Wrong ways to Worship God

This message is about how we as fallen humanity can come face to face with God in real vibrant relationship, and how to beware of approaching God in ways that dishonours Christ.

Worshipping God is important for us, but we must understand that in order to worship God we must come to God His way.

Colossians 2:18–23 (KJV 1900)

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

I. The major false doctrine in the early church was called Gnosticism “Gnosis” knowledge.

They taught the spirit in man was good and was merely imprisoned in a corrupt body. They believed everything physical is evil and everything spiritual is good. They believe that in every man is a spark of divinity.

This led to the belief that Jesus christ when He came only appeared to have a body since the physical is evil.

1. This is a denial of the doctrine of incarnation, that Jesus became flesh as man,yet remaining 100 percent God. The truth is being taught by Paul in this passage.

Colossians 2:9 (KJV 1900)

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2. This would also cause people to deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:16–17 (KJV 1900)

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Philippians 3:21 (KJV 1900)

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

3. Gnosticism impacted the church in two ways.

a. Legalism — The body must be kept under extreme discipline. All physical pleasure is sinful. This would lead to a form of Pharisacialism. The church would be led by rules and regulations. It was thought that only then God would accept them and would free their spirit. People would begin to become proud of how they are seen externally.

Some say that as long you perform and look right, and act right you are right.

Matthew 23:27 (KJV 1900)

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

b. License — The body being evil and the spirit being good, led to the idea that sinning in the body was allowed, because the spirit would remain unharmed.

Some say that acting right, looking right are not important and all that is important is the heart.

Matthew 15:18–20 (KJV 1900)

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

My actions, speech, behaviour area reflection of my heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV 1900)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

II. Wrong Ways to Approach the Lord

A. Mysticism—seeking a spiritual connection with God apart from Christ

Colossians 2:18 (KJV 1900)

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

To seek the Lord apart from Christ is an intrusion.

Gnosticism would lift up spiritual beings as beings to be worshipped.

1. Angels from the Lord always reject worship.

Revelation 22:8–9 (KJV 1900)

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

2. To seek blessing apart from Christ is arrogant and prideful and will bring bondage.

Romans 5:1–2 (KJV 1900)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Intruding — to step. To enter or intrude into, the word seemingly implying conceit and arrogance.

vainly — Without purpose, inconsiderately, groundlessly, without cause

Puffed up — To inflate, blow or puff up

Mankind out of their will and desire, intrude arrogantly into the spiritual world looking for these four things:

Power — control of their lives, water divining, influence over others

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

2. Guidance — horoscopes, tarot cards, seances, Ouijah boards, not seeking guidance through the Scriptures alone.

Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.

3. Healing — the occult is deeply involved in healing techniques, many go through therapies that are spiritual, not medical to seek for healing apart from God’s method. There are many new age methods that promise healing. Do not go there!

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

4. Protection — Dreamcatchers, charms, amulets , people wear amulets and charms that they think will protect them or superstitions.

1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;

Psalm 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

3. Only by Christ can we receive salvation, strength and victory in our daily lives

Colossians 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Holding the Head — strength. To take hold of, grasp, hold fast

nourishment ministered — to furnish, give. To furnish upon

increaseth — To grow, increase, to augment

Humanity believes that they can be given what they need and grow by either touching the spiritual world, or by living a certain way.

We have to take hold of the uppermost, being Christ Himself, to be furnished and grow — Our power, guidance, healing, and protection must come by us holding fast to Christ alone.

Deuteronomy 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

4. Christianity is becoming more and more mystical in their approach of God.

a. Contemplative or centering prayer—Mystic meditation

Find a quiet space where you are unlikely to be disturbed.

Sit in a way that allows you to be relaxed in body and alert in mind. Use a chair, meditation cushion or prayer rug, according to your own physical needs and preferences.

Gently close your eyes.

“Allow your heart to open toward that invisible but always present Origin of all that exists ” (p. 6)

Whenever you become aware of a thought, no matter what its nature, let it go.

Use a “sacred word”.

b. Music

As doctrine becomes less important, Christians are being led today by music groups and leaders that share the same philosphies as the Catholic mystics.

The more msytical a church becomes, the less Christ becomes the complete sufficiency.

Christians can be emotionally led and claim to experience God on emotional level through music, meditiation, comtemplative or centering prayer and other New Age methods.

Music was not designed to help you touch the spiritual world, but satan wants you to use it for that purpose.

The drumbeat has been used for centuries is satan worship, because the beat is asscoiated with the body and the flesh, it causes the open vessel to be possesessed, bypassing the mind, and not focusing truth, but experience.

Ephesians 5:19–21 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The Doors wanted their audience “to undergo a religious experience.”  Bob Marley’s concerns were “like church ... a spiritual high.”  Grateful Dead concerts are “a place to worship” and “bear uncanny resemblance to religious festivals.”  Muddy Waters said that “blues was his religion.” Judas Priest said that rock music isn’t just music; it’s “a philosophy and a way of life.” Michael Jackson said, “When I am dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred.” George Harrison said, “Music is very involved with the spiritual.”

This is the music, not the words.music hasbeen used to connect to the spiritual world for thousands of years and it will be the tool that will mislead millions in the Christian world into an antichrist’s kingdom.

c. People are being seduced into the spiritual world and falling away from sound doctrine as a result.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

When we intrude into the spiritual aprt from the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, we apostisize from the truth.

depart — to withdraw, remove oneself

Giving heed — to hold the mind or the ear toward someone, to pay attention

seducing spirits — Deceitful, deceiving, seducing

When you are seeking an experience you have no anchor in truth. You have to seek and worship the Lord in spirit and truth

Doctrines of devils — to teach. Teaching or instruction, meaning of a demon, an evil spirit, devil, subject to Satan (Matt. 9:34), implying him to be a fallen angel

1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Deuteronomy 18:10–13 (KJV 1900)

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.

5. Accessing the spiritual realm apart from Christ, or the truth, needs to be renounced.

2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV 1900

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

renounced —disown

If we do not disown the dishonesty, Satan gains ground in our lives.

Ephesians 4:27 KJV 1900

Neither give place to the devil.

Confess any access to the spiritual or the occult as sin. Ask the Lord to take back the ground Satan hs gained in your life through that sin.

B. Legalism — seeking a spritual connection with God through performance.

Colossians 2:20–23 (KJV 1900)

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

You cannot access the Lord through follow rules or the commandments of men. We do follow rules, but we must be careful to not think that makes us spiritual or that that willsave us..

Being dead with Christ causes us to be dead to this world as well.

Being crucified with Christ we are dead to the world.

Galatians 6:14 KJV 1900

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Rudiments of the world — the basic principles of a system of thought in the earth.

Mankind has come up with the concept that we can somehow do something to achieve salvation

Buddism tells us that we can reach Nirvana by following certain philospohies and commands on a path to enlightment.

Islam tells us that there are rules ot follow that will bring you to Heaven.

Psuedo Christian cults tell us that somehow we can achieve salvation by rituals, obedience.

Humanism teaches us that we have everything we need inside of us and through the power of positive thought we will achieve salvation by making it happen.

Pharisees taught that strict adhereance to the Law of God and the commands that religion gives us salvation can be earned.

Galatians 3:10 KJV 1900

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

1. The Law of God leads sinners to Christ.

Romans 8:7 KJV 1900

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 7:14 KJV 1900

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The moral Law was given to us by God to reveal His standard and ultimately reveal our inability to reach that standard. Though the Law of God sets a holy standard, it cannto save us or bring us closer to God. At its best it can only reveal our inability to keep the Law and our need of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:24–28 KJV 1900

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

2. The Law of God is holy, but can only bring death unless we see its fulfillment in Christ alone.

Romans 7:1–13 KJV 1900

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Galatians 5:16–18 KJV 1900

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Walking in the Spirit will keep us above the Law.

A person that focuses on the rules reveal themselves for their lack of spirituality.

A legalist believes that there is something in them that can make them acceptable to God by following the rules, not realizing its impossibility and at the same time negating what is trul needed to live a holy life, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

3. Being dead with Christ to the world is liberty in Christ

Galatians 5:1–3 KJV 1900

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Matthew 11:28–30 KJV 1900

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We can yoke to liberty or bondage.

Be careful of the manmade laws that limit you from a life of grace.

We have an opportunity to serve by love. It is the difference bewteen makign a choice to serve andbeing made to serve.

C. Asceticism — seeking a spiritual connection with God through neglecting the body

Colossians 2:23 KJV 1900

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Ascetism — the doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification, and the like. rigorous self-denial; extreme abstinence; austerity.

Shew of wisdom in will worship — this means that there is a reputation of wisdom when people do something of their will that looks to be pious or self denying. An example is a man in the Philippines gets nailed to a cross for five minutes every year with 4 inch nails. This is not after God’s wisdom, but it is will worship, actually satsifying the flesh.

Many times people are more concerningabout their own will in worship than God’s will in worship.

We begin to relegate worship to way we felt, or an experience we have had.

Worshipis far more about submitting ourselves to God than having an experience with God.

Many Christian cannot worship God without teh elements of this world, when true worship has nothing to do with this world.

2. neglecting the body— not sparing, from the priv. a (G0001), without, and pheídomai (G5339), to spare. Not sparing, severity, austerity (Col. 2:23 refers to ascetic discipline, courageous exposure to hardship). once again because teh body is evil, it must be brought into discomfort and pain

The Lord asks us to deny ourselves, but not to develop our own plan to how God’s righteousness wil be revealed to mankind, nor does He leaave it up to us to fabric the way we access His presence. We come in complete dependence on Christ’s suficency for us in the Holy Ghost, this means in accordance to Scripture.

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV 1900

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Our bodies need to be in their place under the rulership of our spirit submitted to God. This will mean many times not allowing our bodies tobe subject to the flesh’s desires.

Psalm 51:12–17 KJV 1900

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

how you are you approaching gOD? Do you approach Him in realization of your complete adequacy and dependence upon Him?

Are you humbly submitting to truth or are you trying to find your own way, or somepersons way to access God?