Worship and the Heart of Man

Intro

Genesis 4:1–2 ESV

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

It isn’t what you bring that makes the Difference. It’s how you bring it.

Cain and Able

Both brothers were given gifts. One would work the ground, producing vegetables and fruits. The other would tend flocks, raising animals for food. Neither was better than another. Both were equal in Gods eyes. Both possessed within them the ability to worship God or to not worship Him. They had all they need to honor God in them.

Cain could honor God with the fruits of his labor, producing vegetables and fruit.

Able could do the same with Animals.

It wasn’t just what they brought , but how they brought it. That mattered to God.

Worship Out of your Poverty, Not out of Your Abundance

Genesis 4:3–5 ESV

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 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, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

Eventually, Cain and Abel brought their Fruit and their animals to God to worship Him.

Lets look at the Offerings

Cain:

Fruit of the Ground

Abel

Firstborn of His Flock

Fat Portions

What does this mean?

Cain, brought a gift to God not out of his abundance. Able brought a gift to God out of his poverty. What do you mean?

Able gave the firstborn. He wasn’t promised another. By giving the first, he was entrusting his future success and provision to God.

God, I am giving you my first one, my best one, because I know you are the provider, so I honor you with the first, and the best, placing my life in your hands.

Cain on the other hand brought fruits, i’m sure it was good but it wasn’t the best, it was a portion of the harvest. But not the first of the harvest.

Cain waited until it was safe to give to God. His gift was not given in faith, but in fear. Because it was given in fear, it did not honor the Lord. It was not a blessing unto the Lord, but rather unto Cain.

When your Worship is not on God, Sin is waiting at the Door

Genesis 4:6–7 ESV

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 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.”

Well, Cain is mad that his mediocre worship didn’t please God. He is also jealous that his little brothers worship was pleasing to God.

God sees Cains attitude, and He warns him, “If you don’t fix your heart, Sin will win.

All you have to do Cain, is worship me, rightly. Then I will be pleased and you will be blessed.

Well Cain like most humans allows bitterness to rise, and instead of letting his brothers success push him closer to the Lord, Cain chooses to Kill His brother.

I don’t want to worship God the right way. I want to be Lord. I will shut Able up!

What can we learn from these two lives?

Worship Matters! Who you worship matters!

Here we are at the first family in history, and a murder takes place. not over a family dispute, or property rights, or even political divisions. The murder occurs over Worship Practices.

You may say, pastor, I don’t worship anyone. Oh yes you do. Everyone worships someone. If isn’t the Lord, it’s probably yourself. Or money, or family, or pride, or your name it.

Who you Worship Matters.

Because you will become like that which you worship.

So I ask, Do you worship the Lord?

It’s to marginalize this question. But i ask you to think about it. No matter how long you’ve been in church, or how new I am. Do I worship God the Way He calls me too?

Wholeheartedly, without reserve. Or is my worship, conditional. I will go to church and worship, if I’m having a good day. If I am happy today? If that's your question? I can you right now Jesus isn’t on the throne in your life. You are!

If your emotions drive worship. Jesus is not on that throne.

Exodus 20:3–5 ESV

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Have you set another God in place of Jesus, in your heart?

Cain had, God used able to call Him on it.

Again today, the Lords call to you and I is the same as it was to Cain. Put me back on the throne before Sin destroys you!

Turn from your Idols, cast them before a holy God and let Him help you worship rightly.

Invite the ushers to come forward. Set the offering boxes on the alters and we are going to worship the Lord today.

We are going to Worship the Lord today. We are going to call on Him. I want to invite the prayer team forward. We are going to Worship Jesus today. If you have an offering or tithe this morning I want you to bring it forward to the king. And worship Him. But I also want to open the alters for prayer, if you need prayer for anything this morning. As we worship, I want you to come forward.