Worship
God Only
Part 3
God has shown in our Bible, His Word, and His approval of those that follow His will as well as His displeasure and wrath with those that refuse to worship Him in the way He has directed. While many will not listen He has been clear about how He wants man to worship Him.
There are acceptable and unacceptable manners of worship set forth in the Old Testament. Cain and Abel both worshiped God. Abel did his worship in the manner God had directed while Cain worshiped as he saw fit.
Genesis 4: 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Why did He have respect for Abel’s offering as He rejected Cain’s?
Hebrews 11: 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
If you notice God’s Word states that Abel’s offering was “By faith,” but Cain’s was not.
Romans 10: 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Faith comes by the Word of God and just as Abel adhered to God’s Word so must we.
Romans 14: 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
If the worship we offer is not “by faith,” it is not “by the Word of Christ,” and therefore is a sin and will be rejected just as Cain’s was. This is an extremely serious matter as if God rejects the worship of a man, that man is lost.
All too many accept those portions of the Bible, God’s Word, which they like and reject anything they do not like. Then some go so far as to add other things they see as sound ideas. People allow me to make this clear. That is NOT CHRISTIANITY! That is anarchy and blasphemous! No man, not a single one, has a right to ‘believe as he pleases.’ We must humbly submit to all that Jesus says. We also must be aware that anything taught or practiced by a Pastor which does not come from the Bible, God’s Word, is false and unworthy of God.
No man who fails to obey God is worthy of Paradise . When God directs how to do something and warns of the consequence of failing to do it His way then all is in vain and the penalty is eternal death.
Our Lord is clear in His Word.
Mark 7: 7They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'
When any follow the commandments and doctrines of men instead of God’s, we worship in vain. The worship we offer is empty, hollow, and useless and will be rejected as such if we do not adhere to God’s direction. Any worship contrary to that which God has directed therefore becomes an insult and dishonors His Mighty Name. We must worship in accordance with His Word and seek to glorify and honor Him.
We must worship God in spirit and in truth.
John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
To worship in truth is to worship Him as He directs. To worship Him in spirit is to admit, He is God, you are not!
John 17: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
Jesus spoke those words and thus told us just what God will accept. Any other form of worship that is not set forth in God’s Word is not in truth and is in vain!
If we do not know what God says we will be destroyed. Sadly all too many do not know what God says and that is why I am doing all that I can to teach you the way He wants to have you worship Him.
Hosea 4: 6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge...”
I caution you, beware of false doctrines; they will be your downfall!
When people are ignorant of God’s directions on how He is to be worshiped, they wander in spiritual darkness. Jesus was clear on this as He spoke these words:
Matthew 15:14”Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
We must have a hunger, a desire to know the truth, to know God’s will and be willing to change if we find we are wrong and not worshiping according to His truth.
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Only truth can make us free, otherwise we remain under the bondage of sin. We may think we are sincere in worship but if we do not worship God in truth it is unacceptable and in vain!
All worship must not only be “in truth,” but must be “in spirit” as well. We must worship with true reverence and with all our heart and a mind set of allowing no distraction.
Matthew 15:8 “'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Do not think that a church that teaches worship of God in any manner other than what He directs is doing anything other than telling you what they think you want to hear and to gain your tithes! Talk to the Pastors that preach to you and determine that what you are being taught is exactly what is in the Bible, God’s Word. If you hear the words, “We teach according to the doctrines of (whatever the denomination) and believe them to be proper,” run! Do not look back!
On the other hand, if you hear, “We teach in accordance to God’s Word and teach that worship is to be in accordance with His directives, in spirit and in truth,” then realize that this Pastor is a true Christian.
Always keep in mind the fact that Satan has been around far longer than you and knows exactly how to deceive you and lead you astray.
(Closing prayer)
Abba, Father in Heaven, we come before You with reverence, devotion and give You our love. Father, You are all powerful and Creator of all that there is and we are merely Your creation. We beseech You to see us as Your children and worthy of You.
Lord, we thank You for everything You have chosen to bestow upon us and for being our God. We have no doubt as to Your greatness, Your power or Your Divinity. Please accept our humble worship and allow us to learn Your wish as to just how You want us to worship You. You are all powerful and Master of everything. Guide us O Lord; we will follow with songs of joy in our hearts.
We sing is our hearts as we praise You. Our happiness in being Your children fills our hearts with rejoicing and unwavering love for You. Glory to You Father, You are our Lord.
Father, we ask that You shower our military, our elected officials, judges, police and those that protect our nation from harm with Your protection, mercies and Your Divine love. We also ask that You bless Your children around the world and see to their needs.
Father, as You have instructed, we ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever,
Amen, amen and amen.
Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com
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