Meaningless Worship
Ecclesiastes - Meaning in the Mundane • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 40:46
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INTRO
INTRO
I want to describe a scene to you and have you tell me what I am describing...
People come into a building at a certain time.
Upon entering the building there is sometimes someone who greets them and sometimes not.
When the people come in they usually enter into a large room with lots of seats and they find a seat in that room.
In this room everyone usually faces the same direction and in that direction sometimes is a stage.
Someone will come out on the stage at a set time and greet everyone and thank them for coming and may or may not have a few quick announcements.
Then the people who are seated will usually hear some singing and music and speaking.
Finally at the end of this event the people will file out of this big room.
Sometimes they will go out to eat with friends who also came or they will go home and talk about what they just experienced.
What am I describing??
PRAYER
PRAYER
A - God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob you are Alpha and Omega you are over all things and there is none like you. Therefore we proclaim your worth of our worship. You are worthy of our praise, our affection and our attention.
C - However because of our sinful natures we often are distracted by other things. We are distracted by our work, our play and yes even distracted from you by religion itself. We confess that our hearts are drawn to checking boxes of obedience rather than checking hearts for contrition.
T - We thank you therefore oh Father that you are patient and understanding with us. That you because of your great love wanted to be with us so much that you sent your son to bring us to yourself knowing that left alone we would never choose to come.
S - Grant us your spirit in ever greater measures that we might engage in worship that is pleasing to you, and beneficial to us. Keep us from having our worship become meaningless. Teach us what that means this day as we look at Ecclesiastes this morning. In the name of Christ Jesus we do pray. Amen!
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
Listen Up
Listen Up
1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
Why should we guard our steps when we go to the house of God?
Who God is!
Adam/Eve - Garden = Sin
Moses = Bush
Solomon = Temple
You = Jesus
What is the sacrifice of fools, and how can I avoid it?
Formal System of Approaching God
Historical foolish sacrifices
Genesis 4:3–5 = Cain
Lev 10 = Nadab & Abihu
Bribe - try and manipulate God
Duty - this is just what we do
Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes Offerings (5:1)
It is possible for people to show up for worship week after week, year after year, and decade after decade, but their lives not really be changed. They are still cruel to others, harsh to their spouses, perverted in their jokes, and indifferent toward their children, as they have always been.
22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
Are you here to hear from God?
Are you ready to hear from God?
Watch What You Say
Watch What You Say
2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.
What does it mean to be rash with my mouth before God?
Remember who it is you are speaking to...
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
manipulation - we have nothing to barter with
faithlessness - he is our Father, trust Him
Speaking with the God of the universe is a weighty thing!
What does it mean to “let my words be few”?
Lots of work = dreams / illusion / false / not-concrete
A fools mouth is likewise...
Why are you saying what you are saying?
Do you really mean / know what you’re saying?
Are you seeking to talk with God or just at Him?
Do What You Say
Do What You Say
4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
What does it mean to offer a vow to God?
Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes Vows (5:4–6)
Vows were pledges worshipers would make to God as part of the offering or sacrifice process. The vow was made so that God might answer a specific request.
Num 21.2-3 “2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” 3 And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.”
1 Sam 1.11 “11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.””
Promises to God
We do this today… God if you do X, I will do Y !!
““American Christianism””
the danger THEN = danger NOW
Did you make a vow? Why did you make a vow? Have you payed your vow?
What is stopping you?
do not now say it was a mistake !
don’t let your mouth write a check that your body cant cash…
Act 5.1-11 “1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it…”
What is your plan?
Are you here to bless God or so that God might bless you?
From Vanity to Reverence
From Vanity to Reverence
7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
What does it mean to fear God?
Revenant Awe = He is in Heaven… (ATRIBUTES)
Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes Through Christ, We Can Approach God with Confident Reverence (Ecclesiastes 5:7)
We have a hard time understanding the concept of the fear of the Lord because we live in a culture that has no reverence for authority. We no longer approach parents, teachers, or coaches with respect. Lack of respect and honor has bled over into a new casual Christianity where Jesus is our homeboy or copilot and not so much our absolute, formidable King and awe-inspiring, sovereign Master.
ALL Bible not just OT
Matt 10.28 “28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The only way we can approach this Holy God is through a sacrifice.
Jewish sacrificial system
Jesus the ultimate sacrifice
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
How is your heart this morning?
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Are you bringing God your Heart or just coming out of habit?
You Were Created To Worship
You Were Created To Worship
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
God is the Creator and He created you.
We instinctually look for the divine
eyes… ears… mouths…hands
Humans are uniquely designed to ascribe worth
minds…emotions
You Will Worship Someone
You Will Worship Someone
16 Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;
6 Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’
Self
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Demons
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”
God
Who Should You Worship
Who Should You Worship
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Because God is the Father we should worship Him
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Because Jesus is our Lord we should worship Him
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Because The Spirit it part of the triune God we should worship Him
How Should You Worship
How Should You Worship
Guard your steps
5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
God is Holy… You are not!
do not come flippantly
Marvelous…Mundane…Meaningless
Draw near to listen
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Expect to hear from God
Focus on who He is… What He has done… What He is doing
Pay your vows
21 “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.
VOWS
Illustration in NT
Acts 5:1–11 “1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Worship in Spirit and in Truth
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
Jesus wants your heart
Jesus wants you head
Jesus wants your hands
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
I want to describe a scene to you and have you tell me what I am describing...
People come into a building at a certain time.
Upon entering the building there is sometimes someone who greets them and sometimes not.
When the people come in they usually enter into a large room with lots of seats and they find a seat in that room.
In this room everyone usually faces the same direction and in that direction sometimes is a stage.
Someone will come out on the stage at a set time and greet everyone and thank them for coming and may or may not have a few quick announcements.
Then the people who are seated will usually hear some singing and music and speaking.
Finally at the end of this event the people will file out of this big room.
Sometimes they will go out to eat with friends who also came or they will go home and talk about what they just experienced.
What am I describing??
Group Questions
Group Questions
How would you define / describe worship?
What are some ways we have made worship all about us?
Certainly man-centered worship appeals to our ego, but what might be some other reasons we resonate with it?
Why do you think awe at God’s magnificent transcendence has been replaced in our culture with Jesus as our homeboy?
What are some ways we try to manipulate God to do what we want?
Have you ever gotten into a rut in your religious rituals? What did you do to get out?
If worship is more than singing, what does it look like to worship God and bring Him glory whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do (1 Cor 10:31)?
How can you pray without attempting to manipulate God?
In what kinds of situations do you usually bargain with God? How has that worked?
Why do we procrastinate on fulfilling promises we make to God? How can we fight against this?
How should the fact that you have free access to God revolutionize your worship life?