Good and Acceptable Worship?

1. What makes worship acceptable to God?

2. As I travel around the country I observe so many different kinds of worship.

A. Churches were the building is quiet like a funeral parlor. people move around in a hush. The Songs are song slowly

B. Like entertainment with special effects machines etc.

C. Other churches seem more like an event at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

"In some churches, there seems almost no limit to what modern church leaders will do to entice people who aren't interested in worship and preaching. Too many have bought the notion that the church must win people by offering an alternative form of entertainment. Just how far will the church go in competing with Hollywood?

A large church in the southwestern United States has installed a half-million-dollar special-effects system that can produce smoke, fire, sparks, and laser lights in the auditorium. The church sent staff members to study live special effects at Bally's Casino in Las Vegas. The pastor ended one ser­vice by ascending to "heaven" via invisible wires that drew him up out of sight while the choir and orchestra added a musical accompaniment to the smoke, fire, and light show. It was just a typical Sunday show for that pastor: "He packs his church with such special effects as... cranking up a chain saw and toppling a tree to make a point... the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display in town and a Christmas service with a rented elephant, kangaroo and zebra. The Christmas show features 100 clowns with gifts for the congregation's children." (Ashamed of The Gospel, by John McCarther, pp. 69-70)

3. How do we know our worship is acceptable to God.

4. The text gives us the answer it must be "Good and acceptable in the sight of God."

5. This is the only standard.

6. Guthrie comments that these two principles is it good and acceptable to god "presents the ultimate standard for all Christian worship."

A. The very first example of worship in the Bible demonstrates this fact (Genesis 4:1-5).

B. Under the Law (Lev. 10:1-2; Isa. 1:10-20; Amos 5:21-27).

C. Unacceptable standards

1. Favorable public opinion

2. personal enjoyment.

3. Tradition.

D. Worship can often generate personal emotional stimulation But it has no bearing on whether the worship is acceptable to God.

A. Jesus’ words John 4:23

B. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

C. Feelings and personal intuition are not acceptable.

D. The very existence of the Bible proves that we cannot figure out how to worship without it. (Acts 17:1-2,11; 2 Tim 2:15; Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; 2 Tim 4:2).

E. 6 fundamental principles.

A. God will not accept our worship unless he is first and foremost.

B. The first of the decalogue

(Exodus 20:3-5 NKJV) "You shall have no other gods before Me. {4} "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; {5} you shall not bow down to them nor 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 fourth generations of those who hate Me,

C. Jesus answered the Devil

(Matthew 4:8-10 NKJV) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." {10} Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

D. This principle was taught when John fell down before the angel.

(Revelation 22:9 NKJV) Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

E. The apostle Peter displayed this attitude

(Acts 10:25-26 NKJV) As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. {26} But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man."

F. Why does God refuse to share worship?

G. Nothing or no one is like God.

H. Creation divides all existence into two categories the created and the creator.

I. Throughout history people have tried to divide their allegiance between God and others.

J. 800 years before Christ.

(Amos 5:25-27 NKJV) "Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? {26} You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves. {27} Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus," Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.

K. Today we worship our things or our feelings

(Ephesians 5:5 NKJV) For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

(Colossians 3:5 NKJV) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

L. When we come before God we must bow before him as our only master.

A. Jesus commented on improper motives

(Matthew 6:5-6 NKJV) "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {6} "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

A. God is not interested in the worship of those whose hearts are filled with arrogance and pride -- they are their own God.

(Psalms 34:18 NKJV) The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

(Isaiah 57:15 NKJV) For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

(Isaiah 66:2 NKJV) For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

B. The example of the rich man and the publican (Luke 18:9-14)

C. Constantly recheck our hearts.

(Proverbs 24:3 NKJV) Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;

(Psalms 51:16-17 NKJV) For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise.

A. Isaiah’s comments Isaiah 1:11-17.

(Ezra 7:10 NKJV) For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

(Psalms 119:9-16 NKJV) How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. {10} With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! {11} Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! {12} Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes! {13} With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. {14} I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. {15} I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. {16} I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

(Proverbs 23:9 NKJV) Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

(Matthew 15:9 NKJV) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

A. Man can offer praise to god only through actions and expressions which He has expressly prescribed or commanded.

B. In the OT God spent an enormous amount of time explaining to the Jews how there were to build the tabernacle and then the temple and what was to go on in them.

C. Lev. 10:1

1. Isaiah 6

2. To worship is to enter the presence of God.

3. Lev 10 those who come near me.