imagine that you fully understand Him? Let Him be somewhat undefined — don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Accept the possibility that He may work in ways you have not anticipated!

Do Jews and Moslems worship the same God? No! Not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Besides, forgiveness does not come from our worship but from our participation in the death of Christ through a covenant relationship with Him!

.HEAD 2 + Worship in a Self-styled manner

Le 10:1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorised fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. I Sam 13:8-14 – Uzzah Illus. former Stripper in a Mainline liberal church performing a

provocative dance as “worship”.

.HEAD 2 + Worship in an inconsistent life Isa 1:10-18 Ho 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Amos 5:21-24 Far more important than what we do in a “Worship Service” is how we live

our lives! If our profession through the last six days of the week contradicts that of the first, our so-called “worship” on the first is utterly without value!

.HEAD 2 + Worship with a wrong attitude

Worship as “appeasement” or ritual. Isa 29:13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Giving less than our best. Mal. 1:6-10 Seeking self-gratification or approval from others — “I just didn’t get

anything out of the Worship Service!” Joh 5:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only [One] God?

.HEAD 1 + CONCLUSION

Worship Him. Worship ONLY Him. Worship Him by committing, unconditionally, your life to Him.

Deut 30:15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.

Today, as then, we face a choice as to how we will worship. Choose rightly — to love the LORD and keep His commands — and live. Choose wrongly and face only destruction. Which will you choose?

.HEAD 1 + COMMENTS
.HEAD 1 + Prepared by Scott L. Purcell Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church 1501 Stokelan Drive Malden, MO 63863 (314) 276-2343 Reproduce, modify, and use freely for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom! If these outlines are of some benefit to you, a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!