Scripture Reading: Psalm 96:1-9
Stranger Fire or Acceptable Worship?
(Part 1)
Intro.
1. Why are you here? (To get something, or to give something?)
2. Worship: “The act of paying reverence, adoration, or homage to God,” to make obeisance to.
a. Worship is an action of faith toward God, Gen. 22:5; Heb. 11:17.
b. External action motivated by an internal conviction.
c. Worship is what one gives to God.
3. Our worship must conform to God’s pattern of truth to be approved.
I. THE SAVED ARE APPROVED TO WORSHIP GOD, Jno. 4:22-24.
A. True Worship is the Province of the Church (Christians), Phil. 3:3.
1. Those outside of Christ are lost, in error (not truth), therefore, cannot be true worshipers in that state (vain worship), cf. Mk. 7:6-9.
2. Christians are priests in God's house, and offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices, 1 Pet. 2:5.
B. Inconceivable that Christians May Forsake Worshiping God and be Acceptable to Him, Heb. 10:24-25.
II. GOD REGULATES HIS OWN WORSHIP.
A. God Alone Appoints Acceptable Worship.
1. He prescribes it, governs it and accepts it; All else is rejected.
2. Cain was not accepted because he did not worship by faith, Gen. 4:3-5; Heb. 11:4 (Rom. 10:17).
3. God regulated Israel's worship; Would not accept the traditional worship practices of men, Exo. 20:4-6; Deut. 12:29-32.
4. Anything offered to God that He did not command was (is) strange before Him, Lev.10:1-3.
-Strange: "to turn aside; hence to be a foreigner, strange, profane" (Strong); “unauthorized fire” (ESV).
B. God Commands our Worship be in Spirit and in Truth, Jno. 4:24.
1. In spirit: More than bodily presence; From the heart (cf. Eph. 5:19).
2. In truth: More than emotions needed; Worship is a matter of truth. How we worship is also crucial, Mk. 7:8-9.
3. Divine pattern for approved worship: Prayer, L.S., singing, giving, preaching word, Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:26; 16:2; Eph. 5:19.
Conclusion
1. We fail to give homage to God while teaching and following the commandments of men, Matt. 15:7-9.
2. Be sure that our hearts and hands offer God true worship, moved by God’s mercy to give Him true, reverent worship, Psa. 5:7.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: July 21, 2016