The Worship of the One True God

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Deuteronomy 6:24 'And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.

Distinction of the Old Covenant worship from the worship of gentiles was very subtle.

Worship Place (temple, “high places”, etc.), festivals (feasts, solstices, etc.), sacrifice (animals, possessions, children, people, etc.), and prayers - All of these elements are present in the Mosaic law according to worship in religion. However, they are ALSO present in the religions of the false gods of their time!

This often led to syncretism - the blending of the worship of other gods with the worship of the One True God.

I have often thought before that there was little to no difference simply because they all came from a common ancestor (the worship of Adam and his family). While this is true, there seems to be more to it than that. When we look at the big picture concerning worship, it seems that God encourages His people to always seek Him in a way that is deemed by the world to be difficult.

Hopefully in our study, we can consider that this is NOT because God expects us to “jump through hoops” for His own enjoyment or entertainment; rather, He seeks our GOOD!

Essential Elements of Old Covenant Worship - Leviticus 1:3

Right Person - Lev. 19:5; 22:19, 29

“he shall offer it of his own free will…”

Note also Lev. 19:5; 22:19, 29

Old Covenant worship was meant to be pure in that the PERSON be the one freely offering the worship.

Right Offering - Numbers 28:1–8; Psalm 50:7-15, 23

“let him offer…”

Despite what we might think, the Old Covenant worship of God was NOT the same as the other nations surrounding Israel. In its most basic concept of what is offered, we see the clear distinction.

Gentile nations had worship practices that revolved around providing food and sustenance to their gods.

Numbers 28:1–8 - Language shows “food” being laid before God.

Numbers 28:1–8 NKJV

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time.’ “And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening, and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil. It is a regular burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. And its drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each lamb; in a holy place you shall pour out the drink to the Lord as an offering. The other lamb you shall offer in the evening; as the morning grain offering and its drink offering, you shall offer it as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.

However, God plainly says He does not eat this food!

Psalm 50:7-15, 23 NKJV - "Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." […] Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."

We can conclude from this that the outer worship might have been MISUNDERSTOOD to be the same as other nations (sacrifices, temple, music, etc.), it was NOT!

Old Covenant worship was meant to be pure, demanding a true free-will OFFERING.

Right Place - Ex. 33:7-10; 12; 13:3–10; Lv. 23:4–8, 10,17

“at the door of the tabernacle of meeting”

The Tabernacle and Temple

Tabernacle was a tent; Mobile

Temple was established, fixed.

These were shown as the DWELLING PLACE of God (Ex. 33:7-10).

Three feasts/festivals that required a return to the temple:

Passover (Ex. 12)

Unleavened Bread (Ex. 13:3–10; Lv. 23:4–8)

Weeks (Pentecost). (Lev. 23:10,17).

Old Covenant worship was meant to be pure, requiring the proper PLACE for that worship to be conducted.

Right Heart - Deut. 6:5; Psalm 5:7, 11; 1 Samuel 15:22-23

“before the LORD.”

They were to love God with all they had.

Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV - "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

A heart allied to God will want to be closer to Him in every way. This is an eternal precept.

Psalm 5:7, 11 NKJV - But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. ... But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.

A corrupted heart will distance itself from God.

1 Samuel 15:22-23 NKJV - So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."

God has never accepted mediocrity in worship.

Mediocrity - low quality.

(Webster’s 1828) - MEDIOC'RITY, noun [Latin mediocritas, from mediocris, middling; medius, middle.] 1. A middle state or degree; a moderate degree or rate. A mediocrity of condition is most favorable to morals and happiness. A mediocrity of talents well employed will generally ensure respectability.

(Webster’s, modern) - of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance.

Note that this word has meant something POSITIVE in the past, but everyone understands it now to be something NEGATIVE.

Even then, the 1828 definition does not describe what the worship of God ought to be.

NOTE: We are not speaking here of OUR OWN estimation of our worship, but rather holding it up to God’s standard.

God has condemned “by the numbers” worship. Mal. 1:7-8; 3:13-15; Jer. 7:4; Acts 5:3

Malachi 1:7–8 (NKJV) “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts.

These are questions we need to be asking ourselves.

What does our worship look like? Is there a heart devoted to God in it?

If we were to give offerings to our own “governors” such as we give to God, what might their reaction be?

Is the table of the Lord contemptible to you? Do you dread coming here, or do you look forward to it?

Malachi 3:13–15 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”

True, honest worship to God brings benefits to our souls.

Even if we have no physical profit, we know we are better for having done it.

NOT just because we feel better, but because He says so!

Jeremiah 7:4 Do not trust in these lying words, saying, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.’

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

Doing Our Best in New Covenant Worship

Person - Philemon 14; Matt. 21:28-32; 1 Cor. 14:23-25; James 2:2-4; Psalm 120-134

God expects and desires ANYTHING we do to be voluntary. We may not WANT to do it, but in the end we CHOOSE to do it.

Philemon 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

Matthew 21:28–32 NKJV

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

Welcoming Visitors

6 out of 10 will not come back; we must work on the remaining four.

1 Cor. 14:23-25 ; James 2:2-4

1 Corinthians 14:23–25 NKJV

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

James 2:2–4 NKJV

For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Beginning the Assembly

Be aware of visitors and a general sense of thinking about GOD, not on secular things.

Psalm 120-134 – songs of ascent

Walking up the Temple Mount toward Jerusalem - REJOICING

Offering - Psalm 9:1-2; 95:1-6; 135:1-5; Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15-16

Focus upon the nature of God.

Psalm 9:1-2 NKJV - To the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Death of the Son." A Psalm of David. I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Psalm 95:1-6 NKJV - Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Psalm 135:1-5 NKJV - Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD! You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God, Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure. For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods.

Know that Jesus is the eternal sacrifice, and WE are the daily sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Hebrews 13:15-16 NKJV - Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Place - 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Jn. 4:21; Heb. 10:19-25

You are the temple of God!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV - Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV - And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

Place does NOT mean the same thing in the New Covenant.

John 4:21 NKJV - Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Hebrews 10:19-25 - The assembly is the way we encourage each other to love and good works.

Heart - Psalm 79:8-9; 1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 3:20-21

Too often we settle for mediocrity in our worship and work for God.

We feel that just “getting it done” is enough.

Let’s make sure we are putting forth our BEST effort.

Psalm 79:8-9 NKJV - Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake!

Not for their OWN glory, but for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV - Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Departures from this will be different for different saints.

A brother might mumble through prayers, lethargically read Scripture, scramble together songs a few minutes before services, or preach an invitation or sermon that is devoid of preparation or care. He doesn’t give God the glory by DISTANCING himself!

Another brother might have intentionally “flowery” prayers, read Scripture as if he is trying to be a dramatic actor, lead songs as if they are entertainment put together by him, or preach as if everyone else has a problem but him. He does not give God the glory either because he fails to RESTRAIN himself in the way he leads!

BOTH these brethren have severe heart problems that are manifesting in the way they approach the worship assembly!

Obvious how the first brother achieves mediocrity – He does not invest himself enough in what he is doing.

However, the second brother in a way is just as “mediocre” in his efforts. Instead of putting God first, he becomes like so much of the ambitious world – too busy “showboating” to properly lead the minds of others in worship to the one true God.

BOTH of these brethren have violated the purpose of our worship:

Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV - Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The worship of God has and always will be about bringing glory to Him.