Unacceptable Worship

If your car starts once every three tries, is it reliable? If the postman skipped delivery every Monday and Thursday, is he trustworthy? If you don’t go to work once or twice a month, are you a reliable employee? If your fridge stops working for a day or two every now and then, do you say, “Oh well, it work most of the time.”? If your water heater provides an icy cold shower every now and then, is it dependable? If you skipped a couple of electricity bill payments do you think Western Power would mind? If you fail to worship God as He desires, would you expect to be called a faithful Christian?

We expect loyalty and reliability from things and other people; isn't it reasonable then that God just might expect the same from us?

God is passionate for us to have passion for Him.   Jesus as He spoke to the woman at the well in John 4:23-24 said, “But an hour is coming and now is when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  

Do we offer God worship that is acceptable and pleasing or unacceptable worship?  Worship of false gods, worship of God that is created to suit our desires, worship of God that is self-styled or worship of God that is done with a wrong attitude of the heart are all forms of UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP.  Why then do we continue to worship in this way?  Is this Biblical worship?4

No matter how pure our motivation, how sincere we are in our attempt, God cannot and will not bless unacceptable worship.  Instead we receive the same indictment the Israelite received from God in Isaiah 1, 

“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?  I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle; and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.  When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you this trampling of My courts?  Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me.  New moon and Sabbath  the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.  I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feast, they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.  So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.”

 True worship is based in redemption; God’s redemption of you.  True Worship is not about you, it is about God.  You have been created to worship Him, redeemed to worship Him, called to worship Him… will you surrender yourself to worship Him?

For the full message shared on 08-25-13 at First Church of God, Racine, WI; go to:
Lifestyle Worship Part 2