REAL WORSHIP IS SECURE
"Then Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." -Genesis 22:5 (ESV)
Three days after the Lord instructed Abraham to go sacrifice his son Isaac he approaches near the area he was to go. Abraham did not know all that was going to happen. No doubt many possible scenarios may have gone through his mind during the three day journey. However, Abraham obeyed and started the journey believing that God was a God of miracles and that perhaps one would be delivered to him. In any case, Abraham believed that his worship of God would not be in vain.
Even today, genuine worshipers may not understand everything. One may not like the various twists in the road of one's life but true worship strives to offer itself unreservedly to the Lord in spite of what it cannot comprehend. True worship bows to the Lord in the face of whatever comes into one's life be it good, bad or ugly. Real worship exalts the Lord knowing Who He is, what He has done, and where the journey of faith will ultimately wind up.
Abraham was secure in his mind that he and the boy would return together (vs. 5). He was also secure in his thinking that it was a real miracle in itself to be permitted to worship the Lord in the first place.
In summary for this series of blogs on worship it is good to understand that what made all this possible for Abraham was his willingness to be available to the Lord. In Genesis 22:1 we read, "After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am." Abraham was in the place he was supposed to be and prepared to hear the voice of the Lord. He was ready to worship!
"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." -John 4:23 (ESV)
God is seeking real worshipers today. So here is a question to ponder...
Is your worship genuine?
REAL WORSHIP IS SACRIFICIAL
The drama continues in Genesis 22 as Abraham sets out from his servants with only his son Isaac, the child of promise (verses 5-8). For three days it must have weighed heavy on Abraham's mind that this time his worship of the the Lord would cost him dearly. However, Abraham does not wavier in his faith but gathers what he needs to proceed to do what the Lord has directed. Abraham is willing to sacrifice the very thing that was nearest and dearest to his heart. Could it be that Abraham's faith was so strong because he actually believed that God could raise the dead? Isaac was the child of promise and if he is killed in a sacrifice then the promise can only be fulfilled if he believes God could raise the dead. (See Hebrews 11:19)
Genuine worship is costly because by its nature it requires sacrifices. Sacrifice of time, personal pleasures, finances, selfish desires, resources & one of the greatest things one can sacrifice is pride. Any or all of theses need to be placed on the altar of sacrifice before the Lord. Perhaps this is why so few truly worship since it is not cheap. Genuine and sincere worship necessitates that everything of value be sacrificed and given to the Lord.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, b the mercies of God, to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." -Romans 12:1 (ESV)
REAL WORSHIP IS SEPARATED
In Genesis 22 Abraham traveled to take his son Isaac to worship God at a designated place. The Lord had asked him to sacrifice his son. For three days Abraham traveled with his son and some servants. Upon nearing the site of worship he said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." (Genesis 22:5 ESV)
Abraham had already demonstrated his submissive and steadfast character to the Lord and now as he arrives near the mountain the Lord designated he separate himself from every worldly care as best he can. Abraham came ready to worship knowing that sacrifice was involved.
Real worship strives to shut out the world or separate oneself from worldly concerns or distractions. When our worship is controlled by the world it has become polluted or contaminated. You've heard the popular phrase, "Be in the world but not of the world." Look what God says in James 4:4; "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?"(ESV) God first, and then other things should be our priority. The Lord's church is to be a community of believers who strive to worship God together; not show off the latest fashion, gossip or simply hang out with friends. Real worship can only be achieved if one truly comes prepared to worship and follows through by focusing on the real reason for being in the place of worship.
Do you actually make preparations to worship?
How well do you separate the world from your worship?
What is your true focus when it comes to worship?
REAL WORSHIP IS STEADFAST
Abraham's
entire life is one devoted to worship of the Lord. In Genesis 21 he just
finished a time of worship at Beersheba. He was experiencing a time of
prosperity, blessing and he worshiped God with thanksgiving. Abraham
worshiped the Lord in the good times and in the bad. In chapter 22 things
take a surprising turn for Abraham as God instructs him to sacrifice his son.
God's command does not make sense to him, still Abraham worships!
It is easy
to worship God when things are going very well. It may not be so easy when hard times
or things we don't understand come our way. Real worship can see beyond the
difficult circumstances of the moment. Real worship sees God as worthy regardless
of what difficulties may come. Real worship sees God in control at all
times even when we don't understand what is going on.
"And we
know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those
who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28
It
seems that many people may be looking for excuses not to worship and blame God for their circumstances. Real
and authentic worship sees the hand of God in all of life and loves Him in the
good times and the bad. How well have you worshiped God in the challenges you've had so far this week?
REAL WORSHIP IS SUBMISSIVE
In Genesis 22:1-14 we
see where Abraham was instructed by God to go and sacrifice his son
Isaac in worship to Him. Abraham immediately makes all preparations to obey God. Abraham's
actions show us the true characteristics of authentic worship.
God's
command was a very hard one to understand but it was very clear
(vs.1). Abraham was to go off to a designated place to worship by
sacrificing his son.
In
verse 2 Abraham immediately submitted to God's instruction without
making any excuses. We see that a true heart for God is demonstrated by
obedience. Our worship is proved real when we do what God instructs us
to do.
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." -Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
Real worship is not just something we do, it is actually who we are! Everything we do is to be a submissive act of worship. What submissive act of worship do you need to do today?
Next week: "Real Worship Is Steadfast"
A common question typically asked is "Where do you go to church?" The response is usually a certain location or name of a congregation along with directions or an address. One does not "go to church" as we may be so quick to think. Why? Because, as believers we are the church. We go to worship.
Unfortunately, our cultural frame of thinking does not necessarily align fully with the Scriptures. Could it be that our western culture, customs and traditions in the Lord's church about worship have limited us from enjoying the fullness of worship as God intended? Have we put worship in a nice and neat box of our own design rather than joining the Lord in the full purpose and enrichment of worship as He ordained?
Perhaps our thinking in this regard arises from the Old Testament and the purpose and place of the temple of the Lord.
"One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple." -Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
Though He did not desire a temple to be built God did allow it. It seems man wants to copy things of the world around him. The other nations had a king so they wanted one. The other nations had temples for their gods so they wanted one of those too. Even in Jesus' day He confronted the human limitations of the place of worship. In John 4 Jesus encounterd the Samaritan woman at the well and the issue of the place of worship arises. Jesus responded that it is not the place that is so important.
"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. God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
-John 4:23-25(ESV)
Are we so different today? Have we been guilty of making the place of worship more important than the spirit of worship? Have we replaced the physical temple with our physical congregational facilities? It sounds like it at times. Many even refer to the room where corporate worship takes place as the "sanctuary", which sounds like that it is the only place one can worship or find God. Such limited thinking about worship robs us of the full purpose and benefit of worship as God envisions for us. Consider the following:
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
-1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
-1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
If we are truly the temple of the Lord then where do we worship? Wherever we are and the Lord is! I can worship at home, in the fields, in the car or even in the elevator. I don't have to wait until Sunday morning at a designated time to worship. Worship can be done anywhere and anytime.
We are encouraged to worship together with others of like precious faith. The corporate gathering of God's people to worship is well and good for all to participate in. It is a great blessing to worship with others, to hear the Word of God proclaimed and partake of communion together.
By holding to the understanding that worship must be at a certain time and certain place then we have robbed ourselves of what worship is truly all about. So... why not make where you are right now a place of worship? Everything we do is to be done to the honor and glory of God. That makes everything we do an act of worship. How's your worship today?
"Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!" -Psalms 96:7-9 (ESV)
What is "worship"? The term comes from a very old English term which actually means "that to which one ascribes worth". Whatever one considers the most valuable is what one worships. Unlike the pagans of Bible times who made statue idols out of wood, stone or clay modern man strives to relish in his creativity. We tend to fashion idols out of more trendy ideas or materialistic possessions. Some highly value profit, power, popularity, pleasure or any combination of these. Truth be known, we are all probably guilty of ascribing the highest value to more than one item. Going back to our definition of worship above that would make us guilty of polytheism (worship of multiple gods).
The Lord God who created heaven and earth is a jealous God. It is no accident that the first two of the famous ten commandments show where God stands when it comes to our worship. As Christians we need to understand that our worship, and all that entails, is for an audience of one. Our praise, thanksgiving, the songs we sing and how we sing them are not done to impress other people but to show the Lord our true heart of gratitude and awe for who He is and what He has done for us.
So, what is it that you ascribe the most worth to? What do you truly treasure above all? In this world we are bombarded to juggle many priorities and in the midst of doing so our priorities may be out of alignment. A questions all must consider is "What is the meaning of life?" Your answer lies where your investment of time, energy and resources may be. I contend that if God is not in the equation then you have discounted the value of life itself. Worldliness inherently means a investment in the temporal things that will fade away and be remembered no more. When you truly ascribe the honor and glory due to the Lord, and worship an audience of one, you will find life. This was your original design and will bring more meaning, purpose and fulfillment.
Eternal will always out value temporal. Worship is a matter of the heart. So the questions is, "Where is your heart"?
