31) True Worship
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We have been working through the encouragement that the author is presenting to the Jewish Christian who were growing weary and turning back to the Mosaic covenant instead of the new covenant in Christ. I their minds they must have been hearing the voices of the enemy around them that were telling them things like is it worth it. Did Jesus really do what you believe. Didn’t he come to be king? Why is life still difficult for you?
These voices are all around tempting and leading people away from God away from Christ. And the authors comes to this point and start to teach and encourage them to focus on the promises of God.
He reminded them of the words of the prophet Habakkuk where God said that “My righteous one will live by faith”
As you read through the new testament you will find that this was a stumbling block for many. They saw directly or heard from eye witnesses the miracles of Jesus. Man y would have been in Jerusalem on the passover when Jesus was crucified. They heard of the risen savior the one who claimed to be the son of God who claimed to be able forgive men of their sins.
But they are being persecuted and taunted. We saw in chapter 10 that their possessions were being taken away. Their confidence was wavering. The security of the old way. Looking out and seeing the sacrifices on the alter. Seeing their family and friends living in the security of the works of the Mosaic Covenant.
But as we learned last week. The author draws their minds and attention to what truly make a person righteous. And that is Faith and Faith alone. Let us read the beginning of Hebrews 11.
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
We examined verse one last week. That faith is the reality of what is hoped for. It is a confidence of things not yet experienced. Such a confidence that it gains a substance in a person’s life today. We have this hope of eternal life that is given to those who believe they as a sinner have been redeemed and reconciled to God by the perfect sacrifice. The only sacrifice that can remove sins.
This faith in the promises of God also create action on the part of a believer. Of God’s righteous ones.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Faith and Creation
Faith and Creation
James point out the relationship of faith and works with examples of Abraham and Rahab. They were not saved by works they were saved by faith and this faith acts together with a persons faith. This is where the author of Hebrews is going as well.
2 For by this our ancestors were approved.
The history and accounts recorded by God in his Holy Scriptures give many examples of the testimony and how they gained approval from God. He will dive into examples of this after he shares one more truth with them.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
He looks out to his brothers ans sisters and says look we believe the world came to be the way that God said it came to be. That there was nothing and by the spoken word of God then there was something. That compete emptiness was filled with a great chorus of the universe. The greatness of the created universe is uncomprehending for man. And pails in comparison for the incomprehensibility of the ends of the Great God, The father who created every thing through his son.
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
He says the scripture declares how all that we see came to be.
6 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses. 8 Let the whole earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence.
Men like to reason. They want the equation to balance. They want to evaluate and come to the reasonable explanation of how the world was created. Many in science and philosophy have spent entire lifetimes dedicated to trying to reason out even one part of creation. In the end they come up with more unanswered questions. More rock to turn over.
Why? Because God created the entire universe in a way that can only be understood with faith.
Creation will never be explained other than by faith. All theories at this time and forever will fall short of simply believing in Faith.
He says look at what we believe. We whole heatedly believe that at one time there was nothing and then God speaks and now creation has come to be.
This is a living example of faith in what cannot be proven. And he jump off of this stable claim. One that many of them would not have argued with. He brings this to their minds before he speaks of the examples of Faith. The first one he lists is Abel.
Faith and Worship
Faith and Worship
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
He starts with creation and then goes to Abel. Why able? Why not Adam and Eve. Well if you go back to verse 1 of this chapter he is speaking of faith. That the righteous live by faith. Adam and Eve are unique in the bible since they experienced the reality of God in the garden. They were without sin. In community and fellowship with the Holy God.
But when they disobeyed and were separated from God. They would have still the knowledge and memories of the reality that was removed.
There is this unhealthy fixation on celebrities and athletes. There is this idea that they have the great life. I wish I had enough money to do what ever I want every day. I can have nannies, of many cars. I can spend my time at the beach or having great meals in any country I want. A person can long for that and believe it may happen but until it does happen is just a hope. They may hope for it even if they never receive it.
The numbers are all over the place but it is astonishing how many pro athletes will be broke within a couple years of retirement. When a person who makes millions a year has all of that taken away. Mostly due to poor decisions. They don’t hope for it they have been there. They don’t hope in what they have never experienced.
They remember. They are distraught. There is a difference. Adam and Eve experience the Holy Presence of God and they would never be in that presence again any time in their centuries of life.
However their children were born separated from God as all men and women have been since the beginning.
Turn with me to chapter 4 of genesis.
1 The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” 2 She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground.
Two boys are born the older worked the ground and produced crops and the younger became a shepherd. It that time God in his great love provided a means of sinful man to worship God. He communicated to them in some way that they were to bring a sacrifice.
3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
In the course of time. God had established a time for the offering to be made to God. God has never been a god of confusion and we see his interaction with these first two men. There has be an established time and an established place. It wasn’t coincident that they showed up at the same time in the same place. But there was something different between the response of God to each of the offerings.
The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering or sacrifice but he did not have regard for Cain’s offering. Why? There are some different ideas about why. But from the point of view that the author of Hebrews is making is that it is a faith issue.
Notice that it says that God had regard or no regard for the man and his offering. God did not trick Cain. There was no accident here. God had prescribed what he wanted and Abel’s faith lead him to obedience and Cain’s lack of faith produced a selfish offering for his own purposes.
We can see the heart of Cain revealed even further when God addresses Cain directly.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
God lovingly comes to this man and asks him why are you upset. If you do what is right, if you do what I have commanded you won’t you be accepted. Then God warns him that sin is there waiting crouching. But Cain is unrepentant and proceeds to lure his brother to a field and kills him. The first murder.
8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
God speaks to Cain again and he responds with sarcasm and defiance. So God curses Cain.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 Then he said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! 11 So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. 12 If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Cains response:
13 But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear!
Still no remorse or sorrow. Only a focus on his problem his issues. Cain will be used throughout the history of the bible as they typical figure of those that reject God to follow their own beliefs. He will be used as an example like in
11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, have plunged into Balaam’s error for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Or
11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
Cain followed the ways of the evil one of the devil Where as Abel will be used as the typical example of a righteous worshiper of faith.
35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.
Through Abel is dead he still speaks through the generations to the writing of the book of Hebrews to today. Abel sits as an example. A testament to future generations.
The author says look to this figure that we hold high and he was approved by God as being righteous by faith.
If you read through the bible you will find that God’s established patterns of worship. By the sacrifices, praise, thanksgiving they all fall under ascribing to God the truth of who he is and living in obedience to his commands.
1 Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 3 Do not have other gods besides me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands. 7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
Look at the commands
But over and over again men will turn from worshiping in faith to worshiping for self. They will turn to themselves and ascribe greatness to themselves of neglect the sacredness of God.
13 The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
True Worship
True Worship
We read the words of Jesus at the beginning of the service where he said that
23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”
The context was that the Samaritans believed that they had the true place of worship and was opposed to the Israelites. And the Israelites believed they had the true place of worship. Which they did under the Mosaic Covenant but Jesus said there would come a time that neither of these places would be the place of worship.
As the veil was torn while Jesus hung on the cross he became the way to the holy places.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—
He became our great priest.
21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
A true heart. He says let us draw near with a true heart. in full assurance of faith. Under the covering of the blood of Christ. Sprinkled clean and washed. Today the true house of God is open through faith. These are the
These are the mercies of God that Paul speaks of n Romans
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
We are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. A living offering. Not to atone for sins or to redeem men, that has been accomplished once for all in Christ. To live Holy and pleasing to God. He says this is your true worship. To be Holy and Pleasing. This will stand in opposition to this age to the world.
Don’t drawing near to the promises of this world but live in the reality of the future. In the reality of our hope.
Be transformed. Be made into something new.
SO that you will be able to discern God’s will. And how is his will described: good, pleasing and perfect. And where do you find his will.
IN THE BIBLE. Through teaching of the bible. Our minds must be renewed to know the will of God. This is how we are to live. This is true worship. But what falls under worship?
4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
The church is the bride of Christ and it consists of believers that gather to draw near to God. Each person who is a true believer has been given grace by differing gifts. True worship is to live in the assurance of our Faith. Humbly in times of blessing, patiently in times of trial, and all the time rejoicing in the will of God.
Worship to God is heart that is aligned to his will. But we are still sinners and have weakness and temptations. So we are told to prepare for worship. We are told to pause and examoine ourselves. In other words examine our motives.
Prepare for worship
28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.
With our Whole Heart
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Worship in cofidence
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
Conclusion
Conclusion
McAurther pointed out that with Able
Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary A Way to Worship
In Abel’s sacrifice, the way of the cross was first prefigured. The first sacrifice was Abel’s lamb—one lamb for one person. Later came the Passover—with one lamb for one family. Then came the Day of Atonement—with one lamb for one nation. Finally came Good Friday—one Lamb for the whole world.
It will always come back to the Lamb of God. Without Jesus and the sacrifice of Jesus there is no hope for men. There is no removing of sin. there is no reconciliation of men to God. There is no Light, Just darkness.
But we are to boast in Christ put our Faith in what was accomplished on the cross and not in our own works.
3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—
In today’s culture we have shorted God by calling our music worship music. And our gatherings as Worship services. I think is puts worship into a box that it is not supposed to be put in.
As believers we are to worship in service to the Lord with our whole heart at all times. This means our home can be a place of worship, our small group gathering can be a place of worship, our corporate gatherings can be a place of worship. Our voices can be raised in harmony in worship. All of our service to the lord may be worship.
The reason I said all of these can be worship is because worship come from inside a believers heart through the work of the Spirit. It cannot be manufactured. It is not how organized or big a church is. It isn’t how great the worship performance is.
God will not regard anything we do that does not come from a desire to worship God.
We sing to the Lord. Think about it. We sing to the Lord. Lift you voice to him and him alone.
We gather in the Lord. We are his church his bride serving his people, proclaiming his Good news to the lost.
We fellowship in the Lord gathering and digging in his Word in relationship. Growing in or likeness to of Jesus.
We are to dedicate our homes to the Lord. Husbands and wives. Living out the will of God in the bond that cannot be broken. Raising children in the ways of the Lord.
This is how we live in faithful worship to God at all time and all places.
We are created to Worship. We will always be worshiping something. The question is whether or not it is God.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.