Worship Matters
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· 6 viewsA message that explores the importance of worship and the lessons we can learn from this Old Testament event.
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Transcript
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.
And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Valerie and I have a special relationship. She has introduced me to a whole new genre of humor. Dad Jokes. I recently and learned that the famous Martial Arts Movie Star Bruce Lee had a Vegetarian Brother named Broco. Broco-Lee.
Introduction
Introduction
What matters?
In our culture recently we have heard “Black Lives Matter”
Some would retort, “All Lives Matter”
In Healthcare we are learning to ask, “What Matters to You?” It is a question that helps caregivers see patients not just as a sickness or injury, but as a person.
What matters to God?
First and foremost you matter. John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Today in our text we learn that Worship Matters. Worship is important to God.
Leviticus 1-7 is what the Lord had to say about the proper and holy way to approach him. In Leviticus 8, Aaron and his four sons were ordained as priests to carry out the work of the Tabernacle, and chapter 9 is there first day on the job. Aaron took the lead, first sacrificing a sin offering for himself, then one for the people. Notice from the text that he did everything the way it was commanded.
The Lord honors the sacrifice with fire. Bringing great joy to the people. God had set Israel apart for Himself once again.
Then in an instant, horror strikes. Aaron’s son make a fatal error, and Nadab and Abihu don’t finish their first day on the job.
We first meet Nadab and Abihu in Exodus 6:23
And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
We see them Again in Exodus 24:1
And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
In Exodus 28:1 they are called to the priesthood.
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Back in 2020 I preached on Nadab and Abihu in a message entitled Strange Fire.
In the interest of time, we are not going to rehash all the details of this story, but I would like to focus on Leviticus 10:8-11
And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
It is here that God speaks to Aaron gives him the takeaways, the important lessons to learn about worship. Lessons that we can learn and apply to our lives today.
Body
Body
I. Spirit-Filled Worship - vs 9
I. Spirit-Filled Worship - vs 9
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
Why is this important?
It is significant many believe, because they feel that it infers that Nadab and Abihu had been drinking prior to serving their priestly duties. We never really know. The Bible does not say. But as I have studied Scripture here is a conviction that has gotten a hold of me.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
There is a link here between not drinking and being filled with the Spirit.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Again linking not drinking and the Holy Spirit.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
3 times in the New Testament it speaks of drinking and the Holy Spirit, 3 times it cast a divide between these two things.
This was the word of God to Aaron regarding the priest.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are the priesthood today. When we come to worship we need to be filled not with wine or strong drink, but with God’s Spirit.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
II. Sanctified Worship - vs.10
II. Sanctified Worship - vs.10
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
The Body of Christ today has turned the house of God from a Sanctuary into an Auditorium. We have filled it with light shows, fog machines, darkened rooms and made it seem more like a concert venue than a place to do business with God. The church is not a place to be made comfortable, it is a place to be made holy.
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
We must teach our children about holiness. There should be a difference in the way we talk, the way we act, what we watch, where we go, what we do and how we worship.
III. Shared Worship - vs. 11
III. Shared Worship - vs. 11
And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What matters?
What matters to God?
First and foremost you matter. John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Today in our text we learn that Worship Matters. Worship is important to God. If it is important to God it should be important to us.
We must have
Spirit-filled Worship
Sanctified Worship
Shared Worship
Are you really worshipping God?
You cannot truly have worship until you know him.
Today accept Christ as your savior.