Last week we looked at the subject of worship. We saw Mary’s devotion, how she humbled herself and sacrificed much giving Jesus the best she had to give. She gave the Lord the type of worship God is looking for. She was willing to give her time and energy; she was willing to give not only her veneration and service she was willing to give something of value in the costly oil that amounted to practically a year’s salary! That’s true worship, we know that its true worship because we can clearly see that Jesus meant something to her and it came out in her actions.
Now when we look at worship in the Old testament, when the children of Israel would assemble for worship they did exactly that, they assembled! They had a day set aside for the Lord. On that day (the Sabbath) they didn’t work, they didn’t play golf, they didn’t go to the mall, they didn’t go to the casino they assembled, they offered sacrifices, they prayed and it’s all summed up in one word – WORSHIP!
I want to reemphasize this point; I want to bring up again this subject because I really believe the modern Christian community has lost something. As Born Again Christians we often talk about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and rightly so because if we don’t have any true love for God, if we don’t have any real relationship our worship becomes little more ritual & ceremony and our prayers nothing more than vain repetition. But one of the problems that has arisen from this idea of a personal relationship is the concept that people have thinking they don’t need to assemble, they don’t need church, they don’t need sermons, they don’t need Christian fellowship – it’s just me and Jesus and I can worship God whenever, wherever and however I want!
I have heard Christians in church say things like I love God, I love Jesus but I hate religion! Well I think I know what people mean by that but what comes across often times is the idea that organized religion is something we can do away with!
After all its not about religion it’s about relationship! But before we decide to throw away religion let’s hear what the Bible says about it. Let’s be clear, we have no love for false religion but is religion inherently a negative thing? What does the Bible say about religion? – James 1:27 - Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
At this point let me ask the question, is true religion bad? False doctrine is bad, hypocrisy is bad but true religion (if you believe James) is honorable! My point is this – when people want to do away with religion, when they get to the point where they think all they need is just themselves and Jesus ultimately the first thing to go is corporate worship and fellowship in the local church!
What are we talking about when we use the term corporate worship? We’re talking about coming together on Sunday morning! What does the word church mean? The Greek word is Ecclesia, church means congregation or the assembly. Let me be as clear as I can possibly be – If you’re saved your part of the church, if you’re part of the church your part of the assembly, but if you don’t assemble, if you’re not part of the congregation, if you don’t are you really part of the church?
Bottom line is this, if you’re not in church you’re not right with God! We’re not talking about those who are physically unable to attend, were not talking about those who maybe miss a few weeks due to illness or travel, we are talking about those who willfully decide not to attend. Why do people choose not to attend? For many reasons but the #1 reason is this – they are not in a right relationship with God and this comes out in their attitude that they have better things to do. Worship God? I got better things to do! That’s sin my friend and we all know it!
There are people however that claim they do worship, they are in fellowship with God – it’s true they don’t attend a local church but they claim they can worship without the church assembly. In a few moments, I am going to read a few lines from a popular country song that some of you might recognize – I am going to read it because it brings out the attitude that so many people have but before I do that let me read some verses that prove we cannot neglect corporate worship.
In Acts chapter 1:4 it says they were all assembled together, in Acts 1:14 it says they were all gathered together in the upper room, they were all in one accord in prayer and supplication.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 20:7 says - on the first day of the week (SUNDAY), the disciples came together to break bread
1 Corinthians 16:2 says on the first day of the week (SUNDAY) they came together to take up an offering.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. So we see that you cannot use Scripture to justify this idea that corporate worship is somehow optional. If you’re not part of the assembly you’re not worshipping.
I remember a Facebook meme that I saw once it said Religion is when someone is in church thinking about fishing, Relationship is when someone is fishing thinking about God. Well that’s great if your fishing on Saturday afternoon thinking about God but the fishing can be done sometime between Monday & Saturday, I think a Christian should be able to set aside fishing for an hour or two on Sunday morning.
- Salt Water Gospel
Every Sunday I see people filing in through those front doors
Got a cross up on that steeple, yeah it's time to praise the Lord
Some watch it on their TV, sittin' on the couch
Me, I get in my old Bronco and point those headlights out Oh, ain't got too many miles to go, to save my soul
Hey I go down and sink my feet in the water
And I soak up that sun and I watch it set
Yeah, I can feel the power of the saltwater gospel
I'm as close to God as I can get
Well I got news for you pal, if your neglecting corporate worship to go to the beach you’re NOT as close to God as you can get!
Now I’m not going to get all upset about some song lyrics, nothing surprises me anymore, I’ve heard it all before, I’ve seen it all, there is nothing new under the sun – it is what it is! But I have to say this – There is no such thing as a saltwater gospel! There is the gospel of Jesus Christ and there is no other, and neither is there salvation in any other! Might I suggest instead of driving to the beach, drive over to the house of the Lord!
A few weeks ago I preached on the subject of the Emergent Church movement and the Emergent Church movement basically takes the approach that we need to totally reinvent Christianity. The way we used to do things, the things we used to believe all that needs to be re-evaluated! Not only that most of it can be done away with! Why is this movement so popular? Because it allows people to sin and still appear somewhat spiritual. Of course, that’s totally nonsense but I think of what the Scripture says in 2 Timothy 3:5 where it speaks of people having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
There are so many that want to be considered Saints but they make no attempt to live as Saints, they want a form of godliness (they want to be counted among the brethren) they want a form of godliness but they deny the power. At this point let’s take a look at John 12:1-6 We asked the question last week – How will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as someone who worshipped or someone who waffled? Will you be remembered for your devotion or your denial?
We will see the contrast here between the true worshipper (Mary) and the false disciple (Judas Iscariot). Mary loved the Lord on the inside as well as the outside for her faith and her actions lined up with one another. Judas on the other hand had an outward form of godliness, he appeared to have faith but in reality he was selfish and unsaved and sooner or later that comes out.
John 12:1-6 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
Jesus said about Mary in Mark 14 - She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Those words are being fulfilled right here and now. The gospel is being preached and Mary’s act of devotion and worship are being remembered, they ae being told as a memorial to her. I said last week that Mary will always be remembered in this way – she will be remembered as someone who loved Jesus. She will be remembered as someone who sacrificed and gave much for Jesus – thousands of sermons, perhaps tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of sermons have been preached on the subject of worship, service and devotion and Mary has been given as a prime example of all three. That’s quite a memorial to her, a memorial given to her by the Holy Spirit who determined this story would live on in the Holy Scriptures.
That’s how Mary will be remembered, if she never assembled together with other believes for the Lords sake she would have missed out, not only on this memorial but on her heavenly reward. It’s unfortunate how so few even care nowadays about Heavenly rewards, they just want to get in! Forget heavenly rewards I just want to get into heaven! That’s demonstrates that so many are not seeking Gods best! They want to have one foot in the kingdom one foot in the world. Maybe a better way to put it is this way – One foot in the Kingdom, the other in the gutter!
You tell me that’s not true, we know it is. The thing is, people can’t remain on the fence forever. Jesus said in Matthew 6 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other – You can’t serve God and money neither can you serve God and the Prince of this world. You have to make a choice – Choose this day whom you will serve!
If you choose to serve the Lord, it will show in both word & deed. If you choose not to serve the Lord, it will show in both word & deed. We know how Mary will be remembered but what Judas? When Mary tried to serve Jesus, Judas opposed it! He made things difficult for her. He criticized her sharply. He will forever be known as a liar and a thief. He will always be known for his betrayal and treachery.
Did the Apostle Peter ever lie? Yes he did. Did the Apostle Matthew ever Steal? Yes he did! Did the Apostle Thomas ever doubt? Yes he did. Peter betrayed Christ by denying Him 3 times, Paul was guilty of persecuting Christians and even murdering them! At the very least Paul consented to their murder yet we don’t remember them as wretched, wicked, sinful men even though they were guilty of those things! We remember them as faithful servants of God and Apostles of Christ! You know what you call that? You call that Redemption! You call that Grace!
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Does that describe you?
When the Bible says “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” we know that those who do that are saved from sin and its penalty. Being saved from sin means not only do we escape the judgement we also escape sins dominion over us. We shall not live as slaves to sin any longer, so if we are no longer slaves to sin, if sin is no longer our master - who is?
Your familiar with all the statements made in the New Testament about being a servant or a bondservant of Christ. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:1 refers to himself as a Servant of Jesus Christ – the Greek word is Doulos and it means bondservant or slave – Either Christ is your master or sin is your master – are you a slave of Christ or a slave of sin? Remember what Jesus said – no man can serve two masters!
Choose this day whom you will serve! Many of you made that decision a long time ago yet some may still be on the fence. Who will you worship? Who will you obey? Will you follow the example of Mary or Judas? Will you be remembered as a child of God or will you be remembered for something else?
We already pointed out that the believers in Scripture were flawed, they sinned but because of the blood of Christ their sin was not charged to their account. Too many are living with guilt, too many cannot let go of unresolved hurt or bitterness. How amazing it would be to have the slate wiped clean once and for all, all the sin, all the mistakes, all the painful memories all the guilt – all of it, separated as far as the east is from the west. It can happen, it will happen but it requires worship, devotion, repentance, commitment but to put it in one word – it requires faith!
