WORSHIP AND SERVICE IN THE BEGINNING

 

TEXT: Genesis 4:4-5

 

INTRODUCTION:

1. Two boys come to worship their God.

2. Each offers a sacrifice to his God.

3. One is accepted and the other rejected.

4. Why? Genesis 4:4-5 says " The Lord respected Abel: the Lord rejected Cain.

5. We are here today to worship God. It is quite possible that the worship of some

    of us will be rejected.

6. Is your life such that your worship is accepted or rejected by God.

 

DISCUSSION:

I. WE MUST OFFER THE PROPER WORSHIP TO GOD:

  A. Directed toward the proper object

     1) John was told to "Worship God" (Rev. 19:10;22:9)

     2) True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth (Jno. 4:23)

     3) The first four of the ten commandments directed the Israelites to worship God

         exclusively and to have no other gods (Ex. 20:1-11)

     4) Exodus 34:10-14- "For thou shalt worship no other god; for Jehovah, whose name

         is Jealous, is a jealous God."

     5) Our worship is directed toward God, not toward the people in attendance; "Paying

         homage to an object of worship"

   B. Proper worship is that which involves the proper actions

     1) Only those actions which are authorized by God, may be used in worship to Him

        (Col.3:17) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord

        Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him"

     2) We have New Testament examples of five acts of worship that the early church

         practiced toward God:

          a) Singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)  1 Chr 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of

              the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of

              Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.

              1 Chr 25:6-7 All these were under the direction of their father for the music in

              the house of the LORD, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the

              service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the

              authority of the king. So the number of them, with their brethren who were

              instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and

              eighty-eight.

              Rev 5:8-9 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the

              twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden

              bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.9 And they sang a new

               song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You

              were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and

              tongue and people and nation,

          b) Praying to God through Christ ( Col. 3:17;Acts 2:42; 1Tim. 2:8-15)

          c) Preaching or teaching from God's word, and only from the word (Acts 2:42;

              20:7)

          d) Giving (1Cor. 16:1-2; 2Cor. 8,9)

          e) Observing the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7)

   C. Proper worship is to be done on the proper day

      1) "First day of week (Acts 20:7;1Cor. 16:1-2).

      2) Corporate worship service is to be on Sunday.

      3) A faithful life of service is every minute of every day.

   D. Proper worship involves the proper attitude:

      1) John 4:24- in spirit and in truth

      2) Humility, reverence and respect:

      3) Not pretense, hypocrisy and showyness

   E. Worship that is offered with the proper attitude will eliminate the desire to change

       worship to God to entertainment in an effort to be more appealing to the public.

   F. Take the proper precautions:

       1) Avoid letting human tradition make the worship void (Mtt. 15:9)

       2) Avoid false worship (Zeph. 1:2-6) God won't accept substitutes.

       3) Avoid ignorant worship (Acts 17:30-31)

   G. May we ever strive to offer proper worship to God, through proper actions, on the

       proper day with proper attitudes; taking the proper precaution!

 

II. WE MUST OFFER THE PROPER SERVICE TO GOD;

   A. Christians have volunteered to be servants of God (Rom. 6:16-17)

   B. Proper service involves being a good and faithful soldier in the Lord's army

       1) Eph. 6:10-13 Proper armor

       2) 1Tim. 1:18; 2Tim. 2:3- Fight the good warfare as a good soldier of Christ Jesus

       3) 2Tim. 4:6-8- The good soldier will end his life with "I have fought the good fight"

   C. Proper service involves being a good seeker of the Lost (Jno. 1:41-42; Lk. 19:10;

        Mk. 16:15-16)

   D. Proper service involves being sensitive to the needs of others (Gal. 6:10; Jms. 1:27;

       Mtt. 25:34-40).

 

III. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WORSHIP AND SERVICE:

   A. One can worship perfectly, but it can be made void by lack of daily service

   B. One can serve daily and worship unacceptably

   C. Genesis 4:4- The Lord accepted Abel (service) and then Accepted his offering

       (worship).

   D. IF YOU DO WELL YOU WILL BE ACCEPTED (VS.7)

       1) God has never unjustly rejected anyone!
       2)  He wants our best and expects His orders to be carried out!

       3)  Gen.6:1-8; 19;

4)  Lev.10:1ff;

       5) Mtt. 7:21-24; 

 

E. SIN IS COUCHING AT THE DOOR AND DESIRES YOU

  1. 1Pet.5:8;
  2. Jms.1:13-15;
  3. Psalms 1:1;
  4. Mtt.26:41;
  5. Eph. 6:10-12; 
  6. 1 Cor. 16:13;
  7. Rom.16:17;
  8. 1Cor. 10:12;
  9. 9:27

F. YOU CAN RULE OVER SIN (VS.7) 

  1. Rom.15:1-2;
  2. Phil.4:13;
  3. 2Pet.2:9-10;
  4. 1Cor. 10:13;
  5. Gal.6:1-2; 
  6. 1Cor. 15:20-28
  7. God expects our best, anything less is not acceptable.

     1)  Malachi 1:6-14.

     2)  Start today and "If you do well you will be accepted."

 

  1. THREE THIEVES OF MEANINGFUL WORSHIP:
  1. Ignorance: One’s view of God can effect how we worship Him.
  1. If our view is flawed, then so is our worship.
  2. One man said, that God was like a worm in a bed of ants. He just keeps stinging us over and over again for His own amusement.
  3. If one is from an abusive background, He will see a god who toys with us and afflicts us.
  1. Laziness: If one is used to being waited on hand and foot in life, or with taking the easy road in life, then he or she will expect the same thing from church.
  1. Members often seem to be saying, here I am, feed me, sing to me, preach to me, pray for me, entertain me and send me home happy.
  2. Worship is something in which we are to be involved.
  1. Mindless living: Some go through life in a mindless daze.
  1. They make bad decisions, or no decisions, they let things happen that are not necessary, they just wander along.
  2. They approach worship the same way.
  3. Couldn’t tell you a few hours after wroship what the lesson was about, what songs were sung etc.

CONCLUSION:

1. Worship and service are two words that properly sum up the Christian life.

2. Worship is what we do on Sunday here, and service is what we live in our

    daily life.

3.  Meaningful worship can be stolen by ignorance, laziness or mindless living.

4. Hebrews 11:4- Abel's worship reflected an obedient attitude and proof of his daily

    service He was not something different in church than he was in daily life.

5. In order to begin a life of worship and service one must HEAR, BELIEVE, REPENT,

   CONFESS, BE BAPTIZED, THEN SERVE FAITHFULLY UNTIL DEATH,

6. Two boys come to worship their God, one is accepted and the other rejected, based on

    how they worshipped plus how they lived their daily lives.

7. You are one of those young men in spirit, attitude, motive and love for God.

8. Which one are you?