Thursday, January 17, 2013

Stale Worship………………….


“When you come before me, whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that—all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?

 “Quit your worship charades.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that.  I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening.”    Isa. 1:12-15 Message Bible


Sounds like Israel was offering stale worship to God.  Going through the motions and acting out of a routine. 

We are confronted here with God’s serious displeasure at what the Israelites had turned worship into. It had become empty and hollow.

No heart worship. 

From Isaiah we learn there are a few things that does not matter in worship and that there is one thing that does matter.


 External form of worship does not matter!  The Israelites had the form of worship down to a science. They knew it inside and out. They could worship in their sleep.   They were going through the motions, emotionless.


Order of service does not matter when we surrender the service to the Holy Spirit for His leadership.   When He is given the freedom to choose the music and order of worship, be prepared for revival worship!



When man controls the order in which we do worship it is merely an external form of praise.  It is designed to bring emotionalism for egos and deception.

 

The amount of offering does not matter.   The Israelites had become quite proficient at offering sacrifices, and God says, “Hey don’t you think I’ve had a enough?”


God doesn’t need our offerings.    He wants us to give out of a heart of thanks and worship, not because we have to or legalism.

God asks in verse 12, “When you come before me, who ever gave you the idea of acting like this, Running here and there, doing this and that—all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?”

God just wants to spend time with us.   He isn’t interested in what we can do but in a heart of surrender and love.


Prayer does not matter when worship is just an emotional routine.

 
The Israelites had also become quite proficient at praying. They would pray with hands outstretched in piety.


Prayers that are lip service or routine have no power.


God says that He is not going to listen to their prayers.  

Why?  Verse 15 says, “Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.”


Sacrifice and blood go together, but that is not what God is talking about. He is talking about what it took away from the worship service.
James 3:9-12 says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”


Our HEART must be right with God.


The heart of worship is our heart. We can do all the right things, but that does not matter if our heart is not right with God.


In Matthew 5, Jesus says, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”


Our life and heart must be in order for us to worship in spirit and in truth. Otherwise we are spouting salt and fresh water out of our mouth.

Worship that is not offered in the right motivation and with the right heart is an offense to God.


God is offended by insincere, false or half-hearted worship.  

Is your heart right with God, today?

Is your worship real?

 

 

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