The Heart of Worship
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1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Can I ask a question that may be a little personal today? What is your true heart of worship? Do we come to church with a pure heart, looking to worship our Savior or do we have ulterior motives in worship?
I guess the true question should be, what are we bringing to Jesus today?
True worship, as Jesus said, is in “spirit and in truth” John 4:24
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
But how many of us come to church expecting God to move? How many of us come to church expecting God to heal? How many of us come to church expecting God to do anything?
Or, have we forgotten the real reason we are here? We must remember we are here for God. That’s it. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing less. We are called to worship God.
But what is worship?
To express praise, thanksgiving, adoration, etc. to God.
To pay homage to or, literally, to ascribe worth to some person or thing, hence, worship embraces the whole of the reverent life, including piety and liturgy.
Worship (Old English ‘worth-ship’) originally referred to the action of human beings in expressing homage to God because he is worthy of it. It covers such activities as adoration, thanksgiving, prayers of all kinds, the offering of sacrifice and the making of vows. Worship is human response to a gracious God, and it needs to be placed in this context if it is to be properly understood.
Worship comes from the heart. Worship is man’s sense of awe in the presence of the magnificent God.
Worship was clearly a central focus of people’s lives in the earliest stages of the biblical record, and we find God required worship from His people.
As we look at the example of worship set by Cain and Abel, we should examine the heart in which they worshipped. What was the cause of the acceptance of one offering, and the rejection of another? In reality, do we see any issue with their offerings? What was given? What was the heart of giving? While we are not told what the source of conflict between Cain and Abel was, we can observe jealousy between the two brothers. This conflict affected their attitude of worship, and the disruption of worship led to disunity and eventually murder.
Now, while I don’t see many of us going to the level of murder, I can see where conflict could affect our worship, and ultimately disunity among believers.
If we
Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
Cain was the first born son, Abel the second son. Cain was a worker of the ground, a farmer, worker of the soil. Abel, an animal farmer, caring for his flock.
Now, at this time had there been an establishment of sacrifice? Of course! The original blood sacrifice had been given by God Himself upon the original sin by Adam and Eve.
21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
God chose to provide a way of recovery and restoration through sacrifice. Because of this, we (mankind) should worship God, just as Adam and Eve recognized the restoration of their fellowship with God! Worship was instituted!
But take note that it was the heart of Adam and Eve in accepting their sinful state and understanding the restoration of their relationship that caused them to be able to worship even knowing daily life would be a struggle to survive. Even though they and all humans afterward would suffer the consequences of sin, God still provided a way of restoration of our relationship and freedom from the consequences of sin.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
But notice that restoration comes as a choice - a personal choice to accept God’s sacrifice and a choice to worship what He has done for us.
Here is where we find Cain and Abel. At a time in their life where they will make their sacrifices. Cain, an offering of the fruit of the ground. Abel, the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. Just as Adam and Eve had learned to worship God, they taught their children the importance of worship also. But…can we make someones heart focus on the worship of God? Can we change someones heart? We find the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering. But what was different with the offering of Cain?
Offering Rejected
Offering Rejected
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
God had no regard to Cain’s offering. God did not accept his offering. Was it because of the fruit of the ground? No, it was not the offering that was found unacceptable, but the heart of Cain that God found unacceptable. So, what was the difference between Cain and Abel’s offerings? Faith.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Do we come with the heart of worship in faith? What is faith? Relying on and trusting in God! Cain’s offering was not made in reliance and trust in God. It was just a thing. An activity. A routine.
This caused me to pause and think about the fact that people attend religious meetings and participate in church activities is no proof that they’re true believers.
13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
Is there a difference between worship to God, and worship of routine, or a worship of tradition? Oh church, has our hearts gotten mixed up in our purpose of worship??? Unfortunately, today many who attend church services follow the appearance of faith, but do not know the power worship can give.
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Paul says to avoid such people. God avoided the sacrifice of Cain because of a lack of godliness in his heart. As a result, Cain was angry. Cain was angry at God because of his own lack of faith.
Now, there is a sermon in itself, but think of this - why would Cain get angry when God called him out? For the same reason we get angry when we don’t get our way! When we think of salvation, we have to believe by faith! God offered Cain a restoration of salvation by faith. God personally spoke to him and lead him back, but Cain refused.
God gives us the same opportunity to be restored through salvation by faith. But, stubborn sinners (just like Cain) refuse His help. God reminded him that it was not Cain that had been rejected, but his refusal to accept God’s will for his life through faith. It was an issue of the heart of worship. Cain’s corrupt heart separated him from God and led him to bitterness, rejection, and murder.
Murder
Murder
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
Anger is a powerful emotion. Anger has a way of clouding judgment, of making us do things we would normally not do, even lead us to lash out or even worse murder.
What would have happened if Cain had been convicted of God’s Words and had humbled himself and asked forgiveness? You see, Cain was attempting to act religious, but had never accepted God by faith.
12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
God cannot accept unrighteousness. He cannot accept excuses. He cannot accept sin. But He can accept a sinner who comes to Him for salvation by faith.
Cain refused to do so. “Where is Abel?” “I don’t know, I don’t keep up with him”. Cain refused to acknowledge His sin, and even tried to turn it around and make it God’s problem. How often do we also make excuses and turn our own sinful actions around and try to blame it on God? Cain sinned after being at the altar of worship. Cain sinned after God warned him and gave him a promise. Then, Cain tried to lie himself out of his sin.
23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Don’t become a Cain, because sinners never win.
Sinners Never Win
Sinners Never Win
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
God had cursed Cain. Cain would no longer be blessed as he farmed. His yields would be reduced. He would have no place to call his own - a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. It is interesting that God cursed the serpent (Gen 3:14), He cursed the ground (Gen 4:17), but He did not curse Adam and Eve (still followed Him by faith). But here, we find God cursed their son Cain. Why? Because he did not follow God by faith. He defiled the ground with Abel’s blood. Now, God would curse the ground Cain worked so that he would not be able to farm. He would wander. Now, if we knew God was the source of our curse because of our disbelief, don’t you think we would want to make it right before God? But Cain never repented of his sin. We read words of remorse, regret, shame for being caught, but not of repentance. He was more sorry that the land, and people would turn against him than he was the consequences of rejecting God. As a result, Cain created an intolerable life for himself. He would be miserable, and there would be no remedy except for God’s mercy.
Even though Cain rejected God, He still extended mercy by marking Cain in a way that would protect him against those who might want to kill him. Why would God allow a diabolical murderer like Cain to go free? In His mercy, God doesn’t give us what we do deserve; and in His grace, He gives us what we don’t deserve. But unfortunately, without repentance, he only received judgment after his death.
27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
Sin never wins.
How is our heart of worship affected by sin? You see, God cannot tolerate sin. BUT…he can accept a sinner by faith and restore the relationship we have with Him IF we admit our sins, believe in Jesus as our Savior, and confess our sins asking for God’s forgiveness through repentance.
Conclusion
Conclusion
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Have we ever allowed disagreements to cause conflict in our families, our co-workers, or even our church? While conflict is going to occur, it’s our attitude and actions towards that conflict that can affect our heart of worship.
31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Worship and adoration to God.