How Are You Worshiping God?

How Are You Worshiping God?

ISAIAH 1:10-20

I am amazed at the vain worship that takes place today in our modern churches. It seems to me that many people come to church to be seen, or to pay God his dues, as if that were possible. Many people come to church because it’s their family church.

What I mean is that’s where they have been going all their life, and it’s nothing more than a religious act.

Some people have been raised in church all of their lives, and they still don’t know anything about worshiping God in truth and in spirit.

Most know the act of worship, but their heart is far from it. For many, church is a routine, we sing amazing grace, pass the plate, and preach for a minute, give an alter call, and church is over till next week. The problem with all this is; if your heart is not in your worshiping than your worship is in vain, and will be rejected by God.

Lets take Cain and Able for an example. Able offered a sacrifice of innocent blood as God required, and his sacrifice was accepted. Cain on the other hand offered the works of his on labor to God as a sacrifice, and his was rejected.

God calls for his believers to worship him from their heart. God has never liked vain religious activity, which brings us to our passage of scripture in Isaiah 1:10-20.

(V10) Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Lots of things have changed since this passage was written, but a lot of things are still the same. We still refuse to hear the word of the Lord. We as professing Christians, act a lot like the rulers of Sodom, and the people of Gomorrah. How you ask? Let’s read on.

(V11) “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” says the Lord. “ I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

So many today are doing acts of worship to try to gain favor with God. It’s in vain!! God does not want your heartless sacrifices! They are nothing to Him; people have been trying to please God with different types of worship ever since the fall of man. Can I tell you He is not pleased with our man made religion?

(V12)When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?

God says who has asked this of you? Who told or taught you to do these vain things. Do you not know that you mock God when you vainly worship Him?

It is my observation that we like to refer to God as our best friend, rather than the King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords.

O well God will forgive me if it’s wrong, after all we live under grace anyway. This makes me sick! We as His people should be seeking His face, His guidance, most importantly HIS WAY!!!

I believe most people feel their worship is not what it should be. Most say well if God wants something different He will let me know. Well guess what, He is letting you know!! Right here in this passage of scripture.

(V.13) Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incenses is detestable to me New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

God declares STOP this meaningless Worship!

Why is it that we think we know how to please God when we won’t even listen to Him? We are such a foolish people. We are worse than the people of Sodom, and Gomorrah. We have God’s word with us we have even read their story and we still refuse to listen to God.

(v.14) Your New moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

Do you know that God’s so-called people are the ones who are making these new moons and festivals?

God says his soul hates these activities. Why? Because it is not what God requires of us!!

Do you remember the great conversation that Jesus had with the woman at the well? When Jesus said that God wanted us to worship in truth and in spirit.

I believe GOD would rather have 5 minutes of true worship than 5 hours of phony religion.

It amazes me how many times we gather together “in Jesus’ name” Yet Jesus is never the topic of the conversation. Have you ever noticed that it’s ok to talk about God as long as the name Jesus is not brought up? Truly He is an offence to this world.